Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1318: Pure

Zhang Yi reflected on the so-called "exotic dishes" that Pagyi Gesang and his companions relished, a thought that brought a wave of queasiness over him.

"I had assumed such 'privileges' were solely for the high-ranking officials of the Southwest Region! It never crossed my mind that the Lord of the Charnel Ground himself would share your peculiar tastes."

With hands clasped and eyes cast down, the Lord of the Charnel Ground intoned, "Amitabha, all phenomena are the result of sentient beings' karma."

Zhang Yi couldn't help but roll his eyes.

It seemed these individuals could attribute anything to the abstract notion of karma, a seemingly hypocritical stance.

Still, he conceded that the dire state of the entire Southwest Region wasn't a problem one person could possibly resolve.

It was undeniable that the Lord of the Charnel Ground wielded significant influence.

However, a man who had spent over a decade in monastic seclusion, immersed in Buddhist practice, was unlikely to possess robust political insight or administrative capabilities.

Even if he harbored reservations about certain decisions made by the Southwest Region's leadership, he was fundamentally incapable of managing every intricate detail himself.

This very reason was why Zhang Yi, despite being the most formidable force in the Jiangnan Region, opted for a peaceful coexistence with Blizzard City, entrusting Zhu Zheng with the comprehensive governance of the region.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground perceived the subtle disdain flickering in Zhang Yi's gaze.

Undeterred and unoffended, he offered a gentle smile, extending a hand to intercept a falling snowflake just beyond the eaves.

"Perhaps the benefactor finds this notion hard to accept, but everything unfolds according to its destined path. Consider your own arrival here, for instance."

"All outcomes are predetermined; no event occurs by mere chance."

Zhang Yi detected a profound, Zen-like mystery woven into the Lord of the Charnel Ground's pronouncements, yet he was never one for enigmatic utterances.

With a light chuckle, Zhang Yi nodded. "I must admit, there's a certain wisdom in what you've said."

The Lord of the Charnel Ground's smile widened. "This humble monk shall take his leave now."

Without further elaboration, he turned and departed. It seemed his presence hadn't been specifically to seek out Zhang Yi. He had simply concluded his meal, ventured out for a perambulation, and serendipitously encountered Zhang Yi.

Given Zhang Yi's apparent disinclination for conversation, the Lord of the Charnel Ground chose to depart amicably. After all, an important prayer festival awaited his personal officiation that afternoon.

Zhang Yi observed his retreating figure.

Only when the Lord of the Charnel Ground was well out of earshot did a knowing smile grace Zhang Yi's lips.

"Is this the 'pure,' 'unblemished,' and 'single-mindedly devout' Lord of the Charnel Ground that Pagyi Gesang spoke of?"

Zhou Ke'er remarked, "He certainly projects an aura devoid of worldly attachments. It's understandable, given his decade-long seclusion dedicated to Buddhist studies. One can only assume he has attained enlightenment, exuding an ethereal detachment from both self and the external world."

"That's how you perceive him."

Zhang Yi responded with a chuckle.

A sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

While their encounter may have been coincidental, Zhang Yi felt he had gleaned significant insights from it.

"A person nurtured in an environment of excessive purity might not necessarily benefit in the long run."

Zhou Ke'er, her large eyes wide with curiosity, inquired, "What do you mean by that? Zhang Yi, what did you observe?"

After a moment's contemplation, Zhang Yi began by recounting a story to Zhou Ke'er.

"We once had a neighbor whose mother, a nurse, gave birth to a child. To shield her infant from any external pathogens, she meticulously maintained an almost sterile environment for the child throughout its early years."

"The child was even given only distilled water to drink."

"Can you guess what the eventual outcome was?"

Zhang Yi looked at Zhou Ke'er with a smile.

As a trained medical professional, Zhou Ke'er immediately grasped the potential consequences of such extreme measures.

"If that's the case, the child's body would become exceptionally sensitive and vulnerable. Upon exposure to even common bacteria, lacking any developed immunity, the child would paradoxically be more susceptible to illness."

Zhang Yi gestured subtly with his chin in the direction the Lord of the Charnel Ground had departed.

"The same principle applies to him."

"While complete isolation from the world allows for deep immersion in spiritual practice, it's akin to handling delicate porcelain – it shatters easily upon the slightest impact."

"Do you realize that for a fleeting moment, the way he looked at you just now held a definite worldly and carnal interest?"

As a man, Zhang Yi understood the distinct expression that crosses a man's eyes when encountering a beautiful woman.

The ostensibly devout Lord of the Charnel Ground, upon beholding a beauty of Zhou Ke'er's caliber, couldn't resist a momentary shift in his gaze.

Although he quickly averted his eyes, attempting to mask his reaction, Zhang Yi, who had been observing him intently, caught that fleeting instant.

Indeed, he didn't even glance at Zhou Ke'er again thereafter.

A slight blush crept onto Zhou Ke'er's face as she gripped his arm tighter. "What do you mean? Are you implying he fell in love with you at first sight?"

Zhang Yi drew a deep breath and playfully pinched her nose.

"You are beautiful, so it's natural for others to admire you, isn't it? But that individual was purely smitten by your beauty."

"This indicates his heart is not an impenetrable fortress."

"It's even conceivable that years of abstinence have rendered his defenses in this area exceptionally weak."

Zhou Ke'er couldn't help but stifle a laugh behind her hand.

"Considering his status and position, what kind of woman couldn't he have? Stop joking."

Zhang Yi countered, "That's the general principle! But don't forget, the Lord of the Charnel Ground is the spiritual icon of the Southwest Region, the very embodiment of the esoteric sect."

"Those beneath him might disregard the precepts as they please, but he alone cannot."

"Furthermore," he gazed upon Zhou Ke'er's breathtakingly beautiful visage, felt her now even more alluring figure, and smirked with pride, "when has he ever laid eyes on a woman as stunning as you?"

Zhou Ke'er inquired with evident curiosity, "Are you suggesting this is his vulnerability?"

Zhang Yi declared, "It is the vulnerability of all men under the heavens."

Zhou Ke'er's eyes sparkled. "Are you contemplating exploiting this weakness to deal with him?"

At this juncture, she eyed Zhang Yi with a modicum of apprehension. "Don't even think about using me."

Zhang Yi, slightly exasperated, tightened his pinch on her small nose. "What absurdities are you spouting! You truly know how to provoke me. Rest assured, I have no desire to invite cuckoldry upon myself."

"However," he cast his gaze toward the direction the Lord of the Charnel Ground had departed, his eyes glinting as he murmured softly, "as long as he possesses a weakness, a method to deal with him will eventually be discovered."

...

The time had now advanced into the afternoon.

For the common populace, the Prayer Festival was officially commencing.

An expansive platform had been erected long before outside Sangha Monastery.

Beyond this platform, tens of thousands of people, who had congregated early, knelt solemnly on the ground, cradling incense burners, in earnest anticipation of the dharma transmission from the Lord of the Charnel Ground and the High Lamas.

The esteemed members of the four great chieftain families had all arrived. Pagyi Gesang guided Zhang Yi and the others to a designated spot on the platform where they took their seats, awaiting the proceedings.

Zhang Yi surveyed his surroundings and also observed the contingents from the other three prominent families.

While he was not intimately familiar with many individuals, he did recognize the patriarchs of these families.

"Could the individuals I encountered that particular night be among them?"

Zhang Yi's gaze meticulously scanned their assembled groups.

However, each family had brought a substantial retinue, predominantly clad in tightly sealed combat suits, rendering their features virtually indistinguishable.

Recalling the words of the resistance army, Zhang Yi settled his mind, content to observe the unfolding events.

Author's Note