Chapter 40: That Leaf Buddha Kingdom

"Halt! Prepare for inspection."

As the horsemen approached, over a dozen towering monks draped in robes and sporting blood-red skulls emerged to meet them. These monks' heads were truly arresting, radiating an indescribable, demonic aura under the glow of the setting sun. This was not the natural, ruddy complexion of a man like General Guan, nor the flush of extreme rage or intoxication; it was a deep, visceral crimson, as if coated in dark red lacquer. Their heads were purely, frighteningly red. Furthermore, their skin was unnaturally smooth, lacking the texture of human flesh, appearing so polished that it reflected light.

Yet, from the neck down, they were indistinguishable from normal humans. Their sun-darkened skin, pores, fine hairs, and even beads of sweat were clearly visible. The leader’s robes were parted, revealing at the center of his chest a Buddha head the size of an egg, complete with distinct facial features. They were indeed practitioners of the true Dharma, though it was unclear why their heads had become so inhuman. Behind him were six muscular warrior monks; the bulging fabric beneath their robes hinted at hidden extra limbs—the hallmark of Diamond Warrior Monks who tempered their bodies in iron.

Yuan Zhu glanced at the young monk, Ku Ye, and saw his expression of unconcealed shock and terror as he stared at the red-headed monks. Clearly, he had never seen such a sight before.

The lead monk rode up to the group, looking down at them with a scrutinizing gaze. He swept his eyes over their wooden spears before resting them on the Captain. "Where did you obtain these Buddha spears?"

"From the roadside villages," the Captain replied. "We scavenged them from the corpses of the ghosts that had already perished."

"Who are you?" the monk asked. "Where do you come from, and why is your attire so peculiar?"

The Captain answered, "According to this young monk, we are travelers from beyond the heavens. Our purpose was to visit the high monks in the Ye Buddha Kingdom for trade. Upon discovering that the kingdom was under siege by demons, we decided to come and see if we could offer any assistance."

The monk looked at the young monk, who dared not meet his gaze, and sensed the 'Buddha Cocoon' on him. He turned back to the Captain. "Oh? You have arrived at a fortuitous time. Not long ago, another group of travelers from beyond the heavens descended, helping the Abbot suppress the ghost plague and reclaim the Buddha City. Tonight, the Abbot will hold a grand ceremony to purge all demonic energy, purify the world, and re-establish the Buddha Kingdom on earth. We are taking this young monk with us. If you are interested, you may accompany us to the city to observe the ceremony. If you wish to see the Abbot, you must wait until tomorrow, after the ceremony concludes. Shall we?"

As the monk spoke, the other warrior monks pulled on their reins, their horses pacing slowly to encircle the group. The implication was clear: if they did not agree, force would be used.

The Captain seemed not to notice, nodding readily. "Certainly! That is our objective, and I would be delighted to observe the ceremony."

The monk nodded. "Good. Follow me into the city. The Buddha City is currently in ruins, with ghosts from the Yellow Springs still lurking in many areas, and the Diamond Temple has been pulled into a ghost realm by Buddha-corpse ghouls. Once inside, stay in the designated safe zones with the civilians. Do not wander. We will provide food. At the Hour of the Boar, the ceremony will begin. Simply observe in silence."

With that, the monk rode off. One of his servants leaned down, scooped up the trembling young monk, placed him horizontally across the horse’s back, and spurred his mount to follow. Yuan Zhu and his group followed in silence toward Ye City.

***

"These people don't seem right," Yuan Zhu muttered.

Meng Xiyue rolled her eyes. "No kidding. Heads red like that, and reflective? They don't look human at all. Captain, are we really just walking into the city like this? I feel like sheep walking into a tiger’s den."

The little goat bleated in agreement.

Yuan Zhu (a tiger) remained silent.

The Captain replied, "Even if I had refused, we would still need to find a way inside. They seem rational and capable of communication; that is enough for now. Other bubble worlds contain all manner of strange humans; there is no need for prejudice. As long as they possess reason and basic goodwill, it is sufficient. If we truly fall into danger, we can return to [Happy Home] in time."

Hearing that, the group visibly relaxed.

Upon entering Ye City, the sky grew dim. Lanterns were hung along the stone paths, and the streets were filled with people carrying tools and baskets, preparing for the ceremony. Three-quarters of the residents were normal humans—poorly dressed, sallow-faced, and burdened with heavy, numb expressions. The other quarter, like the monks, bore vermillion heads that glowed with a watery luster under the lanterns. They showed no sorrow; instead, they appeared unnaturally calm and serene, carrying heavier loads without complaint, silently keeping pace toward the east of the city.

The sight of normal black-haired heads mixed with vermillion, glossy bald heads—ragged commoners side-by-side with resplendent monks—created a surreal, magical atmosphere. Though the cause was unknown, it was certain that these red-headed individuals had appeared recently, yet the residents treated them as a mundane fact of life.

"Here, stay in this inn. Someone will bring you food shortly. Gather downstairs before the Hour of the Boar to follow the crowds to the east side for the ceremony."

"Many thanks, high monks. A small token of our appreciation."

The Captain took out several gold bars and passed them over in a simple, blunt gesture. The monks' stern, impatient expressions instantly shifted to ones of charitable joy. Their attitude improved significantly. "Wait patiently. We will bring you something good later. Do not speak of it."

The Captain nodded repeatedly. "Understood, understood. Please, go ahead."

Yuan Zhu thought, *This is too realistic, isn't it?* Even after traversing worlds and entering a bubble universe, it still came down to this? How much value did this gold hold? It was the universally recognized hard currency of the multiverse!

Lu Rang’s eyes went wide. "How much is a piece of gold that big worth?"

The Captain said, "Remember, gold holds immense value in every bubble world. It is the universally accepted natural currency. If you have the ability in the future, keep some for protection. Sometimes, when you face a mortal crisis and no one can reach you, this gold might be your final savior."

Meng Xiyue whispered, "The [Gold Standard]!"

Inside the inn, they opened their trunks, retrieved their firearms and magazines, and began to maintain their weapons.

***

"Tonight’s ceremony will likely see complications. Prepare for combat. I will not teleport us back unless it is a last resort. If the situation changes, you must ensure your own survival until dawn; consider this a test."

Meng Xiyue asked, "Captain, are you planning to stir up trouble?"

"You should be safe enough hidden among the civilians. I, however, intend to infiltrate the temple in Ye City to see what is going on. Furthermore, I am interested in the group of travelers from beyond the heavens who arrived before us; they likely reside within the temple. If possible, I will also test the strength of this new Abbot. Take care of yourselves."

"That’s so irresponsible! You’re throwing us into a den of dragons and tigers and just walking away?"

The Captain replied, "Use the clothes on your backs, the mice in your pockets, the weapons in your hands, the spears you collected... and the powers you already possess. If you use them well, survival won't be difficult. If you are forced to, you can use your uniforms to absorb the 'Buddha Fruit' from those red-headed monks. Just three or four cocoons will give you equivalent power."

*Knock, knock, knock.*

"Guests, your food has arrived. Also, the gifts promised by the Buddha-fathers. Please accept them."

"Coming," Lu Rang said.

He stepped forward, opened the door, and brought in two large food boxes and a small golden cloth bag. He opened the boxes, revealing steaming dishes—half meat-based, half pure, hearty protein. It seemed the Captain’s gold had been well-spent.

Lu Rang picked up the golden bag, weighed it, and poured its contents into an empty white porcelain bowl.

A series of fruits the size of quail eggs rolled out. They were oval, bright red, with green calyxes, looking exactly like cherry tomatoes. Yet, on the surface of each fruit, a single eye, a protruding ear, or a nose with two nostrils had grown out. Each fruit possessed a miniature organ; the eyes blinked, the noses twitched, and the ears contracted as if listening to external sounds. Only the single mouths could open and close, though they produced no sound.

In the white bowl, the pile of fruits with their singular organs shivered and bumped against each other like living things. Was this the 'good stuff' the red-headed monk had mentioned?

Tomatoes... wait, tomatoes!

Yuan Zhu’s tiger body stiffened. He looked up, caught the eyes of the young woman beside him who had also realized the truth, and they spoke in unison: "Tomatoes!"

Those monks' heads were clearly tomatoes possessing human facial features! Not just the monks—one-quarter of the city's residents had had their heads replaced with tomatoes that could speak!

What kind of tomato-Buddha kingdom was this Ye City?!