Chapter 306 - 268: A Cunning Plan to Resolve a Desperate Situation
Laozi led the Ox Demon King and Princess Iron Fan to Mount Meru, not minding his manners at all as he cursed loudly in the face of the Tathagata.
The couple were verbally lashed by Laozi, but far from feeling fearful, they found it somewhat amusing. Their bodies shook with suppressed laughter, and the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas who saw them assumed they were trembling with fear—they never guessed the two were actually holding back laughter. Even Laozi himself, while in the midst of scolding, found the situation quite funny; it was just too much of a bully, and he almost laughed out loud.
Laozi, with his beard blowing and eyes glaring, said, "Ah, it’s all because of my lax discipline that the Buddha Ancestor has suffered such a loss!"
However, Tathagata replied, "No matter, Celestial Venerable Laojun, you are too hard on yourself."
Laozi began to shirk responsibility, shouting, "Ah, although it was Chi Songzi who killed Venerable Maitreya, I must also bear some blame! If not for these two evildoers angering you all, why would there be such a fuss? It’s infuriating, truly infuriating!"
Laozi shook off all the blame, certain that he was justified, and knowing that the Tathagata was unwilling to openly confront him, he could only endure it. In this matter, he did not hold the slightest moral high ground.
"Lingji Bodhisattva came to you to borrow the Banana Leaf Fan, why did you have to fight?" Laozi then began to reproach Princess Iron Fan.
But Princess Iron Fan retorted, "This isn’t borrowing; it’s clear they wanted me to trade my Banana Leaf Fan for that Wind-Calming Pearl. Does his Wind-Calming Pearl compare to my Banana Leaf Fan?"
Laozi, enraged, said, "You evildoer, how dare you talk back! Once I take you back to the Doulu Palace, I will surely punish you!"
In Laozi’s speech, every word hid a profound secret, except for those initial sentences of cursing.
Laozi barked, "You two evildoers, have you not yet apologised to the Buddha Ancestor?"