"Sigh!"
He shook his head, not dwelling on it further, and couldn't be bothered to ponder such an utterly infuriating yet helpless matter.
"This sigh from Layman Gu, does it lament the helplessness of this life?"
"It's merely a sigh of emotion."
Gu Qingfeng said lightly, "Whether it's humans, Immortals and Buddhas, or even demons, ghosts, and monsters, who doesn't have moments of sighing? As the old saying goes, every family has its own hard-to-read scripture. Although my own scripture is a bit difficult to read, it's just difficult, that's all. Compared to those who read scriptures to death, I'm still fortunate, don't you think that's the truth?"
"Amitabha, Layman Gu speaks wisely."
"Alright, let's not dwell on this for now."
Gu Qingfeng asked, "Since I am an Anomaly of the Present Era, why are you now urging me to become Original Sin? And even hoping I become the True Lord of Original Sin? You really dare to say such words. What's the matter? Aren't you afraid that once this Anomaly becomes Original Sin, the Calamity it triggers will be uncontrollable? Or have the Tribulation-Bearers destined to deal with me already emerged?"
"Original Sin has been searching for its True Lord, never ceasing. Although this Old Monk does not know who Original Sin will ultimately choose to be its True Lord, Original Sin will certainly find one. This is inevitable. In other words, in the Present Era, the True Lord of Original Sin is destined to appear."
"So?"
"So, even if Layman Gu does not become this True Lord of Original Sin, Original Sin will choose someone else to be its True Lord."
"What do you mean? I don't understand. Who Original Sin chooses as its True Lord has nothing to do with me, right? It can find whoever it wants."
"Rather than Original Sin choosing someone else, why doesn't Layman Gu become this True Lord of Original Sin himself?"
"Old Monk, is it because I'm currently confused, or are your words too profound? The more I listen, the more bewildered I become. What do you mean by 'rather than Original Sin choosing someone else, I should become this True Lord of Original Sin myself'? For no good reason, why should I become this True Lord of Original Sin?"
Gu Qingfeng said doubtfully, "Moreover, didn't you just say that Fate has already given birth to many Tribulation-Bearers based on causality? If someone else becomes the True Lord of Original Sin, Fate must have someone to deal with it too, right? In that case, wouldn't that prevent the Calamity of the Present Era from occurring?"
"Fate has indeed given birth to many Tribulation-Bearers based on causality. If Original Sin chooses someone else to be its True Lord, Fate might also have Tribulation-Bearers to deal with it. But that is only a possibility, not an absolute certainty. Even if there are Tribulation-Bearers, whether they can ultimately prevent the Calamity, no one knows."
"Didn't you just say that although we don't know, there is at least hope, right?"
Gu Qingfeng continued, "If an Anomaly like me becomes the True Lord of Original Sin, Fate won't even have a Tribulation-Bearer. Wouldn't there be no hope at all then? Those were your exact words."
"These were indeed this Old Monk's exact words. However, does Layman Gu know that the Anomalies of the Present Era are not limited to Layman Gu alone?"
"How many are there?"
"In the ten thousand years of the Present Era, the Anomalies that have already appeared number as many as five. And this is only what this Old Monk can deduce. How many undetectable Anomalies there are remains unknown."
"As many as five? And likely more? Interesting, truly interesting."
For some reason, upon hearing there were so many Anomalies in the Present Era, Gu Qingfeng's mood suddenly became very cheerful, and he couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Why does Layman Gu laugh?"
"I always thought that in this world, I was the only lonely, pitiful person. I never expected that besides me, there were so many fellow sufferers sharing the same fate. How could I not be happy! Of course, what makes me even happier is that one Anomaly already gives the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, this causality and Fate, a headache. Now so many more have emerged. This time, they'll have their hands full. How could this not make me happy?"
"Is Layman Gu taking pleasure in others' misfortune?"
"Exactly, I am taking pleasure in their misfortune. Is that not allowed?"
"A! Mi! Tuo! Fo!"
The old monk chanted a Buddhist phrase and sighed deeply.
Earlier, Gu Qingfeng's sigh lamented the helplessness in his heart.
This sigh from the old monk lamented the helplessness in his heart even more, and it was deeper and more intense than Gu Qingfeng's.
After laughing, Gu Qingfeng spoke again, "So, you're afraid Original Sin will find other Anomalies to be its True Lord? That's why you're urging me to become this True Lord of Original Sin?"
"Yes."
"What's the difference? We're all Anomalies anyway. Whoever becomes the True Lord of Original Sin is the same, right? What, could it be that compared to those other Anomalies, my anomaly isn't as severe? Am I still within Fate's control?"
"Not so. According to this Old Monk's deductions, in terms of mystery and eeriness, Layman Gu is not only not lighter than other Anomalies but is actually heavier. It's even possible you are the greatest Anomaly of the Present Era."
"Since you think I'm the greatest Anomaly of the Present Era, why are you still urging me to become the True Lord of Original Sin?"
"Precisely because Layman Gu might be the greatest Anomaly of the Present Era, you should become this True Lord of Original Sin. Previously, this Old Monk believed that if Layman Gu became the True Lord of Original Sin, the Calamity would certainly be uncontrollable. But after Layman Gu ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire and this Old Monk slumbered for ten thousand years, I suddenly felt that if Layman Gu becomes the True Lord of Original Sin, the Calamity of the Present Era might not be uncontrollable. For the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and for all living beings, it might not necessarily be a bad thing."
Gu Qingfeng didn't quite understand and asked, "Why is that?"
"The reason lies in the two words: Anomaly."
The old monk's voice was filled with solemnity. "An Anomaly means chaotic causality, undeterminable Fate, everything unknown. In other words, if Layman Gu, the greatest Anomaly of the Present Era, becomes the True Lord of Original Sin, the Calamity might not be uncontrollable. It's possible the Calamity won't occur at all. It might even be that by then, Original Sin is no longer Original Sin..."
"What you say isn't impossible. But there's one point you seem to have forgotten. You also said that an Anomaly means chaotic causality, undeterminable Fate, everything unknown. In other words, if an Anomaly like me becomes the True Lord of Original Sin, it might bring an even greater, more uncontrollable Calamity."
"This Old Monk has confidence in Layman Gu."
"I don't even have confidence in myself. Where do you get your confidence in me? Moreover, once I become the True Lord of Original Sin, I might not even be myself anymore."
"That is precisely why this Old Monk has confidence in Layman Gu."
"You don't have confidence in me; this is a reckless gamble."
"This Old Monk clearly remembers Layman Gu once saying that life itself is a reckless gamble. Since that's the case, what's the harm in gambling once?"
"Heh."
Gu Qingfeng laughed. "You're gambling the fate of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and all living beings with me. Can you afford to lose?"
"No! It is not this Old Monk gambling with Layman Gu, but Layman Gu gambling against Original Sin. The stakes are the fate of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and all living beings!"
"That sounds quite interesting. However, it's a pity..."
"A pity for what?"
Gu Qingfeng responded, "It's a pity I won't gamble with Original Sin, nor do I want to gamble, and I can't even be bothered to gamble!"