"Did Jampa Bagra truly see a living Buddha?" "It's possible. I once heard Jipgula say that people can see deities or Buddhas when they are close to death!" "But why did Jampa Bagra suddenly come back to life?" "M-maybe the living Buddha cured him?" "Hmm, that's possible!" "However, just now, only that Han boy oddly touched Jampa Bagra, and shortly after, he got well. Could he be the living Buddha?" "Impossible, impossible! He is a Han; how could he be a living Buddha!"

The Tibetans clustered around Jampa Bagra, murmuring amongst themselves, whispering conspiratorially. Hearing their talk, Jampa Bagra frowned deeply and boomed, "No! The Buddha taught that all living beings are equal; where is this talk of Han or Tibetan?"

Jampa Bagra held immense authority among these Tibetans. At his word, they fell silent, though their faces still betrayed skepticism.

Jampa Bagra sat for a while longer, gradually regaining his strength. He extended a hand, signaling for Meiduo to help him stand.

Meiduo said nervously, "Jampa Bagra, you haven't fully recovered. You should sit and rest a bit longer."

Jampa Bagra chuckled, the deep wrinkles on his face resembling a blooming ** flower. "I am perfectly fine. It has been over twenty years since I felt this comfortable in my body."

As he spoke, he made to push himself up. Meiduo, unable to dissuade him, steadied him as he rose.

The moment he was standing, Jampa Bagra asked Meiduo, "What exactly happened? I only remember I suddenly fainted during the pilgrimage, and then I saw the living Buddha standing behind me, performing Tihu Guanding upon me."

Meiduo stared with wide, round eyes, pointing toward the two foreigners and the Chinese female guide. "Jampa Bagra, they checked your pulse and tested your breath. They said you had already departed for the Western Pure Land."

Jampa Bagra politely brought his palms together, bowed deeply to the two foreigners and the Chinese guide, and said, "Tashi Delek. Thank you for your assistance."

After the Chinese guide translated, the two foreigners quickly returned the gesture, pressing their palms together and bowing.

Jampa Bagra straightened up and asked again, "What happened after that?"

Meiduo hesitated slightly and replied, "A dirty Han man squeezed in and touched the top of your head with his hand, and then he left."

Jampa Bagra's eyes lit up. "And then?"

Meiduo looked utterly confused. "Then you woke up!"

Jampa Bagra grew agitated and shouted, "Where is that person now!"

Meiduo pointed towards the mountainside. "He went that way."

Jampa Bagra stamped his foot. "Meiduo, what have I taught you all this time? Why didn't you stop him? That is my savior! He is the living Buddha I saw!"

Before Meiduo could reply, the surrounding Tibetans stared wide-eyed and exclaimed, "Jampa Bagra, are you confused? How could that Han man be a living Buddha?"

Jampa Bagra retorted loudly, "I was moments from the Pure Land, and he performed Tihu Guanding on my crown with his hand, and I returned to life. Even Master Jiliya Danzeng cannot accomplish such a feat! If not a living Buddha, then what is he?"

Jampa Bagra's words made everyone exchange glances, their certainty beginning to waver. Some whispered, "Indeed, this man touched Jampa Bagra's head once, and he came back to life. Such methods are utterly inconceivable! If he is not a living Buddha, then who is?"

"How can a living Buddha be Han?"

"Oh, regardless, I think the life of Jampa Bagra was saved by this Han man."

"Yes, yes, I think this man is the living Buddha among the Hans!"

These people held diverse opinions. An elder Tibetan looked to Jampa Bagra and said, "Jampa Bagra, you are our guide on this pilgrimage. Tell us what we should do!"

A look of conflict crossed Jampa Bagra's face. He thought to himself: Logically, I should chase after him immediately to express my gratitude to my benefactor. But pilgrims on a sacred journey must prostrate themselves every three steps. To fail to do so would be a grave disrespect to the Buddha, and I would not attain liberation to the Pure Land upon death. But if I proceed with the three-step prostration, how can I possibly catch up to my savior?

Jampa Bagra looked distressed. Meiduo, understanding his plight, spoke kindly, "Jampa Bagra, I think he is also heading toward Ganden Monastery. He will surely rest there for a while. Perhaps he will still be there when we arrive!"

Jampa Bagra sighed. "I suppose that is the only way." Saying this, he turned to scold Meiduo again. "Why didn't you stop and keep him earlier? Did you let your preconceived notions about him being Han cloud your judgment?"

Meiduo glanced fearfully at Jampa Bagra and weakly shook her head. "No, it's just that he was so filthy..."

Jampa Bagra exploded in anger. "I am filthy too! I have crawled every step of the way; which part of me isn't dirty? Where are you not dirty? Insufferable! The Buddha taught that all beings are equal, without distinction of high or low, nor differentiated by beauty, ugliness, cleanliness, or filth. As my disciple, how could you utter such words! Do you not know the Buddha himself once begged on the streets, his hair disheveled and face grimy?"

Meiduo, a young, beautiful girl, was sharply chastised by Jampa Bagra in front of everyone. Her eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up, yet she dared not argue. She just held Jampa Bagra's hand and whispered, "Jampa Bagra, please don't be angry. If we meet him later, I will apologize. You just recovered; don't let this upset you. We cannot manage without you."

Jampa Bagra raged, "What if we don't meet him? I tell you, if we don't, you will have committed a terrible sin, and you will face retribution in the future!"

Meiduo could hold back no longer. Tears streamed down her smooth cheeks, but her proud nature made her turn away to secretly wipe them, not wanting anyone to see.

The surrounding Tibetans began to intervene. "Jampa Bagra, don't scold Meiduo anymore. You were nearly dead; Meiduo cried so sorrowfully! Perhaps we will meet this Han man just ahead."

Jampa Bagra snorted. "And if we don't meet him?"

The crowd exchanged glances and fell silent.

Jampa Bagra stopped speaking. He faced the direction of Mount Duonian, pressed his palms together, raised them above his head, knelt on the ground, then touched his forehead to the earth, his mouth to the earth, then prostrated his entire body so his heart touched the ground, his entire body touching the earth—completing a Wuti Touti prostration.

Seeing him begin his pilgrimage, these Tibetans followed suit, starting their three-step, one-kneel journey toward Ganden Monastery halfway up the mountain.

The two foreign climbers witnessed this scene. After hearing the Chinese guide's translation, they could not help but praise, "What a miraculous country! Miraculous pilgrims, miraculous living Buddha!"

The guide, Liu Xia, said with a skeptical expression, "That scruffy man is a living Buddha? I would never believe it, even if beaten to death!"

One of the foreigners remarked, "Whether he is a living Buddha is not the point. The point is that he placed his hand on the head of that seemingly dead old man, and the old man revived. This is truly miraculous. Liu Xia, are all you Chinese this magical?"

Liu Xia curled her lip and muttered in Chinese, "Who knows if the blind cat just stumbled upon a dead mouse."

The foreigner heard her speak Chinese but couldn't understand, so he shrugged helplessly and said to his companion, "Hey, Jack, is your camera just for decoration? Why didn't you film that just now!"

Jack replied, "Luvi, I didn't expect it! Don't worry, I'm taking it out now, and I won't turn it off the whole way!"

Luvi smiled. "Then let's chase after them. I have a feeling more things are going to happen with these people."

Li Yundong had no idea that a group of people was following him. He was climbing the mountain path along Duonian Mountain, having long grown accustomed to the weight of the hundred-plus pounds of the Seven Treasures Spirit-Lifting Fan strapped to his back—it felt lighter than air. Though he wasn't running, even his walking gave the impression of wind whipping past his feet as the scenery rushed backward.

When he reached the halfway point, Li Yundong looked up and saw a magnificent, glittering temple standing before him. Under the golden sunlight, the red palaces were densely packed like a forest, layered one upon the other. In this forest stood the Zhimei Xionglin Stupa, hailed as the 'Ornament of the Snow Mountain,' nestled among the halls, surrounded by countless smaller white stupas that stretched up the hillside as if guiding the pilgrims upward.

Before even entering the temple, Li Yundong felt a wave of imposing majesty and pressure wash over him. This was a formidable force created over centuries by the unwavering faith and intent of countless pilgrims. It was like legions of deities tightly encircling the temple, guarding this sacred mountain.

"Such powerful energy!" Li Yundong felt a profound shock. Stimulated by this force, the true essence within his body surged and converged, like two wild beasts suddenly encountering each other in the forest, instinctively bristling their manes!

As Li Yundong's true essence gathered, he instantly sensed the power swirling above the temple condense into the form of a Vajra Arhat, wielding a Vajra Pestle and backed by a sun-like golden-red Vajra Wheel. Its expression was fierce and terrifying as it lunged toward him!

Li Yundong started, about to resist, but suddenly heard an aged voice echo in his mind: "Harbor no hostility. The stronger you fight it, the stronger it becomes. The weaker you are, the weaker it is!"

This unexpected voice startled Li Yundong. Instinctively, he suppressed his internal energy.

Li Yundong’s internal energy had gathered swiftly and receded just as fast. The charging Vajra Arhat instantly distorted, vanishing by the time it reached him.

Startled by the sudden assault, Li Yundong regained his composure and spun around, searching for the source of the guiding voice. But looking everywhere, he only saw a constant stream of tourists and pilgrims. He spotted no suspicious figures, nor any trace of the Vajra Arhat he had seen moments before.

Baffled, Li Yundong eventually decided the voice meant no harm and set the incident aside as he walked into the temple.

Once Li Yundong let go of his vigilance and suspicion, he no longer perceived the intense hostility hidden within the temple's power.

Upon entering, Li Yundong looked around. He noticed small vendors selling incense, as well as merchants selling food and drinks. In some places, there were even running water taps. He nodded to himself, thinking: Having traveled for so long, he might as well rest here for the night before continuing his journey.

Having made up his mind, Li Yundong found a set of steps and sat down.

Jampa Bagra, Meiduo, and their party, proceeding with their three-step prostration, were astonishingly slow. It was nearly dark by the time they reached Ganden Monastery. Even though it was night, the temple was still filled with burning incense smoke curling upwards.

Jampa Bagra was an old family friend of the presiding Lama of the monastery. After a warm reunion, Jampa Bagra led his clan into the temple to rest. Exhausted from a day of worship, some had already collapsed and fallen asleep wherever they found a spot.

Only Jampa Bagra sat alone on the steps outside the temple, gazing at the golden plaque of Ganden Monastery, his mind restless.

Meiduo, still subdued by the day's events, sat quietly beside Jampa Bagra on the steps, hugging her knees, her dark eyes fixed on the bright moon in the sky.

"Meiduo," Jampa Bagra suddenly spoke, "Are you still upset that I scolded you in front of everyone today?"

Meiduo shook her head, her little braids swaying, the ornaments on them jingling. "No, Jampa Bagra. You were right. I shouldn't look at people that way. My cultivation is still insufficient!"

Jampa Bagra looked at Meiduo with affection and was about to speak when a figure flashed past a corner not far away. Meiduo saw it too, and her body jolted. She stood up, shaking Jampa Bagra's arm excitedly. "Jampa Bagra, it's him! It's him!"

Jampa Bagra blinked. "Who is it?"

Meiduo exclaimed with great excitement, "It’s that Han brother who saved you!"