“Oh, I remember now. There are the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures at the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Mount Ling. The Buddha sent me to the Eastern Lands to find someone to fetch the scriptures from the West,” Eleanor Clark said happily.

“Since you plan to spread the teachings in my Great Tang, why don’t you just bring the scriptures along while you’re at it? Why make me send someone to fetch them? Such a journey—how could any mortal make it? There’s no sincerity at all. Forget it, I don’t want these lousy scriptures.” Emily Thompson casually tossed the scroll aside and waved her hand.

Abraham Lincoln glanced at the scroll on the ground, still faintly glowing with golden light, and his eyelid twitched. Emily Thompson was completely playing by her own rules. Normally, when an emperor witnessed such a miracle, he’d be kneeling with his officials, eager to find someone to fetch the scriptures—that would be the usual reaction, right?

==========Please recommend my book! I want to climb the new book rankings. The new book period is only this long, so I hope everyone can cast more recommendation votes.

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Chapter 7: When the Emperor Lets Down Her Hair

Seeing Emily Thompson casually toss aside the Buddha’s scroll, Eleanor Clark was momentarily stunned, wanting to pick it up but not daring to, and awkwardly said, “That does make sense. I forgot to ask that day—maybe the Buddha thought I was too weak to carry them, so he told me to find a strong monk to do it. Yes, that must be it.”

“So…” Emily Thompson pointed at Abraham Lincoln with her finger. “You chose him?”

Eleanor Clark nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick.

“There are so many monks here. Can’t you just pick any one of them?” Emily Thompson sneered, flicked her sleeve, and said, “Guards, drag these two frauds out and give them a hundred strokes each.”

“Don’t hit my butt! You made it blossom yesterday.” Eleanor Clark retreated a few steps with a look of grievance, then added, “It’s not for nothing, though. He can attain a golden body, and after it’s done, I can also speak to Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva for you and help extend your life by a few years.”

“Why would I need you to extend my life?” Emily Thompson remained unmoved.

“But you only have three years left to live!” Eleanor Clark hesitated, but still said it.

Emily Thompson was momentarily distracted, but showed little regret. After a moment of silence, she shook her head and said, “You can go. Three years or a hundred, if I have to beg for charity, I’d rather not. When has my Great Tang ever bowed to anyone? Who have I ever feared?”

Eleanor Clark hurriedly tried to persuade her: “You’re so handsome, it’d be such a shame if you died. Besides, there’s a strange lady in the Hall of Yama who likes handsome and tough types like you.”

“Say one more word and I’ll have you arrested and beaten!” Emily Thompson roared.

Eleanor Clark took two more steps back, blinked, and said, “I’m just doing this for your own good. It’s just a trip to the West for scriptures, it’s not like you won’t come back.”

“Get out!” Emily Thompson kicked the low table at her feet, scattering ash, sand, and pastries all over the floor.

“I’ll go.” Abraham Lincoln stepped forward, standing between the angry Emily Thompson and the somewhat frightened Eleanor Clark. Looking at Emily Thompson, who had never lost her temper in front of him and was always strong, but now seemed a bit lost, he softly but firmly repeated, “I’ll go.”

“Really! I…” Eleanor Clark looked delighted.

“I forbid it.” Before she could finish, Emily Thompson interrupted forcefully.

“I will come back.” Abraham Lincoln remained calm.

“I said, you’re not allowed!” Emily Thompson raised her voice.

“We’ll set out tomorrow.” Abraham Lincoln smiled warmly.

“Abraham Lincoln, you bastard!” Emily Thompson punched Abraham Lincoln in the chest, but he didn’t budge.

“I, the humble monk Abraham Lincoln, am willing to travel to the West to fetch the Mahayana scriptures.” Abraham Lincoln turned to Eleanor Clark, pressed his palms together, and said solemnly, “But you must guarantee that he won’t die before I return, and after I come back, you’ll extend his life by a hundred years.”

“Alright, I promise.” Eleanor Clark agreed readily, sneaked a glance at Emily Thompson, stuck out her tongue at Abraham Lincoln, handed him a piece of jade-green talisman, and pointed at the staff standing to the side, whispering, “This nine-ringed staff is for you too. Be careful on your journey. She’s too scary, so I’ll head back to Mount Ling first. We’ll meet in secret later. Usually, I live in the Chaoyin Cave on Mount Luojia. If you’re ever in danger, just crush that communication talisman and I’ll come to save you.”

“Alright.” Abraham Lincoln took the jade talisman, his gaze falling on the white jade bottle in Eleanor Clark’s hand. “Your branch is about to wither.”

Eleanor Clark looked down, her expression changed, and with a flash of golden light, she appeared beside Henry Cooper. A cloud lifted the still-unconscious Henry Cooper from the ground, and they turned into a beam of golden light and flew away. From afar, her voice could be heard: “I’m going back to water it. I’ve raised this willow branch for many years—I can’t bear to let it die.”

And the moment Eleanor Clark disappeared, all the strange phenomena on the high platform vanished as well. The overturned incense burner and pastries were all back in place, incense still curling in the air, as if nothing had happened.

Only then did the monks and officials below come to their senses. After praising repeatedly, they finally got up and looked at Abraham Lincoln on the platform with even more reverence, all believing she had summoned the Bodhisattva.

Abraham Lincoln withdrew her gaze and looked at Emily Thompson.

“Do you really have to go?” Emily Thompson asked in a low voice.

“Yes.” Abraham Lincoln nodded.

With blood at the corner of his mouth, Grace Howard stepped forward, scratching his head a little awkwardly. “Your Majesty, that chubby girl is pretty tough, I…”