Ten Lives in Vain

On the Lingshan Mountain, Jin Chanzi argued with the Buddha about whether great love or small love is more important, but they both insisted on their own opinions and there was no conclusion. In order to discern the true meaning of human love, Jin Chanzi dispersed his consciousness and participated in ten reincarnation trials in the world of mortals. The memory of each life was cleared, and all decisions were based solely on the heart of a mortal. This is the first life of reincarnation, which falls in the flood-ravaged Shang and Zhou dynasties. Lingyuan, a young man from the tribe, is responsible for patrolling rivers and predicting floods. He travels in river valleys and forests all year round. By chance, they meet Su He, who lives in seclusion in a valley and makes a living by collecting herbs. The two spend time together day and night, and the years in the mountains and fields are quiet and gentle. We pick herbs together in the spring, sit quietly by the river and chat in the summer nights, and stay together to avoid the cold in the autumn and winter. We have already made a private decision to live together for the rest of our lives. The good times did not last long. Heavy rains that lasted for several months caused the river water to swell and floods were approaching. Tens of thousands of people from several tribes downstream had nowhere to escape. Only Ling Yuan, who was familiar with the topography of the entire river basin, could take the lead in digging mountains and channeling the rivers. However, the road to water control was long and difficult, even risking his life. Once he set out, he would have to completely give up his wish to live in seclusion with Su He; if he chose to stay in the valley to avoid disaster, thousands of refugees would eventually be swallowed up by the flood. The clan is divided into two factions. The patriarch Boyu earnestly persuades Ling Yuan to put the common people first, but his friend Shi Jian, who has been with him since childhood, advises him to cherish the lover in front of him; the old refugee woman who fled cried out about the tragic situation of her family being destroyed, and the valley shaman bluntly said that no matter what choice he made, he would eventually leave irreparable regrets. Ling Yuan was caught in a dilemma, between his unforgettable love and the lives of innocent sentient beings, suffering day and night. Hong Feng arrived early, leaving Ling Yuan with no time to hesitate.