Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The arrival of Abbot Zuyin brought an inexplicable sigh, leaving everyone in a fog, unsure of what "Abbot" meant. Lu Chen furrowed his brow; this Abbot had never appeared before, and it was unclear what his intentions were or whether he would take action.
However, this was not something to be overly concerned about. It was certain that the Abbot was a skilled individual, and whether he would act or not was not important. If provoked, he would inevitably take action; even a Buddha can become angry, and there is truth in that saying.
Regarding the current situation, the Great Zhou Dynasty had already fallen, and the Eastern Shaolin Temple, which had once been affiliated with the Great Zhou Dynasty, might not be able to maintain a favorable position amidst such public opinion. On the contrary, they were struggling for survival, with everyone discussing their fate.
As for the content of those discussions, it was unnecessary to elaborate. The Eastern Shaolin Temple had once relied on the Great Zhou Dynasty, and now that the dynasty had fallen, the process had been tumultuous. Could the Eastern Shaolin Temple still hold a good position? It would be fortunate if they were not overwhelmed by public opinion. Despite the current prosperity of the Eastern Shaolin Temple, they themselves knew that the situation was not favorable.
Lu Chen intended to negotiate with the Abbot again, advising him to hand over Huangfu Zhen for everyone's sake. This way, they could settle matters peacefully; otherwise, who knew what consequences might arise? Even if Lu Chen did not act, the Abbot should understand this as well. No matter how powerful he was alone, what good would it do? Could he stand against an entire nation or its subjects?
Clearly, such possibilities were almost nonexistent. While the Abbot was indeed formidable, in light of the current situation, he was nothing significant. With his abilities, it was impossible for him to eliminate everyone; he could not do that.
At that moment, outside the gates of the Eastern Shaolin Temple, the sound of thundering hooves echoed. Everyone turned to see smoke and dust rising as a troop appeared on the narrow mountain path ahead. A pair of soldiers waved red flags with impressive momentum.
At this time, troops were actually approaching the Eastern Shaolin Temple. From their appearance, they seemed formidable. It was obvious that these were troops from Korea; no other country would dare to send troops into Western Seven States territory so easily. Even during the time of the Great Zhou Dynasty, such actions would have been unthinkable.
"What are they here for?" Lian Dashuang murmured from among the crowd, his face filled with confusion.
Lian Dashuang's thoughts were naturally different from Lu Chen's. As for why they had come here, Lu Chen already knew the reason; he had anticipated this and quickly gathered his forces to arrive at Eastern Shaolin ahead of them.
"It seems that what needed to come has finally arrived; now we must see how they will act," Lu Chen muttered to himself. The "they" he referred to were naturally people from Korea. Their objectives and positions might not align with those of Qin Nan.
Although Korea and Daiwa Dynasty had previously been allies and friends, now that the Great Zhou Dynasty had fallen and each side had gained some benefits for themselves, they had naturally parted ways and were no longer bound by their previous agreements.
At this point, Lu Chen has come to a conclusion: Korea has already abandoned the Central Plains, and their garrison has completely retreated from Qingtian Pass. Although this is merely Lu Chen's speculation, he believes that military news will soon reach him.
The troops of Korea have forcefully invaded the Eastern Shaolin Temple, and one of the leading young women among them is none other than the former Korean Princess. Now, she holds the esteemed title of Princess Xiangyi, Chu Yuzhu, the beloved daughter of Sovereign Chu Mang.
At this moment, the ones with the most troubled expressions are the people of the Eastern Shaolin Temple. They have long been aware of the Three Kingdoms Alliance's siege on the Great Zhou Dynasty. It is precisely because they know that the Great Zhou Dynasty's fate is nearing its end that they have recalled all their Monk Soldiers from within the temple. Otherwise, their Monk Soldiers would likely have perished in battle, which was a wise choice.
They now realize that the situation is becoming increasingly dire for them. The position of the Eastern Shaolin Temple has grown more isolated and pale, as they believe that Korea's troops are here to assist Lu Chen and his companions in battle, primarily for Huangfu Zhen.
Chu Yuzhu arrives at the entrance of the Eastern Shaolin Temple with a large entourage, moving unhindered. She glances at Lu Chen among the crowd; her expression is not particularly friendly, but that does not mean she dares to offend him easily. On the contrary, she knows that Lu Chen is no longer the same Lu Chen as before.
"The Emperor has decreed that you must hand over the remnants of the previous dynasty, Huangfu Zhen. Otherwise, we will flatten the Eastern Shaolin Temple," Chu Yuzhu states upon her arrival to the group of monks. Their stance is also to demand someone. However, their intention in taking Huangfu Zhen is not to eliminate him but rather to protect him, using him as leverage against other lords. This idea was conceived and executed by Chu Mang after hearing a suggestion from a Taoist at Star Gate; instead of killing Huangfu Zhen, they intend to safeguard him.
Korea is clearly taking a different path than ordinary people. For instance, if it were either the Great Qi Dynasty or Daiwa Dynasty in this situation, they would certainly not let Huangfu Zhen go easily. Once he fell into their hands, he would be doomed.
However, Korea has made it clear that they intend to follow an unconventional route; they do not wish to kill Huangfu Zhen but rather aim to protect him.
Even though the Great Zhou Dynasty has fallen, it does not mean Huangfu Zhen is alone. On the contrary, he still has many supporters. If they can secure Huangfu Zhen, those supporters will naturally come to rally around him. Korea recognizes this potential and thus has set its sights on Huangfu Zhen. At that time, who would doubt Korea's ability to govern?
Nevertheless, while Chu Mang's calculations may sound good in theory, it does not guarantee smooth execution in practice. Even Lu Chen personally leading his men faced setbacks here; how much more difficult would it be for a weak woman like her? Even with countless troops at her command, what difference would it make?
Do not assume that the monks of Eastern Shaolin Temple are fools; on the contrary, they can see through Korea's intentions and will not easily hand over Huangfu Zhen. They aim to reduce worldly evils based on their principles.
"Master Abbot, His Majesty has issued an edict demanding you hand over Huangfu Zhen; otherwise, you understand what consequences await," Chu Yuzhu boldly states without fear of threats. After all, they are here for someone and will not hesitate to assert themselves with youthful confidence.
Next to Chu Yuzhu, there were several Taoist masters who appeared quite arrogant. Just by looking at their demeanor, it was clear they were priests from Star Gate. However, upon discovering Yuanmo Laozu among the crowd, they all fell silent at almost the same time, restraining their expressions. After all, the presence of Yuanmo Laozu was on par with their Supreme Master, Shen Taiyi. Moreover, the ambiguous aura surrounding Yuanmo Laozu made it difficult for them to discern whether he was good or evil; he always seemed to be somewhat sinister.
Aside from Yuanmo Laozu, Lu Chen and the Treasure Guardian Beast were also formidable presences that should not be underestimated. After staying a while longer, they noticed a terrifying figure lurking in the shadows—none other than the old Abbot Zuyin. This person had not appeared for a long time, and now that he did, his aura was so intimidating that it completely undermined the confidence of the Star Gate priests.
However, what shocked them even more was yet to come. The supreme Nine Great Bodhisattvas of Eastern Shaolin Temple received notice and immediately emerged from their cultivation caves, swiftly making their way here. In no time at all, they arrived before everyone.
The crowd felt eight overwhelmingly powerful auras approaching mysteriously like gods. In the blink of an eye, they appeared in front of them, spread out in all directions—some on mountain peaks and others on the roofs of taller buildings. Their expressions were peculiar; some were sleeping, some meditating, and others assumed martial stances as if practicing Qi Master techniques. In short, their demeanor was strange and extraordinary.
The host of Eastern Shaolin Temple, who often managed affairs within the temple, was one of the Nine Great Bodhisattvas. The other eight were in their respective residences for cultivation. Now that there was an issue at hand, the Nine Great Bodhisattvas had gathered together. Along with Abbot Zuyin and the supreme Void Immortal's presence, as well as the Four Great Kings, this constituted an incredible fighting force. Even if all forces from Korea and Daiwa Dynasty rushed in together now, they could not be absolutely certain of defeating Eastern Shaolin Temple. Furthermore, apart from these individuals, there were countless other experts within Eastern Shaolin Temple distributed across various halls such as the Discipline Hall and Martial Monk Hall.
In such circumstances, if both sides were to engage in battle, it was uncertain who would emerge victorious.
"Benefactor, I have already confirmed that Huangfu Shizhu is indeed in our temple; however, he has long since renounced worldly affairs and become a monk. Why cling to the past? Let him cultivate in peace; would that not be better?" The host spoke to Chu Yuzhu while addressing Lu Chen and others as well.
"Hmph! The master has always maintained that Huangfu Zhen has become a monk, but why not let him come out for a meeting? If we cannot see him with our own eyes, how can we know if it's true? Buddhism teaches that monks do not speak idly; are you deceiving us?" Lian Dashuang interjected at this moment, accusing the host.
"Amitabha! I would never deceive you, benefactor; my apologies for any misunderstanding. I have never spoken falsely. If you wish to see Huangfu Shizhu, you must seek his consent first; I cannot make decisions on my own," replied the host master.
Comment 0 Comment Count