Chapter 157: Tomb of the Ming King (2)
Chapter 157: Tomb of the Ming King (2)
“So, have you found a way out yet? You said this was the axis of the formation!”
“I’m looking, so stop pestering me!”
At Kang Yeo-hee’s words, Zhuge Yeong snapped out of his thoughts with a grumble. It wasn't easy to maintain focus after a series of such shocking revelations.
After all, this was the tomb of the Han Lin'er.
It was almost laughable to even consider the magnitude of the impact this information would have. It was a treasure the Ming Imperial Court coveted most, a fortuitous opportunity that would make every martial artist in the world—regardless of whether they were Orthodox or Unorthodox—rush here at the mere mention of the name.
Even if the interior was empty... no, rather, it was because it was empty.
‘The presence of a coffin means there was once a body.’
Zhuge Yeong looked down at the coffin, which was covered in complex axial inscriptions.
The fact that a coffin sat in this spot meant a corpse had once occupied it. And judging by the devotion poured into this coffin and the tomb itself, there was a very high probability it belonged to Han Lin'er.
If so, where were the burial goods?
They didn't necessarily have to be martial arts manuals. They didn't have to be legendary elixirs or glittering gold and silver treasures. However, unless the corpse had stood up and emptied the coffin itself, the absence of both the body and the burial goods meant—
‘Someone got here first and picked it clean.’
Naturally, that was the only logical conclusion.
Zhuge Yeong focused as he ran his hands over the reliefs on the stone sarcophagus and the artifacts surrounding it. Identifying the principles and history embedded within a formation was a skill he had practiced countless times since his days at the Zhuge Family.
Thus, it wasn't difficult to find traces of someone who had learned the same techniques. It was certain. The ancient and once-powerful grand formation protecting this tomb had been dismantled by the Zhuge Family’s specific unraveling formulas.
There was a very, very high probability that the person who stole the burial goods was the Zhuge Family Head. Han Lin'er’s remains as well.
“Tsk...”
“What? Did you figure something out?”
“It’s a variation of my family’s Eight Trigrams Golden Gate Formation. It’s been heavily modified, but the underlying principle is the same. There are two Gates of Life.”
“Whoa...! Fi-finally! Where are they?!”
“One was created by someone at a realm far superior to mine, so I have no way of unraveling it. But I’m certain about the other one. It’s designed to unravel naturally over time.”
“Huh...? You mean if we just sit tight and wait, it’ll dismantle itself?”
“Indeed. It should take about seven years.”
“Argh!”
Kang Yeo-hee grumbled and kicked the empty stone sarcophagus for no reason. While she clutched her aching foot and whimpered, Zhuge Yeong ignored her and scanned the surrounding ruins.
There were three massive Buddhist statues, and beneath them were three flags: blue, red, and white. The Dipankara Buddha, the Shakyamuni Buddha, and the Maitreya Buddha.
The Dipankara Buddha represented the past 1,800 years. Beneath the statue, which held the Lotus Anjali Mudra, were carvings of people prostrating. It signified that all followers who believed in the White Lotus Cult throughout its long history had been saved.
The Shakyamuni Buddha represented the present. Beneath the statue, which held the Vajra Anjali Mudra symbolizing steadfast faith, were carvings of people standing tall. It meant that all believers would protect the doctrine with one heart, without straying.
Finally, the Maitreya Buddha held the Earth-Touching Mudra, signifying nirvana. Beneath it, a single figure was carved sitting in a lotus position. It was a faceless woman. It signified that the Unborn Venerable Mother had saved all sentient beings.
The White Lotus Cult was a secret society. Throughout the reign of the Ming Imperial Court, they had never once allowed the location of their main headquarters or their holy mountain to be leaked to the outside world. They were thorough to an almost unbelievable degree.
Therefore, to outsiders, this was the first properly exposed ruin of the White Lotus Cult.
‘And for the White Lotus followers, this must be a holy site they could never abandon.’
This was the ancient royal tomb of a leader who had once briefly ruled the Central Plains. It was unlikely the White Lotus followers would ever give up on this tomb. If that was the case, he could now piece together his father’s—the Zhuge Family Head’s—train of thought.
‘First, incite massive chaos within the Jiangnan Baekrim Association to paralyze the forces they can project externally.’
That was the first move. This tied the Baekrim Association and the Namgung Family together.
‘Second, provoke the Imperial Court with the fact that this is the Ming King’s tomb.’
The person the Ming Imperial Court had historically feared most was Han Lin'er, and for the past 200 years, the Court had exhausted its efforts to erase every trace of the White Lotus Cult.
In such a situation, if Han Lin'er’s tomb were discovered, the authorities could not remain idle. Furthermore, if the tomb had already been looted and was empty, suspicion would fall on all the martial artists gathered here.
In other words, it was a move that could shake the long-standing relationship between the Jiangnan martial world and the Imperial Court.
‘And finally, third.’
The empty tomb. The stolen legacy. The Zhuge Family Head, who likely discovered this tomb first...
‘Can make contact with the White Lotus Cult.’
He would be able to trade with them using the relics the White Lotus followers so desperately craved.
With those cultists whose scale and structure remained unknown, hidden throughout the Central Plains.
And he had done this at least ten years ago.
‘Just what on earth are you planning, Father?’
Zhuge Yeong sank into thought, completely ignoring Kang Yeo-hee, who was chattering beside him.
Joining hands with the Blood Cult to split the Martial Alliance in half? That, he could understand. His father was the incarnation of ambition, a man who wished to stand above ten thousand and command the world. Just like the Marquis of Wu in the old days.
The Zhuge Family was not a clan that inherited the strongest martial arts. Nor could they claim to be the absolute best in formations and sorcery.
As the leader of such a family, the only chance to reshape the world to his liking and leap forward as the greatest clan under heaven was during a time of chaos. Since the Zhuge Family’s greatest strengths were military strategy and schemes.
So, he could understand that much. Even forcing losses upon the giant sects that were difficult to influence within the Alliance by taking advantage of the Blood Cult’s movements.
But at this point, he couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. The White Lotus Cult? And if these were the glimpses of the demonic claws already revealed, what about the other parts of the Central Plains he hadn't yet grasped?
“Uh? Hey! Hey! You, Zhuge kid!”
“Why are you making such a fuss? I have enough on my mind as it is.”
“There’s a fire over there.”
Kang Yeo-hee pointed toward a corner of the distant forest. Thick black smoke was billowing up from there, plain as day for anyone to see.
*
“Perfect.”
I tossed one last burning log into the pile and brushed off my hands. It was lucky that it was early spring. It wasn't cold, it was moderately dry, and the sky was just perfect. The fire was catching beautifully.
Technically, Han Lin'er was a Buddhist, wasn't he? Since the White Lotus Cult is like a bastard child of Buddhism.
Then the man probably would have wanted to be cremated. Who knows? Maybe sarira would come out of his body. If it were Han Lin'er’s sarira, he could probably name his price.
“Hmm, hmm, hmmm.”
I found myself humming. It was just a shame I couldn't bring a pipa because I had to move in a hurry. You can't exactly carry an acoustic guitar while going to fight the Blood Cult in Yunnan.
But if I’d had a pipa at a time like this, I could have introduced some amazing modern melodies to this primitive medieval China. Today was a day I felt like playing a bit of metal.
“Y-you crazy bastard! Who the hell are you?!”
As I was tossing embers here and there, I saw someone shouting and running toward me from the distance. A middle-aged man, looking as disheveled as could be, ran up panting and pointed a finger at me.
“Do you have any idea where you are and what you’re doing?!”
“Are you by any chance from the White Lotus Cult?”
“What? Where did you...! I am from the Hwa-ui Gate— Ahem! I belong to the Orthodox sects of the Baekrim Association!”
“Isn't this the White Lotus Cult Leader’s tomb?”
I was guided here by a priest of Mount Mao, so it had to be. I’d even passed through more than three of the Mount Mao Sect’s restrictive formations on my way in, so there was no doubt.
If I had committed arson in some completely random place, I’d have nothing to say, but at the very least, this place was a 100% pure White Lotus Cult Leader’s tomb site, guaranteed by the Mount Mao Sect.
“Since you know that...! Do you have any idea how valuable a fortuitous opportunity this is?”
“I have no interest in a den of monsters and spirits that deludes the people. So, be on your way.”
“You brat! What is your sect?!”
“Me?”
At those words, I set down the firewood and looked at the man. At best, he was at the mid-stage of the Peak Realm. Judging by the aura he gave off, he was likely at the early stage.
Certainly, a martial artist of the Peak Realm would be more than qualified to be the elder of a small sect, and even if not, they were at a level where they would be invited as an honored guest anywhere in the Central Plains.
A realm where one’s talent for martial arts was so superior even among commoners that they lived with a sense of time the masses couldn't even imagine.
And that was the same for me.
“Black Path Demonic Alliance, Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance, Great Hebei Peng Family.”
I gripped my gauntlets and drew my saber, resting it on my shoulder. I didn't know where the Hwa-ui Gate was. Well, some small-to-medium sect probably heard the rumors and dispatched an expert first, dreaming of soaring to become the top sect in Jiangnan by obtaining Han Lin'er’s secret manuals.
You could basically think of them as gambling addicts. That’s how martial artists usually are.
“What...? What?! The Peng Family already...? Has word of this already reached Hebei?!”
“I have a lot more things I’m curious about, so let’s make this quick.”
Thump, thump, thump. My heart pounded.
Along with my heartbeat, Astral Energy spread through my entire body with a tingling sensation. It felt as if my sense of time was warping. I reached a moment where I could clearly see every single spark of the burning flames around me, down to the smallest detail.
Standing there, I spoke to the man, who had turned pale after realizing my realm.
“How many of you are in this forest right now?”
I didn't care if they were from the Baekrim Association, the Sima Alliance, the Martial Alliance, or the White Lotus Cult.
Since they had infiltrated this forest by breaking through the Mount Mao Sect’s grand formation, they were nothing more than grave robbers addicted to gambling. In other words, from the perspective of the Namgung and Murong families, these were people they would actually pay a reward to have killed.
In fact, those families would hate for these people to make it out alive. If they all rushed out together and shouted, "The One Piece is real!" wouldn't it trigger a Great White Lotus Era?
So, as a guest warrior who came here at the Sword Empress’s request, I had no choice but to do my job.
“Y-you...! How dare the Peng Family dispatch a martial artist into the heart of the Orthodox sects! If the Namgung Family finds out about this, you’re a dead man!”
“Ah, the Namgung Family?”
I simply flicked my gauntlet, spinning the Sect Leader’s Token around, and gave him a smile. The moment he saw the Namgung Family’s Sect Leader’s Token, he turned deathly pale.
“Is the Namgung Family the kind of clan that lets people rummaging through their front yard without permission off the hook just because they’re part of the Baekrim Association? That’s quite merciful of them.”
For the record, the Hebei Peng Family would exterminate any Black Path sect belonging to the Dragon Slaying Alliance even if they did have permission to rummage. Don't ask why we gave permission in the first place. Our permission is a graded system granted based on the total amount of 'sincerity' shown.
There are no sincerity dividends for Bronze-tier members.
“It seems they weren't so merciful this time, though.”
“What can you possibly do alone?! I-I didn't come alone! Seeing these flames, many righteous heroes of Jiangnan will come looking for you!”
“That’s why I started the fire.”
Did he think I set the fire so I could move around quietly and secretly?
“Why do you all always say the same thing? ‘What can you do alone?’, ‘There are so many people waiting for you.’, ‘If you touch me, my friends won't stay quiet.’”
Come to think of it, I’d been hearing those words since my first foray into the world.
Isn't it just ridiculous? The things martial artists do, after charging out claiming they’ll dominate the world with a single blade.
I understand. Generally, huddling in groups is an instinct of herbivores.
But that’s not how we are taught.
“I’ve had many people say those things to me.”
And yet, I am still alive.
There are probably countless people in this world stronger than me. That’s only natural. The martial arts of the Hebei Peng Family are not peerless techniques that claim to be the best under heaven.
In terms of raw power, they likely cannot match those of Shaolin or the Heavenly Thunder Alliance, and even if you look for something more profound, they fall short of the numerous martial arts of the Orthodox sects.
However, the Hebei Peng Family is the greatest clan under heaven. Few would dare deny this.
Why is that? The conclusion is simple.
Even if the martial arts of the Hebei Peng Family are not the world’s greatest divine arts...
A martial artist of the Hebei Peng Family is, in themselves, a being who can command the world.
That is the attitude I move forward with. Burning the world, standing alone as the greatest, and walking my own path.
Believing that even if I should fall one day, someone else from the family will surely take my place.
Thinking of the freedom of the horizon where I can gallop, while many others feel fear and hopelessness in the vast plains.
Crack, crackle!
So, having lived in the Peng Family for eighteen years.
Having practiced the Peng Family’s martial arts for fifteen years.
And in this moment, with a saber bearing the Peng name resting on my shoulder.
Always, like a Peng.
I run with a smile.
That is the brand that the founding ancestor, Peng Dan-san, seared into our souls when he burned down the Sutra Library of the Songshan Shaolin Temple.
Crackle, zap!!
And thinking as a wise modern man of the 21st century...
The more people who see this, the more advantageous it is for me.
Yes, really. I’m doing this after making a rational judgment.
And for some reason, I don't feel like I’ll lose.
“Watch closely and try your best to block it.”
The Thunderbolt Severing the Heavens fell toward the man’s neck.