Chapter 274
Chapter 274
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 274
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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After receiving the invitation to join the White Lotus Church, I found myself unable to leave the Han Clan easily and fell into deep thought. At first, I had planned to come up with some plausible excuse to slip away, but this was an unexpected proposal.
'Joining the White Lotus Church?'
It was something I had considered in my past lives but never acted on! The reason was that the current White Lotus Church had purged the Thunder God Style, leaving the other three great martial lineages as the core, supporting the Church Lord. In that situation, if I, who had mastered the Thunder God Style's techniques, were to join, it was obvious I'd be ignored or even killed. That was why I had forcibly joined the Thunder God Style's Azure Dragon Martial Hall or wandered the world searching for the Thunder God Style's lost arts.
However, the current situation was markedly different from before. Because Han Baekryeong had guaranteed my safety as the Dharma Protector. In the White Lotus Church, the only being higher than a Dharma Protector was the Church Lord himself, so this carried tremendous weight.
This might be a one-of-a-kind opportunity, hard to come by even across reincarnations. I sat in the luxurious private quarters provided to me, pondering deeply.
"Is the food to your liking?"
At that moment, Han Jinseong, the young lord of the Han Clan, entered my room. I glanced toward him and replied softly.
"I'm eating it well enough, whatever it is."
"That's a relief."
Han Jinseong spoke to the woman beside him.
"Jihwa. Greet him."
The woman with radiant beauty smiled brightly and bowed politely to me.
"Young Hero Baek Woong, a pleasure. I am Jihwa."
"A pleasure. It's an honor to meet Jihwa, one of Luoyang's Four Flowers, renowned far and wide."
"Oh, you flatter me..."
She was Han Jinseong's cousin and one of Luoyang's Four Flowers, said to be the most beautiful woman in Luoyang. I remembered her well from a past life when, through Han Baekryeong's arrangement, I had nearly married her and become the son-in-law of the Flower God Style. I couldn't help but admire her appearance anew.
'Truly refined and beautiful...'
Her features, proportions, vibrant allure, and elegance were incomparable to ordinary noble ladies. Even in simple everyday clothes with minimal adornment, her beauty was enough to leave most men entranced. There was no exaggeration in her reputation as Luoyang's greatest beauty.
However, having lived through past lives and seen beauties like Mihyo, Han Baekryeong, and Sa Gong-rin—who were her equal or greater—I wasn't swayed by her looks alone. Han Jinseong said.
"You seem lost in thought. How about joining us for a stroll through Luoyang?"
"Well..."
"There's something I definitely want to show you."
I knew Han Jinseong wasn't the type to suggest outings idly. There had to be some hidden reason behind this invitation to tour outside, especially while he was tasked with probing Grand General Hwang Yeon. So, I nodded.
"I look forward to it."
"Haha, no need to be tense—nothing major will happen."
Soon, I rode with them in the Han Clan's private carriage as we departed the estate. Boarding the carriage, I was quite surprised by the coachman.
'A Flower God Style expert?'
He appeared as an ordinary coachman on the surface, but in truth, he was a highly skilled martial artist. Far superior to an ordinary Brocade Guard warrior, approaching the Thousand Tiger level. No one in the world would believe a mere coachman's skills rivaled an elder of a major sect. Noticing my sharpened gaze, Han Jinseong, seated opposite, said.
"Better safe than sorry, so we assign only the best as coachmen or escorts."
"Does the Han Clan have grudges with other factions?"
"Haha... The martial world is a web of tangled恩怨. For a powerhouse like our main house, those harboring grudges number like mountains."
"I see."
Clop clop
Inside the carriage racing along the official road, Jihwa stared at me intently. Then, as if curious, she asked.
"You're so young, yet they say you possess incredible martial prowess. Impressive."
"......"
"I hope to see you often from now on."
When a beauty shows favor, most men lose their wits. But with no one trustworthy here, I found it hard to respond smoothly. Han Jinseong interjected.
"Our destination is the Dragon Gate Grottoes."
"Dragon Gate Grottoes? You mean the place with hundreds of thousands of Buddha statues?"
"Yes, that's right."
I let out a groan.
"But it's off-limits to the public."
The Dragon Gate Grottoes in Luoyang, a colossal site even grander than the Lu Mountain Giant Buddha near the capital, were forbidden to ordinary folk, with strict access controls. I had once visited Luoyang and thought of touring it but gave up for that reason. Han Jinseong continued.
"With the Han Clan's influence, it's a simple matter. Normally only high officials and nobles' heirs can enter, but they'll let us in easily."
"Hmm... Fine, but why the Dragon Gate Grottoes out of nowhere?"
"Haha. I'll explain once we're there."
We chatted idly as the carriage traveled for about half a shichen. Upon arriving at the Dragon Gate Grottoes, the majestic facade of the caves came into view. After dismounting, as we approached, guards blocked us—but a few words from Han Jinseong made them back down.
"Wow, it's amazing no matter how many times I come."
Jihwa exclaimed in admiration while touring the Dragon Gate Grottoes. I glanced around indifferently, thinking.
'It's enormous.'
Walking beside me, Han Jinseong said.
"This is the largest surviving Buddhist relic from the Tang Dynasty era. Not just in Luoyang, but probably no one in Henan Province hasn't heard of the Dragon Gate Grottoes."
"Thanks to you, I'm enjoying the sights."
"Glad to hear it."
We toured and chatted for about half a shichen when Han Jinseong spoke up while Jihwa rested a bit apart.
"Truth be told, the Dragon Gate Grottoes have deep ties to the White Lotus Church."
The main point at last? I stared at him wordlessly, and he continued.
"This is Fengxian Cave, renovated and repaired by Emperor Gaozong of Tang's order. The central Vairocana Buddha there was completed in just three years. And many White Lotus Church members participated in crafting it and the other statues."
"I know the White Lotus Church's history dates back to the Late Tang, when it was declining. Something feels off..."
"The Four Great Martial Styles and proper structure were established during Late Tang and Southern Song, rising as a true power then. But the Church's traces exist from early Tang. So, you could see the Dragon Gate Grottoes as an early White Lotus Church relic—and a founder's artifact."
"Impressive..."
If so, the White Lotus Church's history was far older than a millennium? As I genuinely marveled, Han Jinseong said.
"Do you know the founder of the White Lotus Church was a branch of the Buddhist Sect?"
"I've heard something like that."
"He was also the First Patriarch of Zen."
"......!!"
I was stunned. With considerable knowledge of Buddhism, I instantly grasped his meaning. Unable to hide my shock, I retorted.
"That's absurd... So you're saying the White Lotus Church and Shaolin share origins?"
"Essentially, yes."
"Spreading that in the martial world would just earn mockery."
"True. Even claiming Bodhidharma as progenitor, no one would believe it."
Bodhidharma!
Legend said he came from India to the Central Plains, founded Shaolin in the Six Patriarchs era, left many tales during Emperor Wu of Liang's time, and founded Zen Buddhism. An irreplaceable giant founder in Buddhist history. I pressed on.
"Also, Bodhidharma was over a hundred when he arrived in the Central Plains. Surviving to Late Tang would make him centuries old. Where's a man like that?"
"Who knows? Maybe not a man."
"......"
"More precisely, he lay low as a hidden benefactor until Late Tang, then systematized a branch of the White Lotus Church and revealed himself."
At that instant, I recalled what Archmage Mangnyang had once told me.
[The White Lotus Church's founder was a high monk who deeply cultivated the Buddha's teachings. In Late Tang, as humanity decayed and the common folk suffered immensely, he agonized. He desperately sought a being transcending human power, vowing to bring this world to Nirvana with its might, and thus founded the White Lotus Church. He obtained the incantation to borrow the power of the Outer God Musangnomo.]
[But your concern has merit. If the White Lotus Church deciphers the founder's original sutra and fully harnesses the Outer God's power, it would be dangerous. That being also founded Zen, so Musangnomo's sutras are scattered across all Buddhist sects. Thus, no worries for at least a millennium.]
"......"
A high monk deeply cultivating the Dharma.
Founder of Zen.
It matched perfectly. At the time, I hadn't thought much, but Archmage Mangnyang had clearly stated the White Lotus Church's founder established Zen. Moreover, that info was exchanged for portrait divination and crystal monoliths, divulging heavenly secrets—no room for doubt.
The White Lotus Church's founder was none other than Buddhism's greatest eccentric, Bodhidharma!
As I sorted this in my mind, Han Jinseong continued.
"That's why the White Lotus Church holds friendly feelings toward Shaolin. Like brother sects sharing a progenitor. It's why they're unusually lenient with Shaolin among the Nine Great Sects."
"I see... But why reveal this to me here of all places?"
Han Jinseong fell silent at my question for a long while. Then, with a sigh, he said.
"Young Hero Baek Woong, what do you think is the White Lotus Church's ultimate goal?"
"......?"
He smiled bitterly and continued.
"When I mastered the Flower God Style to the peak and secured my heir position, I thought it was unifying the jianghu and dominating the martial world. But as I learned the Church's secrets and accessed hidden matters, I realized it's not."
"Not dominating the martial world?"
"Truthfully, the White Lotus Church could become the martial world's supreme power effortlessly. No faction can oppose us now. If anything, the imperial palace—but even they fall short as rivals."
"......"
"Once the Young Church Lord's strange illness is cured, the Church Lord could unify the realm tomorrow."
I agreed. In my tenth reincarnation, once Heuk Baekryeon infiltrated the White Lotus Church, they conquered the martial world instantly. So I tilted my head at Han Jinseong's words.
"What's the problem then?"
"I've audience with the Church Lord a few times due to my position and spoken with him, but he treats world unification as trivial. He mentioned an even grander goal for himself."
"An even grander goal?"
"I wasn't privy to it. As Flower God Style heir, I'm not in a position to inherit the Church Lord's grand vision."
I pondered his words deeply. Grasping the implication, I said.
"You want me to uncover the Church Lord's true intent?"
"Exactly."
"Why me?"
"You're from the Thunder God Style, not one of the other three great lineages' factions. You're freer from power struggles, and the Church Lord is likely to trust you. Also, the Clan Lord plans to recommend you as the Church Lord's direct disciple."
"......!!"
The Church Lord's direct disciple?
As I reeled, Han Jinseong continued.
"I don't know the reason, but the Clan Lord believes the Church Lord will accept a direct disciple outside the Water Heart Style. That's why I'm telling you."
"I haven't a clue either."
I crossed my arms and shook my head.
"You're the world's handsomest man, with immense wealth, near-transcendent martial arts, sharp intellect, and heir to the colossal Flower God Style. With nothing to envy in the world, why are you so curious about this?"
Han Jinseong occupied an unrivaled position any man would covet. Rumors said Luoyang's noble ladies lined up for him, and even the city's playboys admired him. A perfect golden spoon, envied by kings and nobles alike.
"That's precisely why I'm curious."
He continued expressionlessly.
"Even with all I've had since birth, it's all hollow—gone with one breath from the Church Lord. With an absolute being toying with my life, isn't it natural to want to know his true intent?"
"......"
Suddenly, I recalled Han Jinseong's reaction when Han Baekryeong once tried giving me Jihwa. Outwardly impassive, but when I refused, he gifted me a famed sword in gratitude.
'This man too suffers under fate's yoke.'
Power, intellect, wealth, looks—possessing all, yet a puppet. Han Jinseong's plight stirred an inexplicable emotion in me. After a moment's thought, I said to him.
"If I uncover it for you later, what will you give me in return?"
"That's why I sought this quiet moment today."
He continued.
"I'll give you my fifteen silver mines, gold, jewels, treasures. And provide talents and experts without stint. Use them to rise to the pinnacle as the Church Lord's heir."
"......!!"
"Will you accept?"
I realized this was a major proposal. Han Jinseong might seem young and unassuming, but as heir to one of the world's mightiest forces, the Flower God Style, with vast wealth, his aid would be immense. The offer seemed too good, making me suspicious briefly, but I deemed it fine.
'Han Jinseong wants to boost my position in the Church to elevate his own.'
And if I succeeded greatly, he'd leverage that to stand equal with current Clan Lord Han Baekryeong. Thus, the deal benefited us both. Seeing no downside, I nodded.
"Agreed."
"You've made the right choice."
The deal was struck.
An shichen later, we finished touring the Dragon Gate Grottoes and returned to the Han Clan main house. In the carriage, admiring Luoyang's night view, Han Jinseong said.
"Tomorrow, please visit the Twin Gate Temple Clan."
"Twin Gate Temple Clan? Why there?"
"It's an order from the Clan Lord."
From his words, I intuited more chaos ahead.
"She wants you, Baek Woong, to teach a lesson to the Twin Gate Temple Clan's heads."