Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 112 - 108: True Dragon’s Qi

Chapter 112: Chapter 108: True Dragon’s Qi

"I have learned my lesson. Only now do I truly understand the real Great Tang."

Li Ping’an marveled, suddenly realizing that sometimes humans could be worse than demons, especially these wealthy and powerful individuals truly are despised by those who live by the flesh; they fail to plan for the future."

While speaking, a group of women, not knowing where from, appeared at the street corner and began to shout excitedly around Master Ding Jia:

"Master Ding Jia, today I have met you, and you indeed are the most handsome man in Great Tang. If I could marry you, I would gladly offer a thousand pieces of gold!"

"Master Ding Jia, I’ve heard that you have recently caught a slight cold. I would willingly trade my parents’ lives for your good health!"

"Master Ding Jia..."

The group of women that suddenly appeared seemed to come from various backgrounds, some from noble houses, some from ordinary families. Regardless of their status, they all behaved hysterically, speaking without restraint.

Li Ping’an could tell that these women didn’t believe in Buddhism at all; they were simply infatuated with Master Ding Jia’s so-called handsome looks and big reputation. Watching them desperately seeking love, wishing they could lay eggs on the spot and overflow like water inundating Jinshan, reminded Li Ping’an of the brainless fans chasing celebrities in the real world.

After the Thousand Cattle Guards drove these hysterical women away, the procession welcoming Buddha’s Relics passed by the window where Li Ping’an was standing. The people kneeling on both sides of the street quickly stood up and followed, leaving the once crowded street empty and silent.

"Boy, let’s go to Zhengyang Gate to pay respects to Buddha’s Bone and Teeth!"

The three merchants immediately got up and dragged Li Ping’an along with them.

"Do you three brothers also believe in Buddha?"

"Who the hell believes in Buddha? We only believe in money. Money is the one true power; everything else is bullshit. Let’s go, let’s show you, a man from who knows where, a thing or two. We might as well see if there are any new business opportunities."

So Li Ping’an was pulled by the three merchants toward Zhengyang Gate.

At Zhengyang Gate, at least fifty thousand people had gathered, having come to pay respects to the Buddha. The crowd was so thick people were shoulder to shoulder, creating quite a lively scene. Li Ping’an was among them, with a relatively front-row position.

The monks welcoming Buddha’s Relics stood in front of the palace gate. The Palace Eunuch gave orders, and Zhengyang Gate was immediately opened. The group of monks began chanting scriptures, sounding drums and cymbals, revolving and milling around in front of Zhengyang Gate. Up on the city gate towers, concubines, princesses, princes, and other members of the Imperial Clan watched.

"Welcome, officials!"

Once again, the Palace Eunuch called out, and from inside Zhengyang Gate emerged the civil and military officials, led by three foremost figures: Crown Prince Li Zi, Prime Minister Wang Hong, and State Preceptor Pudu Cihang.

Once the officials appeared, they stood beside the monk procession.

"The Emperor leaves his retreat to join the mortal realm; officials and citizens, let us welcome His Majesty!"

With another shout from the Palace Eunuch, everyone within sight of Li Ping’an knelt down. Since Li Ping’an usually only knelt to his parents, failing to join the crowd would be strikingly conspicuous. According to the laws of Great Tang, it would be considered a heinous crime, so reluctantly, he half-knelt with curses under his breath, tilting his head trying to catch a glimpse of what this Dog Emperor looked like.

Inside Zhengyang Gate, Li Ping’an saw thirty-six eunuchs carrying a dragon palanquin surrounded with muslin curtains that enshrouded the Dog Emperor Li Gai within, hiding his true appearance from the onlookers who could only guess at it. This Dog Emperor Li Gai was seen meditating with closed eyes, a Jade Chime beside him – putting on his act.

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When the Dog Emperor Li Gai was carried up to Zhengyang Gate tower, the Palace Eunuch called out:

"Please rise!"

Only then did the civil and military officials and the crowd dare to stand up and look.

"Damn, what a huge spectacle!"

Li Ping’an cursed quietly.

The Emperor arrived, with both civil and military officials ready, as the people rose, and the ceremony was more than halfway complete, the Palace Eunuch called out again:

"Please invite Master Yongxin and Master Ding Jia to ascend the platform and present the Buddha’s Bone and Teeth!"

The monks from Buddha Bone Temple and Master Ding Jia, each holding the relics, said to be left by Master Xuanzang and the Great Saint, ascended the city tower and placed them on the offering table.

With a crisp sound of the Jade Chime, after Emperor Li Gai struck it, the Household Department Minister Di Lishi beside him stepped forward on behalf of Emperor Li Gai to personally open the Buddha Niche, revealing the so-called Buddha’s Bone and Teeth.

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As soon as the relics were displayed, ministers and citizens who believed in Buddhism immediately knelt down and joined the monks from Buddha Bone Temple in chanting prayers.

"What a powerful Buddha’s Bone of the Great Saint! The Great Saint frequently performs miracles, and I have seen his true form, but when did he have Buddha’s Bone and Teeth? Let me take a closer look, to see what it really is!"

Li Ping’an, of course, didn’t believe that the Shariputra were left by Master Xuanzang and the Great Sage Lord, so he squeezed forward a bit more, tiptoed, and stretched his neck out to instantly employ ’Divine Power: Insight into the Hidden’:

"Damn it, it turns out to be dog bones!"

"Hm?"

Just as Li Ping’an saw clearly the so-called Buddha’s Bone and Teeth, a stream of purple Qi suddenly wafted out from within the dragon seat, enveloping the relics and rendering his ’Divine Power: Insight into the Hidden’ ineffective.

"Dog Emperor, blocking my view, let’s see what kind of ’dog thing’ you are?"

Daringly, Li Ping’an peered into the dragon seat again, only for a Golden Dragon, exhaling purple Qi, to immediately fly out, flashing its claws and teeth, and pounce towards the one spying on the True Dragon, the Son of Heaven.

"That was close!"

Li Ping’an quickly withdrew his supernatural ability to avoid exposure, and the Golden Dragon swirled back inside the dragon seat. Li Ping’an was shocked beyond measure, exclaiming:

"The Dog Emperor turns out to be the True Dragon, the Son of Heaven, and his destined time has not yet run out, even my supernatural ability cannot spy on his dragon visage, indeed it’s as if heaven has gone blind!"

What had just happened was seen only by Li Ping’an, unnoticed by anyone else, including the National Teacher Pudu Cihang.

While the ministers and people were admiring the Buddha’s Relics, the sound of the Jade Chime being struck resonated from within the dragon seat once more, and the Household Department Minister Di Lishi, a trusted confidant of Emperor Li Gai, immediately turned to the monks coming with the relics and demanded sharply:

"Where is Master Yongxin, the abbot of Buddha Bone Temple? How could you, a monk, come here with injuries? Are you showing disrespect to your sovereign?"

The monk from Buddha Bone Temple promptly fell to his knees, replying in a trembling voice:

"Master Yongxin has been murdered!"

"What? Murdered? Who killed him? Summon him at once!"

The monk from Buddha Bone Temple then detailed the day’s events in the temple, when Li Ping’an had slandered Buddhism, stolen offerings, desecrated the temple, and killed monks.

Li Ping’an also listened with the crowd, but while others were shocked that such a bold individual existed in Chang’an, Li Ping’an was praying that his own deeds would not be exposed.

After the monk from Buddha Bone Temple finished speaking, Household Department Minister Di Lishi shouted to the civil and military officials gathered below:

"Although the monk from Buddha Bone Temple is not clear about the appearance of the person who caused the disturbance, it can be confirmed that the individual is from the Taoist sect. This lunatic dared to fight and kill Buddhist monks, must be a demon. I immediately order the Chief of The Night Traveler’s Bureau, Yang Kun, to investigate this case, and we must capture this person. Once he’s caught, his family will be exterminated, and he will be executed publicly as a warning to others."

From among the civil and military officials, a man in a Purple Robe stepped forward; it was the Chief of The Night Traveler’s Bureau, Yang Kun, who was also the supervisor of the Night Traveler, Muqiang Baoshan, whom Li Ping’an had previously encountered on Five Fingers Mountain.