The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 205 - 148 Xiangji Temple

Chapter 205: Chapter 148 Xiangji Temple

"These monks really remember a feast but forget a beating!"

Hearing it had to do with Xiangji Temple, Luo Faqing immediately sneered.

Seeing Li Yan’s confusion, Wang Daoxuan heaved a sigh beside him, shaking his head and explained, "There are many Buddhist Taoist sects in the Divine State, but when it comes to the Mystical Sect, it is mainly Zen, Esoteric, Lotus, and Vinaya as the primary ones."

"Zen advocates that all sentient beings have a Buddha-nature, and enlightenment does not depend on external searching. Within one’s nature, all laws are manifested. Its Ancestor Court is in Shaolin of Yu State, also one of the Taixuan Orthodox Sects decreed by the court..."

"Esoteric views the self as the Buddha, originates from Tianzhu, was introduced to the Divine State during the Tang Dynasty, with complex Magic Methods. Now there is Central Earth’s Tang Esoteric, Tubo’s Tibetan Buddhism, and Japan’s Eastern Esoteric, etc..."

"Vinaya emphasizes the study and transmission of precepts. The precepts are strict, and its Ancestor Court is in Zhongnan Mountain, also a Proper Xuan Sect decreed by the court..."

"Each Buddhist Taoist sect has its strengths. Because they have many followers, they were decreed by the court, usually performing rituals to exorcise evil and soothe souls. Only the Lotus Sect is under the strictest control by the court."

Li Yan asked in confusion, "Why is that?"

Wang Daoxuan said solemnly, "The Lotus Sect focuses on the inner work of reciting Buddha and the external power of Amitabha’s vow. They correspond within and without to be reborn in the Pure Land. It has a deep connection with the Maitreya Sect."

"Maitreya rose during the Song Dynasty because its doctrines were simple and easy to understand. Many common people got involved. Later, it mixed with good and bad elements, and the discipline was lax. Its followers would gather at night and scatter in the morning, often stirring up trouble and easily inciting rebellion..."

"The previous dynasty, during its rise, had relied on their power when confronting the Golden Tent Wolf Country. But since the rise of Great Xuan Dynasty, it has been strictly banned, causing quite a bit of chaos..."

"Affected by this, the Lotus Sect is also avoided and mostly keeps to closed-door practice, not meddling in worldly affairs."

"Not meddling in worldly affairs?"

Luo Faqing sneered, "If that were true, why would they harbor a demon and be involved with the Maitreya Sect!"

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then looked to the side.

Lu Gongyuan had been firmly tied up, kneeling on the ground with a face like dead ash. He wanted to commit suicide but was afraid that Li Yan would seize his soul.

Such an important person obviously could not be killed lightly.

Li Yan asked solemnly, "What is the situation inside Xiangji Temple now? Has it become a secret hall of the Maitreya Sect?"

Lu Gongyuan, with his defenses broken down, replied truthfully, "Hui Qing arrived early, has been the confidant of the Vice Sect Hierarch for many years, and has been in the temple for a long time. Because of the profoundness of his Buddhist studies, he has become the abbot."

"Because of the court’s taboo, the monks in the temple only engage in Buddhist practice and do not cultivate spells and martial arts. We have also been acting in secret under his disguise."

"How many people are there?"

"After the failed uprising, under subordination of the Vice Sect Hierarch, thirteen of us fled here, pursued by both the court and the Incense Master of the sect."

"Over the years, we dared not reveal our identities. We joined the temple’s practice intermittently in various ways. Excluding those who died of old age, seven remain."

"Are there any experts among them?"

"Three of them know spells; the rest are proficient in hand-to-hand combat. The strongest is Hui Qing, who knows quite a few Japanese spells and martial arts."

"We must act quickly!"

Luo Faqing spoke in a heavy tone, "We have already startled the snake by beating the grass. The demon must be preparing to flee. If they take the bodies, the Du Family’s Evil Curse will eventually erupt."

"Humph, remnants of Maitreya, overseas barbarians, dare to cast spells and harm people near Chang’an, nurturing evil creatures. Not one can be let go!"

"Luo Daoist friend speaks the truth."

Even Wang Daoxuan nodded in agreement.

Li Yan pondered for a moment, "Well, they have discovered us. By evening, a paper doll is likely to not deceive that evil creature."

"There’s no time to delay. Let’s ascend the mountain now!"

The other side didn’t have many people. According to Lu Gongyuan, they were all the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled left over from the past.

Just then, he suddenly thought of something and turned to ask Lu Gongyuan, "You said, not only is the court hunting you, but even the Maitreya Sect’s people are looking for you. Why is that?"

"I happen to know about that."

Luo Faqing’s expression became a bit strange, "We’ll talk about it on the way. Actually, it’s kind of a joke."

...

"That Vice Sect Hierarch of Maitreya was named Zhao Changsheng."

A group of people ascended the mountain amidst the wind and snow. Luo Faqing spoke while they walked, "This person is really interesting. He joined the sect halfway, and no one knew his previous background, but the Sect Leader of Maitreya trusted him greatly. In a few years, he became the Vice Sect Hierarch."

"At that time, Maitreya had a considerable influence because it fought against the Golden Tent Wolf Country and was banned after the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty. As a result, not only did the followers not comply, but even the people in the pugilistic world sympathized..."

"Moreover, they named after the sixty-four hexagrams of ’The Book of Changes’ and had sixty-four incense halls set up across the Divine State. Each Hall Master was proficient in Magic Skill. Their reputation was prominent, whether in the Mystical Sect or the pugilistic world..."

"They organized gatherings at night and stirred up trouble by day. Sometimes they even attacked the county governments. It was a headache for the court as it extinguished trouble in one place, new troubles would arise in another..."

"At the same time, there was a great drought in Guanzhong, and corpses littered the roads. This Vice Sect Hierarch subtly instigated, claiming the time for a dynastic change had come. He wanted to summon all the incense halls in the country to seize the opportunity to rebel."

"The key was that the Maitreya Sect Leader believed him. The Captain Bureau of the court got wind of this and stayed quiet, not moving their troops. Only when Maitreya stirred up great chaos in Guanzhong, did they mobilize heavy forces to quell it."

"Some say that this Vice Sect Hierarch was actually a secret spy cultivated by the Taixuan Orthodox Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall to round up Maitreya all at once."

"Both the Taixuan Orthodox Sect and the court denied this, and they sent experts to hunt and kill him, while the remnants of Maitreya also believed it was true and hunted him in the shadows."

"Ha, this matter is quite amusing to talk about. If that man really wasn’t a spy, then he’s a fool..."

Li Yan thought and shook his head, "Doesn’t seem like it. If the other side were a fool, how could they have set up this game near Chang’an twenty years ago? At that time, Maitreya hadn’t even started stirring trouble yet."