Free Web NovelChapter 535: Chapter 3: Mother of Non-Birth, Vacuum Homeland
’Something is wrong with Senior Brother Zhang.’
The moment Lu Xuan saw Zhang Daoling, he came to a conclusion. Although this middle-aged Daoist looked majestic and imposing, he completely lacked that particular air of Senior Brother Zhang...
Whether he was the Ghost Valley Master or Zhang Liang, he was always Zhang Ling, and he always carried Zhang Ling’s unique aura.
No matter what he looked like, Lu Xuan could recognize that blissfully idiotic quality of his with just a second glance!
But this Zhang Daoling now was like a true Grand Celestial Master of the Daoist Sect, possessing only majesty and solemnity.
’In this life, Senior Brother Zhang has already become Immortal, yet he still hasn’t remembered his past lives?’
’Is it because... his True Spirit is damaged?’
The Old Temple Master lowered his gaze, a flash of gloom crossing his mind. At the same time, the three wretched-looking Daoists cautiously performed a salute.
"We greet the Heavenly Master Taoist, the Dragon and Tiger Celestial Master!"
Zhang Daoling nodded slightly. With his hands behind his back, he walked into the Daoist Temple, his gaze sweeping over everyone with a scrutinizing air, naturally imposing without a hint of anger.
"This guy..."
Yuan Benchu frowned and whispered,
"He’s got more presence than my old man. The Celestial Master Dao, huh?"
Cao Mengde coughed softly and reminded him in a low voice,
"Brother Ben Chu, it’s best not to speak recklessly about such a person. I’ve also heard of Zhang Daoling of the Celestial Master Dao back in Luoyang. It seems..."
Before he could finish, Sun Wentai cut in brashly, full of youthful fire.
"Hey! You’re some Daoist from that Celestial Master Dao, right? Do you know anything about the White Lotus Sect that’s been popping up everywhere lately? You mystical mumbo-jumbo types are all a bunch of scoundrels!"
Yuan Benchu and Cao Mengde’s expressions changed slightly, and they cursed inwardly. ’This Wentai has always been hot-tempered. He has courage in spades, but he’s too rash, too impulsive... This is...’
Zhang Daoling glanced coolly at Sun Wentai and nodded.
"The White Lotus arose in the West. They revere Maitreya, the Mother of Non-Birth, and the Innocent Ancient Buddha. I belong to the Daoist School. How would I be acquainted with the White Lotus?"
He didn’t get angry at the young man’s accusation. He simply offered a brief explanation before walking to a secluded corner of the Daoist Temple and sitting down.
Seeing this, the three blood-soaked, armor-clad young men also found a large pillar to lean against and sat down to rest.
For a time, the vast Daoist Temple fell into silence. The Old Temple Master sat in the rearmost central position.
The three Zhang brothers were in the rear right, while Zhuge Kongming sat with Lu Nian and Little Liu Bei in the rear left.
Zhang Daoling sat alone in the front right, and Cao Mengde’s group of three sat properly in the front left. Excluding the Old Temple Master, the four groups happened to form the positions of the Four Symbols, their auras silently mingling and clashing!
Little Lu Nian’s eyes darted back and forth, looking from one side to the other, her mind clearly pondering something.
After a moment’s thought, she sidled up to Little Liu Bei and whispered,
"Hey, see those three guys over there? There’s one who’s deeply connected to you by fate. Your destinies are intertwined, opposing each other yet also complementary. Go on, go get to know them!"
The shabbily dressed Liu Bei glanced at the three heroic young men in armor, who clearly came from extraordinary backgrounds. He shrank back and didn’t dare to speak.
Little Lu Nian’s eyes widened in exasperation.
"Why are you so timid? For shame, for shame!"
As she spoke, she grabbed Liu Bei’s arm. Although he was only ten years old and twice as tall and strong as Lu Nian, he was horrified to find that he couldn’t resist the little girl’s strength at all.
He was forcibly dragged toward the three heroic young men.
Cao Mengde’s group looked over in surprise. Their gazes lingered on the poorly dressed, simple Little Liu Bei for a moment before shifting to the exquisite, porcelain doll-like girl. Their expressions softened.
Even the bloody, baleful aura around Sun Wentai seemed to diminish.
Yuan Benchu smiled.
"Little sister, little brother, what can we do for you?"
Lu Nian spoke in a cutesy voice.
"My little bro... ah, no, my big little bro here wants to meet you, but he’s too shy, so I dragged him over!"
Liu Bei was so embarrassed he could only bow his head. Yuan Benchu and Sun Wentai gave Liu Bei a cursory glance without much reaction, but Cao Mengde laughed heartily.
"To meet is to be bound by fate, especially here in this desolate wilderness."
He showed no disdain because of their age. He gave the two children a fist-and-palm salute and gestured with his hand.
"Sit, sit."
Lu Nian pulled Liu Bei down to sit.
Yuan Benchu shook his head slightly but paid them no mind. He turned to chat with Sun Wentai, smiling.
"The realm is falling into chaos. There are disloyal subjects everywhere, rebels all around. But aside from the recently emerged White Lotus Sect, the rest are just small fry."
Sun Wentai grinned proudly.
"Indeed! A world on the brink of chaos is just to my liking. It’s the perfect chance to make my mark, suppress the chaos, defeat the thieves, and serve His Majesty. I’ll earn a few military honors and make a name for myself."
The smile on Yuan Benchu’s face widened. He lightly flicked his longsword, and a clear ring echoed through the quiet Daoist Temple.
He said,
"A true man should build a legacy. I don’t fear chaos in the realm; I fear there will be no rebels to slay! If the world is not in turmoil, how can heroes emerge? ...What do you think, Mengde?"
The more mature-looking Cao Mengde thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Heroes of our generation will surely emerge from this age, but... I would rather earn no merit and build no legacy, if only the lands could be at peace and the common people saved from suffering."
"I deeply agree,"
a childish voice piped up. It was Liu Bei, unable to stop himself from interjecting.
All three men turned to look at him. A look of gratification appeared on Little Lu Nian’s young face, and she watched Liu Bei with the approval of a proud father.
The boy’s little face turned red again, and he shyly lowered his head.
Yuan Shao frowned, and Sun Jian looked him over with curiosity. Once again, it was Cao Cao who broke the ice with a cheerful laugh.
"Little brother, though you are young, you also have the ambition to bring peace to the world... I am Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde."
Liu Bei bowed awkwardly.
"I am Liu Bei, a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan. I have not yet come of age, so I do not have a courtesy name..."
"A kinsman of the Imperial Family?"
Yuan Shao was surprised, and his attitude clearly warmed up a bit.
"To meet a member of the Imperial Family in these wild mountains is quite a fine thing..."
Cao Cao laughed heartily and made the introductions.
"This is Yuan Shao, courtesy name Yuan Benchu. He hails from a prestigious family in Runan that has produced the Three Dukes for four generations. And this is Sun Jian, courtesy name Sun Wentai, from a prominent clan in Jiangdong. He made a name for himself by slaying thieves at a young age, and his drive is unstoppable."
Liu Bei quickly bowed to all three men with proper etiquette. The four of them began to chat casually, with Little Lu Nian chiming in now and then. They gradually grew more familiar with one another.
During their conversation, Liu Bei gradually lost his shyness. After all, he had grown up with Liu Bang and had spent some time with Zhuge Kongming.
His manner of speaking was exceptional as he eloquently described the state of the realm. Even Yuan Shao and Sun Jian put aside their initial disdain, and expressions of astonishment even appeared on their faces.
’This kid is only about ten years old, right?’
Yuan Shao and Sun Jian exchanged a look of surprise. They no longer doubted Liu Bei’s status as a kinsman of the Imperial Family.
At this, Cao Mengde exclaimed in admiration,
"Whether these are chaotic times or not, your name will surely be counted among the heroes of the realm!"
The four of them—three adults and one child—talked animatedly, discussing the fate of the nation. It was as if they regretted not having met sooner.
On the other side, the three Zhang brothers hesitated for a moment before finally approaching Zhang Daoling. They greeted each other, striking up a conversation with the posture of juniors.
Although Zhang Daoling was full of cold majesty, he saw that they were, after all, Fellow Daoists of the Daoist Sect, so he did not keep them at arm’s length. They began to talk, and the exchange was surprisingly harmonious.
On one side, Sun Wentai thumped his chest. THUMP! THUMP!
"The Han Dynasty’s decline is only temporary! With loyal subjects like us to serve it, we will surely restore it from darkness to its former glory!"
On the other side, Zhang Liang was filled with righteous indignation.
"The Celestial Son has no Virtue, the court is in chaos, and the common people suffer! I wish only to raise the Great Banner of rebellion! Are kings and nobles a special breed?"
Over there, Cao Mengde laughed aloud.
"As ministers of the Han, we must defeat the thieves, slay evil, and restore order to the court! We will leave our names in the annals of history, and perhaps one day we may even become Dukes, assisting the Celestial Son and saving the world from collapse!"
Over here, Zhang Daoling spoke calmly.
"Rebellion is a dead end, but another path can be found. Beneath my Celestial Master Dao, I have also established the Five-Dou Dao. I intend to use it, in imitation of the White Lotus, to bring salvation to the world."
Over there, Yuan Benchu stroked his sword and sighed softly.
"Thieves and bandits are on all sides! This sword of mine has long thirsted for blood. To quell chaos, slay evil, defeat the thieves and bandits, and build a legacy—the time is now!"
Over here, Zhang Jiao’s eyes lit up.
"What Celestial Master Zhang says truly resonates with me! I have brought salvation to a hundred cities, and the people of those hundred cities all revere me alone. I too wish to establish a path. I will name it Taiping, and I will overturn that corrupt court and bring true peace to the world!"
His voice was loud, causing the three young men and the young boy on the left to glare at him angrily. Yuan Shao drew his sword and stared back with a cold fury.
"Halt! You scoundrel over there! To speak of rebellion in our presence—do you wish to test the sharpness of my blade?"
On the right, Zhang Bao also drew his Daoist Sword, laughing sinisterly.
"My sword is none too dull either!"
The two sides were at a tense standoff, swords drawn. Cao Mengde pulled Liu Bei and Little Lu Nian behind him as he, Yuan Shao, and Sun Jian stepped forward, armored and holding their swords.
The three struck their Broken Armor with their swords, producing a resounding CLANG!
Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, not to be outdone, stood with their Daoist Robes whipping in the wind. One conjured a Thunder Skill, causing purple lightning to dance wildly, while the other held a Talisman that emanated Profound Mysteries.
The auras of youthful, hot-blooded warriors and Daoist Magic Skills collided in the modest Daoist Temple, stirring up a storm. It was like a battle between a Dragon and a Tiger, causing the entire temple to shake as if it would collapse!
"Fight, fight!" Little Lu Nian clapped her hands, egging them on.
"Ahem."
A low cough sounded. Both sides paused and looked over, seeing that the sound had come from the taciturn Old Temple Master.
The Old Temple Master slowly raised his head and offered a reminder.
"This Daoist Temple of mine is not made of steel. It cannot withstand such a ruckus from all of you. If you wish to draw your Weapons, please take it outside."
Lu Nian was displeased, puffing out her cheeks.
"You old Daoist, you’re no fun! Let them fight! I’ll pay you back with a bigger Daoist Temple later!"
"You little rascal..."
The Old Temple Master shook his head. He reached out a hand lightly toward Lu Ya. The two of them were clearly dozens of feet apart,
yet his hand bizarrely crossed the distance and, with a BONK, tapped Little Lu Nian on the forehead.
"Ouch!" Little Lu Nian winced, clutching her head. Not only Cao Mengde and his group, but also the three Zhang brothers,
and even Zhuge Kongming and Zhang Daoling—all of their expressions changed drastically!
’This Temple Master from the deep mountains...’
Zhang Daoling’s expression grew solemn. He rose gracefully to his feet.
"So, it is a Perfected One in our midst."
He saluted and studied the Old Temple Master carefully, but he could not gauge his depth. The man was a mystery, appearing like an ordinary person,
but that earlier move that made distance meaningless was, without a doubt, an incredible Divine Technique!
The Daoist Temple fell silent. Under the wary gazes of the many powerful figures present,
the Old Temple Master lifted his eyelids and glanced at the crowd. Looking weary and drowsy, he yawned several times before speaking slowly.
"Zhang Daoling."
Zhang Daoling’s eyes narrowed slightly. He offered a salute.
"I am here. I wonder what guidance this Perfected One has for me?"
The Old Temple Master spoke with an otherworldly detachment.
"You established the Celestial Master Dao, bringing glory to the Daoist Sect, which is very good. But now you wish to use the Five-Dou Dao to incite rebellion. Although the Han Dynasty’s destiny is exhausted, your actions will only throw the world into greater chaos."
Zhang Daoling said flatly,
"When an old dynasty collapses and a New Dynasty is established, a century of chaos in between is unavoidable. It has been so since ancient times."
The Old Temple Master shook his head, then turned to Zhang Jiao and spoke calmly.
"Zhang Jiao, since you wish to establish the Taiping Dao to bring peace to the world, why then did you speak of how ’kings and nobles are not a special breed’?"
Zhang Jiao frowned, staring at the mysterious Temple Master.
"The Taiping Dao will be established today. What guidance do you have? And if you have guidance to offer, may I ask who you are?"
The Old Temple Master smiled without answering. Just then, the clamor of voices and the clash of weapons sounded from outside the temple.
Cao Mengde’s expression suddenly changed.
"It’s those White Lotus Sect Members!"
His words had just been spoken. Outside the Daoist Temple.
"Mother of Non-Birth, Vacuum Homeland!"
"Innocent Ancient Buddha, Sumeru Bliss!"
"Maitreya Buddha Mother, Nine Nether Pure Land!"
Amidst the chanting, a crowd of old people, women, and children, armed with swords and knives and dressed in ragged linen, stormed into the Daoist Temple. Following them was a majestic young man.
He had a halo of Buddha light above his head and walked on lotuses, his face full of compassion.
"By order."
The halo-crowned Zhang Buyi smiled.
"By order of the Saintess, I have come to request an audience with Zhang Daoling of the Celestial Master Dao."
Zhang Daoling looked over, his gaze fixed on the young man. He was slightly taken aback.
"You are..." he felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart.
Zhang Buyi smiled.
"The son of the Great Han’s Marquis Liu, Zhang Buyi. I am currently serving as a Dharma Protector of the White Lotus Sect."
Inside the Daoist Temple, everyone’s expression changed dramatically. Sun Jian exclaimed,
"Marquis Liu? Marquis Liu, Zhang Liang??"
Zhang Buyi smiled and chanted "Vacuum Homeland" with a look of pity, then glanced to the side and commanded,
"Aside from Zhang Daoling, kill all the rest."
The old, the young, the women, and the children raised their weapons, their murderous aura soaring to the heavens!
The seated Old Temple Master lowered his head slightly and muttered to himself,
"Well, well. Trying to snatch people right from under my nose. The Saintess, Ao Xianzhi, and the Dharma Protector, Zhang Buyi... A fine plan, a very fine plan..."
