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“What a baffling conundrum!”

After receiving the invitation to join the White Lotus Sect, I found myself stuck at the Han Clan, tangled in a web of indecision. Initially, I thought I could easily concoct a plausible excuse to back out since this was an unexpected proposal.

“Joining the White Lotus Sect, huh?”

It’s something I’d pondered in my previous lives but never had the guts to pursue! After all, the current White Lotus Sect was structured around the subdued Thunder God Lineage, with the remaining Three Great Styles helping the Sect Leader. Under these circumstances, with me having mastered the Thunder God techniques, joining would likely lead to either being ignored or worse—death.

That’s why I had previously forced myself to join the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School or scoured the world looking for the Thunder God techniques.

But this situation was clearly different. Why? Because Han Baek-ryeong guaranteed my safety as the Dharma Guardian. In the White Lotus Sect, aside from the Sect Leader, she was the highest authority, which carried significant weight.

Maybe this was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I’d been waiting for. Sitting in my lavish room, I couldn’t help but mull over it.

“Is the food to your liking?”

That’s when Han Jin-seong, the young master of the Han Clan, strolled in. I glanced his way and casually replied.

“It’s all edible.”

“Glad to hear!”

Han Jin-seong turned to the woman beside him.

“Ji-hwa, introduce yourself.”

The woman, radiant in beauty, greeted me with a bright smile.

“I am Baek Woong, a pleasure to meet you. I am Ji-hwa.”

“Likewise. It’s an honor to meet the esteemed Ji-hwa, one of the Four Beauties of Luoyang.”

“Oh, you’re too kind…”

She was Han Jin-seong’s cousin and widely considered among the most beautiful women in Luoyang. I remembered how, in my past life, due to Han Baek-ryeong’s orchestration, I almost married her and became her family’s son-in-law. I couldn’t help but admire her stunning appearance all over again.

“Truly exquisite…”

Her features and overall grace were worlds apart from those of ordinary women. Even in simple clothing with hardly any embellishment, her beauty would leave most men dazed. The reputation of being the most beautiful woman in Luoyang was undeniably well-deserved.

Yet, having encountered many unrivaled beauties like Miho, Han Baek-ryeong, and Sagong Lin in my previous life, I managed to keep my composure despite her allure. Han Jin-seong said,

“You seem deep in thought. How about joining us for a quick trip around Luoyang?”

“That’s…”

“There’s something I’d really love to show you.”

I knew well that Han Jin-seong wasn’t the kind of person to propose such casual outings for no reason. Particularly while he was on a serious mission to seek out General Hwang Yeon, I could trust there was more beneath the surface of this invitation. Nodding, I replied,

“I look forward to it.”

“Haha, don’t worry, it’s nothing too out of the ordinary.”

Moments later, we boarded the Han Clan’s private carriage. When I noticed the coachman, I was taken aback.

“Is that a master of the Fire Spirit Techniques?”

He appeared plain on the outside, but he was actually quite an exceptional martial artist. He far surpassed the regular guards of the Golden Eagle Guard, likely nearing the prowess of a Heavenly Tiger.

No one would ever suspect an ordinary coachman would possess skills rivaling a clan’s elder. As I shifted my gaze, Han Jin-seong remarked,

“Better safe than sorry, right? You want the best on board, coachmen, guards, you name it.”

“Does the Han Clan have enemies?”

“Haha… the martial world is entangled with grievances like a spider’s web. And especially for a powerful clan like ours, there are plenty who harbor grudges.”

“I see.”

As the carriage jolted along the road, Ji-hwa gazed at me intently.

“I’ve heard you’re very young but possess remarkable martial skills. Quite impressive!”

“…”

“I hope to see you more often!”

When a beauty shows interest, most men would lose their wits. But with no trustworthy allies here, I found it hard to respond genuinely to her flattery. Just then, Han Jin-seong interjected.

“We’re heading to the Longmen Grottoes.”

“Longmen Grottoes? You mean the place with tens of thousands of Buddha statues?”

“Yes, indeed!”

I let out a quiet gasp.

“Isn’t it restricted for regular folks?”

The Longmen Grottoes, known for being a massive relic even larger than the Nanshan Great Buddha, were strictly off-limits to the public. I had considered visiting them on a previous trip to Luoyang, but given the restrictions, that thought was swiftly dismissed. Han Jin-seong continued,

“Given the Han Clan’s influence, it’s merely a formality. Only high officials or nobles’ offspring generally have the privilege to visit, but they’ll easily let us in.”

“Hmm… But why this sudden trip to the Longmen Grottoes?”

“Haha, you’ll find out soon enough.”

We chatted lightly as we traveled for about half a moment. Finally, when we arrived at the Longmen Grottoes, the grandeur of the massive rock carvings loomed before us. Stepping out, we approached the entrance, but the guards initially halted us. However, a few words from Han Jin-seong quickly made them back off.

“Wow, it’s breathtaking every time I see it!”

Ji-hwa exclaimed in awe as she admired the Grottoes. I turned my attention around, taking in the sights.

“Incredible size…”

As we walked, Han Jin-seong explained,

“This is the largest immortal relic from the Tang Dynasty. It’s likely that no one in the Henan Province has never heard of the Longmen Grottoes.”

“Thanks for the tour.”

“Glad you’re enjoying it.”

As we wandered and chatted for about half a moment, Ji-hwa stepped back to rest, prompting Han Jin-seong to speak up.

“Actually, the Longmen Grottoes have a significant connection to the White Lotus Sect.”

Ah, the main point has finally arrived! I gazed intently, and Han Jin-seong elaborated.

“This place is the Fengxian Cave, rebuilt by order of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang. The Vairocana Buddha there took three years to complete. A great many White Lotus members participated in its construction.”

“I know the history of the White Lotus Sect began during the waning days of the Tang Dynasty. Something seems off…”

“The properly organized powers, including the Four Great Families, rose in prominence during the late Tang and Southern Song dynasties. In fact, traces of the White Lotus Sect existed since the early Tang era. So, you could see this Grotto as a relic from the early White Lotus or perhaps a relic of its founder.”

“Fascinating…”

If that were true, the history of the White Lotus Sect ran back far beyond a thousand years! As I expressed my genuine awe, Han Jin-seong added,

“Did you know the founder of the White Lotus Sect came from a branch of Buddhism?”

“I think I’ve heard something like that.”

“The Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, to be precise.”

“……!!”

I was taken aback. Knowing a decent amount about Buddhism, I immediately grasped the gravity of Han Jin-seong’s words. I stammered, “Wait, are you saying that the origins of the White Lotus Sect and the Shaolin Temple are the same?”

“That’s about the gist of it.”

“Saying that in the martial world would only lead to laughter.”

“True. If someone claimed Bodhidharma was the founder, no one would believe it.”

Bodhidharma! Legend has it he traveled from Tianzhu to Central Plains and established the Shaolin Temple during the Six Dynasties. He left behind countless marvelous tales in the era of Emperor Wu of Liang and is considered the founding figure of Zen Buddhism—a colossal figure in the history of Buddhism. I pressed on with questions,

“But, Bodhidharma was already over a hundred years old when he came to the Central Plains. If he lived to see the waning days of the Tang, he would have been hundreds of years old. Where could he possibly be?”

“Who knows? He might not have been human.”

“……”

“To be more precise, he might have been a being of great wisdom who managed to systematize the heritage of the White Lotus during its prime and gained prominence.”

That moment reminded me of a story Master Mangnyang once told me.

[The founder of the White Lotus Sect was a high monk who had ascended in Buddhism. In the days of the waning Tang, when humanity was rife with corruption and suffering, he faltered in despair. He painstakingly searched for a divine being to transcend human power, determined to enlighten the world with zen’s teachings, thus founding the White Lotus Sect, drawing on the powers of the Non-Birth Mother.]

[However, your concern holds weight. If the first Dharma technique left by the founder evolves, and the White Lotus Sect interprets it to fully harness the strengths of the external deities, it could be perilous—a being who also founded Zen Buddhism, and the teachings would be scattered across the entire realm. But for at least a thousand years, we shouldn’t have any worries.]

“……”

The tale of the high monk who had ascended in Buddhism. The founder of Zen Buddhism. It all connected. Back then, I hadn’t thought much of it, but Master Mangnyang had indeed told me that the founder of the White Lotus Sect was also the founder of Zen Buddhism.

Moreover, the information he’d handed down was in exchange for the Portrait Immortal and the Crystal Stele, so I had no reason to doubt it.

So, the founder of the White Lotus Sect was indeed the great strategic figure of Buddhism, Bodhidharma!

As I absorbed this information, Han Jin-seong continued,

“For this reason, the White Lotus Sect holds a friendly sentiment towards the Shaolin Temple. They are essentially like brother sects. The somewhat lukewarm response of the Four Great Families towards the Shaolin Temple can be attributed to this.”

“I understand… But why disclose this here at this moment?”

Han Jin-seong fell silent for a while after my question. He finally let out a heavy sigh and replied,

“What do you think the ultimate purpose of the White Lotus Sect is, Baek Woong?”

“……?”

He chuckled bitterly and said, “When I mastered the techniques of the Fire Spirit and secured my position as a successor, I thought it was about unifying the martial world and dominating the realms. However, the more I uncover the secrets of the White Lotus, the more I believe it’s not the case.”

“So, they don’t aim to dominate the martial world?”

“In fact, it would be a piece of cake for the current White Lotus to become the supreme force in the martial world. There isn’t anyone left to rival them. Honestly, aside from the imperial palace, even that’s not much of a match.

“……”

“If the chief disciple of the Sect Leader manages to cure the peculiar illness, the Sect Leader could unify the realm from the get-go.”

I agreed with that. In truth, in my tenth rebirth, when the Black and White Lotus infiltrated the White Lotus Sect, it swiftly took control of the martial world. So I raised an eyebrow at Han Jin-seong’s concerns.

“What’s the catch?”

“In my position, I’ve had the chance to meet and converse with the Sect Leader a few times, but he mentioned that actually unifying the world was no big deal. He hinted there was something far grander yet in store for him.

“A greater goal?”

“I haven’t heard of it myself. Given that I’m only the successor of the Fire Spirit, my position isn’t appropriate to inherit the Sect Leader’s big aspirations.”

I mulled over Han Jin-seong’s words, discerning his hidden meaning.

“You want me to uncover the true intent of the Sect Leader for you?”

“Precisely.”

“Why me?”

“Because you come from the Thunder God lineage, and aren’t affiliated with any other faction of the Three Great Styles. This gives you relative freedom concerning power struggles, increasing the likelihood of winning over the Sect Leader’s trust. Additionally, the Clan Leader is considering recommending you as the Sect Leader’s direct disciple.”

“……!!”

Direct disciple of the Sect Leader? My mind raced. Han Jin-seong continued,

“I’m not sure why, but the Clan Leader thinks the Sect Leader will accept students not from the Su Shin Sect.”

“I’m just puzzled.”

Crossing my arms, I shook my head.

“You’re the world’s most handsome man, exceedingly wealthy, and you’re practically a peak master of martial arts. Even your intelligence is top-notch, and as the heir of a huge faction like the Fire Spirit Techniques, what interest do you have in such matters?”

Han Jin-seong stood in a position where everyone would envy him. Rumors swirled about how countlessly the Luoyang maidens flocked to him and how the elite men admired him. He was in a perfect golden spoon position, fit to rival any noble.

“That’s exactly why I’m curious,” he replied, expressionless.

“Even though I had so much from birth, everything could vanish with one word from the Sect Leader. It’s only natural to want to understand the true intentions of an absolute being who can control my life, isn’t it?”

“……”

Suddenly, a memory sparked in my mind from when Han Baek-ryeong tried to offer Ji-hwa to me. Han Jin-seong had shown no outward reaction, but upon my refusal, he appeared genuinely grateful to gift me a famous sword.

“This guy is tied up in the same fate we are.”

Having power, wealth, looks—seemingly all one needs—but still living under someone else’s puppet strings. Han Jin-seong’s situation struck a chord within me. After a moment of contemplation, I addressed him.

“If I uncover the true intentions for you, what will you give me in return?”

“That’s precisely what I came to discuss.”

Han Jin-seong continued,

“I will offer you the fifteen treasure troves of resources, gold and silver treasures, and support you with talented individuals and experts. I just want you to rise to the pinnacle as the Sect Leader’s successor.”

“……!!”

I recognized this was a significant proposal. Although Han Jin-seong appeared to be this young lad with no power, he was actually the successor to one of the strongest martial arts factions in the world, the Fire Spirit Techniques, with enormous wealth backing him. His support would surely be tremendously beneficial down the line. I felt suspicious about the offer being too good to be true, but soon thought it over again.

After all, Han Jin-seong sought to boost my standing within the White Lotus Sect.

And if I succeeded tremendously in the future, it might leverage him into a position equal to Han Baek-ryeong, the current Clan Leader. In that light, this deal benefitted us both. Given that, I nodded in agreement.

“I’m in.”

“Good choice!”

And just like that, our deal was sealed.

After finishing up our tour of the Longmen Grottoes about an hour later, we returned to the Han Clan’s main house. With some evening scenery of Luoyang in sight from the carriage, Han Jin-seong remarked,

“Tomorrow, I’d like you to drop by the Twin Gate Sect.”

“The Twin Gate Sect? What for?”

“It’s an order from the Clan Leader.”

From that follow-up, I sensed a prediction that things would get a bit messy.

“The Clan Leader wants you to teach a thing or two to the Twin Gate Sect’s leaders.”

 

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