Chapter 98: Dragon Gate
The four people from the Pei Clan endured and waited for more than half an hour, still seeing no sign of anyone, Pei Yukou couldn’t hold back and said, “Father, could it be that the people from Taiping Dao have stood us up?”
“Stay calm.” Pei Jiao shook his head, signaling the three to be patient. He was very clear that from the moment the Pei Clan contacted Taiping Dao, the contest and probing had already begun. Even if the people from Taiping Dao didn’t show up today, it was still a form of probing.
Moreover, he believed that Taiping Dao was definitely peeping at them from the darkness…
After an unknown amount of time, in the pitch-black night, a ghost blue lantern suddenly lit up, slowly floating several zhang ahead of them.
“No one is visible.” One guard from the Pei Clan spotted that ghost fire-like lantern.
“Indeed…” Pei Yukou stared fixedly at the lantern, yet saw no one holding it.
Even Pei Jiao and the other two, who had opened the Ren and Du Meridians and become renowned grandmasters under heaven, felt a chill run down their spines at this eerie sight.
“No need to fear; if they didn’t play tricks like this, it wouldn’t be Taiping Dao.” Pei Jiao had dealt with Taiping Dao many times in the past and sneered dismissively. “This is called ghost lantern leading the way; follow it.”
With that, he strode toward the lantern, and Pei Yukou and the other two quickly followed, protecting the vice sect master in the center.
As the three approached within three or five zhang, they saw the lantern floating forward erratically. When they quickened their pace, the lantern sped up accordingly; when they slowed down, the lantern slowed too, always maintaining a distance of five or six zhang, leading the way ahead.
“Once we get close, we’ll see through their trick.” Pei Jiao chuckled disdainfully, but since they were here to do business with Taiping Dao today, there was no need to provoke them.
The four followed the lantern unhurriedly through the night for more than half an hour, the path underfoot gradually rising, clearly ascending the mountain.
This place was not far from the capital city. Even without a clear view of the surroundings, Pei Jiao and the others knew they had entered Longmen Mountain. Longmen Mountain was called Yique during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, with the eastern and western peaks facing each other across the Yi River, forming a majestic gate, hence the name Yique. In feng shui terms, it was the south gate of Luojing City, thus also known as Dragon Gate.
On Longmen Mountain, the side facing the water featured numerous stone caves carved into the cliffs, housing Buddha statues created by successive imperial families of the Northern Dynasties over centuries as acts of devotion.
Decades ago, there were dozens of Buddhist temples on Longmen Mountain with thousands of monks, making it the center of Buddhism under heaven. After Great Xuan was established, temples were destroyed and Buddhism suppressed, forcing monks across the land to return to lay life, and the area fell into desolation overnight. Only large and small Buddhist niches and stone statues remained, scattered along both banks of the Yi River on the cliffs of Longmen Mountain’s eastern and western peaks, recounting the former glory of Buddhism’s prosperity.
The four followed the lantern along the mountain path carved in the previous dynasty, passing abandoned Buddhist temples, and arrived before an open stone niche. The lantern stopped before the three-zhang-high stone cave, floating up and down three times in midair, as if bowing to the tall statue inside.
After the bow, the lantern suddenly extinguished, and the world returned to darkness. Moments later, a clear cloud gong sounded in the field, followed by chimes and fish drums struck in sequence, playing a celestial Taoist scriptural melody.
Amid the melody, torches ignited one after another around them. As clusters of firelight illuminated the area, the four finally saw they stood at the feet of a tall and majestic statue of Dao De Tianzun.
Pei Jiao was stunned for a moment, then recalled that after Buddhism’s suppression, Taiping Dao had converted some Buddhist niches and statues into Daoist deity images. But since Taiping Dao was soon banned, these Daoist deity statues were almost entirely neglected.
Yet they clearly saw an altar table set up at the feet of the Tianzun, complete with incense burner and offerings, evidently the work of Taiping Dao.
Pei Jiao understood the implication and respectfully approached the altar, lit a stick of incense, then stepped back to lead the three disciples in three kowtows to the Tianzun. Although Taiping Dao was branded a cult, the Dao De Tianzun they worshipped was one of the Three Pure Ones. The Pei Clan followed Heavenly Master Dao and worshipped Yuanshi Tianzun, so paying homage to Dao De Tianzun was entirely appropriate.
As the four rose, several men in all-black robes appeared silently, escorting a young woman in black clothes and skirt with her face veiled in black gauze.
“You must be the saintess of Taiping Dao?” Pei Jiao cupped his hands toward the young woman and said clearly, “Vice Sect Master of the Pei Clan, Pei Jiao, here as promised for the meeting.”
“Greetings, Vice Sect Master Pei. I am indeed the saintess of Taiping Dao.” The young woman’s black veil fluttered slightly, her voice graceful and refined. “In this desolate wilderness in the dead of night, surely you have no interest in tea and idle talk. Let’s keep it brief and to the point.”
“Just what I wanted.” Pei Jiao nodded and gestured to the saintess. “Might the saintess first show that thing to this old man? It’s a bit abrupt, but without seeing it, my heart won’t be at ease.”
“You are quite impatient.” The saintess smiled faintly. “If the situations were reversed, would you carry that thing on you?” She added with sarcasm, “I’m afraid the moment that thing saw light, your clan’s grandmaster would immediately strike, no?”
“This…” Pei Jiao knew well that if it were him, he certainly wouldn’t carry the imperial seal on his person, nor even bring it to the capital city, lest he face a sudden assault by a grandmaster at any time—even if Sun Yuanlang came with two heavenly rank protectors, they couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t be snatched.
“Since we’re being open, there’s no need to hide it from you: that thing is still at our Taiping Dao headquarters, kept by my master.” The saintess lied with a straight face. “But please rest assured; once we reach an agreement, my master will personally deliver it to your clan. Surely your clan trusts my master and Taiping Dao’s reputation?”
“Sect Leader Sun’s actions are controversial, but I’ve never heard of him breaking his word.” Pei Jiao changed tack. “But this is a matter of great importance; without confirming the thing is truly in your sect’s hands, our Pei Clan can hardly offer solid chips.”
“No matter.” The saintess said indifferently, “Your clan need not commit to anything for now; we don’t insist. But if others are willing to pay first and inspect the goods later, we will naturally prioritize them accordingly.”
“Heh, that’s only fair…” Pei Jiao smiled noncommittally. This saintess was indeed skilled; even an old fox like him was being led by the nose. “What price does your sect want?”
“Does Taiping Dao lack money?” The saintess sneered.
“Indeed, with millions of Taiping Dao followers, rich enough to rival a nation, no amount of money catches your eye.” Pei Jiao nodded in agreement and asked, “Then what does your clan want?”
“The land.” The saintess said leisurely. “Our conditions are simple: ally with your clan to seize this vast realm. In the future, when your clan ascends under heaven with our sect and the imperial seal, cede the Youyan Region to our sect.” She smiled slightly. “This demand isn’t excessive, is it?”
“Haha, and you call this not excessive?” Pei Jiao laughed incredulously. “Leaving aside whether our clan can contend for the nation, as a chariot and cavalry general of the imperial court, this old man knows Huaxia’s territory well. Though the Youyan Region is small, it’s a strategic stronghold easy to defend and hard to attack. If truly given to your sect, not only would Youyan and Liaodong vanish from the court’s map, but even the Central Plains would be constantly threatened by your sect—from then on, even the emperor would have to look to Sect Leader Sun’s nose!”
“Vice Sect Master Pei, you are mistaken,” the saintess said calmly. “The Youyan Region is our sect’s foundation; in times of chaos under heaven, who could not covet it? Our sect merely wishes to delineate boundaries in advance for suspicion-free, sincere cooperation.”
“Hm…” Pei Jiao was momentarily speechless. The Youyan Region had indeed always been Taiping Dao’s sphere of influence. Over twenty years, the court and various clans had exhausted methods to purge and control it, trying to eradicate Taiping Dao’s power from Youyan, but with minimal effect, never shaking their foundation.
So by the saintess’s reasoning, Taiping Dao merely sought rightful ownership of what was already theirs—truly not excessive at all.
After a moment of silence, Pei Jiao looked at the saintess. “If so, why doesn’t Sect Leader Sun simply use that thing to establish his own domain, rather than handing it over?”
“My master knows his limits,” the saintess said faintly. “Moreover, as a man outside worldly affairs, my master harbors no vulgar ambitions of kingship, seeking only a secure haven for our followers.
