Chapter 98: Mingwang Cult? This Old Man Is Lin Fan, Silver Rod Great Celestial Venerable Of The Ninth Heaven
Two followers, dressed in coarse dark gray cloth tunics and with their hair wrapped in cloth strips, carefully brought over a pot of boiling oil.
Seeing the pot of oil.
The first thought that came to Lin Fan’s mind was… another one of those tired tricks.
Was it going to be the trick of reaching into the pot with bare hands to grab copper coins?
Just as he expected.
After the pot of oil was placed steadily, a burly follower with a ruddy complexion, dressed in the same attire, walked to the front of the pot with his hands raised high.
Amidst the increasingly loud gasps and exclamations from the surrounding common people.
The follower, with a look of devout fearlessness on his face, suddenly plunged his right hand into the seemingly scalding hot pot of oil.
He stirred and fumbled in the pot, with boiling oil splattering everywhere, making people’s hearts pound.
A moment later.
He suddenly pulled his hand out, raising it high, his fingers holding a gleaming, oil-slicked copper coin.
At this moment, a man who appeared to be a leader in the Mingwang Cult walked up to the follower and said loudly, “Fellow villagers! You all saw it with your own eyes, this is a follower who has received the supreme blessing of the Mingwang. Only with a sincere heart and the protection of the Mingwang can one be impervious to fire and water and possess such divine power.”
The surrounding common people whispered among themselves, marveling at what they saw.
Some common people believed in the Mingwang Cult without reservation.
Shouting.
“Mingwang’s divine power!”
“Mingwang’s divine power!”
Ning Yu, who had gone to get an amulet, returned and handed the amulet to Lin Fan, “Master, I don’t feel anything special about this amulet.”
Lin Fan glanced at the amulet, clenched it in his palm, crumpled it into a ball, and tilted his chin slightly towards the pot of oil, “Look at this, do you know how he managed to put his hand into the pot of oil without getting hurt at all?”
Ning Yu shook her head; she had seen it with her own eyes from the other side.
Equally astonished.
“Master, the oil is boiling so hotly, wouldn’t his hand get fried if he put it in?” Ning Yu was full of questions. Although she didn’t understand, she always felt there was something wrong with it, she just didn’t know what.
Lin Fan smiled and said, “If it were truly boiling oil, then that would be the case. However, in my opinion, there’s something wrong with this pot, it’s not all oil, but vinegar has been added.”
“Vinegar?” Ning Yu blinked, her mind full of question marks.
Lin Fan said, “That’s right, it should be vinegar. Vinegar boils at a very low temperature. When vinegar boils, bubbles rise, making it appear to outsiders that the oil is boiling.”
Ning Yu pondered and suddenly understood, her face full of admiration, “Master, you know so much.”
Lin Fan looked at Ning Yu’s innocent and alluring face. He had intended to give her a brief explanation, but seeing her like this, it seemed she hadn’t understood, but was instead very cooperatively flattering him, her master.
“Yes, you will know much more in the future.” Lin Fan said calmly.
His voice was not quiet as he spoke to Ning Yu, and the surrounding common people heard it. The leader of the Mingwang Cult also heard it. He immediately recognized the man carrying the iron rod as the renowned Head of the Anzhou Public Security Bureau.
Recently, his reputation had spread.
Silver Rod King, Master Lin.
When he heard Lin Fan say that the pot was not all oil, he was shocked internally, but showed no outward reaction. However, he found it hard to believe that someone understood the secret teachings of their Mingwang Cult.
He didn’t dare to question Lin Fan why he suspected the Mingwang’s blessings.
He was afraid that the other party would expose them on the spot, and he would be cornered.
However, in life, one often fears not being foolish enough to provoke others, but rather others provoking them.
Clearly.
Their Mingwang Cult had now encountered this situation.
When Lin Fan stepped forward, he instantly attracted the attention of the common people, and the leader and protector of the Mingwang Cult also noticed him.
Lin Fan shouted angrily, “Evil Dao Mingwang, how dare you still appear and swindle people.”
His voice was loud, like thunder, making the common people’s heads buzz.
However, what he said.
Completely stunned the common people.
Huh?
Evil Dao Mingwang?
“Master Lin, you mustn’t speak nonsense. The Mingwang is real. You might incur divine wrath.”
“Yes, Master Lin, you absolutely must not speak nonsense.”
The common people who believed in the Mingwang Cult were also very grateful to Lin Fan. Hearing Master Lin say such things now, they repeatedly tried to dissuade him.
If it were anyone else speaking nonsense, they would have already berated them angrily, and even beaten them up.
The protector knew of Lin Fan’s fearsome reputation, but now that he was slandering the Mingwang as evil, how could he tolerate it? He reprimanded, “Lord Lin, how can you speak such nonsense? You, a mere mortal, how dare you insult the Mingwang? The Mingwang is merciful and will not blame you, but how can we, devout followers of the Mingwang, tolerate such slander?”
“Nonsense?” Lin Fan was not flustered at all, “When have I ever spoken nonsense?”
The protector’s face turned pale with anger, and he retorted, “You are speaking nonsense right now. The Mingwang saves all living beings, rescues the people of the world, is compassionate, and bestows grace upon all directions. To insult the Mingwang like this is to insult all of us followers.”
“Nonsense!” Lin Fan roared.
The protector was startled and his heart trembled.
As far as the protector was concerned, he truly didn’t understand what the Head of the Public Security Bureau was doing. If you arrest someone and put them in prison, you can do it with evidence, but now you insist that the Mingwang is an evil god.
You need to produce evidence for that.
But can you produce that evidence?
Just as the protector was sneering internally, Lin Fan turned his gaze to the surrounding common people, cleared his throat, and spoke very seriously.
“Fellow villagers, at this point, I have no choice but to reveal a long-hidden secret to everyone.”
The common people all turned their gaze to Lin Fan.
Their minds were full of confusion.
They didn’t know what Master Lin was going to say.
Although… however, they hoped Master Lin could say that the Mingwang was a true god, not fake, and certainly not an evil path.
“To tell you the truth, since childhood, I awakened my past life’s wisdom and learned that my past life was the Great Celestial Venerable, residing high above the Ninth Heaven!”
Whoosh!!!
The crowd instantly erupted in an uproar, and everyone’s eyes widened, looking at Lin Fan in disbelief.
Completely stunned.
Lin Fan saw the bewildered and shocked eyes of the common people and slowly said.
“This Celestial Venerable, unable to bear seeing the suffering of the mortal world and the rampant evil, specially reincarnated and descended into the mortal world.”
Common People: …
Mingwang Cult Followers: …
Ning Yu: …
“And this Mingwang you believe in is actually an evil heretic. In my previous life, I personally subdued him. I wanted to completely annihilate him, but considering his arduous cultivation and the heavens’ benevolent nature, I gave him a chance to repent and imprisoned him in the endless void for reflection.”
His voice suddenly rose.
“Who would have thought that this demon would not repent and, using some unknown means, escape a sliver of his demonic will, and now dares to bewitch people and confuse you all. Since this Celestial Venerable has reincarnated here and knows of this matter, how can I stand by and let this evil path continue to harm the mortal world?”
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.
The common people looked at Master Lin, who appeared righteous and majestic.
Honestly.
They were starting to believe him.
Mainly because what he said was so imposing that it was hard not to believe it was true.
Ning Yu was completely dumbfounded, her small mouth agape, her eyes wide.
She had never imagined that her master would exaggerate so grandly to deal with these charlatans; it was completely beyond her imagination.
She really wanted to say.
Master, let’s stop bragging, your bragging is scaring me.
At this moment, the stunned protector snapped back to reality and angrily exclaimed, “Utter nonsense!”
He was truly dumbfounded.
He had originally thought the Mingwang Cult was already quite nonsensical, but he never expected the Head of the Public Security Bureau to be even more outrageous than them.
“Stubborn and ignorant!” Lin Fan snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping around, and he spotted a thick-backed bone cleaver on a nearby butcher’s stall.
Under the gaze of confused and nervous onlookers, he strode over, picked up the cleaver, and walked back.
Without a word, he swung the cleaver at a nearby wooden board.
Crack!
With a crisp sound, the wooden board was cleanly split into two, the cut surface smooth and even.
“Fellow villagers!” Lin Fan raised the cleaver and asked, “Tell me, is this knife sharp?”
Although the common people didn’t understand what Master Lin was trying to do, they all nodded instinctively.
“Sharp.”
Lin Fan walked up to the protector and handed him the cleaver.
“You say you have received the Mingwang’s blessings, which means you possess divine power. I would like to test what power the Evil Dao Mingwang truly has.”
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a firm arm, and extended it towards the protector.
“Of course, since I claim to be the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable from the Ninth Heaven, I must first prove myself to everyone. Now, you take this knife and, with all your might, chop my arm.”
His tone was resolute.
“If this blow can sever my arm, then it proves I am a liar and speaking nonsense.”
“However…” his gaze suddenly became sharp, “if this blow leaves my arm unharmed, then it proves my words are true, and I am indeed the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable from the Ninth Heaven.”
“Then, it will be my turn to chop you. If your arm remains unbroken after a chop from me… Heh, then it will prove that your so-called Mingwang is an evil path that deceives people.”
After speaking.
He nodded in acknowledgment.
“Don’t hesitate, chop.”
At this moment, the protector was completely dumbfounded by Lin Fan.
The hand holding the cleaver trembled uncontrollably.
He hadn’t expected things to escalate so drastically.
Ning Yu looked at her master with some concern, but soon shook her head and cast her worries aside.
What was she thinking?
This was her most admired and trusted master.
Since her master dared to do this, there must be a reason. Perhaps her master was truly the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable.
If Prefect Zhao and others were present, seeing such a good opportunity, their faces would surely be flushed with excitement.
Damn!
Useless.
You won’t even chop when given the chance, what’s wrong with you.
The surrounding common people’s mouths were slightly agape. The scene unfolding before them was beyond their imagination. They believed in the Mingwang’s divine power because grabbing copper coins from a pot of boiling oil was truly impressive.
And now Master Lin was asking the protector to chop his arm with a knife, clearly to prove his own divinity as a Great Celestial Venerable.
At this moment, the protector took a deep breath and forced a calm expression, “Lord Lin, this knife is not a joke. If you swing it down, you might lose your arm.”
As he spoke, he touched the blade, feeling the stinging pain of it cutting his skin. He knew this cleaver was very sharp.
“Stop the nonsense. I possess the divine power of a Great Celestial Venerable and am impervious to blades and spears. How can a mere mortal artifact harm me in the slightest?” Lin Fan urged.
Lin Fan was now wondering how significant the impact would be if his arm remained unharmed after this chop.
And the protector was also contemplating the outcome.
His chop would definitely sever the arm of the man named Lin, and blood would surely gush out, followed by endless cries of pain.
Although Lin Fan had not opposed their Mingwang Cult.
Now he was.
The information he had received was that this man named Lin was a mad dog, and he was currently focusing all his energy on dealing with gangs, the Anzhou Chamber of Commerce, and Prefect Zhao.
If he finished dealing with these matters, he would definitely turn his attention to their Mingwang Cult.
Thinking this.
The protector steeled his resolve, raised his hand, and his eyes became sharp.
The surrounding common people held their breath, their hearts in their throats, and they could hear their own heartbeats thumping.
The protector let out a roar and, with all his might, swung down at Lin Fan’s arm.
Lin Fan analyzed the force of the protector’s swing.
The strength was insufficient.
With his current physical strength, he could withstand it.
Clang—!!!
The cleaver descended, and upon striking the arm, it let out a metallic clang. The force rebounded, causing the protector to stumble back a step, the knife flying out of his hand and landing on the ground with a crash.
The expected scene of an arm being severed and blood gushing did not occur.
Lin Fan looked at a faint white mark left on his arm and frowned slightly, quite displeased. It seemed he hadn’t tried hard enough.
The scene was deathly silent.
Everyone present was so shocked by what they had just witnessed that they were speechless.
This was a real bone cleaver.
The sound it made when it hit Lin Fan’s arm was loud and sharp, there was no mistaking it.
Lin Fan bent down, picked up the cleaver from the ground, and shouted, “Fellow villagers, you all saw it with your own eyes. I took a blow and was completely unharmed. This is sufficient proof that what I said earlier was absolutely not false. I, Lin Fan, am the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable from the Ninth Heaven.”
Having said that, he carried the cleaver.
“Quick, don’t dawdle, extend your arm quickly.”
“Ah?”
The protector, seeing Lin Fan about to chop him, retreated rapidly. If he really extended his arm, that arm would be gone.
At this moment, the protector no longer dared to stay there and turned to run, but Lin Fan grabbed him.
The protector struggled desperately.
“Let me go, let me go.”
The protector looked at Lin Fan with a terrified expression, his face turning pale and bloodless. Seeing that he couldn’t escape, he knelt before Lin Fan with a thud, begging him.
“Great Celestial Venerable! Great Celestial Venerable of the Ninth Heaven, spare my life! I was wrong! I know I was wrong! I don’t have divine power! I was lying! I really don’t have divine power! Please, Great Celestial Venerable, spare my humble life!”
Lin Fan angrily said, “If you don’t have divine power, then he does.”
Saying this, he shifted the tip of his cleaver towards the burly follower who had just performed the trick of grabbing copper coins with his bare hands, and who was now also pale and trembling like a sieve.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! He has divine power! He received the blessing of the Mingwang… *Pah*, the Evil Dao Mingwang! He has divine power! You chop him! Try chopping him.”
Thud!
Hearing the protector’s words, the burly follower’s knees buckled, and he directly knelt down, crying out to the protector.
“Protector! You can’t slander me and then abandon me! What divine power do I have? You know best how that pot of oil… how that pot of oil was handled!”
The common people were stunned.
No one had expected this turn of events.
Lin Fan said, “Speak, and tell the elders and fellow villagers properly about the situation with this pot of oil.”
The burly follower explained the situation with the pot of oil one by one, speaking quickly, for fear of speaking too slowly and incurring displeasure, leading to being chopped.
The common people who had believed in the Mingwang Cult were struck as if by lightning upon learning the truth behind the so-called divine power and the trick of grabbing copper coins from boiling oil, leaving them stunned on the spot.
They had genuinely believed in the Mingwang’s blessings before.
But now they were told it was all fake.
This was a huge blow to them, and their faith of many years completely collapsed.
“That’s how it is, Great Celestial Venerable. Please spare me.” The burly follower pleaded desperately.
Lin Fan said, “Ning Yu, take them back to the Public Security Bureau and question them thoroughly about how many common people they have defrauded over the years.”
“Yes, Master.”
Ning Yu stepped forward and kicked them, startling them into quickly getting up and standing obediently with their heads down, not daring to have any rebellious thoughts.
The Mingwang Cult protector looked at Lin Fan as if he had seen a ghost. Even now, he couldn’t understand how the other party had done it.
That was a bone cleaver; it shouldn’t have been like that.
Lin Fan said to the common people, “Everyone, don’t believe in gods and ghosts. These are all lies. What I said earlier about being the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable was also to fool them. The Mingwang Cult is an evil cult in my eyes and should not be believed. I hope everyone can raise their awareness to prevent being deceived.”
After saying this, he left with Ning Yu.
The common people stared blankly at Lin Fan’s receding figure until he disappeared at the end of the street, and then began to discuss amongst themselves.
“Great Celestial Venerable, I didn’t expect Master Lin to be the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable.”
“Didn’t Master Lin say he was just fooling the Mingwang Cult?”
“You know nothing. Master Lin now possesses divine power. If he claims to be the Great Celestial Venerable, how can the Imperial Court face him?”
“Exactly. That’s the logic. We all saw it with our own eyes just now. The bone cleaver couldn’t even break the skin. What else could this be if not the reincarnation of a deity?”
One commoner murmured, “Silver Rod Great Celestial Venerable, Master Lin!!!”
The owner of the bone cleaver, as if holding a treasure, hugged the cleaver to his chest, exclaiming excitedly, “Hahaha… My knife was used by the Great Celestial Venerable! I will pass it down as a family heirloom for generations to come.”
“Brother, how about I give you five taels of silver for the knife?”
“Dream on! Not even in your dreams! This was used by the Great Celestial Venerable.”
…
At this moment, back at the Public Security Bureau, Lin Fan was completely pestered by Ning Yu.
“Master~ Master~ Please do me a favor and tell me, how did you do it?” Ning Yu held Lin Fan’s hand and gently shook it, her voice soft and sweet, full of coaxing.
There were too many people on the street then, so she didn’t dare to pester her master.
Now that they were back at the Public Security Bureau.
She really wanted to know.
Ning Yu’s two followers stood not far away, their eyes wide open, looking at their young lady’s unprecedented demeanor with confusion.
In their impression, their young lady had always been spirited and decisive, a complete tomboy. Even when facing her father, they had never seen her act so spoiled.
Lin Fan felt a headache from being shaken and said helplessly, “Ning Yu, you really can’t learn this. Your master is naturally gifted, possessing innate divine strength and peculiar bones, there’s nothing that can be done.”
“Master… is there really no way? Not even a little bit?” Ning Yu looked up with her big eyes full of longing and unwillingness.
Lin Fan spread his hands, “There is no way.”
The abilities displayed were exclusive to him and could not be systematically learned by others. If others could learn even a little.
He wouldn’t have to go through so much trouble.
In the future, when facing major events, he wouldn’t have to appear in person; he could simply arrange for the people under him to handle them.
“Alright then.”
Ning Yu was very disappointed and looked helpless.
…
In the prison.
After the Mingwang Cult protector was locked up, Master Ximen saw him and his expression slightly faltered, “Protector Huang, why are you arrested?”
Protector Huang looked at the familiar faces of people locked up in the prison. Although their Mingwang Cult did not participate in the affairs of the Anzhou Chamber of Commerce, they had many followers and held many events.
Naturally, they had to get acquainted with the prominent families in Anzhou.
“Great Celestial Venerable, Great Celestial Venerable!!!” Protector Huang shouted, still thinking about the incident with the cleaver. He had swung it himself, so he knew how real that chop was, and there was absolutely no deception.
Master Ximen asked confusedly, “What Great Celestial Venerable?”
“Head of the Public Security Bureau, he is the Great Celestial Venerable! He is not human, he is a god, he is an immortal!” Protector Huang mumbled to himself.
The people locked in the prison cells, upon hearing this, cursed angrily.
“Damn Lin Fan! He’s not even human! He’s a beast!”
“We spent decades painstakingly building our foundation in Anzhou, and he comes along and destroys decades of our hard work!”
“Ximen Cong! It’s all your fault, you stupid pig! If it weren’t for you…”
The prison was chaotic.
Protector Huang seemed not to hear the curses, still immersed in his own world, muttering, “You lost without injustice, truly without injustice… He is not human, he is impervious to blades and spears, he is the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable, he is like our Saintess… both are gods!”
Master Ximen was completely bewildered by Protector Huang’s nonsensical words.
He had no idea what he was talking about.
Immediately, he heard Protector Huang continue.
“I chopped his arm with a bone cleaver, and it didn’t even break the skin. How is this possible? This is impossible.”
Hearing this, everyone looked at Protector Huang.
What kind of stimulation had he suffered?
A bone cleaver chopping an arm without breaking the skin, could this be real?
Anyone could tell it was fake.
Just then.
Footsteps echoed in the prison corridor.
Lin Fan’s figure appeared in the dim light. He walked straight to the cell door where Protector Huang was held, unlocked it, and pulled out the crestfallen Protector Huang.
Facing Lin Fan, Protector Huang knelt with a thud, kowtowing like pounding garlic, his voice filled with awe and supplication.
“This humble one had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, not knowing of the Great Celestial Venerable’s reincarnation. I beg the Great Celestial Venerable to give me a chance to serve by your side.”
“Hahaha…” Master Ximen in the next cell couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh upon seeing this, “Lin, I didn’t expect that you, an Imperial Official, would also engage in such superstitious tricks to deceive people. Are you trying to kill me with laughter?”
Since they had been imprisoned.
They understood.
It was impossible to get out.
Given the situation, they might as well accept it and do as they pleased. Even if they were to die, they would defiantly make a stand before their end.
However, Master Ximen’s joy did not last long. He saw Lin Fan open his cell door, pull him out, and regardless of his struggles and objections, throw him into the cell where the three old masters, including Li Hu Zhou, were held.
“Don’t beat him to death.”
This was Lin Fan’s only request.
A moment later.
Master Ximen’s piercing screams echoed.
Ximen Hai grabbed the cell door and roared, “Don’t beat my father, you three bastards, don’t beat my father.”
Meanwhile, Lin Fan had taken Protector Huang aside and began to inquire about the internal affairs of the Mingwang Cult.
The terrified Protector Huang, his spirit broken, naturally revealed everything he knew without reservation.
“You say you’ve seen the Mingwang?” Lin Fan squinted slightly, his gaze seemingly sharp.
Protector Huang shivered under that gaze and quickly swore, “I really saw him. I truly saw His Majesty the Mingwang with my own eyes. There is not a single word of falsehood.”
Before Lin Fan could ask further, Protector Huang voluntarily described the process in detail.
According to him, it was during the previous Mingwang’s Birthday Dharma Assembly. Because of his meritorious service in spreading the Mingwang Cult, the Saintess, who personally attended the assembly, bestowed a grace and led him to pay homage to the Mingwang.
The process was extremely mystical.
They did not go anywhere else; it was at the Dharma Assembly site.
Protector Huang only felt a dizzying sensation, and then found himself in a sacred space filled with radiant light and auspicious energy, witnessing the majestic and boundless true form of the Mingwang.
‘Illusion?’
Lin Fan suspected that Protector Huang had been drugged with some hallucinogen, leading to a hallucination.
But it was unlikely. Who could control hallucinations?
Moreover, Protector Huang also said that many devout followers had also seen the Mingwang and had since believed in him without reservation.
The doctrine of their cult was…
“Those who enter under the Mingwang’s throne are all brothers and sisters.”
“Cast aside worldly possessions to achieve peace of mind and body.”
“Sever worldly ties to see the true compassionate father.”
“All suffering is cultivation, all devotion is for the Pure Land.”
Abandon wealth, sever worldly ties.
Silver was the apple of everyone’s eye, who could bear to part with it.
But those devout followers who had seen the Mingwang had all given up their wealth and donated it to the Mingwang Cult, which was why their Mingwang Cult was never short of silver.
Could there truly be a master?
Lin Fan fell into thought. When he first arrived in this world, he had thought there would surely be masters, but as he continued to explore, he had reached a point where he could do as he pleased, yet he had not encountered a single master.
Of course, Ning Yu had mentioned in casual conversation that Commander Qin Li, the Left Commander of the Five Military Headquarters, was the head of the military officials. In his youth, he had once lifted a tripod weighing two to three hundred pounds with one hand.
However, he was a bit old now and couldn’t lift it anymore.
He hadn’t taken this seriously.
He just considered it an exceptionally gifted individual appearing once in a million people.
But now, Protector Huang’s mention of the Saintess leading him to see the Mingwang’s illusory scene made him take it somewhat seriously.
“Damn it, whatever kind of ghost or demon you are.” Lin Fan snorted coldly in his heart. “Tomorrow is the Mingwang’s Birthday Celebration. I will personally go and meet you. Whether you’re a horse or a mule, we’ll know when we take you out for a ride.”
Lin Fan truly hoped that a master would appear, otherwise, he found everything too boring.
He didn’t continue questioning. He sent Protector Huang back to the prison and, at the same time, dragged out the severely beaten Master Ximen and returned him to his original cell.
…
The next day.
As Lin Fan led a contingent of constables towards the Mingwang Cult’s main altar outside the city, he found that the road leading out of the city was thronged with common people attending the Mingwang’s Birthday Celebration, their numbers far exceeding his expectations.
Most of these common people had devout and expectant expressions on their faces, holding carefully prepared gifts in their hands.
Many common people, their clothes patched with numerous mendings, clearly living in extreme poverty, clutched what was possibly their family’s only laying hen and walked slowly towards the Mingwang Cult’s main altar.
Seeing this scene, Lin Fan harbored no intention of blaming these common people for being easily deceived.
He merely wanted to say that the Mingwang Cult’s methods of deception were quite sophisticated.
Although he had exposed the Mingwang Cult’s deception in public yesterday, the impact was not significant. For those common people who were half-believing, it was just like watching a show.
But for the devout common people, they would not easily change their minds based on a few revelations.
Furthermore, he had learned that the Mingwang Cult’s countermeasure was swift.
They spread word that Protector Huang and others had violated the religious precepts, and the Mingwang was extremely enraged and had withdrawn their blessings from them.
Such a transparently flawed explanation.
No one would believe it.
But for the devout believers, they believed it without question.
Lin Fan looked at the bustling crowd ahead, resembling a pilgrimage, his gaze calm, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of the Wild Goose Feather Dagger.
“Let’s go, depart.”
…
Mingwang Cult Main Altar.
Incense smoke curled in the hall, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere.
Several high-ranking members of the Mingwang Cult were now kneeling respectfully on the ground, facing the figure seated on the lotus platform at the head of the hall.
They lowered their heads, their gazes not daring to stray, for in their hearts, the seated figure – the Saintess – was the embodiment of the Mingwang’s divine grace spread in the mortal world, sacred and inviolable.
“Dengzun.” The Saintess, seated above, spoke slowly, her voice ethereal and pleasant, “Prefect Zhao and Commander Qin, are they not coming this year?”
The Dengzun, who was mentioned, replied respectfully, “Replying to the Saintess, Prefect Zhao is indisposed and stated he cannot come.”
In previous years, Prefect Zhao would always come to offer congratulations on the Mingwang’s Birthday Celebration. As for Commander Qin, he would accompany Prefect Zhao, showing great respect to the Mingwang Cult.
But their absence this year was somewhat beyond their expectations.
If Prefect Zhao knew that the Mingwang Cult members were discussing why he wasn’t coming.
He would have exploded in anger.
“Come to your grandmother’s leg! I’ve been used as a pawn all along, and who doesn’t know that Lin Fan is bringing constables? This so-called Mingwang’s Birthday Celebration will likely turn into a disaster.”
The Saintess said, “Protector Huang was spreading doctrine in the city yesterday, demonstrating divine miracles, and recruiting followers. He was arrested by the Public Security Bureau?”
Dengzun replied, “Replying to the Saintess, that is correct. Not only was he arrested, but they also exposed our Mingwang Cult’s trick of grabbing copper coins from a pot of boiling oil with bare hands. Furthermore, this Head of the Public Security Bureau claims to be the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable from the Ninth Heaven, saying our Mingwang is an evil path that he subdued…”
Dengzun said, “Reporting to the Saintess, it’s like this. Not only did they get arrested, but our Mingwang Cult’s act of scooping copper coins from a hot oil pot with bare hands was exposed. Furthermore, this Chief Lin claims to be the reincarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable from the Ninth Heaven, calling our Mingwang a heretic and saying he suppressed him…”
As he spoke, Dengzun’s voice grew quieter.
Clearly, he dared not speak further.
The veiled Saintess fell silent. Since the founding of the Mingwang Cult, they had never encountered such a situation.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The sound of the Mingwang bell echoed from outside.
“The auspicious hour has arrived. You all go out and manage the situation first,” the Saintess said.
“Yes, Saintess.”
Those in the hall rose and respectfully departed.
…
Outside.
Lin Fan, accompanied by a group of constables, stood before the grand main altar of the Mingwang Cult.
The architecture before them, with its upturned eaves and ornate brackets, was resplendent and dazzling in the sunlight.
“Sir, the main altar of the Mingwang Cult, isn’t it a bit too extravagantly built?” Yang Ming exclaimed, looking up at the magnificent structure.
“Hmph,” Lin Fan snorted. “They aren’t paying with their own silver, so of course they can build it however they please.”
Ning Yu stood beside Lin Fan, her hands itching to get started, her small face full of excitement. “Master, this place doesn’t look like anything good. It’s definitely an evil cult. I can’t wait to wipe them all out.”
At this moment, one of Ning Yu’s followers reminded her, “Chief Lin, the Mingwang Cult has some connections with the Grand Tutor of the Imperial Court. It’s best to be careful.”
“Oh,” Lin Fan nodded.
The Three Ducal Ministers?
Indeed, that’s an extremely high position, a top-tier official.
However, this had little to do with what he, Lin Fan, was currently planning to do.
The difference in their status was too great; there was no direct conflict for now.
Since it wasn’t time to confront them head-on, there was no need to overthink or be overly cautious.
When the time truly came that they had to clash…
They would simply deal with them directly.
“Let’s go. I want to meet this Mingwang.”
Lin Fan was very displeased with the Mingwang Cult’s hospitality.
What was going on?
Didn’t they know the Great Celestial Venerable of the Ninth Heaven was here with his constables?
Not even a welcoming party.
Clearly an evil cult. Even if there were a Mingwang, he would be an evil god.
Their arrival naturally drew the attention of many common people. At the same time, the high-ranking members of the Mingwang Cult were pleased to notice more common people than usual this year, thinking that more and more people were believing in their Mingwang Cult.
This was a positive trend.
Little did they know that many of the common people were just there for the spectacle.
Especially this year, upon hearing that Chief Lin would be attending, many common people put aside all their affairs and rushed over, eager to witness firsthand how Chief Lin would deal with the Mingwang Cult.
Gossiping and watching a show, no matter when, is always very captivating.
As Lin Fan and his group entered, many common people, holding their gifts aloft, chanted the Mingwang Cult’s doctrine in unison with fervent expressions.
“Those who enter the Mingwang’s throne are all brothers and sisters. Forsake that avarice, and you shall find freedom of body and mind. Sever those worldly ties, and you shall see the true loving father…”
As they chanted, they placed their gifts into boxes for the Mingwang.
Seeing this scene, Lin Fan
had no intention of giving the Mingwang Cult any opportunity to celebrate its birthday. He immediately took one, two… four, five steps, and swiftly rushed to the highest platform.
“Clang!”
He drew the iron rod from his back and slammed it forcefully onto the platform beneath his feet, embedding it several inches deep into the solid surface with a dull, powerful thud. The entire platform seemed to tremble.
“Everyone, stop!”
Lin Fan took a deep breath and roared at the top of his lungs.
His voice was vast and imposing, overpowering the sounds of the Mingwang Cult’s music and rituals, causing them to cease abruptly.
All eyes in the venue turned towards Lin Fan.
The devout followers were furious, but upon seeing it was Chief Lin, their expressions became quite complex. On one hand was the Mingwang they revered, and on the other was Master Lin, whom they admired.
Many devout commoners were at a loss as to how to choose.
However, not all devout followers admired Lin Fan. The moment Lin Fan interrupted the birthday celebration, a fanatic follower angrily cursed, “How dare you! Get down immediately! This is the Mingwang’s birthday celebration, a moment of such solemnity. How can a mere mortal like you interrupt it?”
“Get down, get down!”
The shouting devout follower was extremely arrogant.
Seeing this, Xu Ming’s eyes sharpened, and just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly noticed that a commoner beside the devout follower made a move.
“Who the hell are you calling that?” a burly man grabbed the collar of the most aggressive believer, his eyes wide with anger. “You dare to curse our Master Lin? You must have the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard. You’re asking for a beating.”
Before he finished speaking, his fist, the size of a sandbag, swung down.
The surrounding commoners also joined in, launching sneak attacks and kicking him several times.
They were not believers but spectators, yet they genuinely respected Master Lin. Now, someone dared to curse Master Lin to their face; who could stand for that?
A commoner shouted, “Silver Rod Great Celestial Venerable—Master Lin!!!”
Damn it!
The escalating conflict at the scene was completely ruined by this single sentence, destroying the atmosphere.
The commoners who admired Lin Fan all shouted at the top of their lungs, cheering him on.
“Silver Rod Great Celestial Venerable—Master Lin!!!”
Lin Fan took a deep breath. Calm down, I must calm down. These are all people who love me.
I cannot get angry.
Screw it!
Qin Si, you son of a bitch, don’t let me back in Yong’an, or I’ll skin you alive and rip your mouth apart. My lifelong reputation has been completely ruined by your impulsive foolishness.
At the scene, Dengzun looked on in confusion.
He could never have imagined that things would turn out like this.
This was not at all what he had intended.
Just then,
a Mingwang Cult disciple rushed out from the hall and whispered something to Dengzun.
Dengzun nodded and walked towards Lin Fan.
“Chief Lin, our Saintess requests to speak with you inside the hall.”
Lin Fan smiled, looked at the solemn, mysterious, and luxurious main hall, and then turned to Xu Ming and the others, “Control the scene. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be executed on the spot.”
As he said this, killing intent surged.
The nearby Dengzun broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that Chief Lin was indeed as ruthless as they had heard.
