Chapter 24: Taiping Dao
Hearing Lu Yun’s words, Uncle Bao asked strangely: “Since we’ve already succeeded, Young Master, why not leave quickly?”
“That way, they would know the Imperial Seal was taken by me.” Lu Yun laughed: “So I chased after them all the way to see if I could trick her again. Although the process was unexpected, the result isn’t bad…”
“Indeed perfect!” Uncle Bao nodded heavily, happily saying: “Young Master got the thing, but that woman bears the suspicion and even exposed her identity! Now the Xiahou Clan probably thinks we’re also people from Taiping Dao! Haha!” He grew happier as he spoke, clapping and laughing: “Taiping Dao, wonderful! Wonderful! Taiping Dao surely disdains explaining clearly, and anyway the Xiahou Clan can’t do anything to them!”
“Uncle, you’re thinking too beautifully…” Lu Yun wasn’t so optimistic; he didn’t believe those noble clan giants would be so easily played by him. But these words didn’t need to be said to Uncle Bao. While hurrying on the road, he changed the topic and asked: “Why would seeing that… Lu Ban Wings make them recognize it as Taiping Dao?”
“Lu Ban Wings were made by the Lu Ban Sect for the Northern Dynasty’s Eastern Qi back then,” Uncle Bao explained to Lu Yun: “At that time, the Eastern Qi Emperor had a whimsical idea, fantasizing about letting his soldiers fly and burrow through the earth, so he ordered the Lu Ban Sect to make flying wings. The Lu Ban Sect made a hundred kinds of various devices. The Eastern Qi Emperor ordered death row prisoners to use these devices and jump from the highest place in the Imperial Palace. In the end, only one person landed safely. And the device that person used was the Lu Ban Wings.”
“Since it was already successfully developed, why did the Lu Ban Wings disappear without a trace?” Lu Yun asked puzzledly.
“First, they’re too expensive; it’s said that producing a pair of Lu Ban Wings costs a thousand taels of gold. Second, they’re not very useful; they can only glide down from high places and can’t truly fly up.” Uncle Bao said: “So the Eastern Qi Emperor lost interest and didn’t order production. The only remaining pair of Lu Ban Wings was kept in the Imperial Palace as a plaything. Later, when Eastern Qi was destroyed by the Founding Emperor, Sun Yuanlang, who was then the helmsman of Taiping Dao, took the opportunity to lead followers to plunder the palace and stole the only Lu Ban Wings under heaven.”
“No wonder…” Lu Yun understood why the Xiahou Clan people recognized them as Taiping Dao at a glance.
“Lu Ban Wings truly became famous under heaven in Sun Yuanlang’s hands; he used this thing to escape danger several times…” Uncle Bao said somewhat wistfully: “Later, when he advanced to Heavenly Rank, he no longer needed this thing…”
“So that woman is most likely Sun Yuanlang’s direct disciple?” Lu Yun grasped the key point, stopping Uncle Bao from continuing his old tales.
“That’s natural.” Uncle Bao deeply agreed, then said hatefully: “The Xiahou Clan indeed has long harbored intentions to usurp the throne. As long as we spread this matter out, I don’t believe that dog emperor can tolerate even this!”
“No need for us to worry.” Lu Yun said confidently: “Taiping Dao will definitely do that!”
.
The woman’s carriage traveled on the official road for a day and entered Yixing City at dusk. This was the commandery seat of Yixing Commandery in Yangzhou; the official soldiers guarded it strictly, but upon seeing that carriage, they let it pass without even asking.
The carriage entered the city and arrived at the Prefectural Governor’s Office. The gate official hurriedly opened the gate and let the carriage in.
In the courtyard, the commandery governor couple smiled as they watched the maid help the woman off the carriage. She seemed frail as if a breeze could blow her over, giving a shallow curtsy and softly greeting: “Father, Mother, your daughter has returned…” Now even her voice was completely different from before.
“Good, good.” The commandery governor couple said joyfully from their old hearts: “The wind outside is strong; hurry into the room.”
The maid then supported her as she slowly entered the room.
Before entering the room, this family showed no abnormalities. But as soon as the room door closed, the commandery governor couple prostrated on the ground, saying in fear and trepidation: “This subordinate pays respects to the Saintess; may the Saintess have boundless fortune and peace.”
“Rise and stand.” On the Saintess Lord’s clear and refined face, a holy radiance appeared. Her voice seemed able to soothe hearts; even speaking on unrelated topics, it still made everyone around feel immense happiness. “Has my master arrived?”
“Dao Sect just arrived and is meditating in the quiet room.” The commandery governor stood up after a thousand thanks, paused, then whispered: “The Left Protector has also come.”
“Mm…” The Saintess nodded, then left the crowd behind to meet her master in the backyard’s quiet room.
In the quiet room, besides three cushions and one incense burner, there was nothing else. Two Daoist Priests sat facing each other in meditation; the Saintess entered without them opening their eyes.
The Saintess silently sat on the cushion at the lower seat and also closed her eyes to regulate her breathing.
After a long time, the older Daoist Priest slowly spoke: “Do you know the Xiahou Clan’s purpose?”
“I know.” The Saintess nodded and simply recounted the beginning and end of the matter to the two. Her tone was very calm, as if speaking of a trivial trifle.
“What? The Imperial Seal of the State?!” Hearing her mention the Imperial Seal of the State, that Daoist Priest cried out in shock. The other Daoist Priest also suddenly opened his eyes; it was Taiping Dao Sect Leader Sun Yuanlang!
Ten years had not left any traces on Sun Yuanlang; he was still sword-browed and star-eyed, with an exceptionally clear face and three strands of long beard floating like an immortal.
But just as the surprise ended, he then heard her say that the Imperial Seal of the State, which was within reach, had been snatched away by someone. The old Daoist Priest’s face immediately turned pitch black, angrily saying: “You were too hasty! Why not wait for us to arrive before acting!”
“The arrow was on the string and had to be loosed.” The Saintess said indifferently: “Moreover, Protector, do you really think you and Master could snatch the Imperial Seal from the Xiahou Clan’s hands by force?”
“That would still have a better chance than you acting on your own!” The old Daoist Priest was somewhat annoyed and turned to Sun Yuanlang, saying sullenly: “Dao Sect, the Saintess acted recklessly and ruined our great plan. How do you think we should deal with her?!”
Although Sun Yuanlang had a face full of regret, he did not get angry. He smiled slightly and said warmly to the old Daoist Priest: “Senior Brother, calm your anger. If not for Yingxiu detecting the Xiahou Clan’s plot, there wouldn’t be today’s situation. The Imperial Seal is a sacred object of the Heavenly Dao; how could it be easily obtained? It’s not her fault; it’s simply that the opportunity hasn’t arrived.”
“Dao Sect, you’re just protecting her!” The old Daoist Priest was Taiping Dao’s Left Protector Dan Tai Beidou, with Heavenly Rank strength. Originally, his status in the sect was second only to Sun Yuanlang. But in the past one or two years, Sun Yuanlang declared that this female disciple before him was the reincarnation of the Taiping Saintess, who would in the future establish a paradise of human dao as the Taiping Empress. This instantly made this little girl an existence in the followers’ eyes comparable to the Sect Leader.
Even more hateful was that this little girl also regarded herself as the Saintess and didn’t put this Heavenly Rank protector in her eyes at all. Thus, Dan Tai Beidou had long been full of resentment and seized every opportunity to make things difficult for her. “This time she failed to catch the fox and instead stirred up a hornet’s nest; the Imperial Court and Xiahou Clan will definitely pursue us relentlessly!”
“It doesn’t matter; they’ve been trying to exterminate us for so many years, but Taiping Dao is still Taiping Dao?” Sun Yuanlang laughed nonchalantly: “Moreover, my and Senior Brother’s views are exactly opposite; this is a heaven-sent opportunity for us to improve the situation and make our move!”
“Oh?” Dan Tai Beidou was stunned for a moment. “Why do you say that, Dao Sect?”
“Yingxiu,” Sun Yuanlang instead looked at the Saintess and said: “Are you sure the Xiahou Clan is convinced the Imperial Seal was snatched by you?”
“Yes.” The Saintess nodded, a flash of annoyance in her eyes as she said: “Unless that kid is caught by them, or he gives himself away! But neither should be possible…”
“That’s very good!” Sun Yuanlang then turned to the old Daoist Priest and slowly instructed: “Senior Brother, spread the news that Taiping Dao has obtained the Imperial Seal!” Pausing, he said to the dazed Dan Tai Beidou: “Then, secretly pass word to the Huangfu Family, Xiahou Family, and those six families: as long as they’re willing to bid, everything is negotiable…”
“Ah!” The old Daoist Priest suddenly understood, slapping his thigh: “They were already at odds; if they know the Xiahou Clan is plotting for the Imperial Seal, they’ll definitely tear faces completely! Who would care about dealing with us?” Pausing, he said excitedly: “The Emperor wants the Imperial Seal, the Xiahou Clan wants the Imperial Seal! And those six families are no pushovers either; knowing we’re willing to let out the Imperial Seal, they’ll be eager to curry favor with us—who would dare offend us?”
“Correct.” Sun Yuanlang nodded with a smile.
“But…” The old Daoist Priest suddenly thought of a key problem and glared angrily at the Saintess: “We lost the Imperial Seal!”
“That doesn’t matter.” Sun Yuanlang twirled his beard and smiled: “As long as they believe it’s in our hands, that’s enough.”
“I’ll find it.” At this time, the Saintess said in a deep voice: “Although uncertain. But I feel the one who snatched the Imperial Seal is the person who assassinated Xiahou Lei that day!”
“Oh?” Dan Tai Beidou said in surprise: “That’s a clue!”
“And the one who assassinated Xiahou Lei,” the Saintess ignored him and continued: “His cultivation method seems to stem from the same lineage as《 Taiping Sutra》.”
Dan Tai Beidou said indifferently: “That’s not rare; which sect’s cultivation method did he use?” 《Taiping Sutra》 is the foundation of Taiping Dao’s establishment, with ten parts and one hundred forty-two scrolls, encompassing everything and profoundly vast! There are seventy or eighty kinds of cultivation methods alone! Moreover, Taiping Dao has countless believers, teaching without discrimination; who knows how many have learned the cultivation methods from it and spread them out.
The Saintess then extended her slender fingers like spring onions and formed a mudra, exactly the same as Lu Yun’s pose on the boat that day, as if seen firsthand.
“This is…” Dan Tai Beidou was somewhat dumbfounded; he actually didn’t recognize this mudra. He turned to look at Sun Yuanlang, thinking this first genius of Taiping Dao in five hundred years could surely say something about it.
Who knew Sun Yuanlang also shook his head: “I’ve never seen it either.”
“The Saintess must have mistaken it?” Dan Tai Beidou said somewhat displeased: “This clearly isn’t kung fu from《 Taiping Sutra》!”
“That’s strange…” The Saintess furrowed her delicate brows slightly: “But when that person formed this mudra, it carried the intent of ‘vital energy guards the dao, thereby giving birth to all things’ from《 Taiping Sutra》!”
“Is that so?” Sun Yuanlang couldn’t help but frown and ponder deeply. After a long time, he thought of a possibility: “Could it be from the seized Gui Scroll?” The Gui Scroll is the final scroll of《 Taiping Sutra》 and the supreme treasure canon within《 Taiping Sutra》, traditionally readable only by Taiping Dao Sect Leaders.
Unfortunately, twenty years ago, the previous Sect Leader was harmed by the Huangfu Family, and the Gui Scroll was also seized by the Huangfu Family—even Sun Yuanlang hadn’t seen it.
But this guess was truly inconceivable; even he himself didn’t believe it and shook his head with a smile: “Impossible. Over these years, I’ve already used Profound Insight Grandmasters to complete the cultivation methods from the Gui Scroll… Except for that Supreme Profound Void Technique that no one can cultivate…”
“That cultivation method long ago perished with Empress Qianming in the fire…” Dan Tai Beidou also laughed, teasing the Saintess: “Looks like you were indeed wrong.”
The Saintess lowered her head and said no more, but the doubt in her eyes did not disappear…
“In any case,” at this time Sun Yuanlang ended the topic and ordered in a deep voice: “We must find that person before the White Ape Society!”
“Understood!” The Saintess and Left Protector stood solemnly and accepted the order.
