Chapter 38
In the Jiangnan region, there were three Buddhist mountains, each located in a different place.
They did not interfere with each other and did not have much dealings with each other either.
Shaolin Temple’s Mount Song.
Xuankong Temple’s Mount Heng.
And Dalin Temple’s Daqing Mountain.
This was a majestic green mountain that was also the gate to the Dalin Temple itself.
Unlike the magnificent Shaolin Temple, which was filled with Buddha statues with its color scheme focused on gold and vibe—glorious as it exhibited a secular yellow and white atmosphere.
This mountain which Dalin Temple was on looked simple on the outside.
But the essence laid within.
One could not see any buildings on the mountain, nor could they see any Buddhist landmarks.
The only way to see the brilliance of the Dalin Temple was inside the great mountain.
Countless stone caves were chiseled out and divided within the mountain.
Each of them had a number of carvings inside.
Generations of monks of the Dalin Temple chiseled and carved with their own axes, forming exquisite carvings and moving Buddhist portraits telling ancient stories within this great mountain.
Everyone who came and saw these lifelike carvings and paintings would almost certainly be shocked.
The monks of Dalin Temple do not compete with the outside world.
They guarded their own territory and practiced Buddhism.
This was also the reason why Lin Tianyuan did not include them as his targets.
Dalin Temple has also heard of the conflict between the Shaolin Temple, the Xuankong Temple, and the Yuhua God Dynasty.
The monks of the Dalin Temple were also talking about it.
But because the Yuhua God Dynasty did target them, they just watched from the side.
2
The abbot of the Dalin Temple sighed tersely. “The world of great competition has just arrived, and the buddhist sects have already encountered this catastrophe. It really makes one worry.”
…
The Shaolin Temple ignored the imperial decree from the Yuhua God Dynasty.
The Xuankong Temple, on the other hand, even provoked the Yuhua God Dynasty by building hundreds of temples.
Their attitude was clear. For them, the Yuhua God Dynasty was nothing.
Everyone’s eyes fell on the Yuhua God Dynasty, waiting to see how Emperor Ming—Lin Tianyuan would react.
Even people from within the Yuhua God Dynasty along with a few aristocratic families, as well as some wildly ambitious people, observed quietly.
Emperor Ming actually had the guts to issue such an imperial decree. He made his decree known to the world and offended these buddhist sects. How would this matter come to an end?
Forbidden City, Great Council Hall.
Emperor Ming—Lin Tianyuan wore a grim look on his face. He was enraged.
3
He heard of the Shaolin Temple’s methods from his subjects and he snorted coldly.
“They have no regard for the law.”
But when he heard what the Xuankong Temple had done, he was even more infuriated.
“They are challenging me, challenging the Yuhua God Dynasty!”
“Your Majesty. The buddhist sects are powerful, and the people in the Jiangnan area believe in them piously.” The Cabinet Chief persuaded.
“Your Majesty, take it slowly. We can’t go head-to-head with them for now.” The court officials advised Lin Tianyuan.
But Lin Tianyuan was confident.
2
He was given the nod by Lin Jiufeng after all.
“There’s no need to say more. Continue the preparations. The extermination of the buddhist sects is imperative!” Lin Tianyuan said firmly.
“Your Majesty, how should we proceed?” The Cabinet Chief inquired.
“I have my ways!” Lin Tianyuan said confidently.
After dismissing the court officials, Lin Tianyuan could not sit still anymore.
He left the palace immediately and went to look for Lin Jiufeng alone.
If there were issues that he couldn’t solve, ask Uncle.
He had developed such a habit.
In front of the Cold Palace, Lin Tianyuan knocked on the door and entered.
Lin Jiufeng saw Lin Tianyuan. He asked calmly, “Why are you here again?”
Lin Tianyuan’s visits have been too frequent lately.
“Uncle. The Shaolin and Xuankong Temple have no regard for the law.”
Lin Tianyuan briefly explained everything.
“Don’t you have more than a dozen Martial Sages under you?” Lin Jiufeng asked.
“After the rain, the spiritual energy of the world is now extremely abundant. The Martial Sages that I have under me have become worthless overnight. I originally thought that a dozen Martial Sages would be enough, but now it’s completely insufficient,” Lin Tianyuan said bitterly.
Plans always fall behind changes.
Lin Jiufeng frowned before asking, “Will your father’s reforms be done after we’ve exterminated those 80,000 or so temples?”
“That’s pretty much it. The next step would be to stabilize the situation and improve the people’s lives.” Lin Tianyuan nodded.
“Bring me paper and a brush.” Lin Jiufeng waved his hand.
Lin Tianyuan immediately ran out to take paper and a brush.
The white cat walked out from the shadows as it wrote in crooked letters on the floor.
“Why are you always helping him?”
Lin Jiufeng looked at it and lamented.
“I’m not helping him. I’m helping my brother with his final wishes.”
Emperor Yuan fought for all of his life for the sake of reforms.
Lin Tianyuan inherited Emperor Yuan’s will and was also introducing the same reforms.
But the situation was very complicated now.
After the rain, the world had changed.
Although Lin Tianyuan was the Emperor, there were not a lot of people whom he could trust.
If Lin Jiufeng didn’t help him, the reforms would be impossible to accomplish.
Helping Lin Tianyuan was to fulfill his brother’s legacy.
“But this will be the last time I’ll help him. After eliminating those 80,000 temples, the Jiangnan region will become peaceful at once and the reforms will finally be completed.” Lin Jiufeng murmured.
2
In the future, Lin Tianyuan would be on his own.
1
Lin Jiufeng would finally be able to continue his routine of silently signing in while pursuing the peak of martial arts.
The white cat understood. It wrote and asked, “Are you going to Jiangnan, then?”
Lin Jiufeng shook his head. He softly replied, “The current buddhist sects are not worthy for me to travel to Jiangnan personally!”
The white cat looked at Lin Jiufeng, shocked.
It wanted to inquire further, but Lin Tianyuan had already returned.
Hence, the little white cat could only scratch a few times on the ground haphazardly to cross out the words that it had written.
1
Lin Jiufeng had seen the words it wrote, but he didn’t care that much about it.
But the white cat was too proud to let others see its crooked words.
“Uncle, I brought with me the four treasures of the study.”
2
Lin Tianyuan placed the items on the stone table respectfully.
Lin Jiufeng lifted a brush and began painting.
He painted the image of a grass, trees, and a sword.
It was a very simple composition of green grass, river, trees, distant mountains, slanting sun, village…
Lin Jiufeng painted a second picture.
A young man was practicing his moves with a horse stance, throwing out punches.
After painting two pictures, Lin Jiufeng put down the brush.
Lin Tianyuan blinked as he looked at Lin Jiufeng and asked, “Uncle, what does this mean?”
Two simple paintings.
He was here to ask for help, not to ask for paintings.
Lin Jiufeng replied, “Let two Martial Sages each bring a painting and your imperial decree to the Shaolin and Xuankong Temple. If they don’t obey the imperial decree, open the paintings.”
Lin Tianyuan was confused.
That was it?
That was enough to get the agreement of these two delinquent sects?
Lin Jiufeng did not explain any further.
He folded both paintings and put them aside.
“Remember, don’t open them in advance. Lives will be lost.” Lin Jiufeng smiled slightly and let Lin Tianyuan leave.
Lin Tianyuan took the two paintings in a daze before he returned to the Forbidden City.
The white cat came out and wrote curiously. “Two paintings, are you trying to deceive him?”
“Two paintings are enough. If it weren’t for the fact that the two sects are in different places, one painting would be enough already,” Lin Jiufeng said softly.
“What did you draw on the paper?” The white cat was very curious.
Lin Jiufeng thought seriously for a moment before he answered.
“I drew Human Gods!”
1
The white cat stared at Lin Jiufeng in horror.
7
Lin Jiufeng smiled faintly at it, his temperament became warm like a spring breeze.