Mutated Tao

Chapter 632: Antrabhara Temple

Qing Qiu’s Lama?!

Li Huowang could still remember the black Lama with three heads and six arms, and he could still remember how each of the black Lama's heads represented a unique death.

"Are you saying that the Lama from Qing Qiu is working with the Dharma Sect?” Li Huowang asked, his expression becoming serious upon realizing the gravity of the situation.

“If God Yu’er’s Heavenly Dao was darkness while the black-skinned[1] Lama worshiped death. There's a possibility that the Lama wanted to use the Natural Disaster caused by God Yu’er to bring everyone to death.”

It made sense. Although the Dharma Sect was considered an evil sect by both the royal family and the Surveillance Bureau, there would always be people willing to work with such a ruthless sect. They were living in a crazy world, after all.

“That might not be the case. Many masters from the Antrabhara[2] Temple have decided to join the Surveillance Bureau of Qing Qiu.”

This was Li Huowang's first time hearing of the Antrabhara Temple, and it was apparently the sect where the Lamas had come from.

“Antrabhara Temple… “ Li Huowang recalled the half-man and half-sheep people being laid orderly on Qing Qiu’s lush grass meadows.

A sect worshiping death meant nothing but bad news to Li Huowang.

“Could it be that the Antrabhara Temple has complete control over the Surveillance Bureau of Qing Qiu? Doesn’t that mean that the entire Qing Qiu is under the control of the Dharma Sect?” Li Huowang said unconsciously.

Fo Yulu trembled at the idea that Li Huowang had brought up. If it was true, the entire Liang Kingdom was in danger.

Attacks from the inside and the outside at the same time were incredibly dangerous and difficult to handle.

Zheng Boqiao swung his horsetail whisk, creating a crackling noise. “That’s not the case. The reason Xuan Pin was away for so long was that he was trying to convince the Surveillance Bureau to unite and work together. If there really were a problem with the Surveillance Bureau in Qing Qiu, he would have discovered it at that time.”

“Xuan Pin…” Li Huowang could still remember how Xuan Pin had left the city urgently at the time when Li Huowang wanted his help to deal with the Sitting Oblivion Dao before.

It was only when Shai Zi had taken control over the Dragon Vein that Xuan Pin came back. He had been wondering what business was more urgent than saving the city, but it turned out that Xuan Pin's task at the time was truly more important.

“Hm…” Zheng Boqiao muttered and stared at Li Huowang.

“Daoist Li, there’s no need for you to worry," Zheng Boqiao said, "The Surveillance Bureau has sent someone to go and investigate this matter. You're right. Things are going to become dangerous if the Dharma Sect from the Qi Kingdom manages to make contact with the Dharma Sect from the Liang Kingdom. Through the pill that I’ve extracted from He Xinlai’s brain, I learned the location of some of their big bases. We might be able to find high-ranking officials of the Dharma Sect in those places. If you're free, how about you volunteer to raid those places and go see the results for yourselves?”

Li Huowang's face stiffened, and he proceeded to reevaluate Zheng Boqiao. It was true that he had come here to help the Surveillance Bureau eradicate the Dharma Sect and obtain some information as well, but now, he had a feeling that Zheng Boqiao was trying to distract him. Was there something wrong with the Antrabhara Temple?

“Chief Zheng, you know that I’m related to the Emperor. He has ordered me to go around the Liang Kingdom to observe the situation. And I'm sure you know that hiding something from him is treason."

“Hehe, Daoist Li, that’s not true. This is a matter relating to the Surveillance Bureau. I fear that the Emperor doesn’t have any right to interfere in this.”

“The Emperor cannot do anything, but it doesn't mean that he has to remain ignorant,” Li Huowang said. He became even more suspicious of Zheng Boqiao's attempt to change the subject.

Zheng Boqiao sighed, and he looked as if he had decided to relent as he said, “Fine. Once the informants come back from Qing Qiu, we should be able to get some information about the Antrabhara Temple. We will then submit a report to the Emperor. What do you think? Will he help stop the invasion of the Dharma Sect by then?”

Looking at the people around him, Li Huowang decided not to pressure them any longer. Every single one of them was living in the Liang Kingdom, so the Dharma Sect was a problem that they had to resolve together.

“How can you say that, Chief Zheng? I live in the Liang Kingdom as well, and I am a member of the Surveillance Bureau. I will never refuse when it comes to eradicating the Dharma Sect.”

“Hehehe, I guess I made a mistake. Anyway, let’s not waste more time. I will write down their exact location, and let's work together to make sure that they won't be able to run away.”

Zheng Boqiao approached the incense burner and grabbed another fistful of ashes. He used it to quickly write something on the ground. Soon, several addresses written appeared on the ground. Most of them were villages at the borders of the Liang Kingdom. It seemed that the Dharma Sect was operating just like the White Lotus Sect. They'd disguise themselves as regular people and hide in the border towns to avoid attracting any attention.

After writing the addresses, Zheng Boqiao swung his horsetail whisk toward the addresses. The ashes converged and transformed into a small pile of ashes on his palm.

Zheng Boqiao took the pile of ashes and handed it over to Li Huowang.

“I am versed in refining pills. Daoist Li, stay here for a bit. Let me give you some pills that will heal your wounds.”

Li Huowang grabbed the pile of ashes and stashed it in his pocket before turning around to leave.

“No need. I don’t like pills," he said

He wanted to do things by himself alone, and he did not want to team up with the Surveillance Bureau for this mission.

After all, there was a chance that they had an ulterior motive.

“The Bureau will send people to locate them. If you run into each other, just reveal your name to them, and they will show you the way!” Zheng Boqiao shouted at Li Huowang.

Li Huowang didn't respond and simply left with Li Sui.

Once Li Sui and Li Huowang were no longer in sight, Zheng Boqiao turned to Fo Yulu and said, “He doesn't have the same mission as us. We can recruit him, but be careful whenever you interact with him.”

Fo Yulu nodded. “I understand. He is related to the royal family, and he doesn’t belong to the Surveillance Bureau at all.”

Zheng Boqiao shook his head and said, “No. I'm afraid that he's not affiliated with His Majesty.”

They were discussing secrets here, but Zheng Boqiao had no intention of letting the Abbot out of the loop.

Fo Yulu was slightly taken aback. “He’s not affiliated with His Majesty? Then, who is he working with? Is he a spy from the Dharma Sect?”

“Calm down. There’s no need to talk about him for now. We still have more important matters to handle. Of course, it's always good to be prudent. The next time you have to work with him, you must notify me as soon as possible.”

“I understand.”

With that, Zheng Boqiao bowed to the Abbot with a smile, saying, “Master Chan Du, these affairs have been settled, so let us proceed to have our meals.”

“Amitabha. Thank you for the meal, benefactor,” Chan Du said. He then put his palms together and bowed.

1. Black-skinned here doesn’t refer to the pigment but instead how the skin turns dark after a person dies and rots/mummified ☜

2. In Buddhism, there is a period of 49 days before someone gets reincarnated after death. Think of it as a temporary Limbo ☜