Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
So, the plague afflicting the Young Master of the White Lotus Sect is due to the Old Sovereign!
Did Mangnyang mention this during the meeting with the Huashan Sect? As we stared at Mangnyang in shock, he calmly replied,
“As I said, our main enemy is the Imperial Palace, but more precisely, the Otherworldly Race lurking within it. By investigating their secret currents, we’ve uncovered this.”
[Ah, I see… I can relate to your plight.]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect sighed briefly before continuing.
[You mentioned to me a few days ago that there’s something more important than curing the Young Master’s affliction. What is it?]
“It’s about harnessing the power of the Seven Luminaries.”
Mangnyang looked him straight in the eyes.
“We currently have very few leads on the plague. The clues from the Mythological Age are coded like a cipher, and even if I convey them to you, finding anything will be quite difficult. That’s why I’ve come here, to offer guidance as the Lord of the Bancheon Alliance on the direction the White Lotus Sect should pursue.”
[The Seven Luminaries… a direction…]
“Would you be willing to hear me out?”
The Master of the White Lotus Sect fell into silence for a moment before responding,
[Before that, I’d like to hear about this clue from the Mythological Age first.]
“Yes. It involves finding the Black and White Lotus, which is the root of the Holy Lotus. This was supposedly the last piece of evidence left by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors during the Ancient Times.”
[…That will certainly be hard to find.]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect wore a slightly incredulous expression. It’s likely he would have reacted similarly even if Dongbang Mu-gyeol had returned to the White Lotus Sect with this clue normally. Mangnyang continued calmly,
“The more critical point is that if we have the power of the Seven Luminaries, we can break the curse of the Old Sovereign even without the Black and White Lotus. This power transcends cognition; we should be targeting the Seven Luminaries first.”
[Ah, I’ve heard that one resides in Haedong.]
“It seems you have something you wish to express…”
As Mangnyang trailed off, the Master of the White Lotus Sect asked,
[Lord of the Bancheon Alliance, what have you done with Dongbang Mu-gyeol?]
Jumping straight to the point!
It could have been a lucky guess, but the Master of the White Lotus Sect immediately deduced how we had acquired our information. Jin So-cheong and I exchanged tense glances, but to our surprise, Mangnyang responded without hesitation,
“He is currently under our protection within the Bancheon Alliance.”
[Hmm… Then there must be other information to convey to me.]
“If it’s about the Dragon Flower Tree, it’s said to be hidden in the continent at the southern end of the world. It’s supposed to be resting next to the treasure of the Seven Luminaries, the Fire Star.”
[Ah, I see. Ultimately leading back to the Seven Luminaries then.]
I couldn’t keep up with their conversation.
So, the Master of the White Lotus Sect has discovered that the Dongbang Mu-gyeol, the envoy of the White Lotus Sect, has been kidnapped by the Bancheon Alliance. Yet, neither Mangnyang nor any of us have been killed by their anger; instead, he continued speaking calmly. It was as though Mangnyang had anticipated this development.
The Master of the White Lotus Sect said,
[You seem confident that you can provide better information than Dongbang Mu-gyeol.]
“Indeed. While he went to the Moon Kingdom to retrieve information, organizing that to reach the Old Sovereign is something only we can accomplish.”
[What do you seek in return?]
“I wish for the Bancheon Alliance to be entrusted with the overall mission of searching for the Seven Luminaries and treating the Young Master’s plague. In exchange, we hope to establish a friendly alliance with the White Lotus Sect.”
[……]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect fell silent, deep in thought.
At that moment, I began to understand what Mangnyang had called a ‘gamble’. He was negotiating with the Master to ignite their willingness to explore the Seven Luminaries while seeking an alliance with the White Lotus Sect in return for valuable information! Of course, should this go well, the Bancheon Alliance would instantly secure the support of the strongest force in the martial world; however, should it fail, the three of us could meet our demise at the hands of the Master of the White Lotus Sect right here.
After what felt like a long time, the Master of the White Lotus Sect finally spoke.
[Mangnyang, your name is the same as someone I know. What is your relation to Mangnyang Seonsa?]
“I am the disciple of that individual.”
[As I suspected. Quite an amusing situation.]
It appeared that the Master of the White Lotus Sect knew of Mangnyang Seonsa. He seemed to carry a faint smile as he continued,
[As you all are aware, there are two ways to lift a curse. One is to acquire a holy elixir imbued with the sacred power of the Holy Lotus, and the other is to extinguish the sorcerer behind the curse. Why do you think I cannot choose the latter method?]
“Uh…”
Mangnyang seemed puzzled momentarily but eventually provided the expected answer.
“Because I cannot kill the sorcerer of the curse.”
[Correct.]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect leaned slightly to the side.
[This all happened several decades ago… I had a confrontation with a certain divine being, leading to a battle. Specifically, I succeeded in destroying the physical manifestation of that being. It was indeed powerful, but it wasn’t a proper match for me.]
“……!!”
At that moment, both Jin So-cheong and I widened our eyes.
‘No way…’
Could it be that the Master of the White Lotus Sect fought against the Old Sovereign?!
A formidable existence that not even the celestial beings dare to confront?!
This was something I could hardly fathom, and I found my mouth agape.
[However, that entity suddenly vanished, leaving only its soul behind, and afterward, my son, the Young Master, became afflicted by the terrifying curse of the plague.]
“……”
[I wanted to track that being down and obliterate it completely, but there was no way to pursue someone who had already turned into a soul and disappeared.]
After a moment of thought, Mangnyang responded,
“I believe the one you killed was likely a manifestation of the Old Sovereign. That entity has already surpassed death, so when its manifestation is killed, the original returns to the realm known as Dark Heaven.”
[I know. Ever since that incident, I’ve conducted much research on the Otherworldly Race and the Old Sovereign…]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect sighed.
[No matter how strong I am, it would be impossible for me to chase down that existence across dimensions into the realm of Dark Heaven and kill it. Thus, I had no choice but to resort to a conventional healing method.]
I now understood how things came to be. The Master of the White Lotus Sect may have slain the Old Sovereign, but the curse left behind caused the Young Master to fall ill. I had a rough idea of the situation, but I still had many unresolved questions in my heart.
Why was it that the plague the Alchemist spread in the capital bore such similarity to the Young Master’s plague?
There are variances in how the plague progresses in each person, so what could account for those differences?
Mangnyang continued,
“I would like to know more. What led you to confront the Old Sovereign?”
[It all began when a blue-eyed foreigner arrived from the Western Region.]
“A foreigner?”
[This foreigner claimed that if I were to obtain the Nameless Ritual Book, I could gain dominion over the world. However, I had no interest and dismissed him, but before he died, he summoned the Old Sovereign using his life as a price.]
The Nameless Ritual Book!
I shot a glance at Mangnyang. Our eyes met, and he nodded.
That foreigner from the Western Region must have been a Warlock like the Alchemist, seeking out the Nameless Ritual Book to gain immense power. Furthermore, it’s likely that the Master of the White Lotus Sect dispatched an assassination squad against him out of concern, leading the Warlock to summon the Old Sovereign in a fit of anger just before his demise.
Mangnyang asked,
“Do you know whether the Imperial Palace has borrowed the power of the Otherworldly Race and that the emperor seeks immortality through their strength?”
[Of course. Until now, it didn’t directly concern us, so we left it alone.]
The Master of the White Lotus Sect was already aware of the Imperial Palace’s secret currents. However, since the ceremonies of human sacrifices and the activities of the Golden Eagle Guards did not directly affect the White Lotus Sect, he had chosen to disregard them. Undoubtedly, the urgent situation revolving around the Young Master‘s affliction also played a large role in this decision.
Mangnyang stated,
“We can search for the whereabouts of the Seven Luminaries while simultaneously researching the Nameless Ritual Book and curing the Young Master’s affliction. Please trust us.”
[Then we shall do so. I look forward to your successes.]
“Thank you.”
[However, send Dongbang Mu-gyeol back. We must reward him for his efforts.]
“I understand.”
The conversation progressed smoothly, to my huge relief. I had been worried about potentially being struck by the Master of the White Lotus Sect, but things felt incredibly comfortable instead. I nodded in realization that Mangnyang had prepared well for this gamble; the Master would undoubtedly prefer to align with an organization that is well-informed and capable, rather than risking everything based solely on the sudden information from Dongbang Mu-gyeol.
“And if you grant us this alliance, I have one request…”
[What is it?]
“It seems there’s a movement within the Wind Gods to suppress the Thunder Gods. However, this could severely impact our Bancheon Alliance, which is intimately tied with the Thunder Gods. We would appreciate your assistance in preventing this.”
[Our Dharma Protectors wouldn’t resort to such petty things.]
“Of course, but there are times when individuals act out of blind loyalty, right? I just wanted to mention that there might be problems during the search for the treatment of the Young Master.”
[Hmm… that could indeed be the case.]
It was a distinctly political conversation.
The Master of the White Lotus Sect pretended not to know, but I believed he was well aware of how the Wind Gods were plotting. Thus, Mangnyang subtly shifted the conversation to be about what the higher-ups didn’t know, and the Master of the White Lotus Sect begrudgingly played along.
Once the negotiations appeared to have concluded, I finally turned to the Master of the White Lotus Sect and asked,
“Um… may I ask one question?”
[You are Baek Woong, correct? Go ahead.]
“I gather you are searching for the Dragon Flower Tree as a cure, but why do you think so?”
The Dragon Flower Tree.
It was not simply a type of tree; it was said to be the tree that refers to the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, who achieved enlightenment. In other words, it could be seen as a being infused with divine power. Of course, the White Lotus Sect, being rooted in Buddhism as it is, may have led to this thought, but I wanted to know more details.
The Master of the White Lotus Sect appeared taken aback by the unexpected question, stroking his chin before responding,
[Great Mother of the Non-Birth.]
“……?”
[That is the name of the great goddess we worship. The Great Mother, the origin of creation, has sent Maitreya to gather her scattered children back to the True Void Family, promising a Peaceful Millennium Kingdom will be realized in the human world. Are you familiar with the tenets of the White Lotus Sect?]
“I’ve heard bits and pieces about it before.”
[In fact, I once sought advice from the strongest sorcerer I knew to heal the plague. While that sorcerer could not assist me, he did mention the word ‘heavenly luck’.]
“Heavenly luck, you say?”
[While the Old Sovereign‘s power could likely cast a curse that would obliterate the entire White Lotus Sect, the blessings of the Great Mother prevented that from happening. Therefore, while considering how to offer the greatest worship and merit to the Great Mother, I thought the Dragon Flower Tree, with its legendary powers, could be a method.]
“Hmm…”
The blessings of the Great Mother of the Non-Birth!
I found it hard to believe, and I let out a noise of skepticism.
Of course, while the White Lotus Sect is a religious organization, up to now, I had considered it as a demonology cult disguised as a sect. In reality, it had overthrown the original thriving demon cult in Gansu and established itself. But listening to the Master, it seemed he genuinely believes in the Great Mother of the Non-Birth, feeling a deep identity with their religion.
Just then, Mangnyang asked,
“Then what do you think of Maitreya?”
[He is the being that removes the cycle of reincarnation.]
“What do you mean?”
[Once Maitreya is born under the Dragon Flower Tree, all beings in this world will attain enlightenment and ascend to the heavens. However, it also means shedding both the fetters of the flesh and that of the soul to reach the Upper Heaven… At that moment, all suffering from the cycle of reincarnation will vanish.]
I was listening thoughtfully to the Master’s religious theories. However, Mangnyang was listening with a serious expression. He propped his chin thoughtfully and continued to ask,
“Then do you consider Maitreya not a god?”
[That is correct. Maitreya is not a god. I see him as the law of the universe that exists.]
“Thank you for your valuable insights. They have been extremely helpful.”
Moreover, we received detailed information on the Warlock from the Western Region, along with a few texts from the White Lotus Sect. Having pushed that far, the Master of the White Lotus Sect looked at Jin So-cheong and said,
[The disciple of Lee Kwang. Excellent achievements.]
“Thank you.”
[It would be nice if you could return to our sect someday.]
He appeared somewhat regretful at that remark. I was taken aback by the fact that he was acknowledging Jin So-cheong to such a degree. This meant that even the best in the world recognized his talent and admired it.
After that, we finally got to meet the Young Master of the White Lotus Sect directly. He was recuperating in a building named Heavenly Law Hall, wrapped in some sacred purple bamboo. Mangnyang expressed admiration as he observed the environment surrounding the Young Master‘s bed.
“This building feels like a temple. It’s spiritually stable, and even that bed is built with an incredible structure of spiritual energy…”
Upon getting a closer look at the Young Master, as expected, half of his body had transformed into that of the Otherworldly Race due to the plague. However, his face remained untouched. It seemed the plague had not progressed as much as I imagined, and he now appeared to be merely in a vegetative state, breathing softly. After confirming the Young Master’s condition, we bid farewell to the Master of the White Lotus Sect and exited the White Lotus Sect.
We made our way several hundred li away, traveling via the woods. Then, we settled down at an inn nearby to discuss today’s events.
I asked Mangnyang,
“Mangnyang. So, can we manage to counter the schemes of the Wind Gods?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure. We can prevent severe consequences, but there might still be petty setbacks.”
“Even with the Master of the White Lotus Sect helping us?”
“That’s too optimistic a view of the White Lotus Sect.”
Mangnyang sighed briefly.
“While the Master’s orders might stop Yong Junil’s plans, the White Lotus Sect doesn’t necessarily want the Thunder Gods to grow stronger. The real issue is when the Master will decide to put a stop to it. If that takes too long, we could suffer irreversible damage.”
“Hmm.”
“Well, at least it’s a relief that we’ve avoided the worst-case scenario. The Master wouldn’t act too terribly ruthlessly out of respect for his own reputation.”
As Mangnyang spoke, I turned to him and asked,
“Mangnyang, what was that question about Maitreya earlier?”
Most of the topics discussed had been practical, but Mangnyang’s question on Maitreya seemed a little out of the blue. I was curious whether it stemmed from his thirst for knowledge or if it was related to our pressing survival matter. Jin So-cheong looked at him with the same puzzled expression. Mangnyang fumbled with his words,
“I suppose it’s still a hypothetical stage, but I felt it was worth mentioning.”
“Please, do share.”
“Simply put, I have doubts regarding the blessings of the Great Mother of the Non-Birth.”
“……?”
I felt as though I had been struck on the head with the next statement.
“I learned from my master that the only entities capable of countering the Old Sovereign‘s power are other Old Sovereigns or divine beings beyond that level. Therefore, if the Great Mother of the Non-Birth truly exists and indeed diminished the curses of the Old Sovereign, then…”
Mangnyang left his sentence hanging, but I understood the implication.
“… It’s very likely that the Great Mother, the deity of the White Lotus Sect, could also be an Old Sovereign?”
“It’s merely a hypothesis.”
“But the White Lotus Sect is closer to a military organization than a religious group that doesn’t engage in human sacrifices…”
“Not all Old Sovereigns enjoy human sacrifices. They typically have no interest in humans, and what they desire can sometimes be abstract offerings. If this hypothesis holds true, then the White Lotus Sect might have acquired great power in exchange for ‘something’.”
“……!!”
Mangnyang seemed to hesitate even to continue. Uncharacteristically, he spoke with some anxiety.
“Regardless, I felt compelled to ask. If Maitreya were sent into this world to lead it to enlightenment, then what being is he? I had to inquire because no one knows the White Lotus Sect’s doctrines better than the Master.”
“The Master stated that Maitreya is not a god.”
“That is correct. Maitreya is not a god. That is truly a complicated response.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the interpretation of Maitreya by the White Lotus Sect contrasts entirely with the interpretations by all Buddhists across the Central Plains and the entire Celestial world. The Master’s response indicates that the Great Mother is indeed real and that she embodies the cosmic law of Maitreya. Moreover, stating that he removes the cycle of reincarnation is outright heresy.”
What on earth is Mangnyang trying to convey?
Jin So-cheong and I exchanged curious glances, and with a resigned sigh, Mangnyang muttered,
“Phew… Anyway, it remains a hypothesis. I think I should consult my master about this.”
“Is it that crucial?”
“Absolutely.”
Mangnyang spoke gravely.
“Baek Woong, please take me to my master. I intend to return later via the Jinlang Path.”
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