Chapter 637

Beside him, the old Tibetan monk's mouth twitched, and he couldn't stop wryly smiling: "Dharma King, this time the losses are all our Esoteric Sect's elites; when we go back, we're afraid the Living Buddha will reprimand us."

Everyone fears bearing the consequences; now the Dharma King is the highest authority, so they want the Vajra Dharma King to take responsibility, and only by sharing responsibility can they survive; otherwise, no one can withstand the Living Buddha's wrath.

The Vajra Dharma King finally had to nod, sighing: "Never mind, this matter arose because of me; I originally intended to seize the Buddha's relics to glorify the Esoteric Sect's prestige, but now it seems that the battle in the capital a month ago left the Esoteric Sect utterly humiliated."

He didn't know how many remained of the Qinhu Sect, but that night, after scouting the prince's residence, only nine survived, all seriously wounded; however, the Jin also lost countless Jin soldiers, and the exact numbers have not yet been tallied.

"Elders, the affair in the capital is settled; the relics' whereabouts are unknown, and both the martial world sects and the Jin have suffered heavy losses—let's just drop it!" Now the Vajra Dharma King no longer wants to seek any relics; as long as he has resources to cultivate, he has full confidence breaking through to the Innate Realm.

The remaining four old Tibetan monks blinked slightly, not expecting the Vajra Dharma King to give up so easily; they couldn't help feeling it a pity: "Dharma King, why don't we search carefully in the Central Plains again? Perhaps……"

Before he could finish, the Vajra interrupted him, coldly glancing over: "If you're still obsessed with the relics, go look for them yourselves; I won't interfere in the slightest!"

Are the relics more important, or oneself?

After luckily escaping back from the capital, the Vajra kept asking himself: Without the relics, can seeking the Dao by sacrificing oneself break into the Innate Realm?

His answer was: Yes!

He possessed the Esoteric Sect's unique Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, which naturally leads to the Innate Realm; he only needs to temper it slowly, then seek an opportunity to comprehend the Dao, and he can break into the Innate Realm to become an unparalleled master.

Thinking this, the Vajra coldly glanced at the old Tibetan monks beside the table and said in a low voice: "The journey to the Central Plains is over; you decide whether to return to the Esoteric Sect or stay in the Central Plains; I have other matters, so I won't accompany you—I will send a message to the Living Buddha to explain everything clearly!"

After saying that, he intended to bid farewell to those four old Tibetan monks and leave alone, which could also be considered a form of cultivation.

"Dharma King, may I ask where you are headed?"

An old Tibetan monk asked curiously, "If we could go with the Vajra, we might encounter some fate—for instance, the Vajra secretly seeking the relics."

The Vajra, however, hadn't thought that much; he simply said offhand, "Of course I'm going where I ought to go!"

Uh!

Those few old Tibetan monks, upon hearing that, nearly died of anger—what does "going where I ought to go" mean? It's clearly just an unwillingness to speak plainly.

After finishing their meal and drink, the Vajra slowly rose to his feet: "You all have Acquired Perfection cultivation levels; your safety needs no one's worry. I'm leaving—take care of yourselves!"

After the old Tibetan monks came to their senses, the Vajra had already turned and left, leaving only a black silhouette flashing into their view, causing this group of monks seeking the relics to fall into contemplation.

Suddenly, an old Tibetan monk with a dark face shouted: "Oh no, he hasn't paid yet, and we have no money either—this……"

Another old Tibetan monk glared and said: "At the moment of parting, we were actually swindled by the Dharma King!"

The Vajra was not blind and aimless; he had long decided on his destination: "Earlier, Temujin Khan on the steppe sent people to invite me to serve as the Mongol National Preceptor; setting out from Xiangyang to have a look at the steppe would be perfectly fine."

Regardless of whether he would become the Mongol National Preceptor, he would first travel around and then decide.

The Vajra is a Dharma King of the Esoteric Buddhist Sect, second only to the Living Buddha. Having heard that his nature changed greatly after the capital incident, wanting to visit the steppe, Temujin, upon seeing the news, naturally rejoiced: "If we can bring the Esoteric Sect onto this steppe war chariot, and then borrow Tibet's help to jointly destroy the Southern Song, it won't be difficult!"

As for the remnant Liao, its state has already collapsed—what's there to worry about?

And the Jin, now impoverished and weak, cannot withstand the charge of my Mongol cavalry; in a few years we can utterly annihilate them!

The Grand Sacrificer stepped forward, bowed to Temujin, and said respectfully: "Congratulations, Great Khan, you will gain another ally. Once the National Preceptor takes office, we can then plan to first destroy the Jin and then march south into the heartland of the Central Plains!"

Temujin nodded and laughed loudly: "Exactly so; the opportunity for the steppe's rise has arrived."

He even seemed to see the Jin driven back to the bitter cold Liaodong wild boar forest, living a semi-primitive life like Wanyan Aguda; he also seemed to see himself leading troops south to plunder the Song and draw nourishment.

A gleam flashed in his eyes and vanished; Temujin long afterwards muttered to himself: "Southward to graze horses will soon become reality!"

Ye Qin had consecutively eliminated numerous bandits within the Realm for two months, his fame spreading widely. After appearing in Changzhou, he originally intended to return to Lin'an Prefecture, but suddenly recalled that there was an important figure outside Xiangyang City; if fortunate, that great person might still be living in seclusion.

Thus, he embarked on the journey to Xiangyang.

However, Ye Qin's appearance caused many who had fled the capital to throw astonished glances his way. They had thought Ye Qin had met with mishap in the inner court, yet now they saw him unharmed, and he had stirred up waves in Qinhu. People speculated wildly about how he had escaped alive.

Although many in Qinhu felt puzzled about this, Ye Qin still appeared smoothly in Xiangyang City. He brought Huang Rong for a simple tour of the city, then checked into an inn. "I really don't know what kind of war flames this ancient city will ignite in decades to come," he thought to himself.

Regarding the news of the Vajra's intention to ally with Mongolia, he had long learned it from the Supervisor, but he deeply knew he lacked the power to change this overall situation; the momentum of the Mongol cavalry's southward advance was already unstoppable.

"Brother Qin, don't worry too much, after all that's still far off," Huang Rong said, seeing his state. Upon hearing this, Ye Qin suddenly enlightened: "Yeah, since there's still time, I have time to prepare."

The two were about to enjoy this rare tranquility when suddenly a knocking sound came: "Guest, someone is looking for you." It turned out to be the waiter delivering a message.

Ye Qin answered with a sound, but he couldn't help wondering in his heart. Who exactly would be looking for him at this time? His coming to Xiangyang wasn't deliberately concealed, but it wasn't something just anyone could know. He felt a vague worry—had he offended someone, and now they've come seeking revenge?

"Wait!" Ye Qin was about to go out when Huang Rong called him back, "I'll go with you, just in case something happens we can look out for each other."

She knew clearly that Ye Qin had, over the past two months, repeatedly wiped out many bandits, using harsh methods and even not hesitating to exterminate entire families. Although this approach eradicated evil forces, it also aroused the dissatisfaction of many heroes of the Qin Lake region.

"This isn't eliminating evil and punishing wickedness at all; it's clearly using the name of eradicating evil to commit atrocities. He wipes out whole families at the drop of a hat, sparing not even the innocent—this is something only a great villain would do!" Such talk had long spread far and wide. Now Ye Qin was regarded as a great demon, and many wished to be rid of him as soon as possible.

"Good!" Ye Qin nodded, his eyes firm, "No matter who it is, if they really dare to act, then don't blame me for being ruthless!" He felt no fear; those who wanted to cause trouble were no pushovers, and if a fight broke out, it was hard to say who would win.

Under the guidance of the shop assistant, they came to another room. Upon seeing that beggar's face, Ye Qin suddenly understood and hurriedly clasped his hands in salute: "Greetings, Elder Seven."

"Yo, kid, you've come." Hong Qigong pointed to the nearby chair, indicating Ye Qin and Huang Rong should sit down.

"Elder Seven, how did you know I came to Xiangyang?" Ye Qin asked curiously. By rights, his whereabouts should have been kept secret by the Imperial City Guard.

Huang Rong gently tugged at Ye Qin's sleeve and explained, "Qin brother, you forgot that Elder Seven is the chief of the Beggars' Sect? Beggars' Sect disciples are spread all over the world; finding out your movements is as easy as turning over one's hand."

"That's true." Ye Qin scratched his head, asking embarrassedly, "Elder Seven, what do you need from me?"

He knew that Hong Qigong had almost lost his life in the capital before; if not for his high martial arts, he would likely have already died and gone to the underworld.

Hong Qigong sighed and gave a wry smile: "You little rascal, your luck is really good—you slipped out of the capital early. I, old man, wasn't so fortunate; I suffered quite a bit in the capital."

"Elder Seven, this is just the capable being overworked," Ye Qin gave an embarrassed laugh, "I can't exactly say I slipped out by clever means and deliberately set others up to fight the Jin people."

"Almost worked to death!" Hong Qigong glared at him angrily.

Then he asked curiously, "Little one, are you coming to Xiangyang to continue eliminating evil and punishing wickedness? However, having too much killing intent isn't good; if you keep this up, you'll find it hard to break through the Innate Realm."

!

Regarding Ye Qin's habit of killing at the drop of a hat, he did not approve, believing it was self-destructive of his prospects.

"Anyway, being idle is being idle; might as well go out for a walk." Ye Qin did not reveal his true purpose, but he had his own insistence on eradicating the bandits: "Elder Seven, those bandits deserved death!"

"I know." Hong Qigong nodded, but his tone was somewhat indifferent, "You little rascal have good talent, but after this affair your prospects may be overshadowed by a shadow. Do you know why no one has stopped you these past two months?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qin's expression changed, and he hurriedly asked, "Could it not be because the capital suffered heavy losses and everyone is nursing their wounds..."

Could it not be that for this reason no one comes to manage him, and even no one comes to practice chivalry?

However, Hong Qigong put on a solemn face and reminded him, "All major sects have their foundations, let alone those aristocratic families. They take a dislike to you, and behavior like yours would originally have been defined as heretical demonic ways. The reason no one has dealt with you, or taken the chance to step on you to rise, is that the capital tragedy is merely one cause. Do you really think that this single factor alone decides these matters?"

Seeing Ye Qin's clueless look, Hong Qigong secretly sighed: This kid is still too young! His experience and exposure are too shallow.

Hong Qigong's words startled Ye Qin, who blurted out, "Master Hong, could there be a conspiracy in there?"

Just thinking someone might be scheming against him made him break out in a cold sweat, yet his resolve hardened: "Whoever dares to scheme against me, I'll make them regret it!"

Could Qin Lake not be as simple as it seems? Might there be more hidden things that even the Imperial City Office hasn't gathered?

"Of course there is!" Hong Qigong chuckled. "I see you have extraordinary talent and a chance to break through the Innate Realm. I can't bear to watch those people secretly kill you. Know this: if you fail to break through the Innate Realm, you pose no threat to others. That's why many see clearly that someone as overconfident as you easily goes to extremes—one slip and you're doomed forever. Those who dislike you or whose interests you block will openly or secretly fan the flames, pushing you into that abyss. Some things, even your Imperial City Office might not uncover."

Ye Qin couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air, feeling a chill rise from his head. He asked tremulously, "Is it really that deep? Master Hong, do you know what their plot is?"

Hong Qigong nodded and sighed, "Actually this isn't really a conspiracy; it's an open scheme. They've figured that although you're from the Imperial City Office and close to the Zhao-Song court, you still don't know certain secrets."

"'Like what?' Ye Qin asked eagerly, with a humble, eager-to-learn expression."

Hong Qigong gave a mysterious smile, deliberately pausing, "For example, you've killed too many, your hands stained with blood. That will affect your cultivation, clouding your mind. They can then use this to sever your fortune, killing you invisibly. How big is that pit?"

Ye Qin couldn't help but sigh, "Indeed, it's huge..."

"'Mind clouded, fortune?' Ye Qin, bewildered by Hong Qigong's words, wondered if Qin Lake hid such profound secrets. After a moment, he mused and asked, 'Master Hong, what does it mean for the mind to be clouded? And what's the deal with fortune?'"

Who knew cultivating martial arts had so many aspects—could the Innate Realm be linked to all of this?

As he pondered, Hong Qigong continued, "Let me first explain the state of the world. You may have heard bits of it at court, but what I'm about to tell you is that what you've seen and heard is probably just the tip of the iceberg."

"'Ah?' Ye Qin startled, swallowed, and asked, 'Master Hong, is that really true?'"

"Could it be that the frail Great Song dynasty, with its officials, are all hiding the truth? The Qin Lake he sees is merely a small part of it!"

"'You little brat, do you think I could still deceive you?' Hong Qigong glared at Ye Qin, annoyed, and lectured, 'If it weren't for the fact that I ate your stuff last time, and just heard you've been wiping out every mountain stronghold you visit, I wouldn't bother with you at all!'"

"These days, masters abound. Sure, the Great Song has many experts, but neighboring states like Dali, Tibet, Mongolia, and even the Great Jin also have masters—though they didn't show up last time, for unknown reasons."

"You'd better be careful from now on—the world is far vaster than you imagine, teeming with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, more than you could possibly oppose!"

"This also subtly told Ye Qin that the world's masters are not limited to the Five Absolutes."

Ye Qin, hearing this, couldn't help but ask doubtfully, "Master Hong, then didn't we, by slaughtering so many Jin troops in the capital, also have blood‑stained hands—aren't we afraid it would affect our mindset?"

He recalled that two months ago, when the capital massacre occurred, reports from his subordinates' scouts showed that the major Qin Lake sects suffered heavy losses, yet they also slaughtered many Jin people.

Hong Qigong shook his head and sneered, "What do you know, Qin lad? True martial artists who understand their mind and nature and have great perseverance merely wound the Jin troops severely; only clueless hotheads treat Jin people like dogs to kill!"

Throughout history, many have tried to prove the Way through killing—like the Qin state's Lord Wu'an over a thousand years ago, and the late‑dynasty rebel Huang Chao, among others, all thinking they could suppress their bloodlust, but as you know, they all came to bad ends.

As for our own dynasty, back then Prince Yue, while serving in the army, also didn't indulge in slaughter—he merely wounded the enemy severely, rendering them unable to threaten. That's precisely why he managed to break through the Innate Realm and once defeated the Jin forces! (End of chapter)