Chapter 166 — The Woodcutter Bestows the Secret
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Registrar Yunyang acknowledged the order, then added, "Word has come from the Grand Academy — the emperor has decreed that Pei Wujiu succeed to the post of Grand Libationer."
"Noted."
Imperial Preceptor Jingping waved a hand. "My influence is too great; it is only proper that the emperor should be concerned, or I would be uneasy myself. It is only that Pei Wujiu's learning and virtue are both unequal to the post of Grand Libationer of the Grand Academy. He would do well enough as Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, but as Grand Libationer he is far from qualified. This, however, is not a matter I can speak of."
Registrar Yunyang pondered, then asked again, "Now that the Dark Demon Cult has chosen a new Cult Master, how should we respond?"
Imperial Preceptor Jingping said mildly, "Submit and prosper; resist and perish. This is not for you to consider. I will go meet this new Cult Master myself."
Registrar Yunyang withdrew from the room.
The Daoist Sect, Dao Mountain.
Danyangzi hastened up the mountain and came to the Hall of the Dao Sage, where an old man with white hair and white brows sat on the ground, contemplating a pool of clear water before him.
Danyangzi said hurriedly, "Daoist Lord, there has been a disturbance at the Dark Demon Cult's old lair. The cult's experts have gathered at Yongzhou. Their great banner rolled up, and the magistrate's office vanished along with them."
The white-browed, white-haired old man opened his eyes and said slowly, "It seems the Dark Demon Cult has a new Cult Master. The Dark Demon Cult fabricates history, usurps the name of the sages, spreads false doctrine through the world, and brings calamity upon the masses. Within the cult they fell to internal strife — the Holy Maiden slaughtered the Cult Master, violating the proper order of things; the Cult Master married his own disciple, violating human bonds; and no small number of their followers practice depraved arts, cultivating through human lives — accepting all comers without discrimination. For forty years they had no Cult Master, and now they have chosen one. I fear this bodes ill for the common people."
Danyangzi said, "What should our Daoist Sect do?"
"Find out the identity of this demon Cult Master, and bide our time to remove him."
"We receive the decree."
Danyangzi spoke again. "Imperial Preceptor Jingping takes the Dark Demon Cult's teachings as his guiding principle. The state of Jingping is itself a vast Dark Demon Cult, accepting all without discrimination. What then should our Daoist Sect do?"
The Daoist Lord's gaze was deep as he quietly regarded the pool of clear water before him, and unhurriedly said, "Imperial Preceptor Jingping is full of ambition, but his abilities cannot sustain that ambition. History has seen empires grander than Jingping, and geniuses more outstanding than Imperial Preceptor Jingping, yet in the end they became yellow earth, became ruins. This world is more complex than he imagines. When he has dashed himself to pieces against it, he will understand."
Danyangzi did not dare say more, and bowed himself out.
"Reporting to the Tathagata, the Dark Demon Cult's followers vanished from Yongzhou City without a trace, and the magistrate's office disappeared with them."
At the Great Thunderclap Temple, an old monk came to the treasure hall seeking an audience with the Tathagata. "The prefect of Yongzhou is the Dark Demon Cult's Elder Yulin, a fearsome figure. Yongzhou has already become an ironclad domain of the Dark Demon Cult. Someone also saw in Yongzhou the woman who defeated the Buddha-son, and suspects she is one of the Dark Demon Cult."
The Tathagata opened his eyes and said in surprise, "Is that woman not a scholar of the Grand Academy? Why would she be one of the Dark Demon Cult?"