Chapter 127: The Simple Worldview of the Immortal Peak Sect
Page (1/3)
“Our sect’s Grand Senior Uncle, the True Immortal Yang Xin, once explained the origins of the Sun Moon Holy Cult to us disciples. The so-called Demon Cult is merely a slanderous label imposed on the Sun Moon Holy Cult by the imperial court and major orthodox sects such as Shaolin and Wudang. In my grand senior uncle’s eyes, the Sun Moon Holy Cult is no different from Shaolin or Wudang. If one insists on finding a distinction, it is simply that they follow different faiths: one worships the Bright King, one follows Buddhism, and one follows Daoism. In essence, there is no difference,” Yue Lingshan explained.
“Oh?” Dongfang Bubai was utterly astonished. Her expression turned solemn as she said, “Your sect’s grand senior uncle actually knows the origins of our cult in such detail. Please, little sister, tell me more. I am all ears.”
“Since elder sister has asked with such sincerity, then your little sister shall graciously enlighten you. Ahem…” Yue Lingshan cleared her throat, looking rather pleased with herself. “The Sun Moon Holy Cult was formerly the Bright Cult. The Bright Cult originated in Persia and was originally called Manichaeism. It was introduced into the Central Plains during the first year of the Yanzai era of the Great Tang. In the third year of the Dali era, it was permitted to establish Dayun Bright Temples in Chang’an and various other places by imperial decree.
“The Bright Cult’s teachings originally centered on punishing evil, promoting virtue, and saving the common people. Thus, whenever an emperor was incompetent, officials corrupt, and the people were plunged into misery, the followers of the Bright Cult would inevitably rise in rebellion. In earlier times there was Fang La’s revolt during the Song dynasty, and more recently there was the Bright Cult’s rebellion against the Yuan dynasty.
“For this reason, the Bright Cult was repeatedly suppressed by successive imperial governments. To evade government persecution, its followers naturally had to act in secret. Having endured oppression for so long, they also became eccentric in their ways, setting themselves apart from the ordinary martial world. They committed many killings and offended countless people, and were therefore branded as ‘demons.’
“The Bright Cult opposed the imperial court, which consequently regarded it as a thorn in its side. Moreover, the cult possessed countless formidable experts, arousing the jealousy of martial artists throughout the realm. Thus, its reputation was thoroughly ruined by both the authorities and the people of the martial world, and it came to be regarded by them as the Demon Cult.
“Our dynasty’s founding emperor, the Hongwu Emperor, was the thirty-fifth leader of the Bright Cult. After establishing the Ming dynasty, he vigorously suppressed the Bright Cult, which was then disbanded. Its members were mainly divided into two groups. One group was more or less granted amnesty and went to assist the imperial court, while the other continued to wander the martial world.
“After the Hongwu Emperor’s death, the remnants of the Bright Cult who had remained in the martial world secretly reorganized the sect. To avoid further suppression by the court, they split the character for ‘bright’ into two parts and changed the name to the Sun Moon Holy Cult.
“As for your cult’s original supreme art, the Heaven and Earth Great Shift, it had already vanished with the passage of time. The supreme art you possess today, the Star Absorbing Technique, was inherited from Fan Yao, the Bright Cult’s Right Protector of Light. Fan Yao created it by merging the Northern Darkness Divine Skill with the Art of Dissolving Power.
“With the Bright Cult’s foundation behind it, the Sun Moon Holy Cult was able to grow so rapidly. By now, it has developed into the greatest sect in the realm, one capable of standing against the entire orthodox martial world. Am I right?”
“Little sister, I am deeply ashamed,” Dongfang Bubai said with a smile.
“What is there to be ashamed of?”
“As the leader of a sect, I know less about my own cult than a young girl. How could I not be ashamed? Let me ask you another question. What is your view of the orthodox and unorthodox paths?”
“I use my eyes to look at them, of course…” Yue Lingshan blinked playfully.
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
Dongfang Bubai had never heard such a joke before and was momentarily stunned. Even stunned, she managed to look breathtakingly graceful.
“Hehe, elder sister, don’t be offended. I am used to joking around with my senior and junior brothers in the sect. As my grand senior uncle puts it, the so-called distinction between orthodox and unorthodox paths is, among the various orthodox sects of the martial world and your Sun Moon Holy Cult, merely a matter of names. In truth, it is a struggle over interests.” Yue Lingshan struck straight at the heart of the matter.
Dongfang Bubai was stunned once again. Her expression gradually grew solemn. Never before had anyone explained the distinction between good and evil from such an angle, let alone with such clarity, such insight, and such precision.
“Were these all the words of your grand senior uncle, the True Immortal Yang Xin?” Dongfang Bubai’s expression turned serious as she asked the question solemnly.
“Of course!” Yue Lingshan replied with an air of proud vanity, clearly honored by the association.
“Then may I ask, little sister, what is True Immortal Yang’s attitude toward my Sun Moon Holy Cult?”
“My grand senior uncle said that the attitude of our Immortal Peak Sect toward the Sun Moon Holy Cult and the various sects of the martial world does not depend on us, but on you. Anyone who benefits our Immortal Peak Sect is a fellow of the same path, a respectable orthodox sect. Anyone who harms our Immortal Peak Sect is an evil demon and an unorthodox heretic.
“As the saying goes, evil cannot triumph over righteousness. Whoever wins must be righteous, and whoever wins must be a respectable orthodox sect. Unfortunately for everyone else, our Immortal Peak Sect has my grand senior uncle presiding over it. He is the greatest under Heaven. Anyone who opposes us is destined to lose. Therefore, our Immortal Peak Sect must be the righteous and respectable orthodox sect!”
“Gasp…” Dongfang Bubai drew in a long breath. “How domineering. From Yue Lingshan’s meaning, this Immortal Peak Sect acts without the slightest restraint. If her words are true, then according to Yang Xin, whatever the Immortal Peak Sect does is righteous. Any sect that opposes it must be an evil and heretical force…
“This Immortal Peak Sect may as well point at the martial world and declare, ‘Those who submit shall prosper, and those who resist shall perish.’ It is even more overbearing and unreasonable than my own cult.”
Dongfang Bubai’s expression suddenly shifted. “I heard that you and Young Hero Lin distinguished yourselves at Liu Zhengfeng’s Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony in Hengyang. My hands are itching for a match, so I have come to seek your instruction.”
“Indeed, my grand senior uncle was absolutely right. No matter how beautifully one speaks, how much one says, or how reasonable one sounds, in the end one must still display one’s fists. Truth belongs only to the side with the stronger fists.” Hearing Dongfang Bubai’s challenge, Yue Lingshan showed no fear. Instead, her eyes lit up, and she looked eager to try her strength.
“Since elder sister has commanded it, your little sister would be honored to comply.”
Dongfang Bubai smiled faintly and extended her right hand. “Little sister, you may strike first.”
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
“Very well! Elder sister, watch closely!” Yue Lingshan shouted.
She knew that the Dongfang Bubai before her had once been the number-one expert in the martial world. Naturally, she was only the former number-one expert; at present, aside from Yue Lingshan’s own grand martial uncle, Yang Xin, there was no one else worthy of that title. Even so, Yue Lingshan did not dare to be careless. She raised her internal strength to its absolute limit, activated the Wind God Leg, and launched the move Capturing Wind and Seizing Shadows at Dongfang Bubai.
Dongfang Bubai’s temperament was eccentric, yet Yue Lingshan had somehow caught her eye. Perhaps it was the girl’s unthinking remark when they first met—“Elder sister, you are truly beautiful”—that had touched her. Dongfang Bubai had been so delighted that she developed a protective fondness for Yue Lingshan. Thus, what was called a contest was, in truth, a lesson.
The moment they exchanged blows, Dongfang Bubai’s suspicions were confirmed. From the instant she stepped through the gates of the Immortal Peak Sect, she had sensed an oppressive force. Once she crossed hands with Yue Lingshan, that pressure became even more pronounced, limiting her to barely seventy or eighty percent of her full strength.
Seeing that Dongfang Bubai was fighting barehanded, Yue Lingshan likewise refrained from drawing her peerless sword. She merely summoned all her strength and attacked with the Wind God Leg.
“Capturing Wind and Seizing Shadows.”
“Tenacious Grass in the Wind.”
“Violent Rain and Furious Wind.”
“Swift as Thunder and Fierce as the Wind.”
“Wind Sweeping Through the Ruined Tower.”
Page (3/3)