Chapter 745: Help

Chapter 745: A Favor

"Then, teacher-mother, have you truly let go?" Hearing Lü Xiucai's words, Bai Lingmiao's heart trembled, and memories long buried rose to the surface.

She desperately wanted to say that she had let go, yet somehow, she could not bring herself to speak.

Seeing Bai Lingmiao standing motionless without answering, Lü Xiucai bowed respectfully toward her and turned to leave through the entrance of the White Lotus Church.

"Teacher-mother! You needn't try to persuade me. I, Lü Xiucai, may not be much use in grand matters, but even if I were to slay one more follower of the Law Sect, I would still be useful."

As the drumbeats from the distant military camp grew louder, signaling the assembly for departure, Lü Xiucai excitedly tugged at his copper coin sword on his back, humming a tune from an opera as he ran toward the sound.

"When victory is won, my body returns home; should I fail, my life ends abroad! To avenge my kin is just and right! With sincerity, I venture alone! Blood boils, passion fills my chest!"

As Lü Xiucai’s voice faded into the distance, Bai Lingmiao, whose thoughts had begun to wander, silently turned around and walked deeper into the church hall.

This was the most heavily guarded place within the church, for it housed the most precious treasure of the White Lotus Sect.

Upon pushing open a door and stepping behind two screens, a white lotus glowing with pale light appeared before her.

Compared to the one found in the ancestral hall of Niu Xin Village, this lotus bloomed even larger now, its gentle radiance no longer intermittent but constant and enduring.

Surrounding the white lotus were people—men and women, old and young. Only those with the highest qualifications among the White Lotus Sect were allowed to approach the lotus.

Bai Lingmiao sat cross-legged on a mat, quietly praying to the twelve-grade merit lotus.

"Mother of No Birth, Land of Emptiness... Mother of No Birth, Land of Emptiness..."

It was both a prayer to the Mother of No Birth and an attempt to convince herself that the Land of Emptiness existed.

The white lotus on Bai Lingmiao's forehead reflected off the lotus on the table, causing her upper body to seem split into two halves.

Two upper bodies faced away from each other, four hands forming lotus seals suspended in midair—one above, one below, like branches of a tree. She sat cross-legged in the room like a strange white dwarf tree made of flesh.

This seemed to be some kind of cultivation technique used by the White Lotus Sect, though only the Holy Maiden herself knew its true nature.

After two hours, the sky outside had gradually darkened, but inside the room, the white lotus continued to illuminate everything as brightly as day.

Suddenly, Bai Lingmiao stopped, calming her emotions, and stood up from her cushion, turning sideways to listen quietly to the silent world outside. "What is it?"

Her perception was keen; not even the slightest movement escaped her notice.

"Your Holiness, the people from the Four Qi Secret Service came to say Your Majesty wishes to see you."

"The Emperor of Four Qi?" Bai Lingmiao couldn't help but recall the two dragon veins used as bait.

Though uncertain about what they wanted, since it was the ruler of a nation who sought her out, Bai Lingmiao dared not neglect the matter. She gathered her followers and set off.

Although the kingdom of Four Qi had fallen, clearly, the title of emperor still carried weight—even in such a cramped city, they had taken a courtyard with three entrances as their palace.

When Bai Lingmiao finally saw the Emperor of Four Qi, she almost failed to recognize him compared to his previous disheveled appearance.

The dragon veins had been pulled from the mud, covered in grime, barely recognizable. But now, the Emperor of Four Qi—

His golden-yellow robe embroidered with dragons soaring over the ocean, his imperial crown adorned with pearl tassels, his eyes like black jade gleaming with authority that commanded respect without anger, exuded the aura of a king who could shake heaven and earth.

"No need to kneel. Please, take your seat, Miss Bai."

The Emperor of Four Qi, dressed in dragon robes, waved his hand. Two elderly eunuchs immediately brought forward chairs.

Bai Lingmiao bowed and accepted the seat, then asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, why did you summon this humble girl?"

The Emperor of Four Qi studied Bai Lingmiao carefully. "I've heard that the White Lotus Sect has spread widely these days. It was once a place seized from the Law Sect, and nearly all the people have been won over by the White Lotus Sect."

"Your Majesty flatters me. The deeds of the White Lotus are insignificant. All we do is to prevent the Law Sect from returning."

Though she said this aloud, Bai Lingmiao couldn't help but feel uneasy. Something about his words didn’t sit right.

"Not flattery at all! Not flattery at all!" A large man in armor stepped forward. "People who believe in the White Lotus Sect are worth more than a thousand chariots. If that isn’t significant, then there’s nothing left to hang on teeth."

Bai Lingmiao remained silent, unsure of what he meant.

"I called upon the Holy Maiden for no other reason," the Emperor of Four Qi descended from his throne, walking slowly toward Bai Lingmiao with hands behind his back.

"Now that so many believers of the White Lotus Sect follow your command, I wish to discuss a small matter with you."

Bai Lingmiao tilted her head slightly, waiting for him to continue.

At that moment, the fat man beside them spoke directly: "Hey, Your Majesty, let’s cut to the chase. Just tell us straight."

Before the Emperor could respond, the man began to chatter:

"Your Holiness, here’s the situation. The Zhong Yin Temple in Qingqiu has a plan. They can perform rituals to defeat all remaining members of the Law Sect in Four Qi. However, the ritual requires something unusual, so they want the Holy Maiden’s help."

"Zhong Yin Temple?" Upon hearing this name, Bai Lingmiao felt a wave of unease rise in her heart.

"They require human lives—not the kind from longevity pills. They want to sacrifice people to heaven. Not hundreds or thousands, but 1,810,000."

Still silent, Bai Lingmiao was clearly stunned by the number.

The Emperor gave the general a glance, who continued: "The problem is with those lamas—they insist the sacrifices must willingly give their lives."

"What nonsense is this? How does someone from Qingqiu think? They insist on willing death. How can we gather such people? That’s why we seek the Holy Maiden’s assistance."

"There must be some useless people in the White Lotus Sect, like the elderly, sick, disabled, etc. Why not put them to good use?"

"Just say what you usually say—tell them they’ll go to the Land of Emptiness after death. They’ll happily offer themselves."

After the general finished speaking, the Emperor of Four Qi added: "Don’t worry. As long as we drive the Law Sect out of Four Qi and I reclaim the throne, I’ll give you five times the number of believers for every life lost!"

"What? Do you think I’m someone who breaks promises? I swear by our ancestors! Now you should be at ease."

Bai Lingmiao's hands trembled as she looked at the Emperor of Four Qi. For some reason, she thought of the female general Peng Longteng from long ago.

"Your Majesty!" Bai Lingmiao's voice shook. "That’s one million eight hundred and ten thousand lives!"

"So what? They’re going to enjoy bliss in the Land of Emptiness. What, do you think there’s no Land of Emptiness?"

(End of Chapter)