Chapter 632: Middle Yin Temple

"Lamas from Qingqiu?" Li Huowang recalled the black-robed lama with three heads and six arms, whose three heads represented different methods of death. "Are you saying... the Dharma Sect and the lamas from Qingqiu have already colluded?" Thinking of this possibility, Li Huowang's expression instantly became very solemn. The Heavenly Dao of the Child God is darkness, and those black-robed lamas worship death. If these lamas were trying to use the Child God's calamities and leverage the Dharma Sect to bring the entire world to death, then the logic seemed to make sense. Even if the Dharma Sect was an unpardonable evil cult in the eyes of various royal courts and their respective Inspectorates of Heaven, in this utterly mad world, there would always be people who shared common interests with such unscrupulous individuals.

"Hmm... not necessarily. After all, many masters from the Bardo Temple have joined Qingqiu's Inspectorate of Heaven." This was the first time Li Huowang heard the name of the black-robed lamas' sect from Zheng Boqiao. "Bardo Temple..." Li Huowang remembered the rows of neatly arranged half-human, half-goat mummies he had seen under the Qingqiu grasslands. For a sect that simply worshipped death itself, Li Huowang felt no negative assumption could be too extreme.

"Is there a possibility that this so-called Bardo Temple has completely infiltrated and controls Qingqiu's Inspectorate of Heaven? Perhaps, at this very moment, Qingqiu is under the Dharma Sect's control?" As soon as Li Huowang uttered these words, the nearby Fo Yulu shivered. If what he said was true, it would be truly terrifying. With internal strife and external threats, the entire Daliang dynasty would be on the brink of collapse.

Zheng Boqiao flicked his whisk. "That's unlikely. Senior Xuanpin traveled the world specifically to gather all the Inspectorates of Heaven to discuss matters. If there were truly problems with Qingqiu's Inspectorate, Senior Xuanpin would have discovered them long ago." "Xuanpin..." Li Huowang recalled that when he had sought Xuanpin's help against the Sitting-Forget Path, Xuanpin seemed to have urgent business outside the city and only returned after the Dice took over the dragon's pulse. He had wondered why Xuanpin left during such a critical moment, but now, connecting it with Zheng Boqiao's words, it seemed Xuanpin had gone to consult with other Inspectorates on important matters.

"Hmm..." Zheng Boqiao, deep in thought, stopped walking and looked back at Li Huowang. "Fellow Daoist Li, you don't need to worry about this matter. The department will send specialists to investigate thoroughly. However, you're right; allowing these Great Qi Dharma Sect and Daliang Dharma Sect members to collude does indeed cause trouble. I just used alchemy to extract information from He Xinlai's mind and learned of several larger strongholds of the Dharma Sect. We might find more remnants of the Great Qi Dharma Sect there. If it's convenient for you, Fellow Daoist Li, or if you're willing to contribute to the Inspectorate of Heaven, you could go and investigate."

Hearing this, Li Huowang's expression hardened, and he re-examined Zheng Boqiao. His current journey was precisely to help the Inspectorate of Heaven deal with the Dharma Sect, so intelligence was certainly welcome. However, he felt as if Zheng Boqiao was deliberately trying to send him away. Could there be something suspicious about the Bardo Temple? "Sir Zheng, you know I am the Emperor's man. His Majesty ordered me to travel throughout Daliang and monitor all injustices. If there's anything being hidden from the Emperor, that would be an act of deceiving the monarch."

"Heh heh, what are you saying, Fellow Daoist Li? The affairs of the Inspectorate of Heaven are probably beyond the Emperor's purview, wouldn't you agree?" "If the Emperor can't interfere, does that mean he also shouldn't be allowed to know?" The evasive response made Li Huowang even more suspicious.

Zheng Boqiao sighed with a hint of resignation, as if giving in. "Alright. Once our people return from Qingqiu, the situation of the Bardo Temple will be thoroughly reported to Lord Qingchai. So, about this Dharma Sect matter, will you still help, my lord?" Glancing at the others around him, Li Huowang decided not to push too hard. The Dharma Sect issue was more critical at the moment, especially since those he cared about were in Daliang, not Qingqiu.

"What are you saying, Daoist Priest? I also live in Daliang, and I am a member of the Inspectorate of Heaven. Dealing with the Dharma Sect is my undeniable responsibility. Why would you think I'd refuse?" "Heh heh heh, my apologies. Without further delay, to prevent the Dharma Sect followers from relocating, I'll write down the locations for you now." With that, Zheng Boqiao walked back to the incense burner, grabbed a handful of incense ash, and quickly wrote on the ground. Soon, several addresses appeared, written in ash on the floor. Most were remote villages outside Jiangnan Province. It seemed the Dharma Sect, like the White Lotus Society before them, was disguised as ordinary citizens and hiding throughout Daliang.

Once finished, Zheng Boqiao swept his whisk across the ground. The ash forming the addresses quickly gathered into a small clump and floated into his hand. Zheng Boqiao carried this small clump of ash and quickly presented it to Li Huowang, extending his hand to offer it. "I am skilled in alchemy, Fellow Daoist Li. Don't leave just yet. I have some treasured elixirs for regulating breathing and healing injuries." Li Huowang opened his palm, took the ash from Zheng Boqiao's hand, tucked it into his robes, and turned to leave. "No need, I don't like taking elixirs."

This time, he intended to go alone; bringing these Inspectorate of Heaven members who weren't entirely aligned with him would only be a burden. "The department will also send people to search. If you encounter them, just state your name, and they will make way," Zheng Boqiao called out to Li Huowang's retreating back. Li Huowang pretended not to hear, and, with Li Sui, departed like a gust of wind.

After Li Huowang left, Zheng Boqiao turned slightly and spoke to Fo Yulu behind him. "This person is not truly aligned with us. We can try to win him over, but it's always wise to be cautious when dealing with him." Fo Yulu nodded immediately. "Understood, my lord. This person clings to imperial power and is disdained by our department."

Hearing this, Zheng Boqiao stood for a moment, pondering, then gently shook his head. "No, no. I'm afraid this person isn't truly aligned with the Emperor either." Even though they were discussing such important matters, Zheng Boqiao showed no intention of asking the nearby Abbot Zhendu to step aside.

Fo Yulu was slightly taken aback by Zheng Boqiao's words. "He's not aligned with His Majesty either? Then who is he aligned with? He can't possibly be a spy for the Dharma Sect, can he?" "Never mind him for now; let's not delay important matters. It's always best to be cautious in these times. If you meet him again, find me immediately." "Understood, my lord."

Having given his instructions, Zheng Boqiao's face once again broke into a smile. He bowed to the old monk, Chan Du, nearby. "Master Chan Du, now that the miscellaneous matters are settled, shall we proceed to Yuhua Monastery?" "Amitabha. Donor Fang, you are too generous." Chan Du pressed his palms together, a string of prayer beads wrapped around his wrist, and returned the Buddhist salute to the Daoist before him.