Infinite Professions
Chapter 412 - 213: Advance or Retreat
Upon hearing Shen Hex’s words, the Venerables of the Buddhist Sect who had intended to calm things down could no longer sit still.
The Red Lotus Temple was the focus of the Buddhist Sect’s challenge this time, seeking vengeance for the Venerable Red Lotus was merely incidental. Success would naturally be good, but failure wouldn’t be a great loss. The key was to preserve the Daoist Lineage of the Red Lotus Temple, ensuring continued faith and offerings to the Buddhist Sect.
Although the truth has been revealed, the Venerable Red Lotus is indeed guilty, and the Buddhist Sect is willing to bow and admit fault to all sides, but admitting fault is one thing, the idea of preserving the Red Lotus Temple among the Venerables remains unshaken.
The Red Lotus is guilty, his death is not regrettable.
But the Red Lotus Daoist Lineage and its teachings cannot be severed.
This is the stance of all major Venerables of the Buddhist Sect, including Huide, the Fourth Grade Arhat, very explicit.
Fault can be admitted, sin can be borne, but the Red Lotus Daoist Lineage must not be severed, nor can the teachings of the Buddhist Sect!
Though it sounds a bit unreasonable, the Buddhist Sect actually has no alternative.
As one of the few places in Jinyang Prefecture to be on par with Little Yellow Mountain in recent years, the development of Red Lotus Temple has been remarkably prosperous, spreading faith to over ten surrounding counties, with population under its rule numbering tens of thousands, though it’s less than Qinghe and Huangshan’s millions.
These tens of thousands of people are mostly devoted followers of the Buddhist Sect, an achievement painstakingly attained over a thousand years by the Venerable Red Lotus, the Sixth Grade True God, along with generations of High Monks of Red Lotus Temple.
For this, not only did the Venerable Red Lotus expend a great deal of Divine Power to demonstrate miracles and fulfill wishes among the people, but generations of High Monks of Red Lotus Temple also toiled tirelessly, preaching to the people, providing medical care and medicine, subduing demons and evil, persevering through hardships.
Such painstaking efforts, consuming a millennium of time and immense human and material resources, are what shaped this incense of Red Lotus and its many devoted followers.
With this, how can the Buddhist Sect retreat?
Red Lotus Temple is of such importance to the Buddhist Sect as Little Yellow Mountain is to Jinyang Prefecture, it cannot be abandoned.
In fact, compared to Little Yellow Mountain’s importance to Jinyang Prefecture, Red Lotus Temple is even more crucial to the Buddhist Sect because Little Yellow Mountain’s development is upheld by Shen Hex himself, and for Jinyang Prefecture, it’s almost a cost-free affair.
Red Lotus Temple is different; besides the Venerable Red Lotus’s own efforts, there’s the substantial investment from the Buddhist Sect.
If it weren’t for the substantial backing of the Buddhist Sect, how could the Venerable Red Lotus have brought about such development for Red Lotus Temple? He is not like Shen Hex, having professional support and various means.
This results in sunk costs that make it even harder for the Buddhist Sect to let go of Red Lotus Temple.
Not only the sunk costs but also future benefits, as the faith of Red Lotus Temple is already established and continually spreading, it won’t be long before there are millions of followers, sufficient to achieve Fifth-Grade Divine Position.
Thinking of this, the Venerables of the Buddhist Sect harbor even more resentment towards the Venerable Red Lotus: having developed to such a point, why couldn’t he restrain himself and wait? Instead, he opted for demon and evil Dao methods to seize the luck of the Confucian Sect, now ending up with both losses.
Your death, wretched sinner, is not to be pitied, but how to safeguard the Red Lotus Daoist Lineage, the foundation of the Buddhist Sect?
One is indeed at fault!
"Amitabha Buddha!"
Though guilty, this matter still cannot be conceded; a Venerable of the Buddhist Sect rose to speak: "Red Lotus committed murder, his crime is monumental, we are indeed ashamed, but this Red Lotus Temple is not solely his, but a temple of all monks of Red Lotus and Buddhists of the Buddhist Sect, how can his crime implicate the Buddhist Sect, severing the Daoist Lineage of Red Lotus?"
"Indeed!"
As this Venerable finished, another immediately rose to follow: "Red Lotus’s sins, we shall redeem them, but the Daoist Lineage and teachings of Red Lotus Temple must not be severed because of this. We implore Song Judge to withdraw the troops and return tranquility to our Buddhist Sect."
Saying this, they directed their gaze at Shen Hex.
Despite being so much at fault, they dared to speak so boldly, demonstrating the strong stance of the Buddhist Sect.
In the hall, all the gods showed expressions of displeasure, and several sages of the Confucian Sect voiced out: "Since ancient times, only those with virtue can dwell in lands of goodness; Red Lotus’s conduct is improper, how can he continue to dwell here?"
These words also showed their stance.
Though it’s wise to leave room for future encounters, not escalate conflicts among the Three Religions Daoist Lineage and the various True Gods prematurally; it doesn’t mean the Buddhist Sect can act without fear.
Having done such a thing, some price ought to be paid, it’s not so simple as admitting fault and saying you’re sorry. Even the face of the Fourth Grade Arhat is not that magnanimous.
The Confucian Sect stated its stance, however, the Buddhist Sect remained unwavering, another Fifth Grade Venerable stood up: "It’s the impropriety of Red Lotus, not the Buddhist Technique. We are willing to bear the sin of Red Lotus’s killing, but the Daoist Lineage and teachings of Red Lotus Temple must not be severed because of this!"
The words were decisive and exceedingly firm, apparently determined to preserve Red Lotus Temple’s Daoist Lineage.
After speaking, the Venerable turned to Shen Hex: "The ill-gotten wealth accumulated by Red Lotus, Song Judge can take or distribute among the people to atone for his sins. We only ask Song Judge to withdraw his forces and release the monks of Red Lotus Temple and the True Buddhist Scripture unrelated to this case, and return tranquility to our Buddhist land."
"Hmm!?"
Shen Hex’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the Venerable: "Are you saying Song seeks the wealth of Red Lotus?"
"Not at all!"
The Venerable’s expression remained unchanged: "I only beg Song Judge to cease troops and return peace to our Buddhist land!"
The words repeated, with increased determination; even if endlessly tangled, they will preserve the Daoist Lineage and teachings of Red Lotus Temple.
"Ha!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Hex laughed but refrained from debating, instead, coldly pressed: "If I don’t retrieve it, what will you do?"
"Amitabha Buddha!"
The Venerable’s expression remained unchanged, merely clasping his hands together and sorrowfully chanting a Buddhist epithet: "Then we can only protect the Dharma with our bodies."