224: Chapter 22 These Ones Are All Talented 224: Chapter 22 These Ones Are All Talented The power of the Huaidao Sect is characterized by the religious heresy it follows, forming secret societies within the folk community.
They’re often named with the terms “Huaidao” or “Sect”, hence the abbreviation Huaidao Sect.
The origins of these secret societies can almost always be traced back to the persistent, millennium-old professional rebel, the White Lotus Sect.
After countless resurrections and returns, they gradually split into various sizes of White Lotus variants, such as White Lotus Alpha, White Lotus Delta, White Lotus Omicron…
In a word, it’s a complete pandemonium.
In Tianmen and, by extension, the northern regions including Jizhou, the largest in scale, the most populous, and the most influential is the Great Luo Sect, mentioned by Old Master He.
It is tacitly acknowledged as the legitimate heir of the White Lotus Sect, despite being unspoken.
In the past, there was a clear characteristic to distinguish followers of the White Lotus Sect, known as “Vegetarian Devil Serving”, which is vegetarianism and worship of the Mother of No Birth.
They primarily targeted culturally unsophisticated middle-aged and elderly people over thirty with mutual aid, burning talisman water for healing…
These are old tricks that have been played for over a thousand years, and anyone with experience can spot them immediately.
Because they’re overly conservative and traditional, and have been pursuing an isolationist policy against foreigners for the past decades, they can’t even be considered a heretical sect anymore.
The real radicals, the tough characters, are all in this pile of files that Qin Xiangdong handed over to Wang Yunxiao.
“You can’t find out about the Cuojin Sect; its followers mainly study geomancy and aim for profit and avoiding harm.
If they don’t want to actively seek you out, you wouldn’t recognize them even if they were right in front of you.”
Old Master He took the file and without even looking at it, threw it aside.
“The reason they want you to investigate is probably their close ties with Qian King’s Mansion, but there’s no need, it’s just a waste of time.”
On hearing this, Qin Xiangdong couldn’t help but ask curiously, “If they’re all about seeking advantage and avoiding harm, why would they even get involved with Qian King’s Mansion?”
With a sneer, Old Master He retorted, “Director Qin, the feng shui in your office isn’t great.
Do you want to hire a master to take a look?”
Qin shook his head and said, “No need, I don’t believe in that…”
No sooner had he spoken than he understood.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to progress, but you also weren’t giving them a chance!
After the establishment of the new government, it advocated science and democracy, and many of the old customs and rules were abolished.
Now officials can’t talk about geomancy or worship immortals, so those feng shui masters who used to rely on the rich and powerful for their livelihoods had no choice but to turn to those left over from the former dynasty.
“You can investigate the Longevity Sect, which is a bona fide heretical sect,” Old Master He picked out a second file and handed it to Wang Yunxiao.
“But don’t say I didn’t warn you, this lot are very cunning, and they’re ruthless.
The President suppressed them with thunderous methods in Tianmen, personally executed their sect hierarch, and destroyed their altar, but he couldn’t eradicate them completely.
If you’re going to investigate them, be prepared for the possibility of them retaliating against your entire family if you don’t finish them off.
This is no joke.”
“The Iron Blood Society, heh…
Director Qin, you’re from the military, surely you’re aware of what the Iron Blood Society is all about?”
“I’m aware,”
Qin Xiangdong nodded and said, “During those years, the President’s reputation was remarkable, both among the populace and in the Imperial Court.
At the time, a group of radical young officers in the military secretly formed a society and plotted to stage a coup to overthrow the former Imperial Court and elevate the President to power.
However, they were not discreet in their actions and lacked experience, leading to the exposure of their plan and the execution of their leader by the President himself.”
Those who help you make choices under the banner of doing what’s best for you are not necessarily doing you any favors.
Just because the President did indeed overthrow the former Imperial Court and has become the supreme ruler, wielding the power over the land, it doesn’t mean those people were innocent and wronged.
If Zhang San were to travel back in time, saw his future wife just after she graduated from elementary school, and coaxed her into his bed, claiming it to be legal and legitimate, would that be okay?
Specific problems require specific analysis.
Of course, this means nothing to the argumentative types, because in their eyes, everything is crap.
“Let’s not even discuss whether Iron Blood Society falls under your jurisdiction or not, it can’t be considered part of the Huaidao Sect’s influence, can it?”
“Now it is,” he replied.
Qin Xiangdong sighed and said, “Back then, Iron Blood Society spread too deeply within the military.
It was impossible to distinguish who was being incited, who was part of the radical faction, and who had ulterior motives…
Even the President wouldn’t dare to dig too deeply, as it would destabilize morale, tantamount to destroying the Great Wall ourselves.
Now, these people have been ousted and, restless in inactivity, they’ve formed a new Iron Blood Society.”
Old Master He expressed disbelief, “Now that he is already the President, what more do they want to do?”
“They want to deify the President.”
“Are they sick in the head?”
Old Master He shook his head and whispered to Wang Yunxiao, “Don’t look into this; you’ll get covered in crap.”
He then looked at the next document.
“Black Granny Temple?
What the hell is that?
Never heard of it!
I only knew there was a Black-Fur Ancestor, but wasn’t he caught and executed by firing squad?”
“I’m not very clear myself; it’s said that a few years ago there was too much turmoil in the Binhai District with foreign demons and monsters, so they invited a master from beyond the Great Wall, an immortal, to build a temple and erect an effigy here to suppress the evil spirits.
The temple supposedly has efficacious incense offerings, and the number of believers has been increasing.
It’s because it’s unclear that we need to look into it.”
“Beyond the Great Wall?
Isn’t that Black Granny there?
How did it become Black Granny Temple?
Nowadays these young people really dare to coast on any name, not fearing retribution…
This one should be possible to investigate.”
Old Master He pursed his lips and passed the file to Wang Yunxiao.
“Next…
Liusheng Dojo?
Ah, I know this one.
Go ahead and investigate it, you’re guaranteed to find something.”
Seeing Old Master He quickly moving on, Qin Xiangdong couldn’t help but ask, “Is there some story with the Liusheng Dojo?”
“Nothing special; it was just a Fusang samurai who came to Tianmen to open a school and take on disciples.
I remember he was a decent man with unquestionable martial skills.
He followed the rules of the Jianghu World by fighting on stage and eventually gained recognition to open a dojo here.
He took on quite a few disciples.
But ever since his death, the dojo has been on a steady decline.
Later, it was even more ruined by those worthless disciples…”
At this point, Old Master He suddenly gave Wang Yunxiao a meaningful wink, “But it’s not like there are no good things at all.
For example, those young girls imported from Fusang are pretty good, each of them skilled in their own right,” he said.
Huh?
Wang Yunxiao’s face was full of confusion.
The ‘pretty good’ you’re talking about, is that the same ‘pretty good’ that I’m thinking of?
Is this really a proper dojo?
From your tone, it sounds more like a clubhouse?
Well, if that’s the case, I really do have to investigate it.