The ritual for meeting the Son of Heaven required kneeling, but as one who had left the mundane world, he was exempt, and naturally, the Emperor himself need not kneel, let alone the lesser officials.
This was one of the reasons he had chosen to become a monk: to laugh at emperors and scorn nobility.
The Emperor’s surname was Guo, his given name Muchuan, now styled Shengqi. Clad in imperial yellow, he sat firmly upon the Dragon Throne, observing Li Muzhan from his superior position, remaining silent, his bearing imposing and austere.
Li Muzhan lowered his gaze slightly, focusing his eyes three feet before his feet, utterly still, like a dormant abyss or a majestic peak.
An eternity seemed to pass with no movement; the hall was silent, so quiet a falling needle could be heard. It felt as if an invisible force compressed the air from all directions, suffocatingly so.
“Heh, heh…” Emperor Shengqi suddenly laughed, shattering the stillness, and nodded. “Master Mingkong truly possesses profound composure. Excellent!”
His voice resonated like a great bell, full of vigor. Li Muzhan inwardly noted that His Majesty the Emperor also possessed no small degree of martial skill; he was quite a master.
“Your Majesty flatters me.”
Li Muzhan offered a slight bow.
………………
Shengqi rose and descended the steps, approaching Li Muzhan, and chuckled. “Master Mingkong’s assassination of the renowned Eastern Chu general, Ximen Zhan, is indeed an act of immeasurable merit. I must thank you profoundly!”
Li Muzhan replied, “Your Majesty exaggerates; it was merely fortune.”
Shengqi laughed and shook his head. “The martial arts of Eastern Chu far surpass ours. You are the first person to successfully assassinate one of their generals; fortune plays no part... Moreover, that Ximen Zhan was a peerless genius of this age. Without you, given General Yiping’s capabilities, he would not have matched Ximen Zhan!”
Li Muzhan countered, “General Hua’s wisdom is unparalleled, his talent for command unmatched… He was momentarily careless, leading to the ambush. An army fighting with the grief of defeat is destined to win; even without me, General Hua would have achieved a great victory!”
General Hua’s true name was Hua Yiping, but few knew it; most simply addressed him as General Hua. Only he in the Shenguang Camp bore the surname Hua.
“You underestimate Ximen Zhan far too much!… Mingfu, grant him a seat.” Shengqi declared.
The elderly eunuch beside him bowed slightly and slowly brought over a stool embroidered with imperial yellow, placing it behind Li Muzhan, before retreating to his original position with unhurried movements.
Li Muzhan thanked him and sat down. He then continued, “The cavalry of Eastern Chu is indeed elite, but choosing to fight a decisive battle under our city walls was not wise.”
Shengqi returned to the Dragon Throne and discussed the battle—its gains and losses—with Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan spoke little, but every few words were incisive and logical.
He could sense several powerful auras surrounding him, like colossal dragons lurking, ready to pounce at any moment, emitting an overwhelming pressure.
An ordinary person might not have noticed, but his spiritual perception, far surpassing that of top martial artists, allowed him to clearly sense their power, which dwarfed his own.
He accepted this as natural; it would be abnormal if the Emperor were not protected by formidable strength.
Though he knew the adage of ‘there is always someone better beyond the heavens,’ truly encountering so many powerful presences gave Li Muzhan a deeper understanding… a profound sense that he was still far from the pinnacle.
To achieve the title of ‘Number One Under Heaven’ was a long and arduous path, requiring ceaseless effort.
…………
After discussing the battle, the two began to converse on Buddhist doctrine. Shengqi possessed exceptionally profound insights into the Dharma, earning Li Muzhan’s sincere admiration.
In his view, the Dharma was akin to philosophy in later ages; achieving understanding required two things: first, life experience, and second, a tranquil mind capable of sustained, deep contemplation.
This world was similar to his original world, with slight variations. Buddhism had developed differently, boasting numerous sects, like the countless stars in the sky, yet lacking the lineage of Chan (Zen).
Li Muzhan felt that the Chan school possessed an optimal method for studying the Dharma: Canhuatou (Contemplating a Gong’an or Koan).
Canhuatou meant grasping a single question and meditating upon it continuously and profoundly, like digging a well—unremittingly deepening the inquiry until the answer became clear.
It was like dropping a green roof tile into a deep pool; it sinks straight to the bottom, eventually revealing the foundation.
This method of spiritual insight was immensely beneficial to him. Having experienced life and death, he understood that the core of Buddhism revolved around these two concepts.
Personal experience differed entirely from abstract understanding. Words and texts could sometimes be meager and useless; without experiencing life and death firsthand, even the most eloquent discourse could not convey the true depth, just as one cannot truly grasp the feeling of water without entering a pool to swim.
With the experience of mortality, reading Buddhist scriptures became effortless; every sentence seemed to echo his own heart. Coupled with the marvelous technique of Canhuatou, he could easily comprehend the essence of various sutras.
Therefore, though young, his mastery of Buddhist philosophy surpassed that of venerable monks who had dedicated their entire lives to secluded cultivation. For Shengqi, as an emperor, to grasp the Dharma so deeply was truly rare.
Shengqi inwardly marveled. He was devoted to Buddhism, finding its depths vast and its beauty exquisite, second only to beautiful women in its ability to captivate him.
He had several high monks attending him with whom he often discussed scriptures and doctrines. Combined with his own innate brilliance, his understanding of the Dharma was comparable to that of ordinary great masters.
After speaking with Li Muzhan for a while, he perceived the depth of the monk’s understanding—it seemed to encompass all things without exception, offering unique and novel perspectives. He felt profoundly enlightened, as if a brief conversation was worth ten years of study.
“Master Mingkong,” Shengqi said, “remain in the capital for now…”
Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh. “Your Majesty, please forgive me, but I still wish to return to the mountain…”
“Hmm…?” Shengqi looked at him in surprise, his eyebrows rising.
Li Muzhan explained, “I left the mountain and entered the world to join the army to gain insight into the Dharma. I have now gained considerable understanding and wish to return to the mountain for a period of secluded meditation. I beg Your Majesty’s understanding.”
“Is that so…” Shengqi studied him, then smiled and shook his head. “The capital is a place of splendor, Master has not yet experienced it, have you?”
“Indeed, I have only just arrived and have yet to witness the capital’s splendor,” Li Muzhan affirmed.
Shengqi chuckled. “Very well, Master, I shall not force the issue. Remain here first. Make your decision on whether to stay or leave after one month. I will not insist!”
………………
After a few more pleasantries, Li Muzhan excused himself to depart.
Shengqi rose, smiling. “I heard from Yiping that you were afflicted by the Snow Fragrance Powder. Mingfu, bring forth that Void-Dissolving Pill.”
“Your Majesty…” The kindly old eunuch started, hesitating slightly. “This Void-Dissolving Pill…”
“Enough chatter, stop fussing. I am within the deep confines of the Forbidden Palace; I have no opportunity to be poisoned!” Shengqi waved his hand dismissively.
Li Muzhan quickly interjected, “Thank you, Your Majesty, but the Void-Dissolving Pill is unnecessary. I plan to travel to Eastern Chu in a few days to personally demand the antidote from the Jade Chill Palace.”
He knew immediately that this pill must be rare, perhaps only one or two in existence, intended to guard against Shengqi being poisoned. To be offered one was something he could not accept.
“You intend to go to the Jade Chill Palace yourself?” Shengqi smiled, shaking his head. “Master, though your martial arts are formidable, the Jade Chill Palace is no easy opponent. You should use the Void-Dissolving Pill!”
“Does Your Majesty know of the Jade Chill Palace?” Li Muzhan inquired.
“I know a little.” Shengqi gestured, and the old eunuch turned to a vermillion lacquered cabinet in the northeast corner of the wall, opening it to retrieve a stack of memorials and placing them on the table.
Shengqi pointed to the pile of documents and said with a smile, “These are all intelligence reports concerning the Jade Chill Palace. Master, you might find them helpful.”
Li Muzhan accepted without ceremony, moving to the table to examine the memorials one by one. He read with incredible speed; there were about twenty-five in total, and he finished them in about ten minutes.
He skimmed through them, retaining everything in his memory. After finishing, he sat in contemplative silence, deep in thought.
Shengqi’s silkworm-like eyebrows arched slightly. He mused that it was no wonder his grasp of Buddhism was so profound; truly, his natural talent was supreme and rare. If such a figure could serve the court, his achievements would undoubtedly be extraordinary.
“How is it?” Shengqi asked with a smile.
Li Muzhan nodded. “The Jade Chill Palace is indeed extraordinary. I still wish to test their strength. I request Your Majesty’s permission.”
“Very well, then. I shall assign some Forbidden Palace Dragon Guards to assist you,” Shengqi agreed.
Li Muzhan quickly shook his head. “I am sufficient alone. If the matter proves impossible, I will return and shamelessly ask Your Majesty for the Void-Dissolving Pill.”
“Then so be it. Be careful. If you cannot win, run. Do not overexert yourself.” Shengqi appeared remarkably affable; despite Li Muzhan repeatedly refusing his offers, he remained genial.
The old eunuch, Zhou Mingfu, sighed inwardly. It seemed this Monk Mingkong had captured His Majesty’s favor.
Though Shengqi was wise and magnanimous, he had weaknesses. Once he took a liking to someone, everything they did was right; if someone displeased him, everything they did seemed wrong.
Zhou Mingfu thought: Now that Monk Mingkong has gained the Emperor’s favor, unless he commits some treasonous act, his future success is assured. He is fortunate indeed.
While the Emperor was broad-minded, his standards were high. He was indifferent to most people, disliked and dismissed a very few from court, and favored only a select few who attained high office; the rest were generally regarded with cool neutrality.
Zhou Mingfu reflected, yet felt no inclination to curry favor. He understood perfectly that his own status was paradoxically low and high; his sole duty was to serve the Emperor well; everything else was ephemeral.
Li Muzhan left the Forbidden Palace, where General Hua was waiting outside. Seeing him emerge, the General quickly stepped forward, smiling. “Master, did you see His Majesty?”
Li Muzhan nodded. General Hua smiled again. “Master’s understanding of Buddhism is profound; you must have earned the Emperor’s favor. What arrangements did His Majesty make?”
Li Muzhan replied, “I intended to return to the mountain, but His Majesty asked me to stay for a month first.”
“Is the Master truly planning to return to the mountain?” General Hua sighed, looking helpless.
Li Muzhan nodded.
General Hua managed a bitter smile. “The Master’s resolve is admirable, but cultivation need not be confined to the deep mountains; the mortal world is also a place for refinement.”
Li Muzhan chuckled. “Those great monks and venerable masters can sever worldly desires, remaining in the mortal world yet remaining untouched, like a leaf not sticking to them. I cannot achieve that.”
“I believe your cultivation surpasses theirs. Please remain in the capital!” General Hua pleaded earnestly.
Li Muzhan smiled. “We shall see. I plan to depart for Eastern Chu in a few days to scout the true strength of the Jade Chill Palace, so I won’t be able to travel with you, General…”
“I leave tomorrow for the Shenwu Camp,” General Hua sighed. “Though the Jade Chill Palace is said to be powerful, I doubt they can stop the Master.”
Li Muzhan offered a slight, wry smile and shook his head, saying no more.