The White Lotus Cult, widely known throughout Changle Commandery as a band of rebels, had once swept through every county in the commandery.
The Changle Commandery office had expended tremendous effort to finally suppress them.
Afterward, the White Lotus Cult transitioned from the light to the dark. They ceased their public activities and instead wandered among influential noble families, mountains, and rural villages.
This tactic of breaking a whole into parts transformed the White Lotus Cult into an extremely rare rebel faction.
Despite not being particularly powerful, the Imperial Court found them incredibly difficult to eradicate and were endlessly harassed by them.
However… that’s as far as they go.
Twenty years had passed since Wang Ping transmigrated, and he knew the state of the world like the back of his hand.
From his perspective, the Great Shun Dynasty was clearly not fated to end just yet.
The Imperial Court still maintained its grip over the local regions.
While public resentment boiled over, it remained confined to the countryside. The influential noble families within the county towns were actually quite satisfied with the Imperial Court; they harbored no discontent.
Therefore, the Imperial Court still retained “the hearts of the people.”
Under these circumstances, the White Lotus Cult could only follow a grassroots approach, hoodwinking the commoners in the rural areas. They might not perish, but expanding further would be difficult.
Thus, when the authorities secretly contacted him, Wang Ping—who had only joined the White Lotus Cult to scrape together a living—immediately chose to abandon the darkness and embrace the light.
He became an undercover agent.
While honestly playing the rebel in the White Lotus Cult isn’t a bad life, the sky is vaster with the Imperial Court.
In the courtyard, having finished his meal, Wang Ping slowly stretched his limbs. He formed his hands into the shape of a lotus flower, pressing them firmly against his lower abdomen, using his fingertips to massage his dantian.
“Oh my, not bad.”
On the other side of the courtyard, the young Daoist Xie Shi pushed open the door and stepped out. He looked at Wang Ping and nodded in praise. “Junior Brother, you have mastered this move, Planting the Lotus in the Fire, very well.”
“With Turtle and Serpent entwined, life and spirit stand firm; within the fire, a golden lotus is planted.”
This was the White Lotus Cult’s foundational martial art. By forming the Lotus Hand Seal and massaging the acupoints surrounding the dantian while circulating qi and blood, a practitioner could gradually and significantly strengthen their physical constitution.
Wang Ping patiently massaged for a full hour until he was dripping with sweat and his steps grew a little unsteady. Only then did he stop, feeling somewhat amazed.
These hand seals really have some merit. It’s just a simple massage, but it gives the same results as an intense workout. Good thing I practiced it diligently all these years.
“Let’s stop here,” Xie Shi smiled from a short distance away. “Too much of a good thing is bad; any more practice will harm your body… Perfect timing, Master plans to see you this afternoon. It’s time to teach you martial arts.”
“…Martial arts?”
Wang Ping blinked, recalling the subtle wonders of Planting the Lotus in the Fire, and a flicker of anticipation rose within him. Could this wretched place actually be a low-level martial arts world?
Soon, the two men returned to the Daoist temple.
The dozen or so cult members suspected of betrayal remained under house arrest in the main hall. In contrast, the old Daoist had stepped out and was stretching his limbs in the temple courtyard.
A smile bloomed on the old Daoist’s face when he saw Wang Ping and Xie Shi approaching.
“You’re here?”
Without a sliver of hesitation, Wang Ping knelt and bowed. “Greetings, Cult Master.”
The old Daoist’s eyes crinkled with satisfaction, but he waved his hand dismissively. “How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t fuss over these empty formalities. I don’t like it.”
“This subordinate understands.”
Wang Ping lowered his head, not truly standing up, keeping his tone and expression as respectful as ever.
“I told you, there’s no need for this.” The old Daoist shook his head helplessly, his voice gentle. “I called you here to pass down our cult’s peerless martial art to you.”
“My Daoist name is Shou Chong. From now on, you will no longer call me Cult Master.”
Wang Ping blinked.
Not Cult Master? Then what should he call him?
“You.” Seeing Wang Ping’s bewildered face, Xie Shi burst into laughter beside him. “Outside this door, you can call Master ‘Cult Master’, and he won’t hold it against you.”
“But once you step inside, what should you call Master?”
“……..”
Wang Ping knew perfectly well what was going on. This old fogey was trying to win him over. But wasn’t he dreaming a little too big, thinking he could buy Wang Ping with a single martial art?
Admittedly, he harbored some expectations for these so-called martial arts, but no matter how impressive a martial art was, what good would it do?
My lord, times have changed!
Talking about martial arts? You should talk about weapons!
In his eyes, unless the old Daoist pulled out a Maxim machine gun with infinite ammo right this second, rebelling alongside him was a dead end.
“This child really is simple and honest.”
Shou Chong wasn’t angry at his reaction. Instead, he reached into his robes and pulled out a palm-sized, gleaming silver knife, weighing it in his hand.
“The secret, peerless martial art of our White Lotus Cult is called the Pale Moon Lotus Blade. It is a throwing knife technique. If you can train it to perfection, you will gain a technique called A Thought Blooms. If you can master it, you will undoubtedly claim a place for yourself across Great Shun’s Eight Circuits and Twenty-Four Prefectures.”
Wang Ping remained unimpressed.
What Pale Moon Lotus Blade? The name sounded nice, and all that talk about martial techniques and A Thought Blooms… but no matter how fast a throwing knife was, could it outrun a bullet?
It was all nonsense…
BOOM!!!
The next second, an earth-shattering explosion shattered Wang Ping’s wandering thoughts. The deafening blast left him rooted to the spot, completely stupefied.
A moment later, he snapped back to reality like waking from a dream and spun around.
The large artificial rockery that had stood behind him, as tall as several men, had completely blasted apart, reduced to a heap of shattered rubble.
On the shadow wall behind where the rockery once stood, the throwing knife from the old Daoist’s hand was firmly embedded in the center. A dense spiderweb of cracks radiated outward from the blade. It seemed as if simply pulling the knife out would bring the entire wall crashing down into ruins!
Holy shit…
The next second, Wang Ping finally grasped what had happened. He whipped his head back, his eyes burning with fervor as he stared straight at the smiling Daoist Shou Chong.
The old Daoist asked softly, “How is it? Do you want to learn?”
“Disciple greets Master!”
Without a sliver of hesitation, Wang Ping acted entirely on instinct. He threw himself into a full kowtow on the spot, formally acknowledging his new, cheap master.
Because at this moment, everything was crystal clear:
What ancient feudal society? A casual throw can blow up a rockery! The throwing knives are basically missiles! This is a mid-level martial arts world at the very least. How could I pass up such a golden opportunity!
Times had changed back!
Besides, becoming the disciple of the White Lotus Cult Master didn’t stop him from continuing his side hustle as a spy for the Imperial Court. Rounding it up, it was practically free real estate. How could he miss out on such a great opportunity?
“Heh, finally stopped acting foolish… Get up.”
Shou Chong contentedly patted Wang Ping’s shoulder and pulled a thick tome from his robes. “Go back and practice well. I expect great things from you.”
“Thank you, Master, for your guidance!” Wang Ping kowtowed once more.
Shou Chong smiled faintly and offered a word of caution. “Once you learn it, remember not to use it carelessly. Once used, it must draw blood and leave no survivors.”
“After all, your Master is a wanted man in Changle Commandery, and the neighboring Longxing County hunts me relentlessly. Being exposed will be incredibly troublesome.”
“However, you also know that I have never actually spread our teachings or incited rebellion here in Qian Village. I merely did my part to heal the sick and save lives… Yet, the more people I saved, the more our temple’s incense flourished, and naturally, more people chose to follow me.”
At this, the old Daoist’s expression darkened drastically.
“This isn’t because this old Daoist is so capable, but because the world is like this… It is that tyrannical emperor far away in the Eastern Capital who has ruined the world!”
“Two campaigns against the Monster Kingdom left the Eight Circuits and Twenty-Four Prefectures utterly destitute.”
“Constructing palaces and temples tore families apart across three hundred and sixty sub-prefecture and counties.”
“Heavy taxes on meager lands drain the common people to sustain one family, one nation.”
The old Daoist grew more enraged as he spoke, radiating righteous indignation. However, his words went in one of Wang Ping’s ears and out the other. His mood remained entirely unfazed.
After all, none of this had anything to do with him.
As the saying goes, cross the river in whatever shoes fit, wear whatever pants match the size of your ass. I’m just a farmer; what’s the point of talking to me about national affairs?
On the surface, however, he plastered on a look of absolute loyalty and declared loudly, “Therefore, only you, Cult Master, can save everyone from their misery and lead us to the Home of the True Void to enjoy eternal life… To me, Cult Master, you are the only sun in my heart!”
“…That’s a bit much.”
Shou Chong’s eye twitched slightly. If a new initiate had spouted such lines, his first thought would be that the person had ulterior motives.
But Wang Ping was different.
This boy had been in the cult for five years and had always spouted these lines… Honestly, it was a bit awkward at first, but lately, the more he heard it, the more pleasing it sounded.
“Alright, alright. Go back and practice first.”
“Read through the manual, prepare your things, and come ask me if there’s anything you don’t understand.”
Shou Chong waved him off easily. “There’s no rush to ferret out the spy for now. I plan to visit He Village in three days; I will guide your martial arts practice until then.”
“Thank you, Master!”
Wang Ping expressed his boundless gratitude and took his leave, leaving only Shou Chong and Xie Shi standing there. The atmosphere gradually shifted from gentle to chillingly severe.
After a moment of silence, Xie Shi spoke up. “Congratulations, Master, on acquiring a fine disciple.”
“A fine disciple? Not necessarily.”
Shou Chong lowered his eyelids, his expression deadpan as an ancient well. “Actually, I quite liked what Wang Ping said earlier… Kill them all, and the spy dies too.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t kill them.”
“If I really slaughtered them, the hearts of the people would scatter… He might have purposely proposed that plan, even offering to kill himself, anticipating that I would definitely stop him.”
Xie Shi blinked. “So he could still be the mole?”
“That isn’t the point.”
Shou Chong looked back at Xie Shi, his voice soft. “To achieve extraordinary greatness in this world, sometimes you need to employ extraordinary methods.”
“Therefore, who the spy is doesn’t really matter. What matters is how much damage these people can inflict on the entire organization. The greater the potential damage, the higher the chance they are the spy… Even if they aren’t the spy, they must be treated as one to minimize the margin for error.”
“…This disciple has been taught.” Xie Shi cupped his hands in a bow.
“As long as you understand.”
Shou Chong nodded slightly and continued. “Keep an eye on Wang Ping. I want to know his every move over the next few days before deciding on our next step.”
“Understood,” Xie Shi replied before departing.
…………
Early the next morning, as soon as the sun crested the horizon, Wang Ping woke from his slumber. Filled with energy, he flipped open the [Pale Moon Lotus Blade] manual.
“Power rises from the ground, originates in the feet, surges through the legs, is commanded by the waist, and travels to the ten fingers…”
In the courtyard, Wang Ping assumed a stance. He held the manual in one hand and pinched a leaf with the other. Following the instructions in the book, he whipped his hand forward.
Snap!
A sharp crack cut through the air. The leaf shot forward nearly a meter like a pebble before quickly turning limp, eventually drifting gently to the ground.
Wang Ping’s face lit up with excitement. Although the leaf reverted to its original state less than a meter away, he could clearly feel it. Based on the techniques of the [Pale Moon Lotus Blade], the instant the leaf left his hand, its sharpness rivaled a real blade! And this was just him practicing as a beginner!
“Again!”
Wang Ping was currently like a child who had just received his favorite toy. He eagerly resumed his practice, tirelessly tossing leaves.
By the time he collapsed from exhaustion, the sun hung high in the sky.
Unknowingly, he had practiced for an entire morning, several hours in total. However, the joy in his heart completely overshadowed his physical fatigue.
It seems my talent is pretty good!
Or perhaps the [Pale Moon Lotus Blade] manual was just incredibly well-written. It was entirely in vernacular Chinese, practically holding his hand and guiding him step-by-step through the practice.
Generally speaking, there are three methods in martial arts.
The forging method, the combat method, and the breathing method.
Wang Ping understood both the combat and breathing methods. The former emphasized forms and techniques—the art of fighting and killing. The latter focused on foundation—the art of nourishing life and extending longevity.
Simply put, the combat method was external martial arts, while the breathing method was internal martial arts.
Only the forging method was different.
This ‘forging’ wasn’t ‘cultivation’, but rather ‘crafting’—as the name implied, the forging method referred to the art of smithing and forging weapons.
“The combat and breathing methods are secondary. The true focus of martial arts in this world is the forging method. The practitioner must personally forge the weapon corresponding to their cultivation method, forming a connection with it through their life force, uniting body and mind. Then, the weapon is used to nourish the practitioner… Rather than practicing martial arts, it is more like forging weapons…”
Furthermore, a practitioner’s progress in martial arts would be directly reflected in their weapon.
“Weapons are divided into four grades, and martial arts are divided into four realms: Beginner, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, and Perfection… The higher the level of the martial art, the higher the grade of the weapon.”
“And if one can practice a martial art to perfection, the corresponding weapon will birth a ‘technique’. For example, that strike from the old Daoist Shou Chong that blew up the rockery earlier was the technique born from the perfect [Pale Moon Lotus Blade], called [A Thought Blooms]. Its power is extraordinary.”
What is [A Thought Blooms]?
As the name implies, with a single thought, the blade is drawn, and whatever the martial artist locks onto with their mind will explode like a hundred blooming flowers. To sum it up in one sentence:
“Look at it, and it explodes.”
Recalling the power of Shou Chong’s strike yesterday, Wang Ping felt another surge of heat in his chest. He couldn’t help but fantasize about it until his legs suddenly gave out.
“Ugh!”
The next second, Wang Ping, who had been holding a stance all morning, collapsed onto his knees. His pores opened wide, sweat poured out, and he nearly lost his breath.
Immediately after, a muffled rumble echoed from his stomach.
Grumble…
Accompanied by the sound came a ravenous hunger. However, according to the records in the manual, he must not eat any ordinary food at this time.
“I have to eat rice!”
Not coarse rice or mixed grains, but the exorbitantly expensive polished rice. Otherwise, consuming anything else would not only be unhelpful for practicing martial arts but actually detrimental.
And that was merely to replenish the physical toll. To accelerate his progress in martial arts, he also needed meat. The same logic applied: he couldn’t eat wild game from the mountains.
He had to consume high-quality meat refined with secret methods. Monster beast meat would be even better; the higher the quality of the meat, the better the results of his training.
Naturally, such conditions were impossible to meet in a rural village.
“…Perfect timing.”
Recalling the message he read yesterday, Wang Ping bolstered his spirits. Using this excuse to go to the county town is perfectly reasonable, and it gives me a chance to meet with my handler.
Translators Note:
Circuit was the highest-level administrative division in certain dynasties, acting as a massive region (often larger than a modern province).