Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 986 Positive Character Design
We've arrived in Suiyang.

Because the "Chaotai" temple fair had not yet completely ended, the capital city of the prefecture and state was still bustling with people.

People, merchants, and tourists from surrounding prefectures and counties gathered here, crowding the wide streets.

The air was filled with the smells of incense, food, and sweat, mixed with various hawking cries, laughter, and children's cries.

The Crown Prince of Liang sat in the carriage, listening to the noise outside the window and watching the slowly crawling traffic, his face full of undisguised impatience.

He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers accompanying him to step forward and roughly part the crowd to clear a path.

He didn't want to stay in that stuffy carriage for another second!
The guy across from me named Xu Xuan had been indifferent ever since he got on the bus, with his eyes downcast and his mind at peace.

When I initiate a conversation, he responds simply, without a trace of respect or flattery in his eyes!

This person... he really seems to look down on me?!
Thinking of this, a surge of anger rose in the prince's heart.

To hell with being respectful to scholars!

He recalled his father, the Prince of Liang, teaching him that famous scholars might not necessarily have integrity, but they certainly had pride.

Therefore, when you first meet someone, don't talk about interests directly, and even less about vulgar things like sensual pleasures, unrestrained gatherings, or the Five-Stone Powder, lest you be looked down upon.

Talk more about relationships and future prospects. At the very least, chat about poetry and scholarship. Give them room to express themselves, make them feel respected and valued, and it will be easier to win them over later.

That's basically how all the strategists in the Prince's mansion were recruited.

Who doesn't crave power? It's just a matter of how they use it.

But now it seems that this approach is completely useless against this guy!
A sinister glint flashed in the prince's eyes.

Hmph! You lowly commoner, I hope your medical skills are truly as unpredictable as the legends say!
Otherwise... see how this young master deals with you!
Then comes the villain's inner monologue, which is designed to make you wish you were dead, and that's how some of the hatred in your heart is relieved.

Sitting opposite him, Xu Xuan could clearly feel the other person's thoughts spreading wildly, and the hostility was so obvious that it could not be ignored.

But he was also helpless.

This person not only insisted on inviting others to ride together, but also kept spouting meaningless nonsense along the way.

Poetry, songs, prose, history, classics... how can you, a spoiled brat who relies on his father, possibly understand these things?

Why can't we get straight to the point, like talking about how much the consultation fee is, or what practical benefits we can get after curing the disease, such as high-ranking official positions, generous salaries, or rare treasures?

If we were to talk about something more mundane, something that interests me, at least I could say a few words and it wouldn't be such an awkward silence.

As for my fate, you should worry about your own.

Inviting the White Lotus Saint Father to the Prince's Palace was such a bold and miraculous move.

Leaving aside the inherent causal contamination, the issue of identity itself is absolutely unsolvable.

If your dad knew the truth, he'd definitely smash your head in. After all, he certainly wouldn't want such a troublesome son.

In this strange atmosphere where one side was suppressing its anger and harboring murderous intent, while the other side felt bored and hoped for "pragmatism," the carriage finally passed through the bustling streets and arrived at the magnificent gate of the Liang Prince's Mansion.

The palace was indeed adorned with jade steps and vermilion doors, its imposing presence reaching for the clouds.

Two enormous stone lions with glaring eyes stand guard at the gate of the mansion, perched atop the high white marble steps. Two divine auras swirl above them, clearly indicating that they are consecrated guardian deities.

Below the steps stood armored soldiers, clad in their armor and wielding sharp weapons, their spears and halberds gleaming coldly in the sunlight, exuding a chilling aura of impending doom.

Above the lintel hangs a plaque made of golden nanmu wood, with three gilded characters "Liang Wang Fu" (Prince Liang's Mansion) written by the emperor himself. The calligraphy is vigorous and elegant, showcasing the supreme imperial majesty and favor, as well as the powerful aura surrounding it.

A rich and pure imperial dragon aura, connected to the nation's destiny and the fortune of humanity, enveloped the entire mansion like an invisible canopy, making it impossible for ordinary evil spirits to approach.

There is also a righteous and peaceful yet unfathomable orthodox Buddhist and Taoist atmosphere that subtly flows among the halls and pavilions.

Clearly, the mansion not only had eminent monks and immortals arranged the decorations, but also housed many consecrated ritual objects to harmonize yin and yang.

The entire royal palace area was filled with a trace of underworld evil energy. No wandering spirits or resentful thoughts could be sensed, and even the earth's veins were unusually stable and peaceful, as if they had been completely tamed.

Indeed, his power and influence were immense and extraordinary.

From the "professional" perspective of the Holy Father, ordinary filthy curses and evil spells are completely ineffective.

Ordinary vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts probably wouldn't even be able to get close to the outer courtyard wall before being burned or even annihilated by that invisible aura.

Fortunately, Xu Xuan was a good person in some respects and a Buddhist disciple, so these arrangements did not have a significant impact on him. At most, he was unable to use most of his powerful spells.

If one were to forcibly break through from the outside, it would probably require divine weapons like Gan Jiang and Mo Xie, which possess the ferocious attribute of "assassinating the king and killing the emperor," to tear apart the fortune and barely be able to achieve this.

Alternatively, a ghost king like Chen Sheng, who embodies the subversive concept of "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?", could lead an army of 100,000 ghosts to charge and kill without regard for the cost, using his immense resentment and obsession to forcefully erode and pollute the fortune of this place. Only then would it be possible to succeed.

Of course, a purely physical attack is also possible, but it is extremely difficult.

The palace was surrounded by thick, sturdy walls, comparable to a small city, and it was clear that it also had a large grain reserve inside, enough to sustain a long siege.

It would take mobilizing thousands of elite troops, equipped with heavy siege weapons, to forcibly flatten this palace.

However, if it were me who were to do it... Xu Xuan's thoughts naturally turned to the area he was more familiar with, and a subtle glint of calculation flashed in his eyes.

Who would be foolish enough to confront us head-on from the outside? We'd definitely tackle it from within!

Why would one need to use so much magic or supernatural power to incite people's hearts and create internal strife?
All you need is a mouth.

This is the true innate divine power.

For example, I can first..., then..., and finally...

Among them, the unlucky Liang Shizi is the best breakthrough point.

Alternatively, a decisive victory could be achieved from afar, causing discord between the emperor and his ministers, making it easy to destroy the royal palace with the emperor's authority.

The Father was engrossed in his "art," his thoughts flowing like a spring, when he was interrupted by a voice.

"Mr. Xu, please come in."

When Prince Liang saw Xu Xuan stop at the gate of the Prince's mansion, looking around the mansion with a deep gaze, and remain motionless for a long time, he thought that the magnificent atmosphere of his mansion had finally intimidated this "country bumpkin" from the south. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and pride, and even the pent-up anger that had accumulated in the carriage earlier dissipated.

Little did he know that the person wasn't actually marveling at the luxury and grandeur of the Prince's mansion; it was simply a case of "occupational hazard."

Just then, several monks slowly emerged from the inner courtyard of the Prince's Palace.

These people had a composed demeanor and a steady gait, clearly not ordinary monks, with the abbot leading the group being particularly eye-catching.

He was exceptionally tall and strong, his bulging muscles stretched his wide robes to their limit, revealing distinct lines. His temples were slightly bulging, and his eyes gleamed with a restrained sharpness.

Even though the people of the North are known for their fierce and robust nature, and tall, strong men are common, the physiques of these monks were indeed far too "imposing."

Fortunately, most of them had the compassionate and peaceful aura unique to Buddhism, and were dressed in solemn monks' robes. Otherwise, if they walked on the street like that, they might be mistaken for some kind of mountain bandit king, causing a commotion.

Once Liang Shizi arrived on his own territory, his arrogance became even more undisguised. Seeing Xu Xuan's gaze fall on the monks, he lowered his voice with a hint of boastfulness and said, "See them? These are eminent monks from Linji Temple. They were invited by my father to the palace to preach and expound the Dharma."

This statement, seemingly an introduction, actually implies: See? Even renowned Zen monks, when they come to my Liang Kingdom, have to obediently come to the Prince's Palace to "serve." What right do you, a mere doctor from Jiangnan, have to act so high and mighty?
Actually, this statement is somewhat like a fox borrowing the tiger's power.

Buddhism and Taoism are major schools of thought in the world, with numerous branches and profound cultural heritage.

In this world of immortals and heroes, whether it's exorcising ghosts and evil spirits, suppressing demonic influences, or helping the souls of the dead to be saved and the hearts of the people to be appeased, one inevitably has to deal with these monks and nuns.

Furthermore, although monks may seem to belong to different sects and factions, they are, in a sense, "one family," and a change in one affects the whole.

If you offend one temple, you may attract trouble from thousands of fellow monks behind it.

Aside from earthly emperors who truly possess divine authority and are blessed with human fortune, who can disregard these outsiders with their immense power and even carry out acts of "suppressing Buddhism," there are no other such individuals.

Ordinary princes don't have the time or energy to compete with these monks who claim to be "outside the world" but actually have a wide-open temple with believers everywhere.

King Liang's invitation to the eminent monks of Linji Temple to preach was also for his own purposes. The relationship between the two parties was more of a mutually beneficial cooperation than a simple hierarchical one.

To discerning people, the prince's boasting seemed rather naive and shallow.

Xu Xuan was provoked by the barbed words, but he wasn't angry. Instead, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

He nodded slightly, understanding dawning on him: So he was a high-ranking monk of the Linji School. No wonder he had such an extraordinary demeanor, and even... he felt a bit of familiarity with him.

He was quite knowledgeable about the various schools of Zen Buddhism, and knew that this lineage emphasized pointing directly to the mind, seeing one's true nature and becoming a Buddha, and placed the greatest emphasis on sudden enlightenment.

Their practice methods mainly involve studying koans. In order to enlighten their disciples, the masters often use methods such as shouting and witty remarks, which are simple, direct, and to the point, striving to break the students' delusions in the blink of an eye.

That's how that sense of familiarity arises.

We're all like-minded people who enjoy "slapping people on the head" and value "instant enlightenment"!
Moreover, from a certain perspective, aren't the "White Lotus Holy Father" persona and the "Great Compassionate Dharma King" Mengshan Society's methods equally "powerful" in terms of speed of dissemination and influence on believers? They are quite similar in their approach.

As he was secretly making his assessment, one of the old monks, who had already walked more than ten steps away, happened to glance back at him.

When her gaze swept across Xu Xuan's face, she froze on the spot as if she had been frozen in place!
His previously calm face was instantly filled with extreme shock and disbelief, and he subconsciously gasped:
"Bodhi... the form of Bodhisattva?!"

Though the whisper was soft, it resounded like thunder in the ears of the other eminent monks!

They immediately stopped in their tracks and followed their companion's gaze to look at Xu Xuan.

The next moment, the same look of shock appeared on the faces of every high monk!

Immediately afterwards, the muscular abbot, without hesitation, led the other equally imposing monks, turned around, and strode straight toward Xu Xuan!

Duang! Duang! Duang! ...

The heavy footsteps seemed to carry a certain rhythm as they struck the bluestone slabs.

A group of muscular, bald men with prominent temples strode forward, their faces expressionless and their eyes blazing. Even in the generally tall and robust northern region, these monks were remarkably oversized, resembling mobile miniature fortresses.

He walks with a powerful stride, each step equivalent to one and a half steps for an average person. His broad, imposing figure stretches out in one continuous stretch, exuding a strong sense of intimidation.

From a distance, it looked as if a thousand troops were charging forward in unison, carrying an invisible force!

(End of this chapter)