Chapter 1640
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Chapter 1640 Missionary
Long’an City was far more prosperous than Xue County, which Lin Qiye had visited previously.
Just looking at the pedestrians on the road, there were at least four or five times more than in Xue County. The shops on both sides were neat and impressive. Although the sun had just risen, the vendors’ calls were already resounding through the streets. The rich aroma of wine wafted from nearby taverns, and occasionally, finely dressed riders on spirited horses passed by—all creating an intoxicating atmosphere.
Having grown up in modern society, Lin Qiye had never seen such scenes before and found everything quite novel, constantly looking around with curiosity.
Wu Quan followed behind Lin Qiye, showing little interest in their surroundings. His gaze passed over the densely packed, bustling streets to the distant vermilion palace walls. Vaguely visible were several exquisitely carved, magnificent eaves that appeared and disappeared behind the walls.
“Lin Qiye, I must enter the palace for an imperial audience. Feel free to look around the city. After I leave the palace, I’ll send someone to fetch you,” Huo Qubing turned to Yan Zhong and said, “You need not follow me into the palace. Stay outside and entertain them properly.”
“Yes,” Yan Zhong respectfully replied.
Lin Qiye nodded, and together with Yan Zhong and Wu Quan, watched as Huo Qubing and his party rode directly toward the imperial palace.
Lin Qiye had no objections to this arrangement. Although he was curious about the imperial palace, he was, after all, an outsider, and entering the palace would likely not be easy.
“Are you also interested in the imperial palace?” Lin Qiye turned around and saw Wu Quan still staring in the direction of the palace.
“Ah? Um… a little,” Wu Quan snapped back to attention. “Brother Qiye, where shall we go next?”
“Let’s just wander around.”
Lin Qiye’s gaze swept across the vast expanse of Long’an, and after a moment’s hesitation, he asked Yan Zhong, “Are there any interesting places here?”
Yan Zhong was momentarily stunned, then his lips curled into a subtle smile.
“Yes, of course there are. Just follow me!”
…
Imperial Palace.
Four figures passed through the palace gates where someone had been waiting for some time.
It was an elderly eunuch dressed in palace attire, his face wreathed in smiles. Seeing Huo Qubing arrive, he bowed even lower.
“Greetings, Marquis.”
“Steward Li,” Huo Qubing nodded slightly. “Where is His Majesty?”
“His Majesty didn’t expect you to return with your troops so quickly, so he is still receiving an envoy from a distant land. Please follow this old servant to the side hall to rest,” Steward Li extended his hand in a gesture of invitation.
“An envoy from a distant land?” Zhan Yuwu asked puzzledly. “Is it from the Wo Nu country?”
“No, from somewhere even farther than Wo Nu.”
Hearing this answer, everyone was surprised. Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows and continued asking:
“If it’s even more distant, then it must be from across the great ocean… What important business brings this envoy all the way to Long’an?”
“This old servant is not clear about that, but it seems to be related to some religion.”
“Religion?” Zhan Yuwu nodded. “Speaking of which, I recently heard that people from Shendu have also come to our Han borders to spread their religion… something about believing in Mi Tuo?”
“That’s the Shendu Buddhism, Amitabha,” Huo Qubing glanced at him. “When I was on expedition at the frontier, I encountered their traveling monks and had some contact with them. Their doctrines are also very profound.”
“The Marquis is indeed knowledgeable,” Steward Li smiled and flattered him.
As the group followed Steward Li to the side hall and was about to enter, they saw several foreign figures walking out from the main hall.
Huo Qubing stopped and looked carefully. He saw several men wearing white religious garments following behind a red-haired young woman, walking directly toward the palace gates.
Watching the young woman’s departing figure, Huo Qubing narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
“It seems the Marquis doesn’t need to wait,” Steward Li smiled.
“This way, please, Marquis.”
…
“Holy Maiden, the emperor of the Great Han is truly impenetrable!” A missionary walked quickly along the stone path, speaking indignantly.
“This Han emperor didn’t even let us finish describing the greatness of our Holy Lord before driving us out… how disrespectful!”
“With such a large population in the Great Han, if we could establish a religion worshipping the Holy Lord here, it would certainly attract a vast amount of faith power for the Holy Lord. What a pity…”
The missionaries’ faces were ashen as they spoke one after another, apparently very dissatisfied with Emperor Wu’s attitude earlier.
“Enough,” the red-haired young woman shook her head. “Forcing others to worship the Holy Lord is not His intention. We are the Holy Lord’s missionaries, and our purpose is to establish a religion that worships Him in the mortal world. Since the Great Han is unwilling to let its people worship the Holy Lord, we shall find another place… As long as we travel to enough places, we will eventually find the first batch of believers for the Holy Lord and establish a divine nation belonging to Him!”
“But Holy Maiden, we have been traveling across this continent for ten years, from the northernmost part to here… We have all grown old, yet we still haven’t found a place to establish our religion. At this rate, when will we be able to formally establish it?”
“Before we set out, the Holy Lord told me that establishing a religion cannot be rushed,” the red-haired young woman’s gaze swept across those behind her, her expression somewhat complex.
“You are the first batch of missionaries to follow me. After you, there may be a second batch, a third batch… Someday, our holy religion will become the largest in the mortal world.
Your names will also be compiled into the holy scriptures and remembered by future generations.”
Expressions of devotion appeared on the missionaries’ faces. “We are willing to dedicate everything to the Holy Lord and the Holy Maiden…”
The red-haired young woman turned around and led the missionaries out of the imperial palace, guided by a eunuch.
“Holy Maiden, what shall we do next? Go directly to the next country?”
The red-haired young woman didn’t answer. She raised her head to look at the faintly visible red stars in the sky, her gaze gradually becoming solemn.
“No… Those stars, whatever they are, have somehow triggered a ‘mysterious’ disturbance. It’s too dangerous to leave now. Long’an is protected by the dragon aura of the Great Han, so nothing serious should happen. We’ll rest here for a few days and leave after those red stars disappear.”
“Yes.”
“Has accommodation been arranged?”
“Yes, it’s right across from Xiuwu House, considered the most prosperous area in all of Long’an.”
“Xiuwu House?” the red-haired young woman asked puzzledly. “What kind of place is that?”
“Um… well…”
The missionaries exchanged glances, and finally someone steeled himself and whispered something in the red-haired young woman’s ear.
The young woman’s cheeks instantly flushed red. She glared fiercely at everyone, causing the others to immediately lower their heads and take two steps back, looking as if they had done something wrong.
“Holy Maiden, the accommodation was arranged by the Han officials. We didn’t know…”
“Yes, yes, you can’t blame us…”
“Who, who’s blaming you!” The red-haired young woman crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away.
After a long while, her lips twitched slightly, and she couldn’t help but quietly ask:
“That place… can I go in and take a look?”
