34 KARMA

Charles arrived at the last floor and then he saw it. His eyes were full of excitement. What he sees is the reclining golden statue of the Enlightened One, ten feet in length.

Inside that Pagoda, on the fourth floor, Charles is looking at a gigantic statue of the Enlightened One.

He then said the word he remembers by heart.

'Righteous Temple, The Sealed Pagoda, Ninth Floor, in the wooden floor where Enlightened One reclines''

But this is the fourth floor. Not the ninth floor. And there is no ninth floor. He is puzzled right now

He looks around to see any hidden compartment or secret entrances.

He walks around the room and see nothing out of the ordinary. He moves around about fifteen minutes surveying the room before he stop and take a deep breath and calm himself down.

'What does the Nine Floor means?' he asks himself.

He closes his eyes and started thinking and then as he ponders. Then like lightning, he finally gets it as he laugh

To be in the presence of the Enlightened Sages is to walk the road to Nine Heavens and reached Nirvana.

He is in front of the Enlightened One, which means he has already walked to the Nine Floor.

'The Nine Heavens in the Path of Nirvana teachings could also be considered and thought as Nine Paths, or nine floors to reach the top'

He said it to himself, his eyes gleamed with excitement. Then he laughs again.

'I didn't know that Wu Di and Xue Hua also know to put in such an obscure reference' It is clear to Charles they respected the Temple.

But Charles scoffed.

For others it might be easy to confuse them with this kind of play in words but Charles comes from a literary family.

While he is not that fond in reading the Classic he was not ignorant. This Nine Floor and Nine Heavens connection could easily be distinguished by the adherents of Enlightened Ones devotees.

Nine and another step would be ten…which is Perfection or in the teachings of Path of Nirvana symbolizes reaching the state of Nothingness and also represent the release of soul from Karmic bondage and the sufferings-laden cycle of life, death and rebirth without beginning or end

Seeing through this in just a matter of minutes Charles walk to the statue and then remember the next part of the word.

'In the wooden floor where Enlightened One reclines' He smiles and then look below and saw the wooden floor.

But which one?

Just as he was about to ponder about it he then smirks. The clues are already there all this time.

'Nine' he muttered.

He looks back down on the path leading to the statue.

The wood tile is arranged in such a way that the division of wood joining leading to the statue look like stairs.

Nine unequal wood block divisions on the floor that forms a path.

Charles then said it again

'Nine' and he walks backward until he is nine steps backward from the statue. The largest of the division line of wood in beneath his feet.

He remembers again about the symbolism of number nine.

'To walk to the path of Nirvana, one must have to be enlightened first. Only then one could walk the Nine Heavens and reach the Enlightened One and attained Nirvana'

This few words on the back of the map are full of symbolism of the teaching of Nirvana. Charles is impressed.

He put his hand together and bows to the large golden statue.

Charles used to believe all the Gods and the religions in this world is just because uneducated people trying to make sense of the phenomenon in the world.

In the Old Stories they spoke of Ulr that strikes the hammer in the sky and produced thunder and lightning, they spoke of Orlanth who broke the Sky and bring down rain to hold off the Fire of Ulr.

They spoke of Frieda who in her anger commands the winds and the waves to bring down ships and devour cities and islands.

Old Stories of Old Gods from a broken continent

He used to believe that these old stories of Gods and the mystical is nothing more than an old folk tales.

But the world is wide and vast.

Out of this continent of Aeropa and Midgard which could not even be considered two separate continent considering they were only separated by a huge large Pass how many more regions in this large wide world.

Beyond the Burning Seas in the North and the Windless Sea in the East, there must be more.

Who knows what magical things that exist in this world.

Yes, magic.

He used to scoff at such thing even when he was child.

Learning Logic and Its Application by many renowned scholars since he was young, he used to mock the uneducated peasant and their belief of Gods and Goddesses.

But now….Charles was not so sure. What he experienced could not be explained by logic.

And the scars on his forehead, this lightning marked scar shaped…. he of all people had made it his research the moment he returns.

While he did not find much, he knew of the story of Aesiron gifting Ulr the lightning shaped scar as His symbol to reign all over everything.

He still remembers the word in the Hymns of Aesiron.

'Aesiron, the Father of All, shall I sing, the Unboundless Sky, the Eldest of Gods, that oversee everything in the world, all things that fare on the sacred land, all things in the sea, all flying things, all are fed out of his grace. He, of all loved Ulr and grants him a lightning mark making Him among all the Gods, most glorious and greatest.'

If the scar on his forehead is truly the Mark of Ulr then it was as if he is Blessed by the Gods. This makes him even more respectful.

He did not know whether Ulr truly exist or not or whether the Ulr that people worship and the supernatural power that transport him to another world has a different name but he knows now that there is unexplained things in this world that could not be explained simply by just logic and observations.

That is why he put his hand together and pays his respect to the statue. Because if the Old Gods of the Northmen exist, then who is to say that the Enlightened One consecrated in this Temple do not exist.

Then he crouched down and then knocks on the wooden tiles beneath his feet.

TOK!

TOK!

TOK!

Charles smiles after hearing the sound.

'Just like I thought'

He could hear that the wooden tiles beneath his feet are hollow.

He then uses his finger and forces it open. Slowly removing the wooden tile he saw a small wooden compartment and in that hollow space is another piece of the map.

Charles smiles

'Finally, I got the second'

He then brought out the first part of the map he got and put it side by side. And then his eyes widened.

'HAHAHAHA'

He laughed.

'I don't think I need to seek the third part. Wu Di and Xue Hua…if you only have the second part you could have solved this map. But thinking about it…even if you got it could you understand it?'

He hold the map, his hand is trembling in excitement. For a child to have such face he look like a money grubber.

'Considering they were not native of Midgard, they probably wouldn't have understood it right away'

What Charles saw was something he did not expected. He did have some expectation before but he didn't want to make an early conclusion.

But he overestimates the intelligence of the people in the past.

At that time royals of Ancient Han must be in desperate measures and have no time to create a more complicated map thus the only thing they could do was to separate the map.

And the map was not that hard.

Other people might have to take time to decipher the location in the map but Charles needs only a second.

The third map pieces are not needed.

Because these two piece of map already reveal the location. Like Charles initially thought it is in Midgard.

When he saw that second part of the map everything falls into place.

Charles was quickly reminded of the fact that while the descendant of Ancient Han royal family now resided in Han in Aeropa, long before the Northmen wage their rebellion on Midgard the Ancient Han ruled Midgard.

And as they were forced to retreat they passed the Tien Mountain.

There is no Tien Mountain in Midgard but that name Tien is an old name of that Mountain.

After all a millennium has passed since the treasure was buried.

While Charles did not know the Tien Mountain, looking at the map he immediately know what mountain this mountain called Tien

One of the prerequisite of burying a treasure, it must be near a recognizable place that would not easily be erased by the passage of time.

And what is harder to erase in this word other than a mountain?

And this Tien Mountain illustration with the second piece of the map being side by side reveals the geography of a map Charles easily recognized.

Peasant could never saw map and this is true of Wu Di and Xue Hua. Not everybody could see a map least they would be mistaken as spies.

At least it was not easily allowed in Midgard.

Only nobles have access to maps and Charles knows this map by heart.

This is because Charles is confident that the Tien Mountain Range in the map is actually the Merciana Mountain Range.

It is the Mountain range that separated the First Pass under Heaven and near the border of Westhold.

'The treasure…..is in Midgard!' And Charles eyes shines bright. He put the map into his inside pocket in his elegant clothes.

Then he bow again to these statue.

He looks at the statue and then like he was once again reaffirming his desire or maybe he was praying in his heart he said

'O Enlightened One, if I am successful in my grand ambition, I vow to bring a world of prosperity and rule with benevolence' then he kowtowed with one hard knock onto the wooden tiles.

He then got up and without looking back he climbed down the stairs.

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MEANWHILE ON THE TEMPLE

While Charles is finishing solving the map puzzle and the location of the treasure, there is still the matter of Lu Dongpo and the Mad Fairy duel in the Temple grounds.

Liu Yi was shocked to hear what Lu Dongpo statement about the secret of the Temple but he was more shocked after that. He saw one of the monk he recognizes only as a Sweeping Monk to fly out from a few courtyards away like a bird.

He is carefree and instead of him pushing his body forward, it is like the wind embraces him and pushes him and he is just going with the flow of the wind.

Liu Yi once saw few experts of martial arts fly across branches of trees and rooftops and this is all because of their lightness martial arts.

But he never saw someone fly through the air like that Sweeping Monk who flies through the air like the wind has no resistance against him, like he is a bird carefreely flapping its wings and defied his knowledge of martial arts.

This is beyond what a lightness martial arts could do. In just a few second that Sweeping Monk appeared around the scene.

Even as the cold air of the Devil Maiden Sword Arts threatens to lop off Lu Dongpo head that Sweeping Monk only pointed his finger to block that attack.

His finger glow golden and the edge of his finger collided with the blinding light coming out from the Mad Fairy sword.

TING!

The entire crowd is shocked and in disbelief. Even the disciple monks all were shocked seeing what just happen.

The domineering and one of the most dangerous sword art in Jianghu is stopped by one finger. If they did not see this act with their own eyes they would have think that this is a lie.

And what is that golden glow coming out from that Sweeping Monk finger? No one could distinguished what that golden glow is

The junior Monk all knew this Sweeping Monk. They saw him for years, sweeping the courtyard every day.

He rarely talks and rarely interacts with other Monks.

No one really talks to him and he rarely talks to no one as well. All the Monks know is that he is an old Monk.

Many of the junior monks thought that the Sweeping Monk is one of the older generations and had done some wrong deeds in the past and were punished to sweep the courtyard.

This opinion grows credible because they saw the older generation of Monks never interact with him.

But today, the crowd of junior monks saw this Sweeping Monk use only one finger to dispel the attack of Mad Fairy, an attack of the Devil Maiden Sword Arts.

Even the Mad Fairy herself was shocked as she was forced to step backward by five steps, her finger holding the sword is all ringing and numb while her body internal energy is in turmoil.

Her internal energy almost deviated and almost get her in trouble. Her eyes turn dark

Everyone knows how powerful her sword slashes when she uses the Devil Maiden Sword Arts.

Just a few moments ago she uses it and it cut down the roof she was standing on into two. But that slash is dispelled by one finger.

It was like that one finger of that old monk is even stronger than metal.

She could still feel the trembling sensation in her finger and the fact that her internal energy is roiling and in chaos shows how profound that finger strike really is

Is there anyone in the world that possesses such martial art abilities? She did not immediately attack as she looks at the Old Monk in front of her

She then asks, putting her sword behind her back, cupping her hands as a sign of respect, her eyes are vigilant

'Senior name is?'

The Old Monk smiles.

'I am only a Sweeping Monk. I am not a distinguished senior' Mad Fairy frowned in dissatisfaction.

A Sweeping Monk? Only an idiot would believe that. Which Sweeping Monk in this world could block her full power sword slash with one finger?

She then with a complicated expression said to the Sweeping Monk

'I have grudges with that thief. Hope Senior would not obstruct' The Sweeping Monk shakes his head and then ask

'What kind of grudges would be so terrible that young lady would seek his life over it?' The Old Monk said. Mad Fairy is fuming now.

'Move away Old Monk' she said as she tries to maneuver around the Old Monk and attack Lu Dongpo, her feet dashed forward creating an explosive spurt of speed like she was lightning.

Lu Dongpo shrieked in fear but the Old Monk just sigh. Just before her sword strike almost reached Lu Dongpo forehead she suddenly feel she is being pull back by an invisible force.

BOOM

She was pull back and falls down buttocks first. She looks behind him and that Old Monk is still where he is.

The Old Monk made a grabbing motion with his hand and the wind around the Temple change course as the sword on Mad Fairy hand fly over to Sweeping Monk hand.

His hand is wrinkly and this Old Monk look like he would fall down with a little bit of wind passing him by in his usual day but now standing there on the half destroyed roof, he looks like an Enlightened One encompassing the world with his grace.

While the normal Monk might not recognize the Old Monk, the Golden Monks of the Temple of course recognize the Old Monk.

The Old Monk looks at The Mad Fairy and shakes his head. His eyes seem to see through all of Mad Fairy lives.

It is like he could see all the Karma and all her previous lives, to see through reincarnation and rebirth.

The Old Monk then said sighing in regret and a bit of pity in his eyes

'Young Lady, just because your heart was broken, did you need to fall to the wrong path? Just because one work hard doesn't mean it will work the way you wanted to. The heavens are not entirely fair but it is also not entirely Heartless. The matter has passed, why does Young lady still could not let go?'

Hearing this and looking at the eyes of that old Monks that seems to be able to see through her fills her with rage.

Even though she did not have her sword anymore, she still has her hands.

The Devil Maiden Sword Arts could even be used as a palm technique or even fist technique. It is ever-changing and fatal.

She charged forward to the Old Monk. The Old Monk only shakes his head.

In his eyes, the Devil Maiden Sword Art is truly a mystical sword technique that it could incorporate anything into a sword.

It could rivaled even the famous Severing the Heavens technique of the Jade Palace gate

Demoness Zixiang is truly a prodigy to create such a formidable sword arts but the true terrifying aspect of the swordsmanship could only be performed by someone who is truly understand the Devil Sword Art Maiden.

While the Mad Fairy is also a genius in swordsmanship, she still falls short from her teacher and holds no threat to the Old Monk.

Her palms is full of ice cold energy, and invisible powerful force seems to layer her palm. The Old Monk standing on the same spot only said

'Young lady could not let go which is the reason why Young Lady suffers. Letting go means pain, not letting go also means pain. The matter of the heart is truly the most troublesome' The Old Monk only sigh as he slowly deflect that palm attack.

To other it looks slow and even to the Mad Fairy it looked slow.

Yet as the Old Monk slows his movement, unconsciously the Mad Fairy palm attack also follow his pace and slow her own movement like her body movement was hypnotized.

He deflected her and at the same time he even had the time to put back the sword that is on his hand back to her sheath on her waist.

The Red Fairy once again stumble backward and nearly fall off from the roof but the Old Monk make a grabbing motion with his hand and the wind from behind her push her forward as it helps her balance herself.

This time the Mad Fairy did not attack as she looks at the Old Monk once again.

This time she felt that there is something otherworldly about the Old Monk, like he is untethered from the worldly affairs

Looking at the Old Monk eyes she saw killing intent but that are not what the face of the Old Monk seems to express.

He seems to be amiable, kind and holy. But his eyes were full of disgust, anger and hatred and regret.

She almost being hypnotized seeing that eye.

It was then like she is shocked she realizes what she is seeing in those eyes. She averts her gaze from that Old Monk eyes.

'He is a mirror' She thought to herself.

Reflecting other people heart like a mirror, reflecting other people intent like a clear water in a calm lake, formless, and because it is formless it is unconstrained and boundless.

This must a powerful Monk.

This kind of mystical arts that is able to change course of wind and be able to receive her sword strike with one finger this monk must be in the same league like the Old Immortal and Old Demon.

She sighed as she found no way to pass this Old Monk. She could not use brute force because brute force is unable to even move the Old Monk.

With a slight defeatist tone she said looking at the Old Monk

'Senior, why meddle in the matters between with Juniors?' she asks. She knows she could never defeat such powerful Monk.

The Old Monk looks at Lu Dongpo and then look back at the Mad Fairy. He put his hand together and said

'While Lu Dongpo is not free of blame, every life is precious. Could Young Lady forget his transgression and in turn Young Hero Lu would return the manual that he stole?'

Hearing this Lu Dongpo shakes his head

'I am the best Thief in Jianghu. How could I give back what I stole?' He said while making funny faces at the Mad Fairy which almost makes the Mad Fairy to ignore the Old Monk and chase him again.

The Old Monk shakes his head and smiles as he look toward Lu Dongpo.

'Young Hero Lu. When Young Hero Lu shouted for this Old Monk, didn't it because Young Hero Lu fears death? Between life and reputation which is more important to Young Hero Lu. If Young Hero Lu favors reputation more than life, then there is no other way. Young Lady Lin and Young Hero Lu have fought and destroyed many properties of the Temple. Since Young hero Lu insist on being stubborn then I could only expel Young hero Lu from the Temple and Young Hero Lu and Young Lady Lin could resume fighting outside'

Lu Dongpo face turns pale. He fighting internally before he nodded

'I will return it' Lu Dongpo said

'It is not enough' Mad Fairy shouted

'What does Young Lady means?' The Old Monk ask

'He has remembers and practiced the manuals so I must kill him'

The Old Monk shakes his head.

'This is the Righteous temple, Young Lady Lin. What kind of message would it send to the forces of Jianghu if we let people kills anyone they want inside this Temple. This is a place of worship, not of killing. If young Lady Lin is still insisting in such way, then I could only guard Hero Lu'

The Mad Fairy face contorted into anger

'Is this the conduct of the Righteous temple? If this is the case could anyone who stole other people martial arts run here and be protected by you?'

'I am just a Sweeping Monk. How could I do that for everyone? I only sweep the ground and do nothing else. But he and I share some Karma. I should help him at least when he is here in the temple.' Then he sighed

'When he is out of the Temple, naturally Young hero Lu is no longer under the protection of the temple' Lin Xintong calculated in her mind

By the time Lu Dongpo comes out from the Temple he might already probably mastered the manual which makes him even harder to kill.

But she couldn't defeat the Old Monk no matter the technique she employed. Should she ask her teacher for help?

Looking at the Old Monk still standing there in front of Lu Dongpo like he is an unmoving mountain, the Mad Fairy sighs and then she jumps away.

Then she shouted, her voice echoes in the darkness of night and fills the temple grounds

'Sweeping Monk of Righteous temple, if you insist on protecting the Monkey, fine! My teacher Demoness Zixiang will come in a couple of days. Since today the Temple bullies me with their Seniors I refuse to accept this loss. Do you dare to accept the duel with my teacher?'

The Old Monk sighed and he said calmly.

'I accept'

Then the sound of laughter resounded in the night sky.

The Mad Fairy is gone but from her words in a couple of days a more fiendish woman will arrive.

Demoness Zixiang of the White Bone Peak will come. It seems she must be here in the Central Plains and not in the Western Reaches since she would arrive in a few days.

The Old Monk only sighs. He saw a calamity tribulation in his life. Could this be it? As he is looking at Lu Dongpo he senses that Charles is back. He only smiles.

'Karma. This is Karma' he said to himself before flying back to his courtyard. He no longer has any mood to sweep the ground.

So, he dragged his old body and sleep in his humble abode.

Regardless about what happens outside.

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