Chapter - 301 Starting a Fire to Light the Sky So Brilliantly (6)

They were all surprised, "How?" they asked, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

With a smug expression on his face, Zhou Dian drank a cup of wine and said, "All we need is Jiaozhu to go and ask that Miss Zhao. I am 90% sure that we will understand everything. I say if those people are not killed by Miss Zhao, then they must be captured by her."

For the last two months, Wei Yixiao, Yang Xiao, Peng Yingyi, Shuo Bude and the others had separately gone down the mountain trying to find out Zhao Min's origin and to track her trail; but since her appearance in front of Wudang and she shook hands with Zhang Wuji to seal their agreement, this person had disappeared without any trace. Even her many subordinates all had vanished without leaving the least bit of trace. They all speculated that she was related to the imperial government, but other than that they did not have any clue as where to seek her. This time hearing Zhou Dian speak they said, "Now you are talking rubbish! If we found that girl surnamed Zhao, wouldn't we ask her ourselves?"

Zhou Dian said with a smile, "You certainly can't find her; but Jiaozhu does not have to seek her to find her. Jiaozhu still owes her three things; do you think that fierce Miss will let him go so easily? Hey, hey! This girl is beautiful, but each time I think about her, all the hair on my body stands on its end; she causes me to shiver."

Everybody could not help but smile, yet they understood the truth in what he said. Zhang Wuji sighed and said, "I only hope she would give me her three difficult problems quickly then I will do my best to do them and bring this matter to completion. Otherwise my thoughts will be in suspense all day long; not knowing what kind of strange trick she is performing. Anyway, about Peng Dashi's [reverend, lit. grand master] suggestion earlier; our Cult will hold a general assembly of the leaders. This is quite feasible. What do all of you think?"

"It is," they replied, "But it is better not on Mount Wudang."

"Jiaozhu," Yang Xiao said, "Where do you think is the best place?"

Zhang Wuji hesitated a moment before saying, "Being a humble Cult Leader today I always remember our own Cult's two people's benevolence. One is the Yi-xian [lit. medicine/medical immortal – Divine Doctor] of Butterfly Valley, Mr. Hu Qingniu; that Senior died under the Golden Flower Granny's hand. The other is Chang Yuchun Dage [big brother]; I don't know his whereabouts nowadays. I think, let's hold our Cult's general assembly on the Butterfly Valley in Huaibei."

The rest of the group did not have any objection, they agreed upon the Midautumn Festival ['zhong qiu'] in the eighth month, which was still a little over three months away; all leaders of the Ming Cult would hold their general assembly on the Butterfly Valley in Huaibei, the former residence of Hu Qingniu.

By that time the Mid-autumn Festival was still some days away, and since Yu Daiyan and Yin Liting had not fully recovered from their injuries, Zhang Wuji was afraid their illness would recur and thus his efforts would be in vain; therefore, he decided to stay on Mount Wudang to look after Yu and Yin two people, while at the same time he leisurely asked Zhang Sanfeng to teach him more about Taiji Fist and Sword techniques. Wei Yixiao, Peng Yingyu, Shuo Bude and the others went down the mountain once again trying to track Zhao Min's whereabouts. Yang Xiao received the Cult Leader's order to stay at Wudang, but because of Ji Xiaofu's affair, he felt uncomfortable to meet Yin Liting; hence he stayed cooped up in his room reading books and did not go out even for a single step from his door unless it was important to do so.

And so two months have passed. About the seventh hour [between 11am – 1pm] one particular day Zhang Wuji visited Yang Xiao in his room; he wanted to consult Yang Xiao on the Butterfly Valley congress and to ask him about important matters surrounding their Cult. He was still young and lacking experience, suddenly thrown into the deep end of the pool; he oftentimes felt inadequate to bear this heavy responsibility. He was afraid he might do wrong an important matter and cause harm; while Yang Xiao had a deep knowledge of their Cult's affair. For that reason Zhang Wuji wanted Yang Xiao to be nearby so he could consult him anytime.

Two people discussed the congress at length. Zhang Wuji casually took a book lying on top of Yang Xiao's table. On the cover these seven characters were written'Ming Jiao Liu Chuan Zhong Tu Ji' [A record on the spread of Ming Cult to the Central Earth]; underneath, in smaller characters, 'Di Zi Guang Ming Zuo Shi Yang Xiao Gong Zhuan' [respectfully compiled by the Brightness disciple, Left Emissary Yang Xiao]. Zhang Wuji said, "Yang Zuoshi, you are skilled in both pen and sword ['wen wu quan cai'], truly you are our Cult's pillar."

"Many thanks for Jiaozhu's compliment," Yang Xiao said.

Zhang Wuji opened the book and saw in neat little characters an extensive documentation of everything about the Cult. The Ming Cult originated from Persia; it was originally called 'Mo Ni Jiao' [Manichaeism]. It entered the Central Earth during the first Yan Zai year of Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty, when a Persian man presented the Ming Cult's 'san zong jing' [three-purpose scripture] to the court; since then the Chinese people started to practice this teaching. In the third year of Tang's master calendar, on the twenty ninth day of the sixth month the first Ming Cult temple was built in Luoyang, Chang'an, with the name of 'Da Yun Guang Ming Si' [Great Cloud Brightness Temple]. Later on, these kinds of temples were built in Taiyuan, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Hongzhou, Yuezhou, and other strategic small cities. Toward the third Hui Chang year the imperial government issued an order to kill the Ming Cult disciples; at that time the Ming Cult influence was greatly diminished. Since then the Ming Cult became an underground religion, oppressed by subsequent dynasties. In order for the Ming Cult to survive, it had to resort to sly and secret behavior, that in the end the character 'mo' of the 'Mo Ni Jiao' was changed to 'mo' [devil]; hence the people started calling it the Devil Cult.

Reading to this part Zhang Wuji heaved a long sigh and said, "Yang Zuoshi, our Cult's original teaching was to shun evil and do good deeds, no different than Buddhism or Taoism. Why is it since the Tang Dynasty we have been the target of oppression even to the point of atrocious slaughters?"

Yang Xiao replied, "Although Buddhism aim for the restoration of human kind, once a monk leaves home he empties himself and doesn't pay any more attention toward worldly matters. Taoism is the same. Our Cult moves among the common people and peasants; if we see someone in suffering or deep poverty, regardless of who it is, our people will strive to help. The government officials always bully common people; when did you ever see they didn't? Where did you ever see they didn't? As soon as we know someone received unjust treatment from an officer, our Cult is bound to clash with that officer."