Chapter 253 - Awakening...

Somewhere in China. 

In the middle of tall trees and snow-clad mountains, a centuries-old temple was built by the saint who was said to be blessed by heaven. 

Inside the said temple, a priest who was supposed to be in slumber for the next few years, opened his eyes today. 

To say that other priests were shocked when the high priest awakened would be an understatement.

[He was not sleeping literally. He was in DHYĀNA.]

The Tang family, which had been supporting the temple for as long as it was established, had done everything possible to awaken the high priest but nothing worked. 

The high priest was not asleep in literal meaning. It was said that fifteen years ago something tragic happened and he had been meditating ever since. 

So, what changed today that the high priest left his mediation? 

Was it the end of the Tang family? 

Or some other calamity was waiting for them? 

The high priest's gaze fell over the people who were now kneeling before him, their heads bowed. 

"Rise," his voice rang and everyone looked up. 

Later, a great veneration was held inside the temple after the high priest woke up from his deep slumber as the people serving inside the shrine used to say. It was a happy occasion as much as it was alarming. 

***

After a few hours...

"High Priest, it's a miracle that you are awakened before the due time--" Another priest, who was only subordinate to the High Priest in rank, said. He had been in charge of the temple and its associated shrines since the High Priest was immersed in mediation (DHYĀNA). Since the High Priest was not accessible, he had been looking into the matters of the Tang family. 

"When was the due time?" The High priest who was now dressed in red clothes raised the question. 

"When you will discover who will shoulder the responsibilities of the Tang family next. High Priest, Lord Ryuu was raised as the leader because you have said in the prophecy that Lady Tang's life was short, and she was born for the greater good of the clan. It was not her destiny to rule the family. She was born to give birth to excellent children who will correct the mistakes committed by their ancestors." 

The Priest's words reminded the high Priest that Tang Reine was indeed dead. Such a pity that would die the day her third child would come into this world. However, it was said that the unborn child died with the mother while saving her second child. Only God Himself knew if it was true or not. 

"Who will shoulder the responsibilities of the family, High priest? Lord Ryuu declined to sire any heir. The bloodline of this clan will end with him. What would be the purpose of our living if we fail to direct them?" 

The priest's words caught the High Priest's attention. 

"Our purpose of living is already defined by God Himself. Giving direction to the Tang clan was the choice our ancestors made many years ago and passed on to us as our duty. If they end, we end with them. However, you shouldn't worry about it." 

A smile bloomed on the High Priest's face as he added. 

"I regained consciousness when I saw a flame. A flame that will give direction to them." He thanked Almighty God in his heart for providing him the much-needed guidance.  'She is here. We do not need to worry about the end of a lineage. A very brave mother has given birth to her. We will be meeting her soon." However, he didn't add it out loud as he felt it was not right to reveal the matter. 

'A rare blessing she is born with. The blessing which her ancestors abandoned many years ago,' the High priest said in his heart. With a smile, he looked above. 'Tang Reine, wherever you're, see the blessing your third child was supposed to be born with is bestowed to someone else too. A blessing by God Himself himself. Your sacrifice didn't end up in vain. You embraced death wholeheartedly and the Almighty God is giving back what was taken from your family. I pray that this time instead of abandoning this blessing, they will embrace it with a whole heart.' 

"What else has happened during the time I was not here?" the High Priest asked a while later. 

"Lady Tang's daughter married someone arranged by the family," the other priest informed. 

"Presumptuous!" The High priest exclaimed, which was rare for a calm man like him. "Did the Xin family not ask for any advice from the temple?" 

"No," the other priest said. "She had been promised to another man since she was a child. It happened after Lady Tang's death--" 

"Was Xin Yichen not informed that the people carrying Tang blood in their veins couldn't just marry anyone! If they marry the wrong person, they will never be able to sire children."

The High priest was angry. He had told the late King many years ago to raise all the children of Tang Reine himself. It would have been better if they all were raised as Tangs instead of Xins. However, the stubborn and willful Tang Reine refused. She wanted Xin Yichen to raise Zhenyi as her daughter was a part of her who would always stay with her father if she didn't manage to survive after her third child. And the same thing happened which Tang Reine had predicted. 

'You were killed by the traitors for a cause, Tang Reine. What will you do if they target their daughters? I'm sure that they have already been targeted.'

"Lord Ryuu will be marrying by the end of this month, High Priest. His wife has been chosen by Lady Tang as per your recommendation ." 

The High Priest turned his gaze to look at the other priest in disbelief. "I never recommended any bride for Lord Ryuu to Lady Tang. How could he marry--"

'When there is already an heir?' 

However, the High Priest didn't say those words out loud.

'It seems that I have been out for too long. What havoc was about to be wrecked, Buddha?' He asked the question in his heart while looking at the gray sky.