After the farce of the afternoon, the moon began to shine brightly. Its light reflected off the jade pillars plated with gold in the Golden Lotus Kingdom. The altar floors sparkled as if they were sinless. A cool breeze drifted through the air, yet it carried the foul aura of hypocrisy that seemed unwilling to reveal the truth. Night in the Golden Lotus was a masterpiece of theater.
Guang crept into the palace, following closely behind Feng Haoran.
"Guang?" Even though Guang followed from a distance, Feng Haoran managed to catch him red-handed.
"Humble greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor! May you live for hundreds of thousands, even millions of years!" Guang gave his salute with a panicked tone. His breathing was heavy and irregular.
"Your breath is so hurried, as if you are a rat caught by a lion. What is it, Guang?" Feng Haoran asked while walking slowly toward him.
Guang immediately bowed his head and dropped to his knees in a submissive position.
"Forgive your servant, Your Majesty. I only wished to ensure you were well because you are currently in mourning. I was truly worried that the enemies from the Eagle Kingdom in the north might try to exploit this moment of grief."
"The Eagle Kingdom?" Feng Haoran asked. He leaned his body down until he was eye-level with Guang. He wore the smile of an angel. Their faces were so close that Guang could smell the deep aroma of lotus, but for a split second, it smelled like the scent of rotting veins.
"You remain worried about my condition even though you know?" Feng Haoran asked calmly.
Guang looked panicked and tried to deflect. "I do not understand your meaning, Your Majesty. I only wanted to ensure you were safe."
"You are clever, Guang," Feng Haoran said.
"However, it is such a pity that you chose the wrong path. How will you receive enlightenment if you suspect your own Emperor? How can you be free? How will you reach Nirvana in peace later?"
"Forgive your servant for being presumptuous, Your Majesty. I did not mean to stalk you," Guang said with a tone of guilt that was still laced with suspicion.
"So you admit it, Guang?"
Guang froze. He was speechless. His knees trembled against the floor and his hands shook. His body signaled for him to run, but his soul wanted to uncover the truth.
"Guang, do you admit it or not?" Feng Haoran asked with a sharp, calm intensity.
Guang bit his lip. He did not dare to answer. He felt that if he spoke, it would be wrong, but if he stayed silent, he would remain there forever. The night grew late and the atmosphere became deathly silent. the wind grew colder. The demonic threat in front of his eyes seemed to slowly gnaw at Guang's body.
"Your Majesty, I..."
"The smell of bones? Rotting veins? Or the beautiful aroma of the lotus, Guang? Tell me."
"I... your servant only smells the beautiful aroma of the heavenly lotus, Your Majesty."
Guang answered while trembling. His teeth chattered violently as if answering Feng Haoran with immense doubt. He was forced to lie, but he could not ignore the reality that his nose did not catch the scent of an Emperor. It was the pungent, lung-stinging stench of a demon.
"Good. Very good, Guang." Feng Haoran seemed satisfied with the answer. He patted Guang's shoulder gently, following a rhythm as soft as a heavenly melody, yet heavy with dark mental pressure. Feng Haoran's eyes suddenly glowed red. The brilliance was so intense it made the moonlight seem dim. It added to Guang's horror. Guang could only swallow hard.
"Guang, go back and rest. Do not let everything go to waste because of baseless suspicions."
Feng Haoran stood up and turned his back. He gazed at the sky and the moon.
"Very well, Your Majesty. As you command. Forgive me if I previously..."
"Enough. Do not waste time, Guang. My time is very precious, and so is yours, is it not? I am certain you have other duties besides stalking your own Emperor."
Silence followed. Guang decided to leave Feng Haoran's presence. He bowed low and gave his salute.
"Wait."
Feng Haoran stopped Guang abruptly. He walked toward Guang with an elegant, calm expression that hid a foul and tactical plan.
"Tomorrow, come to the main altar. I have a task for you."
Guang felt that something was wrong with the Emperor's command, but he did not dare to defy him.
"The Emperor's command is absolute and eternal. I will certainly obey Your Majesty!"
Guang left while saluting. This time, Feng Haoran did not stop him. He only smiled with weary eyes.
"Let him follow his heart," Feng Haoran whispered in the darkness of the palace. However, instead of letting Guang follow his heart, he was actually forcing Guang to submit.
Guang arrived at his room. He closed the door hurriedly. He was still haunted by the image of Feng Haoran's red eyes and the rotting stench he had clearly smelled from the Emperor's body.
"The main altar? Why is an officer like me allowed to enter the main altar? Is that not the private domain of the royals in this kingdom?"
Guang's growing suspicion toward Feng Haoran could not be stopped.
"Just come, Master Guang." The voice was flat. It was an invitation that sounded more like a forced command.
"Who is that? Why does it sound like Deng Rao?" he thought.
Guang threw the door open. Sure enough, Deng Rao stood there holding something in his hand while smirking.
"Deng Rao? What are you doing in front of my room?"
"May Master Guang live in peace! Master Guang, I only wish to deliver this red scroll to you."
Deng Rao gave a salute and extended the red scroll toward Guang.
"What is this?" Guang asked in confusion.
"Tomorrow you will understand, Master Guang."
Deng Rao chuckled softly. He immediately vanished, merging into the shadows.
Guang went back into his room and locked the door. He decided to place the red scroll on the table beside his bed. He could not close his eyes. His curiosity and Deng Rao's words haunted his mind. He kept staring at the scroll. Finally, he got out of bed and reached for it, but...
"Master Guang, the great and mighty, please forgive the insolence of this old servant."
Deng Rao emerged from the shadows behind Guang's bed.
"You! Deng Rao! What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"Forgive me, Master Guang. I am only following Emperor Feng's orders."
Deng Rao walked slowly toward Guang with his arms folded. He tilted his head and stared at Guang while chuckling.
"I will finish you with my Vajra sword, Deng Rao!"
"Calm yourself, Master Guang. I only wish to convey Emperor Feng's message. You are only permitted to open that red scroll tomorrow at the main altar."
"Rest well, Master Guang. Enjoy your rest. I shall leave now."
Deng Rao turned around and merged back into the shadows.
Guang could not sleep all night. The curiosity regarding the red scroll consumed his thoughts, yet he did not dare violate Emperor Feng's command.
The next day, dawn broke. The sun began to rise, illuminating the majestic and luxurious Golden Lotus Palace. Birds chirped to welcome a morning that felt peaceful and bright, as if nothing had happened the day before. The blue sky and white clouds looked pure, despite the burden of sin they overlooked. The people of the Golden Lotus cheered happily to welcome their Emperor.
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Emperor Feng!"
"Everyone, salute Emperor Feng!"
Guang gave the command, though his eyes clearly showed exhaustion to everyone.
"May Your Majesty live for hundreds of thousands, even millions of years!"
The crowd shouted, welcoming the man who appeared to be the most holy, Feng Haoran.
"My beloved people," Feng Haoran's voice echoed through the crowd.
"More joyous news for our kingdom. The Nine Immortal Emperors have commanded me to attend the holy worship at the Buddha Temple on Heavenly Mountain. However, I deeply regret that there are many matters I must handle for this kingdom. Therefore, I have decided that the lucky person to carry out this noble task is..."
"Great Officer Guang!"
Feng Haoran called his name. Suddenly, cheers from the people who felt proud of their great officer erupted. They continued to encourage him.
"Master Guang will surely succeed! Peace for the Golden Lotus! Master Guang is great!"
Guang did not feel great. On the contrary, his suspicion toward Feng Haoran, Deng Rao, and the red scroll he still held was reaching a breaking point.
Guang stepped forward toward the altar despite his doubts. He stood at the main altar, witnessed by the citizens of the Golden Lotus who continued to scream his name and worship him. To Guang, it felt like an insult.
"With pride, I welcome the ancestor and elder of the Heavenly Lotus Sect, Master Tianze!"
Finally, the holy monk arrived. His silver robes fluttered in the wind as if bringing eternal peace.
"Your servant offers respect to the Emperor and to you all."
Tianze smiled. It was a smile that felt holy and sincere from the heart of a monk.
"Heavenly Lotus Sect! The sect famous for its spiritual enlightenment! Give us enlightenment, Teacher! Give us enlightenment!"
"Of course, my children."
Tianze smiled broadly at the people of the Golden Lotus.
"Continue to stay on the path above truth, because absolute truth is the path where there is no more debate between right and wrong."
Tianze walked slowly and raised both hands toward the sky.
"Let each truth find its meaning, and Nirvana is the goal."
"Thank you, Teacher! Thank you, Great Teacher Tianze!"
The people cheered and thanked Tianze. Meanwhile, Guang stood silent and frozen in front of them all.
Feng Haoran approached Guang and commanded him to open the red scroll.
"Guang, open the red scroll now," Feng Haoran ordered.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Guang opened the red scroll slowly because of his hesitation. He was shocked by its contents. Instead of a map showing the way to Heavenly Mountain, it was something else.
"This... this is a map to the Soul Abyss!"
Instantly, Tianze turned and stared at Guang sharply. There was a speck of emptiness in his holy eyes.
"Lower your voice, Master Guang."
Tianze approached Guang and whispered into his ear.
"You must undertake this noble task alone," Feng Haoran whispered into Guang's other ear while maintaining a sweet smile toward his people.