National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

”You must have already heard of Chu He’s power. He is anything but ordinary.

Once he fully rises to power and becomes an established force, it will undoubtedly be a cataclysmic disaster for our Buddha Country.

You must understand that this man, Chu He, has no backing and doesn’t belong to any other lineage or sect.

And yet, solely through his own extraordinary power, he has managed to carve out a place for himself in this complex world, amassing profound influence.”

Guerrero paused for a moment. ”Some time ago, the Buddha Country sent people to spread your scriptures, intending to propagate the Buddhist Dharma,

but they were met with resistance at every turn and were utterly rebuffed.

The people there are fiercely loyal to Chu He. Their devotion is an impregnable fortress, and they refuse to accept any outside faith.

This is by no means a good omen.

The Great Xia Empire has a massive population, the only power in this world that can rival your Buddha Country in sheer numbers.

If they truly unite under a powerful faith that recognizes only Chu He, then what position will that leave the Buddha you have so piously worshipped? What will become of the Buddha Country’s future?”

Abbot Tonghua stood silently, lost in deep contemplation.

’Thoughts churned in his mind like a relentless tide,’

’weighing the pros and cons of cooperating with the Bright Holy See.’

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly, ”Well said.”

These two simple words, laden with endless Zen mystery and profound meaning, drifted through the hall, lingering in everyone’s mind.

His words were clearly not just for Guerrero, but also a message to Ming Chan, conveying the depths of his own thoughts and deliberations.

”This world... it has already become a Hell in the Mortal World.”

Ming Chan’s expression grew more detached, yet his eyes held a hint of compassion, as if mourning the world’s suffering.

He raised his head slightly, his calm gaze falling upon Guerrero as he spoke slowly. ”Monsters of all kinds are emerging in endless droves. Humanity struggles amidst these ceaseless calamities, their lives devastated, mired in an abyss of suffering.

The mission and purpose of our Buddha Country is to allow all people under heaven to live happy, healthy lives, free from the torment of illness and the blight of disaster.

As for Chu He... although his methods are decisive and ruthless, his actions have, for the most part, been beneficial to humanity. He has been an unseen protector of countless lives.

If we were to act rashly and make an enemy of him at a time like this,

it would only push humanity’s future into an even deeper, darker abyss.

How could that possibly contribute in the slightest to the well-being of mankind?”

Ming Chan frowned slightly, a flicker of doubt and confusion in his eyes. ”Based on my prior understanding of your Bright Holy See,

I thought you also considered it your duty to protect all of humanity. Yet, from the plan you’ve just proposed,

it seems that is not the case.

Your plan seems more concerned with protecting your own authority and interests than with the actual welfare of humanity.”

”Protection is selective,”

Guerrero immediately retorted. ”We should protect those who are worthy of it,

not shelter some self-righteous upstarts, wouldn’t you agree?

Your Buddha Country presents itself as the voice of a god, does our Bright Holy See not do the same?

We both bear the sacred mission to guide and protect humanity.

But now, more and more people like Chu He are attempting to shatter the divine order, while the number of those who believe in gods and the Buddha dwindles by the day.

Everyone wants to resist, to break free from the fetters of the divine.

When that happens, the chaos and disaster wrought by humanity...

will be no less devastating than the havoc caused by those bizarre Evil Spirits. Will it?

If this continues, the entire world will fall into an abyss from which there is no return.”

At this, Guerrero shook his head in disappointment, a look of utter disdain on his face.

’He felt Ming Chan was far too naive, utterly ignorant of the world’s cruelty and complexity,’

’He didn’t understand that the majesty of divine authority was inviolable.’

He knew full well that here in the Buddha Country, the only one who could make the final decision was Abbot Tonghua.

’Arguing any further with Ming Chan would be a meaningless waste of breath.’

He pinned all his hopes on Abbot Tonghua.

’As long as he could get the Abbot’s nod of approval, he would consider this trip a success.’

”Well said,” Abbot Tonghua repeated slowly, his voice as steady and calm as before.

”Our other Archbishop,”

”has already set out with the Holy See’s most elite forces.”

”By now, they have surely set foot on the soil of the Great Xia Empire.”

Guerrero leaned forward slightly.

His eyes gleamed with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

His words quickened, tumbling out in a rush. ”Chu He’s influence in the Great Xia Empire is already deeply entrenched. Under his inspiration and call to arms,

a host of formidable experts have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.

Therefore, the situation is dire. We desperately need the Buddha Country to act with the utmost speed,

and immediately dispatch an elite team to advance swiftly from the other side of the Great Xia Empire.

According to top-secret intelligence from our informant inside the Great Xia Empire—information they risked their life to obtain—

it is highly likely that Chu He is hiding within the Great Xia Empire’s mysterious and dreaded Demon Cave.

Time is short, and we have no idea when Chu He will complete his terrible plan.

Therefore, this matter cannot wait. We must race against time and act immediately.

After all, there is an ancient saying in the Great Xia Empire: speed is paramount in war. In a life-or-death situation like this, every second is precious. We cannot afford to delay!”