Finest Servant

Chapter 152 Unmasking

Xu Wei said, "I can't explain these bewitching tactics. It's just what I heard, a month ago, some people from this White Lotus cult claimed that the White Lotus Virgin was a boundless Buddha, growing an inch from the ground each day, spreading the grand law to the people. Thus, devotees kept a vigil before this Buddha statue day and night. It's strange to say that no one touched the statue, and there were no anomalies observed, yet it was originally buried underground, but it indeed grew an inch daily. Young Brother, as you know, the bodhisattvas in the famous temples and monasteries are immovable. Yet this White Lotus Virgin is different. It's sprouting from the ground and growing an inch daily, if this isn't bewitching tactics, what is it? Word of this phenomenon spread, and soon, all the nearby villagers knew about it. After witnessing it with their own eyes, the number of worshippers grew. Once people's minds are bewitched, it's hard to pull them back. I fear that before long, they will become devotees of this White Lotus cult."

‘So that's what it was.’ Lin Wanrong chuckled inwardly. ‘Playing this trick in front of your grandfather, you're just out of luck.’

Xu Wei sighed, "Although I pride myself on my learning, I too have no idea how this Bodhisattva can grow an inch each day. The world is indeed full of wonders."

"That's because you've never been a commoner like me," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "So, Mr. Xu, what do you plan to do with these deceived commoners?"

Xu Wei gave him a glance and said, "Younger Brother Lin, since you've asked, I won't keep it from you. This White Lotus chaos undermines the foundation of our Great Hua Empire and must be eradicated."

Lin Wanrong was taken aback, "But these common people—"

A chilling light flashed in Xu Wei's eyes, "If they don't repent, they will be eliminated. I won't hide it from you, Younger Brother Lin, the military forces in Zhejiang have already been mobilized, and I fear it won't be long before they surround this place. Every believer present will be caught. To remove the weed, one must pull out its roots. For the stability of Great Hua, the death of a few more people doesn't matter."

At this moment, Xu Wei was completely different from the affable old man who painted the Misty Rain over West Lake on the Su Causeway the day before. The cold light in his eyes struck fear into one's heart.

Xu Wei, once the Emperor's primary strategist, had exhausted every means to assist the current Emperor's ascension. The maneuvers he executed and the things he had experienced were far beyond Lin Wanrong's imagination. He was accustomed to all these.

Lin Wanrong drew a sharp breath. According to Xu Wei, if these people don't repent, they would all be killed. Damn it, were human lives just so insignificant?

Seeing his reluctance, Xu Wei sighed, "Younger Brother Lin, do you think I am wrong in doing this?"

Despite Lin Wanrong's eloquence, he didn't know how to respond.

Was Xu Wei wrong? From his perspective, his actions were necessary to maintain the stability of the Great Hua Empire. What were a few sacrifices in that cause?

But was Xu Wei right? Lin Wanrong himself was a commoner. If Xu Wei could treat these commoners in this way today, when might it be his turn?

Xu Wei said, "If killing a hundred people can prevent a disaster and save thousands, then I, Xu Wei, will be the villain."

Lin Wanrong took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Xu, today you will kill these hundred people, but the root of the problem remains unsolved. If the White Lotus Cult continues to bewitch the masses with these bewitching tactics in the future, will you continue to kill?"

Xu Wei sighed, "I've racked my brains. I've lingered around that statue, yet I couldn't find a single flaw, still unaware of how to break this bewitching tactic. The longer this drags on, the more people will be harmed. The issue at hand is not about whether to kill or not, but about how many to kill."

Lin Wanrong suddenly laughed, "Mr. Xu, if I have a method to break this bewitching tactic, will you spare these commoners?"

Xu Wei exclaimed in surprise and joy, "Younger Brother Lin, are you serious about what you just said?"

Lin Wanrong nodded, "It should be correct."

Xu Wei said, "In that case, I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of these commoners."

Lin Wanrong gave a bitter smile, "Why thank me? I am just one of these commoners. Killing them is like killing me, saving them is like saving myself."

Xu Wei looked puzzled. Lin Wanrong sighed, "In this matter, they may be somewhat ignorant, but I have no right to despise them. In the face of this vast and unknown world, my ignorance is no less than theirs. We don't know how vast the sky is, why apples fall from trees, why father and son share the same blood. The more we know, the more ignorant we become. The difference between me and them is merely the pot calling the kettle black."

"The more we know, the more ignorant we become..." Xu Wei sighed with emotion, "Younger Brother Lin, your words resonate with me. You truly understand my thoughts."

Xu Wei, regarded as the most learned man in the world, dabbling in astronomy, geography, medicine, and rhythm. The deeper his studies, the more he realized his own shallowness and ignorance. Only those who truly delve into the subject could understand the meaning behind these words.

Living by the principle of enjoying life and being happy, Lin Wanrong chose not to dwell on these things. He laughed, "Mr. Xu, let's not go off topic. Have you observed whether they water around this Buddha statue daily?"

Xu Wei was surprised, "Younger Brother Lin, how did you know that? According to my sources, they water it twice daily, morning and evening, without fail. But, what does this have to do with the Buddha statue growing an inch daily?"

‘There you go.’ Lin Wanrong smirked, "Mr. Xu, let me tell you a children's story."

"A children's story?" Xu Wei questioned.

But Lin Wanrong had already begun with a laugh, "In spring, a seed was buried in the ground. A large stone was placed on top of the seed. The stone said, 'Little seed, I will keep you under me forever.' But the seed remained silent. It accepted the nourishment of the spring rain, grew silently, and sprouted silently. Eventually, one day, it pushed the stone aside."

This story was extremely childish, just a nursery rhyme from primary school days, "Spring rain has arrived, I want to bloom, I want to sprout." The innocent child's voice seemed to still echo in his ears. Today, he had to recount it to the world's top scholar, an old man already in his sixties. Lin Wanrong suddenly found the world to be quite marvelous.

Xu Wei, being an extraordinarily intelligent man, quickly stood up upon hearing this. Excitedly, he said, "A seed? Younger Brother Lin, are you saying that seeds are buried underneath?"

Lin Wanrong nodded with a smile, "If my guess is not wrong, a large number of seeds must be buried under there. At this time of the year, it should be soybean seeds. Soybeans expand significantly when watered, and their strength is immense. With the right temperature, they will germinate. Their force should be enough to push up this Buddha statue."

"Someone—" Xu Wei called out loudly. His eyes flashed with a brilliant light. A general in full armor quickly ran up from below, saying, "General of Hangzhou pays his respects to Master Xu."

Lin Wanrong looked down and saw that several thousand bright and shiny soldiers had surrounded the followers. There was an unusual disturbance among the crowd. He sighed, 'If I hadn't come here today, many heads would have fallen. I accidentally became a savior, how ironic.'

"You, immediately go to the vegetable market in Hangzhou city, find ten people who plant and raise vegetables," Xu Wei ordered loudly.

After the General of Hangzhou left, Xu Wei turned to Lin Wanrong and gave him a fist salute, "Younger Brother Lin, in terms of wisdom, I, Xu Wei, have admired only two people in my life, and you are one of them. I will definitely report today's achievement to the Emperor."

Lin Wanrong laughed, "That won't be necessary, I am only interested in gold and silver treasures. If there is some silver reward, I would indeed be very pleased."

Xu Wei laughed heartily, "Younger Brother Lin is truly genuine, I am endlessly impressed."

Lin Wanrong, recalling Xu Wei's previous words, curiously asked, "Mr. Xu, you just mentioned that you admire only two people in terms of wisdom. Who is the other one?"

Xu Wei chuckled, "Apart from you, it's my daughter who impresses me the most."

"Your daughter?" Lin Wanrong was genuinely surprised. This old Xu was already so talented, from his words, his daughter was even more so? Given old Xu's age, his daughter must already be in her thirties. This was truly bizarre.

"Younger Brother Lin, when you reach the capital in the future, I will introduce you to her. I believe Zi'er would be delighted to meet a young scholar like you. You two could have a good competition." Xu Wei said with a bright smile.

Xu Wei's daughter? More talented than Xu Wei himself? This could be interesting. Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Absolutely, when I arrive in the capital, I will surely pay a visit."

The General of Hangzhou moved with impressive speed. In no time at all, he had indeed brought several vegetable growers, some of them with mud still on their hands.

Xu Wei called out, "Younger Brother Lin, please wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon. I must admit, your guidance has genuinely excited me. It reminds me of the days when I first passed the imperial examination."

First passed the imperial examination? Damn, this old man was truly excited.

Xu Wei quickly hurried off, moving so fast that he nearly tripped while descending the stairs. Lin Wanrong watched him, amused. This Xu Wei, he was indeed quite the character.

The soldiers in armor tightly surrounded the crowd. Among them were several White Lotus cultists, with the lead man immobilized by a steel blade at his throat. With a wave of his hand, Xu Wei led these few people away.

He walked around the statue of the White Lotus Virgin, observing carefully. He then instructed a few soldiers to forcefully move the Buddha statue. As he looked down, he was immediately overjoyed. A thick layer of soybean seeds was buried in the soil, most of them already swollen and germinating. It was indeed the force of these seeds that had pushed the Buddha statue upwards.

Xu Wei excitedly waved at Lin Wanrong, who was standing far away on the upper floor. His silvery hair fluttered in the wind. Lin Wanrong shook his head and laughed. This old man Xu, he was rather adorable.

The task of revealing this trick to the public was left to Xu Wei and the vegetable growers. It no longer concerned Lin Wanrong, who quietly left. By the time he returned to the shop, it was already evening. Apart from the Eldest Miss, everyone was sitting in the shop.

Seeing him return, Madam Zhang quickly grabbed his hand, anxiously asking, "Lin San, have you seen the Eldest Miss?"

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