Chapter 128: Joining the Cult?

“In the First Age, there were neither Heaven nor Earth. Only light and darkness existed, each endowed with its own nature: light was wisdom, while darkness was folly. Everything that moved or remained still stood in opposition to its counterpart. In the Middle Age, darkness invaded light. Giving free rein to desire, it pursued all things recklessly, while light entered darkness and submitted itself to the turning of existence. Great suffering bred weariness with the flesh; trapped within a house of fire, one longed for escape. To toil with one’s body in order to save one’s nature—such was the teaching of the sages. Yet if falsehood is mistaken for truth, who would heed and obey? Matters must be discerned and understood, so that the path to liberation may be found. In the Final Age, once the work of instruction is complete, truth and falsehood will return to their roots. Light will return to the Great Light, while darkness will return to the accumulated darkness. The two principles will each resume their proper place, and both will return to their origins.”

Within the Dragon Mother Temple of Wuzhou in Lingnan, the religious leader, Yellow Demon Lord, sat high upon the incense altar and slowly expounded the doctrines of Manichaeism. His expression was solemn and dignified. Wisps of blue smoke drifted upward, lending the scene an air of mystery. Beneath the altar, the faithful listened as though intoxicated, utterly devout.

The religion of Light was Manichaeism, also known as the Religion of Mani or the Religion of Moni. It originated in Persia and was founded by the Persian prophet Mani.

Manichaeism revered the “Four Great Dignities”: the God of Great Light, the Light of God, the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God.

The light referred to the sun and moon, the power to the Messengers of Light, and the wisdom to the sacred teachings.

Its fundamental doctrine was the “Theory of the Two Principles and Three Ages.” The “two principles” were light and darkness, while the “three ages”—the First Age, the Middle Age, and the Final Age—referred respectively to the past, the present, and the future.

Manichaeism taught that before the creation of Heaven and Earth, light and darkness, good and evil, were separate and belonged to two distinct realms. After Heaven and Earth had been established in the Middle Age, darkness invaded the realm of light. The God of Great Light led his messengers into battle against darkness, and through the Mother of Goodness, one of his messengers, created the Primal Man to join the fight. The Primal Man was later defeated and cast into the abyss by darkness. At last, the God of Great Light sent the prophet Mani—the founder of Manichaeism—to save the people of the world. In the end, light would surely triumph over darkness, and humanity would attain liberation.

The principal commandments of Manichaeism were known as the “Three Seals and Ten Commandments.” The Three Seals were the Seal of the Mouth, the Seal of the Hands, and the Seal of the Heart. The Seal of the Mouth required believers to abstain from meat and wine and to refrain from lying. The Seal of the Hands required them to do no evil. The Seal of the Heart required them to restrain their sexual desires.

The Ten Commandments were: do not worship idols, do not lie, do not covet, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not deceive or falsify, do not practice evil ways or sorcery, do not harbor divided loyalties, and do not fall into depravity.

Manichaeists worshiped only the sun and moon and did not serve the gods or Buddha. Their doctrine was extremely strict in governing oneself, yet exceedingly forgiving toward others. They lived simply, used wealth communally, and advocated mutual aid. As a result, the religion was warmly welcomed by the common people, especially the poor. It possessed tremendous power to sway hearts and minds.

After gaining a general understanding of the doctrines of Manichaeism, Li Sanjian secretly shook his head. To revere light and despise darkness was the common view of mankind, and Li Sanjian was no exception. Who in this world did not favor the light? Moreover, certain events had left Li Sanjian with a favorable impression of Manichaeism.

Yet the Manichaean commandments—abstaining from meat and wine, restraining desire, and the like—filled him with private resentment. They violated the most basic needs of a human being. As a normal man, who could possibly have no such desires?

If one had to abstain from meat and wine and suppress one’s desires, one might as well become a monk… Li Sanjian thought to himself. Besides, as far as he knew, monks in the Song could still marry. Becoming a monk or a Daoist priest would surely be far more comfortable than believing in Manichaeism.

Most importantly, Buddhism and Daoism were recognized by the imperial court, which permitted them to preach. But what exactly was Manichaeism? What did the court think of it? Li Sanjian knew nothing about such matters. If that was the case, why should he place his faith in Manichaeism?

“What are you thinking about, Miss Cai?” Li Sanjian asked Cai Rongxue in a low voice after smiling at Chen Ke’er in the distance.

The moment they entered the Dragon Mother Temple, Chen Ke’er had noticed Li Sanjian. However, since the religious leader was preaching, she had merely nodded to him and had not come over to speak. Thus, Li Sanjian still did not know why Chen Ke’er had appeared there, much less why she was dressed as a member of the Religion of Light.

“Nothing… I wasn’t thinking about anything,” Cai Rongxue replied hurriedly.

The doctrines of Manichaeism were extraordinarily persuasive. Even Cai Rongxue had become engrossed in them. Li Sanjian had called her three times before she finally came to her senses.

“Nothing? If you were thinking about nothing, why are you so flustered?” Li Sanjian asked.

“Who says I’m flustered?” Cai Rongxue grew even more nervous. Lowering her head, she spoke in a soft voice.

Although Cai Rongxue was the daughter of a former chief minister and a young lady from a wealthy household, her circumstances were exceedingly pitiful. Her father had been demoted amid court struggles, banished to Lingnan, and ultimately died there. Her mother had also succumbed to illness. Left alone and helpless, Cai Rongxue had been forced to live with members of the Cai clan. Her fate could only be described as tragically bleak.

At that moment, Manichaeism was preaching against greed, killing, lust, theft, and deceit while advocating mutual aid. These teachings reminded Cai Rongxue of the past, of her unfortunate mother, and of her own desolate fate. They touched the pain buried within her heart. She could not help but sigh repeatedly, and before she knew it, she had been drawn to Manichaeism.

“This religion is nothing special. Miss Cai, surely you do not think it worth your while?” Li Sanjian said with a faint smile.

Yellow Demon Lord continued preaching from the altar, while beneath it there was complete silence, not even the sound of a crow or sparrow—except for Li Sanjian.

His whispered conversation with Cai Rongxue immediately attracted Yellow Demon Lord’s attention. The religious leader glanced at Li Sanjian once, then continued with his sermon.

“The religious leader is preaching. No talking is permitted,” a white-robed believer shouted as he rose to his feet. At once, all the faithful turned to look at Li Sanjian and Cai Rongxue.

“Look what you’ve done. Don’t say anything more…” Cai Rongxue’s pretty face flushed beneath her veil. She lightly pushed Li Sanjian and chided him.

“Heh.”

Li Sanjian suddenly rose. After glancing at Yellow Demon Lord and Chen Ke’er, he said to Cai Rongxue, “It is getting late. Shall we leave?”

The more Li Sanjian listened, the less interested he became. The sermon was unbearably dull. He would be better off returning to the inn and reviewing his studies. As for the reason Chen Ke’er had appeared here, she had probably been drawn in by Manichaeism. That was what Li Sanjian privately concluded. If so, he would simply let her be. It was no longer his concern, nor did he have any reason to interfere in her affairs.

“You… you go back first. I still want to stay for a while,” Cai Rongxue said softly.

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

Li Sanjian nodded. With that, he turned and walked out of the temple, intending to return to the inn.

He had no reason to interfere in Chen Ke’er’s affairs, nor could he persuade Cai Rongxue.

If they were willing to be deceived by Manichaeism, what did that have to do with him?

When the heavens mean to rain and a woman means to marry, one can only let them do as they please. Li Sanjian thought this to himself.

“Brother Hanren, wait! I shall prepare a banquet later to welcome you. Allow me to extend the hospitality of a host. What do you say?”

When Li Sanjian was about to leave, Lü Shiniang called out and stopped him.

* * *

Lü Shiniang found a tavern in Wuzhou City, arranged a table laden with wine and dishes, and invited Li Sanjian to the feast. Chen Ke’er and Cai Rongxue were both present as companions, along with several others who had arrived with Chen Ke’er.

After the introductions, Li Sanjian finally remembered the man. He was the same person who had clashed with Li Sanjian and Gao Er at the ferry. His surname was Fang, his given name Thirteen. He was also a believer in Manichaeism and a minor leader within the religion.

Li Sanjian had already attracted the attention of Yellow Demon Lord, the leader of the Manichaeists in Wuzhou. However, Yellow Demon Lord had not come. After all, a minor figure such as Li Sanjian was hardly worthy of the religious leader’s personal company.

Yet several years later, because of Li Sanjian, Manichaeism would nearly vanish from the Central Plains. Neither Yellow Demon Lord nor the other Manichaeists could possibly have imagined such an outcome.

That, however, belongs to a later chapter and need not be discussed for now.

Fang Thirteen was taciturn and spoke very little. There was something dark and sinister about him. Li Sanjian did not much like the man; instead, he found himself particularly fond of the cheerful and forthright Lü Shiniang.

“Brother Hanren, what do you intend to do from here?” Lü Shiniang asked after the dishes had been served and several rounds of wine had passed.

“My intentions?” Li Sanjian replied. “I intend to sit for the examinations again next year.”

“Brother Hanren, is that why you came to Lingnan this time?” Lü Shiniang asked.

“Precisely.” Li Sanjian nodded. “Do you not intend to sit again next year?”

Like Li Sanjian, Lü Shiniang had failed the imperial examinations and had subsequently returned to his native home. Fortunately, his family was fairly well-off, so his livelihood had not been affected.

“Alas…” Lü Shiniang lifted a cup of wine and sighed deeply. “I have already failed twice. Sit again next year? Does sitting again guarantee that I will pass? I am unwilling to fail a third time.”

“There is nothing difficult in this world for one who sets his mind to it,” Li Sanjian urged. “Why are you so dispirited, Brother Lü? So long as one applies oneself sincerely, anything in this world can be accomplished.”

“Not so,” Fang Thirteen suddenly said. “The court is currently controlled by powerful ministers. The ruler is benighted and his officials corrupt. Treacherous men occupy the highest offices, while upright scholars are scattered among the villages. The common people’s lives grow worse with every passing day. I have heard something of Brother Li’s learning, yet have you not also failed the examinations? Even if one succeeds in the examinations and enters officialdom, what can one accomplish under the present circumstances?”

“Brother Fang speaks the truth,” Lü Shiniang said with a nod. “Why should we serve such a rotten and decrepit court? Must one enter the Imperial Academy, become a top scholar, pursue rank and fame, embark upon an official career, and mingle with those who prey upon the people before it can be called the proper path? Apart from that, is there truly nowhere else in which we can make a living and establish ourselves?”

“What exactly are you suggesting?” Li Sanjian finally understood the purpose of Lü Shiniang’s banquet and Fang Thirteen’s presence. Could they be trying to persuade him to join their religion?

“A true man should endure every hardship without bowing his head, preserving himself so that he may accomplish deeds which shake Heaven and Earth and leave his name in the annals of history. That is the true nature of a man among men,” Fang Thirteen continued. “When the Way cannot be followed, one should build a raft and take to the sea; when ritual is lost, one should seek it among the common people. Brother Li, do you understand?”

“I understand now.”

Li Sanjian rose and cupped his hands. “I thank both of you for your esteem, but I am merely an ordinary man. I have no grand ambitions. I ask only that my mother remain healthy and my family live in peace. I apologize, Brothers, but I shall take my leave.”

With that, Li Sanjian fled the tavern as though pursued. Even Chen Ke’er failed to call him back.

Those who remained stared at one another, none of them knowing what had happened.

They had been deep in conversation, yet one remark had apparently stepped on Li Sanjian’s tail and sent him running for his life…

I had better keep my distance from them, Li Sanjian thought. If things went badly, the entire family might be executed, and that would be disastrous.