Li Huowang's words clearly carried another layer of meaning, and the abbot of Zhengde Temple naturally caught it.
He pressed his palms together and bowed to Li Huowang. "Amitabha. Good, good. Those who have left the secular world do not speak falsehoods. Since this humble monk has said that Great Qi belongs to Benefactor Li, I will never go back on my word."
"However, though Zhengde Temple is Great Qi's State Religion, it cannot govern every human heart. What Zhengde Temple's monks cannot bring themselves to do, others will naturally believe."
As he spoke, four monks carried an old man in on Monk's Staffs.
The moment he was brought before Li Huowang, he poured out everything he knew like beans tumbling from a bamboo tube, as though a moment's delay would bring him inhuman torment.
"I don't know! I really don't know who spread it!"
"They said Tianchen Kingdom never intended to fight Great Qi. The people of Great Qi were deceived by that false Bodhisattva. Doing this is just letting others use us as a knife—we're shedding blood and sweat for nothing on someone else's behalf."
"They also said that all of Great Qi's countless calamities were caused by that false Bodhisattva."
"That's all, truly! That's all I know! I really only know this much!!"
"I won't dare again! I truly won't dare again!!"
"Rumors..." Li Huowang had never expected that this would be their first move. It had to be said, it was vicious—half truth, half lie.
It seemed Tianchen Kingdom had not remained inactive before. They simply did not intend to clash head-on with him, choosing instead to strike from the shadows.
They had now realized that opposing him brought no benefits. Even if they won, both sides would be battered and bloodied, with no real gain