# 1647
Chapter 1647: Missionaries
Chang'an City was incomparably more prosperous than the Xue County Lin Qiye had visited before.
Just looking at the pedestrians on the streets, there were at least four or five times as many as in Xue County. The shops lining both sides were neat and grand. Although the sun had only just risen, the calls and shouts of vendors already rang out loudly. The rich aroma of wine drifted from the taverns nearby, mingling with the occasional flashy horses prancing through the streets, creating an intoxicating atmosphere.
Having grown up in modern society, Lin Qiye had never seen anything like this. He found it quite novel and kept looking around curiously.
Wu Quan followed behind Lin Qiye, showing little curiosity about his surroundings. His gaze passed over the dense, flourishing streets to the palace walls in the distance, as red as cinnabar. Between them, several exquisitely carved, magnificent eaves were faintly visible.
"Lin Qiye, this Marquis must go to the palace for an audience with His Majesty. Feel free to look around the city, and I will send for you when I exit." Huo Qubing turned to Yan Zhong and said, "You need not accompany me into the palace. Entertain our guests well outside."
"Yes." Yan Zhong replied respectfully.
Lin Qiye nodded. Together with Yan Zhong and Wu Quan, he watched as Huo Qubing and his men rode straight toward the imperial palace.
Lin Qiye had no objection to this arrangement. Though he was somewhat curious about the palace, he was, after all, an outsider and suspected it wouldn't be easy to gain entry.
"What, are you also interested in the palace?" Lin Qiye turned back and saw Wu Quan still staring in the direction of the palace. "Hmm? A little, I suppose." Wu Quan came back to his senses. "Brother Seven Nights, where should we go next?"
"Let's just wander."
Lin Qiye's gaze swept across the vast Chang'an. After hesitating for a moment, he asked Yan Zhong, "Is there any place interesting around here?"
Yan Zhong was first stunned, then a subtle smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Of course there is. Follow me!"
...
The Imperial Palace.
Four figures passed through the palace gate, where an attendant had been waiting for some time.
It was an elderly eunuch, dressed in palace attire, his face creased with smiles. When he saw Huo Qubing arrive, he bowed even lower.
"Greetings, Marquis."
"Lord Li." Huo Qubing gave a slight nod. "Where is His Majesty?"
"His Majesty did not expect Your Marquis to return with the army so quickly. He is currently receiving an envoy from a distant land. Please follow this servant to the side hall to rest, Marquis." The Li Gonggong extended his hand, gesturing a "please".
"An envoy from a distant land?" Zhan Yuwu asked, puzzled. "From the Wo-nu Kingdom?"
"No, even farther than the Wo-nu Kingdom."
Upon hearing this answer, everyone was somewhat surprised. Huo Qubing raised an eyebrow slightly and continued, "If even farther, that would mean from beyond the ocean... What important business does this envoy have, traveling such a great distance to Chang'an?"
"This servant is also unclear about the details. However, it seems to involve some kind of religion."
"Religion?" Zhan Yuwu nodded. "Come to think of it, I've recently heard that people from Shen-du have also come to our Great Han's borders, preaching their religion... Something about believing in the Mi-tuo?"
"That is Shen-du Buddhism, Amitabha." Huo Qubing glanced at him. "When this Marquis was on expedition at the frontiers, I encountered their wandering monks and had some contact with them. Their religious doctrines have deep historical roots."
"Your Marquis certainly knows much." Li Gonggong laughed, patting on the flattery.
The group followed Li Gonggong toward the side hall. As they were about to enter, they saw several figures in foreign attire emerging from the main hall.
Huo Qubing stopped in his tracks and looked closely. Several men in white missionary robes were following behind a red-haired girl, heading directly toward the palace gates.
Watching the girl's retreating figure, Huo Qubing's eyes narrowed slightly, lost in thought.
"It seems Your Marquis need not wait." Li Gonggong smiled.
"Please, Your Marquis."
...
"Lady Saint, this Great Han Emperor is utterly impervious to reason!" A missionary strode quickly along the stone road, speaking indignantly.
"This Great Han Emperor didn't even let us finish speaking of the Holy Sovereign's greatness before trying to drive us out... Truly discourteous!"
"Great Han has such a large population. If we could establish a religion devoted to the Holy Sovereign here, we could definitely gather a massive amount of faith power for the Holy Sovereign. It's a shame..."
Several missionaries' faces were ashen as they spoke one after another, clearly extremely dissatisfied with Emperor Wu of Han's earlier attitude.
"Enough." The red-haired girl shook her head. "Forcing others to believe in the Holy Sovereign is not the Holy Sovereign's intent. We are the Holy Sovereign's missionaries. Our purpose is to establish a religion devoted to the Holy Sovereign among mortals. Since Great Han is unwilling to let its people believe in the Holy Sovereign, then we shall go somewhere else... As long as we traverse enough lands, we will sooner or later find the first batch of Believers for the Holy Sovereign and establish a divine kingdom belonging to the Holy Sovereign!"
"But Lady Saint, we have been traveling across this continent for ten years, from the continent's northern edge to here... We have all grown old, yet we still haven't found a place to establish our religion. At this rate, when will we ever formally establish our religion?"
"Before we departed, the Holy Sovereign told me that establishing a religion must not be hasty." The red-haired girl's gaze swept across the people behind her, her expression somewhat complicated.
"You are the first missionaries to follow me. After you, there may be a second batch, a third batch... Someday, the Holy Church will become the largest religion in the mortal realm.
Your names will be inscribed in the holy scriptures and remembered by future generations."
Pious expressions appeared on the faces of the several missionaries. "We are willing to dedicate everything to the Holy Sovereign and the Lady Saint..."
The red-haired girl turned around and led the missionaries out of the palace under the guidance of a eunuch.
"Lady Saint, what shall we do next? Go directly to the next kingdom?"
The red-haired girl did not answer. She raised her head and looked at the several faint crimson stars visible in the sky. Her gaze gradually grew solemn.
"No... Those stars—I don't know what they are, but they've triggered a 'Mystery' outbreak. Leaving now would be too dangerous. Chang'an is protected by Great Han's dragon qi, so nothing major should happen. Let's rest here for a few days and leave when those red stars disappear."
"Yes."
"Have you found lodging?"
"We have. Right across from the Xiuwu Fang. It would be considered the most prosperous area in all of Chang'an."
"Xiuwu Fang?" The red-haired girl asked, puzzled. "What place is that?"
"Um... this..."
The missionaries exchanged glances. Someone finally mustered up courage and leaned close to the red-haired girl's ear, whispering something.
The red-haired girl's cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She狠狠地 glared at the group. Everyone immediately stepped back, lowering their heads, looking like children caught doing something wrong.
"Lady Saint, the lodging was arranged by the Great Han's officials. We didn't know..."
"Yes, yes, please don't blame us..."
"Who—who's blaming you!" The red-haired girl crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away.
After a long while, the corner of her mouth couldn't help but twitch. She still couldn't resist quietly asking:
"Can I... go in and take a look?"