Chapter 9  : Achala, the Immovable Wisdom Lord

Two hours later, Mo Yanshao stood at the entrance of the Thousand Dragons Temple. He raised his head and looked up at the ancient temple that was bathed in incense.

The Thousand Dragons Temple had an antiquated look. There were two rows of cypress trees planted along the entrance. As he stood at the main entrance of the temple, the snowy-capped Thousand Dragons Mountains could be seen in the backdrop of the temple. With the Thousand Dragons Mountains behind it, the temple appeared even more impressive.

Today was a long weekend. Many dees were in the Thousand Dragons Temple than usual. Many people had come to offer up incense while others came seeking tattoos.

The finest tattoo masters in Xianghe City were not in the city’s tattoo shops, but rather in the Thousand Dragons Temple. Legend had it that getting a tattoo from the temple could prevent disasters and catastrophes with the protection of Buddha.

The tattoo masters in the temple did not charge a fee for their services. However, not just anyone could come and get a tattoo. Before doing so, the tattoo masters in the temple would first meet the person. If the person was not right, they would not ink the person no matter how much money was offered.

For instance, the hooligans who kept stirring up trouble all day long could only get inked at tattoo shops. If they came to the Thousand Dragons Temple, no matter how they disguised themselves, the tattoo masters in the temple would not ink them once they laid eyes on them.

Those who had committed crimes or were impure of heart would also find it hard to get inked.

For one to be able to be inked in the Thousand Dragons Temple, it was the greatest blessing and testament to their pure character.

Tattoos were a tradition of summoners. Each summoner had their own unique tattoo. The tattoos of a summoner were not just for looking good or being cool. Instead, it was used to identify one’s corpse after their heads exploded from failing to merge the boundary bead. This tradition had been passed down for thousands of years among summoners without fail.

Mo Yanshao’s tattoo was inked by Master Yungu in the Thousand Dragons Temple.

Back then, even when Master Yungu was still inking, not just anyone could get him to ink them.

Mo Yanshao entered the temple. There was only one monk to receive dees inside. Mo Yanshao met the monk and explained why he had come. The monk swiftly led Mo Yanshao to the living quarters behind the Thousand Dragons Temple. They came to the courtyard where Master Yungu was staying.

Master Yungu was already more than 100 years old. The hair on his eyebrows and his beard were all white. However, his complexion was still slightly rosy. He was meditating under a ginkgo tree. He was not moving at all. Until Mo Yanshao stood before him, only then did Master Yungu open his eyes. He revealed a pair of eyes as calm as a lake. He slightly smiled and greeted, “Patron Mo, you have come to see me.”

“Master Yungu, you look well. I had some business today that I needed to refer to you,” Mo Yanshao replied directly.

“Today, while meditating, my emotions were surging, and memories kept popping in my mind. I already know why you have come. Please, follow me,” Master Yungu said as he got up. He then led Mo Yanshao into a room.

When they reached the room, the two of them sat down on a bed. Master Yungu poured Mo Yanshao a cup of tea. After Mo Yanshao finished drinking, Master Yungu said, “Four years ago, a youth named Xia Ping’an came to the temple looking for me. He wanted me to tattoo him. So, that’s what I did.”

Mo Yanshao curiously asked, “Normally when people come seeking tattoos from the temple, Master’s other disciples would already be more than sufficient to carry out the task. Why did you personally ink this youth? Also, why did you stop inking after you finished his tattoo?”

“It was because the youth drew a painting in the temple. He wanted us to ink the painting on his back. A few of my disciples saw the picture, but none of them dared to ink him. They could only ask me to take a look. After inking the painting, I reached the pinnacle of my craft. Hence, I stopped after that,” Master Yungu spoke in a gentle manner that felt like a spring breeze.

“I wonder what the painting looked like for even the disciples of Master Yungu to not dare to attempt to ink it,” Mo Yanshao said curiously.

“It is this painting...” Master Yungu tugged a rope beside him. A yellow curtain that covered a wall before this opened up, revealing a painting behind it. “The figure in this painting was too awe-inspiring. Hence, I covered it up with a curtain to prevent frightening those who know nothing of it.”

Mo Yanshao looked at the painting. With just a glance, he felt as though his eyes were burning. With a second glance, Mo Yanshao felt his mind go into a shock. With a third, his face turned pale.

Painted on the wall was the figure of a violent and wrathful demon god. He was something that Mo Yanshao had never seen in other temples and religious scriptures before. The demon god was greenish-black in color. He had seven hair knots on his head, and a braid hung on his left shoulder. His left eye was slightly squinting. His lower teeth were biting on his upper lip. He had an enraged look. Clouds of flames could be seen spurting out from the demon god, covering the sky.

The clouds of flame behind the demon god were lifelike. They were blazing intensely, seeming able to burn everything into ashes.

The wrathful demon god dwelled on a rock. His right arm was curled towards his body, holding a gigantic sharp sword. A dragon with sharp claws and fangs was curled up around the sword. His left arm was slightly bent outwards, with his left palm facing upwards and holding a noose.

Mo Yanshao had never seen such a majestic demon god prior to this.

He calmed himself. He gulped down his saliva and said, “Master, may I know why I have never seen this demon god in other places before? What’s the name of this demon god?”

Master Yungu replied, “This painting was drawn by the youth. I asked him about the name of this demon god. The youth said he is called Achala. It is an image that he encountered in his dream.”

Mo Yanshao pondered for a moment. He revealed a puzzled look as he said, “Achala... This name is weird. Why haven’t I seen this figure in other temples before? I have also never seen him in any scriptures.”

“When I first saw this figure, I asked the youth the same question. The youth replied that Achala means the Immovable Wisdom Lord. Being immovable implies that the god has a steadfast and compassionate heart. Wisdom refers to the enlightenment brought forth by the god. The god is also a Lord, who has control over all phenomena.”

“Achala... So that’s the meaning of the name,” Mo Yanshao mumbled. For some mysterious reason, Mo Yanshao felt indescribable awe as soon as he heard the name Achala. He inquired again, “What does this Achala symbolize?”

“The youth did not explain it in detail back then.” Master Yungu was somewhat emotional as he looked at the image of Achala. He lamented, “I have nurtured myself for a hundred years in order to purge myself of all my desires. Yet, my comprehension was still imperfect. However, when I first saw the image of Achala, for some unknown reason, my desires were all purged. My cultivation has reached its completion, and I have no more regrets. The mystery of Achala is not something commoners can comprehend. Everything in the painting is profound. I have no idea what it symbolizes too. The vision the youth received in his dream was surely the will of the heavens!”

“Was that the reason why Master spent three days to ink this Achala on the back of the youth?”

“That’s right,” Master Yungu smiled as he replied. “In exchange, I asked the youth to give this painting of Achala to me so that I can regularly pay my respects to it. He agreed.”

“Alright, I have no further questions. Thank you, Master, for your guidance.”

Before he left, Mo Yanshao glanced at the painting once again. He felt his eyes were being consumed by endless flames once again.

The figure of Achala in the painting seemed to have an indescribable, awe-inspiring power.

The tattoo on each summoner’s body was actually the summoner’s spiritual belief and spirit totem. It bore each person’s imprint and their spirit.

As he left the Thousand Dragons Temple, each time he recalled the painting of Achala, Xia Ping’an’s peaceful face would surface in Mo Yanshao’s mind.

Mo Yanshao had already encountered Xia Ping’an a few times before this. He never imagined that such an awe-inspiring tattoo of Achala was actually inked on Xia Ping’an’s back.

Was Achala Xia Ping’an’s spirit totem? What was the story behind Achala? What did he represent?

How much of Xia Ping’an’s behavior in Mo Yanshao’s presence was an act? Was he pretending to be a completely harmless ordinary person?

It seemed that Xia Ping’an kept many secrets. It was not just his clairvoyance.

However, everyone had their own secrets. Mo Yanshao also had some of his own. As long as it did not affect his responsibilities in the National Order Council, Mo Yanshao was not interested in digging up the secrets of others.

People like Xia Ping’an were the ones who should join the National Order Council. Placing such people outside in society was too dangerous. It was better to keep them under his watch.

Fortunately, Xia Ping’an would be reporting for duty tomorrow.

Suddenly, Mo Yanshao could not wait for Xia Ping’an’s arrival.