A Plan Within the Temple

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early one morning, the old Presiding Monk stood on the Hilltop behind the temple, surveying the entire grounds.

Before long, his eyelids twitched. Above one magnificent hall after another, clouds of Buddha Light swayed like reeds in the wind, converging on the temple's rear courtyard.

"Something strange happens every day. That Lord is cultivating."

The Temple Master's voice came from behind him.

The old monk rose and saluted. "I went to look several times, but the doors and windows were shut tight. The Lord is shrouded in Mist, so I had no way to investigate. I could only sense it from afar, and it left me with some doubts."

"I know what troubles you, Senior Brother." The Temple Master smiled faintly. "I've discerned a little. That Lord must have received guidance and gathered Public Esteem. Now he is trying to visualize."

"That must be it," the old monk said, then hesitated.

The Temple Master glanced at him. "If you have something to say, Senior Brother, why hold it back from me?"

"I do think the Lord is practicing visualization and Legalism," the old monk said, "but judging by the changes in the Buddha Light these past two days, there's also something ancient about it."

"Oh?" The Temple Master's expression shifted. "You followed our master for over two hundred years, Senior Brother, and have seen much of the world. If you've noticed something, tell me. What do you mean by 'something ancient'?"

The old monk hesitated, then uttered three words: "Qi Refiners!"

The Temple Master frowned. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "It's possible." He pondered a little longer. "If the Marquis of Linru County were visualizing, he shouldn't disturb the temple's golden statues unless he were envisioning a Buddha within his mind."

The old monk nodded. "Exactly. His thoughts are rooted in worldly writings, not Buddhism. His visualization in the temple ought to be silent and leave the Buddha Light alone, like well water and river water never mixing. But ancient Qi Refining Legalism drew in morning dew at dawn and evening clouds at dusk. The finest of them could even swallow clouds and breathe mist. Here in the temple, his breathing could well stir the Buddha Light!"

"Then it must be a breathing Legalism of the highest order." The Temple Master nodded, his brows knit tight.

The old monk went on, "A Reincarnated Immortal would possess wisdom from a previous life. It's only natural that a Qi Refining Legalism might remain in his mind. Those from orthodox lineages, and those who attained immortality early, used Qi Refining as their Dao Foundation. After reincarnation, as that old wisdom gradually awakens, instinctive breathing practice is entirely plausible. It further confirms this Lord's identity!"

"Even so, after the Ancestral Dragon severed the connection between heaven and earth for the second time, Qi Refiners who practiced the Primordial Beginning Way dwindled away..." At that thought, the Temple Master shook his head and laughed. "This must be the Lord's instinct. Once the people of the Immortal Sects find him, they'll make their own arrangements. There's no need for us to interfere."

Seeing this, the old monk said, "You've finally accepted the Marquis of Linru County's identity, Senior Brother. How should we treat him from now on?"

"I'll find an opportunity to speak with the Lord myself."

"Then I'll go make arrangements," the old monk said.

The Temple Master smiled. "Don't trouble yourself, Senior Brother. I have something in mind."

Outside Chen Cuo's courtyard, three Young Novice Monks carried away the bowls, chopsticks, and dishes they had cleared, chatting as they walked.

"That Marquis of Linru County sure has a big appetite! He ate enough for five or six people again today."

"He really did. You don't think his household is short on food, so he came here just to eat?"

"Hardly. I heard he donated a huge sum to the temple. Even the Presiding Monk is very courteous to him, and he's borrowed quite a few Buddhist scriptures to read."

"The Lord hasn't left his courtyard in days. Maybe he really did come to study Buddhism."

"That would be nice. He just eats too much."

As they muttered among themselves, they spotted Huizhi, the Guest-Master Monk, leading some visitors ahead and promptly fell silent.

They knew Huizhi held the Marquis of Linru County in the highest regard and granted almost every request he made.

Though they stopped talking, Huizhi had heard them. After showing the visitors around the temple, he sought out the old Presiding Monk and told him what the novices had said.

He concluded, "If they speak so carelessly and offend the Lord, it could bring trouble."

"It's fine. There's no need to silence them."

Before the old monk could speak, the Temple Master's voice came from behind them.

Hui Wisdom hurriedly turned and saluted.

The Temple Master approached with a smile. Looking at the Guest-Master Monk, he nodded. "I haven't seen you for a few days. Your understanding of Buddhism hasn't deepened much, but your cultivation has improved somewhat."

Startled, Huizhi said hastily, "This disciple will set aside the practice of Legalism techniques and devote himself to Buddhist teachings and scriptures!"

"There's no need for that." The Temple Master shook his head. "Putting more weight on techniques than on Legalism is somewhat misguided, but techniques arise from Legalism. If you put your mind to it, you can still grasp Legalism through them."

Only then did Huizhi relax a little.

The Temple Master continued, "You've made progress with your Legalism techniques. That's good; keep at it. Besides, I've heard that you played a major part in persuading the Marquis of Linru County to stay..."

Hui Wisdom was about to demur.

"If the credit is yours, accept it. There's no need to decline," the Temple Master said with a faint smile. "Dealing with people is also a way to temper the mind. As Guest-Master Monk, you can learn its essentials through your duties."

Hui Wisdom nodded, taking the lesson to heart. He then seized the chance to ask how he should make the most of opportunities.

The Temple Master said, "Isn't there one before you now?"

Something stirred in Huizhi's heart. "The Marquis of Linru County?"

"The Marquis of Linru County's origins are mysterious, and his true nature transcends the mundane, yet outwardly he seems an ordinary man. I imagine he wishes to change that himself. He's spent these past few days exploring the matter in his courtyard. If you can help clear his confusion, you stand to gain something." The Temple Master's words carried a deeper meaning. "Hui Wisdom, your advancement began with this Lord. If you want to progress further, you mustn't distance yourself from him."

"Do you mean I should help him recover his former standing? But my cultivation is so modest. How could I help a Reincarnated Immortal?" Hui Wisdom was full of doubt. "And what if the Lord needs something that touches on the temple's secrets?"

The old monk understood the Temple Master's meaning by now. From the side, he prompted him, "Huizhi, there's nothing about the techniques you've learned that cannot be shared."

Hui Wisdom fell into thought. Seeing that the Temple Master had nothing more to say, he bowed and withdrew, though questions still lingered in his mind.

Once the Guest-Master Monk had left, the old monk stepped forward. "Temple Master, do you mean to use this cultivation Legalism as an opening to involve us in the matter? We may become entangled in its karma! The Celestial Masters Dao laid schemes around Lu You and was suppressed by Kunlun Cultivators for it. They've now withdrawn from Jiankang for the time being. If we..."

"Before, I certainly wouldn't have done this. But since the Lord began exploring visualization on his own and appears to be practicing Qi Refining as well, the situation has changed." The Temple Master pressed his palms together. "Our involvement would follow the natural course of events. That makes it different."

The old monk added, "If Kunlun also sees through the Marquis of Linru County's origins, there's bound to be another upheaval."

"Kunlun is powerful, but they've already claimed one Reincarnated Immortal. If they reach for another, the other Immortal Sects may well object!" The Temple Master smiled. "Besides, if I teach the Lord a visualization Legalism, it might give those sects a reason to stop Kunlun from reaching for him again!"

The old monk understood. "I see. Performing Body Washing for Lu You alone must have cost them dearly. Kunlun likely cannot perform it for another person anytime soon. That gives the other sects the perfect answer to them!"

"How it turns out will depend on the Lord." Golden light flickered in the Temple Master's eyes. "I expect he'll need my guidance very soon."