In Quyang County of Qianzhou, there is a mountain called Yinghui Mountain, and on that mountain, there is a serene place known as Cizhao Temple.
This Cizhao Temple was originally named Yinghui Temple, but after hundreds of years passed, the new abbot made a decision that defied ancestral tradition and changed its name to Cizhao Temple.
This abbot was the very famous Great Compassion Monk of Cizhao Temple, Master Cizhou.
Master Cizhou had profound knowledge of Buddhist Teachings, understood Zen principles, and never lost in debates on scriptures. Yet, this revered monk secretly fathered two sons.
One of these illegitimate sons is now the Abbot of Cizhao Temple, Master Dingguang; the other, who took half of the temple's inheritance and incense money, is Baiyun Daoist, now the Temple Master of Yunmeng Mountain.
Xu Qing was astonished by this revelation, but it was just the beginning.
When Baiyun Daoist first arrived at Yunmeng Mountain, it was already occupied, managed by an old Daoist truly dedicated to retreat and indifferent to worldly matters.
Back then, the Ruyi Temple was far less grand and its incense offerings were not as prosperous, yet its location was excellent, close enough to Cizhao Temple that both could watch over each other like horns of an animal.
Baiyun Daoist coveted this precious land, so he persistently pleaded and finally became a disciple under the old Temple Master.
This was a person who could both endure and adapt, with a face as thick as a city wall. The old Temple Master thought him to be sincere, yet never realized beneath the human facade lay a wolf's ambition!
The Daoists in the temple also needed to eat, which required them to take turns cooking. Baiyun Daoist, who understood human nature, approached the senior brothers who had to cook, saying, "As a new arrival, I've yet to contribute anything to the temple, and it makes me uneasy. How about this, I do all the cooking from now on..."
The Daoists thought this to be a good deal! Everyone would love some free time, so with Baiyun Daoist, the seemingly honest one, stepping forward, how could they refuse?
Thus, Baiyun Daoist, having been at the temple for just over a month, took over the task of cooking for the temple.
By mid-second month, during the temple's religious rites, Baiyun Daoist prepared many vegetarian dishes. On that day, the old Temple Master and senior brothers gathered, chanting scriptures and praying before dining together, before all passing away together...
In just two months, Baiyun Daoist achieved the goal of sending the old Temple Master off to the afterlife.
Feeding them for one day counts as support, doesn't it?
As long as the master and senior brothers are dead, he becomes the head of the temple!
On that day, a great fire broke out in the decrepit Ruyi Temple. When the nearby townspeople and county soldiers came to inquire, Baiyun Daoist claimed it was an internal fire, expressing immense sorrow in his words.
The officials asked, since the fire occurred at night, how come you are unharmed?
Baiyun Daoist, well prepared, replied, "I was sent by the master to deliver a message to Master Dingguang at Cizhao Temple, inviting him for a scripture debate..."
When the officials inquired at Cizhao Temple, Master Dingguang replied, "Indeed, Baiyun Daoist stayed in my meditation room overnight and did not leave without permission."
Thus, with Baiyun Daoist's alibi, he evaded the officials' questioning, while the Daoists at Ruyi Temple were ruled to have died in a fire accident.
During the funerals of the old Temple Master and senior brothers, Baiyun Daoist specially invited the Abbot from Cizhao Temple to conduct the rites.
Outsiders, unaware of the truth, thought highly of Master Dingguang's compassion, impressed by how he helped despite the sect differences between Buddhism and Daoism.
They even sent timber and stone from the temple to help Baiyun Daoist, the sole survivor, rebuild the temple.
Isn't that the reincarnation of a living Buddha?
But is that really the case?
In seclusion, Master Dingguang, once the picture of compassion, gloomily remarked, "Look at what you've done! It's fine to plan long-term if you want this temple, but how could you act so recklessly?"
Baiyun Daoist, indifferent, replied, "My dear brother, you hold a high place as the temple abbot. Yet, I have to start anew."
"Life only has so many autumns...how can I wait?"
"Besides, nothing went wrong. Why berate me over it?"
Master Dingguang's face changed dramatically, angrily shouting, "Who is your brother!"
Fearing others might overhear, Master Dingguang lowered his voice forcefully, "If not for my connections with Manager Wang obstructing the investigations, preventing the forensic doctor from examining the bodies, do you think you could really have made it that flawless?"
Before leaving, Master Dingguang again warned Baiyun Daoist to never speak of their brotherhood again.
Later, when the newly built Ruyi Temple was completed, Cizhao Temple spared no effort in promoting Baiyun Daoist.
The devotees visiting Cizhao Temple all heard the news—that all who attended Ruyi Temple's grand opening would receive rice, flour, grain, and oil.
A month later, during the grand opening of Ruyi Temple, where the statue of Lord Yuan was established, believers from various regions gathered to offer incense and worship during the consecration ceremony.
The world bustles for profit; the world hustles for profit to go.
Baiyun Daoist knew this was the result of Cizhao Temple promoting him. After the grand ceremony, enticing these people to return would be harder than ascending to heaven!
But while others might find this difficult, he certainly wouldn't...
On the day of the deity consecration, a rogue stood before the deity statue in the grand hall, cursing the statue of Lord Yuan.
"What Lord Yuan? Just a white-haired ape, a thief who stole the Celestial Scripture! Do you dare become a deity and ancestor? I spit on you!"