Chapter 4: The Mystery of the Internal Strife within the Buddhist Community

Although Lao Er Jue Da has an unremarkable appearance, he possesses a profound and mature demeanor, and is highly skilled in medicine, earning an excellent reputation within the monastery

In the memories of Jue Da, the internal strife within the Buddhist sect was indeed too peculiar. Among the four, he had the best relationship with the fourth, Jue Chen. He understood Jue Chen's temperament well; his usual indifference to worldly matters was not a facade, and he was completely unconcerned about the position of the abbot. However, when the master announced that their senior brother, Jue Fan, would be the new abbot, Jue Chen's sudden outburst the next day must have had its reasons. The entire process was filled with too many bizarre elements, and the shocking massacre within the Buddhist sect resulted in the fall of numerous masters. Yet, with the profound attainments of the secluded monk Qian Xu, it was impossible for him not to notice. Why, then, did he only break his meditation and intervene to slay Jue Chen, who had become bloodthirsty after a fierce battle that had raged from the Maitreya Buddha Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the main Buddha hall of the temple, to the Dharma Hall, when the temple was already awash in blood and the battle was nearing its end?

At the same time, the abbot Juekong, who was sitting cross-legged in the hall, slowly opened his eyes and gently said, "You may come out now"

Due to his excellent aptitude and high comprehension of Buddhism, he became the second of the four true disciples under the Zen master Qianxu. These four disciples belong to the "Jue" generation, thus Qianxu bestowed upon them the Dharma names: the eldest, Juefan; the second, Jueda; the third, Juekong; and the youngest, Juechen. The four young men share a bond akin to that of brothers.

In a certain corner of the Daming Ancestor Temple, a piercing wail suddenly echoed.

A shadow appeared on the stone bricks inside the room, from which a figure slowly emerged.

However, this seemingly uncontentious old monk, Si Jue Chen, stirred up a storm of blood and violence when he announced the new abbot of the Ming Dynasty Grand Temple during Master Qianxu's retreat and seclusion, ultimately leading to his own demise in the ensuing turmoil

Just like the arrival of the Buddha, he departed quietly and without a trace

The child seemed to have been awakened by the calling sound, squinting one eye to look at the sky outside, muttering: "It's still early for Xiaobai, why are you running around? Come back to bed and sleep a little longer. I just had a wonderful dream, dreaming that I was eating cotton candy! It was fluffy and sweet, but unfortunately, you woke me up, so you owe me!"

The conclusion for the four brothers is that the eldest brother remains, the youngest brother falls, the second brother leaves the temple with doubts, and the third brother becomes the new abbot

Hmm. Jue Kong stood up and turned around, saying: "Are you certain about the background of the child that Jue Da brought back from the extreme northern wilderness three years ago?"

He was born into a scholarly family. His father, Zhuge Wenbo, was once a talented scholar, well-versed in literature and possessing great ambitions. However, during the imperial examination, he failed to secure a position due to the local aristocratic families monopolizing the selection process, which led to his unfulfilled aspirations and a life of melancholy. His mother, surnamed Liang, was also from a distinguished family. At a Lantern Festival, she fell in love with Zhuge Wenbo's talent and, disregarding the opposition from others, resolutely left her home to marry him. When he was four years old, his father passed away due to depression. His mother, left with no choice, resorted to selling her skills in a brothel. After refusing to entertain clients, she was brutally beaten to death by the madam and her subordinates. Subsequently, he became a street urchin, living a life of extreme poverty, filled with hatred towards his father, and changed his surname to Liang. Later, he encountered an ascetic monk, who was the abbot of the Great Ming Temple, Xu Qian, who took him back to the temple.

A swipe of the mouth, a handful of white dog hair on his hand, and then he looks down at the little white dog on the floor, grimacing in pain and staring at him innocently. He can't help but roll on the bed, holding his stomach: "Haha! So that fluffy cotton candy was you, little white! Oh no, I can't take it anymore, my stomach hurts so much, I'm dying of laughter!"

Seeing this heartless master build his happiness on the suffering of others, the little white dog suddenly jumped to the bedside, its two small paws gripping the edge of the bed, standing half upright as it barked plaintively at the child

Lao Da Juefan, tall and strong, possesses innate divine strength, and acts with remarkable decisiveness, making him a standout figure among the younger disciples.

Fortunately, the puppy does not understand human language; otherwise, it would definitely be infuriated to the point of smoke coming from its ears and drool spilling from its mouth, mistakenly believing that its owner has recognized their recent mistake and is engaged in self-reflection. With a magnanimous snort through its nose, it shakes its head and begins to joyfully climb up and down around the house again

After the child smacked their lips, they still seemed unsatisfied as they wiped the drool from the corner of their mouth: "Oh, what is this fluffy thing?"

Juefan replied: "This... is still not very certain. According to your instructions, I personally went to the deep mountains where Jueda's village was located back then, and found no abnormalities. However, I did see the character 'Zhu'! After three years, this character is still here! Within a hundred feet of the character, let alone the absence of grass, trees, and insects, even the surrounding snow is black. The malevolent aura emanating from the character forced me to stay away and observe from ten feet away. It is indeed something that Jueda during the Soul Movement period could not withstand. Even compared to our master, it is still vastly different. I do not know which divine being possesses such terrifying cultivation! However, I suspect it should be this child!"

Jue Da gazed at the night sky, shook his head, and pondered over the conversation he had just had in the court with the current abbot of the temple, Jue Kong. He couldn't help but furrow his brows, and it was unclear what thoughts were occupying his mind at that moment

The eastern horizon began to glow with a pale white, and the sky gradually brightened.

"Alright, you may go back now," Jue Kong said, waving his hand.

As night deepened, Da Jue stepped out of the main Buddha hall of the Daming Ancestor Temple, took a deep breath, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly paced back and forth in the courtyard. He looked up at the slender crescent moon in the night sky, reflecting on the three children—Xiao Tian, Lin Chengze, and Han Yan Yi—who had come together due to the intertwining of fate. His thoughts inevitably drifted back to his childhood, a time he was reluctant to remember.

Just as the child was about to continue sleeping in, a gentle knocking sound came from outside the door

"Refer to the abbot." The figure bowed slightly in reverence to the back of Juekong. If Jueda were present to see this person, he would surely be stunned, for who else could it be but Juefan, the elder brother who perished in the internal strife a century ago

Woof! Woof! Woof! In a room, a small, adorable white dog, about the size of a palm, is barking discontentedly at a half-naked child on the bed, who is wearing a gray linen vest.

Such supernatural powers may originate from the outer celestial realm, after all, it is in the northern slave state... Furthermore, Jue Kong suddenly changed the subject, and a chilling aura appeared on his otherwise expressionless face: "In the future, when answering my questions, do not use words like 'approximately', 'estimate', or 'should'! You are well aware that this matter cannot afford any mistakes. If there is even a slight 'approximation' of an unexpected event, hm! Enough, keep a close watch on that child, and allow no room for any accidents! Otherwise... you are also aware that this matter cannot afford any mistakes. If there is even a slight 'approximation' of an unexpected event, hm! Enough, keep a close watch on that child, and allow no room for any accidents! Otherwise..."

Lao Si Jue Chen, as his name suggests, is extraordinary. With a face like a crowned jade and an imposing demeanor, he is usually quite laid-back, yet he carries himself without any airs. He is closest to Lao Er Jue Da. However, his talent is truly exceptional; casually wielding a wooden stick typical of an ordinary disciple from the outer courtyard, he consistently outmatches the senior brother Jue Fan during sparring sessions, leaving Jue Fan with a sense of lamentation akin to "why was there ever a Liang when there was a Yu?" He has become an idol in the hearts of some ordinary disciples in the outer courtyard who do not practice diligently.

In the vast courtroom, Jue Kong once again closed his eyes, murmuring: "Red Lotus Fallen Deity, Red Lotus Fallen Deity... Exterminate..."

The third brother, although somewhat mediocre among the four siblings, is nonetheless a standout among the younger disciples. The only swordsmanship masterpiece of the temple, the "Taiji Cloud Swallowing Technique," is wielded by him with a perfect balance of softness and hardness, exhibiting a graceful and effortless rhythm

Juefan shuddered upon hearing it: "Yes!"

The child touched his belly, easily sat up, patted the puppy's head, and said seriously: "Since that cotton candy was you, well then, Xiaobai, I forgive you for waking me from my beautiful dream, so you don't have to compensate me with my cotton candy, just try to be a bit more composed."