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Cangwu Kingdom, Jingci Temple.

Jingci Temple was the oldest recorded temple with an unbroken lineage in the Cangwu Kingdom.

The time of its founding was almost identical to the founding of the Cangwu Kingdom itself. Rumor had it that a Buddha from the Central Province traveled here, spread the Dharma, and established Jingci Temple.

Whether this was true or not was naturally impossible to verify. Even if it were true, the Buddha who originally spread the Dharma had probably forgotten about it long ago.

However, the foundational principles and philosophy of Jingci Temple had been perfectly preserved, carved into the walls of the Mahavira Hall.

The Three Calms state: Do not gossip, do not reprimand, do not curse.

The Three Mercies state: Mercy of person, mercy of heart, mercy of hand.

The greedy desires of sentient beings become disasters once spoken; true goodness is the Three Mercies extending from the heart to the hands.

After succeeding their position, every abbot of Jingci Temple had to personally trace over these words written on the wall.

Perhaps the philosophy left behind by the Buddha was profound enough, or perhaps the long-standing tradition was truly effective.

Jingci Temple had always upheld its foundational principles. Whenever its monks went out into the world, they strictly practiced the Three Calms and the Three Mercies.

Although this occasionally brought about trouble, the selfless reputation of the Jingci Temple monks still spread far and wide.

The incense offerings had remained abundant to this day. Yet, despite its flourishing incense, Jingci Temple had not expanded over the past century. Instead, they continued to use the collected donation money to practice the Three Mercies—at least, the vast majority of it.

With their reputation preceding them, ordinary Jingci Temple monks traveling outside would also receive courteous treatment from the nearby villagers.

No matter how turbulent the outside world became, it seemed to have little to do with this temple that unwaveringly practiced its foundational principles.

That was until a major event occurred, one that swept up every temple in its wake: the promotion of the Hinayana Dharma.

At first, no temple saw any issue with this, and they were all extremely eager to participate.

After all, proclaiming and spreading their faith was exactly what they were meant to do.

Not to mention that this matter was driven by the Great Thunderclap Temple.

Jingci Temple naturally took part as well. Coupled with their historically excellent reputation, Jingci Temple was arguably the most effective temple at spreading the teachings, and they indeed persuaded many to do good.

But later on, another strain of the Hinayana Dharma spread forth. A much larger wave crashed in from all directions, drowning the insignificant Jingci Temple and their original intentions.

Today's Jingci Temple was no longer what it used to be.

The entire temple was packed with people. Zealous believers of the Hinayana Dharma clutched clay statues of Bodhisattvas and Arhats, shouting at the top of their lungs: Kill all the noble clans, may the Bodhisattva protect us!

The abbot of Jingci Temple, Fangjing.

Fangjing, who was once highly revered, was now squeezed into an unnoticed corner of the Mahavira Hall.

Fangjing's gaze looked forward, powerless and sorrowful, at the believers kneeling before the Buddha statues, loudly cheering "Long live the Hinayana Dharma."

All sorts of twisted and terrifying wishes were chanted aloud as if they were blessings.

Curses, furious reprimands, greed, and lust. Before the Buddha, all of these intertwined.

Fangjing already knew deeply that he was powerless to change anything. Perhaps it was human nature to be unwilling to be bound; no one, when letting themselves loose, was willing to be shackled by the chains of calmness.

Outside the temple, the porridge pots were boiling vigorously.

Every believer who finished chanting could go outside to receive a bowl of porridge after this so-called prayer ceremony.

Several monks of Jingci Temple guarded Fangjing's sides to prevent the surging crowd from swallowing the abbot.

Fangjing's gaze was completely vacant as he watched batch after batch of people come and go.

No one could blame them.

Many of them did not even understand what they were doing. Quite a few even felt that this was the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas granting them porridge to eat.

Fangjing's gaze pierced through the crowd, looking toward the words carved on the wall that he had traced over years ago.

Finally, his eyes rested on the last line.

The greedy desires of sentient beings become disasters once spoken; true goodness is the Three Mercies extending from the heart to the hands.

The greedy desires of sentient beings become disasters once spoken... Looking at it now, this was exactly the case.

But the Three Mercies, in a scene like this, how could one be merciful?

Fangjing glanced sideways at the Buddha statues that were being worshipped over and over again by the masses. For some reason, the traditionally dignified and compassionate Buddha statues looked so eerie and ominous in Fangjing's eyes today.

"Laici..." Fangjing suddenly spoke to the novice monk beside him.

Laici looked back at him, simultaneously reaching out to support the exhausted abbot.

"I am here..."

Fangjing looked calmly at Laici, his tone gentle:

"I heard their plan. Two days from now, these people will carry their clay idols, chant the virtues of the Hinayana Dharma, and go fight to the death with those armored soldiers."

"Whether it is intentional or not, the Hinayana Dharma ultimately belongs to our Buddhist sect, and this karma belongs to us monks."

"I cannot turn a blind eye to the greedy desires of wicked men."

"If something unexpected happens to me today, you will be the new abbot tomorrow. Remember the tradition of our Jingci Temple; you must go and trace the words once."

Hearing this, Laici's eyes filled with sorrow. He tightly grasped Fangjing's hand and said:

"Abbot... this matter actually has little to do with you."

Fangjing shook his head upon hearing this, gesturing for Laici to look at the words on the wall. Then, he replied softly:

"On that day, when my master handed Jingci Temple over to me, as I traced the words that day, I was writing, and I was also reciting."

"If I turn a blind eye, how can I live up to Master's trust?"

"True goodness comes from aligning one's actions with one's heart. If I don't do this, the compassion in my heart is fake."

"Also, remember to go look at the thing under the parasol tree."

Fangjing reached out and gently patted Laici's hand, speaking in a soft tone:

"Laici..."

After uttering these two words, Fangjing didn't know how to continue. He merely nodded gently, then broke free from Laici's grasp.

Fangjing pushed through the crowded masses, forcing his way toward the Buddha statue.

Laici's eyes were blurred with tears, and in the blink of an eye, Fangjing was gone from his sight.

Wearing his kasaya, Fangjing squeezed through the crowd and reached the altar in front of the Buddha statue.

Without hesitation, he grabbed a simple water vase from the side of the table and, with the sound of sloshing water, smashed it right at the Buddha statue.

Everyone's eyes locked onto this novice monk who had just committed such a mad act.

The sound of the water was faint yet explosive as it splashed all over the Buddha's face.

Fangjing tore off his kasaya, pressed his hands against the table, and climbed onto the altar. His calm gaze swept over the crowd below, half of whom were kneeling in worship.

"I am the abbot of this temple! I have cultivated Buddhism for decades!"

Fangjing roared.

The noisy temple instantly quieted down significantly, though a murmur remained.

Fangjing, who had always adhered to the Three Silences, shouted with all his might for the very first time:

"I know most of you might not know me! But those who do surely know my character. I only beg you to believe me today!"

"What you chant and pray for today is not the true essence of Hinayana Buddhism!"

"It is fake! Fake! All fake!"

"It is as fake as this clay Buddha statue!" Fangjing pointed at the slightly faded statue and said, "Just like the paint on this Buddha's face!"

"You have all been deceived! This fake Buddhism will eat people! It will devour your lives!"

"Do not believe it! Go back to your homes! Live your lives well! Peace is the true blessing!"

Before Fangjing could finish speaking, angry curses and rebukes rose from below.

Some accused Fangjing of being a fake monk, while others accused him of taking bribes from noble families to deceive the masses.

People surged toward Fangjing, intending to drag him down.

The clamor erupted once more.

Fangjing still tried his best to roar, even though he could barely hear his own voice anymore.

He yelled with all his might:

"Just watch how they seize me! How they kill me!"

"Today it is me! Tomorrow it will be you!"

"If you understand, then hurry and go home!"

"Hurry and go home..."