63: Heading to Lotus Temple

As the morning light first broke through, a black official car quietly departed from the foot of Yuntai Mountain, driving along the winding mountain road toward Lianhua County.

Inside the car, Li Muchen rested with his eyes closed. He was still wearing that faded bluish-gray Daoist robe, his long hair simply tied behind his head. The only accessory on his body was the unremarkable 'earth vein suppression talisman' hanging from his waist. Sunlight spilled across his face through the car window, reflecting a countenance as calm as water, as if this trip were not to attend a debate hidden with sharp words, but merely an ordinary outing to visit a friend.

In the passenger seat, Zhao Xiaowen clutched her camera bag tightly, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the cold metal casing. From time to time, she stole a glance at Li Muchen in the back seat through the rearview mirror; seeing him so tranquil, her own tense heartstrings couldn't loosen at all. Last night, she had carefully studied the aggressive comments online again, and the more she looked, the more she felt this 'seminar' was likely a 'Hongmen Banquet'—a trap.

The driver in the front seat was sent by the Religious Affairs Bureau, surnamed Wang, a simple and honest-looking middle-aged man in his early forties. He looked at Li Muchen through the rearview mirror and couldn't help but break the silence: "Daoist Master Li, the setup at Lotus Temple... is quite substantial. Several old masters from the Provincial Buddhist Association have arrived, along with several experts and professors from the Academy of Social Sciences. The scene might be quite formal later."

"It's no matter," Li Muchen opened his eyes, his gaze clear. "Since it's a seminar, we shall simply have a candid exchange."

Driver Wang hesitated to speak further, but in the end, he only nodded and focused on driving.

After driving for about an hour and a half, the silhouette of Lianhua County gradually became clear. From a distance, one could see a verdant mountain peak to the west of the city, with layers of temple eaves shimmering with golden light in the sun. That was Green Lotus Peak, where the thousand-year-old ancient monastery, Lotus Temple, was located.

The area in front of the Mountain Gate was already crowded with people. There were not only monks in various colored robes waiting in line, but also many media reporters holding cameras, as well as many pilgrims clearly dressed as believers.

A red carpet stretched from the Mountain Gate all the way to the square in front of the Main Hall. Banners were hung on both sides with slogans like "A Warm Welcome to All Eminent Monks, Virtuous Elders, Experts, and Scholars for Their Guidance" and "Promote Traditional Culture, Foster Religious Harmony," creating a solemn and enthusiastic atmosphere.

As soon as the official car came to a steady stop at the designated spot, a welcoming monk stepped forward quickly and respectfully opened the car door.

"Amitabha. Daoist Master Li, you've had a long and tiring journey." A middle-aged monk wearing a bright yellow cassock and holding agarwood prayer beads bowed with his hands pressed together. His tone was gentle, but his gaze was scrutinizing. "I am Release Void, here to welcome the Abbot by order of my master, Master Huiming."

Li Muchen got out of the car and returned the gesture: "Thank you for your trouble, Master."

His appearance instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.

Compared to the magnificent cassocks of the surrounding monks and the sharp suits of the experts and scholars, his simple, almost shabby Daoist robe seemed out of place. The reporters' lenses immediately focused on him, and flashes crackled. Whispers broke out among the crowd:

"Is this that young Daoist from Qingfeng Temple?"

"He looks so ordinary; is he really as miraculous as the rumors say?"

"Dressing like that... isn't it a bit too informal?"

A fleeting, almost imperceptible trace of disdain flashed in Release Void's eyes, but the smile on his face remained unchanged: "Abbot, please follow me. The various masters and professors are already waiting in the 'Prajna Hall'."

Zhao Xiaowen hurried to follow, but she was politely yet firmly blocked by two young monks: "Female Lay Practitioner, the Prajna Hall is a pure place for debating sutras. According to temple rules, we do not receive women inside. Please move to the side hall to rest; tea and snacks will be served there."

"I am the Abbot's assistant, responsible for recording..." Zhao Xiaowen said anxiously.

"Rules are rules, we ask for the benefactor's understanding." The monk's tone was gentle, but his attitude was beyond question.

Li Muchen looked back at her and shook his head slightly: "Layman Zhao, just wait outside. What is seen and heard may not necessarily be within the hall."

Zhao Xiaowen was startled, then immediately understood his meaning. She nodded vigorously, clutched her camera, and stepped aside. She watched Li Muchen follow Release Void into the deep and solemn temple gate, his bluish-gray figure gradually disappearing into the shadows of the magnificent halls, and her heart tightened for some reason.

Inside the Prajna Hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

This was a lecture hall built in an ancient style; it was spacious, but the lighting was deliberately kept dim. In the center of the north side, a gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha was enshrined, with curls of smoke rising from the incense burner in front. In the hall, three rows of futons and low tables were arranged in a triangular formation.

At the head position sat three old monks. The one in the middle had white eyebrows hanging down his cheeks and a lean face, holding a string of crystal-clear bodhi prayer beads. He was the abbot of Lotus Temple and Vice President of the Provincial Buddhist Association, Master Huiming.

On his left and right were Elder Yuanjue from Xiantong Temple on Mount Wutai, and Master Huijing, the abbot of Kaiyuan Temple in Jincheng. Both were highly respected figures in the provincial Buddhist community.

On the futons to the left sat two elegant elderly men in Zhongshan suits, experts from the Religious Research Institute of the Provincial Academy of Social Sciences. To the right sat two representatives from the provincial Daoist Association—one was Daoist Zhang Mingde, Vice President of the Provincial Daoist Association, and the other was Daoist Liu Zhicheng from Yuhuang Temple in Jincheng. When the two saw Li Muchen enter, their expressions were somewhat complex, and they nodded slightly in greeting.

Release Void led Li Muchen to sit on the last futon on the right side, while he himself stood in attendance behind Master Huiming.

"Amitabha." Master Huiming slowly opened his half-closed eyes and looked at Li Muchen with a peaceful gaze. "Daoist Master Li has come from afar; you've had a long journey. This old monk is Huiming, acting as the host here. Today's seminar aims to exchange and learn from each other to promote the true Dharma. I hope the Abbot will not hesitate to grant us your guidance."

"The Master is too kind," Li Muchen sat calmly with a tranquil expression. "As a Junior student, I shall listen to your profound discourses."

The opening remarks were polite yet distant. An old professor surnamed Chen from the Academy of Social Sciences cleared his throat and was the first to speak:

"The theme of today's seminar is to explore how traditional religions can develop healthily and serve society in the context of the new era. We have heard that Qingfeng Temple's incense has been flourishing lately, and Daoist Master Li has frequently displayed 'miraculous responses.' I wonder if you could share a thing or two about the principles behind these 'miraculous responses'? It would allow those of us doing research to broaden our horizons."

Though the words were polite, the emphasis on the term 'miraculous responses' made the intent of inquiry and doubt self-evident.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Li Muchen.

Li Muchen's expression remained unchanged as he said slowly, "Professor Chen overstates it. The Dao follows nature; how can there be 'miraculous responses'? Qingfeng Temple is nothing more than a place of secluded mountains and pure water where people's hearts incline toward goodness. Pilgrims come up the mountain seeking peace of mind; well water cures illness by relying on the harmony between the original Qi of the land and the faith in people's hearts. As for the hundred birds paying homage..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, "it is merely the birds and beasts of the mountains not fearing human disturbance, stopping to listen to the sound of chanting sutras. These are all principles of nature and ordinary matters, with nothing divine or strange about them."

"Oh?" Elder Yuanjue of Mount Wutai spoke slowly, his voice sonorous. "This old monk heard that the Abbot once used Talisman water to save someone from the brink of death, and once summoned a soul to settle a hundred-year-old grudge. Are these also 'principles of nature' and 'ordinary matters'?"

This question struck directly at the core, and the air in the hall suddenly froze.

Li Muchen looked up at Elder Yuanjue, his gaze clear: "May I ask the Elder, Buddhism also has the 'Ksitigarbha Sutra' to cross over deceased souls, the 'Medicine Master Sutra' to dispel disasters and extend life, and eminent monks who display divine abilities to save all living beings. Are these 'divine wonders' or 'Buddhism'?"

Elder Yuanjue was slightly startled, then said, "Naturally, it is the compassion of the Buddha's teachings, where divine abilities are used with the intent to save people, not to show off skills."

"Exactly so," Li Muchen nodded. "Daoist Talismans and rituals are also convenient methods for aiding the world and saving people. Their foundation lies in harmonizing Yin and Yang, following nature, and leading people toward goodness. If one becomes obsessed with how Talisman water can cure illness or how summoning souls can reach the unseen, one is grasping the branches and losing the root, failing to see the Great Dao."

His tone was peaceful, yet every word was clear, skillfully leading the question back to the debate on the Origin of religious practice and aiding the world.

Master Huijing of Kaiyuan Temple chimed in: "What Daoist Master Li says has its own logic. However, This old monk has a doubt: Buddhism speaks of Karma and Reincarnation, where the joys and sorrows of this life are the karmic retribution of past lives. Daoism speaks of 'Chengfu' (inherited burden), where the faults of ancestors are borne by descendants. If one uses techniques to forcibly change diseases or interfere with life and death, does it not go against Karma and disrupt Chengfu? Is this not creating new Karma?"

This question was even sharper, pointing directly at the legitimacy and potential risks of using 'Spells' to interfere with the workings of the world.