Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 115 Golden Code
At midday in late autumn in the mountain city, the sky, which had been overcast for days, finally cleared up completely.

Sunlight streamed through the clear glass windows into a simply furnished yet solemn office.

The light cast warm dappled patterns on the dark wooden floor and desk, while fine dust particles floated leisurely in the beams of light.

Qi Yun sat at the table, now dressed in a well-fitting dark blue Taoist robe.

He held a few pages of faxed and printed documents in his hand; the paper still retained some of the machine's warmth.

At the top of the homepage are four powerful, bold characters in ink: "Golden Chapters and Laws".

He read it very carefully, word by word.

The opening statement elucidates the foundation and philosophy behind the establishment of the "Xuanyi Alliance":
It brings together the elites of all schools of Taoism and Buddhism from around the world, taking it upon themselves to help those in distress, save the world, and protect all living beings, while also assisting the government in maintaining order.

The subsequent clauses detail the rights and obligations between the government and the various legal systems within the alliance.

The law clearly states that the government recognizes, respects, and protects all orthodox lineages within the alliance, and strictly prohibits any institution or individual from persecuting, forcibly demanding transmission of the lineage, or interfering in internal affairs in any form.

Within the alliance, any lineage that is deemed by the Xuan Yi Alliance Council to be a "heretical lineage" that violates heaven and reason and goes against human ethics will immediately lose its protected status. The government and the Xuan Yi Alliance will jointly pursue and eradicate it, and its lineage scriptures and resources will be regarded as spoils of war, to be disposed of by those who contributed to its eradication according to their merits and the alliance's rules.

Correspondingly, the lineages of Xuan Yi Alliance members are also granted corresponding powers by law, possessing the power of trial and execution in handling events that clearly involve "abnormalities" and in dealing with lawbreakers and disruptors in society.

After the matter is completed, a detailed written account of the process must be submitted to the 749 Bureau and the Xuan Yi Alliance Council for record-keeping.

Each legal lineage is obligated, in principle, to cooperate when the government (primarily through Bureau 749) makes a request for support. They have the right to refuse twice a year without conditions.

If any of the disciples or followers break the law or fall into evil ways, the head of the lineage bears the primary responsibility of cleaning up the sect, and the government can provide assistance upon request.

The terms are detailed and the rights and responsibilities are clearly defined. They grant the successors great autonomy and privileges, draw inviolable red lines, and emphasize the responsibilities they bear.

The overall aim is to build an alliance that is both mutually restrictive and interdependent.

After reading the last line, Qi Yun lightly touched the paper with his fingertip. Without hesitation, he picked up the pen beside him and smoothly signed his name, "Qi Yun," in the "Signature" column on the last page of the document. He then affixed the vermilion seal prepared in advance by Zhong Weiguo, which was engraved with the words "Master of the Five Organs Temple."

He made two copies and handed one to Zhong Weiguo, who was sitting quietly on the sofa opposite him, sipping his tea.

Zhong Weiguo put down his teacup, took the document, carefully examined the signature and seal, and smiled: "Good. Abbot Qi, from this moment on, you are officially the Abbot of the Five Organs Temple, recognized and protected by the 'Golden Chapter Code,' and the seventh member of the Xuan Yi Alliance Council."

It allows one to establish a sect, recruit many disciples, and continue the lineage of the Dao.

He carefully put the document away and continued, "This 'Golden Code' is the fundamental law, with many detailed rules. You can gradually familiarize yourself with it in the future."

Currently, within the Xuan Yi Alliance, including you, there are seven lineages.

The three Taoist temples are Qingyang Palace, Chunyang Temple, and Baiyun Temple; the three Buddhist temples are Dalin Temple, Fayuan Temple, and Jingtu Temple.

Now, adding your observation of the five internal organs, that makes seven meridians.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun raised an eyebrow slightly: "Only seven families remain? And previously they were evenly split between Taoism and Buddhism? Could there be some balancing considerations involved?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Weiguo's smile faded, replaced by a heavy sigh. He shook his head, his eyes revealing a hint of desolation: "Balance? What mind is there left to maintain balance?"

"The fact that these remain is a testament to their survival through countless calamities. Abbot Qi, now that you hold council authority over the Xuan Yi Alliance, you should be aware of some of its history."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering.

"From the end of the Qing Dynasty onwards, the nation's fortunes declined and the world descended into chaos."

The powerful ships and cannons of the Western powers blasted open the country's doors, and the world knew of the open battlefields filled with corpses and bloodshed, and the devastation of the land. But unbeknownst to them, a far more brutal battle was already underway behind the scenes.

Those foreign cultivators, along with their armies, also invaded the land of China.

"At that time, all the righteous sects and sects in the world, whether Buddhist or Taoist, descended the mountains and entered the world to fight bloody battles with them."

That was the first catastrophe in the cultivation world of China, a contest of national destiny. Countless disciples and members of various lineages perished, and the nation's vitality was severely damaged!

"After much hardship, the foreign powers withdrew and the Qing emperor abdicated. The country then descended into warlordism."

Many disciples of the lineage were drawn into the conflict again, either due to differing beliefs or orders from their sects, resulting in fierce infighting and devastating internal strife.

Many lineages, already severely weakened in the last great war, suffered even greater losses this time, their incense offerings nearly extinguished.

"Immediately following this was the full-scale invasion of China by Japanese pirates, a disaster aimed at the destruction of the country and the extermination of the race."

The methods used by Onmyoji, ninjas, and Shinto practitioners in Japan are even more brutal and bizarre, sometimes even involving the use of evil soul-refining techniques.

We cultivators once again stepped forward, cooperating with the army to engage in countless unseen battles outside the main battlefield.

Countless eminent monks and virtuous masters sacrificed themselves to feed the demons, their souls scattered; countless ancient lineages fought to the last man, their blood staining the mountains and rivers… That was the second catastrophe, far more devastating.

"After the victory of the War of Resistance, there was another civil war... Some went overseas on their own or went to Taiwan with the enemy."

By the time the new nation was established, only three orthodox schools of Taoism remained, and all of them were sparsely populated and their lineages incomplete.

"But since the beginning of the catastrophe at the end of the Qing Dynasty, some senior masters with profound Taoist skills and who had glimpsed a sliver of heavenly secrets realized that this would be a protracted and all-encompassing calamity."

They secretly plotted, either by hoarding Taoist scriptures, leaving behind traces of their lineage, or enlightening those with affinity, all in order to leave behind sparks of revival for the Chinese Taoist community after the calamity.

The Five Organs Theory you have inherited must also be like this.

The Qingyang Palace, where Master Gongyang resides, was able to resume its incense offerings thirty years ago because the current palace master unexpectedly received the legacy of his predecessors.

"As for Bureau 749, it was founded by Mr. Zhao Chengyun, the chief disciple of the Celestial Master of Chunyang Temple."

At that time, everything was in ruins and there were undercurrents both inside and outside the country. The country urgently needed a special agency to handle such "abnormal" events, but it was also necessary to ensure its independence and professionalism in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of history.

To avoid suspicion and to demonstrate his sincerity, Mr. Zhao first earnestly requested his master to expel him from the sect and sever personal ties before assuming the position of the first director of Bureau 749 in a purely public capacity.

Subsequently, it was through Mr. Zhao's tireless efforts, communication, and coordination that mutual trust was established between the government and the remaining legal lineage, ultimately leading to the joint signing of the "Golden Code," which laid the foundation for today's cooperation.

Therefore, the nation and the Xuan Yi Alliance regard every inheritor like yourself who is reviving an ancient lineage as a precious treasure, and will certainly provide them with their full support. You can rest assured.

(End of this chapter)