**Lin'an Ancient Temple - Moon Halo Encircles the Sky**
The temple hid like a hermit amidst emerald bamboo groves, its winding paths leading through deepening twilight. As sunset's crimson fingers withdrew from temple eaves, the boom of evening drums echoed through secluded courtyards.
"Master, the sun's set. Will he truly come? He's..." The novice's voice trembled with unspoken implications.
"Amitābha. While mortal forms perish, Buddha's truth endures." Elder Monk Nianchu's snow-browed visage resembled ancient pines bearing winter's weight. His decades of transcription had filled half the chamber with copies of *Manlan Sutra*, each character identical to the first.
"My invitation bore Lin'an Temple's seal. He will come." The founder-monk's crimson robes billowed as he rose, having never left these grounds since the temple's establishment.
"Xiao Ke! Which sutra contains 'My moon-like heart traverses perilous realms, illuminating ten directions'?"
"Erm...*Zhaohua Sutra*? Ow!" A bamboo scroll struck the novice's head.
"Fool! *Yuehua Sutra*! How dare you forget Venerable Jing'an's teachings? Kneel and transcribe - no supper!" The scarlet-robed monk stormed out, leaving his disciple wiping tears.
---
**Minister's Residence**
Bai Changming examined the jade lotus pendant through lamplight. "Hánshān jade," he sneered. Having handled priceless Hotan and mutton-fat jades during his political ascent, he recognized this mediocre substitute favored by counterfeiters.
The accompanying letter contained only *Yuehua Sutra* excerpts about spiritual redemption. As flame consumed the paper, Bai missed the concealed spirit-revealing hair dyed parchment-white on the reverse.
"Amitābha - burned after all. Was this old monk mistaken?" Nianchu's prayer beads clacked while ordering incense preparation.
"But Master, you said I should...ah!" The novice scurried forth with Lengyan incense - notorious for demon purification.
Nianchu produced a bronze mirror swirling with tempests. Within its surface writhed horrors: serpent-bodied beauties, thousand-armed spiders, silkworm-pale larvae. As Xiao Ke screamed, the monk retrieved the Demon-Reflecting Mirror.
"The mightiest demons wear human skins. Remember this."
"You suspect...the court official?"
"Amitābha. Heaven's laws cannot be defied." Golden sutra characters suddenly blazed from Nianchu's robes, sealing the chamber in sacred light.
Miles away, Bai sneezed as thunder cracked. Rain lashed his windows, unaware of the holy net tightening.