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Green pines hold the lingering snow,
Emerald flames guard the dim light's glow.
Wandering beyond that sacred hill,
True nature lies in temperance's will.
Along with the fall of the Yaksha Kingdom, the Rakshasa Kingdom, due to their kinship with the yakshas, also met its end.
Thunder Rhino Masters was a descendant of the Rakshasas. Among his relatives, many followed Princess Rakshasi. After her eastward migration, Rakshasi had a new Daoist master in the Celestial Court. Practicing Daoism in Buddhism's stead, Rakshasi marked a departure from her past. Thunder Rhino Masters, unwilling to accept this change, heard that a branch of the Yakshas was seeking Buddhist teachings in the New West and decided to come here.
Unlike the Yakshas' free-spirited practice, Thunder Rhino Masters, though an outer disciple, held their master in high regard and strictly adhered to the temple's rules. Reaching the ultimate bliss was not their ultimate goal; it was simply their nature to strive with all their efforts in everything they do. Even when guarding the temple, they were relentless. If anyone disturbed the temple's peace, the lightning they summon would pursue and strike without mercy. Such individuals could sometimes inspire admiration, but they could also be quite troublesome.
The opening lines describe a sacred place: green pines, faint light protected by emerald flames, and a hill where the ideal is careful self-control. That image sets the scene for the people and beliefs involved.
Historically, the Yaksha Kingdom fell, and the Rakshasa Kingdom fell too because the two were closely related. Thunder Rhino Masters comes from the Rakshasa line. Many of his relatives followed a leader called Princess Rakshasi.
Princess Rakshasi moved east and joined the Celestial Court, taking a Daoist master there. She began practicing Daoism instead of Buddhism, which was a clear break from her former ways. Thunder Rhino Masters did not accept that change. When he learned that a branch of the Yakshas was seeking Buddhist teachings out in the New West, he decided to go there.
Thunder Rhino Masters is described as an outer disciple who nevertheless respects his master deeply and follows the temple rules without laxity. He contrasts with the Yakshas’ more free-spirited approach. He is not motivated by reaching some final bliss; his natural impulse is to put his full effort into everything he does.
When acting as a temple guard he is relentless. If anyone disturbs the temple’s peace, he will summon lightning that pursues and strikes without mercy. That single-minded, strict dedication can make some people admire him, but it also makes him a troublesome and dangerous figure to others.