Founding Zhǒng zi

Zhang Hou embarked on a monastic path at the start of his life. The Kami answered his prayers, gifting him a wife and a son. One day, as his son neared puberty, the boy fled into the woods. Following the boy, Zhang looked everywhere for a sign of him. But, as the sun descended, Zhang's optimism waned. He dropped to one knee by the river's edge, his prayer offered to any listening. 

"Please," he said as calmly as he could muster, "please help me find my boy."

As he opened his eyes, he saw a vision of his son being possessed by something. He quickly rose to his feet and ran along the bank of the river, calling his son's name. Suddenly, the surrounding bamboo opened in a clearing and he saw his son's body next to an amulet the boy had unearthed. The boy was still breathing, but only barely, and when he opened his eyes, they were glowing a deep green. 

Zhang was aghast, but knew that if the Temple saw his son in this state, they would surely kill him. So, he made his way to an abandoned prison at the edge of their town and locked the boy away. He took the amulet and placed it in a secure chest.

He returned to his wife and explained what had happened. She cried for hours, but agreed he had done the right thing. From that moment forward, the couple dedicated themselves to researching the occult looking for a means to exorcise their son of the entity. Over the years, when they found a trustworthy soul, they would bring them into the clandestine fold. Using the prison as their headquarters, the organization slowly grew. Their chosen name, Zhǒng Zi, translates to "Zhong's Salvation".