"The deity has arrived! He is at the zenith of the Red Kingdom, watching us, the Ainu Maoshili, with red eyes, watching the Gummy People with whom we share a common ancestor!..."
"Praise the Chief Divine! I will offer you my most fervent devotion, offer the bloodiest and most vivid sacrifice!..."
"Chieftains of the Beiyu and Ishikari Tribes! Please hold down their bodies for ! This sacrifice is not only for the Chief Divine, but also for the suffering you have endured over the centuries, for the future unification of the Ainu tribes..."
"Good! Chief Divine, bless us! Lower the knife!..."
The thin cloud layer blocks the sun in the sky, yet everyone can still see the sunlight. A golden figure, bathed in sunlight on the Divine Platform, swings down the red stone dagger. The surrounding Ainu chieftains tremble all over, filled with excitent and fear, yet inspired by so new will, tears flowing chaotically. At the entrance to the Divine Platform, three distinguished Mages collapse in terror, crying their hearts out. Over twenty Monk Soldiers, faces ashen as death, go to greet the reincarnation they refuse to surrender to...
"!!... No!!"
"Hwa!..."
With a "hwa" sound, Ryuzoji Temple Jia Hong heavily pulled down the beast-hide tent’s curtain, shielding the bloodstains outside. The cheers of the warriors from various tribes exploded suddenly, like the summons of Izanami, the Lord of the Netherworld, which the tent could no longer block out. Then, amidst the feverish and fearso shouts outside, Ryuzoji Temple Jia Hong smiled faintly and looked at the two seated monks within the tent.
"Mizhu monk! Your scream just startled ! Your Buddhist Law cultivation truly needs improvent, it requires studying under Master Juehui! You see, Master Juehui is unmoved, rely chanting the Rebirth Mantra with lowered eyes, treating the lives and deaths of other monks as nothing..."
"... Yes... Yes!... I will definitely learn... I will definitely learn from the master..."
Monk Mizhu, faces white as a sheet, likewise sits collapsed in the corner of the tent, body still trembling uncontrollably. "Mi" is a na commonly used by low-level disciples in Buddhist sects, related to "Amitabha Buddha." As for "Zhu," it usually refers to "thoughts and intentions," concerning control over emotions and desires.
Yet at this mont, amidst the colossal fear between life and death, Monk Mizhu has completely lost his composure, unable even to sit upright! After all, the ones just offered up on the blood-red altar, sacrificed by Shandan Invaders and Ezo Barbarians together, were the other three Tiantai monks with the "Mi" title from the fleet. In other words, whether he will be sent to that blood-red altar and beco the next sacrifice for the "Evil God" hangs solely on the whim of the Shandan Invaders!
"Master Juehui, what have you considered? Five hundred jin of gold, five thousand jin of gunpowder, in exchange for letting you, a high monk with deep Buddhist Law, go back... I suppose, given your status in the Tiantai Sect, surely soone will co to redeem you?..."
"Namo Amitabha! I return my life to the Infinite Light Tathagata!..."
Master Juehui, pressing his hands together in the lotus hand gesture, again recited a Buddhist scripture. As long as the knife isn’t at his throat, his deep and composed Buddhist Law appears flawless. He opened his benevolent eyes and looked at Ryuzoji Temple Jia Hong. After a mont, he sighed and spoke.
"Masumi! You also co from the Tiantai Sect, received monastic initiation scars, and were granted a Buddhist na as a disciple! Seeing monks from my sect facing execution, for you not to save them is one thing. But not even uttering a few scriptures to pray for their peace in the afterlife, are you unwilling to do that?"
"... Chief Divine bless! Master Juehui, please do not call my forr na again. At present, I have returned to the Chief Divine of the East, restored my na from the Martial Family. Please call by my real na, Ryuzoji Temple Jia Hong!"
Ryuzoji Temple Jia Hong emphasized seriously, then sat cross-legged opposite Master Juehui. He gazed into Juehui’s eyes and questioned.
"Master, why do the monks face today’s karmic consequences, do you truly not understand? Where is this place? Is it the mountain gate of the Tiantai Sect? You and the monks appearing here, is it truly to spread Buddhist Law?"
"Today’s vile result, naturally stems from yesterday’s vile cause. Blinded by gold, you brought the Tiantai Sect’s fleet, brought five hundred monk soldiers, ca with murderous intent... surely, you did not foresee the possibility of today’s scene happening?..."
"..."
Master Juehui lowered his gaze, sealed his lips tight. With his "Buddhist heart" fully aware, he exists beyond the emotion of "regret." The gold was not secured, losing the Large Ship, monk soldiers, and disciples, is an irreversible conclusion, regret is simply useless. No matter how many tis it repeats, it would only be a reenactnt following his heart. And now, since the Shandan People have not killed him and are demanding a ransom, there is sothing to be negotiated. His silence at this mont is patiently waiting, waiting for the real terms offered by the Shandan People.
"Master Juehui, you have seen it too. The Shandan Golden Clan originates from the Northern Land, maintaining the ancient sacrificial customs of the Yin Dynasty. They do not keep idle n, nor do they keep enemy monks. If it wasn’t for speaking on your behalf, you would have been sent to the altar right now. Not to ntion, I specifically requested the Lord Priest to leave you a disciple to convey ssages..."
Speaking of this, Ryuzoji Temple Jia Hong flashed a look at Monk Mizhu, who was silent, unable to stop shivering. Then, he mulled for a while before speaking again.
"Master Juehui, as the abbot of the Omi Grand Temple, and being a descendant of the ’Superior’... Let’s not speak of gold for now, but can you not even produce the ransom of five thousand jin of gunpowder?... If this doesn’t work, then with my ability, I can only protect you alone. As for Mizhu Monk, he can only be sent to the Shandan Golden Clan’s altar, to pay the price with his life for you rashly wielding the knife, to atone with his own life!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers