Chapter One: Ordination

Bear—

In the darkness, a spark flared to life.

“Keep it down! If we attract something out here, we’re in real trouble.”

A handful of men lay prone on the mountain’s slope, cautiously coaxing a flame to life, pushing back the surrounding gloom for a while.

In the world they came from, fire would drive off most creatures; a campfire meant relative safety at night. But here, the fire was just as likely to draw unwanted attention.

“So, what now, Third Brother?”

All eyes turned to a burly man, tall and broad-shouldered, seeking his guidance.

“What else can we do? Damn it, you lot are really hopeless—going off to gamble at Xin Yi’s den. Don’t you know who Huang Xinyi is?”

At this, the big man’s face turned grim, his gaze sharp with disappointment.

The others bowed their heads, shamefaced. They’d lost more than they could afford, and the gambling house’s deadline was close. If they couldn’t repay within three days, they’d be in dire straits.

“Maybe… maybe we should just run?” someone ventured.

“Run? Where would you run to? You think you can slip through those bastards’ fingers?” Third Brother’s tone was icy. “Right now, we’re the fish on the chopping block. If we don’t pay up, we’re dead.”

“But, what could we possibly find of value in a temple?” one man asked, unconvinced.

“Heh, don’t underestimate these monks. All the land around here is under their control. Think how much money they take in from pious donors every day. All that wealth, wasted on these monks—wouldn’t it be better if we took it to save ourselves from ruin? In a way, we’d be giving them a chance to show their compassion.”

It was nonsense, but Third Brother’s eyes glinted with greed.

Stealing to help his brothers was one thing, but he’d had his sights set on Heavenly Buddha Monastery for a while now.

Temples like this were usually built outside the city, beyond the watchful eyes of officials; safer to rob at night. Heavenly Buddha Monastery attracted crowds every day, its prosperity fueling Third Brother’s envy.

Damn monks, hoarding all that money, only to polish the Buddha’s golden image day after day. What meaning does it have? No matter how fine the statue’s robes, the Buddha pays no heed to mortal suffering. If faith could truly help, Third Brother wouldn’t be in such straits.

“Stay sharp. Little Lai, you go distract them. Pretend to be a cripple struggling along the road at night—ask for shelter in the temple. These monks are all do-gooders; they’ll let you in for sure. Once inside, cause a commotion and draw some of them away. That’ll make our job easier.”

Little Lai nodded eagerly, knowing his role was safer. Even if his companions were caught, as long as they didn’t give him up, nothing would happen to him.

And to ensure someone would bring them food in jail, they’d never betray him anyway.

“All right, get moving,” Third Brother commanded, snuffing out the flame.

Darkness swept in again. As his eyes adjusted, Little Lai’s nerves prickled. For an instant, his companions seemed to morph into blue-skinned, fanged monsters, leering at him with menacing grins. Every hair on his body stood on end.

“Little Lai, what are you waiting for? Go!” Third Brother’s voice snapped him out of it. He blinked, realizing it was just a trick of the mind. The others were still there, unchanged.

“Right, I’m going now.”

Little Lai hurried off, soon reaching the temple gates. He rapped on the door.

In the night, the great doors seemed less a barrier than the gaping maw of some beast, its jaws clamped shut, hiding whatever lay within. A strange dread filled him; it felt as though once he crossed the threshold, he’d never come out again.

At that moment, the doors creaked open.

A lamp appeared, and a monk stepped out, scanning the darkness until his gaze settled on Little Lai.

“Ah, good fellow, what brings you here?” the monk inquired.

Shivering, Little Lai stammered, “M-m-master, I… my foot, it’s hurt… I can’t walk… you, you—”

He shivered for a long while, whether from the mountain’s chill or something deeper, he didn’t know.

“Ah, seeking shelter for the night? You’re welcome inside,” the monk said kindly, inviting him in.

Little Lai rubbed his mouth, nerves jangling. He hadn’t felt this scared since the first time he’d pulled a con with Third Brother. By now, he’d done it so often that fear should have left him, but tonight, he trembled uncontrollably.

Page 2/3

Still shaking, he followed the monk inside.

As soon as he set foot within the temple, a gentle warmth swept over him. The shuddering ceased.

“What’s this…?” he murmured, surprised by the sudden comfort that spread through his body, making him reluctant to move.

“Is something wrong?” the monk asked, turning back.

“No, it’s just… your temple is quite warm,” Little Lai replied, touching his body in surprise.

The monk smiled softly. “The walls keep out the cold wind; it’s a bit warmer here than outside.”

“Is that so?” Little Lai glanced around. He still felt the occasional cool draft, but it was nothing more than refreshing. Most importantly, he’d stopped shivering.

“Come with me, then,” the monk said, leading him through the temple to a guest room set aside for travelers.

“You may rest here tonight. Are you hungry? If so, there’s some leftover porridge in the kitchen.”

Little Lai, of course, had no intention of staying put. He needed to stir up trouble, just as Third Brother had told him.

“I am a bit hungry, Master. Would you mind showing me to the kitchen?”

The monk obliged, and soon they were in the kitchen, where a pot of plain white porridge remained.

Little Lai’s eyes lit up. In this world, a bowl of pure white rice porridge was a rare treat for someone like him.

“Help yourself,” said the monk, making no move to serve him.

Without another word, Little Lai seized a ladle and bowl, scooping up the porridge and gulping it down greedily.

Yet the more he ate, the hungrier he felt. Remembering his task, he said, “Master, why don’t you go rest? I’ll have another bowl and head back on my own.”

The monk frowned slightly. Little Lai grinned and said, “It’s just the kitchen, Master. Surely you don’t need to worry about me.”

The monk smiled. “Very well. Just don’t wander around, and return early.”

“Of course, Master,” Little Lai replied cheerfully, thinking to himself, “Return? Soon as I torch this place, I’ll be long gone.”

As soon as the monk left, Little Lai wolfed down two more bowls, then began gathering firewood and straw, piling it up in the kitchen.

It didn’t take long to arrange it all. Once he was sure he was alone, he lit the fire and slipped away.

He found a hidden spot and watched as flames began to rise from the kitchen, the whole building catching fire.

Soon, monks came rushing out, fetching water to fight the blaze.

“Heh, baldies, have fun with that. I’m out of here,” Little Lai smirked, darting away.

He had no intention of showing his face to the monks again, instead skulking through the shadows to meet up with Third Brother and the others so they could make their escape.

He easily avoided the monks, who were too busy with the fire to pay him any mind. Even if some noticed, they assumed he was another guest.

Blending in, Little Lai slipped deeper into the temple. Here, away from the commotion, it was strangely quiet. Not a sound disturbed the peace.

Puzzled, he crept through the darkness, soon bypassing the outer guards.

Guards, but somehow… they seemed to be just standing there.

Page 3/3

They stood, eyes wide and furious, as if to intimidate intruders. But Little Lai thought they seemed more like scarecrows—utterly still, heads never turning.

He slipped by them easily, moving swiftly into the inner sanctum.

Here, the silence was even deeper, seeping into his heart. He found himself wanting to stop, to simply stand in the stillness.

He shook off the feeling and pressed on.

The inner temple was a maze of buildings. Little Lai had no idea where Third Brother and the others might be; he could only grope his way forward.

Suddenly, the tolling of a bell rang out.

“A bell?” He looked toward the sound, then glanced back at the fire outside. A strange unease crept over him. The outer temple was in chaos, yet inside, they calmly rang the bell and chanted?

Curious, he scaled a wall and crept over to the heart of Heavenly Buddha Monastery.

“What is this place?”

He hid among the shrubs, moving carefully.

It was a courtyard, ablaze with torches that made it bright as day.

Little Lai shrank deeper into the darkness. The torches lit everything except the shadows, which seemed all the deeper for it.

“Abbot, we may begin.”

A voice spoke. Peering through the leaves, Little Lai saw several people seated on the ground, encircled by monks.

“You wish to shave your heads and embrace the Buddha. On behalf of all beings at Heavenly Buddha Monastery, I thank you.”

Shaving their heads… attaining Buddhahood?

Little Lai frowned. He was no scholar, but he knew shaving your head didn’t make you a Buddha, only a monk. If that were all it took to reach enlightenment, the world would be full of Buddhas.

He craned his neck, trying to see more, but the torchlight made it hard to make out faces.

Just then, someone said, “Proceed.”

A monk stepped forward with a razor, slowly shaving each person’s head.

Little Lai found it comical—the newly shaven heads looked so ridiculous.

Then one of the men turned, and Little Lai saw his face. His heart lurched in shock.

Third Brother!

What was happening? Why was Third Brother here, having his head shaved?

Little Lai stared in horror as Third Brother, now bald, was led with the others into a nearby building.

He didn’t dare act, could only watch helplessly as they disappeared inside—and then, nothing. Not a sound.

“What on earth is happening?” Confusion clouded Little Lai’s eyes. He knew what sort of man Third Brother was—how could someone like that become a monk?

And what was inside that building? Why, after people entered, did the silence become absolute?

Little Lai’s heart hammered in his chest. Beneath it all, he sensed a terrible, gnawing dread—a feeling as though something inside was waiting to devour him.