Chapter 190
Chapter 190
The young monk slowly rose and turned, revealing his hideous bronze mask.
“Kekekeke! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Little monk of Mount Wutai, you knew I was behind you, yet you still dared walk this far. Aren’t you afraid of death?”
Even amid such a horrifying scene, Master Numu remained as tranquil as an ancient well.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha. Master Faceless is ashamed to face the Buddha. Since this humble monk wishes to seek instruction in the Dharma from you, Great Monk, I had no choice but to travel far from the temple grounds.”
The Chief of the Arhat Hall’s reply took Ghost Buddha Faceless aback. Then he laughed even more madly.
“Kekekekeke! Interesting! You are very interesting! This humble monk may be ashamed to face the Buddha, but the Buddha remains within his heart! Since you wish to discuss the Buddha and debate the sutras, come over here!”
After speaking, Ghost Buddha Faceless turned toward the ruined ancient Buddha and sat cross-legged.
The moment he put down his dagger and tossed aside the bloodstained letter, he unmistakably resembled a virtuous and eminent monk.
Only the bronze mask on his face remained painfully conspicuous.
Without Ghost Buddha Faceless visibly opening his mouth, a mighty chorus of sutra chanting resounded through the air.
Master Numu recited the Buddha’s name.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk is deeply honored that Great Monk Faceless is willing to offer instruction.”
Barefoot, he walked slowly through the snow, sat cross-legged opposite Ghost Buddha Faceless, and joined him in chanting the sutras.
Thus, an eerie scene appeared on Huimu Mountain.
A blood moon hung overhead as yin winds gusted without end.
Beneath the blood moon, a ruined ancient Buddha appeared especially desolate.
Before it, a ghost-faced monk and an eminent monk sat amid ghastly white bones and foul-smelling pools of blood.
Solemn Sanskrit chanting, like morning bells and evening drums, echoed across the entire mountain.
Every animal on the mountain that had awakened spiritually came to the sound, from squirrels and small birds to tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves. They knelt at a distance from the two eminent monks, Ghost Buddha Faceless and Master Numu, and listened with reverence.
Wandering ghosts, spirits, and strange beings arrived soon afterward. Like the animals, they knelt quietly and received the cleansing grace of the Dharma.
At that moment, life and death were no longer opposed. Ghost and Buddha seemed to become one.
Everything settled into a strange equilibrium.
A short while later, Master Kongchan, abbot of Jinguang Temple, approached at an unhurried pace with a group of young monks behind him.
Master Kongchan said nothing. He went directly to the ruined ancient Buddha and sat cross-legged with Ghost Buddha Faceless and Master Numu, the three forming a triangle.
The young monks took out wooden fish and prayer beads, then seated themselves in the snow at a distance.
The sound of sutra chanting grew even more magnificent.
After the time it took half an incense stick to burn, a faint golden light began to shine from the bones before the ancient Buddha.
The foul blood stopped surging and slowly faded away.
Without realizing it, Ghost Buddha Faceless even raised a hand toward the bronze mask on his face. It seemed that he wished to take it off.
Master Kongchan’s expression grew still more compassionate, while Master Numu’s became even more solemn.
But at that moment, a bald, powerfully built man suddenly appeared nearby. He carried two black earthenware jars.
He looked like a Walking Corpse, his shoulders crooked and his body sagging. In an extraordinarily unnatural posture, he shuffled toward Ghost Buddha Faceless bit by bit.
The small animals, spirits, and wandering ghosts listening at the edge of the gathering seemed unable to see the bald man. They remained kneeling in silence.
Master Kongchan sensed the danger. Without interrupting his chanting, he gently swept his sleeve.
Soft Buddhist light spilled forth and met the twisted figure head-on.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha. Benefactor, you died an unjust death. Sit and listen to the sutras so that you may find release soon.”
The instant the Buddhist light touched the bald man, a layer of black light emerged from within him and blocked it.
Still utterly insensible, he continued shuffling toward Ghost Buddha Faceless.