Every Sip and Every Peck Is Karma

The Great Living Buddha looked at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

My mind raced.

Everything stemmed from that Gold Mountain. What if I let go now? If I donated Gold Mountain to the monastery, or handed it over to the Great Living Buddha, would the Tumba Family's crisis be resolved?

The Great Living Buddha poured me another cup of tea. "You understand the saying, 'possession of a treasure brings crime,' don't you?"

I sighed. "I am willing to donate Gold Mountain."

The Great Living Buddha's eyes lit up. "Oh? You can bear to part with it?"

"How can there be gain without sacrifice?" I replied.

The Great Living Buddha nodded slightly. "Good, good! It is wonderful that you can think this way. Don't worry, the Tumba Family will be fine. Go back with peace of mind. In the next couple of days, I will personally pay a visit to the Dongba Family."

With that, the Great Living Buddha raised his tea to see me out. I told him that Butler Solun would deliver the donation documents for Gold Mountain tomorrow, then got up to take my leave.

I let out a long breath. This crisis should have passed.

The young lama escorted me to the door when a scream suddenly rang out from the courtyard. It sounded like it had come from the Great Living Buddha.

The young lama was startled, and I was frightened as well. We hurried toward the Great Living Buddha's quarters.

The Great Living Buddha was already lying in a pool of blood, though he still had a breath left in him.

The young lama rushed forward and cried, "Master, Master, what happened to you?"

The Great Living Buddha raised a hand and pointed at me. "He, he..."

He said "he" several