Old Monk Huixian led Little Stone to sit in meditation by the lake, chanting scriptures all day.
The village tyrant, Big White Goose, honked as she swam past the old man and child. White feathers floated atop green waters, red webbed feet stirred clear ripples. Master and disciple remained as immovable as divine statues, leaving the villagers even more awestruck. Every day, they brought vegetarian meals for the two to eat.
By the lake.
Little Stone looked up at his master.
"Master, how many more days do we have to sit here?"
"Don't rush. We'll leave after three to five days."
"That's still so long..."
Little Stone missed the birds and tranquility in the mountains. Sitting by the lake every day was terribly boring. Children were naturally restless and could not sit still. Though he did not have to pull weeds or work here, he still felt uncomfortable.
"If we stay here for a few days, the villagers will set their minds at ease and farm peacefully, rising at sunrise and resting at sunset. Besides, that great demon probably won't harm anyone."
"A demon... really won't hurt people?" Little Stone stared wide-eyed at Huixian.
"Who knows..."
Huixian muttered and fell silent, quietly gazing over the lake. He watched the white goose frolic in the water, watched the mountains and waters reflected upon its surface. The calm lake had swallowed the Wang Family estate, white walls and blue-green water forming a scene with a unique charm.
Turning toward the village entrance, he saw a fortune-teller carrying a banner arrive at Wang Family Village...
The strange phenomena in Wang Family Village were not obvious. Occasionally, a passing fortune-teller with genuine skill would notice something unusual about this place, yet his shallow learning would keep him from understanding what exactly was extraordinary. Out