This Was His Buddhist Teaching

The bony, emaciated monk hugged the dark Buddha statue and sat alone beneath the moonlight, tears constantly welling in his bloodshot eyes.

Feng Gui asked, "City Lord, will that bald monk die? If these people really kill him, then you'll have come all this way for nothing."

Jiang You raised her eyes and studied the monk sitting cross-legged opposite them as people berated him. The moonlight cast a massive shadow behind him. As the breeze swept past and the poisonous mist shifted, the shadow behind him seemed to come alive. It began to grow and writhe wildly, transforming into a vast mass of disordered tentacles that glared menacingly at everyone.

As if sensing the gaze from across the way, Zhu Xie turned toward Jiang You, a compassionate smile appearing on his face.

Even that compassion took on an eerie quality within the shadows.

"Benefactor, the sea of suffering is boundless. Turn back and find the shore..."

Jiang You said, "Get lost."

With Jiang You leading the way, their journey proceeded much more smoothly.

In just five days, they... successfully arrived at the man-eating ants' nest.

Jiang You helplessly spread her hands. "Master, this is the nearest route. I can't help it."

The moment the group saw the enormous man-eating ants, they were already scared witless, and screams rose one after another.

They fled in panic into the egg-laying area, trampling the gray-black eggs underfoot. Sticky, slippery egg fluid streamed across the ground, making it impossible for them to stand steadily.

"What's going on? How can there be such enormous ants here?"

"These aren't ants at all! They're monsters, monsters!"

"It's that woman! She's the guide! She brought us here!"

"Master! Master, save us!!!"

They screamed, remembering the silent monk at this desperate moment.

Huge pincers sliced through the dense fog