A Gathering of All Demons, Yet Buddha's Grace Can Never Be Repaid! The Legendary Demon King-Does It Really Exist?

Mikawa Province, Nishio Castle.

In the afternoon, the sound of the faithful chanting "Amitabha Buddha" echoed throughout Jodo Shinshu, inside and out.

Before the golden statue of Amitabha Tathagata in the main hall.

Although all the wooden doors of the main hall stood open outward, the Warrior Monks and ordinary monks coming and going could see only Lotus Light Dharma Master sitting cross-legged before the golden statue, his eyes half-lowered, his presence awe-inspiring despite his lack of anger.

The monk who commanded the tens of thousands of monks throughout Jodo Shinshu in Mikawa sat upon a worn-out rush cushion.

The Dharma Master known as Lotus Light had muscles knotted across his entire body and the build of a bear. A string of thick, oak-colored prayer beads hung around his neck, while he wore a faded, ancient kasaya and recited Buddhist scriptures with a stern yet compassionate expression.

On the other side of the main hall, the dull sound of a mallet striking the mokugyo echoed at a steady pace, as though it would never stop.

Beside Lotus Light Dharma Master, a fair-skinned novice monk lifted a chipped teapot and smiled as he poured him tea.

Drip, drip...

Smack.

The stream of tea suddenly stopped.

Lotus Light Dharma Master's chanting halted as well.

He extended his rough five fingers and lifted the half-filled teacup. After taking a sip of the scalding tea, he asked flatly,

"Layman Disease, what happened?"

The fair-skinned novice monk blinked once before replying, "Somewhere on the outskirts of Mikawa, my connection with all the Retainers there suddenly broke."

"And it happened all at once. Not a single one remained."

The novice monk gestured in surprise.

As he spoke, a worried look appeared on the novice's youthful face. He took half a step back, set down the teapot,