The woodcutter's family got up before dawn.
By the time they left, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
By now, they had gotten out of the carriage...
A streak of white appeared on the eastern horizon.
Dawn had broken.
People kept arriving at the temple entrance, getting out of their carriages and walking inside.
The temple, tucked away in a remote spot and showing its age, had become somewhat lively.
The woodcutter led the way.
"Let's go in too."
The woman and the Young Scholar followed at once.
The Young Scholar followed the woodcutter and the woman in silence.
He glanced casually from side to side.
It seemed like a long time since he'd gone out like this...
The last time he'd gone out was to take the imperial examination in the capital—
Uh.
The night before that, he'd chased the Black Monster into the mountains... That counted as going out too, didn't it?
So that made this his most recent outing.
Remembering what had happened that night, the Young Scholar couldn't help feeling a little dazed.
The woodcutter and the woman devoutly bowed before one Buddha statue after another.
The woodcutter tugged at the Young Scholar.
"Little brother."
"You should bow too."
"Pray to Buddha to bless you with good health, success in your exams, and a smooth official career..."
The Young Scholar didn't refuse.
They were already at the temple, so he might as well pay his respects.
But he was praying for more than what the woodcutter had mentioned...
There was a knot in his heart.
He hoped...
Buddha could help him untie it.
"Little brother, come quickly!"
The woman called out excitedly in a hushed voice.
The Young Scholar opened his eyes, somewhat bewildered.
At some point,