The other man kept his voice low, so low that almost only the two of us could hear it.
I sneered inwardly. The more confident he was, the more information he could reveal to me.
"You've got a good eye!"
I neither denied nor admitted it.
But after hearing that, he assumed I had tacitly accepted it.
He spoke again:
"Master, Black Buddha and us Black Shamans are family.
"The Life and Death Altar cannot be opened without us Black Shamans, without me, Hass!
"Master, you have to find a way to let me return to Tartary."
My heart shook. This man actually knew about the Black Monks' "Life and Death Altar."
This was an altar the Black Monks had been searching for all along. Legend had it that it could revive the dead, regrow flesh on bones, and grant people eternal life.
And it was guarded by a woman of extremely high status...
Yet even now, I had not obtained any further clues.
"You know about the Life and Death Altar?"
I narrowed my eyes, pretending to be shocked.
Hass lay on the ground, his limbs twisted, a faint smile curling his lips.
"Of course. The rubbings on the Life and Death Altar use the Life and Death Curse Scripture jointly passed down by the Black and White Shamans.
"Furthermore, the Tibetan Esoteric Sect and our Black Shamans share certain roots in their origins.
"In terms of doctrine, we Tatar Black Shamans are closer to the Tibetan Esoteric Sect—in other words, your Black Buddha.
"It is only that now, we have each gone our separate ways.
"Your Black Buddha has already sent someone to contact me recently.
"If the Life and Death Altar is to be opened, I absolutely cannot be left out.
"Only I can help you interpret