Layered clouds like pale ink, driven by the cold wind, slowly pressed from the sky of the Northern Country toward the southern heavens. Faint shadows shrouded the northern seas, then gradually covered the Longship along the shore.
Ahead lay low-hanging darkness, like the Abyss beneath Buddha's lowered eyes. Dozens of Wajin and Joseon Artisans either devoutly chanted sutras or wept in despair; some staggered along, some fed tigers with their own bodies. Just like that, they crossed the Shiribetsu River, crossed the reed-choked wasteland of Ezo Land, bade farewell to everything of the past, and boarded the Sanda Sea Ship like the Sanzu River. And those mournful cries drifting from afar made even the greatly compassionate Master Juehui lower his eyelids and sigh softly in grief.
"Namu Myoho Renge! All living beings cling; all living beings suffer. This is the cycle of fate, the calamity Buddha has granted! Once this tribulation is crossed, the gate of infinite light will arrive after the deaths of all good believers... Namu Amituofo! Infinite Light Infinite Life..."
"Namu Amitabaya! Tathagata..."
With that, Master Juehui spoke with heartfelt sincerity and recited the Rebirth Mantra once more for the good believers who had given their bodies to feed tigers and boarded the Sanda Sea Ship. Only after completing this merit did he murmur in peace and righteousness, his brows and eyes full of compassion.
"Eighty-one Artisans, one thousand and eighty koku of rice, and one damaged, slow-moving merchant ship... With these added burdens, the Sanda people's fleet will surely sail slowly!..."
"Once this Sanda fleet leaves the coast and separates from the Sanda cavalry and tribal warriors onshore... then the great ships of my Tendai Sect's naval forces will strike the sluggish short ships of the Yuan Invaders as easily as reaching into a bag, just