"Welcome, honored guests from Great Tang." The golden-crowned monk bowed to the three of them, his expression already completely composed.
The golden-crowned monk's expression had changed for only an instant. The old Shen Luo might not have noticed, but his eyesight was astonishing now, and he had caught every shift in the man's expression without missing a thing.
Why did he look at me like that just now? Could he recognize me? Shen Luo wondered privately.
He was certain he had never visited the Western Regions before. If he had any enemies here, there was only the yellow-faced monk in Bai Prefecture City. Could that monk have some connection to this golden-crowned monk?
These thoughts turned over in his mind, but he let none of them show as he returned the greeting alongside Chan'er and Bai Xiaotian.
"You are too kind, masters. May we ask your Dharma names?" Bai Xiaotian asked.
"This old monk is Longtan, and this is Master Baoshan," the golden-crowned monk said with a smile.
"So you are Master Longtan and Master Baoshan. A pleasure to meet you," Bai Xiaotian said, smiling.
Bai Xiaotian and Chan'er were both Buddhists and conversed quite comfortably with the monks. Shen Luo knew little of Buddhist doctrine, so he stood to one side and listened quietly.
Master Longtan and Master Baoshan had come chiefly to welcome Chan'er and his companions and invite them to the upcoming Mahayana Dharma Assembly. Thus, they did not linger and soon took their leave after a brief conversation.
Shen Luo watched the group depart, his eyes flickering.
During their conversation, Master Longtan had not looked at him, yet Shen Luo could sense that the monk had been observing him all along, as though trying to confirm something.
After watching the monks leave, Chan'er, somewhat weary from