It was summer now, so thunder was perfectly normal. But as an adept, he should have sensed it beforehand. How could a sudden thunderclap have stunned him? That utter lack of warning was no good sign!
The young Daoist attendant also looked up, finding it strange, and muttered, "This rain really does come whenever it pleases."
Turning his head, he saw Adept Hui Dao staring up at the sky with a strange expression, neither quite smiling nor quite crying. He hurriedly asked, "Adept, what's wrong?"
Adept Hui Dao said nothing, only stared fixedly at the sky.
Seeing this, the attendant could only fall silent and wait uneasily beside him.
No one knew how much time had passed before Adept Hui Dao finally let out a heavy breath and asked, "When I came back during the day, I heard you say someone had left horses at the temple?"
The attendant did not understand why the adept was asking, but answered, "Yes. I heard it was a merchant looking to do business. He paid a fortune for several horses from beyond the frontier to present to an official... He had to attend to something at short notice and didn't feel safe leaving them elsewhere, so he left them at the temple."
Adept Hui Dao ordered, "Go borrow the horses at once. We're going out!"
"Yes! I'll go ask..." the attendant said.
Adept Hui Dao was clearly even more anxious. After a moment's thought, he strode straight toward the stables, saying, "Never mind. There's no time."
No time? No time for what?
The attendant had a short stride and had to hurry to keep up.
They reached the stables moments later. A Daoist happened to be feeding the horses and immediately called out, "Abbot!" when he saw Adept Hui Dao approach.
Adept Hui