Hui Mian lay atop the old horse's head and listened quietly too. This was an authentic Buddhist sutra. As far as Hui Mian could understand, it spoke of awakening wisdom, and of doing good deeds to reap good rewards.
Yet to Hui Mian's ears, the voice was clear one moment and indistinct the next, and some of it was far too profound.
After listening for a while, Hui Mian instinctively looked back toward the house. Inside, Yi Shuyuan had already risen and was standing by the window, looking out through its ragged holes.
To the animals gathered near the Small Temple, the Buddhist chanting was likewise sometimes low and indistinct, sometimes a little clearer. Some passages struck them like thunder awakening the deaf; others made their heads feel swollen.
To Yi Shuyuan, however, the chanting was faint but perfectly clear. Even from farther away, he could hear every word.
"Those whose deeds possess virtue draw near to humanity, and may open the gate to spiritual wonders. Contemplating the self in freedom, they know no fear and harbor no evil."
Yi Shuyuan had never studied Buddhist teachings, yet he felt he benefited somewhat from this sutra. Looking at the animals outside the temple, he also understood that virtually none of them were evil.
Just then, something suddenly occurred to Yi Shuyuan. He looked toward the sleeping driver and recalled what the man had said at nightfall, spittle flying as he spoke:
"Later, the imperial court cracked down hard. They invited the Celestial Master and experts from all quarters, and together they cleaned out the mountain."
"Ah..."
Even someone as cheerful as Yi Shuyuan could not help sighing now.
Although the driver had not said how long this clay bodhisattva had been here, a casual glance told Yi Shuyuan it had certainly