The snowstorm had stopped long ago, and the infant who had refused to settle no matter how anyone soothed him had finally stopped crying. People began emerging from the various halls of the Great Autumn Temple.
The monks in the Great Buddha Hall opened its doors to find the temple grounds covered in snow. The outer wall, which had not yet been fully repaired, had collapsed again-an entire stretch of it this time.
Everyone stood bewildered for a moment before several monks reacted first and ran toward the mountain gate. Many common folk and even some soldiers followed.
The collapsed outer wall actually made things easier for them now. They did not have to run out through the mountain gate and crowd into that one spot; they could see into the distance through the breach.
Over there, a circle of golden radiance stood out sharply against the boundless snowfield.
The weather was undoubtedly strange beyond measure, but even as its unnatural turn shook their hearts, more people were worried about the old monk who had always overseen the Great Autumn Temple's affairs.
"Where is Master Wufa?" "The master..."
"I fear he..."
I fear his chances are grim!
Many harbored that thought, and many understood that it was probably the truth.
A pall hung over the entire Great Autumn Temple. The cold made everyone huddle into themselves, and Master Wufa's departure had left them with more than sorrow; an even deeper unease weighed on them.
A short while later, however, Ru Qing, Ru Xing, and several other monks noticed something first. A ragged figure was approaching through the snow below the mountain, a faint golden glow barely discernible around him.
Many saw it, but when they looked more closely, the golden glow was gone. Only an old monk remained, walking along