The civil and military officials, Princes and Nobles who had come to Dragon Painting Temple were still shaken and bewildered, emerging from their hiding places one after another.
Naturally, this included the monks of Dragon Painting Temple and the Imperial Guards.
Master Dingzhen and several monks also came out and looked around. Seeing their familiar temple reduced to such a battered state left a bitter taste in their hearts.
Of the buildings and halls in the vast Dragon Painting Temple, nearly half had lost their roofs, and some had even collapsed.
"Quick, see if anyone is injured or trapped beneath the collapsed buildings!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Abbot, the dragon on Dragon Painting Mountain is gone!"
Master Dingzhen turned toward the main peak of Dragon Painting Mountain. The Painted Dragon that had once clung to the mountainside as though coiled around it had vanished, leaving an apparently ordinary mountain behind.
"Buddha is merciful. Blessings, blessings!"
Master Dingzhen offered a Buddhist salute toward the mountain, a faint smile appearing on his face. He knew that Senior Painted Dragon had succeeded!
Not everyone had clearly seen the changes in the sky. Dazzled by the lightning and sunlight, some had glimpsed things that seemed no more than phantoms. But though the old abbot's eyesight might have been limited, he still understood a few things.
A monk spotted the emperor emerging nearby and alerted Master Dingzhen, who hurried toward him with the monks at his side.
"Seeing Your Majesty unharmed eases this old monk's heart somewhat. The upheaval at Dragon Painting Temple today has frightened Your Majesty. What a sin, what a sin!"
Hearing Master Dingzhen's voice, the emperor finally withdrew his bewildered, searching gaze and saw the old abbot beside him, offering a Buddhist salute.
An indescribable melancholy filled the emperor's face.
"Master Dingzhen, you