The Vairocana Temple Monastery.
Inside Abbot Huiming's meditation room.
Guangze, Abbot of Prajna Temple; Hongci, Abbot of Brahma Sound Temple; Zhiqing, Abbot of Mercy Relief Temple; Qingde, Abbot of White Horse Temple; and Huiming himself, Abbot of Vairocana Temple, all sat around a small tea table.
On the tea table stood a burner of lit incense, a pot of tea, and five teacups.
There was also a Jade Disc used for Voice Transmission.
Although the Five Presiding Abbots had gathered together, none seemed inclined to converse. Each kept his eyes lowered, quietly reciting Buddhist scriptures while passing the Buddhist Prayer Beads of his bracelet through his fingers, one by one.
Golden light manifested by Buddhist Dharma mingled with the wisps of smoke from the incense burner, curling through the little meditation room.
Had ordinary monks seen this, they would surely have marveled at this rare sight of eminent monks contemplating the Dharma.
But for Huiming, Abbot of Vairocana Temple, it was torment.
"Say, Senior Brothers, isn't it time you went back?"
After passing the last Buddhist Prayer Bead through his fingers, Huiming finally could not help opening his eyes and sweeping his gaze over the four men before him.
"There's no rush."
"It's still early."
"Exactly."
"Mm."
The four abbots answered without even lifting their eyelids.
"Senior Brother Guangze, demons are rising everywhere in the Cloud Emergence Kingdom, and Prajna Temple stands in a strategically critical place like Tuoyan Pass. If Yaomo besiege it without you there to hold the fort, I fear trouble will break out."
Huiming singled out Guangze, Abbot of Prajna Temple.
"Junior Brother, don't try to persuade me any further. Until I receive a message from the Heavenly Dharma Protector, I won't leave."
Guangze lowered his hand and opened his eyes to look at Huiming.
After