Inside the imperial palace of the Chechi Kingdom.
The rain grew heavier and heavier.
Streams of water beneath the eaves merged into a curtain, crashing onto the blue bricks before the hall and throwing up billows of white mist.
The people's cries pierced the curtain of rain, surging into the great hall wave after wave.
"Merciful Holy Monk!"
"Boundless Buddhist Dharma!"
Each cry rose louder than the last.
Yet inside the hall, the silence was chilling.
The five hundred monks stood where they were, not one of them speaking.
Their ears were filled with cries of "Boundless Buddhist Dharma."
Yet there was not a trace of joy on their faces.
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom, however, seemed to have finally grasped a lifesaving straw.
Watching Xuanzang's back, he could not help edging half a step forward, his tone so eager to please that all imperial dignity had vanished.
"Rest assured, Holy Monk!"
"I shall issue a decree at once!"
"From this day forth, the Chechi Kingdom shall rebuild its Buddhist temples, welcome monks far and wide, and make offerings to Buddha day and night!"
"I shall also build temples and shrines for you and your distinguished disciples, Holy Monk, with incense burning forever!"
"Our Chechi Kingdom has always been a Buddhist land, honoring Buddha for generations. Those demonic Daoists merely threw the court into turmoil and deceived me. I shall punish them without mercy!"
He spoke with mounting urgency.
As though, if he spoke quickly enough, he could shift all his former guilt onto someone else.
The Grand Preceptor reacted first, immediately kowtowing, his forehead striking the floor hard.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Merciful Holy Monk!"
"From now on, all of the Chechi Kingdom shall honor Buddha and respect monks, never daring to show the slightest disrespect again!"
The officials