Xuanzang's voice fell silent.
It was as though an invisible hand had pressed down on the hall.
Outside, the rain hammered harder.
Xuanzang looked at everyone prostrate throughout the hall and suddenly shook his head.
"Why has no one said a word?"
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom swallowed.
The officials lay face down, their foreheads pressed against the tiles, their backs rigid.
Xuanzang continued, "Actually, some of what this humble monk just said was not quite right."
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom and his officials raised their heads.
A glimmer of hope had barely surfaced in their eyes before it met Xuanzang's indifferent gaze.
There was no anger in that gaze.
Nor any pity.
"You did indeed do things."
Xuanzang's gaze left the Ruler of Chechi Kingdom's face and swept slowly over the officials.
"You arrested monks. Demolished temples. And arrested innocent people as well."
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom's newly raised head sank little by little.
His face grew ever paler.
Xuanzang's gaze passed over the five hundred monks.
The hall grew quieter and quieter.
Xuanzang turned back to the officials and village elders.
"Since none of you will speak, let this humble monk ask again."
"What do you think brought this rain?"
His voice was level.
"Divine powers?" No one answered.
"Daoist Dharma?" Still no one answered.
Xuanzang shook his head. "Neither."
"You traded those people's lives for twenty years of favorable winds and timely rains."
Rumble!
Another peal of thunder rolled overhead.
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom's legs gave way, and he fell to his knees.
Xuanzang continued:
"Twenty years of favorable winds and timely rains."
"What was the price?"
"Have you ever thought about it?"
He looked at the Ruler of Chechi Kingdom.
Again, Xuanzang did not wait for their answer before continuing:
"Those monks