"Another five hundred years passed."
"She became a great tree by the roadside."
"At last, beneath the blazing sun, Ananda came to the tree, leaned against her trunk, and fell into a deep sleep."
"She finally touched him. With all her strength, she gathered her shade around him to shield him from the sunlight."
"But..."
Xuanzang's Ordination Razor stopped in midair, and the Red-Blood Buddha Wheel manifested behind his head.
His profound gaze settled on the Corpse Demon opposite him.
"Ananda woke, brushed the dust from his robe, and turned to leave. He never looked back, never once glanced at her."
"The Buddha appeared and asked her whether she wished to continue cultivating."
"She was still utterly bewildered. She demanded of the Buddha: she had cultivated for a thousand years and endured wind and frost, so why would he not even spare her a glance? Were those who studied Buddhism truly so cold and hard of heart?"
"The Buddha did not answer. He merely raised his hand and pointed to the unyielding stone beside her, beneath the tree."
Xuanzang's gaze lowered slightly, reflecting the bluestone beneath him.
"The Buddha said: to look upon you once, he became this unyielding stone and cultivated here for two thousand years. Do you still not understand?"
"The Modgalyayana Woman froze. She did not believe him. She thought only that the Buddha was deceiving her."
The Corpse Demon gave a derisive laugh, seemingly agreeing with the woman's disbelief.
"So the Buddha told her a story from long ago."
"Once, in Shravasti, there lived a kind elder who revered Buddhist teachings. He possessed vast wealth and often gave alms to the poor, but had only one son. The young master was twenty years old and had been married for just seven days."
"One spring day, the