"Heading west all the way toward Corpse Camel Temple would certainly be the fastest route there. But wouldn't those people from [Hell's Beings] arrange to intercept and kill us?"
At this thought, Qu Zan slowed down, letting himself gradually fall behind.
The others had only just escaped their cage and wished their mounts could grow a few extra legs so they could flee this dangerous place as quickly as possible.
No one noticed him. Qu Zan broke away from the main group and turned northeast at a hillside.
He made a wide circuit back to Rika City.
By early the next morning, Qu Zan entered Rika City.
He was in no hurry to leave. First, he found an inn and settled down to sleep. After galloping through the night, Qu Zan gave himself a good rest and slept until noon, ate lunch, and only then fully woke up.
Qu Zan did not enter Nagarjuna Victory Temple either. After all, the movements of the Corpse Camel Temple party had been leaked; there was no guarantee Nagarjuna Victory Temple had no spies.
Inside his room at the inn.
Qu Zan took out the Golden Cylinder. It was as thick as a forearm and exquisitely crafted, with mantras engraved around its middle and auspicious bird-and-flower designs on its surface. It was completely sealed, and uncanny power could not penetrate it.
He shook the cylinder. A faint knocking came from inside, as though some hard object had been sealed within.
Could this be the [Buddha's Sarira]? Qu Zan wondered.
He could not be certain. It might be a piece of dog bone-
This was precisely the effect the elders wanted. If even their own people did not know whether what they carried was the sarira, outsiders would naturally have even less way of