One Against Five

"Quite a few people have come to observe our Sutra Academy's Dharma Assembly," the Sutra Academy Abbot said with a smile.

His smile was cold, and his voice sounded like the eerie weeping of ghosts.

The steward and the others all shuddered. Before this wielder of ghostly and divine power, even the air they breathed seemed to turn cold and sinister.

"Naturally, it is because our Sutra Academy shines like the sun at its zenith, drawing the admiration of the other branch academies," the School Monitor said with a smile.

"Begin." The Sutra Academy Abbot glanced at him, then closed his eyes and sat cross-legged in meditation.

The School Monitor immediately understood. He stepped up to the railing and announced the start of the Courtyard Competition Dharma Assembly.

Today's courtyard competition focused primarily on Debate.

Lots were drawn for the Debate, with one person establishing a thesis and the others questioning and challenging him. One against one, one against two, one against three... the lots determined the number of participants.

This form of Debate tested the Scholar Monks' quick thinking and ability to seize on flaws.

As one Debate followed another, large numbers of Scholar Monks were defeated, either exposing flaws or finding themselves unable to withstand the successive rounds of questioning.

Some, while attacking, could find no flaws and stammered into silence, and were ordered to leave.

At last, it was Qu Zan's turn. He drew the role of thesis defender, and the number of participants was...

One against five!

Everyone was stunned to hear the result. One against five was the most difficult matchup possible.

To make a crude comparison, it was like fighting a war: the disparity in numbers was a disparity in strength.

Doje slapped his thigh. "It's over. Junior Brother's luck is terrible. How did he end up drawing even a one-against-five matchup?"

Below the raised platform, Huode's heart rose into his throat. He had a faint, ominous premonition.

Little Gyatso, I hope you aren't being targeted. Let's hope it's only bad luck.

A Scholar Monk like Gyatso had neither a foundation nor backing.

Even after enduring a thousand hardships to stand on the same stage as those with resources, he would still be targeted.

There were too many people at the bottom, with differing interests and demands, making it impossible for them to unite.

Those at the top needed no prior communication. They could naturally unite and pool their strength to suppress challengers.

"Announcing the challengers. The five attackers are Gama, Dunzhu, Tsering, Namkha, and Jiumo..."

The moment his Debate opponents' names were announced, an uproar swept through the crowd, and everyone began discussing it.

Even Doje understood what this meant.

Gama and Dunzhu had placed first and second yesterday, while Tsering, Namkha, and Jiumo were all renowned Debate experts among the branch academy's Druptsawas.

"What is this?" Doje said. "Why are they targeting Junior Brother Gyatso like this?"

"Gyatso's performance yesterday was too dazzling," Rinchen said. "And the rewards for this Dharma Assembly are far too generous."

"Senior Brother, are they giving out a lot of secret silver?" Doje asked instinctively.

Rinchen glanced at the money-grubber. "Is that all you can aspire to? The courtyard competition's champion will receive an opportunity for completion empowerment. That's much better than my lineage empowerment. And it's practically a ticket straight to becoming a Geshe..."

"What does completion empowerment mean?" Doje asked.

"Do you really never study at all?" Rinchen said irritably. "Do you only know how to practice the Yoga Method?"

"There are many kinds of empowerment. One relatively common kind is blessing empowerment, in which a Lama empowers believers to avert calamity and extend their lives.

"My lineage empowerment was effectively an authorization, granting me the qualifications to practice certain mantras and supernatural powers.

"Completion empowerment, on the other hand, directly instills wisdom and ultimate truth, granting supernatural powers on the spot," Rinchen said. "And the place offering direct advancement to Geshe is very attractive too."

A Druptsawa needed to study and gradually advance to Senior Druptsawa, pass an examination to become a Beqawa, then study and pass further examinations to obtain the Garampa degree.

Becoming a Garampa meant qualifying to take the Geshe examination. A Garampa needed to make offerings to the branch academy, undergo trials before the steps, and then pass the examination to become a Geshe.

The courtyard competition's champion would effectively be guaranteed advancement to Geshe.

"These fellows saw how much was at stake, so they're eliminating a strong contender first before competing among themselves!"

In the arena, Qu Zan stood alone. Five meditation cushions lay before him, each representing one person. Four people took their seats on the felt cushions.

The fifth cushion remained empty.

"Namkha, the Debate is about to begin. Take your seat!" an Iron Staff Lama said.

The Iron Staff Lama was the branch academy's record keeper. He held a meter-long, square, hollowwork iron staff. As he walked, he struck it against the flagstones, producing a deep, startling thud.

Namkha raised his hand. "I object. This is far too unfair to the thesis defender!"

Although Namkha came from a Dzongben's family, his standing was low. Who knew how many people secretly worked against him behind his back?

He knew how hard it was to climb up from the bottom, and how difficult it was to seize every opportunity.

That made him all the more unwilling to win through such dishonorable means.

"It is not for a mere Scholar Monk like you to judge what is fair!" The Iron Staff Lama struck his staff down hard, and everyone lowered their heads in silence. "Do you wish to forfeit your place?"

The iron staff symbolized discipline and the authority to enforce it.

"Then I'll forfeit and concede."

Namkha held his neck stiffly and stood with his hands behind his back, his spine straight as a pine. Whatever others did, he would not gang up to harm someone.

Qu Zan was deeply moved by Namkha's actions. He had not expected this usually gentle and refined senior brother to be so upright and bold when something happened.

"Senior Brother, who wins and who loses has yet to be decided!" Qu Zan said with a smile. His gaze was gentle, with a mellow warmth deep in his eyes.

He extended a hand, gesturing for Namkha to sit on the cushion.

Seeing how composed Qu Zan remained, seemingly untroubled even when facing five opponents, Namkha felt even more remorse toward this junior brother and was somewhat reluctant to meet his eyes.

Yet Qu Zan kept his palm extended, insisting that he sit.

Namkha could only sit cross-legged on the cushion. He resolved that when his turn came, he would make a perfunctory effort and win Gyatso a few points.

Qu Zan swept his gaze around, then clapped his hands. "My thesis is A White Horse Is Not a Horse. Do you agree or disagree?"

An uproar erupted outside the arena, and everyone began discussing it.

"How could Junior Brother put forward a thesis like that?" Doje muttered. "Even an outsider like me knows a white horse is definitely a horse!"

"It's riddled with holes. Are these two sides putting on a show?" someone whispered.

Gadeng spoke first. "Disagree. Having a white horse means having a horse. A white horse is naturally a horse."

"Horse denotes shape, while white denotes color," Qu Zan said. "Color is not shape, so a white horse is not a horse."

Only after hearing this argument did everyone realize how subtle Qu Zan's thesis was. At first, the question sounded counterintuitive, but it actually concealed a hidden intricacy.

"This fellow came prepared!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Namkha's eyes-the gleam of a player meeting a worthy opponent.

"Disagree," Dunzhu said. "White is attached to the horse. White cannot be separated from the horse. Together, they are called a white horse, but in essence, it is still a horse. Splitting them apart is meaningless!"

"Then let me ask you," Qu Zan said. "Having a white horse means having a horse. Do you agree or disagree?"

"Of course I agree!" Dunzhu said.

"Then having a yellow horse means having a horse. Do you agree or disagree?"

"Agree!"

Qu Zan followed through, digging a pit. "Then does having a white horse mean having a yellow horse? Do you agree or disagree?"

"Of course I disagree."

Qu Zan clapped his hands. "Why is that? You admit that a yellow horse is not simply a horse because it bears the color yellow. Then why should a white horse, which bears the color white, be equivalent to a horse? Your logic is muddled. Speak no further."