With a turn, Ruosheng took off his red robe and carefully folded it, placing it under the Bodhi Tree.
Outside the monastery, the battlefield was aflame, smoke billowed, and beneath the thunderous cries of battle, blood flowed like a river.
Inside the monastery, Ruosheng's heart was as calm as still water. Clad in clean white clothes, he sat cross-legged under the tree, fingering the Buddha beads, reciting the Prajna Sutra like his master.
The night wind blew gently, shedding Bodhi leaves that fell atop Ruosheng's head.
He shivered all over, as if in a trance seeing the charming monk smiling before him, placing a palm on his head.
"Since you've become a monk, you will be my disciple from now on, Ruosheng."
"Master…"
The Buddha beads in his hand snapped apart, and Ruosheng was in tears.
The night wind picked up speed, as Ruosheng raised his head to hold back his tears, his body merging back into the yellow sand, blown towards the sunless battlefield.
