Ten years ago, Mingxin opened his eyes beside a waterfall in Beiju Luzhou. From then on, he became the monk Mingxin of Bodhi Temple.
In this strange ancient world, Mingxin listened to his senior brothers tell stories of the lands below the mountain:
An evil cultivator led a black donkey, once a man, around as he hawked his wares. An old beggar spat once and brought a heartless man back to life.
On full-moon nights, a mongrel fox wearing a human skull worshipped the moon, while a little monkey crossed mountains and rivers to seek a master and learn the arts.
Then there was a handsome, three-eyed man in Guanjiangkou,
an old Dragon King who claimed to command the wind and rain, and had just lost a bet,
and, hidden beneath the prosperous age, demon lairs deep in the mountains with bones piled as high as hills.
The growing sense of deja vu made Mingxin clutch his head and weep: Investiture of the Gods? Journey to the West? Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio? The timelines don't match, you damn heavens!
Mingxin resolved to stay in the temple no matter what.
Master: Mingxin, you have a deep affinity with the Buddha and great spiritual insight. Your future is limitless.
His master added: But if you can't recite the entire Diamond Sutra by heart tonight, I'll have to send you down the mountain.
Mingxin, tears in his eyes: I can still study! The Buddha is the only one in my heart!
*
Many years later, a Buddhist sage attained enlightenment through tribulation before the Golden Cicada returned to his place.
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