- Legend has it that after Master Lotus enlightened the people, he departed. Out of gratitude, fear, and greed, people made offerings and prayers to him day and night, and fought over his blessings. These unfulfilled pleas gathered and lingered, forming a "shadow" in his wake.
- The shadow is not a demon. It is a part that goodness grew on its own. The more people he enlightened, the heavier the shadow became.
- The shadow has no body of its own and can exist only by inhabiting the "five desires": wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.
- The incarnation of goodness, the Lotus Womb, was not born to "kill" the shadow, but to help it see itself. Once the shadow recognizes itself, the five desires will disperse on their own.
I can smell what people want in their hearts. The desire for wealth smells like copper, lust like face powder, fame like old ink, food like greasy oil, and sleep like bitter medicine. I spent twelve years restoring ancient books with this nose, identifying forgeries and even helping the police sniff out murderers. I always thought this talent was a meal bestowed on me by Heaven.
