Seize by Force

As Chen Chang'an and Da Huang ventured deeper, the number of monks steadily increased. Unlike when they first entered the western lands—where only a few monks could occasionally be seen—the closer they got to the Heavenly Sound Temple, the more monks there were. It was as if these lands had already fallen entirely under the monks' control.

"Honorable masters, I beg you, please don’t take my child away."

"My child was just born."

"I implore you..."

A woman who had recently given birth knelt on the ground, pleading desperately before several monks. One of them held a swaddled infant in his arms, his gaze toward the woman haughty and cold.

"You live here—you should know the rules."

"Being taken by our Buddhist order is his fortune, a blessing for your entire family."

"Don’t be ungrateful," the monk said coldly.

"But... but he’s still so young. Just a few more years, please?" the woman begged.

"Rules are rules. If others can abide by them, why can’t you?"

"Stop kneeling here—it’s disgraceful."

"Need I remind you? When this rule was established, you all agreed to it."

"Amitabha. Junior Brother Huiming, do not be discourteous."

"Benefactor, our Great Hidden Temple has its reasons for this."

"It is for the sake of all living beings. As one among them, you too must contribute."

"This is not for our Buddhist order, but for the countless souls of this world."

"The Buddha is merciful. Compassion, compassion."

Another monk nearby spoke more diplomatically, preaching lofty principles rather than arguing. But how could a simple woman grasp such grand philosophies? All she knew was that these men were taking her child, tearing her flesh and blood from her.

Her eyes burned with resentment, especially as she turned to her husband, who stood motionless, doing nothing.

"Are you really just going to let them take our son?"

"Are you even a father?" she lashed out furiously.

"The honorable masters have already said—our son will come to no harm if he’s taken."

"Just let it go."

Let it go?

How could she?

Her child was barely a week old. How could a group of monks possibly care for him?

"I don’t care!"

"No one is taking my child!"

"No one!"

With that, the woman lunged forward to snatch her baby back. The monk holding the infant scowled.

"How dare you!"

Bang!

Without hesitation, the monk struck her with his palm, sending her flying. There was not a trace of the compassion expected of a monk.

"Amitabha. Sin, sin."

"Junior Brother, what have you done?"

"Ah, who would have thought our good intentions would be so misunderstood?"

"She is a fool. Why stoop to her level?"

"Senior Brother, this junior knows his mistake."

"The Buddha is merciful—how could we casually take an innocent life?"

"Go, check on her."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Another monk approached the woman, who now lay coughing up blood, her eyes filled with fury and despair. Seeing she still clung to life, the monk’s gaze turned icy.

"Such compassion!"

"Truly eye-opening!"

"What? Planning to silence her for good?"

Just as the monk was about to deliver the final blow, a voice cut through the air, halting him.

"Who dares speak such slander?"

"The Buddha is merciful. We would never do such a thing."

Caught in his scheme, the monk’s face darkened, though he refused to admit it outright.

"Still playing the saint?"

Chen Chang'an had always known these monks were hypocrites, but he hadn’t expected to witness something like this.

A newborn child, snatched away without hesitation?

This was Buddhism? This was compassion?

How were they any different from bandits?

Chen Chang'an appeared before the woman in an instant, placing a hand on her. A surge of potent life energy flowed into her body, healing her injuries in mere moments.

Stunned, the woman stared at him.

"Benefactor!"

"Thank you for saving me."

"But I have another request—please, save my child!"

"My son is only seven days old, not even a month!"

"If they take him, I fear... I fear he’ll..."

Tears streamed down her face as she kowtowed before him.

"Nonsense!"

"We are monks, not villains! Taking your child is only to bring him into our Buddhist order."

"The Buddha is merciful—we relieve the suffering of all beings!"

"You—"

Bang!

Before the monk could finish, Chen Chang'an struck, sending him flying just as he had done to the woman.

"Such mercy!"

"Such relief of suffering!"

"I’ve seen plenty of bandits, but few as shameless as you."

"You steal infants from their mothers and call it charity?"

"Is this what the Buddhist order stands for—robbery and force?" Chen Chang'an said coldly.

"You have some nerve!"

"You dare raise a hand against us, the followers of Buddha?"

"Do you have a death wish?"

The other monks glowered, their eyes burning with rage. The onlookers, meanwhile, paled in horror.

Who was this man? Did he not know what the Buddhist order represented here?

Attacking a monk—was he trying to get himself killed?

"This guy’s alone—he’s got guts."

"Ah, though the monks’ ways have grown harsh lately... who dares oppose them?"

"It’s over. Not only will the child not be saved, but this man and the woman are as good as dead now."

"Dead? The woman would’ve died earlier if not for him."

Chen Chang'an heard every word. So, not everyone here was blind.

They knew exactly how the monks operated.

They just didn’t dare speak up.

Ignoring the monks, Chen Chang'an helped the woman to her feet.

"Madam, has the Buddhist order always been like this?" he asked.

"Before... no. They were kind, peaceful."

"But ever since the Great Hidden Temple rose to prominence, they’ve imposed many rules."

"One of them demands that every newborn within a hundred miles be handed over to them."

"They say it’s for our own good."

"But I... I can’t bear to be torn from my child," she sobbed.

"If you didn’t agree, why comply in the first place?"

"If I refuse, I will face the punishment of the Buddhist order."

"If I refuse, I will become the sinner who hinders the Buddha's mission to deliver all living beings."

"I..."

The woman's heart was filled with helplessness—she dared not refuse, yet at this critical moment, how could she bear to part with her own flesh and blood?

"I truly wish to know just how they intend to deal with such a 'sinner'!"