Chapter Twenty-Four: The Struggle for the Dzi Bead

In the second half of the night, under a dim halo of light and interspersed Buddha's chants, the monastery witnessed a theatrical scene of escape. With the cold night wind in tow, the silhouette of the criminal monk, like a specter of the night, cut through the twists of the long gallery and the shadows, leaving in its wake a trail of desperate footsteps. The resplendent splendor within the shrine hall contrasted starkly with the profound darkness outside – all part of the backdrop for a flight in the night.

The monks' quarters lay ajar, and upon pushing open the door, the eyes of the fugitive monk flicked restlessly. Casting an apprehensive glance all around, he then turned and disappeared into the familiar, yet now foreign, darkness. His movements were swift and clandestine, as if rehearsed countless times before. The tranquility of the sacred space was disturbed by the sudden tumult rousing the monks from their sleep.

Soon, the call to chase resounded. The younger monks were the first to sense the anomaly, prompting the entire monastic community into action. Rapidly, the interconnected galleries of the monastery echoed with the sounds of urgent assembly calls. Monks emerged from their rooms, some barely having time to don their robes, their bewildered eyes weaving a tapestry of concern and confusion under the moonlight – all bracing to apprehend the escapee.

The monastery, meant to be a sanctuary for soul purification, now played host to a much darker narrative as its inhabitants were seized by tension and agitation. Amidst the impenetrable night, each soul sought after the fleeting figure, with every look portraying a conflict between inner defense and tumult. The temple, once a haven of serenity, was now the main stage for a flight that would entwine them all.

Frantically, subtle clues guided the pursuers through the underbrush towards the forest, weaving through the dappled bamboo and over the tender grass. Under the moonlight, a shadow loomed in the distance: a figure, like the last wisp of smoke from a dying flame spiraling into the dense night

Before long, within the solemn shadows beyond the hilltop stupa, the fugitive monk's figure was finally spotted, and a game of cat and mouse unfolded in the depths of the mountain – a test of intellect and strength set against the purity of the sacred land.

Flight and pursuit escalated the collision of life forces within this holy backdrop. The night seemed predestined to unfold a struggle concerning human nature, faith, and avarice - a trial only a step away from rage. Beneath the moon's glow, a prelude to deep spiritual redemption slowly began.

In the secluded depths behind the distant monastery, the criminal monk lay hidden in the dark embrace of the forest, unrested throughout the night. His unruly thoughts, like a wild gust in the wilderness, mirrored the wavering flames in the darkness. Aware that there was no turning back, his desire for the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead was as inescapable as burrs to skin.

Having followed the Abbot for many years, his obsession with the Dzi Bead outmatched his dedication to the Dharma. How could he persuade other monks to join his cause? Resorting to his mastery of the secretive art of ventriloquism, he spoke to all the monks in pursuit.

"Disciples, halt and hark to my words," the fugitive monk began to spread his web of rhetoric, whispering of the legends and powers behind the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead, ensnaring the hearts of the listeners.

"What I seek is not only wisdom but also transcendence—the pursuit of the Pure Land. Does not the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead represent the way to liberation from the sorrowful cycle of rebirth? The Dzi Bead belongs to our monastery, it is the treasure of all of us, and we all have a share in it. How can we give this treasure to an outsider?" He lured the monks whose faith had not yet solidified, weaving credible lies by playing on their secret desires.

The words of the criminal monk were filled with temptation and challenge as he spun an attractive web with the infinite possibilities of the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead as its core story. Some monks were beguiled, some lured by power, and others believed in the beautiful vision he depicted because of their intrinsic faith.

"Just imagine, with it in our possession, we could reach the Other Shore, discern life and death, and grasp the future." The ventriloquist voice of the criminal monk was passionate as he described a future so magical that one rather wanted to believe it was all true.

His words, mixed with resentment towards the Abbot's decision and yearning for the future, eventually convinced a group of monks to join his faction. Amidst the monastery's turmoil and the sudden death of the Abbot, the criminal monk seized the pervasive confusion and brought those eager monks into his inner circle of complicity.

After rallying a small band of followers, the criminal monk began to brew a concrete plan. Influenced by him, these monks gathered, preparing to defy the Buddhist teachings they had received and to collectively confront those who remained loyal to the monastery and the Abbot's dying wishes.

Under the cover of night, they conspired with an unspeakable zeal to snatch the Dzi Bead—a plan rife with an unimaginable crisis and chaos.

Thus, under the hazy moonlight, a conspiracy concerning faith, desire, and the Dzi Bead quietly unfolded in the ancient monastery. When we were informed of this plot by a knowing monk, the starry sky remained bright, lending a dramatic hue to the impending struggle which was destined to meet the dawn's judgment.

The monastery, like a flickering candle in the wind, trembled under the unsettled light of faith after the Abbot's untimely passing. As temporary custodians of the Dzi Bead, we were inevitably drawn into a more complex battle of power and desire. The conspiratorial darkness of the night had not yet lifted, and tension saturated the winding mountain paths.

In the darkest stretch before dawn, under dappled moonlight, the three of us, protected by a group of monks who championed the Abbot's decision, turned our backs on the quiet monastery and stepped into the broader wilderness, carrying the Dzi Bead. I once suggested returning the bead to the monastery to quell the storm, yet the group was resolute, believing the Abbot's decision was the wisest and should be honored posthumously. On these tranquil mountain paths, we sensed an impending conspiracy drawing close.

The shadows of the criminal monk and his followers flickered indistinctly in the dark, lurking behind the thick bamboo, eyes fiercely trained on our movements. Their breaths masked by the night's breeze and footsteps disguised by the chorus of insects, they were poised to strike us down.

We too sensed the approaching danger. On the deserted path, where only the wind and the crunch of stones underfoot broke the silence, an eerie stillness prevailed. However, in a moment of vulnerability, the ambushing monks pounced like hunting leopards, swift and fierce.

A confrontation was inevitable—the charged atmosphere was ready to ignite. Beneath the cold moonlight, tensions were drawn tight, with just a few short steps separating us from them. The leading monk, guardian of our safety, spoke first, attempting to defuse the hostility with reason: "We are all family; why must we fight amongst ourselves? The power of the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead should not be the root of our divisions and conflict."

The criminal monk bore a ferocious expression, driven by greed and a thirst for power to the point where no persuasion could reach him. His clenched fists and tightly gripped robes were telltale signs of his resolve and treachery. "They are outsiders; our monastery has protected the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead with great dedication over the years! Only the true believers of our monastery deserve the power of the Dzi Bead. We absolutely cannot allow them to take it away."

The standoff escalated into an argument, with voices of dispute echoing through the empty mountain paths. The leading monk remained calm, seeking a more profound dialogue: "Whether the Dzi Bead possesses power or not, harboring kind intentions is the true essence of Buddhist teachings. We mustn't let it mislead us." Yet, the criminal monk, submerged in selfish desires, dismissed such admonitions with disdain.

In the end, amidst the upheaval of stirred emotions and deadlock leading to mutual damage, we sought possibilities for reconciliation, trying to make the monks realize that the true enemy was the greed and anger within. To this day, whether we can bring back that long-lost reason and peace remains an unknown. Under the cold moon, a new crisis loomed, ushering in a test of the human heart and faith.

Underneath the bloody moon of that night, a fierce battle for the Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead was quietly underway. Our standoff with the criminal monk and his followers seemed to have reached the point of no return. While we attempted to convince them through reason and compassion, anger and covetousness had already consumed the monk's thoughts. He was focused solely on seizing the bead, a gem brimming with boundless power, ignoring all warnings and guidance.

Suddenly, a surge of force broke the impasse. The criminal monk made a decisive dash towards me, holding the Dzi Bead. His followers, like shadows, followed suit, their heavy steps signaling the impending disaster.

The criminal monk finally snatched the Dzi Bead from my grasp, trembling as he took it out of the wooden box. The Nine-Eyed Dzi Bead radiated a soft glow, the tension in the air peaking. Upon placing this mysterious jewel upon himself, an ominous aura instantly enveloped him, and suddenly, an unknown force was unleashed, as if opening a gateway to another realm.

The light of the Dzi Bead instantly became blinding; the interwoven golden lines seemed to come to life as the power hidden within roared and blazed. However, the criminal monk had not expected that the power he coveted would exceed his endurance. What he felt wasn't endless strength but a flame that incinerated everything.

His body encircled by a strange halo gradually became transparent, the supreme power rampaging through his veins. All worldly desires turned to ashes in an instant, and the face of the criminal monk twisted in pain and regret. He tried to call for help, to remove the disastrous Dzi Bead, only to find himself incapable. His voice stuck in his throat, unable to make a sound.

We observed all this, our hearts filled with a tumult of feelings. The criminal monk's arrogant figure was submerged in the sudden burst of light, and his followers recoiled in shock, witnessing their leader reduce to smoldering embers. Their eyes revealed bewilderment and fear – the reasons for their allegiance and their convictions seemed so insignificant in the face of the Dzi Bead's true power.