Chance Encounter at the Temple

Temple of Records.

The room was archaic looking, but very clean, dimly lit by an oil lamp that hung at the entrance. A floral fragrance wafted out of it too, creating a serene presence. Filling the room were bookshelves holding rows and rows of leather bound books.

A ghostly wind suddenly found its way in, extinguishing the oil lamp. A particular book somehow got suspended in midair. It fluttered open on its own accord to a blank page. Eerily, a drop of ink appeared out of nowhere and landed on the open page, distorting and slowly morphing into a sketch of an amorphous black mass.

"It's happening again" Hurried footsteps and voices echoed in the passageway. Two young monks burst in through the front door. The younger of the two, no more than fourteen years of age, threw the torch he was holding at the floating book. In a moment, it was ablaze in flames.

They watched on as the book was burnt crisply to ashes. By some twist of logic, the ashes reassembled to reform the book again, which fell to the ground.

"We really cannot hold on for much longer" The older monk said, then started chanting a calming sutra. The younger monk mirrored his elder brother, and the room was quiet for a moment, save for their voices.

The two ignored the book on the floor and left the library. As they walked down outside the arch of the door, the younger one could not restrain himself and turned to his worry laden brother.

"Uhm, how long do you think we have left?" His voice was laced with dread.

"About three days" He replied with a desolate tone. "If only..."

A knock at the temple's main door interrupted them. The duo stopped dead in their tracks, not daring to breathe. After glancing at each other cautiously, the older one moved forward in a burst of courage and swiftly opened the door, revealing a rain-drenched simple looking young man standing outside.

"I would like to stay here for the night, if you don't mind, benef...." Kong Xiang said, then stopped abruptly, his eyes loosing focus for a bit. 

Karma was one of the more, if not the most elusive laws, and even now, Kong Xiang lacked information on what exactly he had comprehended of it, and what he was capable of doing with it. But right now, he had sensed an subtle pull in his fate, hinting an life altering opportunity.

While he was lost in his trance, the young monk, Lu Min, relaxed. He had an innate gift to sense evil intentions, and his intuition told him that the sagely looking person in front of him emanciated a kind, warm presence. Beside him, Lu Ming sensed his brother's relaxation and relaxed too.

"Ambhitta" Lu Ming spoke, cupping his fists. "The doors of Buddha are always open" They stepped aside for him to pass through.

Lu Min suddenly remembered something and whispered to Lu Ming in hushed tones. "If he is still here while the seal loosens, then...?"

Lu Min suddenly remembered. "Benefactor, how long would you be here" He asked tentatively.