Full-Time Magister: Dark Throne

Chapter 58 Dilapidated Temple

"BOOM!!!!"

A rumble of thunder rolled across the undulating mountains, and the leaden clouds were illuminated by a sudden flash of lightning, turning them white and translucent, with only a few specks of purplish-red at the edges.

With the roar of thunder, thousands upon thousands of raindrops poured down from the sky onto the earth.

In the deep valley, a group of people, as tiny as ants, are hurrying along the mountain path.

The burly man at the head stopped, pulled his cloak tighter around himself, raised his head, and looked calmly at the rain-soaked sky.

"Pat! Pat!"

Large raindrops pelted the man's face, splashing water that filled the gaps in his stubble and blurred his vision.

"Boss, judging by this rain, we won't be able to get back before dark. We found a dilapidated temple that has been abandoned for many years halfway up the mountain ahead. Let's rest there for now. Under the cover of rain, there's a risk of demons suddenly attacking." A man wearing the same cloak stood behind the burly man and reported with his head down.

"Mmm," the man replied with his eyes closed, letting the water droplets slide down his cheeks, whether from the rain falling from the sky or from tears flowing from his heart, it was hard to tell.

"BOOM!!"

Another rumble of thunder pierced the sky, though it sounded weaker than the previous one, it still had a powerful aftereffect.

The dilapidated temple was covered in dust, and tattered cobwebs swayed precariously in the corners. Even its owner had long since left this temple, which was now devoid of incense offerings.

"Boss, there's a bundle of dry firewood here!"

A strong, muscular man with a short buzz cut came running excitedly from the side hall, carrying a bundle of firewood wrapped in a raincoat. He quickly piled the firewood in the center of the still relatively intact main hall.

The burly man sat cross-legged in front of the firewood pile, extending his index finger, and fire elements rapidly gathered on his black leather glove.

"Boom~"

A cluster of bright orange flames ignited at his fingertips, which he casually tossed into the woodpile, causing the firewood to crackle and pop.

The flames spread instantly, dispelling some of the dampness and darkness of the surroundings.

The remaining people gathered around and sat silently by the fire.

The firelight illuminated faces with sharp, angular features, their eyes flickering uncertainly in the swaying light.

The man in the lead slowly took out a small, rusty iron box from his pocket, carefully opened the lid, and counted the number of cigarettes remaining inside.

He pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and bent down to light it by the campfire.

"~~~" A thin wisp of smoke was exhaled by the man, swirling up along the vermilion pillars supporting the temple and lingering around the faces of the Buddha statues in the temple.

"Thump!"

A dull thud came from deep within the small temple. The man paid no attention, assuming it was just some small ornament left in the temple that had been blown over by the strong wind.

The rain outside was pattering, and the rainwater rolled down the old, dark blue tiles from the eaves. Before the first drop hit the ground, the second drop followed closely behind, forming a dense beaded curtain that covered the dilapidated temple gate.

After the cigarette burned out, the man stood up, walked to the altar where the Buddha statue was enshrined, and stuck the remaining cigarette butt into the neglected incense burner.

By the dim light of the campfire, the man began to examine the layout of the dilapidated temple.

The gold leaf still partially peeling off the Buddha statue, the objects that still faintly gleam with metallic luster under the dust, the incense burner filled with ash—all these signs tell of the past glory of this small temple.

But now—

The man stretched out his hand and gently ran two fingers across the offering table.

As you pull your hand back, your fingertips rub together slightly, and a thick layer of dust falls from between your fingers.

This place has probably been unvisited for at least a decade. It's covered in dust, and the wooden utensils have been weathered by time; a pinch of them will leave a handful of crumbs.

The original waterproofing work was done very well; despite so many years of wind and rain, the hall has not shown any signs of leaking.

"Boss." The man's adjutant stood behind him, took out a large flatbread wrapped in oil paper from his pocket, and handed it to the man. "Have some flatbread. We haven't eaten anything for most of the day because we've been traveling."

The man didn't say anything, but simply took the bread with his other hand, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed it heartily without any regard for his image.

The man lit a small flame with his fingertips, and by its dim light, he looked up at the Buddha statue enshrined on the altar.

That face had all the features, but unlike the peaceful and benevolent Buddha statues we usually see, every part of it exuded an indescribable eerie energy.

"This... isn't this an evil Buddha?" the adjutant asked, somewhat puzzled. "How could there be an evil Buddha enshrined here? No wonder it's lost its incense offerings and fallen into such a state. Who placed it here?"

"An evil Buddha?" The man turned around in shock.

"Yes, boss, my grandma taught me how to identify this kind of evil Buddha when I was little." The adjutant explained to the man, "Look at its features. They don't look much different from ordinary Buddha statues, but if you look closely, you can find that there is an evil aura in the eyes and brows of this evil Buddha. My grandma said that it is a kind of madness."

"Madness?" the man repeated, pondering its meaning.

"Yes, arrogant." The adjutant nodded and continued, "It is said that this evil Buddha was rejected by other gods and Buddhas because of ideological differences, but it was not angry. On the contrary, it arrogantly believed that it was above all other Buddhas."

"Thump!"

A muffled sound came from the deepest darkness of the dilapidated temple, echoing faintly in the main hall.

This time, the man seemed to hear it clearly. The muffled sound didn't sound like an ornament falling to the ground, but rather like the sound of a wooden fish being struck.

The seated Buddha statue suddenly opened its eyes, a strange smile spreading across its lips, and a rumbling voice emanated from its belly: "The Buddha said: All beings have wishes, you—what are your wishes?"

The man's face was cold, and a crimson star map appeared around him, but before it was completed, it was slapped away by the Buddha statue and crashed into the earthen wall of the temple.

After that attack, the shadows in the temple seemed to come alive, writhing in the firelight.

Endless darkness surged in from all directions like a tidal wave, engulfing the campfire and the figures of everyone present.

The bright sun peeked out from behind the mountains after the rain.

After a night of revelry, the torrential rain had long since subsided, leaving only the lingering dampness in the air and the nourished vegetation as evidence of the traces left by last night's downpour.

"Thump!"

As dawn broke through the woods, a deep, resonant sound of a wooden fish drum rang out, startling several crows and sparrows still perched on the branches, which fluttered their wings and flew into the clouds.

The faint sound of chanting could be heard from the dilapidated temple, but there was no respect for the Buddha in the chanting; instead, it was full of mockery and ridicule towards all the gods and Buddhas in the sky.

The mountains and forests are quiet and secluded, with birds singing sweetly.

Everything from last night is gone. The dilapidated little temple still stands silently on the mountainside, with only the dull sound of the wooden fish and the chanting of sutras still echoing in the wind.