「Beneath the Stone Stele.」
The skeleton remained nailed to the cliff face, and the Dying Buddha on the scorched mountain peak was as ever.
Amidst three thousand chains, the exquisitely beautiful woman was curled up quietly, her head resting on her knees as she watched the roaring flames.
The entire world was silent, save for the searing sound of the flames and the grating screech of chains against bone whenever the woman shifted.
Perhaps one could occasionally hear the sound of utter silence.
Suddenly, the roaring blaze flickered. The curled-up woman abruptly lifted her head, resuming her original seated posture. Her Divine Robe shimmered with seventy-two colors of light, and she held her snow-white neck high.
The next moment, an aged figure emerged from the fire. His steps were even and unhurried. It was an elderly man in his twilight years, his head bowed and back hunched, approaching slowly.
