The temple was secluded and within the courtyard lay an ancient well, its opening covered by a slab of green stone, on which a Dharani Sutra quilt was spread. Chains reached from the well's edge to the hands of the Arhat statues at each of the four corners.
An elder monk with a white beard was meditating cross-legged in front of the well.
This area was not open to tourists, and recently the abbot had explicitly ordered the monks not to approach it.
As the sun set in the west, the monk's shadow stretched long until another figure stepped upon it.
The monk opened his eyes and exhaled with relief: "Liu, you've finally arrived."
Aunt Liu threw the big bag in her hand to the ground, walked over to one of the Arhat stone statues, grabbed one of the chains, and yanked it back.
With a "clattering" sound, the other three chains moved in unison, and the four stones blocking the well's mouth were moved aside.
