The stone walls of the underground chamber trembled, as if disturbed by a powerful force far away. Dust fell from the cracks in the ceiling, and the dim lanterns hanging from the walls swayed violently. The ground itself seemed to pulse with energy, each tremor resonating like the beat of a colossal war drum.
Zhou Lei stood in the center of the room, his eyes narrowing as the distant sounds reached him—a deep, rumbling echo of chaos. He could feel the raw power reverberating through the earth, unsettling even to a seasoned warrior like himself.
Wei Li, bound in chains beside his sister Mei Lin, suddenly smiled—a wide, triumphant grin that pierced the gloom. His eyes shone with a wild mixture of hope and excitement. "Did you hear that, Zhou Lei?" Wei Li's voice was filled with fervor. "That's him. There's no mistaking that presence. So distinct, so powerful. Surya is coming."
Mei Lin's lips curved into a faint smile as well, her heart echoing her brother's confidence. She could almost feel Surya's presence—the essence of a force that defied the heavens themselves—drawing nearer.
Zhou Lei's expression twisted into one of frustration. Seeing that flicker of hope in their eyes, the hope that only grew stronger as the tremors intensified, was more than he could stand. "You fools!" he spat, his voice filled with irritation. "Do you really think that Rebel Buddha will save you?"
He glanced at them with a cruel smirk. "I was ordered not to harm you both... something about needing you for the ritual. But a few bruises, here and there..." He took a step toward them, his hands flexing with malicious intent. "That won't hurt, will it?"
Before he could reach them, a deep, steady voice interrupted him. "Touch them, and you'll regret it, Zhou Lei."
Zhou Lei froze, turning slowly to face the newcomer. Standing in the doorway was Chen Yi, Ma Liang's right-hand man. His towering frame filled the entrance, his head almost scraping the ceiling. Muscles rippled beneath his loose, dark red robes, and in his massive hands, he carried a greatsword, its crimson blade nearly the length of his body. The edge glinted wickedly in the dim light as he absentmindedly sharpened it with a whetstone, the screech of metal on metal echoing like the grinding of bones.
Zhou Lei felt a shiver run down his spine. "Chen Yi... You think that monk will come here? If he does, I'll fight him myself."
Chen Yi's eyes, dark and unwavering, turned toward him. "Don't be foolish, Zhou Lei. If Surya arrives and you've harmed his friends, you won't be able to escape his wrath. He won't hold back."
Zhou Lei snorted, attempting to dismiss the threat. "Doesn't a Buddha vow to avoid violence? Isn't that against some sacred rule or something?"
Chen Yi's stare turned icy, his voice lowering to a growl. "You think those rules are absolute? Word from the Forest of Fog is that the burnt remains of Xu Fei have been found. As for Lin Tao... his body is missing."
The room went cold. Zhou Lei, for all his bravado, felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. Even the warrior siblings, Wei Li and Mei Lin, couldn't help but feel a chill pass through them at the implications of Chen Yi's words. The very air seemed to grow heavy with the weight of an ominous presence—like the shadow of a great storm approaching ever closer.
Zhou Lei's face twisted, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "And you believe those rumors? That sound earlier… That was just—"
"That was no mere rumor or distant sound," Chen Yi interrupted, his voice like rolling thunder. He continued sharpening his greatsword, his movements slow and deliberate, like a butcher preparing his cleaver. "That was Surya. And he is on his way."
There was silence for a moment. Even Wei Li and Mei Lin, despite their confidence in Surya, couldn't help but be drawn to the mysterious nature of their friend.
Mei Lin finally spoke, her curiosity piqued. "How does he stay so enlightened in all of this chaos?"
Chen Yi glanced at her, his gaze measuring. "Enlightened? You think enlightenment is his guiding light?" He chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that sent a shiver down their spines. "Surya, the so-called Rebel Buddha, was born with knowledge beyond his years. From the moment he took his first breath under the shade of the Bodhi Tree, he was different."
Zhou Lei, his face now paling, stammered, "Does that mean—"
Chen Yi's gaze bore into him, cutting him off. "It means that since he was a child, Surya has rejected the doctrines of all Buddhas. He has questioned tradition, culture, and even the teachings of the original Buddha himself. His very existence challenges what it means to be enlightened, what it means to be a Buddha."
The words hung in the air, cold and sharp. Even the siblings felt the weight of what Chen Yi was saying.
"Enlightenment to Surya is not a state of peace but a state of challenge," Chen Yi continued, his voice gaining a cold edge. "To him, to be truly enlightened is to break free from the chains of expectation, to shatter the mold of what one should be, and to carve his own path, even if that path leads him against what is accepted."
A tense silence fell over the chamber, broken only by the rhythmic grinding of Chen Yi's greatsword against the whetstone.
Zhou Lei, more desperate now, shouted, "It doesn't matter! He can't find this place! It's hidden, invisible to any outsiders!"
Chen Yi didn't stop sharpening his blade, his eyes narrowing. "Do you really believe that some trick of perception will stop him?" His tone was almost mocking. "Surya is not bound by the same limitations as you and I. He is like a force of nature—one does not simply block its path; one prepares for its arrival."
Zhou Lei's bravado wavered further. The trembling grew more pronounced. Dust fell from the ceiling in a steady stream now, and the sounds of distant destruction grew louder. The ground beneath their feet felt as if it would split open any second.
Chen Yi finally sheathed his sword, the sound echoing ominously in the chamber. "Make your peace, Zhou Lei. For when he arrives, this place will be swallowed in chaos. And if you're not prepared... you'll be the first to fall."
The words sent a chill down everyone's spine. The image of Surya—this force of nature, this rebellious Buddha, challenging even the established norms—grew ever larger in their minds.
The air is filled with tension, anticipation, and a lurking dread. Somewhere in the distance, the footsteps of the Rebel Buddha continue to draw closer, promising a reckoning that will shake everything in its wake.