Kind individuals he met on the road would give him food and water. They praised him for his staunch character as a monk who had given the entirety of his life to
God. People assumed that he didn’t speak because he had devoted his everything to God. They were surprised to learn that such a dedicated monk came from the
far east.
Heavens, he had walked for so long, only chasing after the guidance and footsteps of God.
Tang made no efforts to dissuade people’s assumptions about him. He was glad that he was unable to speak. He hadn’t lost the ability to speak; he simply wasn’t
allowed to speak. The people of his original church had made him promise that he wouldn’t utter a single word for fifty years. Additionally, he had to write down the
doctrines of God every day and commit the words to heart.
They forced him to leave the land he had grown up in to bring the old priest’s ashes to this foreign place.
Tang didn’t feel hurt or hopeless due to the harsh punishment, he was even happy. The new land he had come to was far away from his homeland. The disgusting
and shameless crime he had committed there would never reach the ears of the people here. He didn’t ask for much anymore. He didn’t have the courage to
attempt anything that would turn him away from God’s teachings. He only wanted to pass the fifty years he had left in peace and quiet in a small church
somewhere.
Due to hunger and exhaustion, Tang fell onto the muddy path. Before losing consciousness, he looked one last time at the sky above him. It was dark and heavy
like the black robes he wore. The sky seemed to inch ever closer to him, becoming an icy and impermeable black cloth that gradually enveloped him.
Monk, you have committed a dirty crime. Your punishment is to keep your voice to yourself for fifty years. You will bear the consequences of your crime!
Tang took a deep breath and abruptly opened his eyes. He sat up with a pale face. His black eyes glittered with the light of the stars, appearing on the verge of
shattering at any moment. They were eyes of helplessness, pain, and repentance.
“You’re awake.” A weak ray of sunlight shot into the room from the wooden window. A blondhaired
“Your robes are beyond repair. The head priest told me to prepare another set for you,” said Chris. He then smiled. “I’d taken off your clothes for you. I’d also wiped
down your body.”
Tang did his best to ignore the teasing in Chris’ eyes as he spoke. These past few days, he could feel Chris’ eyes trailing behind him wherever he walked. But Chris
never spoke with him, only gazing at him while standing far away.
What a strange person.
♦
“Cut! Very good!” the director yelled. Tang Feng’s first scene with Gino had passed smoothly.
Wearing matching monk robes, Tang Feng and Gino looked at each other and smiled at the same time. It seemed that discussing the script two days ago had been