The kingdom was called Dharma-Destroying, and it had earned the name. Its king had, some years before, been slighted or cursed by a Buddhist monk — the offence is small and the response was not — and had sworn a vow of monstrous arithmetic in return: he would kill ten thousand monks. Not a war, not a persecution exactly, but a count — a tally to be filled, one shaved head at a time, until the number came out even at ten thousand and the vow was discharged.
He had killed nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-six. He needed four more.
🔒
Chapters 13–78 are for readers
Chapters 1–12 are free. Unlock the rest of the journey—every chapter now, and every new one as it is written—for a single payment.