17 The justice of Buddhist Sagna

As we approached the palace, an army arrived and stopped us. The leader of the army dismounted his horse, bowed, and said in Buddhist language, "I am commander Mi Jue, the high servant of the palace. May I ask who the lords are and why have you come here." He held his hand up.

I dropped to the ground and shook the commander's hand and said, "We are messengers to China. We want to meet the Buddha to ask him for multiple things". I turned and smiled at the immobilized captain.

"Very well. Follow me."

I nodded to Tulip and followed Mi Jue inside the palace. The house was very ancient. Old drawings can be seen on the walls. Torches set light to the corridors.

"How old is this place?" asked Tulip in English.

"This palace was built under the request of the very first Buddha in Earth. It is an honor for us to serve in this house", said the commander in not-so-good English. I nodded and touched the walls. Suddenly, I saw visions of young people drawing on the very same walls also joined by a white bearded old man who I believe was the Buddha.

"He did work with the servants, didn't he?" I asked.

"Of course he did. Buddhas consider themselves equals with the other people."

"I have always appreciated the Buddhism's fairness".

We arrived at two big wooden doors. Mi Jue stopped and turned to us, "Please wait here, my guests. I shall ask the Buddha for your permission to enter. While I am gone please put your weapons with my guards. It is essential to secure the place, as you might understand. And please, give them also the prisoner."

I nodded. We gave the guards our wands andthe bound captain. We waited for a while until Mi Jue returned and nodded.

We entered a great hall filled with torches and had a small opening in the ceiling. On the other end of the hall, sat an old man with a short white beard and a crooked nose. The commander walked and stood besides the old man. There was also guards at the walls of the hall. We approached the old man and said while slightly bowing our heads and said, "Greetings, Lord Buddha". He nodded and answered in English, "Welcome, messengers. What brought you here to my palace?"

"Lord Buddha," I said while taking a step forward, "We have come here to ask for two favors from you."

"And what are these favors?"

"Lord Buddha", Tulip said, "We were lead here by a captain of your border armies. My companion predicted that he intended to rob us so we caught him."

"For no proof?"

"I have a proof, Lord", I said, "I am a seer. I saw a vision that would lead me into a great massacre of thieves. And as I had predicted, an army of three thousand men attacked us in our way to here. I threatened them with the death of their leader, and they indeed hesitated, though they still attacked. I created an illusion that showed them the death of the captain at my hand."

"What happened to the army?"

"Reduced to dust!"

"You two slaughtered a three thousand army of men alone?", asked the commander.

"Yes, indeed."

"Forgive me for saying this", said the Buddha, "But there is no way that only you two, a god and a saint, can kill such an army alone".

"Lord", I smiled, "don't underestimate us. We are indeed in week cultivation ranks, but we have a strong foundation."

He nodded while hesitating a little and said, "As you may know, justice can be done by listening to the two sides. So please bring the prisoner and the wands."

Two guards entered holding the captain followed by two others holding our wands.

"Please release him and let us listen," said the Buddha. Tulip flicked her wand and said, "Finete!". Instantly the captain was unbound and he stood up mystified. When he saw the Buddha, he dropped to his knees and said, "Lord, please save me from these two devils! They caught me for no apparent reason and accused me of thievery. Please Lord, bring justice! "

The Buddha sat silent for a while and eyed me, then the captain, and finally said," The two sides have said there stories. But still, we don't have a proof of what really happened. If any one of you can give one, then the conflict will be at its end."

"Perhaps the captain can say that he is really a thief, but not necessarily on his own will?" I proposed and looked for the Buddha who nodded.

I pointed my wand at the captain and cast the mind-control spell, "Imperio!"

The captain's expression became blank. I addressed him, "You will answer every question I ask you about, understand?"

"Yes", he answered.

"Are you a thief or not?"

"I am".

"Were you planning on attacking and robbing us?"

"I was". The Buddha narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

"How many travelers have you robbed and killed?"

"Uncountable numers". I released him from the spell and turned to the Buddha, "Lord, you have seen and heard by your eyes that we are not guilty. Do you give me the permission to do whatever I want with this man?"

"You have indeed given a proof. You can do whatever you want with him".

My wand turned to a sword and I planted it in the captain's back, killing him. 'Blood Absorb' started to operate, every speck of his blood was absorbed by me and the sword. He instantly turned to dust.

The Buddha frowned and said, "What is the second thing you came here for?"

"I came here to ask your permission by trespassing the land of India to China."

"You have my permission".

"Thank you, Buddha", I bowed my head and we headed back to our horses.