733: Chapter 725: No Greater Sorrow Than a Heart that Dies 733: Chapter 725: No Greater Sorrow Than a Heart that Dies Gao Yang ran toward the sound of the bell, turned the corner of a street, passed a residential area, and then, to his astonishment, stopped in his tracks.
Among the single-story homes of a residential area, Gao Yang saw a temple, a type common in Huaxia but one he never expected to find in Africa.
The temple looked different from those in Huaxia because the one in front of Gao Yang was merely a bungalow that had been converted, not the kind with soaring eaves and arches that he had in mind.
However, the Buddha figures painted on its white walls made it clear that the bungalow was a Buddhist temple.
And it was a Huaxia-style Buddhist Temple because the name written on the plaque at the entrance was in pinyin.
The temple gate was wide open.
Gao Yang stood frozen for a moment, taking in the out-of-place foreign temple, then stepped inside.
The inside of the temple was very simple, with walls full of Buddha paintings.
What left Gao Yang speechless was a portrait of Guan Gong among the Buddha figures, labeled “Guan Di” in pinyin right above it.
Although he didn’t understand the connection between Guan Yu and Buddhism, Gao Yang at least knew that Guan Yu was a revered figure in all three of Huaxia’s main religions—Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
Beyond that, his knowledge was limited.
Gao Yang stood still, taking in the discordant temple.
Soon, a bald monk in a White Monk Robe approached him, pressed his palms together, and chanted “Amitabha” in clear Mandarin, before starting to speak rapidly in an unfamiliar language.
Gao Yang vigorously rubbed his face and shook his head hard because having a dark-skinned monk standing before him made him seriously question whether he was dreaming.
Not understanding what the Black Monk was saying, Gao Yang apologized to the monk and then ran back to the entrance, shouting, “Tyrannosaurus, come here, quick!”
After yelling, Gao Yang returned to the temple and faced the Black Monk again, unsure of what to say.
He was looking for Li Jinfang, not the time to satisfy his curiosity.
Yet, Gao Yang had a feeling that Li Jinfang should be here.
Perhaps he had read too many wuxia novels or watched too many films, Gao Yang subconsciously thought that a temple was a place for rescue, although nowadays most temples were just tourist spots scheming for money.
Gao Yang stared blankly at the Black Monk before him and, inexplicably, blurted out, “Amitabha, have you seen my companion?”
He had seen plenty of black people before and was very familiar with their racial traits.
However, seeing this black man who shaved his head and donned a robe, he appeared quite distinguished—at least to Gao Yang, this monk before him had the air of an ascended master.
Gao Yang figured that since the temple was modeled after Huaxia, perhaps the monk might understand him somewhat.
To his disappointment, the monk continued speaking in what sounded like French.
However, after a few sentences, the monk extended his hand and gestured for Gao Yang to follow with a welcoming sign.
A complete sense of discord, total discord.
Gao Yang followed the monk.
Just then, Eileen also ran in and, seeing the scene before her, opened her mouth in shock and asked, “What’s going on here?”
Gao Yang spread his hands and responded to Eileen with a look of bemusement, then hurried to catch up with the monk.
After circling around a hall of Buddha, Gao Yang saw a small hut at the back of it.
Gao Yang didn’t know what to say, but upon seeing the blood-stained doorstep of the hut with the door ajar, he quickly stepped past the monk and approached the hut.
He immediately saw Li Jinfang.
Li Jinfang lay on a small bed with two monks in robes beside him, tending to his wounds.
Li Jinfang’s eyes were open, staring straight at the door.
Gao Yang stepped into view, and their eyes met, but Li Jinfang was motionless, his eyes devoid of life.
Gao Yang felt cold; he thought Li Jinfang was already dead, for he had never seen such lifeless eyes in a living person before.
Eileen stood at the doorway with Gao Yang, neither able to step inside the hut.
However, soon Eileen pushed Gao Yang gently on the back and whispered, “His chest is still moving; he’s not dead!”
At that moment, a monk covered in blood approached Gao Yang, pressed his palms together and said, “Are you his companions?
He needs to be taken to a hospital.
I’ve given him first aid, but he still needs hospital care.
I’ve called for an ambulance; it should be here soon.”
The monk spoke in English, which Gao Yang understood.
After thanking the monk blankly, Gao Yang walked over to Li Jinfang.
Li Jinfang was covered in wounds, with a long cut on his chest that didn’t look like a gunshot wound and wasn’t very deep.
His lower leg from the knee down was red and swollen, seemingly burned, and both fists were bloody with broken skin.
But after examining him closely, Gao Yang found no immediately fatal injuries.
Li Jinfang’s clothes were soaked in blood, which appeared to be someone else’s.
Li Jinfang’s breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling evenly.
Noticing this, Gao Yang finally felt some relief, although Li Jinfang didn’t have severe injuries, his condition was very, very dire.
Gao Yang was originally extremely angry and furious with Li Jinfang’s actions, but after seeing the miserable state Li Jinfang was in, Gao Yang couldn’t bring himself to say the many angry words he had prepared countless times.
“How long are you planning to play dead, you bastard?”
Li Jinfang still didn’t move, and even though his eyes were open, it was as if he didn’t see Gao Yang standing in front of him.
Gao thought that if Li Jinfang had fainted, he had never seen anyone faint with their eyes still open.
The anger that Gao Yang had suppressed flared up again, and after Eileen looked over Li Jinfang, she whispered softly, “It shouldn’t be this way.”
Eileen extended her hand and shook it in front of Li Jinfang’s open eyes, but he still showed no reaction, not even blinking.
Suddenly, after sighing, Eileen uttered a phrase full of philosophical depth and with a distinct Huaxia flavor.
“There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart.
Toad has lost his heart.”
Eileen said this in Chinese, and Gao Yang, speechless, glanced at her before saying in a deep voice, “Go and call everyone over, inform them that Toad has been found.”
While Eileen went out to make calls and summon people, Gao Yang said to the unmoving Li Jinfang, “I’ve been standing in front of you for a long time now.
How long do you plan to play dead?”
Li Jinfang still didn’t move, and looking at him, Gao Yang felt a mix of anger, urgency, and hatred.
He grabbed Li Jinfang by the throat and roared, “Son of a bitch, get up!
I’m telling you to play dead, play dead!”
Li Jinfang’s shirt had been removed, and he wore only a pair of quick-dry shorts common in tropical areas.
Without anywhere else to grasp, Gao could only grab his neck, and despite violently shaking him, Li Jinfang remained motionless.
Gao Yang’s actions startled the three monks beside him; two immediately tried to pry his hands off, while the not particularly old but compassionate-looking monk urged, “Don’t do this, he can’t take it.”
Gao Yang let go of Li Jinfang and stood up, pacing back and forth in the cabin; he had never seen anyone like this before and didn’t know what to do.
When one is too anxious about a loved one, the mind becomes chaotic; Gao Yang’s mind was a complete mess.
Soon, Eileen and the others rushed over, and because the room was too small, Glolov and the others could only stand outside the door looking at Li Jinfang inside.
Glolov asked anxiously, “What’s wrong with him?”
Gao Yang replied irritably, “He’s playing dead here, not moving or speaking a word!”
After Frey squeezed to the front of Li Jinfang, he asked urgently, “Are his injuries severe?
What’s wrong with him?
Toad, Toad!
Wake up, what happened to you?”
Seeing Li Jinfang still motionless yet staring with lifeless eyes, Gao Yang’s fury surged.
Stepping forward, he bellowed, “Wake up!
Wake up, you bastard, wake up!
I’m telling you to play dead!”
Gao Yang raised his hand and slapped Li Jinfang hard across the face.
Putting real force behind it, the slap instantly caused Li Jinfang’s face to swell and blood to flow from his nose.
Finally, Li Jinfang’s eyes moved, but his pupils failed to focus, just vacantly staring at Gao Yang.
Gao Yang felt a chill in his heart from Li Jinfang’s gaze, so he slapped him again with his left hand.
After a crisp slap and a cry of pain, it was Gao Yang who yelled out in agony.
Gao Yang had forgotten his left hand was injured, and after slapping with it, he immediately clutched his left wrist in pain with his right hand.
Gao Yang was hopping in pain, but Li Jinfang still did not react.
It was then that Glolov finally said, “Stop hitting him, it’s useless.
This is an extreme manifestation of intense sadness, guilt, and helplessness leading to mental shutdown.
Although rare, I’ve seen it on the battlefield before, though not as severe as Toad’s case.
And physical pain alone might not be enough to wake him up.”
After sighing, Gao Yang said, “I’d rather beat him awake than use that method.
Is stimulating him mentally the only option left?”
Glolov nodded and replied, “We can only stimulate him mentally.
Be prepared, as Toad might have a violent reaction.”
If physical attacks were ineffective, they would have to resort to psychological ones, specifically those that targeted the depths of the soul.
After clearing his throat, Gao Yang whispered to Li Jinfang, “Toad, Zhou Lizhe is being buried.
Aren’t you going to take a look?
Don’t you want to avenge her?”
As soon as Gao Yang finished speaking, Li Jinfang’s eyes suddenly moved, then his dilated pupils rapidly constricted, and a spark returned to his empty eyes.
Li Jinfang abruptly sat up from the bed and, as he reached out to push Gao Yang away, finally came to his senses and said in a soft voice, “Brother Yang, you’re here.”
(To be continued.
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