During the 16th century
of Japan in the budding town of Tottori, a spiritually gifted young monk
resides in an aged wooden temple flourishing with spiritual energy with three
other disciples. An experienced and wayward samurai was currently seeking
shelter here after crossing the harrowing Chugoku Mountains. His origins were
uncertain, but his sincerity towards the Bhuddist faith readily allowed him
solace in this humble sanctuary.
One
night as the young monk was sleeping a demoness with inexplicable malice
attacks him! Her minions aid her in her assault, but luckily the samurai comes
to his defense and wards her off. The young monk, in a panic rushes to find his
fellow disciples unharmed and then hurriedly makes his way to the altar tree to
seek the reasoning of her attack while the samurai follows him along. The monk
meditates by calming his breaths and staring into the gentle ripples of the
pond. Through his deciphering of the ripples, he discovers that the southern
spirit temple is in danger and must immediately defend it. According to fate,
he has been fore granted the task of protecting the shrine from the demoness
attempting to discharge him of his fate. The samurai is skeptical in trusting a
naïve young man and mere ripples for such a journey, but attempts to find faith
in him and feels it right to accompany him.
They
set off for the Tottori Sand Dunes in which the southern spirit temple lies
past. The samurai finds the young monk’s habits and gifts to be peculiar. He
often spoke to himself, bowed toward empty air, and had an uncanny way with the
wildlife. They never went thirsty on their journey since the few animals in
that area would simply lead them to hidden watering holes. As for any conflict
between them, one evening, the samurai happened to capture and slay a rare
desert elk. When the young monk discovered his accomplishment, he just sat
aside its distorted neck and mourned indeterminately. What will these two
heroes learn from one another if anything at all? Is this journey merely the
misinterpretation of an anomalous incident or does the fate of a significant
spiritual balance truly in danger?
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