The monk's shout instantly caused quite a commotion.
The martial monks in the backyard, who were queuing up to use the water dipper to drink from the water tank, were stunned upon hearing the shout. They exchanged glances and then, without prior agreement, sprinted towards the depths of the backyard.
Once it was confirmed that the old abbot had indeed passed away, everyone present clasped their hands together, bowed towards the abbot, and said, "Amitabha!"
At the same time, Xiao Feng and others, who had reached the entrance of the temple, heard a clanging sound behind them.
"Clang clang clang clang clang..."
This sound was reminiscent of the days when schools didn't have electric bells; they used a small hammer to strike an iron lump hanging under a tree to signal class start and end times.
As the sound rang, the two monks stationed at the temple doors, who were waiting for the pilgrims to leave to lock the gates, exchanged looks and then dashed into the temple.
