Before Falling Into The Deep Valley

« In the remote region of Shimenkan, I met an English priest named “King.” Curious about why he had left his homeland to settle in such an isolated place, I asked him about his past and his connection to this land. He spoke of a long and complicated history.At the threshold of Shi Shi, there is an old legend: when someone dies, a ritual of prayer and necromancy is performed to summon them into a twilight zone between dream and reality—at the border of samsara—so they may reunite with their loved ones.He was captivated by this story. “I saw lights,” he told me. “So many lights. I felt their presence wrapped tightly around my body. Then I stepped into a swamp of nothingness. I tried to remain there, but a sudden mist enveloped me. When my vision cleared, I was back in reality.”As we spoke further, it became clear that the arrival of missionaries in Shimenkan had not only introduced new cultural influences, but also collided and intertwined with local beliefs—giving rise to a distinct and layered cultural landscape. »