Chapter 19
After breakfast, Liaowu returned to his room to continue his morning prayers. Bored at the temple, Heng Yu wandered down to the market at the foot of the mountain.
The market was gradually becoming lively, with vendors selling breakfast, hair ribbons, combs, and other small items.
Heng Yu strolled casually, buying a candied hawthorn from a vendor.
“Miss…” someone suddenly called out from behind her.
Heng Yu turned and saw that it was Zhao Fan.
She held the candied hawthorn in her right hand. “It’s still early. Are you here to offer incense and pray to Buddha?”
After just a day, Zhao Fan looked much more haggard.
He was about to speak but coughed first, seemingly having caught a cold.
“Actually, I came here to find Miss or Master Liaowu.”
Heng Yu immediately understood. “Is it about Fan Changping?”
Zhao Fan was truly unfortunate. Both of his childhood friends had been corrupted by demonic Qi due to their deep obsessions.
Zhao Fan smiled bitterly. “Yes. The commotion caused by the magistrate and the others yesterday was quite loud. Last night, news of Changping spread throughout our alley. I couldn’t sleep all night and came here today to ask Miss for some clarification.”
“What do you want to ask?”
Zhao Fan’s lips trembled slightly, and his breathing became rapid. “I want to know why Changping did such a thing.”
The market was crowded.
Heng Yu looked around and pointed to a nearby dessert stall. “Let’s sit over there.”
After they sat down, Heng Yu didn’t hide anything and briefly recounted Fan Changping’s story.
Zhao Fan looked dejected.
If he could understand Xue’er’s actions, he truly couldn’t understand Changping’s!
“His mind is twisted. It’s normal that you can’t understand. There’s no need to dwell on it,” Heng Yu said, seeing his distraught state. “It’s easy to fall into darkness and go to extremes. What’s truly difficult is to stay true to one’s heart.”
Hearing these words, Zhao Fan’s expression gradually became resolute.
Indeed, as long as one’s obsession deepened and one opened their heart, it was easy to be corrupted by demonic Qi.
Compared to giving in, resisting was the truly difficult thing.
“Thank you for your guidance, Miss,” Zhao Fan cupped his hands, feeling slightly embarrassed. “I’ve troubled you today.”
Heng Yu smiled. “You’re welcome.”
After seeing Zhao Fan off, Heng Yu went to Liaowu’s courtyard with her candied hawthorn.
She arrived just as Liaowu finished his morning prayers.
Heng Yu stood in the corridor, leaning against a wooden pillar. “Since you’re free now, shouldn’t you go to the kitchen and learn how to make Bodhi cakes?”
Liaowu glanced at the sky. “It’s still early. I’ll go to the kitchen after airing the scriptures in the courtyard.”
“Then air this travelogue as well.”
Heng Yu carefully took out the worn travelogue.
Because it was so fragile, she didn’t dare throw it to Liaowu but walked to the window and handed it to him carefully.
Liaowu accepted the book. “This is…?”
“A gift for you.”
The word “gift” made Liaowu’s fingers twitch.
This word was unfamiliar to him.
Opening the first page, Liaowu quickly noticed the name “Yuanjing.”
His gaze lingered on it for a moment.
Noticing his reaction, Heng Yu asked, “Do you know this monk Yuanjing?”
“If I’m not mistaken, he was the Enforcement Elder of the Undying Sect who perished three hundred years ago.”
After answering, Liaowu began reading the contents.
Soon, his expression turned to surprise. “These are Elder Yuanjing’s insights and reflections from his travels?”
“He wrote this travelogue when he was at the early stage of Nascent Soul. I think it will be helpful to you.”
“Thank you, Lord Luo.”
As he thanked her, a faint smile touched his lips.
It wasn’t obvious.
But a travelogue in exchange for a rare smile from the usually silent Buddha-son was definitely a worthwhile trade.
Heng Yu asked, “Do you want to read the travelogue first or air the scriptures?”
Liaowu touched the travelogue, clearly reluctant to put it down.
He coughed lightly. “This poor monk will ask my junior brother to air the scriptures. This travelogue is damaged, and I’d like to organize its contents first.”
Heng Yu clicked her tongue inwardly.
Even the Buddha-son would make such excuses.
“Then take your time. I’ll go find Liaonian to work,” she winked at Liaowu and walked towards the opposite room.
Liaonian was softly reciting scriptures. Hearing the knock, he quickly opened the door. “Lord Luo, what is the matter?”
“Your senior brother said that since the weather is good, you should air the scriptures in the courtyard.”
Liaonian glanced at the sky —
It had been raining constantly in Hua City recently. Now that the weather was finally clear, and he had some free time, he should indeed air the scriptures.
“Alright, I’ll go organize them now.”
Liaonian ran back to his room to gather the scriptures he had brought from the sect.
Heng Yu couldn’t enter, so she walked to the steps, cast a cleaning spell, sat down on the ground, and lazily basked in the sun, leaning against a large wooden pillar, feeling drowsy.
Soon, Liaonian brought out a long wooden table and spread the scriptures on it.
As he worked, Heng Yu asked casually, “Little Monk, why is your senior brother known as the Light of Buddhism?”
Liaonian replied casually, “Because my senior brother is a Buddha-son.”
“There are four Buddha-sons in the Undying Sect, but when referring to the Light of Buddhism, it only means Buddha-son Liaowu. Why?”
Liaonian became alert.
He glanced at Heng Yu, his expression saying, “I know the answer, but I won’t tell you.”
Heng Yu: “…”
This little monk was quite clever at crucial moments.
But even if Liaonian didn’t say anything, Heng Yu had a guess. “Is it because Liaowu has innate Buddha bones?”
She had been researching this for days.
However, innate Buddha bones seemed to be a Buddhist secret. Almost no books mentioned this special physique.
Liaonian shook his head vigorously.
Heng Yu narrowed her eyes slightly.
She was about to speak again when footsteps approached from behind, followed by Liaowu’s voice: “Lord Luo’s guess is correct.”
She had been trying to pry into his background and had been caught red-handed.
Heng Yu touched her nose and looked back at him. “You’ve already organized the contents of the travelogue so quickly?”
“There’s no rush. I wanted to come out and help air the scriptures.”
Liaowu walked over to her as he spoke.
He suddenly bent down and extended his fair, slender right hand.
In his palm was a simple jade box.
“This is a return gift.”
Leave a Reply