Chapter 297: Jing’an Temple

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Mo Yuan said, “I’m not cold.”

“Are you hungry?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Then you must be thirsty. Why don’t you drink some water?”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Haha, look at the weather.”

Mo Yuan glanced at him indifferently. “You’re very noisy.”

Thirty Thousand rubbed his nose and did not dare to speak.

South Wind chuckled.

Two hours later, the carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain.

Shen Yijia lifted the curtain and jumped out of the car. She saw a staircase that was only wide enough for three people.

The stairs meandered up without end.

It was naturally impossible for the carriage and horses to go up the mountain. Fortunately, there was a shed specially provided for people to park their carriages and horses.

It was unknown if it was built by the people of the temple.

There were already two carriages parked inside. Shen Yijia immediately recognized them as belonging to the Liu family.

With this weather and the situation in Xunyang City, probably no one other than the Liu family would have the leisure to come here.

After parking the carriage, the group stepped onto the stairs. They thought that they would reach the top soon.

Unexpectedly, even with their strength, they walked for two hours. When they arrived, it was already 3 pm.

Fortunately, they were all martial arts pract.i.tioners, so they did not feel tired. However, it was a little boring to keep walking up the stairs.

Shen Yijia imagined Liu Piaopiao’s physique and suddenly understood why she had a strange expression when she said that she was tired.

The temple was not big. It was even a little dilapidated. The words “Jing’an Temple” were written on an old plaque.

However, when one thought about how it was in a place like Xunyang City and how it relied on the incense offerings of the citizens of Xunyang City to maintain it, it didn’t seem strange.

A young monk who was sweeping the floor outside saw them. He threw aside his broom and ran in, shouting, “Master, someone is here to give us money again.”

Shen Yijia thought to herself, “Little monk, you’re not cute when you’re so realistic.”

“Wu Chen, don’t be rude.” An old monk with a benevolent expression walked out. His voice was magnanimous.

He walked in front of them and pressed his palms together to chant a Buddhist prayer. “Amitabha. You’ve come from afar. How can I help you?”

Without needing Song Jingchen to instruct him, South Wind went forward and returned the greeting. “My Master and Madam want to rest at your temple for the night. I wonder if you can help arrange it.”

With that, South Wind handed over a pouch with both hands. “This is the money from my master.”

The little monk called Wu Chen ran over and took the money bag from South Wind’s hand. “Of course. Please follow me.”

The old monk shook his head helplessly. “Amitabha, I’ve been rude.”

“It’s fine,” Song Jingchen said.

Shen Yijia thought that it would not be too late to look for Liu Piaopiao after taking a look at her residence, so she did not refuse.

The group followed them around the front hall and walked in. On the way, they encountered a few monks. When the monks saw them, they stopped what they were doing and greeted them politely.

However, it could be seen that there were not many monks here.

Unlike what Shen Yijia had imagined in her previous life, where there were rows of rooms in the courtyard, the living quarters here were small courtyards with one room on each side.

What she didn’t expect was that men and women had to live separately. Actually, this was common sense, but she didn’t know that Song Jingchen had forgotten to mention it.

They pa.s.sed through the courtyard for male guests first, and then the female guests.

Shen Yijia could only separate from Song Jingchen with tears in her eyes.

Song Jingchen rubbed her head in amus.e.m.e.nt and said softly, “Go and take a look at your room. If you’re not tired, let’s walk around again.”

“Alright.” Shen Yijia nodded obediently and continued walking with Mo Yuan.

The courtyard was relatively clean, and the room was alright, but it was a little small. There was only a bed inside, and a square table in the middle.

Shen Yijia estimated that she probably wouldn’t be able to put anything else in here.

She looked at the bare bed with nothing on it and her lips twitched.

Wu Chen noticed her gaze and said with a smile, “If you need our temple to provide you with a bedroll, you just need to add some incense money.”

Shen Yijia glanced at him, bared her teeth, and called out, “Mo Yuan.”

Mo Yuan immediately put down the bulging bag on her back. It was almost half the size of Shen Yijia. Other than a set of clothes, there was nothing else inside.

“I’ve learned something new.” Wu Chen thought.

Shen Yijia thought to herself, “Fortunately, I have a husband. Otherwise, I would have been tricked by this kid.”

She even suspected that there were so many adults in this temple who wanted this young monk to lead the guests to make it easier for them to scam money, because the older ones would feel embarra.s.sed!

Since he was no longer needed, he muttered a Buddhist proclamation and prepared to leave.

Shen Yijia thought of something and stopped him. “Where does the female guest surnamed Liu live?”

“In the courtyard at the back.”

Shen Yijia nodded. She had just taken a look. There were only three courtyards here, so she was probably next door.

Mo Yuan stayed in the room to clean the bed. Between looking for Liu Piaopiao or Song Jingchen, Shen Yijia decisively chose the latter.

She could look for companions at night, but at that time, she would have to separate from her beautiful husband.

Song Jingchen guessed that she wouldn’t be resting in her room, so he was already waiting at the door that led to the female guest’s courtyard.

As soon as Shen Yijia went out, she saw him and jogged over. “Hubby, I’m here.”

Song Jingchen helped her gather her cloak and asked, “Do you want to go to the temple to pray?”

“Sure.” She was new to everything here anyway. It made no difference where she went first.

They followed the path they had come from and left. Liu Piaopiao happened to return from another path, so the two of them missed each other.

Nanny Liu supported Liu Piaopiao and said with heartache, “Miss, you’re already tired after coming up. Why don’t you want to rest in your room? Why do you have to kneel in the temple for so long?”

They went out early and arrived just in time for lunch. After dinner, the old master and madam rested in their rooms.

However, for some reason, Miss insisted on going to the temple. She knelt for nearly four hours. In the past, she would usually sleep until it was time for dinner.

Liu Piaopiao’s face was pale as she shook her head. “I’m fine.”

If Shen Yijia was around, she would have realized that Liu Piaopiao had lost a lot of weight after not seeing her for a few days. In the past, she could be considered fat, but now, she was only chubby.

She naturally lived in the same courtyard as Madam Zeng, but Madam Zeng lived in the upper room while she lived in a wing.

Liu Piaopiao stood outside the door for a while. Madam Zeng was tired from walking and was probably still resting. The room was quiet.

Seeing that she did not knock or return to the house, Nanny Liu asked strangely, “Miss, do you want to see Madam?”

Liu Piaopiao secretly clenched her fists in her sleeves. In the end, she shook her head. “No, let Mother rest well.”

When she returned to her room and sent Nanny Liu away, the door closed and Liu Piaopiao slumped to the ground.

Every time she closed her eyes these few days, it was either Cai Yun’s pale and lifeless face or that hand in the dark night.