The Dharma assembly at Huatan Temple lasted for three days.

The first day is a Buddhist celebration.

The next day, Dao Ci gave a sermon.

On the third day, the temple distributed porridge, rice, and steamed buns.

Daoci was a disciple of Zen Buddhism, and he was exceptionally talented from a young age.

Besides, he's so good-looking.

Buddhist disciples are surrounded by people, whether they are performing rituals, chanting scriptures, or sitting in worship, all under the gaze of the crowd.

Amidst the swirling fragrant mist, Qi Su stood afar, separated from him by a crowd.

His facial expression was indistinct, and his appearance in the robes made him look like a god descending from the altar to the mortal world.

…

Qi Su's perception has been fully unleashed.

She could sense the three incense sticks burning in front of the Buddha's golden statue inside the main hall, with the ash of one of them falling down in a flurry.

In the side hall, the Arhat Hall, two peasant women sat outside the corridor, basking in the sun, and hadn't moved for a quarter of an hour.

A pigeon landed on a withered tree branch outside the main hall and kept cooing.

The entire Huatan Temple was like a pot of boiling water, extremely noisy.

She sat with her eyes half-closed.

To outsiders, she was just a pretty young woman, basking in the sun with a cat in her arms, looking somewhat drowsy.

Ah Yan...

From a distant, unknown place, the sound of a woman's laughter drifted on the wind.

The young woman, who was dozing off, opened her eyes. The cat in her arms also stretched and yawned.

The young woman put the cat on the ground and patted its head.

"Okay, I have to get back to work."

.

With the arrival of winter and heavy snow closing off the mountain passes, Huatan Temple has not received visitors for many days.

On the day of the enlightenment of the Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, Huatan Temple will hold a Dharma assembly, along with prayers and almsgiving.

The news had reached the foot of the mountain long ago.

The devout men and women had prepared offerings long ago. Even those less devout were not afraid of the long mountain road and the biting cold wind.

"Ah, no wonder you dragged me here so hard. I never expected this Buddhist disciple to be so handsome."

Several girls, around fifteen or sixteen years old, crowded among the believers, their eyes fixed on the most conspicuous figure in the monks' line.

"Who said there's anything to see about a bald monk?" the girls whispered.

"I was wrong, I was so blind. My dear mother, if I could sleep with him for one night, I'd be willing to die tomorrow!"

Everyone spat at her.

What are these words being spoken in front of the Buddha?

Although he is young, his merits are profound; he is a master. How dare you even dream of such a thing?

"When Ayan came back last time, didn't she meet with this master alone?"

The girls' eyes all fell on Ayan.

Ayan made a pleading expression.

"I drew lots to interpret the divination text; it wasn't a private meeting!"

Everyone suddenly realized that there was such a method.

"Ah Yan seems quiet and reserved, but she's actually quite cunning. Where should we draw a fortune stick?"

Ayan was driven crazy by the crowd.

"With so many people at the temple today, I'm afraid it won't be the master's turn to interpret the divination slips. Let's come another day."

The monks performed their rituals, all gathered in front of the Buddha statue.

Others could only watch from afar. No matter how reluctant they were, they could only follow the flow of people forward.

The little girls chattered as they stepped out of the back hall.

Suddenly, I bumped into someone who had just come in from outside.

Ayan was knocked backward, but luckily her companion caught her arm.

"Hey, how do you walk?" The girl who had said she wanted to sleep with a monk was the one holding Ayan's arm, and she questioned loudly.

The young woman who bumped into the person felt very embarrassed and quickly apologized.

"I'm so sorry, I was thinking about something and didn't pay attention."

She is beautiful and has a soft, gentle voice.

Good-looking people always receive more kindness.

She apologized, and the girls didn't hold a grudge.

Qi Su's gaze fell on A Yan.

Ayan was also looking at her with a smile.

It was her.

It turned out that they had met before.

Qi Su knew that she recognized her too.

After all, the scene from our last meeting still left a deep impression on me.

The world is truly wondrous.

Our brief encounter a few days ago actually had such a connection.

"Do you know each other?" Ayan's companion asked curiously.

Qi Su shook her head and smiled, "This young lady smells very nice."

The girls who came with her laughed.

"Ayan's family is in the medicinal herb business, and the sachets she makes are incredibly fragrant."

The little girls drifted away from the palace gates like a chattering breeze.

.

There's not much to see in the Buddhist temple.

It's winter now, the trees are bare, and the soil is freezing cold. There's not much to see in the Buddha statues, and there are a lot of people.

The group wandered around for a bit before dispersing to pray for their families.

Ayan also went to the Guanyin Hall and various Bodhisattva Halls to offer incense.

Then I asked a young monk for a few strings of sandalwood prayer beads.

She put the prayer beads into her cloth bag before leisurely strolling around.

Wandering into a guest courtyard, the crowd had thinned considerably. The hustle and bustle of the main hall seemed like a distant memory here.

Ayan raised her hand and knocked twice on the tightly closed door.

One heavy, one light.

The main gate of the guest house opened quickly.

A handsome young man dressed in a moon-white brocade robe came to answer the door.

"Why are you so late? The tea has been boiling for ages."

As he spoke, he took Ayan's hand and led her into the guest courtyard.

Ayan casually replied and turned to look back at the way she came.

The brick path was quiet and peaceful, with golden sunlight streaming down from the walls; there was hardly anyone around.

She turned around and looked back again.

Qin Shang asked, somewhat puzzled, "What are you looking at?"

Ayan came to her senses.

"Strange, I don't know why, but I always feel like someone is watching me."

Qin Shang shook his head.

"You're overthinking it. Both your people and my people are here; who can be watching you?"

.

The midday sun slowly slid down the roof of the Buddhist temple.

Qi Su sat on a high platform outside the Buddhist temple.

With one hand pressed against his throbbing temples, which felt like they were about to explode, he watched as two sparrows quarreled on a nearby pine branch.

"Hey, why are you sitting here all alone? I've been looking for you."

A voice came from behind; it was the young nun Jinghe.

She also came to participate in the Dharma assembly today.

After all, this Buddhist ceremony is grand and involves many complicated matters, and her background in Buddhism can certainly offer some assistance.

Qi Su smiled and asked, "Little Master, are you done with your work?"

Jinghe waved her hand.

"I'm always busy, so I'm taking a break."

She took out several pastries wrapped in fine cloth from her pocket.

The fruit was shaped like a peach, a light pink color, with red dots on it.

Jinghe: "These are fruits from the offering table, they're delicious. We don't usually make them, only on festivals like the Bodhisattva's birthday, to receive the Bodhisattva's blessings. Why don't you give them a try?"

As she spoke, she handed over the fruit, looking at Qi Su with anticipation.

Qi Su took a bite.

It has a soft texture, a hint of sweetness, and a refreshing orange aroma.

It tasted good, so she took another bite.

"Isn't it delicious?" Jinghe's eyes crinkled into two crescent moons with laughter.

Qi Su: "Delicious."

Jinghe: "You wait here, I'll go get you some more later."

She lowered her voice as she spoke.

“My position makes it convenient; I’m close to the altar during rituals, so I can pick it up as soon as it’s over. My fellow practitioners don’t scold me either.”