211 Goodbye Old Abbot

It was five days later when we arrived in Yangcheng.

Wu Qi and his wife were naturally very happy to see their tall and big son, because their son did not come home for the Chinese New Year last year.

"My Lord, the room has already been cleaned. My wife started preparing food yesterday. You are tired from the journey. You should go wash up and eat first, and rest early tonight."

"Wu Qi, are the three coffins ready? Have you hired the funeral team?"

"Master, we have already bought the coffins and prepared three mule carts to transport them. We have hired the Wang family, who has the best reputation in Yangcheng, as the reburial team. Just tell them one day in advance."

"Tomorrow I will take Ping An to Tianguang Temple to move the grave to the back mountain of the temple. I need to inform the old abbot first. Lin Feng's hometown seems to be a day's journey away. You should go and inform the Wang family now and leave early the day after tomorrow. There is no time to waste."

"Yes, I'll have someone notify them right away."

"Wu Qi, I will stay here for a maximum of five days, which means I have to leave in five days. Come to my study in the evening. I have something to discuss with you in detail. Also, send a pigeon to Fang Ming and ask him to come over the day after tomorrow."

He would not go to relocate the graves, and would just let He Jin accompany him. Things here had to be arranged well, because once he went to the northern border, he would not be able to come back for a year or two.

He originally wanted to take Fang Xiao with him, but now Wanli knew about it and insisted on going with them, so only Fang Xiao and Sun Wen were left to guard the place.

Lin Feng saw that it was still early. He would go to see the abbot tomorrow. He did bring some gifts, but he had to buy some incense, candles and gold ingots today to see his grandfather, so he would definitely leave early tomorrow morning.

He told Ping An about the matter.

"Let Wu Jun take you there and buy more, but don't bring anything into the main courtyard. We'll go to your hometown the day after tomorrow, and buy things for the day on the way."

"Master Ping'an, I just heard from Shopkeeper Wu that he has already bought a coffin and hired a funeral team. I don't know how much silver it costs, but I have over thirty taels of silver in my bank. If you can help me make up for the shortfall, I'll pay you back later."

Ping An shook his head and said, "Lin Feng, I will pay for all the money. You don't need to pay for it. You can buy some personal items for the coffin. You can also buy more incense, candles and paper money."

What Uncle Wu bought must be good. If Lin Feng had to pay for it all, more than thirty taels would definitely not be enough.

"How can I let..."

Ping An said without waiting, "Go ahead. It's getting late. Come back early to wash up and eat. Go to bed early tonight. Don't think too much. Cheer up and go see your grandfather tomorrow."

"Got it, Master Ping An."

Lin Feng no longer hesitated. Life was long, and he would give all his loyalty just to treat his master sincerely.

In the study.

Sun Sicheng talked to Wu Qi about border issues.

"My Lord, how can you go there by yourself? The Master will not approve of it."

"Look at you. How could I let them know now? If I come back early, I can hide it. If I come back late, I can tell them in the letter. Besides, I am only going to the rear, not to the front line. There is no need to make a fuss. Don't worry, your son will not be taken away."

Wu Qi shook his head: "Ah Jun mainly studied medicine. He has learned a lot over the years. Wherever the master goes, he must follow."

"Wu Qi, Jun can take his time to learn medicine. You don't have to go with me. After we finish our work here, we have to prepare to return to Yong'an. We should leave at the end of May, but we have to stay in Yunzhou for half a month. I'm afraid we won't arrive in the northern border until the end of July."

Sun Sicheng told Wu Qi in detail about his plans in Yangcheng. Good weather and good harvests were a must, of course. But if the war got serious, he would be in a mess if he didn't plan ahead.

An hour passed quickly.

Sun Sicheng stood up and said, "Let's all go and rest. He Jin will take them there the day after tomorrow. You, Fang Ming and I, we will make plans. My feeling is not good. We should collect the ones that are not very profitable."

"Understood, young master."

Last year he bought a lot of daily necessities, such as cloth, etc., at very cheap prices. It seems that there are still many things to prepare, so he has to hurry.

The next day, the dawn broke.

Sun Sicheng took Ping An and his party to Tianguang Temple.

It was very quick to reach the foot of the temple, but the steps were still daunting.

Eight thousand eight hundred steps, almost ten miles.

"Master, why was the temple built at such a high place? I think there will be fewer pilgrims every year. It will be difficult for the elderly and those with poor health to climb such a high place."

Sun Sicheng smiled and said, "You are right to think so. It is true that many pilgrims cannot come here, but the incense here is more prosperous than that of other temples. Among the many temples in the Great Zhou, Tianguang Temple is definitely in the top five."

It was early May, and spring was in full bloom. Ping'an looked at the mountains on both sides, but there were no colorful flowers as expected in spring, and the branches looked a little wilted.

"Ping'an, remember we found a lot of sour moss to eat last time we came here?" Erqiang was full of energy.

"Well, that's also called Japanese knotweed. There are fewer herbs on both sides, and that thing may not be found today."

Lin Feng was carrying a big bag, which was filled with incense, candles, gold ingots, etc. He also wanted to take Ping An's bag, but Ping An refused to let him.

"There's not much in the bag. Master Xiaowu is holding the medical box. Once we get to the mountain, I'll accompany you to see your grandfather."

Lin Feng nodded and decided to set off tomorrow. They would arrive in Liao County in the evening and start groundbreaking the day after tomorrow. They would have to spend the night at the foot of the temple and bury the body the day after tomorrow. Time was tight and they would have to return the next day.

He had dreamed about this several times, and his grandfather told him that he missed his grandmother and parents, but he was always embarrassed to tell the young master. After all, the master had told him that he would help him move within five years, and only three years had passed.

If he remembered correctly, the abbot was already in his early seventies this year, much older than his grandfather. If his grandfather was still alive, he would not be sixty years old yet.

Halfway through the journey, Erqiang still snatched Ping'an's package. When going out, one always has to carry a change of clothes with him.

Wu Jun laughed: "Brother Qiang is not in high spirits today. Raymond Lam and I are both quiet, and so is Master Xiao Wu. Fortunately, we have Brother Jixiang."

Ping An glanced at Erqiang, a fifteen and a half year old boy, over 1.75 meters tall, dark and strong. He and Sanqiang were much shorter than him.

Stepping onto the last step, the old abbot stood there with a smile on his face, supported by two monks on his left and right. He looked much older than he was a few years ago.

"Abbot, are you waiting for us?" Sun Sicheng asked with a smile.

"Of course, of course I'll wait for you. Are you tired?"

"Ping An pays respects to the abbot."

"Lin Feng pays his respects to Grandpa Abbot."

Erqiang and the others did the same.

The old abbot held Ping An with one hand and Lin Feng with the other: "Good children, you are all good children. Jueming, take them to the hall to rest. Lunch should be ready."

"Yes, Abbot."

The abbot smiled and said, "Sicheng, you always appear when I need you the most. My heart is much better after taking your medicine, and my waist is much better after wearing the safe abdominal band. But my knees have been damaged in the past two years. I can't walk even a short distance, and my feet hurt a lot."