Chapter 35 The Hermit of the Mountain:

The temple is currently under martial law in preparation for the Dharma assembly, so Shen Bingsi can't get in. He asked about the situation at the entrance and then returned to the carriage.

Rong Xie lifted the curtain of the carriage and asked Shen Bingsi what was going on. Shen Bingsi told him that the young monks in the temple also said that there were too many people a few days ago, and even if they went to the Sutra Repository, it would probably be inconvenient.

“Then let’s stick to the original plan,” Rong Xie said. “We’ll wait a few more days.”

"Okay," Shen Bingsi replied, and was about to get into the car when suddenly a shout came from behind her.

"Esteemed benefactor, esteemed benefactor, please wait—"

He was a senior monk wearing a dark robe, and judging from his attire, he must have held a certain position in the temple. However, the way he was panting as he ran showed that he was quite unpretentious.

"Master." Shen Bingsi clasped her hands together and bowed to the great monk, and Rong Xie followed suit.

"Benefactor, may I ask if you are from the Immortal Sect?" The great monk scrutinized Shen Bingsi.

Shen Bingsi did not announce his name earlier. He had a token and could enter the Sutra Repository without giving his name. He knew that Rong Xie did not like to attract attention, so he did not announce his name.

However, when the senior monk asked, he did not hide it: "I am a disciple of the Lingjing Sect."

"As expected! Are you surnamed Chen?" the monk exclaimed excitedly.

Shen Bingsi raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that the big monk recognized him. His face wasn't that famous, was it?

“It is indeed me, Shen. But how did you recognize me, Master? I remember we've never met before…”

"Yesterday, Master said that the Victorious Evil Sword has come to Shengjing, and it may also be part of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly. He told us not to be negligent," the head monk said frankly.

I see……

Shengjing is a place where hidden talents abound. Shen Bingsi flew here on her sword yesterday and landed very close to the city gate to make it easier to enter the city. Sure enough, she was discovered by the abbot of Xiangji Temple.

Now that I've been discovered, it would be impolite not to pay a visit.

"Is Master Wubie currently in charge of the temple?" Shen Bingsi asked.

Master Wubie was the abbot of Xiangji Temple, and all the senior monks in the temple were his disciples.

"Yes, indeed!" the head monk said, clasping his hands together.

It seems this visit is unavoidable. Shen Bingsi turned to look at Rong Xie.

Rong Xie was used to this situation. He didn't go out often, but every time he did, someone would try to talk to Shen Bing Si for an hour or two. They talked about world affairs, which was all rather vague and uninteresting to him.

"Go ahead, I'll wait for you outside," Rong Xie said.

The hills surrounding Xiangji Temple are shaded by green trees, and the mountain paths are gentle, making it a very pleasant place to stroll around.

Shen Bingsi was worried about Rong Xie walking outside alone, so she asked the head monk if it would be possible to make an exception and open the scripture pavilion so that Rong Xie could go in and read while waiting.

The head monk looked troubled. Clearly, when he came out to invite Shen Bingsi, he had not received instructions to receive Rong Xie. With the temple under martial law, the head monk could only arrange for Rong Xie to rest in the tea break area in the porch.

"Go ahead, I'm not a child, I won't get lost." Rong Xie laughed. "I've been sitting in the car for too long, I'd like to take a walk and enjoy the scenery here. Let's meet in front of the gate later."

"Alright." Shen Bingsi was persuaded by Rong Xie. "Remember to keep the communication jade pendant on your person."

"Okay, I understand." Rong Xie took the communication jade pendant out of his belt and showed it to Shen Bing Si.

Shen Bingsi was relieved and went with the head monk to the temple to pay a visit to the abbot.

Rong Xie walked along the mountain path next to the gate of Xiangji Temple. After strolling around for a while, the cool mountain breeze in midsummer felt very comfortable on his face.

He encountered two porters along the way, so he stopped and asked them what scenic spots were ahead.

The porters looked at each other, saying they didn't know any famous scenic spots, but there was a private residence of a high-ranking official from the capital. However, the road was inconvenient, so they, the porters, were needed to carry people and goods.

Rong Xie was surprised, not expecting there to be such a villa behind Xiangji Temple. Intrigued, he asked for directions and quickly went up the mountain.

The road wasn't far, and for Rong Xie, who had to cross mountains to get around, it wasn't too strenuous. After turning a corner, a white-walled, blue-tiled house quietly sat in the shade of green trees ahead.

Just then, a gust of wind rose, and the woods made a soft rustling sound like falling rain. The bamboo grove in front of the house swayed gently, and green and yellow bamboo leaves swirled and fell, passing through the bright afternoon sunlight and landing on the ground.

At that moment, Rong Xie felt as if his heart had been struck.

It's so beautiful.

In every respect, this residence does not meet Rongxie's requirements. There are no villages around it, making it very inconvenient to buy groceries and other necessities. Its architectural style is not the grand and magnificent style of Huanxue Mountain Villa, but rather a simple and elegant style favored by southern literati.

However, Rong Xie just really liked it. Perhaps it was related to the afternoon light, or perhaps it was related to the bamboo leaves that were blown down by the wind. It was a feeling that couldn't be put into the framework of rationality.

Rong Xie walked forward as if possessed, stood in front of the dark wooden gate, and looked up to look for a plaque, nameplate, or inscription that could reveal information about the owner of the mansion, but there was nothing.

If it weren't for the porters coming up earlier, Rong Xie would have thought this was an abandoned house.

"Strange." Rong Xie walked up the steps, wanting to peek through the crack in the door to see if anyone was inside.

Just then, a voice came from inside the door.

"Granny, I don't want to study anymore. When will Father come back?"

"Miss, you should continue your studies. When Master returns and finds that you know nothing, he will definitely be angry."

"oh……"

It was the young lady and her nanny talking. The young lady's voice was innocent and childlike, sounding like she was only seven or eight years old. A girl of this age who was studying meant that this family was probably a scholarly family.

"But I don't want to study, I want to go out and play..." the young lady pleaded.

"That won't do. Where do you want to play in this desolate wilderness?" The old woman lowered her voice. "There are snakes in the grass, wolves in the mountains, and ghosts at night. They love to eat delicate little girls like you—"

Before the nanny could finish speaking, the young lady burst into tears, and the courtyard was immediately filled with a lively commotion.

Rong Xie shook his head and stepped down from the steps in front of the door. He had originally thought that if no one lived in the house, he could consider it as a backup option.

Unexpectedly, there were not only people at home, but also a little girl who cried very loudly. I guess I'll just have to give up.

Moreover, the old woman's words were terrifying to him, such as snakes in the grass, wolves in the mountains, and ghosts at night. Let alone the little girl crying, even he, an adult, couldn't bear it.

"Buzz—"

A strong buzzing sound spread from Rong Xie's waist, and golden light instantly enveloped him.

Rong Xie froze on the spot, unable to move. What could be more embarrassing than having your communication jade pendant ring when you're eavesdropping outside someone's door?

Rong Xie reluctantly answered the communication jade pendant and chatted with Shen Bingsi for a few minutes. Shen Bingsi would be delayed for another half hour and asked Rong Xie if he wanted to come and have some vegetarian food at the temple. When they finished communicating, the only sound around them was the wind rustling through the leaves.

It doesn't seem like a good idea to leave like this.

Rong Xie hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and knocked on the dark door.

What if the little girl misunderstands and thinks there really are ghosts outside? It's better to explain clearly.

No one answered in the courtyard, and no one came up to open the door.

Rong Xie then apologized through the door, explaining that he was just a tourist visiting Xiangji Temple and had entered without permission because he saw a path there. He apologized for the inconvenience and asked the host not to blame him.

They still haven't agreed.

Rong Xie felt that he had done enough. He apologized to his master again, said that he would leave now, and turned to go down the steps in front of the door and walk back the way he came.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Rong Xie returned to Xiangji Temple, received a vegetarian meal at the tea break area in the porch, and ate while recalling his "strange encounter" just now.

After a while, Shen Bingsi was escorted out by a group of monks. He saw Rong Xie's half-eaten vegetarian meal, which was red and green and looked very appealing. Shen Bingsi, who always preferred meat to grass, stepped onto the bench for the first time and sat down next to Rong Xie, wanting to eat his leftovers.

The senior monks had never seen anything like this before, and they quickly ordered the kitchen to prepare another vegetarian meal for Shen Bingsi.

"I just want to eat this."

Shen Bingsi took Rong Xie's chopsticks and quickly emptied the vegetarian rice in the wooden bowl.

The young novice monk brought over tea. Shen Bingsi drank the tea, wiped her mouth, and praised, "This vegetarian meal is indeed refreshing and delicious. The masters really know how to enjoy themselves."

Rong Xie quickly waved his hand, signaling him not to say such impure things in front of monks.

The senior monks stood to the side, unsure whether to laugh or not.

"By the way, what did you see while you were wandering around outside?" Shen Bingsi asked.

Rong Xie was just about to tell him about this.

"A house with white walls and blue tiles?" Shen Bingsi reacted indifferently. "Perhaps it's a hermit's dwelling."

“Amitabha, that’s probably the residence of the White Water Mountain Man.” The senior monk next to him, who hadn’t left yet, chimed in upon hearing Rong Xie’s words.

"Baishui Mountain Man?"

This title certainly sounds like that of a hermit, Rong Xie thought.

"He is a lay Buddhist who is quite well-known in the capital. He enjoys visiting historical sites and has collected many ancient books at home. The temple's scripture library also houses some rare copies donated by him," the abbot introduced.

Lay Buddhists are those who have taken refuge in Buddhism but choose to continue living a normal life at home. No wonder this man from Baishui Mountain settled behind Xiangji Temple and even brought his wife and children over; it turns out he did it for the sake of cultivating his mind and spirit.

Moreover, this Baishuishanren also collects ancient books! Even the famous scripture library of Xiangji Temple has books donated by him!

Rong Xie's goodwill towards this Bai Shui Shan Ren immediately increased, but he regretted not being able to meet him in person this time.

"Will Bai Shui Shan Ren come during the Water and Land Dharma Assembly?" Rong Xie asked.

"This humble monk does not know either," the head monk said, clasping his hands together.

Rong Xie looked regretful.

“He’s just a hermit,” Shen Bingsi, who was quite uninterested in the matter, began to comment. “There are many hermits in the mountains outside Beijing; otherwise, it would be called the ‘Shortcut to Zhongnan Mountain.’”

The "shortcut to Zhongnan Mountain" means that if you want to gain a good reputation in the capital, you should first go to the mountains outside the capital to live in seclusion. Once the high-ranking officials of the court know about you, you can then find someone to recommend you and enter officialdom in one fell swoop, thus avoiding many detours compared to those honest people who painstakingly prepare for the exams.

Shen Bingsi had never liked these pretentious people. He had an innate prejudice against them, thinking that they only went into seclusion to become officials and wield power. Their purposes and actions were completely contrary to each other, making them the most hypocritical of hypocrites.

Shen Bingsi particularly disliked this Baishuishanren—although it was the first time she had heard of him—from his name to the style of his house, why build southern architecture in the mountains of the north!

laugh!