November 2nd.
There is one day left until the day when the Holy Venerable Liuli Medicine Master attains enlightenment.
The warm winter sun shone through the trees and fell on the remaining snow that had not yet melted beside the mountain path.
Qi Su emerged from the woods carrying a cloth bag.
A large yellow and white cat, swishing its big tail, slowly followed behind her.
"...Benefactor Qi?"
A voice rang out tentatively from a dozen steps away.
Qi Su turned around and saw Jing He, the little nun from Qingyun Nunnery, whom she hadn't seen for several days.
After all, they had shared a bond from setting fire together, so Qi Su had a very good impression of the young girl.
"Little Master, where are we going?"
Jinghe carried a small basket on her back, and there was still some dust on her robe.
When she asked, the little girl blushed slightly.
He mumbled, "Master, please let us go up the mountain to collect medicinal herbs."
Gathering herbs? What herbs are there in the mountains during winter?
Jinghe refused to say anything more.
Even without her saying it, Qi Su guessed it.
Abbess Yuanrun was naive about worldly affairs and had never worried about the money and rice for the nunnery before. Now that Qingyun Nunnery had burned down, Yuanze could no longer be used.
I have no choice but to take care of these mundane matters myself.
They just don't know how to manage it, and their efforts are often fraught with difficulties.
Jinghe refused to tell Qi Su about her troubles, and just looked at her with bright eyes.
“You seem to be safe and sound. It seems you are staying well at Huatan Temple, so I am relieved.”
They managed to cover up such a serious incident as arson against the temple!
I've been so worried about Jinghe these past few days.
Speaking of this, Qi Su had a question for her.
"Why can't I see the other young nuns at Huatan Temple?"
Jinghe: "We did not stay at Huatan Temple."
It turned out that after Qingyun Nunnery burned down, the nuns did not live in Huatan Temple, but temporarily stayed in the villa of a benefactor on Qingyun Mountain.
It wasn't that the monks at Huatan Temple were unwilling, but rather that Abbess Yuanrun disagreed.
Such a thing happened in a peaceful nunnery. Abbess Yuanrun felt ashamed to face her fellow practitioners at Huatan Temple.
If the reputation of Qingyun Nunnery were to implicate Huatan Temple, then even if I were to go before the Buddha in the future, I would not be able to rest in peace.
I heard that Master Yuanrun has fallen ill and will not be attending this Dharma assembly.
However, they didn't forbid the young nuns from coming.
…
Qi Su understood immediately; so that's how it is.
Jinghe looked at Qi Su with curiosity.
Where have you been, benefactor?
Qi Su has been expending too much energy these past few days, and eating only vegetables and radishes all day won't make up for it.
Fortunately, there are fish in the lakes in the mountains, so we can have some meat.
These days, she sneaks out every day to grill a few fish to eat.
Not only did they eat it, they also secretly took it back as a late-night snack.
She wrapped it in bamboo leaves and put it in her small cloth bag.
Qi Su didn't want to tell Jing He that she was living in the temple and was even stealing meat.
It was said that Master Ci had treated her illness and told her not to lie down, but to move around more.
Jinghe was simple-minded and didn't ask many questions.
They were also happy that Qi Su had been treated by that famous pharmacist monk again.
The two chatted and laughed as they walked for a while.
As they were about to part, Qi Su thought for a moment.
"Come find me at Huatan Temple after noon."
Jinghe: "Is something the matter?"
Qi Su: "You'll know when you get here."
.
With Jinghe on her mind, she squatted down at the back gate of Huatan Temple and said to the yellow and white cat that had followed her all the way:
"Alright, we're home. Now, everyone go home and find your mothers."
In just a few days, Dao Ci's big cat became very familiar with her and had forgotten who was the master.
The yellow and white cat squatted on the stone steps, tilting its head to look at her.
Qi Su: "Don't tell anyone about stealing fish to eat. Otherwise, I won't take you next time."
The yellow and white cat seemed to understand and meowed twice.
This cat is very beautiful, with long and soft fur, and a patch of soft white fur on its chest that looks just like a heart.
No wonder it's called the Buddha's Heart.
Qi Su had previously used cat hair to wipe her hands, but the second time she saw the cat, its fur was soft and smooth, with no odor whatsoever.
It's obvious that someone gave it a bath.
It's only natural that Dao Ci values cats so much.
Qi Su lifted its little paw and pressed it against her palm.
"Let's pinky swear. It's settled then, you can go back now."
…
She stepped into Huatan Temple, but instead of returning to her room, she went directly to find Jingrou.
Jingrou didn't look well; she looked haggard, as if she hadn't slept for several days.
There are many things to arrange recently, and quite a few of Beiting's secret guards have come with that Miss Ayan.
People from Southern Chu also secretly infiltrated.
The adults were busy attending to Miss Ayan, while Jingrou arranged everything for the Embroidered Robe Envoy.
Even so, upon seeing Qi Su, she did not forget her business.
"I heard that you've been spending a lot of time with Dao Ci lately, seeing him several times a day?"
As Jingrou asked the question, she scrutinized Qi Su's expression.
Qi Su didn't show any expression.
It's about the open-mindedness of "what's the use of trying?"
"Lord Qin said that if I am still useless in a few days, he will feed me to the corpse worms. How dare I not do my best?"
Jingrou: "Any progress?"
Qi Su smiled and said, "The monk relented and said he would give me an explanation after the Medicine Buddha Assembly ends."
"I see." Upon hearing this, Jingrou didn't show any joy and changed the subject.
"Are the fish from the mountains tasty?"
She had a clear grasp of Qi Su's movements.
Qi Su: "It's delicious!"
As he spoke, he took out a grilled fish that was wrapped tightly in bamboo leaves from his small cloth bag.
"Here, have a taste. It's a bit cold, but if you grill it over charcoal, it'll still be crispy and crunchy."
Jingrou took it.
Qi Su stretched out her empty hand again.
Jingrou: "What?"
Qi Su: "Sister, this fish isn't good to eat; you have to pay for it. One hundred taels."
Jingrou...
In the past, she would have simply drawn her dagger and sent Qi Su back to where she came from.
But now, her impression of Qi Su has changed somewhat.
She despised women who were weak, indecisive, dependent on men, and who even sold their bodies.
I thought Qi Su was the same kind of person, but I never expected that this seemingly dull woman would do something big without making a sound.
He does have a bit of a temper.
Knowing that the day of the Holy Venerable Liuli Medicine Master's enlightenment was approaching, she knew she wouldn't live much longer.
Jingrou took out several silver notes from her purse and handed them to Qi Su.
Qi Su smiled gently.
"Thank you, little sister. Save the extra for now, and I'll roast some ground squirrels for you next time."
This amount of silver is enough for Jinghe and the others to buy several cartloads of rice and grain.
The kind benefactor donated silver, so naturally there was no need to dig for medicinal herbs in the dead of winter.
.
November 3rd.
The day of the enlightenment of the Holy Venerable Medicine Master of the Glazed Glass.
In the early morning, a thin layer of sandalwood incense wafts through the Zen temple deep in the mountains.
The clear, melodious sound of bells broke the silence of the mountains and forests, announcing the start of the Dharma assembly.
Burn incense, bathe, and change clothes.
Surrounded by a group of monks, Dao Ci headed towards the Mahavira Hall.
The crisp, golden sunlight streamed down from the eaves of the temple.
The once quiet Zen temple is now filled with the hustle and bustle of the secular world. Believers hold burning incense sticks and kneel in devout worship.
Qi Su sat under the eaves of the temple, holding the yellow and white cat.
She watched as Master Daoci, dressed neatly and with a stern and solemn expression, walked past her.
The weather was lovely, and the sunshine made me feel a little drowsy.
She squinted, her expression mirroring that of the cat in her arms.
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