The matter of the Gu worm is a confidential one.
Yan Chao's ruler, Wei Zhao, only knew that Dao Ci had developed a heart ailment when he was young due to a fright, which would flare up from time to time, causing him unbearable pain and sleeplessness.
But they didn't know the real reason.
Two years ago, the master left the capital and came to Jincheng in the northwest. One reason was, as outsiders said, to translate scriptures and pray for blessings. The other reason was the Gu worm in his body.
Master Xuputuo of Huatan Temple is old and has difficulty moving around.
But he was a highly skilled doctor, and the medicine he prescribed was very effective.
Since arriving at Huatan Temple, the master's insect poison has rarely flared up again.
Originally, another year of recuperation would have allowed the Gu worms in his body to completely hibernate, but unexpectedly, news of a Buddhist assembly suddenly spread from the Zen sect.
Wei Zhao couldn't sit still any longer. As soon as Eunuch Wang arrived, his master's old ailment flared up again.
Dao Ci lowered his eyes and tapped the scripture with his slender fingertips.
"The capital city probably doesn't know about this yet."
Otherwise, with this fatal weakness in his grasp, Eunuch Wang wouldn't be so patient.
The monk in black robes said, "If you ask me, Master shouldn't be so merciful. In any case, that woman already knows this secret, and she's being manipulated by the Embroidered Robe Envoy. It's best to eliminate this threat as soon as possible."
The room was dark, illuminated only by the snow.
The young monk, dressed in white Zen robes, was tall and slender, with a rather refined appearance.
His long eyelashes drooped down, casting a row of shadows on his face, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
There is indeed something strange about Qi San Niangzi.
A few days ago, it was determined that he was infected with a venomous insect.
Sure enough, the insect poison took effect, but she happened to have a way to control it.
This is too much of a coincidence.
It is precisely because of this coincidence that it seems deliberate. If it were truly the work of the Embroidered Robe Envoy, then this scheme is far too crude.
Dao Ci: "Do not act for now, observe the situation."
The monk in black robes sighed.
"Although Eunuch Wang said he would not disturb the master's meditation again, Xuan Niao discovered that the Embroidered Robe Envoy is currently in Jincheng deploying people. If deception fails, they may take action against the master. Although Hua Tan Temple is nice, it is not a place to stay for long."
The wind shakes the snowflakes off the plum branches.
Dao Ci turned his head and looked out the window.
"The time to leave is not yet right; let's wait a little longer."
As they were talking, a yellow and white cat swaggered past the window, wagging its big tail and leaving a trail of paw prints in the snow.
Dao Ci watched the yellow and white cat leap onto the wall, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
"Go and find out who offered what kind of incense in the main hall yesterday."
.
Qingyun Temple is very quiet after nightfall.
Qi Su lay listlessly in bed like a dried salted fish.
She was genuinely delicate and had completely lost any worldly desires for male beauty.
Jingrou assigned Jinghe to take care of her.
Forget about getting someone to treat him; even the medicine he's brewing is leftover from his last illness.
But Jinghe has been gone for most of the day, why isn't she back yet? She can skip her medicine, but she can't skip her meals.
Qi Su couldn't lie down any longer, so she got out of bed and went to check on the kitchen.
A wind rose at night, causing the withered branches in Qingyun Temple to sway precariously.
As we passed through the alleyway beside the rear hall, we were suddenly struck by a series of sobbing sounds.
Big Boss Su is someone who has conquered several ghost stories and is completely immune to things like pretending to be a ghost.
Who's there?
Upon hearing her speak, a shadowy figure emerged from the shadows beneath the rear hall, its breathy, sobbing voice ringing out.
"Help! Help!"
Qi Su recognized the voice calling for help; it was none other than the little nun Jinghe who had disappeared without a trace.
"What's wrong, little master?" Qi Su asked as she lit the tinder she carried with her and walked toward the back hall.
Seeing the firelight, the person hiding in the shadows seemed somewhat wary.
Jinghe stumbled and lunged at her, half of her cotton robe torn off, her hat falling off, her eyes red, and her face still wet with tears.
"Benefactor Qi!" Jinghe felt as if she had seen a Bodhisattva descend from heaven when she saw Qi Su.
Qi Su patted the little girl's back to calm her down.
The light from the tinderbox flickered in the wind.
There was another person in the shadows of the rear hall.
The person probably didn't want to show their face, but the firelight illuminated Qi Su's features.
The man in the shadows let out a sound of surprise, grabbed his belt, and took a step forward.
"Madam Qi?" The voice was tinged with laughter. "It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet? Are you going out?"
Along with the sound, a pungent, drunken stench wafted over.
Qi Su frowned; she had seen this person yesterday.
I almost bumped into her at the back gate of Qingyun Temple.
Qi Su: "What are you doing here?"
The man chuckled, "I was delivering rice to the nunnery, but the snow was so heavy and the roads were slippery that it was difficult to go down the mountain, so I had to ask for lodging. I mistook you for someone else and startled this little nun. Where do you live, madam? Let me see you off."
Qi Su stood still, holding a tinderbox.
"If you take one more step, I'll call for help."
The man reluctantly pulled his foot back.
He laughed and said, "Look at you women, you're just saying a few words, why are you so scared?"
Qi Su glared at him and pulled Jing He away.
…
Back in her room, Jinghe's trembling body gradually calmed down only after she drank a large bowl of strong brown sugar water.
Qi Su looked at her red and swollen eyes.
"How could that man be staying in the nunnery? This is a nunnery."
Jinghe looked at her, about to speak, when suddenly, as if remembering something, her face turned deathly pale.
In the end, he shook his head and left without saying anything.
Qi Su called out to her and took out a few pieces of osmanthus candy from the wooden box for her.
The wind howled outside the window, as if ten thousand demons were lurking in the mountains, all roaring.
Qi Su closed the door expressionlessly.
She didn't care about any demons or monsters; she would strangle them one by one, just like strangling a chicken. Her heart was as cold as ice, as if she had killed a chicken ten years ago.
.
Qi Su had planned to take a couple of days of sick leave, but unexpectedly, she was dragged out of bed again in the middle of the night.
"Do you still want the antidote for your aunt's corpse worms?"
Yes, of course I want it.
The fire on the stove was a bit too big, and Qi Su coughed incessantly because of the smell emanating from the medicine pot.
Jingrou lifted the curtain and came in from outside.
With a stern face: "Is the medicine ready yet?"
Qi Su: "Is that enough?"
Who would have thought that she, a sickly young widow, who didn't even have her own medicine, would climb halfway up a mountain in the middle of the night, panting, just to brew medicine for the monks.
After Qi Su poured the prepared medicinal broth into a bowl.
Without blinking, Jingrou took out a red pill and dropped it in.
Tell Qi Su: "Watch him drink it all, don't let him leave a single drop."
Qi Su shook the medicine bowl: "No problem, Master is a compassionate person and won't make things difficult for me."
She picked up the bowl of medicine and was about to leave when Jinghe stopped her.
The little nun, her face gloomy, glanced at her.
"What are you wearing? Your clothes are too thick, take off your coat."
Qi Su: ?
Is that even human language? The person is seriously ill and has a high fever of 38°C.
…
The temple and Eunuch Wang reached an agreement that Dao Ci's meditation should no longer be disturbed.
But preparing medicine to treat illness is a serious matter and cannot be delayed.
Moreover, the Buddhist monk himself did not refuse.
Qi Su carried the medicine bowl into Dao Ci's quiet study.
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