Chapter 10
"Amitabha." He put his hands together in prayer.
Ling Wu stood up and returned the greeting, her gentle eyes carrying a hint of coldness.
This little monk is greedy.
Using her to overcome my emotional tribulations, I'm not afraid that one day my merits will be exhausted.
"My Buddhist name is Liaoji, and I am in charge of the rooms in this part of the East Garden. If you have any needs, please feel free to ask."
Liao Ji's voice was very pleasant, as soft as a feather brushing against the ear.
He was dressed in crimson monk's robes, a color unlike the gray robes of the other monks who had come along the way.
There was a touch of vermilion between Liao Ji's brows, which made his infinitely holy and handsome face seem somewhat tinged with desire.
Even the hands that held the prayer beads had distinct bone structure, like clear bamboo.
No wonder this woman from Shengjing came to Cangshan Temple every day, just hoping to meet Master Liaoji.
Liaoji continued to fiddle with the prayer beads in his hand.
His long eyelashes drooped slightly, concealing the fleeting emotions that welled up when he saw Ling Wu.
Everything he saw, whether people or scenery, appeared the same to him.
But the woman before him was the first time he had ever experienced the beauty of the world.
His master once said that his identity was special, but he only said that he would not say anything more until he experienced the tribulation of love. Perhaps he would be able to find out his identity in advance.
If he overcomes the tribulation of love, he will become a Buddha and return to the path he is meant to follow.
If he cannot overcome it, then it is his fate, and he cannot obtain what he desires.
Lingwu pushed the teacup to the opposite side, raised her right hand to the side of the teacup, and said, "Master Liaoji, please."
Because of this title, Liao Ji's heartstrings trembled slightly.
Women had invited him in the past, but he always declined.
I don't know if today's events are in accordance with the will of Heaven, or simply because of the beautiful scenery I've never seen before in my life.
He was seated on the prayer mat, and then nodded and said thank you, "Thank you, benefactor."
Lingwu simply smiled and shook her head gently, without saying anything more.
Liaoji took a sip of bitter tea, put it down, and said, "The magnolias on the back mountain are in full bloom right now. If you have nothing else to do, you can go and admire them."
"Thank you very much, Master Ji."
Liaoji twirled his prayer beads and shook his head.
Then, in a gentle voice, he spoke again: "It seems you will encounter a minor misfortune tonight. After viewing the flowers, it would be best not to linger outside."
These two slightly contradictory statements made Lingwu raise her eyebrows.
She smiled slightly, her voice soft: "In that case, I must thank Master even more."
Liao Ji seemed confused, and Ling Wu noticed the puzzle in his eyes.
She explained softly, "Master Liaoji's divination should be worth a thousand gold pieces."
The beautiful woman's smiling face was even more dazzling than the golden light he saw every day while chanting scriptures.
It seems to be able to dispel all the sorrows of the world.
"You flatter me, benefactor." Though he said this, his hand, which was holding the prayer beads, paused for a moment, revealing his joy at that instant.
Liao Ji looked away and focused his gaze on the teacup in front of him.
Only the image of the teacup is gone.
Before my eyes was the beautiful scene of the woman's radiant smile and tender eyes.
The prayer beads he was holding were spinning much faster than usual.
"Amitabha……"
After calming his thoughts, Liaoji stood up and said, "This humble monk has disturbed you greatly, please forgive me, benefactor."
"Master Liaoji, you're too kind." Lingwu didn't stop him from leaving.
Liao Ji rose, bowed, and left.
Lingwu did not see him off, but only watched Liaoji's figure disappear around the corner.
After Ji left, she picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of tea.
Is there a minor disaster tonight?
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and then she slowly stood up.
Meanwhile, Liaoji, who was around the corner, kept murmuring "Amitabha" to purify his mind.
The turmoil in his eyes gradually subsided, but the burning sensation at the base of his ears had not yet subsided.
"Amitabha……"
Behind Cangshan Temple, a large area of magnolias are in full bloom.
Green hills, white flowers, and a woman in a blue-green dress under a tree.
All of this already beautiful scenery is bathed in the continuous spring light.
Jiang Qi arrived a day early so that he could explore all the best parts of the temple grounds.
That way, when I meet Lingwu tomorrow, I can use the excuse of the beautiful scenery to invite her, which is why we came here to find such a beautiful view.
Unexpectedly, both the beautiful scenery and the beautiful woman were there.
"Miss Bai!" Jiang Qi called out, unable to contain his joy.
Upon hearing this, Ling Wu turned her gaze and saw that it was Jiang Qishi, but there was no surprise in her eyes.
But when the beauty turned her head to look at him, Jiang Qi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly composed himself to avoid Ling Wu's gaze.
The words you've thought of beforehand all turn out to be empty words when they finally come out.
He stammered and in the end, he only blushed.
But he only thought he was too immersed in the role, not realizing that his heart had already been lost.
“Young Master Jiang.” Ling Wu nodded in return.
She caught a whiff of a strange fragrance and took a step back without making a sound, as if she didn't want to linger any longer.
Seeing that Ling Wu was avoiding him, Jiang Qi's eyes dimmed for a moment, but in the end, his heart was filled with emotion.
He stepped forward, his clear voice carrying a hint of pleading: "I was born into the Jiang family of Qingliu, and I would never do anything to dishonor the Jiang family's reputation. Moreover, Cangshan is a sacred place, and I would never do anything to offend Miss Bai."
He paused for a moment, then said, "Miss Bai, could you give me a chance? Just to admire the flowers today, so that there will be less misunderstanding between us, and it can also be considered... the end of this ill-fated relationship."
He was born into a noble family and was always held in high esteem by everyone from a young age, so it is understandable that outsiders praise Jiaoyue.
This is the first time in so many years that I have felt so humble.
He didn't know the reason, perhaps it was because of that gentle smile she uttered during the Lantern Festival—
"Those who like something have countless reasons for liking it."
Or perhaps it was the strange stirring in his heart, and the increasingly distant attitude she had shown him over the past few days, that made him feel a strong sense of frustration.
She was so beautiful that she both captivated and mesmerized him, and even her casual words touched his heartstrings.
When the bright moon falls to the mortal world, it will yearn for the moon's radiance in its heart and bow its head in self-pity.
Jiang Qi's eyes were filled with bitterness and pleading, which made Ling Wu pause for a moment, and even the disgust in her eyes lessened a bit.
Jiang Qi was pleased to see that she was softening, but also worried.
Miss Bai is pure and kind-hearted, and her worldly views are too clean. In the past, with her personal maid watching over her, his "schemes" always failed.
It was only this time, when her personal maid was not there, that she had a noticeable change in her opinion of herself.
But he forgot that this was his original intention, and Ling Wu's kindness and simplicity were the best thing for him.
I didn't realize that I should have been smug and arrogant, but now I was mostly worried.
So what is the source of this concern?
Was he worried that she would be taken advantage of by others, and that his plans would fail?
To this day, Jiang Qi still believes that he is entangled with Ling Wu because of those schemes.
But Lingwu could clearly see the deep emotions in Jiang Qi's eyes.
Love is truly such a strange thing.
Bai Lingwu offered him everything, yet he only gave her two-tenths of his love as a favor.
She did nothing, rejected him time and time again, and even made no attempt to hide her disgust for him. Despite the gossip and rumors in Shengjing, he revealed his true feelings.
Despite these thoughts, Lingwu's eyes remained gentle.
She nodded slightly. "Okay."
This agreement gave Jiang Qi a glimmer of hope.
It made him feel that he still had a chance, and that he could still hold a place in her heart.
Jiang Qi was overjoyed, his eyes filled with delight.
It's like a child who has never been favored, suddenly receiving care from their parents.
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