Chapter 268
The instant they stepped out, a deafening roar erupted, and the fire completely engulfed the hall, leaving not even a trace of bones behind.
Ning Yue rushed over and asked anxiously, "Tao Tao? Xiao Tao? Wake up!"
Li Jianxin had just escorted Master Yuanxiu to his room when he saw them coming out and hurriedly went over to them.
Leng Qiao looked dazed, as if she had exhausted all her strength. She suddenly knelt on the ground, her hands still tightly protecting the unconscious Tao Tao on her back.
The abbot looked at the collapsed main hall with a worried expression. Before long, he quickly called someone over to take Leng Qiao and the others inside to rest.
The fire was finally extinguished after they worked until dawn.
Master Yizhen's body was also not preserved.
A somber atmosphere filled the room. The abbot and the monks sat on the ground, closed their eyes, and began to chant the Rebirth Sutra.
Tao Tao woke up the next evening.
She slowly opened her sore eyes, looked around at everything, and was about to get up when a sharp pain shot through her forearm.
She gasped in pain and looked down to see her left forearm wrapped in gauze, indicating that she had been injured in the fire.
But she had no recollection of it.
Suddenly, she remembered something and frantically reached for the purse at her waist. The distinct sensation in her hand made her breathe a sigh of relief.
She struggled to her feet, and just as she was about to speak, her throat became so dry and painful that she staggered to the table, poured herself a full glass of water, and gulped it down.
After drinking three glasses of water, my burning throat finally felt relieved.
She covered her arm, pushed open the door, and a blinding light rushed in, making her instinctively raise her hand to shield her eyes.
It was unusually quiet outside the door, with only the sound of monks sweeping and even the sound of footsteps being barely audible.
She leaned against the door, breathing in the fresh air, when suddenly, a surprised voice came from the corridor to her left.
Tao Tao turned her head and saw Ning Yue running towards her.
"Xiao Tao, you're finally awake. Is there anything else that's bothering you? Why don't you go back to bed?"
"Or are you hungry? I'll go get you something to eat?"
Ning Yue looked at her nervously, with a hint of apology in her eyes.
She felt somewhat guilty for repeatedly doubting Tao Tao. Tao Tao was clearly a very kind girl, and she shouldn't have suspected her of having ulterior motives.
Tao Tao took in her expression, smiled sweetly, and asked softly, "Where's Leng Qiao? I'm going to see her."
"Leng Qiao is in another room, not far away. I'll take you there."
After saying that, she hesitated for a moment, looking Tao Tao up and down as if observing her condition, "But are you really alright? How about we go later?"
She shook her head. "Let's go."
"Then I'll help you." Ning Yue warmly stepped forward and helped her walk to the left.
Tao Tao glanced sideways and took in her expression, then curled her lips into a slight smile.
Leng Qiao was more seriously injured than her. Perhaps he was searching for her in the fire, disregarding the danger and his own injuries, running around like a newborn calf.
As a result, he ended up with injuries all over his body, and even his face was burned quite a bit.
Li Jianxin walked in from outside with some medicine and saw Tao Tao there. He quickly went up to her and asked, "Are you alright? Why aren't you resting in bed?"
"You can drink this medicine first. I'll brew another one when she wakes up."
Tao Tao smiled faintly, her voice slightly hoarse: "I'm fine, I feel okay."
She walked over and sat down beside Leng Qiao's bed, gazing at the unconscious Leng Qiao. A strange emotion welled up inside her, one she couldn't quite put her finger on.
She hadn't expected Leng Qiao to risk his life for her, even going so far as to rush into the fire to save her.
She usually only gave her small favors.
Ning Yue stirred the medicine until it was half-cooled, then carefully brought it over and said, "Xiao Tao, it's not hot anymore, you can drink it first."
Tao Tao turned her head and frowned as she looked at the dark-colored medicine, her expression showing a hint of resistance.
"Don't complain about the bitterness. As the saying goes, good medicine tastes bitter, but it's good for the disease. You can't refuse it."
Ning Yue's words were so logical and reasonable that Li Jianxin burst out laughing.
Hearing the laughter, she turned around, frowned, and said reproachfully, "What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?"
Seeing her angry, Li Jianxin pursed his lips, his shoulders trembling as he suppressed a laugh. He calmed himself down and said, "Have you forgotten how your master's wife and I always coaxed you when you were sick and needed to take medicine?"
“I used every trick in the book, but you couldn’t even drink two sips. It was only after your master intervened that you managed to drink it.”
"Me!" Ning Yue was speechless for a moment, staring at him with her eyes wide open, waving her fist as if to punch him.
"Shut up! Don't say another word!"
The voices were quite loud, and they quickly woke up the person in bed.
Tao Tao, being closer, was the first to notice Leng Qiao's slight reaction and also heard her muttering something.
She leaned closer to listen and realized that they were calling her. She quickly replied, "I'm here. Don't worry, I'm fine now."
She reached out and held her cold hand, giving her a sense of security.
Suddenly, Leng Qiao's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the next second she opened her eyes abruptly, feeling her hand being held tightly. She turned her head and saw that it was Tao Tao.
"Miss." In her haste, she forgot about her injuries and tried to get up, but Tao Tao pressed her back down.
"You're injured, don't get up yet."
Tao Tao took the medicine from Ning Yue's hand, said thank you, and then placed it in front of Leng Qiao.
"Take the medicine; it will help the wound."
Leng Qiao looked at the medicine in her hand, but still got up. "Miss, this is not in accordance with the rules."
Tao Tao is the master, and she is the servant. How can she let the master serve her?
Tao Tao frowned, her voice a little cold, "What's wrong with the rules? Aren't I the rule? Just drink it, do you think I'm poisoning it?"
Upon hearing this, Leng Qiao was startled and hurriedly shook her head, "That's not what I meant, it's just..."
"There's nothing special about it, just drink it."
Ning Yue and Li Jianxin, who were standing nearby, also tried to persuade her. Leng Qiao carefully took the drink from her hand and drank it all in one gulp, as if responding to what Tao Tao had just said.
She was proving that she had 100% trust in Tao Tao.
Just then, a monk brought in a vegetarian meal from outside the door, and was surprised to see so many people.
"This humble monk did not know there were so many people. Please eat first, and this humble monk will go and bring some more."
Li Jianxin was worried about troubling him, so he quickly said, "It's alright, I'll go get it myself in a bit. Thank you for your trouble, Master."
He nodded. "Very well, then this humble monk will take his leave."
"Wait a minute," Tao Tao called out to him.
The monk turned to look at her with a puzzled expression. "Is there anything else, benefactor?"
"Master, I want to ask how Master Yuanxiu is? Is he seriously injured?"
He smiled and said, "Don't worry, benefactor, Senior Brother Yuanxiu is fine. He just hasn't woken up yet and is still resting, but he's out of danger."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com