Chapter 43 Great Misfortune. Shen Minghuai flipped over the fortune slip; it read: Great Misfortune.
Wang Yan followed his lead and offered a deep bow. Zhao Can was actually on good terms with this Lord Yan; could it be that he too had come prepared this time…?
"Father, do you know him?" Yan Xun walked to Shen Minghuai's side and looked him up and down.
"Young Master Shen, you don't remember, do you? I used to hold you in my arms."
Compared to the forthright and cheerful Yang Xianshi, this Lord Yan was exceptionally gentle and refined, exuding the elegance of a Confucian scholar in every aspect. Wang Yan glanced at Shen Minghuai discreetly, keenly catching a hint of bewilderment.
"Why are you leaving so soon after you arrived? Young Master Shen is very easy to talk to, and this Zhao—ah!"
Yan Zhan couldn't stop Zhao Can from leaving in a hurry, and then explained to Shen Minghuai, "He said he had something to do at home, and it's really not easy for him to come all this way."
"Chen—you wouldn't happen to be my husband's son, would you?" Yan Xun's carefree attitude returned.
“Xun’er, you mustn’t be rude.” Yan Zhan suddenly turned to Wang Yan and bowed deeply. “Thank you, madam, for bringing my son home.”
Wang Yan was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to help Yan Zhan up. "Lord Yan is joking. It was not my doing."
Yan Zhan was confused again. He glanced at Yan Xun and said, "My wife is so fond of my son..."
"Misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding. Young Master Yan is so young, how could he have such thoughts? As for that jade pendant, I obtained it by chance." Wang Yan took a few steps back to Shen Minghuai's side and breathed a sigh of relief.
"It was a gift from Young Master Shen."
Yan Zhan stared at the two of them for a long time, then glanced at Yan Xun, pursed his lips and shook his head, "Fine."
Yan Xun's eyes widened, he pointed to himself, then pointed to Shen Minghuai. Yan Zhan walked straight over and invited Shen Minghuai and Wang Yan to sit down.
"mother!"
"You two have been a great help to my wife. Please feel free to ask if you need anything." Just as Yan Zhan was about to sit down, he suddenly remembered something.
After a while, Madam Yan brought out the handwritten Buddhist scripture, the paper covered with unfamiliar runes. Shen Minghuai had assumed that the person who copied it must be proficient in Sanskrit, but Madam Yan said that she at most knew a few.
Wang Yan leaned closer to take a look, then whispered in Shen Minghuai's ear that they should copy down the next page first, and then ask Puyuan at Longxing Temple later.
Just as Shen Minghuai was about to speak, Wang Yan softly asked Madam Yan to allow her to copy a page. Yan Zhan instructed a maid to bring paper and ink, and Wang Yan chose the first page of the text, copying it down meticulously.
"I wonder where Madam Yan obtained this Sanskrit?"
Madam Yan turned her gaze away from the Sanskrit text. "I bought it from a young monk. At the time, I just thought it was novel. After copying it for a few days, I found that it could calm people's minds, so I did it every day."
Shen Minghuai then asked, "Is the little monk selling manuscripts?"
"Yes. The day I bought this Buddhist scripture, the young monk told me that it was the only copy he had taken from a master's collection of scriptures. I don't know if what he said is true or not."
After Wang Yan finished copying, the Sanskrit characters, written in a flowing, flamboyant style, filled an entire page, displaying a rather unrestrained and elegant air. After all, he was a man of the martial world, easily surprised by such things.
"It's getting late, and we've troubled you." Shen Minghuai thanked Yan Zhan and his wife again.
Yan Zhan glanced outside the hall. "Why don't you stay for dinner before you leave?"
Wang Yan hurriedly replied, "No need to trouble yourself. We have appointments with old friends, so we won't bother you any longer."
Yan Xun appeared behind her without her noticing. "Sister, I'll come find you in a couple of days."
Wang Yan pulled Shen Minghuai out of the Yan residence quickly. The sky had not yet completely darkened, and a hint of clarity shone through the deep blue curtains, while the moon already hung above the eaves.
Hua Xin, who was dozing off, was startled awake. He put down his stool and groggily reached out to help the person who had come up, but Wang Yan had already climbed up first. An inexplicable chill jolted Hua Xin awake.
"Are you hungry too? Let's go eat Song Sao's fish soup!" Wang Yan's bright eyes met the people behind her.
Shen Minghuai's face instantly lit up with a smile, and he agreed without hesitation. When they arrived at Song's Restaurant, it was packed with people inside and out. Seeing this scene, Wang Yan's smile almost dropped to the ground. While inquiring about Chen Yu, he happened to overhear a young master talking about Song's Fish Soup, and the vivid praise made Wang Yan, who had been listening intently, reminisce for quite some time.
Unable to eat today, Wang Yan decided to come back tomorrow. Shen Minghuai, with his exceptionally keen nose, caught the aroma of beggar's chicken, and the four of them ate their fill before returning home.
The next morning, I went to Longxing Temple again.
Wang Yan stood under the horse chestnut tree for a long time, quite troubled about who to ask. If that person didn't know the relationship between Chen Yu and Pu Yuan, they certainly wouldn't introduce them.
"Don't think that just because he values you the most, you can be lazy and shirk your responsibilities and clean carefully!"
Shen Minghuai looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young monk engrossed in sweeping the floor, stubbornly doing futile work. His eyes could no longer see the dust; how could someone living in this world truly remain spotless?
"This person is the abbot."
"It's really embarrassing for Master Puyuan's little disciple to bully the younger one like this."
As they spoke, Wang Yan and his companion arrived before the novice monk. The novice monk quickly put down his broom, clasped his hands in greeting, and bowed.
"Chen Yu asked us to convey a message to Master Puyuan. Could you please inform the junior monk?" Wang Yan took out a wooden box and opened it. "This string of Buddhist prayer beads, I wonder if the junior monk recognizes it?"
The novice monk's expression changed slightly at first, but upon hearing this, he looked up abruptly and told Wang Yan to quickly put away the box and wait there. After about half an incense stick's time, the novice monk returned, looked around, and then led the two away from the worshippers into the temple's backyard.
Passing through the corridor, one sees rows of water vats outside, in which bloom lotus flowers of various colors, their petals layered upon each other, creating ripples in the green waves. The mountains and forests are quiet, cleansing away the dust of the world, leaving only the lingering sound of Buddhist chants.
The novice monk announced at the door of the meditation room, "Master, the two benefactors have arrived."
An old man's voice came from inside the meditation room, "Please."
Wang Yan placed the wooden box on the table, and Pu Yuan took out the string of Buddhist beads, his expression moved.
"Since he handed this string of Buddhist beads to the two benefactors, he must have been repaying a favor with it."
Shen Minghuai briefly recounted what happened on Tianmu Mountain, while Pu Yuan had been looking out the window for a long time, letting out a sigh.
"I'm not coming this year."
Pu Yuan put the prayer beads back into the box and began to recount the past to the two people he was meeting for the first time.
Chen Yu was constantly ill from birth, and all the folk remedies he tried were ineffective. Realizing that conventional methods were futile, he could only entrust his hopes to the gods. His father sent him to Longxing Temple, where he stayed for over ten years. In those ten years, Chen Yu's understanding was not much greater than that of the other worshippers; the most solid skill he learned was playing chess.
The little boy who used to tug at the robe and call out "Master" has grown up in the blink of an eye. The position where he used to demand to take back his moves is now occupied by a well-behaved novice monk. Everyone else in the temple privately curses Chen Yu as an ingrate, but the novice monk, who has followed Chen Yu since childhood, is the only one who speaks up for him.
The story was finished, and Wang Yan listened intently, while Shen Minghuai showed little reaction.
"I don't want to have that past again."
As if settling old scores, Pu Yuan finally asked them the purpose of their visit.
Shen Minghuai took out the page of Sanskrit text that Wang Yan had copied, and Pu Yuan seemed somewhat surprised.
"You've come for your father?"
Shen Minghuai suddenly stood up and bowed deeply.
"I, Shen Minghuai, have come here regarding my father's printing of Buddhist scriptures. I trouble you, Master, simply to ascertain the truth of this matter."
Pu Yuan slowly twirled the prayer beads in his hand. "Amitabha. Everything has its cause and effect. It's alright to tell you. Get up now."
When the topic of his father came up, Wang Yan fell silent, feigning absentmindedness, while Pu Yuan remained hesitant. She then understood and stood up, but Shen Minghuai pressed her down.
"She is not an outsider, please speak, Master."
Pu Yuan picked up the page of the Buddhist scripture and began to speak slowly.
"This is the original Tripitaka. The Tripitaka your father printed was translated by my master, and it was given to him by Jingxin. My master originally wanted to take Jingxin as his disciple, but Jueming got there first. It was probably fate that my master gave him the Sanskrit Tripitaka that he had obtained from the Japanese."
Popular legend has it that Emperor Yue was furious because this set of scriptures was a tribute from Japan to the dynasty, but it was used by the Duke of Dingguo for personal gain. Wang Yan kept an eye on Shen Minghuai's expression.
"These words from the master are enough." Shen Minghuai gripped the hand extended to him by the person beside him.
"Master once corresponded with the Japanese. I wonder if they are still kept in the pavilion. Let me go and look for them. Please come back here in three days."
Shen Minghuai bowed again, lowering his head even further, his voice trembling slightly, "Thank you, Master!"
Pu Yuan was about to see them off when Wang Yan cautiously spoke up, "Master, we actually have another request—do you know Jingxin's whereabouts?"
Pu Yuan's eyes suddenly narrowed. "You really want to find him?"
Wang Yan earnestly explained to him, "Master, are you aware of the 'Heart Sutra of Still Water' that has been circulating in the martial arts world recently? It is a lost manual that has been lost for a hundred years and is actually a heretical alchemical technique. We are looking for it in the hope of destroying this rare copy to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble."
Pu Yuan only glanced at her, but Wang Yan felt as if he had seen right through her.
What is your relationship with Li Changling?
"He is my senior brother."
Pu Yuan's expression changed again, and he immediately took out a wooden stick, "Amitabha... Amitabha..."
Shen Minghuai flipped the fortune stick over; it read "Very Ominous." Although Wang Yan couldn't understand it, he knew it was not a good omen.
Pu Yuan then looked at Shen Minghuai, "She is searching because of her sect. You have already obtained another certificate. Do you still want to search?"
"Master, you won't be returning to the capital with me, so who will believe these letters?" Shen Minghuai seemed very concerned about the wooden slip. "Does it speak of people or matters?"
Pu Yuan closed his eyes and clasped his hands, still reciting those four words.
Wang Yan never believed that the world couldn't do without her, because the world was full of legends, and there was no shortage of protectors like her. But if she had to take on this responsibility, just to protect the people she loved, she would not back down.
"I will search no matter what."
Shen Minghuai extended his hand. "It's us."
"...Very well. Jingxin intends to use this old monk's skull as a ritual implement. This implement must be based on the skull of the deceased. The Xu family of Mingzhou is quite knowledgeable about Indian Buddhism..."
“You may go and verify it before you come to take my life,” Pu Yuan said to Jing Xin that day.
Wang Yan was utterly astonished. To take the lives of living people just to make ritual implements—and this person was a high-ranking monk from Da Gao—how could he be considered a member of the Buddhist order…?
Shen Minghuai revealed a surprising yet predictable fact: "Jingxin has become possessed."
Pu Yuan escorted the two men to the door of the meditation room. "Amitabha. Take care, my esteemed benefactors."
Wang Yan, who had been longing for Song Sao's fish soup the day before, now couldn't eat anything. Her restlessness affected her judgment of food, so she could only eat a couple of bites and then went back to her room to rest. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she vaguely heard a knock on the door.
"It's me."
Wang Yan held her head as she went to open the door, where Shen Minghuai stood holding a set of clothes.
Did I wake you up?
"How beautiful!" Wang Yan exclaimed upon seeing the light blue top and half-hidden skirt, instantly losing all sleepiness.
Do you like it?
Wang Yan suddenly lunged at Shen Minghuai, "I like it! But why did you suddenly give me clothes?"
"Tomorrow is Chinese Valentine's Day."
She forgot.
See you tomorrow.
See you tomorrow!
Shen Minghuai deliberately got up late today, but he did not see that familiar figure downstairs as he had hoped, although there were two familiar faces.
Hua Xin quickly swallowed the half-eaten steamed bun. "Madam Wang went out early this morning."
Ying Ming added casually, "Wearing the new clothes the young master gave me."
Throughout the entire breakfast, Shen Minghuai kept his eyes glued to the inn's main entrance, afraid that he might miss Wang Yan as she entered.
"Madam Wang is probably going to return the gift. Why don't you and I go for a walk together, young master?"
"No bathing today."
"Thank you, young master!"
Just as Hua Xin and Ying Ming left, Shen Minghuai was called back.
"Shen Minghuai!"
Wang Yan smiled and walked towards him, carrying a food box. The inn was dark, but the room was unusually bright at this moment.
“I didn’t know what to give you, so I went out for a stroll early this morning and happened to run into three aunties making Qiaoguo (a type of pastry). I begged them to let me make some for you. Try it and see if it’s good.”
Wang Yan lowered her head and took out the various smiling faces, as well as the flower melon given by her aunt. A morning glory flower from her temple fell and landed in Shen Minghuai's palm.
“The auntie was wearing one, so she gave me one too.”
Shen Minghuai pinned the hairpin to her temple again, saying, "It looks very nice."
Wang Yan took two steps back, twirled around in the light-colored silk skirt, and said, "My aunt praised my clothes! She really likes them."
"If you like it, that's fine."
Recently, Shen Minghuai's smile has always been like a mask on his face, and this time his true feelings have been revealed, which is very precious.
Wang Yan eagerly leaned closer to him, "Is it delicious?"
"It's very sweet."
The chocolate fruit was sweet, just like her smile. Shen Minghuai picked up a piece and held it to her lips. Wang Yan's tongue brushed against Shen Minghuai's finger like a feather, and a blush quietly crept onto her earlobes.
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Author's Note: Time to go back to work after the holiday... [crying emoji]
But you can come and see Yan'er and Huai'er celebrating Qixi Festival [Let me see].
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