Seeing this, Jiang Huaiyu quickly stepped forward to stop Master Qiu and said in a gentle tone, "Master Qiu, please calm down. Ling Mo is an unruly child. Even if you punish him, he may not be convinced."
Upon hearing this, Master Qiu glared at Ling Mo, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He then glanced at Jiang Huaiyu before slowly putting down the ruler in his hand. He stroked his long beard, smiled slightly, and said, "Miss Jiang is right. I shouldn't have gotten angry so easily. So, please tell me about this child's good points, Miss Jiang."
Jiang Huaiyu smiled slightly and said, "Master Qiu is a hermit of the mountains, untouched by worldly affairs, living in seclusion deep in the mountains. He naturally deserves this title. As for Ling Mo, he..."
At this moment, Ling Mo stood to the side, his face pale, but a defiant smile played on his lips. He coldly stared at Jiang Huaiyu, thinking to himself, "Sister Jiang, why are you pleading for me? Don't you know the hatred in my heart?"
Jiang Huaiyu continued, "Ling Mo is exceptionally intelligent and highly skilled in martial arts, but he is also aloof and not easy to get along with. However, deep down, he has a loyal and upright heart. If Master Qiu can guide him with care, he will surely become a great talent."
Upon hearing this, Master Qiu's eyes flashed with admiration, and he nodded, saying, "Miss Jiang is right. I shouldn't have resorted to violence. So, Ling Mo, do you know where you went wrong?"
Ling Mo looked up, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, but he still forced himself to say, "This disciple knows he is wrong, but he is not convinced."
Master Qiu smiled slightly and said, "Since that's the case, then you should go and consult with Miss Jiang to see if she can convince you."
Ling Mo's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that Master Qiu would ask him to consult Jiang Huaiyu. He thought to himself, "Alright, I'll go and consult her and see if she can convince me."
So, Ling Mo followed Jiang Huaiyu to a quiet side room in the Taoist temple.
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Ling Mo and smiled, "Ling Mo, if you have any complaints, please feel free to speak them out, and I will do my best to answer them."
Ling Mo looked coldly at Jiang Huaiyu and said, "Sister Jiang, why are you helping me? Don't you know the hatred in my heart?"
Jiang Huaiyu smiled slightly and said, "I know the hatred in your heart, but I believe you are not a narrow-minded person. You just need an opportunity, an opportunity for you to realize that you were wrong."
Ling Mo was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll ask you a few questions. If you can answer them, then I'll be completely convinced."
Jiang Huaiyu nodded and said, "Please tell me."
Ling Mo said, "Why should I respect those so-called 'high-minded scholars'? What right do they have to deserve respect from others?"
Jiang Huaiyu smiled slightly and said, "The reason why 'noble scholars' are respected is because they have noble character. They are not burdened by worldly affairs and pursue the sublimation of their souls. To respect them is to respect the ideals in our hearts."
Ling Mo was silent for a moment, then said, "Then why should I abide by those so-called 'rules'?"
Jiang Huaiyu said, "Rules are the guidelines that constrain our behavior. Only by abiding by the rules can we make our behavior more upright and our hearts more pure."
Ling Mo was moved by what he heard, but he still said defiantly, "Then why should I obey Master Qiu?"
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Ling Mo and smiled, "Master Qiu is your master. He taught you martial arts and how to be a person. It is your duty as a disciple to follow his teachings."
Ling Mo remained silent for a long time before finally lowering his head and saying, "Sister Jiang, I understand. I am willing to follow Master Qiu's teachings, cultivate diligently, and become a better person."
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Ling Mo, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes. She gently patted Ling Mo's shoulder and said, "Okay, I believe you."
Master Qiu glanced at Ling Mo, then smiled at Jiang Huaiyu, his tone becoming gentle: "Benefactor Jiang, please come with me to the main hall to offer incense."
Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly and replied politely, "Thank you for your trouble, Daoist Qiu."
The group walked through the quiet corridor and arrived at the main hall of the Taoist temple. The hall was filled with the smoke of incense, solemn and dignified. Master Qiu led Jiang Huaiyu and Ling Mo to the incense table and handed Jiang Huaiyu a stick of incense.
Jiang Huaiyu clasped her hands together and offered a devout prayer before inserting incense into the incense burner. Ling Mo, however, watched coldly from the side, a mocking smile on his lips.
Master Qiu saw this and couldn't help but feel a little angry, but he still suppressed his anger, turned around and brought over the pine needle tea, and said with a smile to Jiang Huaiyu, "Benefactor Jiang, this is a special pine needle tea made by our Taoist temple. You can't drink it anywhere else. Please try it."
Jiang Huaiyu glanced gratefully at Master Qiu and said softly, "Thank you, Master Qiu."
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Ling Mo and asked in a serious tone, "Master Ling, do you mind what I said earlier?"
Ling Mo smiled slightly, a hint of indifference in his eyes: "Miss Jiang, my unruly nature is well known. You are not wrong."
Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Ling Mo's answer. She gently picked up the pine needle tea on the table and said softly, "The pine needle tea from this Taoist temple has a truly unique flavor; the aroma of pine is intoxicating and refreshing."
Ling Mo gazed quietly at Jiang Huaiyu, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes. He asked softly, "Miss Jiang, are you alright?"
Jiang Huaiyu gently put down her teacup, a trace of sadness on her face: "Daoist, have you heard the rumors in the capital? About me being forced to drink an abortion pill, and about the behavior of my husband, Bai Yujing."
Ling Mo frowned slightly, his expression turning serious: "I have indeed heard about it. Miss Jiang, could you tell me in detail what exactly happened?"
Jiang Huaiyu sighed, her eyes filled with endless sorrow: "Since I married Bai Yujing, he has always been indifferent to me. Until I found out I was pregnant, I thought he would treat me better, but I never expected him to force me to drink abortion pills. I could not bear such betrayal, so I resolutely broke off my relationship with him."
Ling Mo was silent for a moment, a hint of sympathy flashing in his eyes. He said slowly, "Miss Jiang, you are no longer Bai Yujing's wife. From now on, you are free to choose your own life."
A resolute glint flashed in Jiang Huaiyu's eyes: "Yes, Daoist Master. I only wish to spend the rest of my life quietly in this Daoist temple and no longer concern myself with worldly affairs."
After a moment of silence, Jiang Huaiyu suddenly changed the subject: "Daoist Master, how long have you been cultivating in this Taoist temple?"
Ling Mo smiled slightly: "I came here when I was a teenager, and it has been decades since then."
Jiang Huaiyu asked curiously, "During this time, were there any moments when you wavered?"
Ling Mo's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "I did have those feelings in the past. But with the passage of time, I gradually came to understand the true meaning of life. Now, my heart is as still as water, and I am no longer moved by worldly affairs."
Jiang Huaiyu nodded gently, as if she had received some kind of enlightenment from Ling Mo's words. She looked up at Ling Mo, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes: "Daoist Master, thank you for your guidance. I think I will find peace of mind here."
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