She walked out in a few steps, only to find Shi Chan still sitting in the same spot, not moving an inch. She looked closely and saw that he was bowing his head deeply, his eyes downcast, his expression unreadable. But she could sense from his furrowed brows that he seemed to be in a bad mood.
"Shi Chan?" The smile disappeared from Liuli's face, and a bad premonition swept through her heart.
Without moving, a flash of golden light appeared on Shi Chan's body, and the Seven Treasures Kasaya and the Brahma Prayer Wheel appeared in front of him, floating uncertainly in the air.
Liuli's face changed, and she asked in a deep voice, "Did someone from Bodhi Temple come? Who came?"
“Yes…” Shi Chan still didn’t look up, his voice very low, and said, “Senior Brother Shi Ning…”
A flash of anger crossed Liuli's eyes, and she asked in a deep voice, "Did he persuade you to leave?"
Shi Chan put away his robe and prayer wheel, gently shook his head, and whispered, "My senior brother didn't try to persuade me to leave. He told me to stay here, but... but..."
He looked up at Liuli, and Liuli could see the expression on his face. She saw a mixture of emotions between his brows, giving his face an aura of struggle, unease, and sorrow.
“Liuli.” Shi Chan frowned deeply and said in a low voice, “The righteous disciples and common people outside are suffering greatly from the demonic calamity. I really… I really can’t hide here and do nothing. I once made a great vow to save all living beings. I promised the holy monks in this temple that I would use the Brahma Prayer Wheel to help the people of the Central Plains overcome the demonic calamity. But I’m hiding here, burying my cultivation and two divine artifacts…”
"If I had known this would happen, why would I have bothered with my arduous cultivation? Why would I have participated in the struggle for the divine artifact... I..."
Shi Chan gently placed his hand on his heart and said painfully, "Liuli, my heart is tormented by fire all day long, and I cannot find peace."
Liuli's face fell, her usual bright smile gone. She said in a low voice, "So, you're going to give up on me? Will giving me up put your mind at ease?"
Shi Chan shook his head and hurriedly explained, "Liuli, I don't want to give up on you. I just want to ask you to allow me... to allow me a year. After a year, no matter what happens outside, I will have done my best and have no regrets. After a year, whether the Bodhi tree sprouts or not, I will come back to marry you, okay?"
Although Liuli didn't want to know what was happening outside, she had overheard a lot from the women while learning to weave. Even though she knew most of what they said was hearsay, Liuli could still imagine how dangerous it was outside. A year was enough time for Shichan to die a thousand times over!
Liuli took a deep breath to suppress her anger, slowly walked over and squatted down in front of Shichan. She raised her small hand to stroke his cheek, looked at him and whispered, "Shichan, you are not a savior. No matter what happens outside, we won't miss you. But you are my whole world, my everything. Please don't leave me, okay?"
Shi Chan's heart softened, and his decision wavered instantly.
But the next moment, Shi Ning's words rang in his ears, and the worry in his heart spread again, strengthening his resolve.
After a moment of silence, Shi Chan said softly, "Liuli, I only ask for a year of peace of mind. I beg you, please allow me a year, okay?"
Shi Chan's insistence made Liu Li's heart sink. She opened her arms and hugged Shi Chan, frowning as she said, "Shi Chan, I can't tolerate you for a year, I can't leave you for even a moment. If you really leave, I will spend that year in torment of worry. Can you really bear it?"
"Liuli..." The arms around her neck were so tight that Shi Chan clearly understood Liuli's fear and unease. He opened his mouth again and again, but in the end, he didn't say anything more.
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