Upon hearing this, Situ Feng gently waved his folding fan and looked at Li Xi with a deep gaze, as if trying to see through her thoughts.
"No, I only wish to make friends with Young Master Li, to enjoy tea and discuss philosophy together, and to appreciate the beauty of this world." His voice was gentle and warm, as if it could make people forget all their troubles.
What? I'm talking to you about money, and you want to have a heart-to-heart talk with me? Li Xi felt bored and thought this person must have something wrong with his head, so she just wanted to send him away casually.
Situ Feng believed that all people in the martial arts world were loyal and righteous, and that anyone who had shared a meal and drinks with them was a good brother. If Li Xi knew his thoughts, she would probably laugh at him for three days and three nights.
"Very well, it is my honor to have the pleasure of meeting Young Master Situ today. I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first." Li Xi did not want to waste any more time with him.
This is not how things are going in the way he expected. Shouldn't they have met at a teahouse to talk?
Situ Feng watched Li Xi's departing figure, somewhat puzzled. Had he been rejected? This was different from what the intelligence report said, which described Li Xi as someone who enjoyed making friends.
Li Xi has her own set of standards for making friends. She believes in fate between people and also trusts her intuition. In her eyes, Situ Feng is a scheming peacock.
The cunning and scheming Situ Feng returned to his residence and questioned the men in black: "Where did you get your intelligence from? It's so inaccurate!"
The man in black replied helplessly, "Based on our previous experience, we thought she would be easy to approach. We didn't expect things to turn out this time."
But what he really thought was that this divine messenger was indeed as useless as the legends said.
Actually, we can't entirely blame them.
The previous Li Xi was indeed someone who was good at making friends. However, the situation is somewhat different now. This Li Xi is no longer the same young man, so her behavior differs from the description in the intelligence.
Situ Feng did not want his mission to end in vain, nor did he want the other members of the sect to think of him as a good-for-nothing who relied on his father.
So he ordered, "Reinvestigate everything about Li Xi again to ensure the accuracy of the intelligence!"
Li Xi had nothing to do, so she decided to take a walk around.
She wandered aimlessly through the streets of the small town, sunlight filtering through the leaves and falling on her face, giving off a languid air.
This was the first time she had ever walked down this street, and it had a kind of secluded beauty, as if time had slowed down here.
A faint joy welled up in her heart, as if she had found a long-lost peace.
As she walked, Li Xi came to an ancient temple.
Although the temple was small, it exuded a solemn atmosphere. She strolled inside and saw an old monk sweeping the courtyard.
She stood quietly to the side, observing the old monk's every move.
The old monk seemed to sense her presence, turned around, and nodded to her with a smile. "Young benefactor, what brings you here?" the old monk asked gently.
Li Xi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I was just passing by and thought this temple was interesting, so I came in to take a look."
The old monk smiled and nodded, then continued sweeping the courtyard.
Li Xi sat on a stone bench nearby, feeling the tranquility around her. The temple seemed to possess a kind of magic, calming her heart.
"Master, how long have you been here?" Li Xi couldn't help but ask.
"It's been several decades," the old monk replied calmly.
"Don't you feel lonely here?" Li Xi asked curiously.
"Bodhi has no tree, the bright mirror is not a stand; originally there is nothing, so where can dust alight?" the old monk said with a firm gaze. "Here, I can stay away from the disturbances of the world and focus on my inner cultivation."
After listening to the old monk's words, Li Xi fell into deep thought.
She began to understand why the old monk had chosen to spend the rest of his life here. This peaceful and detached life was perhaps exactly what he had been seeking in his heart.
"Master, how do you think people should face the difficulties and challenges in life?" Li Xi couldn't help but ask.
The old monk stopped sweeping and looked at Li Xi, saying, "Difficulties and challenges are an inevitable part of life. You can choose to complain and run away, but that won't solve the problem. Instead, you should bravely face them and learn and grow from them."
"Just like the flowers in this courtyard, they can only grow stronger after experiencing wind and rain. Similarly, people can only become stronger and more mature after experiencing difficulties and challenges," the old monk said with a smile.
"Master, what do you think fate is?" Li Xi asked the question that had been lingering in her heart. She had never mentioned her past to anyone.
The old monk was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Fate is like a river, existing since the beginning of time. It may exist, but it is not fixed; rather, it is a variable."
Hearing the name of the old monk stirred something within her.
"Master, are you saying that fate is not immutable, but can be changed?" Li Xi pressed.
The old monk smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with a profound light: "Yes, fate is not monolithic. It is like a river, sometimes calm as a mirror, sometimes turbulent and surging. Some people are bound by fate, while others wield it. The true strong are not those who submit to fate, but those who bravely challenge it."
"What do you think happens after a person dies?" Li Xi asked, looking at the Bodhi tree in the courtyard.
The old monk did not answer directly, but slowly said, "Life is like a dream. If it is a dream, then what is life? It is a dream within a dream."
Li Xi was stunned. Sometimes she wondered if this was a dream after her death. She couldn't help but ask, "Then how do you distinguish between reality and dreams?" She began to think about whether the efforts she was making now were just the regrets she hadn't fulfilled in her previous life.
The old monk smiled gently and replied, "Life is like a dream, and it's hard to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Why bother pursuing truth and falsehood excessively?"
The old monk's words made Li Xi fall into deep thought. Looking up at the sky, she realized it was getting late and said apologetically, "Master, I'm sorry to have bothered you today."
"It's alright, go ahead," the old monk replied softly, then turned and went back into the house.
Li Xi felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her heart. She took a deep breath and slowly walked out of the courtyard.
Upon returning to Tingfeng Courtyard, Li Xi discovered that the Empress Dowager and Prince An were both there. "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and His Highness Prince An."
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed to see Li Xi and came over to take her hand. "Oh my, Xiao Xi, you're finally back! I've been waiting for you for ages! Quick, the hot pot is all ready. I'm in for a treat today!"
If this is truly a dream, then the experience must be wonderful. Who would have thought that the most distinguished woman in the country would be arm in arm with her, sharing a hot pot meal?
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