Chapter 66 The Lucky Draw: Nine Promises at Sunrise
Lin Xingmian nestled her cheek against her sister's hand, seemingly enjoying the moment.
He said, "Because the view from the mountaintop is the most beautiful, I want to have the most perfect ending with you."
"Because I still have something to show you when we get to the top of the mountain."
"Because when we reach the top of the mountain, I have something very important to tell you."
"Because we made a promise, no one can go back on their word."
"Okay." She bent down and rubbed her sore thighs, then turned around, pulled Xingmian behind her, and the two set off again.
.
Together they traversed the low, dark valleys, relying on each other to climb the steep and treacherous Twenty-Seven Bends.
After passing the cliffside peak, we arrived at the Guanyin Temple.
Guanyin Temple is the closest resting point to the top of the mountain.
As dawn broke and darkness fell, the temple gates were closed.
It's almost 5 a.m. now, and this Guanyin temple won't open until 7 a.m.
So those who persisted until they reached this point would gather in small groups and sit slumped outside the temple gate to rest.
The narrow dirt road was filled with people sitting on the stone piers around the temple gate.
Ayu was one of them. She spotted an empty stone pier and quickly grabbed Xingmian to occupy it. They were so tired that their souls seemed to leave their bodies. The sweat on their bodies would flow and be dried by the wind, only to flow again.
The clothes clung to my skin, and the sweat on my arms outside felt icy cold from the wind.
The temperature drops sharply near the summit, far less pleasant than at the foot of the mountain.
To avoid catching a cold, the two took their coats out of their bags and put them on, then sat on the stone benches by the temple gate to replenish their fluids.
Strangely, the temple, which usually opens at 7 a.m., was making a slight noise coming from behind the main gate.
Hearing the noise, the people sitting on the stone stools at the entrance all turned around to look behind them. They heard a sound coming from behind the temple gate, and then the gate opened inwards.
"Huh?"
"The temple is open now?"
Some tourists exclaimed in surprise, and some of the more quick-witted tourists immediately asked the monk:
"Is it permissible to enter the temple to offer incense and pray now?"
The monk, with a relaxed demeanor untouched by worldly concerns, addressed everyone with a kind and benevolent expression:
"We will open early today. If any sincere person wishes to offer incense and worship Buddha, please feel free to do so."
Upon hearing what the monk said, several of the tourists who were resting immediately stood up, and Ayu looked up at them curiously.
However, before she knew it, her arm was being pulled.
Then Lin Xingmian beside him stood up as well—
Ah Yu was very surprised.
"What's wrong? Do you have a wish to ask the Bodhisattva?" she teased.
She has never been a superstitious person; she respects these traditional cultures and has great faith in science.
On second thought, it makes sense. Xingmian is currently a senior in high school, so she's probably praying to Buddha to help her get into her desired school...
Looking at his determined expression, she said, "I didn't realize someone so young was so religious..."
Xu Zhiyu covered her mouth and laughed.
However, what the boy said next made her unable to laugh anymore.
Lin Xingmian said, "I didn't believe it before. The necklace around your neck was blessed by me at Qiling Temple. I have paid homage to all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and all kinds of gods in all the halls on Qiling Mountain."
"Originally, I only prayed for your happiness and peace, but now you are wearing the necklace I gave you and standing by my side."
"So, to repay the kindness, I made up my mind to offer incense and kneel in worship at every temple I passed by."
After meeting you, I realized that there are things in this world that cannot be bought with effort or money. You are the ray of light for me to live, and I can only kneel and beg the gods and Buddhas for mercy and to grant me a glimmer of hope.
And so you came back to my side.
Xu Zhiyu found it hard to believe that these words came from the mouth of a seventeen-year-old high school student.
His heart seemed to house a seventy-year-old man who had experienced many hardships; he knew clearly what he wanted, what he needed to do, and how to do it.
Compared to him, I am far inferior in this respect.
She was used to doing whatever she wanted, to indulging herself and being willful, and to giving up halfway. She had no principles or ambitions. If she had to come up with one, "happiness" would barely count.
After resting for a while, the cool breeze at the mountaintop cooled the sweat on her body, and her clothes clung tightly to her skin. She reached up and grasped the pink glimpse between her collarbones—
She never imagined that this necklace would be a hundred times more valuable than she had ever thought!
On the table to her right were incense sticks donated by others. She followed Xingmian and took three sticks by herself.
The two of them were queuing.
When it was their turn, she and Xingmian knelt together on the yellow prayer mat in front of Guanyin.
The Guanyin statue in front of me is enormous, with a host of gods standing behind it, creating a magnificent spectacle.
The Bodhisattva's eyes were smiling, and all who saw it were deeply moved and brought to tears.
Especially those who have suffered greatly and endured the hardships of life, upon seeing the compassionate eyes of the Bodhisattva, suddenly felt the grievances they had been suppressing well up in their throats.
Lin Xingmian held up the incense sticks, closed his eyes, and prayed sincerely in his heart. This time, his wish had changed; this time, his wish was:
I hope I can be with my sister forever.
Xu Zhiyu was different. She was a person without desires or wants. She looked at Xingmian, who was making a wish earnestly next to her, and after thinking for a long time, she still couldn't figure out what she wanted to pray for.
The wind blew the clear copper bell, and she had a sudden inspiration.
In my heart I said:
[It must be very arduous for Guanyin Bodhisattva to bless so many people in the world with their wishes fulfilled. Then I wish the Bodhisattva good health, happiness, and all the best.]
The copper bell rings again even without wind.
Nobody noticed.
Perhaps it was because of her sincere heart that Guanyin was moved.
.
The weather forecast says that sunrise in Seoran will be at 5:47 AM today.
Every good spot on the Sunrise Tower was already packed with people.
Xingmian had done her research beforehand and had already scouted out the locations.
He led his sister directly down a shortcut to a spot above the tower where they shared a similar view, but which not many people knew about.
This place was a private route map that he had arranged by bribing someone who worked at the scenic area.
That's right, he brought her up here to see the most beautiful sunrise in the world.
This is what he said he would give her on the way.
If you want romance, you'll need money to back it up.
He admitted that when he held his sister's hand and embarked on another less traveled route, there was a moment when he did not reject the identity of "Young Master Lin".
But most of the time, he was utterly disgusted.
Are you sure this road will be passable?
Xu Zhiyu was pulled along by Xingmian at a jog, entering a muddy and decaying path, where occasional thorns stretched out and tore at his clothes.
Because he was in a hurry, he rudely pushed it aside with his bare hands!
The moment I reached the top of the mountain, the wind was strong and the wind was fierce. There were many shops renting out heavy military coats, ranging from forty to fifty yuan per coat.
Lin Xingmian led her straight to the down jacket sales point, casually pointed to two identical brown down parkas, bought them on the spot, and put them on immediately.
Rent a military overcoat?
It does not exist.
That young master is, after all, a young master; he can't possibly wear clothes that someone else has worn.
Ayu followed behind rather unsteadily. She saw duck down escaping from the small tear in Xingmian's down jacket. Before she could even laugh, she sneezed.
Lin Xingmian turned around upon hearing the voice: "Is it still cold?"
As he spoke, he began to unbutton his down jacket.
Boss Xu quickly grabbed his hand and rubbed his nose: "No, your downy feathers floated into my nose and made me choke... Hah!"
"Hiss..." He followed her gaze to his sleeve and saw that it was indeed torn in several places.
Since that's the case, Lin Xingmian switched her sister's hand to her left.
"Are you feeling unwell? Would you like to have some water to calm down?"
Xu Zhiyu pinched her nose and quickly shook her head: "No problem! Let's go, weren't you in a hurry?"
"Okay." He didn't linger any longer and led her forward.
As if he had thought of something, he turned to look at her and said, "You don't even know where I'm taking you, yet you dare to follow me into this remote forest?"
Are you afraid I'll do something bad to you?
Boss Xu said calmly, "I've followed you from Mushui to Xue'an. If I was going to be scared, I would have been long ago!"
She retorted, "Come on, let's see what mischief you can get up to in this woods. I'm quite curious~"
"Pfft." Lin Xingmian chuckled and stopped talking, only the strange expression on his face betrayed him.
I wonder what mischief he's thinking right now...
...
It's already 5:30.
The two of them finally managed to get out of the woods and hurriedly climbed up the tower.
There are only fifteen minutes left until sunrise according to the weather forecast!
He pulled his sister up the stairs with a "thump thump thump" sound. Boss Xu's legs were already weak from climbing the mountain all night, and he couldn't move fast at all!
Lin Xingmian could see that she was exhausted, and he suddenly stopped—
He threw his backpack in the stairwell, took two steps down, and squatted down in front of Xu Zhiyu.
His forehead was covered in sweat, but his eyes were bright and piercing.
"Sister, come on up, I'll carry you."
She gave a stiff smile and hesitated, "Are you sure you still have the strength?"
Lin Xingmian was full of energy, her eyes filled with happiness: "Come on, hurry up, we have ten more minutes to climb five floors."
Alright, we've come this far, we really can't waste any more time!
Ah Yu wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her upper body against his back.
The boy was stronger than she had imagined. He grabbed her thighs with both hands and lifted her up.
She leaned forward abruptly, and before her lay an endless spiral staircase, which frightened her. Instinctively, she clung tightly to his neck, pressing her cheek against Xingmian's cool ear.
The moment the boy got up to leave, her necklace pendant fell out of her collar, brushing against his cheek, still carrying the lingering warmth of her soft fragrance.
The biggest advantage of clean boys is that they always smell nice.
Although they were both sweating a lot, when they got close, she could smell the cool, faint fragrance emanating from his body.
Seeing that she was running out of time, she kicked her calves, clenched her fists, raised one hand to encourage herself, and said:
"Charge! Sunrise!! We're determined to win!!"
"Xingmian! Go for it! Xingmian! Go for it!..."
"Hahaha……"
Their cheerful laughter echoed through the tower.
This was a feeling that Ah Yu had never experienced before. Her heart was filled with sweetness, and she was extremely happy.
It's different from the fleeting happiness I felt before.
This kind of happiness is real, tangible, and something that makes you afraid it will disappear.
.
At 5:43, they arrived at the finish line.
The view from the top of the tower is expansive, and a strong wind is blowing in your face.
Looking out, they saw lush forests and emerald lakes, with wispy clouds and mist surrounding them.
It was already light; the sunrise was a little later than the time predicted in the weather forecast.
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