Xiao Jingduo gathered his spirits and planned to go outside to fetch water and then thoroughly clean the room. When he returned, before he even got close to his residence, he heard two novice monks talking around the corner.
“The person the Crown Prince entrusted is staying in that guest room.”
“Yes.”
“Master Mingjue said his sins of killing are too heavy. Why would the head monk and the master still allow such a person to stay here?”
“Maybe it’s… ah, Patron Xiao.” The novice monk nudged his companion, and they both turned to greet Xiao Jingduo.
Xiao Jingduo nodded in return. The two novice monks said, “We still have coursework to do, so we won’t take up more of your time. Farewell, Patron Xiao. Please take care.”
The two young novice monks quickly left the place, as if he was really tainted with unforgivable sins of killing. Xiao Jingduo looked around and saw that other monks and clergy also tried to avoid this place as much as possible. Even when they encountered him, although the monks’ attitudes were gentle and polite, they also contained alienation and rejection.
Xiao Jingduo sighed. He was also very puzzled. Master Mingjue, as a world-renowned high monk, was not a person who would speak nonsense or cause trouble for no reason. So why did Master Mingjue say his sins of killing were too heavy, and even refuse to stay in the same room with him?
After Xiao Jingduo cleaned his lodging once again, the sun was already setting in the west. A young novice monk placed the vegetarian meal on the table, gave a quick bow with hands clasped, and rapidly left, as if not wanting to have too much interaction with him.
Xiao Jingduo was helpless in this situation and could only tell himself that time reveals a person’s true nature. He didn’t take the subtle rejection from the people of Qingyuan Temple to heart. After finishing his meal, he used the lamplight to copy Buddhist sutras for his mother at the desk.
Although Xiao Jingduo had copied several volumes of Buddhist sutras, in fact, he didn’t understand their content at all and couldn’t even recognize all the characters. He had learned common characters from medical books, but this knowledge was scattered, and he had never studied systematically. He finally had a chance to study with Chu Shuxin, but after just a few months, Zhao Xiulan fell ill due to Wu Junru’s provocation. At that time, he had to take care of Zhao Xiulan while also being cautious of Wu Junru, leaving little energy for his studies. After Zhao Xiulan passed away in April this year, Xiao Jingduo completely abandoned his studies to fully observe the mourning period. In fact, this was the first time in months that Xiao Jingduo had quietly copied texts and practiced writing.
Many Buddhist sutras were translated from Sanskrit, not only with profound and obscure meanings but also containing many rare characters. Xiao Jingduo had only studied the Thousand Character Classic, the Classic of Filial Piety, and the Four Books, which was far from enough to understand Buddhist sutras. So although Xiao Jingduo diligently copied the sutras, he didn’t understand their meaning, merely doing the most basic mechanical work.
After finishing a page, he put down his brush. Just as he was flexing his wrist, he heard the faint sound of monks chanting sutras from outside.
Xiao Jingduo sat in the room for a moment, then decided to put down his brush and walk towards the east.
Qingyuan Temple covered a vast area, with overlapping courtyards and over a thousand rooms. The eastern area was where the monks of Qingyuan Temple lived, studied, chanted, and worshipped Buddha. It didn’t receive outside guests. The western area was for guest rooms and miscellaneous services.
Xiao Jingduo lived in the western area. Following the sound, he passed through many courtyards, heading towards where the novice monks were chanting sutras. With his excellent sense of direction, he soon arrived at the main hall. Many monks were sitting inside, chanting and striking wooden fish under the lead of the abbot. Not daring to disturb them, Xiao Jingduo stood far outside the hall, trying his best to memorize the sutras the monks were reciting.
The monks’ evening lesson didn’t end until it was very dark. Xiao Jingduo left first, and after returning to his room, he took out the sutra book the monks had been chanting from and tried to recognize each word and sentence.
Xiao Jingduo vaguely felt that his behavior might be considered as learning without permission, but since no one in the temple minded, he continued shamelessly. This lifestyle continued for a long time. During the day, he listened to the monks chanting sutras, and at night, he tried to recognize the words in the scriptures based on his memory. Although this way of learning characters was difficult, drop by drop, an ocean is formed, and he gradually learned many rare characters.
One night, while he was still deciphering characters and memorizing sutras under the lamp, he became so focused that he momentarily neglected his surroundings. When he suddenly realized something was amiss and looked up, he saw a master wearing a kasaya1Buddhist monastic robe smiling at him.
Xiao Jingduo was startled and quickly stood up: “Greetings, Master Mingjue.”
Mingjue was the monk who had criticized him for having too heavy sins of killing.
Mingjue put his palms together and bowed to him, then said, “This poor monk saw that the light in your room hadn’t gone out for a long time, so I boldly came in to check. I didn’t expect to disturb your sutra study. It’s my fault.”
“Master, you’re too kind. I lost track of time. May I ask, did my lamplight disturb other masters?”
“Not at all.” Mingjue looked down at the sutra in Xiao Jingduo’s hand and said with interest, “I didn’t expect that a patron as young as you would already have such an understanding of Buddhist scriptures. Which sutras are you good at?”
“Master, your words are too flattering. I can’t even recognize all the characters in the sutras, let alone understand them,” Xiao Jingduo said with a bitter smile.
“Buddhist sutras are translated from Sanskrit. This volume of ‘Mengshan Food Offering’2a ritual developed by the Chan master Mengshan Deyi during the Song Dynasty. It’s a ceremonial practice of offering food to hungry ghosts and other spirits, believed to relieve their suffering and help them achieve a better rebirth. is too profound for beginners. If you want to study the scriptures, you might start with the Heart Sutra.”
“Alright.” Xiao Jingduo nodded, feeling honored and surprised.
“Which characters do you not quite understand? This humble monk might be able to explain a few for you,” Mingjue said gently to Xiao Jingduo with his hands clasped.
Xiao Jingduo widened his eyes in disbelief. When he came to his senses, he immediately stepped aside and held the scripture before Master Mingjue: “Thank you, Master, for your guidance.”
True to his reputation as a high monk, after Mingjue’s explanation, Xiao Jingduo’s mind suddenly cleared, and many previously unclear points were completely resolved. Mingjue stayed until midnight explaining the sutras to Xiao Jingduo. When Xiao Jingduo saw Mingjue out, he felt very guilty: “I’ve been using the temple’s lights to read without permission and have disturbed you until now, Master. I’m truly ashamed.”
“Patron, your diligence in learning and filial piety are virtuous deeds. Why feel ashamed?” Mingjue said to Xiao Jingduo. “Working in isolation is not the right path. If you want to study Buddhist scriptures, why not join the monks in the temple for morning lessons every day? In the morning, the head monk and other masters explain Buddhist stories and profound meanings, which might be beneficial for you.”
Xiao Jingduo felt even more grateful and bowed deeply: “Thank you, Master.”
With Master Mingjue’s special permission, he could finally openly enter and exit the east courtyard. Every morning, he would listen to lectures and chant sutras with the novice monks. In the afternoon, when the novices meditated, he would return to his room to copy texts and practice writing. Whenever he was about to run out of paper, new sheets would be provided the next day. Xiao Jingduo felt very embarrassed; paper and ink were not cheap. He was already staying at Qingyuan Temple as a guest, and now he was using up the temple’s resources. Feeling uneasy, he took the initiative to help the temple’s young novices fetch water.
Two months passed this way. He became familiar with the novices of Qingyuan Temple, and they no longer avoided him as they did when he first arrived. Gradually, they could even joke around with him.
One evening, while Xiao Jingduo was reviewing his studies, he suddenly heard a gentle knock on his door.
It was Master Mingjue.
“The patron’s diligence is admirable,” Mingjue said with a smile, standing outside the room.
Xiao Jingduo felt embarrassed. If he didn’t know that Master Mingjue wasn’t that kind of person, he would have thought the master was being sarcastic. During this time, no one had supervised him, and he was free to arrange his own schedule. Xiao Jingduo wandered around the temple during the day and lit lamps to read at night, consuming who knows how much of Qingyuan Temple’s lamp oil. Xiao Jingduo felt guilty and tried several times to compensate with money, but the novices who brought him meals always refused.
Xiao Jingduo was truly grateful for this tolerant and kind place.
Master Mingjue casually asked a few questions about the scriptures, and Xiao Jingduo answered all of them fluently. Mingjue nodded with satisfaction and sighed: “Patron, you’ve only been at Qingyuan Temple for such a short time, yet your foundation is even more solid than that of novices who have practiced for a year. This humble monk feels ashamed.”
Xiao Jingduo blushed slightly: “I’ve only memorized it. There are still many parts I only half understand.”
Even with daily lectures from the masters, it wasn’t easy for Xiao Jingduo to fully comprehend everything. But he had always been strict with himself. Anything covered in the morning lessons, whether he understood it or not, he would memorize thoroughly. This way, he wouldn’t appear timid in front of Master Mingjue.
“The patron’s determination is firm, and he’s extremely hardworking. This is truly rare,” Mingjue sighed. “This humble monk has some knowledge of Buddhist scriptures. If the patron doesn’t mind, next time you can bring any scriptures you don’t understand to me.”
“Thank you, Master.” This time, Xiao Jingduo was smarter and immediately accepted the offer.
He was extremely excited and felt a sense of finally being recognized. Previously, when Master Mingjue criticized him for having too heavy sins of killing, although Xiao Jingduo tried to convince himself not to mind, he was still somewhat constrained by this criticism, especially since he had come to the temple where Master Mingjue resided. Since entering Qingyuan Temple, he had been almost harshly demanding of himself, just to prove that he wasn’t a person with sins of killing. Fortunately, heaven rewards diligence, and his efforts weren’t in vain.
At the beginning, Master Mingjue and the monks in the temple observed Xiao Jingduo from afar, intending to assess his character. Day after day, Xiao Jingduo listened to sutra chanting, returned to his room to study, and read late into the night. Mingjue praised Xiao Jingduo’s diligence and admired his filial piety towards his mother, so he gave him an opportunity to join the young novices for morning lessons. Over these few months, although Master Mingjue didn’t appear often, he always paid attention to Xiao Jingduo’s actions. When he discovered that Xiao Jingduo was even more diligent than the monks in the temple, Mingjue was finally moved.
Opportunities are always left for the smart and diligent. With Xiao Jingduo’s perseverance and determination, even if he bore hatred, Mingjue was willing to give him a hand.
Mingjue silently recited Buddha’s name in his heart. Buddha is merciful; he hoped that this period at Qingyuan Temple would wear away the fierceness in Xiao Jingduo and prevent him from committing great sins of killing in the future.
Xiao Jingduo had often heard others say that temples were good places for self-cultivation, but he didn’t believe it before. He thought that if he made up his mind, he could cultivate himself anywhere. It wasn’t until he lived in the temple that Xiao Jingduo had to admit, it was indeed different.
The temple was frequented by scholars and literati. From time to time, great Confucian scholars would come to have intellectual discussions with the high monks. Even the young novices by the roadside were literate and spent day and night with scriptures. This environment was truly suitable for studying. It’s worth noting that the chaotic times had just ended, and the new dynasty had only recently stabilized. Most people outside were illiterate, so being in an environment full of educated people was extraordinarily significant for Xiao Jingduo.
Following Master Mingjue, Xiao Jingduo’s daily encounters immediately rose several levels in quality, and his half-baked knowledge steadily grew. The temple had an extensive collection of books, and Xiao Jingduo spent most of his time there. Once, while he was copying a book, a master saw him and couldn’t bear his handwriting, so he had to personally instruct Xiao Jingduo in calligraphy. Xiao Jingduo knew he had never received professional writing training, and his handwriting was subpar in the eyes of these experts. So he calmly accepted the criticism and practiced even more diligently in private.
It’s worth noting that practicing calligraphy is not an inexpensive pursuit. Xiao Jingduo was living and eating at Qingyuan Temple for free, and now he was also using their paper, ink, and brushes. He felt guilty inside, so he proactively asked Master Mingjue: “Master, is there anything I can do to help the temple?”
Mingjue just smiled and said: “It’s not necessary.”
Mingjue wasn’t being polite. Qingyuan Temple was a royal temple. Besides the generous annual donations from the royal family, the temple also owned many farmlands, tenants, and miscellaneous servants. These people were dependent on Qingyuan Temple and only needed to pay taxes to it, so Qingyuan Temple was not short of money, let alone for the minor expenses Xiao Jingduo incurred.
Xiao Jingduo still insisted. Mingjue’s indifference was the master’s business, but repayment was Xiao Jingduo’s own affair. Xiao Jingduo never confused these two. Seeing Xiao Jingduo’s persistence, Master Mingjue relented: “Since you insist, then tomorrow, come with me to the infirmary and help me with some trivial matters.”
Seeing Xiao Jingduo’s expression, Master Mingjue found it strange: “What’s the matter?”
Xiao Jingduo didn’t know whether to be surprised that the temple had an infirmary or that Master Mingjue actually treated patients. He hesitated, then asked curiously, “Master, are you also proficient in medicine?”
“I wouldn’t say proficient, just able to treat common people. Many in the temple know medical skills, and there are many better than me,” Master Mingjue smiled. “The infirmary is mostly for poor people. Many have been sick for a long time without treatment, gradually becoming terminal cases, and many are contagious. If you’re unwilling, you can say so.”
“No, Master, I’m willing,” Xiao Jingduo said. “When I was young, I spent some time with my maternal grandfather, who was a well-known doctor in our area. So I have some understanding of common medicines. It would be most suitable for me to assist you.”
Mingjue was also surprised that Xiao Jingduo had such a background. He nodded and said, “That’s very good.”
Most temples had infirmaries. As the saying goes, “There are no filial children by a long-term sickbed.” When people couldn’t afford to treat their sick relatives or didn’t want to, they would send them to nearby temples. Temples had special courtyards to accommodate these patients, and monks with medical skills would regularly come to treat them. The place Mingjue took Xiao Jingduo today was Qingyuan Temple’s infirmary.
There were many rooms in the courtyard, each housing several patients. Most of them were thin and sallow, clearly poor people suffering from illness. Even so, many struggled to get up and greet Master Mingjue when he entered.
Mingjue nodded and smiled at everyone. He first entered the western room and, disregarding the dust on the floor, knelt down to check a patient’s pulse. Xiao Jingduo followed closely behind. Having seen his grandfather treating patients in his childhood, he was very familiar with the process of diagnosis. Often, before Master Mingjue could speak, he would present the things the master needed.
Xiao Jingduo and Mingjue spent the whole day in the infirmary, only leaving at dusk. Walking on the mountain path, Mingjue asked Xiao Jingduo, “Many people in the infirmary today were not ordinary patients. They had highly contagious diseases. Staying there for long, you might catch something. Are you really not afraid?”
“I’m not afraid. I come from a farming family, so I know how hard life is for ordinary people. Now that I’m fortunate enough to be taken in by Qingyuan Temple, I’m honored to be able to do something for everyone.”
Mingjue nodded without speaking. It had snowed a few days ago, and the bright moonlight reflecting off the snow made the world seem clear and crisp, the passage of time silent. Xiao Jingduo walked step by step with Mingjue on the snow-covered mountain path.
Many years later, when many details of the past had become blurred, Xiao Jingduo still remembered that snowy night, that quiet mountain path. They had just left the infirmary. The sky was snowy and the road slippery. Mingjue was old and frail, not daring to walk fast, so Xiao Jingduo accompanied his benefactor, walking slowly on the small path.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Master Mingjue, or rather Qingyuan Temple, was like a second parent to Xiao Jingduo. Time seemed to stand still in the mountains, and Xiao Jingduo spent his three-year mourning period in this environment.
At the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, early in the morning, smoke from cooking fires rose from many farmhouse courtyards, with clanging sounds echoing here and there. A man who looked like a hunter was treating animal skins in the courtyard. His wife was cooking, constantly complaining: “I’m here at home worrying about you, and you, when you come back, don’t even let me know first, but go to help Widow Lin instead. Tell me, have you grown tired of this home? If you don’t want to stay, say it early. We can separate right now. Do you think I’ll still spoil you?”
“I’ve told you it’s not like that. Stop making things up.” The hunter, hearing about separation, was also angered. He was about to say more when he saw a figure turning around the mountain bend. The newcomer wore plain white clothes, was tall and slender, and seemed to be carrying something. Just by the silhouette, one could tell it was a handsome young man.
The hunter quickly hissed at his wife: “Stop fussing, Young Master Xiao is coming!”
“Young Master Xiao is coming?” The hunter’s wife’s eyes brightened, and she forgot about being angry with her husband. She immediately looked towards the mountain.
When Xiao Jingduo arrived at the hunter’s house, he felt the atmosphere was strange, but he thought it was just a family matter and didn’t pay much attention. Instead, he smiled and said to the hunter: “Uncle Li, are you going to the city these days?”
“Yes, yes, I’m going to Chang’an to sell furs. Has Young Master Xiao caught any rare animals in the mountains again?”
“Not at all,” Xiao Jingduo smiled. “I caught a few foxes in my spare time. I have no use for them, so I thought I’d entrust them to Uncle Li.”
“Foxes?” The hunter’s eyes lit up. He took the bag from Xiao Jingduo and pulled out the tightly bound foxes, praising them continuously, “Good heavens, the nobles in Chang’an love these things. This one has an intact pelt, it’ll fetch a good price. Oh, this one is still alive!”
After examining the game, the hunter rubbed his hands and started discussing the price with Xiao Jingduo. Living in the mountains, it wasn’t convenient for Xiao Jingduo to go to the city, so he could only ask the hunter from the foot of the mountain to bring some things for him when he went to the city. In return, he would sell his caught game to the hunter to earn some pocket money.
The hunter proposed a price, and Xiao Jingduo nodded in agreement. He hunted mostly to train his skills, with earning money being secondary. Besides, he lived in Qingyuan Temple, where food and lodging were provided without expenses. Adding to that the gifts sent by the Crown Prince three years ago, Xiao Jingduo’s wealth was now much more substantial than before.
Therefore, he cared even less about the price the hunter offered.
While the hunter excitedly examined the foxes, his wife was secretly glancing at Xiao Jingduo. After not seeing him for a few days, how did Young Master Xiao seem even more handsome?
In these few years, Xiao Jingduo had become quite well-known in this area. The people at the foot of the mountain all knew that a young man from Chang’an was staying at Qingyuan Temple, providing free medical treatment. He would come down the mountain regularly, and if anyone had a headache or fever, they could call for him. He not only provided free treatment but would also bring herbs from the mountain next time. Moreover, as Xiao Jingduo grew older, he became taller, and his features matured, making him appear increasingly youthful, handsome, and refined like jade. Everyone appreciates beauty, and gradually, Xiao Jingduo’s reputation in the area grew. At first, it was just the wives and women who frequently mentioned him. The village men, hearing these words, inevitably developed some prejudice against Xiao Jingduo. However, as he treated the villagers and demonstrated his outstanding hunting skills, even the village men had to admit that Xiao Jingduo was quite decent.
The hunter’s wife had long forgotten about her husband. She enthusiastically invited Xiao Jingduo into the house to sit and bustled about getting water for him. Xiao Jingduo still had duties on the mountain and couldn’t stay long, so he politely declined the hunter’s wife’s offer and promptly headed back up the mountain.
Xiao Jingduo’s learning to hunt in these years was out of necessity. All the monks at Qingyuan Temple were vegetarians and avoided meat. He could endure for a month or two, but in the long run, he would surely go crazy. So he took the initiative to learn hunting from the hunters at the foot of the mountain, which was also for his own benefit. Later, as his hunting skills became more proficient, he even had surplus to exchange for money. At this point, satisfying his appetite became secondary, and training his skills became the most important aspect.
Indeed, the Xuan Dynasty valued martial prowess. From the royal family and ministers to common people, everyone took pride in being brave and skilled in battle. The two hundred years before the Xuan Dynasty were chaotic times. Commoners needed martial skills to fight against bandits and rogue soldiers, while nobles and warlords needed strong military power for self-preservation and even to annex others. The Rong family of the Duke of Xuan was exemplary in this regard. They first took Chang’an with their formidable military might, then gradually eliminated various warlords to pacify the realm. The Rong family was known for their beauty and bravery, which they took pride in, often flaunting their martial prowess by organizing polo matches and archery competitions to showcase their outstanding riding and martial arts skills to the world. With this foundation from chaotic times, coupled with the royal family’s emphasis on martial arts, the Xuan Dynasty’s social customs were extremely fierce. Whether rugged men or delicate young women, everyone was hot-tempered and quick to fight, ready to roll up their sleeves at the slightest provocation.
In this environment, Xiao Jingduo naturally paid great attention to his martial arts skills. Qingyuan Temple was quiet and elegant, with everyone speaking softly and slowly, so he could only go outside to train. Although he hadn’t systematically learned martial arts, his years of hunting in the mountains had taught him practical, no-frills combat techniques, which was quite valuable.
Soon, Xiao Jingduo climbed up the mountain without even breaking a sweat. The monks of Qingyuan Temple saw him return and greeted him with smiles. A young novice ran over, grinning, and said, “Young Master Xiao, the family you treated last time came up the mountain to bring you a thank-you gift. Seeing you weren’t here, they waited for quite a while before leaving.”
Xiao Jingduo smiled and said, “You’re teasing me again. It was Master Mingjue who cured them. How could I take the credit?”
Over these three years, Xiao Jingduo had studied and practiced writing under Master Mingjue, occasionally helping in the infirmary. In the first year, he could only assist, but later, he gradually became capable of handling simple cases on his own. Xiao Jingduo had previously regretted not learning medical skills from his maternal grandfather, but unexpectedly, he made up for this deficiency at Qingyuan Temple. The temple was full of monks skilled in medicine, and with Master Mingjue’s guidance, Xiao Jingduo quickly caught up on the medical theories he hadn’t learned before. Combined with the medical books left by his grandfather, he had now achieved some success. While Xiao Jingduo didn’t dare compare himself to professional imperial doctors or miraculous healers, he was more than capable of treating common illnesses for the people at the foot of the mountain.
The novice knew these were just polite words and didn’t argue with Xiao Jingduo. He said, “Alright, alright, I don’t care to hear your courtesies. Master Mingjue asked you to see him when you returned. You’d better go quickly.”
Hearing that the master had summoned him, Xiao Jingduo didn’t dare delay and immediately headed towards Mingjue’s meditation room.
Mingjue was sitting in his meditation room reciting sutras. Seeing Xiao Jingduo enter, he slowly closed his book and pointed to the rush mat in front of him: “Sit.”
Xiao Jingduo sat on the mat as instructed, sitting upright, and asked, “Master, why have you summoned me?”
Master Mingjue carefully examined Xiao Jingduo and sighed, “You came to Qingyuan Temple in the second year of Qiyuan, and now it’s the fifth year. Without realizing it, three years have passed.”
Xiao Jingduo also became serious. He had a vague guess in his heart, and sure enough, before he could ask, Mingjue continued, “Your three-year mourning period has ended. Yesterday, the Marquis of Dingyong sent a letter summoning you home.”
Xiao Jingduo sighed. He wasn’t surprised by this outcome, but he wasn’t looking forward to it either. With complex emotions, he had thousands of words he wanted to say to Master Mingjue, but in the end, he only bowed deeply to the ground, solemnly paying his respects: “Master, your kindness to me is like that of a second parent. The grace you and Qingyuan Temple have shown me, Xiao Jingduo will remember for life.”
Master Mingjue looked at the intelligent and resolute young man before him, feeling countless emotions. He didn’t ask him to rise, but instead said, “Do you remember my assessment of you three years ago?”
“Of course.”
“When I observed your face back then, I saw a hint of bloodshed, and knew you would cause many deaths in the future. At first, I was reluctant to keep you, but the abbot and I saw that your mind was determined, pure, and filial, so we made an exception to let you practice here. Remember, no matter where your path leads you in the future, never violate your conscience, never break the vow you made when you first entered the temple. If you can do this, it will be considered a merit of Qingyuan Temple.”
Xiao Jingduo bowed his head to the ground: “This disciple will engrave your words in his heart and never dare to forget.”
“Alright, it’s getting late, and you need to set out early tomorrow morning. Go back and prepare your luggage.”
Leaving tomorrow? Xiao Jingduo was shocked. He raised his head in confusion, only to find that Mingjue had already closed his eyes, clearly not wanting to discuss further. He could only get up to leave. As he exited, Xiao Jingduo turned back, taking one last deep look at Master Mingjue.
He loved this quiet and pure place so much, and was so grateful to this highly respected master. But he knew that these didn’t belong to him. He would eventually have to return to Chang’an, to the Marquis of Dingyong’s mansion, to that place full of intrigue, darkness, and hatred.
Early the next morning, Xiao Jingduo left quietly without disturbing anyone. Marquis Dingyong’s mansion had sent two people to pick him up. They were waiting outside the temple with a horse-drawn carriage. Seeing Xiao Jingduo, the two hurried forward and said, “Young Master, your luggage has been loaded onto the carriage. Would you like to get in?”
“No need,” Xiao Jingduo waved his hand and directly mounted a horse. Sitting on horseback, he gazed at Qingyuan Temple one last time.
The layered courtyards, the lingering incense, the morning light shining on the eaves of the Buddha hall made it seem even more radiant, like a paradise on earth.
Xiao Jingduo turned his head, no longer lingering. He spurred his horse forcefully: “Hya!”
He galloped along the mountain path on his steed. Behind him, the bells of Qingyuan Temple began to toll, long and peaceful, echoing through the valley.
Xiao Jingduo knew this was the silent farewell from everyone in the temple.
The misty Zhongnan Mountain gradually fell behind, replaced by the tall and majestic capital city of Chang’an.
Chang’an, the Marquis of Dingyong’s mansion, Xiao Ying, Wu Junru – he was back.
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