Chapter 5220: Meet Again
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Looking at the hesitant Li Yushan, the old Daoist had an answer in his heart and said with a faint smile, “It seems our fate ends here. It’s time for me to leave. But remember, you are my disciple for three lifetimes, forever!”
With those words, the old Daoist transformed into a wisp of green smoke, drifting out of the room, disappearing without a trace.
Li Yushan was shocked to witness this scene!
He hadn’t expected that his master, who had raised him, was actually a G.o.d!
As the old Daoist departed, he left behind a jade pendant on the meditation cus.h.i.+on, along with a letter.
Li Yushan held the letter in one hand and the jade pendant in the other, standing at the threshold, gazing outside. His mind couldn’t calm down for a long time. Only when the sky had completely darkened, obscuring the outside view, did he dejectedly return to his room.
In the following days, he didn’t seek out Red Girl because he learned from the people at the foot of the mountain that his master had been driven away by the monks of the temple. Even though he knew in his heart that his mentor was a G.o.d and hadn’t been driven away by anyone, he couldn’t shake off his disappointment.
Li Yushan felt deeply saddened. With his master gone, he had to chop wood and cook all by himself, sitting alone on the doorstep, lost in thought.
During his moments of contemplation, he recalled Red Girl’s background.
Red Girl’s father was the chubby monk of the temple, and her mother had been a devotee who had committed suicide in a well after giving birth to her.
The first time he heard Red Girl’s story, he didn’t feel sadness; instead, he envied her. At least she knew her own origins.
Growing up with his master, Li Yushan had been completely unfamiliar with the words ‘father’ and ‘mother’.
After spending a month alone on the mountain, Li Yushan became restless and couldn’t contain his curiosity. He wanted to go down the mountain to the temple to find Red Girl.
However, he never expected that this time Red Girl would come up the mountain to find him. Two people met.
Silence.
The innocence once present on Red Girl’s young face was gone, replaced by a deep solemnity. Her complexion turned waxen, and there were marks on her neck.
The young Daoist, seeing this, felt a deep sadness, thinking he had caused Red Girl harm. He hurriedly fetched the herbal medicine his master had prepared.
“Li Yushan, I am getting married!” Red Girl’s eyes welled up with tears as she tremulously spoke.
The medicine box he had just taken out fell to the ground, leaving the young Daoist bewildered!
He stood there dumbfounded, just like when his master had left. He still didn’t know how to stop her.
After glancing at him, Red Girl wiped away her tears, sniffed, and turned her face away, refusing to look at the young Daoist.
She smiled for the last time, her playful voice accompanying her, “Well, I’m leaving. Remember to come down the mountain next month on the fifteenth for the wedding feast! ”
After saying these words, Red Girl turned and walked away.
The young Daoist stood at the threshold again, wanting to speak, but his throat felt blocked, as if a stone had lodged itself there, rendering him speechless.
He stood there, watching Red Girl’s figure disappear from his sight.
Countless times he had turned around, but it never brought back the sight of that young man in the green robe rus.h.i.+ng towards him. He had imagined it over and over again, yet it had never happened in reality.
At the age of 28, it was the time when a young woman was in full bloom.
In the temple, the fat monk of the Transcendence Monastery was planning a big banquet.
“What? What are you people up to?” The head of the Transcendence
Monastery, also Red Girl’s father, was so angry that he threw the sutra he was holding right at the faces of the newcomers.
The monks bowed their heads, not daring to argue.
In the temple hall, a dignified clay statue of the Buddha stood, its eyes, although made of clay, were crafted with great kindness. Every wors.h.i.+pper who laid eyes on the statue felt a refres.h.i.+ng calmness, as if bathed in a spring breeze.
However, at this moment, the clay statue emanated an overwhelming pressure, its eyes fixed intently on a chubby monk and several leading monks below.
This Buddha statue was in the likeness of the ‘Wuliang” Buddha, who had recently attained enlightenment and was contending for the position of Chief G.o.d. In temples across the mortal realm, most wors.h.i.+pped the statues of these two contenders.
And this particular temple was dedicated to Wuliang Buddha.
In the presence of the Wuliang Buddha statue, the chubby monk revealed his wicked intentions.
“w.a.n.g Yuanwai has sent the offering money as promised. Regardless, the grand wedding on the fifteenth of next month must proceed without any changes, understood?”
“2,000 taels of silver, how can there be ‘buts’ with such a sum!” The chubby monk furrowed his brow, sneering.
He couldn’t care less about any objections. After giving his orders, he headed to the backyard.
“Second Brother, you’ve finally arrived. This month nearly killed me!” His words had barely left his lips when, in the pitch-black backyard, a figure identical to the chubby monk emerged.
The chubby monk who had just come from the front wore a stern expression. “Third Brother! ”
The two of them entered the dark backyard, a stark contrast to the well-lit front yard!
Inside the Daoist temple on the mountain, both the front and back areas were enveloped in darkness.
In the room of a young Daoist disciple, a dim, flickering oil lamp reflected his current mood.
Ever since the Red Girl left, the young Daoist couldn’t contain his emotions any longer.
Putting on his robe again and wearing shoes made of a thousand sharp needles, he went to the Daoist temple’s main hall and sat in meditation before the Heavenly Lord’s image. Despite reciting the calming mantras repeatedly, he couldn’t find peace.
In front of the Heavenly Lord’s image, he had even fantasized about becoming a monk, thinking that this way, he could enter the Transcendence Monastery and see the Red Girl every day.
In his naive thoughts, he had even imagined that becoming a monk would allow him to marry.
Cras.h.!.+
The young Daoist priest unconsciously shed a tear.
It fell onto the green stone pavement, producing a crisp sound, sending ripples through his heart.
A month pa.s.sed in the blink of an eye.
Spring had come and gone; autumn had arrived.
On this day, as the acc.u.mulated snow melted, life bloomed anew.
The young Daoist priest rose early, his mind absent as he sat quietly on his meditation cus.h.i.+on, gazing outside with the Heavenly Lord behind his back.
He felt imprisoned within these broken temple walls, unable to step beyond the confines of this place.
For reasons unknown to him, Li Yushan slowly stood up and walked to the threshold, staring blankly at the winding path outside, which led straight to the Transcendence Monastery.
By midday, he faintly heard the sound of firecrackers. Li Yushan, who often visited the small town at the foot of the mountain, knew that the bridal procession had arrived. Red Girl would leave, and they might never meet again in this lifetime.
Recalling various scenes from the past, Li Yushan’s eyes ceased to be dull; instead, they became resolute.
At this moment, he had made a choice. Just as his master had said, he already had the answer in his heart.
He should have told Red Girl this answer a month ago. He regretted it, but fortunately, it was not too late now!
He was going to the Transcendence Monastery to find Red Girl and tell her his decision.
Bang!
Li Yushan stepped out of the room, leaving the temple behind. As he descended the path, his pace quickened. He was afraid and regretful.
Afraid that he might never see Red Girl again, regretful for his indecisiveness back then.
As Li Yushan sprinted, he tore off his Daoist robe. Just like the snow melting away into the earth, he revealed his true self.
Inside the Transcendence Monastery, today marked Mr. w.a.n.gs joyous occasion.
He was marrying an orphan, and the abbot of the Transcendence Monastery was personally acting as the matchmaker!