Chapter 174: One hundred eighty-one, A letter from Sister Xiuniang

One hundred eighty-one, A letter from Sister Xiuniang's sect

"Is Yuan Shijie Sister Xiuniang doing something important?"

Ye Ye Weilai's small face was curious, but she turned to take out a long tree branch.

It was the one Magistrate Ouyang Rong saw a few days ago.

Sister Xiuniang sat on the edge of the bed, her right hand with a missing little finger repeatedly folding the corner of the rice paper, as if it were a habitual action when she was dazed or nervous.

She lowered her brows and nodded, without explaining much.

"Then Yuan Shijie Sister Xiuniang, stay safe." Ye Ye Weilai patted the back of her hand.

"Hmm." Sister Xiuniang smiled lightly.

She shook her head at her, as if indicating that this matter was not dangerous.

The white-haired maid felt slightly relieved.

Sister Xiuniang tucked the quilt for the young man sleeping soundly on the bed, got up, and took Ye Ye Weilai to the front hall to teach her sword techniques.

"Sect ancestral teachings, unless one enters the sect, forming a bond like orchids, otherwise the Qi Refining Technique cannot be passed on. I can only teach you a few sword moves. I may not be by the young master's side often in the future, so you should practice them to be prepared for emergencies..."

Ye Ye Weilai followed behind this clear-eyed mute cook, and remembered the ink she left on the paper one night a few days ago.

It was from that day on that Ye Ye Weilai began to practice a few strange sword techniques with Sister Xiuniang.

At the same time, thanks to Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's temporary absence, the lights could be lit in the courtyard at night without fear of exposure.

Ye Ye Weilai practiced late at night under Sister Xiuniang's supervision, and during the day when the master went out to work, she also buried her head in the courtyard to ponder, occasionally running to the back kitchen to find Sister Xiuniang...

And so, it was now three o'clock in the morning.

A strange scene appeared in this room.

Under the dim lamp light.

A little maid wearing a bright red bellyband and underwear, with fair and delicate skin like milk, and snow-white long hair tied into two ponytails on her shoulders.

She stood in the open space in the center of the front hall, her small face very serious.

A clear-eyed mute girl, with a quiet posture like a virgin, sat at the Eight Immortals table to the side, leaning toward the pale yellow light emitted by the oil lamp on the table, threading a needle, lowering her head to embroider, holding a green men's robe in her hand.

The mute girl occasionally raised her head to look at the white-haired maid with double ponytails practicing sword, but most of the time, she lowered her head and squinted, focusing on threading the needle, only pricking her ears to listen to the subtle sound of the tree branch waving, and could point out the mistakes in the white-haired maid's sword moves in time.

And on the other side of the bed, a handsome young man turned over and muttered in his sleep, snoring loudly.

The scenes on both sides of the room, one moving and one still, if an outsider saw this scene, they would definitely be puzzled and strange.

It's just a pity that in the faint sandalwood fragrance, the eyeballs under Magistrate Ouyang Rong's eyelids moved slowly, and the drowsy dream was not broken by anyone.

And I don't know what he dreamed of...

Sister Xiuniang might not be a brilliant teacher.

But she was definitely a teacher who made people feel comfortable, never scolding.

A few sword moves, she picked them up, natural and smooth.

Ye Ye Weilai was clearly already the very smart and clever one in Magistrate Ouyang Rong's mouth, but practicing these few sword moves was still full of stumbling blocks.

Of course, perhaps it was also because Sister Xiuniang only knew how to use them but didn't know how to teach.

Regarding this, Sister Xiuniang, who was sitting at the table lowering her head to embroider, was very patient and never blamed her, but instead showed guilt and self-blame from time to time because she didn't teach well.

Instead, it caused Ye Ye Weilai to comfort her in a flurry.

"Yuan Shijie Sister Xiuniang, how is this sword move of mine?"

At this time, Ye Ye Weilai blinked and said, spinning and tiptoeing, bending over and sending out a sword move posture that looked like an antelope's horns.

The tip of the tree branch made a sound of breaking through the air.

It looked like the real thing.

Sister Xiuniang smiled softly, put down her needlework, and wrote:

"Excellent.

"Ye Weilai is already very powerful.

"It's just that compared to swordsmanship, Ye Weilai is more suitable for Qi Refining, as she has a leak-proof body and is nourished day and night by the fragrance in the room.

"It's a pity that the sect's Qi Refining Technique cannot be passed on.

"But it doesn't matter, actually, the Qi Refining Techniques of other Taoist sects are more suitable for Ye Weilai."

Ye Ye Weilai, panting, wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, leaned her small head toward the table, looked at Sister Xiuniang's elegant characters for a while, and couldn't help but ask curiously:

"How long did it take Yuan Shijie Sister Xiuniang to practice these sword techniques before?"

Sister Xiuniang thought for a while and wrote:

"No need to practice, they are in my heart, I take them out and give them to Ye Weilai."

Ye Ye Weilai was stunned, "So these sword techniques were all created by you?"

Sister Xiuniang nodded, her face calm.

Ye Ye Weilai didn't see any arrogance or pride in her cheeks and clear eyes.

A second ago, the white-haired maid who was still proud of her "great success in swordsmanship" silently put away the tree branch, backed her hands behind her waist, and swallowed.

Ye Ye Weilai didn't know that in the eyes of this clear-eyed mute girl who was as quiet as a virgin, there were no sword moves in this world, and there was nothing in this world that was not a sword move.

Swordsmanship is born from the heart.

There is no sword in the heart.

Sister Xiuniang didn't care about the little maid's shock, lowered her head to continue her needlework, and mended clothes for the sleeping young master.

With the help of this little internal ghost Ye Ye Weilai, the clothes she wove would be worn by the young master in the name of the former.

The mute girl squinted under the lamp, threading the needle stitch by stitch, occasionally looking at the direction of the bed.

Her right hand's four fingers carefully stroked the fabric of the robe with tight stitches.

Under the dim lamp light, a clear little face occasionally revealed a dazed and happy expression, and then lowered her head silently.

Silently embroidering for him.

When the master was alive, he once said four words to her.

Fated but no share.

In this world, some people, being able to meet, and even like, is indeed a very fated thing.

But you probably don't have the qualifications to possess the other party.

This is the point that men and women who are blinded by love and trapped in a hot river of love in the world are most likely to ignore.

It is also the reason for the misfortune of most men and women in the world.

"Foolish child, cutting off love is not being heartless.

"It is precisely because you are most affectionate, but you are very clear that you are fated but have no share, that you swing your sword at yourself.

"So have fewer regrets and be more content."

The master's words from that year still ring in her ears.

"Ah." Sister Xiuniang opened her mouth and sighed softly.

The index finger of the hand holding the needle had a drop of blood appear, slowly becoming larger.

She held her finger in her red lips and sucked it, and before long, she threaded the needle and embroidered again, a set of movements already practiced.

Sister Xiuniang lowered her head and sniffed.

Being able to enjoy the happy time of accompanying him like this, she was already content, how could she dare to ask for more?

Remembering that year, she was still a green plum, and he was still a bamboo horse.

Sister Xiuniang was also like this, sitting in the room where he was sick and unconscious, quietly weaving clothes for him.

"Yuan Shijie Sister Xiuniang, why are you crying for no reason?"

Ye Ye Weilai put down the tree branch, bent over, and looked at the face of the mute cook who was burying her head in embroidery, asking in a low voice.

Sister Xiuniang shook her head.

"Nothing." She wrote on the paper. Ye Ye Weilai couldn't help but look at the ink stains on the paper wet by clear liquid beads, hesitating to speak.

"It's getting late, I'm going out, I'll be back later.

"Take good care of the young master, remember the sword techniques I taught you, please always stand in front of the young master."

Sister Xiuniang held Ye Ye Weilai's small hand, went to the bed to spend some time alone with Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was lying on his side with his eyes closed, and left the Meilin courtyard before long.

Sending away the mute cook, at the table, Ye Ye Weilai looked down at the wet marks on the robe.

The stars are sparse.

The mountain wind is howling.

Sister Xiuniang silently climbed the mountain.

On the winding mountain road, every distance, there was a bright lantern hanging.

Either hanging under the eaves of a lonely pavilion, or in front of a memorial archway, or on the branches of trees by the roadside.

As if specially illuminating the pilgrims going up the mountain.

This mountain road, or this Mount Dagu Mountain, had many traces left by monks and scholars, and it was managed very prosperously.

Sister Xiuniang raised her head and looked at the temple building complex with connected lights on the top of the mountain in the distance.

That is Donglin Temple.

It is a coincidence.

This is the place where she saved the young master twice.

Actually, for Sister Xiuniang, who had already stepped into the mid-grade Qi Refining stage, this mountain road could be crossed in an instant, leaping to the top of the mountain.

But she still chose to climb the mountain step by step.

Just like those devout pilgrims who bathed and used incense.

It's just that Sister Xiuniang had more politeness and respect.

Like visiting a mountain gate.

Although this Donglin Temple today might not know that it is a certain mountain gate in the eyes of some people.

Borrowing the light of the lantern in the Zhumu Pavilion halfway up the mountain where the young master likes to rest, Sister Xiuniang lowered her eyes and browsed the letter from her sect again.

On the letter paper, the handwriting of the eldest senior sister was flowing, the brushwork was like a dragon, aggressive.

Clearly, she was just simply instructing her on a matter that was not big or small.

But this piece of letter paper was like a mountain peak a thousand feet high, shaken by the sharp brushwork.

The whole paper was full of sword energy.

If there were a Qi Refining practitioner who could observe Qi present at this moment, seeing this thin letter paper, he would definitely feel unimaginable about the master of this handwriting.

Sister Xiuniang crumpled the letter paper and threw it into the mountain wind blowing over her shoulders.

Continued to step up the mountain.

The ancient pavilion behind the calm mute girl swayed "creakily" in the debris mountain wind.

Under the eaves, a row of roof tiles was neatly divided in half, as if cut by a knife, the fracture was neat.

Sister Xiuniang was already used to the "arrogance" of that eldest senior sister.

She didn't look back all the way, and visited the ancient temple again at night.

Sister Xiuniang didn't run out of the sect secretly.

A few months ago, in the Pure Land Underground Palace of Donglin Temple, after saving the young master, she sent the crane-cape old Taoist who sang "Fortune and Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable" back to the water prison, and sure enough, she was caught on the spot by the senior sisters.

Originally, she had been grounded by the eldest senior sister and could no longer go out, but later the situation turned around, she performed well at a grand meeting held by the sect, the second senior sister pleaded for her, the confinement was exempted, and she even received a strange errand about Longcheng County, which allowed her to leave the sect again.

However, because she was addicted to cooking for the young master and "sleeping" every night since she came to Longcheng County, she delayed some of the sect's official business.

Now the eldest senior sister sent a letter to urge her again, and the tone was strict.

"Ah." The mute girl sighed lightly.

She didn't dare to delay any longer.

Otherwise, if the eldest senior sister came in person, the matter with the young master would be even harder to end...

At night, Donglin Temple did not close its gates.

Because it was famous in the Jiang Nan Circuit, it was inevitable that some pilgrims from other places would arrive at night, go up the mountain late at night, and enter the temple to worship Buddha, which was not uncommon.

If quoting the joke of a certain young magistrate, it is 24-hour business, not delaying earning incense money for a moment.

However, the word business is not very pleasant to hear. According to the original words of Master Venerable Shan Dao, this is called my Buddha is merciful, saving lost sentient beings at all times and in all places.

Donglin Temple was also brightly lit tonight, and rows of connected main halls were clean and solemn.

On the incense square, blue smoke curled up.

From time to time, two or three monks walked by with lanterns, yawning.

A solemn and solemn main hall was not deserted in the middle of the night.

There were quite a few figures gathered in front of the golden Buddha, burning incense and worshiping.

At the very front of this group of figures stood an old monk with white eyebrows. He wore a black monk's robe specially for eminent monks and twisted Buddhist beads.

Although the old monk had single eyelids and eyes that were not big, he had a sharp light in his eyes, looking extraordinary, with the appearance of a Taoist immortal.

"Amitabha, female benefactor, you are attached to appearances. Actually, there is no need to be so self-blaming. According to the old monk's many years of experience, not giving birth to a child might not be your fault. After all, besides you, the other concubines of the female benefactor's husband also haven't shown signs of pregnancy for a long time.

"Why is the old monk so certain? Nothing else, just because I am skilled. Over the years, I have written thirty prescriptions for treating gynecological diseases, and I am famous, and pilgrims from all over the world praise them.

"For gynecological diseases, the old monk only needs to take the pulse slightly to know the general situation, and never speaks nonsense... Hmm, female benefactor, roll up your sleeves a bit, yes, that's the position, the old monk will take your pulse again...

"There is no mistake, the female benefactor's pulse is clear, and her body is fine... Yes, please go this way, go to the Guanyin Bodhisattva in the next hall, burn incense and pray for blessings, if you donate some incense money, praying for a child can be more effective.

"After burning incense, go back first. Next time you come, bring your husband, and the old monk will enlighten him..."

Master Venerable Shan Dao stood with his palms together, his face solemn, standing in the middle of several female pilgrims who had traveled far to worship Buddha, focusing on saving the lost sentient beings in front of him for the golden Buddha behind him.

However, at this moment, this stubborn female pilgrim in front of him insisted on observing and studying his famous thirty prescriptions for gynecological diseases.

Master Venerable Shan Dao's white eyebrows drooped, very helpless and embarrassed, and between pushing and pulling, he shook one out of his sleeve, and had to give it away in his private name for the friendly price of thirty taels of silver incense money.

And who would have thought that the more the black-robed old monk showed reluctance, the more the surrounding female pilgrims who came to pray for children craved it.

For a time, the white silver dazzled Master Venerable Shan Dao's eyes, making him mutter "Amitabha" several times in his mouth.

Seeing that the daily portion of prescription booklets were all sold out, and the enthusiastic female pilgrims dispersed and left satisfied.

Master Venerable Shan Dao looked at the backs of the female pilgrims who returned with full loads and were bathed in Buddha's light, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief, muttering inaudibly:

"It seems that I have to let Xiufa go down the mountain to print more tomorrow. Eh, why not open a printing shop? It's also convenient. The supply is in short supply, but it seems that the imperial court stipulates that private printing of books is not allowed, so I have to go to the county office to report... Why not go find that magistrate to discuss it...

"Forget it, forget it, the magistrate's Buddha heart is not sincere, better not find him..."

Master Venerable Shan Dao shook his head, as if he remembered the bright smiling face of a certain young magistrate again. In the warm main hall, this famous eminent monk could not help but shiver, not doubting at all that if there was profit to be made, this young magistrate could let the whole world know his name as a gynecological expert, just for hot sales.

However, one thing to say, Master Venerable Shan Dao felt that this young magistrate did a good job in governing for the people, better than the previous few, the only shortcoming was that he didn't respect Buddha, or rather, didn't treat Buddha as an outsider.

But sometimes Buddha also has no surplus food.

Master Venerable Shan Dao sighed helplessly, drove away these worldly miscellaneous thoughts, turned his face and continued to receive the few remaining pilgrims in the main hall.

"Amitabha, this male benefactor, may I ask if you are burning incense to worship Buddha, or asking for a fortune slip to solve doubts? What? Coming to interpret dreams? Tonight's dream?

"... Wait, benefactor, you said you also came to pray for a child? You have already worshiped Guanyin Bodhisattva, stayed in this temple tonight, and as a result, you dreamed of Guanyin Bodhisattva entering your quilt? So you ran to interpret the dream? You want to ask if this is an auspicious sign of successful prayer for a child? This... this..."

Master Venerable Shan Dao opened his mouth, looking at this ecstatic infertile male pilgrim, and was speechless for a long time, whispering:

"Benefactor, Guanyin Bodhisattva is a female figure with a male body."

Male pilgrim: "..."

After a stick of incense, finally sending away these unreliable male pilgrims who had spring dreams, Master Venerable Shan Dao raised his hand, and his sleeve wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Master Venerable Shan Dao looked at the empty main hall without moving, reached out his hand holding the Buddhist beads, quietly shook the heavy incense box, and just wanted to open it to count carefully, but his peripheral vision suddenly caught a silhouette outside the door.

The old monk immediately greeted, solemn and saluting: "Amitabha, this female benefac... female Bodhisattva, visiting late at night, is it to burn incense to worship Buddha, or to ask for a fortune slip?"

Sister Xiuniang nodded, and shook her head, walking into the main hall. ===== CHAPTER 175 =====