Chapter 815

Ahead, Jue Zheng had already walked more than ten zhang, but even at that distance Hu Xiaotian's words were still heard clearly. Jue Zheng turned and smiled, saying: "Donor, you need not worry; our Soul Sound Temple is a thousand-year-old ancient temple, orthodox Zen, upright and righteous, delivering people with virtue." After saying that, he shouldered the water buckets and continued forward; the six monks all carried them without a pole, arms outstretched lifting the double buckets. The buckets were one size larger than ordinary ones; although painted vermilion red on the outside, inside they were not wood but solid cast iron, not counting the water's weight, each iron bucket alone weighed about fifty catties.

The six monks bore such weight on their arms yet still moved with lightning steps, showing their martial arts were far from ordinary. The leader, Jue Zheng, was no ordinary person either; although Hu Xiaotian did not use voice transmission, his voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet Jue Zheng heard it clearly.

Huo Shengnan smiled at Hu Xiaotian and said softly: "You need not worry; although Soul Sound Temple lies in a remote deep valley, it is nevertheless one of the seven great ancient temples of Da Yong, enjoying great fame."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed, thinking that no matter how much he pondered now, it would be of no use; when real trouble came, he could only await death helplessly, but since Huo Shengnan said so, it should not be wrong.

Rounding the mountain's base ahead, they saw an ancient temple standing by the water, its red walls shining brilliantly in the sunset, the bronze bells at the hall's corners ringing in the wind, and the evening prayer's drum resonating sonorously.

The regulations of Soul Sound Temple were not extensive, due to its location deep in the mountains; weeds grew between the wall tiles and roof, both sides were closed off, mountain winds blew, pine waves surged, and the six monks led them to the mountain gate, which was also very dilapidated, except that the three large characters "Soul Sound Temple" on the plaque shone with gold light and gave off a fresh paint smell, indicating it had just been repaired not long ago.

Jue Zheng handed the two buckets of water he held to one of his junior disciples, then said to Huo Shengnan: "Female donor, according to our Soul Sound Temple's rules, outsiders may not stay overnight inside the temple; however, our abbot has specially built seven thatched huts ahead for travelers and pilgrims to lodge temporarily." He pointed to the southwest.

Huo Shengnan looked ahead and saw a winding path leading to the mountainside; amid the bamboo grove there were indeed seven thatched huts.

Jue Zheng led the two of them to the thatched hut. Huo Shengnan noticed a black donkey tethered to a pine tree outside the hut, indicating someone had arrived before them. Jue Zheng pushed open the middle room, which was the largest of the two rooms inside and out; the monk had considered things very thoroughly, and this arrangement was also to make it convenient for Huo Shengnan to take care of 【Hu Xiaotian】.

When Huo Shengnan was about to pick up Hu Xiaotian, Jue Zheng approached and actively helped lift Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian felt as if this were the first time in his life a man had held him sideways in his arms; thinking back to his former glory and seeing his present wretchedness and decline, he truly wished he could dash his head against a wall and die.

Huo Shengnan brought the luggage into the room, settled Little Gray, then returned inside to see Jue Zheng already helping Hu Xiaotian lie on the bed, and she said softly: "Thank you, Master, for your righteous assistance."

Jue Zheng smiled and said: "The Buddha is merciful. Donor, please do not stand on ceremony." When taking his leave, he told Huo Shengnan to rest well, and that he would bring dinner after half a two-hour period.

After Jue Zheng left, Huo Shengnan came to Hu Xiaotian's side, seeing him lying on the bed silent, and she asked softly: "What would you like to eat?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "Shengnan, you'd better not bother with me anymore. I may remain like this for the rest of my life."

Huo Shengnan said: "And then?" She helped Hu Xiaotian take off his shoes and gently massaged his right leg, hoping it would aid his recovery.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I suddenly have an idea; why not leave me here? Soul Sound Temple is a Buddhist holy land, should be compassionate, and should not abandon me."

Huo Shengnan bit her cherry lip and said: "What do you mean? Do you want to become a monk?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile and said: "In my current state, I fear others won't accept me; but if they do, I would certainly welcome it."

Huo Shengnan said: "Are you afraid of burdening me in your heart?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "We are merely ordinary friends; how could I burden you? You need not bear any responsibility toward me."

Huo Shengnan said: "I don't think so."

Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes, as if his mind were made up: "Tomorrow morning, ride Little Gray away from here; for the sake of our friendship, help me with a few matters. I have brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in my luggage; later you can grind the ink for me, and I will write down everything I need to do."

Huo Shengnan shook her head.

Hu Xiaotian said: "What do you mean?"

Huo Shengnan said, word by word: "Don't even think of shaking me off!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed through tears: "It's not that I want to shake you off; I just don't want to burden you. I've become like this—you can't possibly serve me for a lifetime."

Huo Shengnan said: "And then?"

Hu Xiaotian blinked his eyes—of course, it was his left eye—and said: "You need not feel guilty; although you once made a vicious wish upon a shooting star, I can now speak, proving that wish was ineffective. My present condition has nothing to do with you, so you need not compensate for anything."

Huo Shengnan said: "What I want to do is my own business."

Hu Xiaotian's emotions suddenly surged: "I am now a cripple; I don't want to burden you, I don't want even to urinate without a woman's support. Do you know how this leaves me without even a shred of human dignity? I feel I am not really a man, not even a person."

Huo Shengnan bit her cherry lip, and the light in her beautiful eyes grew exceptionally tender: "In my eyes, you are the finest man in this world; no one can compare to you."

Hu Xiaotian was nearly driven mad, wondering if Huo Shengnan was comforting herself; it felt more painful than having a knife stabbed into his heart.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you truly still regard me as a friend, then give me some dignity and leave!"

Huo Shengnan lowered her head, gathered her courage, and lightly kissed his forehead; her bashful cheeks flushed with two spots of red. She leaned close to Hu Xiaotian's ear, speaking in a voice only he could hear: "Where else could I go? You've treated me this way—people have even been touched by you here; do you think I could still have someone else in my heart for the rest of my life?" She spoke these words with great difficulty, yet she could not stay silent. Watching Hu Xiaotian's will gradually sink, she felt anguish as if her heart were being wrenched, and suddenly realized that, without her noticing, Hu Xiaotian had already occupied such an important place in her heart.

Hu Xiaotian's heart was deeply moved; Huo Shengnan was usually strong and reserved, and if not for encouraging herself she would never have confessed her feelings to him—but the more so, the more he could not burden her. Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm exhausted."

Huo Shengnan bit her cherry lip, holding back tears; the once high-spirited, optimistic Hu Xiaotian had suddenly become like this, and anyone would find it hard to accept. She nodded and slipped quietly out the door.

Outside, the night had grown dark; she clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and silently prayed toward the temple, hoping for a miracle and for Hu Xiaotian to recover his health sooner.

After nightfall, Jue Zheng and another monk brought dinner; the temple certainly had no mountain delicacies or seafood—just steamed buns, plain congee, and a plate of vegetables. The meal consisted of three portions: two for them and one for the traveler next door.

Hu Xiaotian still did not eat; seeing his reluctance, Huo Shengnan lost her appetite as well. She sat by the bedside keeping watch over him; Hu Xiaotian faced the window, ostensibly asleep, but in truth he could not sleep at all, his mind filled with random thoughts.

Huo Shengnan gazed at Hu Xiaotian's immobile back, suddenly felt a sour ache, could no longer hold back her tears, and, fearing he might see her, rose and left the room.

Outside the door, an old man in a green robe sat on a stone, holding a wine gourd, pouring and drinking by himself under the crescent moon. Huo Shengnan had come out in tears, not expecting anyone outside, and hastily turned away.

The green-robed old man said: "Is the person inside your younger brother or your husband?"

Huo Shengnan wiped away her tears with her back turned, then faced him, took a breath, and said: "Sir, it's best not to ask about other people's affairs."

The green-robed old man smiled and said: "I never expected that a heroine of the women's ranks, brave enough to crown the three armies, would also have tender feelings."

Upon hearing this, Huo Shengnan's heart involuntarily tightened; she stepped back a pace to guard the doorway and coldly asked: "Who are you?"

The green-robed old man, without looking at her, took a sip of wine and said: "Throughout Da Yong's territory, your wanted posters are everywhere; the Ministry of Punishment has raised the bounty to three thousand gold, and you are indeed bold, daring to show your true face."

Huo Shengnan's hand fell to her sword hilt, she bit her cherry lip, and asked: "Are you here to arrest me?"

The green-robed old man slowly shook his head and said: "I bear you no grudge, and although I am penniless, I would not be swayed by a mere three thousand gold; I also did not expect you to pass through here."

Huo Shengnan's heart jolted; could this green-robed old man have come especially for Hu Xiaotian?

The green-robed old man set down his wine jug, slowly rose, and with a grim, icy gaze fixed on Huo Shengnan said: "Leave now, and I will pretend I never saw you."

Huo Shengnan said: "It's you who should leave!" and drew the sword at her waist.

The green-robed old man slowly shook his head and said: "Although you are brave and skilled in battle, killing enemies on the battlefield and dueling true martial artists are quite different; your martial arts may not be weak, but before me they are still no match." His deep eyes fixed on Huo Shengnan as he continued: "After a long journey, your steps are staggered; your strength is severely depleted, breathing rapid, pulse unsteady—proof that your meridians were injured and not yet healed. Even at your peak you could not withstand ten moves from me, let alone now, when you are spent like a spent bow. Heaven loves life; I do not wish to make things difficult for you. Hand over Hu Xiaotian, and you may go."

Huo Shengnan's phoenix eyes widened, she raised her brows and brandished her sword, standing defiantly before the thatched hut's door: "As long as I have a breath left, no one shall dare harm him!"

Extra chapter thirteen, tonight I will repay all debts! That means there is still one more update, everyone please cast more monthly tickets! (To be continued~^~)