Chapter 1
She tugged at his finger with all her might and said, "Do you remember the little dog 502 that I once gave you?"
A teacher, approximately sixty years of age, is waiting in the hall. The young monk points to Jiang Luting and says: "It is this benefactor who wishes to have the consecration."
Jiang Luting's heart raced wildly; it was Fu Mingcong
Jiang Luting looked at him in slight astonishment, as a pair of sunglasses nearly obscured half of his face
The rain showed no signs of stopping, growing increasingly heavy, pouring down like a deluge. The rainwater on the mountain path rushed down like a stream, cascading noisily below.
Her shirt was soaked at that moment, clinging to her body. Upon catching sight of a man in the shed, she immediately turned her back, crossing her arms over her chest
Jiang Luting knelt on the mat, her hands clasped together, and bowed three times. During this period, she finally experienced the feeling of desperate measures in times of crisis, as someone who had never held any religious beliefs now came to seek the Buddha's blessings.
Weituo, Maitreya, the Eighteen Arhats, the Four Heavenly Kings, and Jiang Luting paid their respects one by one, and finally arrived at the Great Hero Hall
He is very tall, with a straight and upright figure, standing with his hands behind his back on the empty steps, gazing at the distant mountains behind the temple, exuding an air of grandeur and solitude
The monk began to chant the sutras
Jiang Luting quietly expressed her gratitude, watching as the monk exited the main hall and walked towards a row of guest rooms on the right.
The monk rose, clasped his hands together, and said: "Please wait a moment, I will go and fetch the master."
She seized the opportunity to tightly hold onto his arm and decisively said, "I want to be stuck with you for a lifetime"
He stopped in front of her, lowering his head and silently gazing at her
Before the words were finished, a sudden loud bang echoed. Jiang Luting had not yet understood what was happening when a sharp pain struck the back of her head, and her vision plunged into darkness...
His response may be a knife, or perhaps a gentle palm. Whether it severs the rope and allows one to fall, or cradles in the palm, cherishing and valuing, all lies within his thought.
The hall is tranquil and silent, the Bodhisattva lowers their brow with kind eyes, their face full of compassion
Jiang Luting asked Master Zhou to wait at the foot of the mountain, while he alone ascended the mountain along the stone steps
Hearing someone behind him, he turned around
City S has always been arid and lacking in rainfall. In previous years, a single rain would swiftly usher in autumn, but this year has been unusually persistent and lingering. A rain has been falling in a light and intermittent manner for over a week, showing no signs of stopping.
After walking for twenty minutes, I arrived at the entrance of the mountain. Meishan is not a renowned mountain or river, and the incense at Wujue Temple is relatively sparse. It only becomes lively during the temple fair on the third day of the third lunar month, while on ordinary days, few people visit, especially on such an autumn morning after the rain
The hand held in the palm is very cold, damp, and soaked with rainwater
A figure in black stood with their back to her
After walking around the prayer wheel outside the hall, Jiang Luting returned to the main hall
After a long period of silence behind her, Jiang Luting felt somewhat reassured and slightly turned to take a glance. Oh, a figure in black clothing looked quite familiar. It turned out to be the man in sunglasses she had seen earlier at the temple
The remaining memories seem to have been erased
Having made a wish, she rose and walked to the entrance of the grand hall
The fine rain dampened his dark hair, making his features appear even more handsome and clean.
It is said that the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month are the best times to go. Tomorrow marks the first day of the lunar month, and a few days ago, she arranged for a taxi, scheduled to depart tomorrow morning. If the rain continues without stopping, it is likely that the trip will not be able to proceed
It was as if in an instant, he appeared before me, just within arm's reach, allowing me to clearly see his proud and unrestrained brows and eyes
He seemed not to see her, walking straight past her without a sideways glance
What does it mean? He withdrew half of his fingers from her palm and paused.
She held an oilcloth umbrella in her hand, stepping on the stones in the puddles as she moved forward, somewhat resembling a heroine from a martial arts film walking on plum blossom stakes
The temple is quiet and serene, as if it were completely deserted. The air after the rain in the mountains is particularly fresh and clean, with not even a hint of incense. The branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees occasionally drop a few drops of rainwater, splashing loudly as they break the puddles on the ground
On both sides of the temple gate, there are prayer wheels. Jiang Luting touched them one by one as he passed by. When he turned the corner, he unexpectedly discovered a man standing under the eaves behind the temple.
Inside the hall sat a young monk, with Jiang Luting wearing a smile as he stepped forward to explain his purpose.
Strange, why does he wear sunglasses on a rainy day? Jiang Luting, curious, took another look.
At that moment, there was a shed by the roadside, likely a tea stall from a temple fair. Jiang Luting had no time to think further, shielding his forehead with his palm as he rushed inside. It was only after he lowered his hands that he realized there was a man standing inside.
The master used a tray to receive the red bag and placed it before the Buddha. Inside the red bag was a piece of jade and a red paper inscribed with Lanzhou's name and birth date.
Those who go to the temple to pray early in the morning are unlikely to have any ill intentions. Moreover, this person did not seem to have any intention of initiating a conversation with her. Jiang Luting quietly breathed a sigh of relief
The temple, which separates the mundane world from the realm of books, is enveloped in an unparalleled tranquility on this autumn day after the rain, occasionally interrupted only by the sound of a single raindrop.
At first, there were only sporadic raindrops, but before long, the rain intensified, and in no time, it poured down in torrents. The large raindrops pelted against my face painfully, making it nearly impossible to keep my eyes open
At 8:00 in the morning, the taxi arrived as scheduled downstairs. Jiang Luting received a call from the driver, Master Zhou, and quickly went downstairs with the prepared items.
Not far from Wujue Temple, the rain that had already stopped began to fall again. Jiang Luting ran down the mountain, holding her head.
On Saturday morning, the roads in the city were surprisingly smooth. After forty minutes, the car arrived at Meishan. This is the only mountain range surrounding City S, with a low elevation, and the ridges undulate like the arched eyebrows of a young girl
After the rain in the empty mountains, the colors of the mountains are particularly lush and verdant, even the grass and leaves at the foot are glistening with a vibrant green that is captivating. The weather is partly sunny and partly cloudy, with a gentle cool breeze. In the distance, the mountain valleys are shrouded in a misty blue haze, and the light of dawn is faint and distant
He finally spoke, but his voice was not as clear and melodious as she remembered; it sounded somewhat deep and unfamiliar
Fu Mingcong remained silent, his hand held by her slowly withdrawing.
Who knows why today has suddenly become so brave and bold, as fierce and unrestrained as the spirit of Sun Erniang
She turned her head and saw a young man in white riding a bicycle coming from the alley. Strangely, the sound of his bicycle bell resembled that of an ambulance.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she was startled. She had thought that even with a knife to her throat, she would never utter such a statement
Suddenly, a particularly loud ringing sound came from behind me
Jiang Luting clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect and bowed, then presented a red bag that had been prepared in advance with both hands. He then placed the prepared money into the merit box, the amount of which he had inquired about beforehand
Being alone with a stranger in the rain is already awkward, and her clothes are soaked, revealing her figure, which makes her feel a bit nervous and uneasy. She holds her phone tightly, prepared to call the police at the slightest sign of any inappropriate behavior from this man
Master Zhou and she are quite familiar with each other. During this period, she has been frequently traveling between the hospital and her residence, always calling for his car
It seemed as if she was the only person in the alley. The rain tapped against the surface of the umbrella, creating a rhythmic sound, yet for some reason, the oilcloth umbrella offered no protection from the rain, and the raindrops fell entirely on her face
Jiang Luting had previously visited Meishan several times with her friend Gu Miao, enjoying the spring outings and winter snow. However, she had never entered Wujue Temple here. She did not have any religious beliefs, and in the past, she merely glanced at it as she passed by, leaving her with a vague impression of its ancient tranquility. She never expected that one day she would come specifically to Wujue Temple
Jiang Luting, in such a disheveled state, naturally would not take the initiative to speak to him. As she observed the relentless downpour, she walked into the shed, seeking a place to sit and rest for a while
I sincerely apologize, the rain is too heavy, please wait a moment. I will pay a little more for the fare, please.
At the moment he brushed past her, she did not know where the courage came from, but suddenly she grabbed his hand.
She had no time to think further and asked in one breath: "Do you really not understand?"
The streetlight downstairs glows dimly in the mist, with faint raindrops drifting around its light. Jiang Luting rests her chin on her hand on the windowsill, troubled: in such weather, will it still be possible to go to Wujue Temple tomorrow
Jiang Luting softly expressed her gratitude, holding the blessed red pouch in her hand, silently praying: May the Buddha bless and allow Lanzhou to recover from illness
I did not expect that the rain, which had been falling for several consecutive days, would thoughtfully cease during the night
The sound of rain patters chaotically, lacking any rhythm, and the relentless downpour creates a sense of urgency in the heart
The shed is built against the mountain wall, inside there is a large square table that is both worn and dirty, but there are no stools. In one corner against the mountain, there is a large iron bucket, the purpose of which is unknown
The man in the shed remained silent from beginning to end, not altering his standing posture in the slightest, as if he were a silent statue
Master Zhou called. At this moment, the heavy rain is pouring down, and the signal on the mountain is particularly poor. Jiang Luting covers the microphone and repeats a sentence several times before the other party can hear it clearly
The consecration ceremony was simpler than Jiang Luting had imagined. After the master recited the scriptures and sprinkled the purifying water, he returned the red bag to her
However, after asking this question, her heart felt as if it were tied with a silk thread, hanging on the edge of a steep cliff
The clear eyes she had always dared not look directly into are now only a short distance away, and she can even see her own face reflected in his pupils. It is as if she has been enchanted by his gaze, and without thinking, she blurted out, "Do you like me?"
The rain is pouring heavily, and the narrow old alley is filled with water. At such times, the residents by the street always place stones in the puddles to facilitate the passage of pedestrians
Uncertain how much time had passed, she faintly regained some awareness, and in a daze, it seemed as though she had returned to her home in Swallow's Nest.