Chapter 4

*

He encircled the glass jar with his arm, and indeed fell silent, unable to speak any further, remaining so until the vehicle came to a stop.

The curtain was lifted by a hand clad in a black silk glove, revealing the face of a passerby that was as bland as plain broth. The monk had evidently changed his face once again; this person truly possessed a thousand faces and a thousand appearances.

The face of the grand monk immediately fell: "Come on! The outside world is wonderful, you will like it."

The high monk noticed that she kept glancing towards the grapes, and being rather stingy, he quickly declared: "This is His Highness the high monk's breakfast"

Tan Yin bit into the rice ball and looked up at him; he was clearly pleased with himself, his face blooming with joy, as he tossed the grapes from his right hand to his left, and then back from his left hand to his right, playing with great delight

The rain outside showed no signs of letting up. Tan Yin walked to the window, intending to close it, when she suddenly heard a series of melodious calls from the euphoric birds outside. Golden light sparkled like dust, cascading down in delicate strands. In the blink of an eye, a resplendent golden carriage came to a stop outside the window, with ancient characters in pale gold rippling across its surface like water. A serene and elegant fragrance filled the air—this was the grandeur of the fox clan, a sight she was witnessing for the first time.

Oh dear, oh dear, the grand monk covered his face, feeling quite shy, "I am so happy, so surprised, and so bashful..."

He clearly showed a moment of surprise: "You want to know my name?"

The monk glanced at Tan Yin, who was still staring outside. Across the street was merely an ordinary shop selling pottery, yet she could watch it with such interest for so long. Was it really that novel? He rarely made such a grand display when he went out on errands; the outside world was a mix of people, and drawing attention was just asking for trouble. Today, seeing Tan Yin so happy, he deliberately drove the carriage into the town, and she surprisingly did not notice anything amiss, which left him pondering.

To be ground to dust and scattered to the winds is a punishment reserved for those who have committed heinous crimes, and it is also the divine retribution of the Ji family

Driven by a fervent pursuit of the Ji family's extraordinary skills, she finds herself unable to cross the Naihe Bridge, wandering daily in the old Ji residence. There are still many things she wishes to accomplish, and she is not ready to die

He had a beaming smile, bright eyes, but his voice was unusually soft: "Sister Xiaojie, it is said that when a woman feels curious about a man, it is when she develops a fondness for him. You must like me quite a bit, right?"

The grand monk played with a grape in his hand, his fingers long and distinctly knuckled, yet remarkably dexterous. The green grape spun effortlessly at his fingertips, refusing to fall.

Tan Yin did not think twice before rejecting: "No."

Now she has returned to being a mortal, for only mortals dream. Whether she wishes it or not, those long-faded, ancient memories still invade her at midnight, as if she is reliving her fragile life once more in a dream

"Even if Sister Xiaoji likes me, I cannot tell you my name." The monk sighed and winked at her, "My name is also a priceless treasure."

This person is truly a complete mess, and Tan Yin coldly said, "Shut up."

Tan Yin dared not imagine; she had grown accustomed to bearing everything on her own. She had always yearned for her inner self to be as strong as her exterior, so that there would be no expectations and no pain.

The great monk gracefully returned to the car, and the next moment she floated in like a butterfly. The interior of the car was quite spacious, furnished not only with soft cushions for resting but also with a small sandalwood table. On the table sat a glass jar filled to the brim with grapes, both green and purple. The great monk eagerly picked the largest and roundest grape and popped it into her mouth.

Perhaps she subconsciously longs to dream of that person, as she can no longer see his demeanor and smile. Therefore, even if it is just a dream, the ability to relive those moments brings her immense joy

The grand monk wore a mysterious smile and said softly, "Do you want to know? Follow me and I will tell you."

She lived for only seventeen years, from birth to death, never leaving the vicinity of the Ji family's ancestral home within a hundred miles. Later... Later, she did not step into the mortal world even once, and everything outside remained novel to her

Tan Yin sighed softly and said: "Step aside"

Tan Yin indeed harbored a hint of curiosity towards his countless masks; perhaps the identity of a great monk concealed some secret that made it inconvenient for him to reveal his true face. However, the act of changing one face after another was exceedingly rare, something unheard of.

Early in the morning, eating grapes? Tan Yin suddenly recalled the legend that foxes love to eat grapes, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face, which somewhat diminished his feelings of aversion towards him

She does not know what kind of outcome she will wait for; perhaps one day a formidable figure will come and take her as a vengeful spirit, or perhaps she will finally wait for the day to cross the Naihe Bridge and be reincarnated. Even more likely, she will forever float in this state of regret, holding onto her passionate heart's blood.

The vehicle came to a stop, and everyone around respectfully kept their distance. Although it is common these days to see a mix of humans, demons, and immortals, it is truly rare to see someone so grandly using a Blissful Bird to pull a carriage. One can only speculate that it must be some great immortal from the mountains, and it would be unwise to offend them

What would it be like if she cried in front of him? How would he react if she revealed her vulnerabilities to him?

If she had known beforehand that the high monk of the fox clan possessed such a character, she would probably never have sought him out, even if it meant death

"Let us find an inn to stay at," he finally spoke, and his words were quite irreverent from the outset. "I have always hoped to have the opportunity to share a room in an inn with a beautiful sister. Little Sister Ji, shall we have a candlelit conversation tonight?"

I do not know why, but I suddenly recalled the heartless words of the great monk: girls should still be a bit more delicate.

Would you like to see the face-changing act? The grand monk eagerly rubbed his face, as this was his unique skill, available nowhere else.

When Tan Yin woke up, it was pouring rain outside, and she had not closed the window, leaving the floor damp.

Tan Yin suddenly understood why Tang Hua hated him so much, throwing him into the pond; anyone would be unable to bear it. This person has never been serious, making communication nearly impossible

I am curious as to why he conceals himself so thoroughly, with his appearance unknown and his name unknown. Although I do not fully understand the mysterious identity of the great monks of the fox clan, it is evident from his demeanor that he does not possess an identity that necessitates such concealment. Why must he be so enigmatic

He looked at her with bright eyes, particularly excited: "Xiao Ji! You are awake? Would you like to go out and play with me?"

When interacting and communicating with this person, it is essential to cultivate a spirit of calm indifference, treating all of their unusual behaviors as if they are invisible. Otherwise, one may lose their sanity and commit terrifying acts, just like Tang Hua.

Tan Yin did not respond, and she sat gracefully on the soft cushion, quietly watching the changing scenery outside as she lifted a corner of the car curtain. Suddenly, her sleeve was gently tugged, and as she turned her head, she saw two golden sesame balls wrapped in oil paper being presented in front of her nose

Death is cold, and after her demise, her spirit lingered, watching as people prepared her body. Due to the blood she coughed up at the time of death, she feared there was some illness. She also observed her body being reduced to ashes, scattered by the wind.

The grand monk was so amused by her laughter that it seemed his heart trembled twice, and he ecstatically clapped his hands and whispered: "Sister Xiaoji, girls should often smile; you look most beautiful when you smile."

She always puts on a brave front, never revealing anything on her face. Even when she likes someone, she remains aloof, fearing that anyone might catch a hint of her feelings. When she is scared, she absolutely does not call for help, enduring everything by herself. ... That person said: You seem too strong-willed, I ... . ... feel ashamed of myself.

Absolute truth! Genuine goods at fair prices, with no deception towards young or old! He spoke with utmost seriousness

Tan Yin does not believe it at all: "Is it a fake face?"

She raised her hand to close the window, but the monk quickly stopped her, smiling apologetically: "Don't be angry! How about this, you come out to play with me, and then I will show you my face, okay?"

Tan Yin gazed intently, captivated by the town she had never visited before. The style and color of the houses, as well as the attire of the people, were all strikingly different from everything she had previously known. She found it both intriguing and novel

As I gazed out the car window, the scenery changed dramatically. First, there were only a few small farmhouses in the village, with smoke rising straight up like a dragon made of white mist. Then came a small town, where an elderly man sold colorful pinwheels, each one vibrant and flower-like, passing by in a flash. Finally, we arrived at a vast and prosperous city, where the paradise bird flew slower and lower. On the street corner, there were jugglers, several children under ten performing somersaults one after another, the sound of gongs and drums resonating thunderously. A crowd gathered at the entrance of a casino, noisy and boisterous, likely because some gambler had lost all his money and was being thrown out. Across the street, there was a vendor selling fried tofu, the blue smoke mingling with the aroma of cooking, dispersed by the wind.

Whether it is a matter of opinion or not, she gently took a bite of the glutinous rice ball and said, "No one has seen your face, does that mean no one knows your name?"

Tan Yin took a deep breath, tilted her chin towards the grapes in the glass jar, and said: "If you don't be quiet, you can forget about eating even one of those grapes."

Tan Yin shook his head, and after a while, nodded slightly: "I am just a little curious"

"Why do you always change faces?" she asked, "Do you usually wear all those faces on your own?"

"What do you think?" she replied coldly

The joybird pulled the cart several times faster than an ordinary spirit beast, and by noon, they had already traveled a thousand miles. Tan Yin noticed that there were gradually more signs of human habitation outside, no longer just the endless mountains and forests, and he couldn't help but become lost in thought as he gazed outside.

The grand monk leaned halfway out of the car, twisting like a braid: "Sister Ji, there are so many bad people outside, only your broad shoulders can protect me! How can you bear to abandon me!"

She still refused: "I will not go."

Tan Yin took it without hesitation and suddenly smiled at him slightly: "Thank you"

She only stays in the old house, guarding it day after day, floating in the chair she once sat in, wanting to use her pen to draw out those whimsical ideas.

His mournful wail, as if he had lost his parents, immediately ceased, yet he continued to gaze at her with bright eyes. If a tail were to be attached to him, it would surely be wagging incessantly now

The grand monk held the steaming sesame ball and looked at her: "This is yours"

That was her last memory of the mortal realm