Chapter 178: 178, as long as I want (3)_1 Chapter 178: 178, as long as I want (3)_1 Jian Qing slowed her pace, observing the surroundings of the temple. Quan Yifei followed alongside her, introducing her to the scene.
“Jian Qing, have you seen such a temple before?” she asked, realizing that she still did not know where Jian Qing used to live.
“Rarely,” Jian Qing noticed her curiosity and replied indifferently, “I used to live in M Country and haven’t been back to Beijing in a long time.”
Quan Yifei recalled her grandfather’s mentioning of something that happened seventeen years ago, and didn’t dare to ask further.
“Our grandmothers have gone in to offer incense and prayers. Let’s go inside too.”
As they walked in, they saw Lady Quan and Song Xirou kneeling on the prayer mats with incense sticks in their hands. Rhee stood aside without joining them.
Even though Rhee was married to Quan Hao, she was not Chinese, so her religious beliefs were naturally different.
Quan Yifei often accompanied Grandmother Quan to the temple, so she was familiar with the rituals. She took a stick of incense, lit it, and knelt next to Lady Quan.
Jian Qing did nothing. She just stood there quietly, looking up at the gilt statue of the Buddha, seemingly calm.
She closed her eyes and couldn’t help but remember the night she witnessed her mother’s cremation. The raging flames had taken away the smiles of her and Luoluo.
“Little Qingqing, are you okay?”
Rhee’s voice broke her thought.
Jian Qing took a deep breath to regain her composure. When she opened her eyes, the sorrow in them had been well concealed, without a trace.
“Auntie!”
“Little Qingqing, do you have any troubles?” Rhee asked, noticing an air of sorrow enveloping Jian Qing, an aspect she had never seen before.
Meeting Rhee’s concerned gaze, Jian Qing managed a weak smile. “No, I was just thinking of the past.”
Looking at Jian Qing, Rhee saw a young woman who seemed to have gone through countless vicissitudes of life. She could not help but feel a pang of sympathy for her.
Soon enough, Lady Quan and the others finished paying their respect. Song Xirou and Quan Yifei helped Lady Quan to stand up and put the incense sticks into the burner.
“Jian Qing, would you like to offer a prayer?” Song Xirou asked smilingly.
Jian Qing responded indifferently, “No need.”
Quan Yifei echoed, “Jian Qing spent most of her life in M Country. She probably, like Auntie Rhee, follows a different religion.”
Lady Quan found this to be reasonable and didn’t insist.
“Let’s go outside,” Quan Yifei suggested, leading Jian Qing out.
The temple was quiet that day, which allowed them to take their time exploring.
“Ah, Grandmother, it’s Master Kong Wu!”
Quan Yifei spotted a figure sitting in the pavilion and exclaimed with a hint of surprise in her voice.
If one mentions the Hidden Orchid Temple, Master Kong Wu would certainly be the first one to come to mind. As a highly respected monk at the temple, he receives great reverence. But Master Kong Wu is now over a hundred years old, so it’s rare to see him without any special occasions.
They didn’t expect they’d run into him today.
“Master Kong Wu!” Lady Quan said warmly as she ascended the pavilion steps, “It’s been a long time since I last saw you.”
Master Kong Wu, in his simple-colored robes, had an air of kindness and wisdom. His bushy white beard made him look more distinguished. He put down the Buddhist scriptures in his hand, put his palms together, and said, “Benefactor, it’s been a while.”
Lady Quan smiled and nodded. She remembered the last time she met Master Kong Wu was six years ago.
“Who is this benefactor?” Master Kong Wu asked, his gaze passing over Quan Yifei and landing on Jian Qing standing behind her.
Meeting the gaze of Master Kong Wu, Jian Qing acknowledged him with a polite nod.
“I wonder if Master Kong Wu remembers my third grandson, Jingwu,” Lady Quan said, “This is his girlfriend, Jian Qing.”
Master Kong Wu seemed somewhat surprised. A mental image of an imposing young man appeared in his mind, and he cast a more speculative glance at Jian Qing.
“Benefactor, could we step aside for a chat?”
Quan Yifei and the others looked at each other in surprise before turning their gaze towards Jian Qing.
Jian Qing agreed with a slight nod, “Of course.”
Master Kong Wu rose steadily, even at his age. As they watched Jian Qing and the old monk leave, Rhee and the others exchanged puzzled glances.
“This is Jian Qing’s first visit here. How come Master Kong Wu seems so close to her?” Quan Yifei scratched her head in confusion.
Lady Quan chuckled, “Perhaps, it’s fate.”
Jian Qing followed Master Kong Wu to an ancient tree before they finally stopped.
After a moment, Master Kong Wu was the first to break the silence. “Benefactor, you are born of noble fate and harbor kindness in your heart. But your hands are stained with too much bloodshed. I hope you will refrain from the notion of killing and avoid bloodshed.”
Jian Qing’s lips curled up in a faint smile. Looking up at Master Kong Wu, she responded calmly, “Master Kong Wu, a lot of people think the world is either black or white. Do you also hold this belief?”
Master Kong Wu was taken aback by her unexpected question, but he responded nonetheless, “The world is full of ambiguities, rights and wrongs. It all depends on one’s perspective. Heaven and hell are but a thin line apart.”
His response was profound, and it made Jian Qing’s gaze intensify. She said coldly, “I see Master Kong Wu understands that there’s no black and white in this world, only shades of gray. I don’t care about the blood on my hands, all I want is to protect my loved ones.”
Master Kong Wu looked at her with mixed feelings, and after a long time, he sighed, “You are very much like that benefactor. It seems that fate has destined you two to be together.”
“Who?” Jian Qing asked.
“Benefactor Quan Jingwu,” Master Kong Wu answered.
Jian Qing laughed inexplicably, were she and Xiaojing really that alike?
“Benefactor, aren’t you curious whether he is your soulmate? Young men and women who come here often like to ask this question,” Master Kong Wu said kindly.
Jian Qing smirked, her voice was arrogant, yet so inevitable, “How does it matter? If I desire, he will be mine.”
Each word, each sentence, was resounding. Master Kong Wu broke into a smile.
“Amitabha Buddha, it seems benefactor, you have already seen the truth in your heart. My worry was unnecessary.”
Jian Qing looked up to spot red silk ribbons hanging from the ancient tree. Then, she heard Master Kong Wu’s voice again. “This is the marriage tree. Many benefactors would tie a ribbon when they visit here. If you’re interested, you can also tie one.”
Saying so, Master Kong Wu walked over to the bamboo tube holding the red ribbons, took one out and handed it to Jian Qing.
Jian Qing glanced at the red ribbon in Master Kong Wu’s hand and took it with a soft laugh. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, benefactor. I shall take my leave now,” Master Kong Wu said kindly with his palms put together, then his figure gradually disappeared from sight.
Jian Qing nodded and watched as he departed.