The young monk didn’t know what had happened, but Shen Yi’s expression was so haggard and solemn. The young monk quickly stepped back to let him in.
"Thank you for the trouble." Shen Yi said as he stepped inside.
Shen Yi made his way to the main hall, bringing the wind and snow with him. Master Wangchen, who usually chanted scriptures day after day, was not present, making the hall seem especially desolate, as if it had been abandoned a long time ago.
It appeared even lonelier than the first time he had arrived, as if truly no one was there anymore.
Shen Yi glanced back at the young monk, but before he could ask anything, the young monk explained, "Master has been sick these past two days, and I’ve had to take care of him, so the hall has been somewhat neglected."
"Master Wangchen is ill?" Shen Yi asked, looking at the young monk with a trace of surprise in his eyes.
The young monk nodded his head, but his face did not show much sadness, "It’s normal for the master to fall ill due to his advanced age and frailty."
His tone was very calm, as if he had already accepted the inevitability of life and death.
But Shen Yi felt that perhaps he didn’t take life and death lightly, but simply couldn’t comprehend what a true parting through death meant.
If he were truly that composed, then why had he neglected the main hall he cleaned every day due to taking care of Master Wangchen?
"Have you seen a doctor?" Shen Yi asked.
The young monk shook his head, "Master says, life and death are predestined, and if one day he truly passes away, it means his worldly ties have ended, and we shouldn’t cling to him."
A touch of sorrow welled up in Shen Yi’s heart. And what about Wanwan?
Where was his Wanwan?
Shen Yi looked at the young monk, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot. Having taken care of Ye Wanwan day and night for several days, his body was already exhausted, and he was merely pushing himself to keep going.
Yet, seeing Shen Yi in this state, the young monk didn’t seem at all surprised, as if he had no curiosity about what emotions Shen Yi was currently experiencing.
After a long while, Shen Yi finally spoke, somewhat sluggishly, "May I see Master Wangchen?"
The young monk bowed to Shen Yi, "Please follow me, Benefactor Shen."
The young monk led Shen Yi to Master Wangchen’s resting quarters.
When Shen Yi pushed the door open, he just happened to hear Master Wangchen coughing.
Walking in, Shen Yi saw Master Wangchen lying on an old wooden bed.
At that moment, Master Wangchen’s eyes were closed, but perhaps hearing the sound, he struggled to open them.
Shen Yi had once offered to funds for the renovation of Ling’an Temple, but Master Wangchen had refused.
At that time, Shen Yi thought that perhaps for Master Wangchen, what mattered wasn’t whether the living environment was good or bad. He was simply attached to how the temple used to be.
"Benefactor Shen has arrived." Master Wangchen looked at Shen Yi with his cloudy eyes and said weakly.
Shen Yi walked over and looked at Master Wangchen lying on the bed, "You’re ill, this place is not suitable for recuperation."
Master Wangchen just shook his head, signaling his refusal, and then continued to ask, "Benefactor Shen, what brings you here today?"
Shen Yi’s Adam’s apple moved, he was silent for a while, then spoke solemnly, "My wife is ill, she’s been unconscious for three days."
He had no other options left, so he came here, wanting to pray to Buddha to awaken his Wanwan!
Master Wangchen closed his eyes, he sighed deeply and said helplessly, "Everything is karma."