Jiang Nanshu had settled down in Yulin Temple.
She started to ingratiate herself with Zhou Yanxu, asking him many strange questions.
"Master Guiyuan, why did you abandon your family’s wealth of hundreds of billions and run off to this impoverished place to become a monk? Did you have too much fine food and became idle?"
The two were sitting on wooden chairs, separated by a table with a set of tea apparatus on it.
Zhou Yanxu liked to drink tea during his free time.
Hearing Jiang Nanshu’s question, he looked up and met her sincere eyes, expecting his answer.
There was not a hint of impatience or offense in Zhou Yanxu’s voice, his face even smiling, "A fortune can’t buy freedom; my happiness is more important than a vast family asset. As for wealth, it seems my body cannot enjoy much anyway, so I might as well come out and see the world while I can."
"Huh, why do I think money is the most important thing? Money moves hearts. With money, I could have whatever happiness and freedom I want. Why suffer in the mountains?" Jiang Nanshu tended to argue whatever he said.
He poured himself another cup of tea, his eyes gentle, "In these three years, I have traveled many places, seen many sights, and helped many people. Money might be important to you, but I don’t need it."
"Tsk, acting noble now, are we?"
Zhou Yanxu looked at her helplessly, "From the moment we met, you have never shown me a friendly face. Did I owe you money in the past?"
Jiang Nanshu was annoyed just by his constant references to ’patron’.
Irritably, she said, "I have a name. It’s Jiang Nanshu."
"Very well, Patron Nanshu."
Seeing that she was infuriated,
Zhou Yanxu then poured her a cup of tea, "I’m not good with words, Patron Nanshu. Please, have some tea to calm down."
She confirmed once again that this was not the Yanxu she knew.
Jiang Nanshu took the cup he handed over, accepting his kindness, too tired to quibble about the title.
Her anger grew as she thought more.
"You clearly knew your brother was out to harm you, so why relinquish your vast family wealth and hide in the mountains instead of fighting back for revenge?"
"Ah, you’ve been angry about this matter?" he asked.
Zhou Yanxu smiled, sitting there, able to see distant green mountains, "My heart desires, but my physical strength does not support it. My family had high hopes for me, this sickly figure, always at risk of sudden death. Managing the vast family affairs was too tiring. I wanted to live a few more years. Although Yan Bai has a poor disposition, his decisiveness makes him a competent leader."
Hearing about his chronic heart disease, Jiang Nanshu reluctantly accepted his explanation.
"Last night you said evil people would receive their just punishment. Those three died or were maimed; it seems to prove true. What if this applies to your brother?"
"Everyone is the same; why should there be any preferential treatment? People with a crooked nature will definitely be punished, it’s only a matter of time."
Listening to his answer,
Jiang Nanshu sipped her tea and lowered her gaze to her pale finger tips, then changed the subject, "Why is your Dharma name Gui Yuan? Is there a special meaning?"
"All things return to fate, begin with fate, and end with fate. When the ties of fate are exhausted, union and separation reach their end. There should be no attachments, no grasping."
Jiang Nanshu’s hand trembled,
and the cup fell straight to the ground.
She stared incredulously at Zhou Yanxu.
In her mind was the last message he sent her amid the flames.
He said, "People come and go, and this is where the road ends."
She hadn’t agreed. Who said it had to end here?
For a moment, the two seemed to overlap.
Jiang Nanshu almost thought he was the person she knew.
But he was smiling lightly, "Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong?"
"Not wrong... What if the other party doesn’t want to separate? Master Guiyuan, in that case, what should be done?"
It was raining outside again, unknowingly.
The wind carried the chill of deep autumn, a bit cold.
Zhou Yanxu held the cup in both hands for warmth, his gaze was shallow, yet Jiang Nanshu couldn’t see through his soul. He turned his head to look at the statue of Buddha nearby, then turned back to Jiang Nanshu, "The gods are three feet above the head, and one must not lie in front of them. If one violates this, at best, their fortunes will suffer; at worst, their friends and family could face repercussions, and their body might be harmed, with a high chance of death. How about I ask you a few questions instead? Are you willing to answer?"
Jiang Nanshu pressed her lips together.
The golden Buddha statue didn’t give her a feeling of salvation for all, but rather an eerie discomfort.
She thought, even Buddha couldn’t cleanse her tainted soul.
Her tight lips slowly relaxed into a smile, her gaze fearless as she looked at him, "Go ahead, Master Gui Yuan. After you ask, I have a question for you as well."
"Agreed." Zhou Yanxu consented, then asked, "Do you have close friends?"
Jiang Nanshu thought of Xu Xi and Yan Yidan, who was marginally considered a friend.
Hesitating slightly, she nodded, "Yes."
"Do you think they would leave you?"
Jiang Nanshu shook her head decisively, knowing Xu Xi’s clinginess, it would be her leaving them: "No."
"Then the second question, do you have family members who treat you well?"
Jiang Nanshu thought of her foster parents and their family, who genuinely cared for her.
Even without a blood relation,
Jiang Nanshu regarded them as her family.
"Would they leave you because of your bad temper?"
Jiang Nanshu started to frown slightly, but responded, "Not for the time being... Perhaps because I haven’t let them down yet."
Zhou Yanxu smiled at her, "You’re not bad, you’re a kind girl. You saved a sister not related by blood. No matter your temper, she wouldn’t leave you."
Jiang Nanshu felt somewhat sour inside.
"Oh." She turned her head uncomfortably, "Any more questions?"
"One last one, do you have someone you like?"
Jiang Nanshu hesitated this time.
Her head snapped toward Zhou Yanxu, his thin face carrying a faint smile, but the first person Jiang Nanshu thought of was Lu Qingyan.
"Can I not answer?" she asked.
"Then I won’t answer your question either, let’s end it here."
Jiang Nanshu lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, "Yes."
"But he died in a fire, he didn’t wait for me to grow up." Jiang Nanshu added.
Only then did she dare to face Zhou Yanxu.
"I’ve answered all your questions. What do you want to say?"
Zhou Yanxu sighed softly, "The encounters between people are all about fate. The examples I gave are of those who won’t leave you."
"I don’t want to hear your long speeches. You just need to answer me one question, Master Gui Yuan, can there be fate between us?"
Zhou Yanxu placed the Buddha beads on the table, "No fate."