The next day, when Chi Yan woke up, the room was empty.
She glanced at the clothes on her body, and suddenly recalled what happened last night, her heart warming slightly.
Back then, they had been extremely intimate and joyful. Afterwards, when they slept embraced, she had always clamored for him to remember that she was afraid of thunder, afraid of thunder.
After so many years, he had never forgotten.
Recalling the past, her eyes couldn't help but turn sore.
She had only ever told him about her childhood experiences, and he had even accompanied her to pay respects to her mother. Now, how had they come to this point?
The door creaked open.
Xu Qing entered with the woman's clothes. Seeing that she was awake, he put down the clothes and was about to leave.
Chi Yan immediately got out of bed barefoot and hugged him from behind.
"Brother A Xuan."
"Descend the mountain early."
His voice was as cool as the moon in the sky, clean and without a trace of dust.
Chi Yan hugged him tightly, unwilling to let go. "I don't want to go."
Xu Qing didn't speak. He pried her hands apart and slowly walked out the door.
She wanted to chase after him, but upon looking down, she saw she was disheveled and hadn't washed up yet. She would be laughed at if she went out.
Chi Yan pouted, turned, and went to wash and change.
By the time she came out, he was no longer in the courtyard.
She went for her meal as usual. After eating, she returned to the room and waited for him.
When Xu Qing returned after giving a Dharma talk, he saw her squatting pitifully under the eaves. Seeing him, her eyes instantly lit up.
"Brother A Xuan."
She stepped forward, reaching out to tug at his clothes.
Xu Qing glanced at her sideways, his gaze as cold as a knife.
Chi Yan was stunned, a surge of panic rising in her heart.
What was wrong with him?
"If you don't return to Mobei soon, someone will drive you away."
His face was also terrifyingly cold.
Seeing him close the door and enter the room, Chi Yan felt a dense throbbing pain in her heart.
She tried her best to hide the pain and followed him step by step.
Xu Qing was sitting in a chair, reading scriptures. Seeing her ingratiatingly bring over the teacup, he lowered his gaze.
"Brother A Xuan, I made tea for you."
Chi Yan smilingly handed it to him.
"The tea you like, I ran for a long time to buy it. This place is too barren. Drinking those coarse teas every day must be unbearable for you. I specifically bought the tea you love. Drink up."
Xu Qing forcefully suppressed the emotions in his heart, pushed away the teacup she offered, and was indifferent.
"Get out."
She didn't move, quietly watching him.
Xu Qing raised his eyes to look at her, his voice indifferent, "Is Aba from the desert still so shameless?"
Chi Yan's heart ached. Her nails dug into her flesh, and she remained silent.
"Get out."
With a gust of palm wind, the wooden door burst open with a bang.
Chi Yan gritted her teeth, kicked his leg, and roared.
"Xie Xuanchen, do you think this will make me leave willingly? I'm telling you, I won't leave."
After speaking, she turned and left in a huff, her eyes subtly moist.
Xu Qing gazed at her retreating back, his eyes deep and somber.
"The King's heart is unsettled."
Ro Shi's words flashed in his mind. He tightly grasped the scripture in his hand, closed his eyes, and no longer looked at that figure.
After Chi Yan came out, she stood under the willow tree in the backyard, flicking willow branches at the water's edge, occasionally glancing back.
Seeing that no one pursued her, she angrily kicked a nearby stone.
In the past, after they quarreled, he would quickly come out to appease her. Now, everything had changed.
She slumped down in defeat, leaning by the pond, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
"Miss?"
Suddenly, a kind voice came from behind her.
Chi Yan turned around and saw a master with an air of immortal grace. He wore a kasaya embroidered with golden threads, held a staff, and his expression was kind.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, stood up, and tentatively asked, "Master Luoshi?"
Luoshi chuckled, "What is the young lady doing here alone?"
Chi Yan felt a bit embarrassed. The master must have heard about her embarrassing actions at the temple.
She lightly kicked a pebble at her feet and scratched her head.
"I... I want to become a nun."
A shocking statement.
Chi Yan regretted it and patted her head. What was she saying?
She had intended to persuade him to return to the mortal world, not to come here to eat vegetarian meals and chant scriptures.
She quickly corrected herself, "No, no, I haven't been feeling well lately. I'd like to stay at the temple for peace. Is that possible?"
Luoshi smiled mysteriously, "Yes, the young lady can stay in the meditation room in the backyard."
Chi Yan was delighted. After thanking him, she stayed at the temple.
Every day, after eating her fill, she went to work in the scripture repository. Since there were the most young monks there, they would use tools to measure the murals on the walls. When they were free, they would chat.
She deliberately inquired about Xu Qing's past experiences there, getting close to a young novice monk.
They often spent time together. He taught her about the Buddhas and led her in chanting in Sanskrit. She was not interested in these things, but the young monk knew her intentions and would tell her things inadvertently.
After all, it was no secret that the princess of the great desert coveted their King at the temple.
"Miss, if you cause the King to break his precepts, the masters of the Ten Halls of Hell will not let you go. You should leave quickly."
Chi Yan chuckled, "Fusha, will the masters kill people?"
"----"
Fusha shook his head, sighed, and said no more.
The two of them, holding scriptures, walked around the corridor. After only a few steps, they saw Xu Qing approaching from the direction of the Dharma hall.
His pair of brown eyes shifted slightly upon seeing the two of them whispering to each other, a hint of unfathomable danger lingering within.
With a bang, Chi Yan bumped into him.
She looked up and saw a familiar face, her eyes lighting up.
She hadn't seen him for a long time.
"King."
Fusha performed a Buddhist salute and then left.
Xu Qing turned to leave.
Chi Yan immediately hugged his arm, clinging to him.
"Brother A Xuan."
"Why haven't you descended the mountain?"
His voice was as clear and cold as jade on a pearl.
Chi Yan looked at him and couldn't help but stand on tiptoe and bite his lip, smiling slyly.
"If you don't leave with me, I'll stay in the temple every day."
"Cough--"
A light cough suddenly came from behind. Chi Yan shivered, turned around, and saw Luoshi.
She sheepishly got down from Xu Qing and stood properly.
"Master."
Luoshi glanced at Xu Qing, whose expression was calm and undisturbed, then smiled at Chi Yan, and then spoke again.
"King, Mosa has exited his seclusion and wishes to see you."
Xu Qing nodded indifferently and sidestepped to leave.
Chi Yan watched their disappearing backs, bit her lip slightly, and turned to leave.
She had to go down the mountain to the wooden hut where she had stayed before to get some clothes.
However, as soon as she descended the mountain, she discovered that the house where she had stayed had been ransacked. Angrily searching everywhere, she was intercepted in the woods.
In her mind, Fusha's words flashed back.
She coldly looked around, turned, and ran.
But those people pursued her relentlessly. Their martial arts were extremely powerful, and every move seemed to be aimed at taking her life.
"The masters preach salvation to all beings, yet they engage in such clandestine deeds, truly a mockery to the world."
"A demoness who wishes to kill our King deserves to die. If you repent and leave, we will let you go, but if you remain unrepentant, your life shall be forfeit."