Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He had worked at the Temple of Heaven for many years and heard many stories about old temples. The stories in the forbidden city attracted the most attention.
Someone said he saw shadows on the wall in the rain. Another person said he heard people laughing in a palace at night. There were all sorts of stories, including the ones related to the Temple of Heaven.
“I must have gotten it wrong!” The guard walked back with a torch. He subconsciously looked up before walking away.
Oh my god! He was shocked. A man was standing on top of Qinian Palace. He was surrounded by moonlight. His whole body was shining. He looked like a god.
Plump!
The guard’s knelt down and said, “Amitabha, amitabha!”
Wang Yao had a wonderful feeling while standing on top of Qinian Palace. The aura was very active there. He felt he could reach the sky from that spot. He enjoyed being showered by the moonlight and light from the stars. He felt he was changing and upgrading. It was a feeling he couldn’t describe.
A sudden sound brought him back to reality.
What a shame! Wang Yao sighed.
He looked toward the noise and saw a person kneeling on the ground with a torch.
“I must have scared the hell out of him,” Wang Yao said.
He jumped from the other side of Qinian Palace.
The guard kneeling on the ground didn’t dare look up or get up. When he finally got up to look around, the figure on top of Qinian Palace had disappeared.
Although he was not an academic person, he was familiar with the buildings in the areas. He knew how tall exactly each building was. Qinian Palace was 124 feet tall. No one could reach its top without assistance from special devices unless he was not a human being.
Then, what is he? The guard was sweating with fear.
Wang Yao didn’t immediately return to the hotel after he left the Temple of Heaven. Instead, he went to the Temple of Earth. He wanted to find the feeling back but failed.
What a shame!
He knew it was absolutely by chance to gain insight into the world. Last time, he had a feeling of understanding the universe when he was on the Great Wall. This time, he didn’t know when and where he would gain the insight of the universe again.
Time to go.
He went back to the hotel. It was peaceful overnight.
The night guard who worked at the Temple of Heaven resigned the next day.
“Why?” his superior asked. He wanted to keep this devoted old staff member.
“I saw a god or a ghost,” the guard said.
Whatever he thought he had seen, he didn’t think he should continue to work there. He didn’t want to lose his life.
Wang Yao went to the Wu family’s house again to provide the same treatment to the old man.
“I’ve done everything I can. I’m leaving in the afternoon,” Wang Yao said.
“OK.” Wu Tongxing didn’t say much this time.
“You are not going to say goodbye to Miss Su?” Chen Ying asked with a smile after hearing Wang Yao was leaving.
“It is not necessary,” Wang Yao said.
“I think she’ll get upset about it,” Chen Ying said.
Wang Yao’s flight was in the afternoon. Chen Ying and Chen Zhou came to see him off.
As soon as he boarded on the plane, a person came to the cottage where he stayed. It was Su Xiaoxue.
“No one is in?” She was disappointed to see the locked door.
I should call Chen Ying.
“See? What did I say?” Chen Ying said with a smile when she saw Su Xiaoxue’s number on her phone.
“What? Dr. Wang has left? When?” As expected, Su Xiaoxue was disappointed.
“Just now,” Chen Ying said.
“Why didn’t he tell me he was leaving?” Su Xiaoxue asked.
“Dr. Wang asked me not to tell anyone. He didn’t want to bother anyone. I’m sorry,” Chen Ying said.
“Never mind.” Su Xiaoxue hung up the phone.
“Miss Su, where would you like to go?” asked her maid, a woman in her 40s.
“Nowhere. I want to go home.” She suddenly lost all interest.
“OK,” the maid said.
On their way back home, they bumped into a young man with a shiny smile.
“Xiaoxue, I was going to visit you at home. Where have you been?” Guo Zhenghe asked with a smile.
“Just walking around.” Su Xiaoxue was not in the mood to talk to Guo Zhenghe. Plus, she didn’t like him at all.
Why didn’t Dr. Wang say goodbye to me? Is it because I’m too annoying? She couldn’t stop thinking.
Noticing that Su Xiaoxue was not in a good mood, Guo Zhenghe didn’t continue to talk with her. He just quietly walked her home.
“Zhenghe?” Song Ruiping was a bit surprised to see him.
This young man is so purposeful. He’s been coming too often!
Guo Zhenghe had no intention to hide his interest in Su Xiaoxue.
“Mom, Zhenghe, I’m tired. I’m going back to my room,” Su Xiaoxue said.
“OK,” Song Ruiping said.
“Take care,” Guo Zhenghe said.
Su Xiaoxue didn’t stay in the living room to have a chat with Guo Zhenghe, who visited her often. She went back to her room and sat in front of the window doing nothing.
Guo Zhenghe didn’t stay for long.
“That kid has changed,” Song Ruiping said.
After Guo Zhenghe left, Song Ruiping asked, “What’s wrong with Xiaoxue?”
“Dr. Wang has left,” the maid said.
“What about Chen Ying?” Song Ruiping asked.
“She took Dr. Wang to the airport,” the maid said.
Song Ruiping nodded. “I see.”
She went to see her daughter and found Su Xiaoxue gazing out the window, looking preoccupied.
“Mom?” She returned to herself when she heard her mother coming.
“What’s on your mind?” Song Ruiping sat next to her daughter and gently asked.
“Mom, do you think I’m annoying?” Su Xiaoxue asked.
“Of course not,” Song Ruiping immediately said. “My daughter is nice and pretty, like a fairy or a genie. Everyone likes you. You will never annoy anybody in this world.” Song Ruiping smiled.
“But, I don’t think so,” Su Xiaoxue said.
“Do you want to get out of Beijing?” Song Ruiping asked.
She knew her daughter wanted to travel. She was happy to take her around. After all, Su Xiaoxue had been stuck in bed for so many years. Fortunately, she was tough enough not to break.
Song Ruiping had consulted a few professionals about her daughter’s mental health. She was told it was normal for Su Xiaoxue to have mood swings after suffering from a horrible disease for a number of years. It was already amazing that Su Xiaoxue didn’t become crazy after having such a horrible experience. She would gradually get better.
Song Ruiping believed it was good for Su Xiaoxue to travel around to meet different people.
“Yes,” Su Xiaoxue said.
“Where would you like to go? I’ll come with you,” Song Ruiping said.
“I want to go to Sanqing Mountain, Dragon Tiger Hill, and Wudang Mountain.” Su Xiaoxue said.
“What?” Song Ruiping was surprised.
All three places were famous Taoist places. In fact, the place Su Xiaoxue wanted to go most was Wang Yao’s village. Maybe it was because she had read a lot of the Taoist scriptures that she turned to the next best choice.
“Good, I’ll go with you,” Song Ruiping said with a smile.
Wang Yao arrived in Haiqu at night. He found he had a few missed calls, all of which were from Professor Lu. He called him back.
Professor Lu was anxious because Wen Wan’s condition declined rapidly.
“Is she still looking after her mother?” Wang Yao asked.
“Yes,” Professor Lu said.
He was very worried. He and Wen Wan’s siblings all tried to convince her to stop looking after her mother, but she wouldn’t listen. She insisted to stay with her sick mother. Even a healthy person would be exhausted after taking care of a patient for some time, let alone she was sick herself.
“Has she taken the Nine Herbs pills?” Wang Yao asked.
“She’s taken all of the pills,” Professor Lu said.
Initially, the Nine Herbs pills were useful for Wen Wan. However, Professor Lu found she looked worse day by day. He was worried and had gotten angry with her the day before.
“Do you want to die before your mother? Are you gonna let your mother watch you die?” Professor Lu asked.
Wen Wan’s siblings were also angry at her. They didn’t want to lose two family members at the same time. Wen Wan eventually agreed to accept treatment. She broke down as soon as she arrived at the hospital.
