After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 691 - 681: Buddha Beads Wrapped Around the Wrist Again

Chapter 691: Chapter 681: Buddha Beads Wrapped Around the Wrist Again

From the outside, you can tell the temple is not large.

Once inside, you realize it is truly small!

Just one main hall, and the Buddha enshrined inside isn’t even gilded.

On either side are annexes, one serves as the kitchen and dining area, the other for rest.

Add in the two red maple trees and a few pines and cypresses in the courtyard, and that’s all there is to Yicheng Temple.

As they stepped into the hall, Jiang Lingxi and Shen Yunqing saw Wu Jue’s mentor, who was also the old abbot of Yicheng Temple.

The old man was short and slightly chubby, with white hair and beard. When he smiled at them, he looked a lot like the Maitreya Buddha.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Shen Yunqing put his hands together in a Buddhist greeting, while Jiang Lingxi could only nod her head slightly, unable to do the same.

The old abbot was straightforward, not waiting for Shen Yunqing to speak, he said first, "These are the Buddha Beads that Wu Jue wanted me to give to the young lady. He also wanted me to remind you that sanctifying and nurturing them is not easy, so take great care not to damage them again." With that, he extended the beads he was still rolling in his hand towards her.

Jiang Lingxi felt a bit embarrassed and reached out to take them, saying, "...It won’t happen again, I will take good care of them."

As soon as the Buddha Beads wrapped around her wrist, Jiang Lingxi couldn’t help curling her fingers, her expression changing slightly.

This set of Buddha Beads felt even more noticeable than the one she had accidentally broken before.

Was it due to the added blessing from the old abbot in front of her?

"Thank you, Abbot."

"You’re welcome. For the good deeds you have done, you deserve good returns." Considering there was a young girl who wasn’t aware of the situation, the old abbot spoke subtly and looked up at the sun outside, "It’s almost noon, why don’t the three of you have lunch before leaving?"

"Then we will inconvenience you."

"No trouble at all, it’s time to prepare a meal anyway, just more to make."

Soon, Jiang Lingxi found out who the head chef of the day was.

It was still the old abbot himself.

The little monk who had welcomed them earlier was assisting with the cooking.

When he went to the corner to fetch firewood, Jiang Lingxi couldn’t resist calling out to him to ask, "Is it just you and your master here at the temple?"

"There’s one more," the little monk replied seriously, "Brother Wu Jue is here too."

Jiang Lingxi said, "...Alright, you carry on then."

"As you wish, young lady."

Being a guest, Shen Yunqing felt it was impolite to just watch the master and disciple busy themselves, so he rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen to help with rinsing rice and washing vegetables.

Left by herself, Jiang Lingxi wandered around and soon finished exploring the entire temple, then turned to look at Xu Ling’an, who was kneeling earnestly praying and burning incense in front of the main hall.

The praying must have been going on for several minutes; seems like this young lady had many wishes!

Upon hearing footsteps behind her, Xu Ling’an finally rose, turned around, and saw the Buddha Beads on Jiang Lingxi’s wrist, "Sister, is this the reason you came for these beads?"

No longer needing to be cautious, Jiang Lingxi nodded, "It helps with my injury."

With that, she extended her hand.

Xu Ling’an was momentarily taken aback, then carefully removed the glove and, upon seeing the nature of the injury, her pupils constricted sharply.

"This...this injury..."

"Looks a bit strange, doesn’t it?"

Xu Ling’an pressed her lips and nodded, "It looks a bit like a burn, but burns usually cover an area without forming marks like these. Moreover, these marks don’t seem to just be on the surface. Does it hurt, sister?"

"It doesn’t hurt anymore, and it wasn’t a burn. I can’t quite say what caused it either. Anyway, it’s healing quickly, don’t worry!"

Being sensible, Xu Ling’an didn’t press further.

Jiang Lingxi stood at the doorway, cautiously moving her fingers in the sunlight.

The gloves had been worn a while, and suddenly taking them off felt a bit strange.

After helping wash vegetables and set the rice to steam, Shen Yunqing exited the kitchen, looking towards Jiang Lingxi standing by the hall entrance. The next second, his gaze fell on her hand.

"How is it?"

Jiang Lingxi saw him reach out and didn’t avoid it. When he held her hand, she scratched his fingers lightly, "The effect is indeed good. I think I can manage to feed myself by lunchtime."

"Wu Jue said that the Buddha Beads only temporarily suppress it; the previous treatments still need to be continued consistently."

"Yes."

Since they were in front of Buddha and with Xu Ling’an nearby, they refrained from overly intimate actions and released their hands after a brief hold, "I see the scenery here on the mountain is quite lovely with some wild charm. How about we take a stroll after lunch, rather than rushing down?"

"Sure."

The lunch, naturally, was all vegetarian.

But the old abbot’s culinary skills were excellent, and Jiang Lingxi, being able to use chopsticks herself again for the first time in many days, polished off two bowls of rice.

Xu Ling’an, who had exerted herself climbing the mountain in the morning, helped herself to another half bowl after finishing one.

In the end, the big pot of rice and the four substantial vegetarian dishes were completely eaten by the five of them, old and young.

After the meal, it was time to say goodbye and leave.

The old abbot had to perform his noon prayers, and it was the young monk who had welcomed them before, who escorted them to the gate again.

Upon hearing that they planned to explore the area a bit more, the young monk generously recommended some places.

"A mile west from here, there’s a red maple forest. The maple trees in our temple were transplanted from there, very hardy, and they look great now too."

"Further on, there are a few early-blooming plum trees. I’m not sure if they’re flowering now since I haven’t been there in a while. But be careful going there, a slip could lead to injury."

When mentioning this, the young monk seemed a bit apprehensive, suggesting he had experienced it firsthand.

Thanking the young monk, the three of them agreed to head west.

Following a beaten path, they reached its end, turned a corner, and suddenly, everything opened up.

In the winter, the two or three o’clock sunlight is warmest, making you squint and enjoy it when it falls on your face.

Jiang Lingxi held Shen Yunqing’s left hand and Xu Ling’an’s right, stepping onto the soft carpet of fire-red maple leaves, they found a stone similarly covered in fallen leaves to sit on, savoring a moment of leisure.

For a moment, only the rustling sound of wind-blown leaves filled the world, making it seem as if even time had slowed down.

"Hmm, what’s that silhouette?"

Jiang Lingxi lifted her head from Shen Yunqing’s shoulder.

"Shh," Shen Yunqing put a finger to his lips, "It’s two squirrels."

A family of squirrels on a nearby large tree was busily collecting supplies for winter, unaware of the three pairs of eyes watching their every move.

It wasn’t until the small squirrels scurried back into their burrow that Jiang Lingxi stretched and stood up, "What time is it now?"

She habitually kept her phone with Shen Yunqing.

"Three thirty."

"Then there’s still time. Let’s see if the early plum trees Little Wu You mentioned are blooming."

Xu Ling’an didn’t move, "Sister, brother-in-law, you go ahead. I’ll sit here a bit longer and see if the little squirrels come out again."

As a considerate sister, sometimes, you have to consciously avoid being a third wheel.

And knowing the path ahead is tough, it’s best not to test her lack of athletic prowess.

Jiang Lingxi patted her head, "Then wait for us here, call if you need anything."

"Yes, yes." Xu Ling’an nodded like a pecking chick, smiling as she watched the two leave hand in hand.

The feeling of witnessing a couple up close—who can understand? It’s absolutely delightful!