The Beautiful Boss's Personal Bodyguard
Chapter 580 - 579

Chapter 580: 579

"Mr. Ye, what a coincidence."

Ye Tian smiled, "This is no coincidence. Meeting you here among so many people is something that can’t be summed up by just calling it a coincidence. So, someone as formidable as you is also here to burn incense and pray to Buddha?"

"Just joining in the hustle and bustle. One must rely on oneself for everything, constantly praying to Buddha won’t achieve anything."

"Right, that’s the idea."

Looking at the plastic bear pendant on his chest, Ye Tian took a couple more glances, unfazed as expected; a master like him ought to have his own quirks, otherwise, how could he be called a master?

"Aren’t you going to go have a look?" Zhang Liang invited Ye Tian, "I heard the Earth God inside is very efficacious."

Ye Tian glanced at the crowd moving in and out around him and nodded, "That must be the case, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many people here."

Zhang Liang didn’t expect this guy to actually follow him inside. The little monk looked at his face as always, and it was unclear whether he was regretting what he had just said. He spoke to Ye Tian, "Mr. Ye, aren’t you following us up the mountain?"

Ye Tian waved his hand, saying, "I’ll go back later. Little master, you really need to change your temper. If you keep silent, your junior sister will end up being bullied."

The little monk felt a tap on the back of his head again, then shrank his neck and turned to follow Zhang Ling’er.

Zhang Ling’er and her daughter walked ahead, chirping away about the clothes and perfume they had just purchased, with the little monk slowly trailing behind in silence.

"Let’s go inside."

Zhang Liang made a welcoming gesture with his hands and walked in first. Ye Tian laughed and followed behind, pondering to himself that he hoped things wouldn’t go awry here.

Ye Tian himself wondered why he followed Zhang Liang inside. He wore a black, snail-shell-like object on his ear, clearly a receiver for information. Though he had never worn one himself, he had seen it in movies—spies, police, they all wore similar gadgets. The only difference was their attire, which was usually more professional—no one would wander around in old-fashioned Zhongshan suits.

If it was a real setup against him, they would confront him openly, but Ye Tian really couldn’t believe that Zhang Liang would make a move in such a crowded place; higher-ups would tear him apart for that. Superiors want performance, but more than that, they want stability. Since ancient times, you never see a militaristic general governing; it’s always civil servants who are in charge, while military generals take the front lines. In peaceful times, a military general should stay where it’s cool enough for him.

Ye Tian hid a smirk at the corner of his lips and looked away.

"Are you laughing at the idea of the hunting dog being cooked after the hare is caught?"

Zhang Liang’s sudden comment caught Ye Tian off guard, even making him wonder if Zhang Liang had been watching him for a long time, "It’s not as tragic as you think. What are you so pessimistic about? Those who go out and work for a living have their fair share of hardships. If everyone were like you, they’d probably collapse under that attitude before even facing death."

Zhang Liang remained silent, leaving Ye Tian to guess whether it was a denial or an admission. Ye Tian didn’t bother himself any further and just followed him to the temple’s square, where the crowd was thickest. In the center of the plaza, not occupied by people, was a huge bonfire built up from incense and joss paper. People entering the temple to offer incense threw their incense sticks into it, and the pile of ash occasionally sent up some joss paper and money notes aflame.

Zhang Liang bought some joss paper at a small stall in the courtyard and handed some to Ye Tian, who didn’t refuse. He simply rolled up the paper like others and tossed it into the pile of ashes that had grown as high as a little hill.

"Aren’t you going to bow in prayer?"

Watching Zhang Liang put his hands together incessantly in prayer, Ye Tian had no interest. He brushed away the ashes drifting at his feet and said, "I’m not in the habit of bowing to anyone except my half-assed master."

"The Great Zen Master of the temple?"

Ye Tian scratched his head, "Ah, there’s nothing that can be hidden from you guys."

"It’s the state’s affair, you have nothing to hide. On the other hand, your master is indeed a devout Buddhist; why don’t you believe in Buddhism?"

"Since Buddha can’t save me, why should I believe in him? Besides, the Earth God is not an official role within Buddhism. Praying to him, I might as well go up to the Grand Hall." Ye Tian pointed at the temple icon. He couldn’t understand why people would build such a humble Earth God temple so large, much bigger than the Two Zen Temple up in the mountains. He wondered if the monk would get jealous. Ha, that might be why the monk doesn’t want to come down from the mountains.

Seeing Ye Tian’s face change constantly, Zhang Liang waited until he finished burning the joss paper to ask, "Thinking of something fun? Share it with me."

"In my life... well, can’t really say it’s a lifetime, but as long as I’ve grown up, no father, no mother, and no one to teach me culture and such, I found my place by gathering younger brothers through fighting in the streets. Then, I joined the army and saw more people, experienced more things, and got more brothers and friends. These brothers who were willing to exchange their lives for mine were the most valuable thing in my life... Oh, mentioning life again. They were the most valuable thing for the many years I’d lived. But in the end, it all disappeared. In other words, I had to start over. Starting anew after a blank slate, how terrifying is that?"

Zhang Liang kicked away ashes at his feet and stood back on clean ground, "It’s not so much terrifying as it is unaccustomed."

"Heh, it’s not just about being unaccustomed; it’s downright unbearable. But later on, my mentality changed as well. First, I met a boss lady who was as beautiful as a flower; wow, that figure, that build, was just born to be my wife material. Heh, unfortunately—or fortunately—she really became my wife. It’s just sad that the ending turned a bit tragic, and then my second blank slate became empty again. Sigh, sometimes I even doubt myself, wondering if I’m truly cursed with the Nine Yin Evil, bringing misfortune to both others and myself."

"You’re more pessimistic than I am."

"Isn’t that the truth. But let’s talk about something good. The luckiest thing in my life has been that I’ve always been involved in doing things full of hope, tough things I am often forced into."

"If one could live in peace, who would willingly suffer and wander."