Life at the Monastery

Though Wei Dan Sheng was the target of her conquest, if he made her uncomfortable, she would ensure he found no peace either.
Thinking of how she had died last time, Xi Cui felt even more at ease.
However, revenge was one thing, but she dared not be too ostentatious. After all, she had a mission to fulfill, and if she truly fell out with Wei Dan Sheng, there would be no good outcome.
She still hoped Wei Dan Sheng would confess his feelings to her himself.
Stopping at the right moment, Xi Cui followed the two of them, continuing forward.
After descending a few steps, they had indeed toured the entire great hall.
They paid respects at the Great Hero Hall, Garan Hall, Medicine Buddha Hall, and finally, Ksitigarbha Hall.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva wore a kasaya, with slender, long eyebrows, eyes half-closed, one hand holding a khakkhara, the other a wish-fulfilling pearl.
On both sides of the main hall, ten statues of kings were erected.
Perhaps having witnessed much separation between life and death, Wu Huai Fei fell silent upon seeing Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the hall.
Wei Dan Sheng asked, "It seems Lady Wu has some insights?"
Wu Huai Fei shook her head. "I merely recalled an old friend."
She remembered a childhood playmate who later succumbed to an acute illness, which made Wu Huai Fei resolve to study medicine to treat the sick and save lives.
The old friend she thought of in Ksitigarbha Hall had likely passed away. Wei Dan Sheng gently said, "The departed have gone; I pray, Lady, that you may find peace of mind."
Wu Huai Fei replied, "Though it is said, it is not easily done."
Wei Dan Sheng's voice was warm and soothing. "Causes arise, causes cease; impermanence and non-self. Even after years of cultivation, it is difficult to fully comprehend. Lady, you need not dwell on it; this is but the common way of the world."
As he comforted Wu Huai Fei, his demeanor remained as calm as ever, seemingly unmoved by her emotions.
Xi Cui looked at him and suddenly wished to ask if he remembered the mountain bandit on Biao Mountain. But in the end, she swallowed her words in silence.
Leaving Ksitigarbha Hall, Wei Dan Sheng paused again, no longer moving forward.
"By my reckoning, the abbot should be awake now. Would Lady Wu care to join me in paying him a visit?"
Wu Huai Fei agreed, "Yes."
Wei Dan Sheng then turned to look at Xi Cui, a hint of apology on his face. "Patron Gao."
Having endured her presence for so long, he could bear it no longer. She knew in her heart that Wei Dan Sheng was deliberately abandoning her. Xi Cui was not in a hurry; she stepped before them and politely replied, "It is time for me to return to my room as well. Let us part ways here."
After bidding farewell to the two, Xi Cui, finding herself idle, decided to improve her standing with others by helping them sweep, clean, and perform various chores.
The monks in the monastery dared not, nor found it convenient, to let her help, but they could not dissuade Xi Cui's persistence, so they could only let her continue.
Old Madam Gao was the most generous benefactor of Kongshan Temple, and each time she visited, the abbot himself would greet her. They had all heard of the Gao family for a long time.
They had initially thought this Patron Gao was accustomed to a life of ease and pleasure, incapable of any labor, but unexpectedly, she was remarkably skilled at sweeping, wiping tables and chairs, and picking vegetables.
Seeing her busy inside and out, without any arrogance, the monks in the monastery were somewhat surprised.
At first, they were a little wary, but after an afternoon passed, Xi Cui had become almost familiar with the monks in the monastery, and everyone became more open in conversation.
Xi Cui learned many things about Wei Dan Sheng from them.
Xi Cui did this because she had her own plan.
If she merely lingered around Wei Dan Sheng, as she had on Biao Mountain before, it would be too conspicuous.
If she treated everyone equally, it would not draw undue attention.
It wasn't that Xi Cui didn't understand Wei Dan Sheng's initial actions. If it were her, after what he had endured, she would likely hate the Biao Mountain bandits to the bone and wish to eliminate them swiftly.
The seemingly gentle relationship between her and Wei Dan Sheng was merely a disguise he created for revenge.
It was only the discrepancy between Wei Dan Sheng and the book that left her confused.
But on second thought, it could be explained. Human nature is inherently complex and unpredictable. Although the book described him as gentle and compassionate, this did not mean he was weak-willed or lacked sharpness.
To only see one aspect while ignoring many others was a fatal flaw.
According to Xi Cui's observations over the past few days, Wei Dan Sheng's life was very disciplined, devoid of any recreational pleasures. Each day, he simply performed some morning lessons, meditated in the meditation room, and helped Zen Master Shan handle some administrative tasks.
Zen Master Shan was gravely ill and unable to dress himself; Wei Dan Sheng assisted him with such tasks and even tasted his medicine himself.
Because he was always by Zen Master Shan's side, Xi Cui rarely saw him. When he finally had some free time, it was entirely dedicated to Wu Huai Fei.
Xi Cui could understand the young boy's unrequited affection, but she had to continue her own conquest plan. If Wei Dan Sheng did not actively approach her, she would have no choice but to take the initiative.
She had deceived the Gao family to come to Kongshan Temple, so she could not stay here long.
Waiting for death was not Xi Cui's style.
Before returning to the Gao family, she had to achieve some progress, lest these past few days be wasted.
In such a situation, Xi Cui could only try to make her presence felt by Wei Dan Sheng.
Because they had to attend morning lessons, the monks at Kongshan Temple woke up very early. Xi Cui did not need to wake up so early, but to meet Wei Dan Sheng and spend more time with him, she made an effort to rise early every day, meeting them in the refectory after their morning lessons.
Junior Monk Hui Ru, who did not understand the ways of the world, said with panda eyes, "Patron Gao wakes up so early every day."
Xi Cui smiled and said, "It's not early at all. All of you have already completed your morning lessons; I am only just waking up. But I did not expect such a coincidence, that we would meet here right after your lessons."
Perhaps it was in retaliation for her previous attempt to win the lady's favor, but Wei Dan Sheng smiled and gently said, "It is not much of a coincidence; every day when the bell tolls, we must all meet in the refectory."
After helping the monks arrange their bowls and chopsticks, today's breakfast was served.
It was a bowl of porridge, a pair of chopsticks, a plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots, a plate of bean sprouts, and two kinds of pickled vegetables.
Xi Cui sat down on the long bench beside Wei Dan Sheng.
Compared to his time on Biao Mountain, Wei Dan Sheng had changed a great deal.
The cold, unapproachable young boy from the mountain, after several years of growth, seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.
The more Xi Cui looked, the more moved she felt.
Perhaps it was because studying Buddhism could truly calm one's heart. Wei Dan Sheng now resembled his description in the book more closely: gentle, compassionate, and approachable.
His every movement, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, was natural and unfeigned.
Humble and unpretentious, he saw himself as nothing, possessing an innate purity.
Though he limped, his flaw did not obscure his merits, nor did it prevent other female patrons from secretly glancing at him.
According to Junior Monk Hui Ru, even those female patrons enjoyed listening to Martial Uncle Ji Kong expound on Buddhist principles, and with Martial Uncle Ji Kong present, the incense money donations increased slightly.
Whenever this happened, Junior Monk Hui Ru would chant a Buddha's name, lamenting that they were captivated by beauty.
The monks ate in great silence; the vast refectory was filled only with the sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking.
Perhaps because she stared at him too directly, Wei Dan Sheng's hand, holding his chopsticks, paused, as if he sensed something.
Xi Cui quickly averted her gaze, taking a mouthful of rice as if nothing had happened. A gaze fell upon her from above, lingered for a moment, then moved away.