Chapter 314: A Good Day

May twenty-first.

At night, wind and rain started. Thick clouds covered the stars and moon above. Raindrops dripped and splashed down from the Taoist Temple’s tiled roof.

In the Main Hall, candles were burning, untroubled by the wind or rain.

Moyuan and Tao’er sat together chatting.

Moyuan talked the most. He chattered on and on about getting married. He told Tao’er many worldly rules about marriage.

For example, how the bride should leave home, how she should go out, and what to do in the wedding chamber. By the end, Tao’er felt her cheeks turn warm.

Tao’er mumbled, “You know worldly marriages that well?”

Moyuan coughed and said, “I am much older than you, so of course I know more.”

It made sense, as he was over a thousand years old.

But as he spoke, Moyuan felt a headache come on.

Moyuan said, “I’m like family here. I need to prepare a dowry for you, but I can’t think of what to give.”

At this, Tao’er rested her chin on her hand.

Tao’er muttered, “You said before that once someone marries, they can’t come back often.”

Tao’er looked at the small yard in front. She opened her mouth and said, “In the world, it’s said that a married daughter is like poured-out water, but I can’t bear to leave this place…”

“Huh?”

Moyuan blinked at her.

Tao’er gazed at the yard and said, “In earlier years, the temple was quite quiet. I often sneaked into the Library Pavilion to peek at the master’s books. I learned so many things from those books. So many people, I also met here.”

“I can’t bear to leave.”

Moyuan smiled and said, “You’re overthinking things. Sure, worldly rules say that, but are you and that boy just ordinary folks? It all comes down to how you two feel. Not everything needs rules.”

“Is that so…”

Light shone in Tao’er’s eyes. Naturally, she wanted to return often.

As they spoke,

suddenly they noticed movement outside.

Miss Tao’er murmured, “Who’s coming up the mountain at this late hour?”

“Creak…”

Their eyes turned to the temple gate.

The faint candlelight from inside shone through the rain, lighting up the Taoist Temple gate.

Tao’er and Moyuan froze, then stood up one after the other.

“Master!”

“Mr. Chen!”

Chen Changsheng shook his sleeves. He paused to see Tao’er and Moyuan in the Main Hall.

“When did you come back?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Tao’er hurried over to shield him from the rain. A smile spread on her face; she was happy to see him.

“I came back two days ago.”

Chen Changsheng had woken up early that morning. With nothing else to do, he took a walk outside and ended up delaying until evening.

After entering the temple, his restless mind slowly calmed down.

For Chen Changsheng, no place felt more peaceful than here.

Seeing Chen Changsheng, Moyuan felt stirred with joy. He started to show off what he had practiced over three years.

“Master, look! The Samadhi True Flame is now perfected!”

Chen Changsheng saw the True Flame rise from his palm. He smiled slightly and nodded, saying, “Perfected in three years. Seems you really put in the work.”

Moyuan said, “Can I be sir’s mount now?”

Chen Changsheng paused, then shook his head and laughed, “Why cling to being a mount? Didn’t you say you’d guard the door?”

“Guarding gets dull after a while. Anyway, there’s Chenghuang here.”

“Who called me?”

Chenghuang showed his true self. He paused on seeing Mr. Chen.

“Chenghuang pays respects to Mr. Chen.”

Chen Changsheng looked him over and said, “Your skills have grown quite deep.”

Chenghuang gave a shy smile and a small nod.

Chen Changsheng looked back at Moyuan and said, “If you don’t hurry up, Chenghuang might catch up.”

Hearing this, Moyuan stopped, quite stunned.

Chenghuang quickly said, “I, I am still far behind Brother Moyuan.”

“Not far.”

Tao’er brought in some fresh wild fruits and made tea for sir.

“Sir, tea.”

Chen Changsheng took the cup and sipped.

He paused, tasting the tea flavor, and recalled a figure.

“Is there much tea left?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“Quite a bit,” Miss Tao’er said.

Chen Changsheng said, “I remember this tea was brought up by that shopkeeper long ago. After dropping it off, he vanished.”

Moyuan nodded and said, “He came up yearly to bring more, never on a set day. But he saw you only that first time. Also, many old tea cakes are stored in the Side Room.”

Chen Changsheng paused and asked, “How is he now?”

Moyuan said, “Two years ago, he stopped bringing tea. I recalled such a person, so I went to see. The shop on the Imperial Road had closed. Later, I asked around and learned he had passed away.”

“Passed away…”

Chen Changsheng murmured. He looked down at the tea in his cup.

“I think he was called Li Sifang.”

Moyuan thought for a moment and said, “That might be it. I visited some years before. His son remains, named Li Fugui. He now works as an assistant at the Yan County office. He has a wife and daughter. The wife handles things well. The daughter is just three or four, still a little girl.”

Chen Changsheng looked at him and asked, “You know about his wife’s daily life?”

Moyuan coughed and said, “Sir, I was free, so I peeked around.”

Miss Tao’er laughed and said, “He just likes to snoop when bored.”

Moyuan said, “Sir asked about it, so I didn’t do it for nothing.”

Chen Changsheng thought a bit, raised his hand, and the nearby Incense and Candles flew to his palm. With a light finger tap, Golden Light became three parts and sank into the Incense and Candles.

Chen Changsheng said, “Take these three Incense and Candles there later. Say an old friend can’t return, so he sends three for the father’s memorial.”

Moyuan agreed, then asked, “Sir, what effect do they have?”

“Just incense for protection.”

“Really?”

Moyuan peered at them, looking unconvinced.

These Incense and Candles were surely not just for simple protection.

The timid old Li had likely won a blessing for his children.

Just then, Tao’er spoke, “Sir, I have something…”

Chen Changsheng turned to her and asked, “About your marriage?”

Tao’er saw he guessed it right away. She nodded just a little, sounding shy.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Set for when?”

Tao’er replied, “June second.”

Chen Changsheng stroked his beard and thought.

Tao’er couldn’t read his look, and worry stirred inside her.

“It’s a good day.”

Chen Changsheng glanced at Moyuan and Chenghuang before him and said, “Hear that? June second.”

Moyuan and Chenghuang paused.

“This is the temple’s first happy event. We must prepare well.”

Tao’er paused, then a smile lit her face. Without knowing it, her eyes reddened.

She bowed and said, “Tao’er thanks sir.”