"The deities here are very responsive; any wish you make will come true!" Su Qingtian stared intently at Su Yunmo, trying to hint at his intentions. Besides You'er's matter, he also wanted the little girl to understand his feelings as a father!
"That's really quite good." Su Yunmo glanced up at the incense-offering pilgrims. There were indeed quite a few people. However, she didn't believe in praying to gods and buddhas. If the heavens were truly just, Ye Jingcheng should have died ten thousand times over by now.
Seeing her serious expression, Su Qingtian breathed a sigh of relief. Excellent, she understood his meaning!
Father and daughter walked up the temple mountain step by step. The path was crowded, with many couples or young ladies accompanied by their maids. It was uncommon to see a father and daughter like them. However, a father and son were walking a short distance behind them. The son, probably around Su Yunmo's age, was chubby. Halfway up, he started to whine, wanting to be carried. The father dotingly brushed the dirt off him and hoisted him onto his shoulders. The father and son chatted and laughed as they headed towards the temple.
Su Qingtian watched their retreating backs and subconsciously glanced at the little person beside him. Su Yunmo was diligently lifting her small feet up the steps. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she didn't utter a sound when tired, merely wiping away the sweat. Su Qingtian didn't know if she had seen the father and son. For some reason, looking at the little dumpling stubbornly persisting without seeking his help made him feel a little uneasy.
"We'll be there soon!" Su Qingtian didn't know if he was encouraging Su Yunmo or himself.
Su Yunmo smiled at him and continued to lift her small legs up the steps. Seeing her struggle, Su Qingtian instinctively reached out to support her, then suddenly remembered something and paused with his hand in mid-air before slowly retracting it. Su Yunmo didn't notice his action and continued forward.
Finally reaching the temple, the two lined up to worship and make their petitions. While Su Qingtian closed his eyes, sincerely drawing a fortune slip, Su Yunmo was spacing out beside him.
"This is a sacred place of Buddhism. If the old madam's critical condition is so severe, wouldn't it defile this land if she infects others?"
There was noise from outside. Su Yunmo turned her head and saw a crowd gathered not far from the courtyard. A large monk was accusing someone with disgust. Su Yunmo couldn't see clearly, but it seemed an old scholar had suddenly fallen ill and wanted to use a guest room to rest.
*Clatter.* The fortune slip fell to the ground. Su Yunmo snapped back to attention. Su Qingtian opened his eyes and quickly picked up the slip. It was a top-tier fortune. He smiled so wide his back teeth showed and then turned to Su Yunmo with a serious expression, "Did you make a wish?"
Su Yunmo blinked. She hadn't made a wish, just watched the commotion. "Yes, I did." Su Qingtian's expression immediately brightened. He patted her shoulder and said earnestly, "Don't worry, your wish will definitely come true!"
Su Yunmo: "??"
Su Qingtian was beaming, looking relaxed. Outside the courtyard, by the entrance, was the place to interpret fortunes. Su Qingtian took the slip over to have it interpreted.
"From the slip, this pilgrim is seeking a marriage alliance," said the fortune interpreter, a rather disreputable-looking monk. His bald head had no tonsure marks, but a few white hairs. He swayed his head, squinting one eye at Su Yunmo. "Moreover, this humble monk dares to assert that the person sought is one with you, though there have been some issues recently. Fortunately, you have divine protection and have drawn a top-tier fortune, which can resolve the crisis."
"As long as..." He paused, coughed, and waved the drag stick in his hand, causing the prayer beads hanging from it to jingle. Su Qingtian immediately understood and waved his hand grandly, "Bring out everything that can resolve this disaster; I'll take it all!" The fortune interpreter's eyes lit up, and he quickly took down several prayer beads for him, introducing them with great enthusiasm.
The commotion outside continued, and the ailing elder seemed to have fainted. The maid attending her pleaded with the large monk. The large monk was dismissive. "People will die sooner or later. Since heaven wants to take you, who can defy it? Furthermore, judging by her condition, it's clear she has committed many evil deeds in her life, and the gods and buddhas are punishing her. For example, those who were burned to death or killed by others are also subject to the cycle of karma. It's fine if they go peacefully; why trouble the living?"
Su Yunmo, who was watching the spectacle, felt a sudden glint in her eyes. Su Qingtian didn't notice that the child he was holding had let go; he was still focused on the prayer beads.
"This humble monk has calculated that he also has a connection with your young lady. Why not take this opportunity to become her master and disciple, thus ensuring her safety for a lifetime?" the fortune interpreter said, his eyes full of calculation. Su Qingtian was quite generous and said, "Alright." But when he looked down, the child who should have been by his side was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, Su Yunmo squeezed into the crowd and immediately spotted the elder sitting on the ground. She was about fifty years old, dressed simply, but her demeanor was very dignified. It was a nobility that emanated from her bones, not something that could be adorned by clothing. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, and a fine layer of sweat on her forehead. Her left side was stiff, and her left hand trembled. The large monk was still talking volubly.
Su Yunmo stepped forward. "If the buddhas and gods are truly as contemptuous of all living beings as you say, then in my opinion, they should all be destroyed."
The large monk's expression changed drastically. "Who is this child, so brazen and audacious to speak such rebellious words!"
Su Yunmo ignored him, knelt down, and took the elder's wrist to feel her pulse. The pulse was weak and thready, with somewhat poor blood supply. "What symptoms did the elderly lady experience before she fainted?" The old servant attending her hesitated for a moment, seeing that Su Yunmo was a child, but quickly replied, "The old madam suddenly said she felt weak and her vision went black while walking, and then she fell to the ground."
Su Yunmo frowned. Limb weakness, blurred vision, trembling hands, stiff body. Symptoms of a stroke.
"This... young miss?" the old servant pondered the address. "Can you treat illnesses?"
Su Yunmo took out a medicine bottle from her embrace. "Emergency Pill. Give her one, and it will sustain her until we get down the mountain. Then, finding a doctor won't be a problem." She could also treat this illness herself, but it required brewing medicine, which was impossible at the moment.
"Little brat, if you want to see a patient, get down the mountain. Don't defile this sacred place!" The large monk raised his hand to grab Su Yunmo's collar. Su Yunmo's eyes flashed with a dark light, and just as she was about to act, a large hand reached out from behind her, grabbed the large monk's wrist, and twisted his arm behind his back. The large monk immediately cried out in agony.
Su Yunmo followed the gaze and saw Su Qingtian, his neck and wrists adorned with prayer beads, holding a small Buddha statue in his left hand. He frowned, his expression displeased. "Who are you calling a brat?"
"Let go, let go quickly! My arm is going to break!" the large monk wailed. Su Qingtian kicked him in the backside, sending him flying. "Old man, watch your mouth!" The large monk fell to the ground, his forehead cracking and bleeding profusely.
Su Qingtian looked down at Su Yunmo. "Are you alright?" Su Yunmo shook her head.
"Really alright?" Su Qingtian frowned and crouched down. With his free right hand, he pinched Su Yunmo's small wrist with two fingers and lifted it, looking from side to side. The little one was so small and seemed so fragile. If she got hurt, You'er would be angry.