Chapter 403 – Relocation to Chenzhou (9)
Zhang Ping was about to take a step forward but paused, straining to hear what the old monk had to say.
The farmer-owner thought for a moment and replied, “There is indeed a young master; do you know him, Master?”
The old monk twisted his prayer beads and said, “I do have some connections with him. Would you be so kind as to convey a message?”
Before the farmer-owner could hesitate to agree or refuse, Zhang Ping stepped out.
“Is the person the Master seeks, perhaps Zixiao?”
Zhang Ping knew Wei Ci had many friends, but this monk seemed rather odd; how did he know Wei Ci was staying here?
“Exactly! How is my young friend doing?”
Zhang Ping believed most of what he heard and stepped aside to invite the old monk and the little Shami accompanying him into the house. It was the height of summer, and the sun was blazing.
“Zixiao has been suffering from a high fever for days; he’s nearly delirious. He has used all sorts of medicine, but nothing seems to work,” Zhang Ping said, furrowing his brows. “It could be that this small place lacks competent doctors; in any case, it’s very distressing to watch his illness.”
The old monk smiled gently, removing the straw hat that shaded his face and handing it along with his wooden staff to the little Shami to hold.
“You are mistaken, my friend. The reason for Wei Ci’s ongoing sickness is that he may be missing a crucial herbal ingredient.”
The farmer-owner warmly poured a bowl of cool, clean well water. The old monk performed a Buddhist gesture of thanks and accepted it, whispering his gratitude.
Zhang Ping was taken aback. “An ingredient? The doctor never mentioned anything was missing!”
The old monk took a couple of sips before handing the earthen bowl to the thirsty little Shami, who gulped it down in a few swift swigs.
“This particular herbal ingredient addresses heartache,” the old monk said benevolently, then leaned down to ask the little Shami, “Did you drink enough?”
The little Shami shyly nodded, politely returning the bowl to the farmer-owner.
Zhang Ping was even more puzzled. “Heartache?”
The old monk replied, “The reason Wei Ci’s serious illness lingers is not physical; it probably lies in his troubled heart, and that is the root of his ailment.”
The more Zhang Ping listened, the less he felt it made sense; his pace slowed as he led the way. He had been staying here with the sick Wei Ci for three days and had never seen this old monk. Yet this old man arrived and seemed to know everything, which was quite abnormal!
However, thinking it over, Wei Ci was indeed an exceptional person, so how could his friends be anything less than extraordinary?
“Master, please wait; I’ll go wake Zixiao.” As he reached the doorway, Zhang Ping nodded to the old monk before pushing open the door. Wei Ci’s face was flushed and feverish, his lips cracked; even with his eyes closed, his fatigue and pallor were unmistakable. “Zixiao? Wake up!”
“Wha—what’s happening…”
Wei Ci groggily opened his eyes, his eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and it was a struggle to keep them open.
“There’s an old master here claiming to be your friend, come to visit you.”
Zhang Ping felt odd saying this; despite Wei Ci’s illness, he understood the oddity of the situation.
Just as he was about to say something, a shadow gradually stretched toward him.
An affable-looking old monk had stepped in uninvited, bowing respectfully at Wei Ci. Seeing the monk, Zhang Ping suddenly spun around, his body twisting to grab a weapon off the rack, his gaze turning fierce directed at the old monk.
The old monk was completely oblivious to the scare he caused and sat down directly, speaking to Wei Ci.
“I am Master Liaochen from Hejian.”
Upon hearing “Hejian,” Wei Ci’s eyes lit up, signaling Zhang Ping to chill out.
“Forgive me, Master, for my current state; I am ill and unable to rise to greet you,” Wei Ci managed to say, biting his tongue slightly to clear his mind. His voice was hoarse. “I heard from Xiheng that you know me, but I have yet to forget I’ve never met you before.”
Master Liaochen smiled mysteriously, scanning Wei Ci’s face closely, understanding something.
“You and I have indeed never met, but I do know someone—someone you likely recognize.”
Wei Ci’s heart raced, and a name flashed in his mind, causing him to feel a wave of frustration.
At this moment, he couldn’t get that person off his mind—he was utterly obsessed.
“Master, who do you mean?”
“Liu Xi from Hejian, daughter of the Liu County Magistrate. Judging by appearances, you two likely share a fateful connection.”
Wei Ci’s already flushed face turned even redder, a hint of embarrassment surfacing.
“That person and I are both men… ahem, Master, when did you take over the role of the Matchmaker?”
Though Zhang Ping had put down his weapon, he remained cautious of the monk’s moves.
However, listening to the exchange between these two, he felt as if he had stumbled upon a monumental secret.
Wei Ci and Liu Xi… both were men!
Zixiao actually had a preference for same-sex relationships?
Master Liaochen did not answer but instead posed a question, “Young friend, did you come north to find Young Master Liu?”
Wei Ci fell silent in response.
Master Liaochen continued, “Do you know, this severe illness you suffer from is not due to ineffective medicine, but rather because of the knots in your heart?”
“What exactly are you trying to say? Just say it plainly.”
Wei Ci was starting to lose patience because that prophetic dream had turned Liu Xi into a knot he dared not touch.
If only he had been more resolute at that time, convincing her not to go to the capital, maybe that event that shouldn’t have happened would have never occurred.
Dongqing was located in the north, and records showed that earthquakes had only happened three times in a thousand years—his mind wasn’t deranged enough not to remember that vividly.
In his past life, Dongqing had never experienced any earthquakes!
But now it happened.
This forced him to think, was this earthquake heaven’s warning that extraordinary beings were being birthed?
In this world, besides him—who had come back from the dead—who else could be called an ominous anomaly?
“You needn’t worry about Young Master Liu; she is quite resilient. But you, my young friend, if you keep going like this, your life may soon be in jeopardy,” Master Liaochen said bluntly. “The destined one is shrouded in divine fate; even the fierce spirits of the underworld cannot approach such a being.”
Hearing these words, Wei Ci broke out in a cold sweat; had he not been weak from illness, he might have jumped up in shock.
“What do you mean by that…” Wei Ci looked into Master Liaochen’s eyes, feeling frigid killing intent in his gaze.
It was the same face, but the ambient air around him had turned oppressive and harsh.
Master Liaochen said, “She is alive, and I didn’t come here specifically for you; I simply wanted to drop a hint. Young man, you truly are becoming more impulsive with each generation. Back in the day, Liu Zhongqing could at least sit still and listen to my teachings…”
After speaking, he gave Wei Ci a look that seemed to say “you’re being rude to an old man.”
Wei Ci remained silent.
Fine, just keep your mouth shut; let the old master continue.
“Recently, an earthquake occurred—based on my estimates, it may not be a natural disaster but it is rather .”
Zhang Ping chuckled, “Master, that sounds alarmist; who could possibly shift mountains and create such a massive earthquake?”
