Chapter Forty-Eight: I Don't Know Where to Go

Li Changqing was aware of Tongxin Temple—a small, obscure Buddhist temple in the vicinity, rarely visited by anyone. After quietly explaining the meaning of alms-seeking to Tang Xiaoyu, she stared at the monk in surprise, instantly alert, and retreated several steps.

"Little Master, believe me, you've come to the wrong place."

Li Changqing smiled wryly. With Tang Xiaoyu's stinginess, did she look like someone who'd make a donation?

The monk glanced toward the kitchen. "If the benefactor doesn't have any money, some food would suffice. We monks aren’t picky eaters."

At this, Tang Xiaoyu nodded in agreement. Though she was tight with money, she wasn’t so miserly as to begrudge a meal. It was nearly mealtime anyway, so Li Changqing entered the kitchen and prepared a meal—four simple dishes, two with meat and two vegetarian. Out of consideration for the monk, he didn’t use oil in the vegetarian dishes.

When the meal was served, the monk eyed the meat and asked, "Benefactor, do you have any wine?"

Li Changqing was taken aback. “Well, I do. Little Master, you want to drink?”

“Yes, please.”

Li Changqing produced a bottle of red wine. He didn’t often drink this type himself, but kept a few bottles at home.

With wine in hand, Huijing picked up a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth, juices dripping down his chin, and then raised his glass for a sip of wine. Perhaps realizing this was somewhat unseemly, especially given his monk’s robes, he made a point to clarify, "Though I eat meat and drink wine, I am still a good monk."

Once he’d eaten his fill, Huijing rubbed his belly, burped contentedly, and said, "Such compassion from you two—good deeds bring good fortune. Do you have a toothpick? The meat is a bit stuck in my teeth."

After picking his teeth, Huijing closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and intoned, "Amitabha, Buddha, this meal is the benefactor’s charity—it has nothing to do with me."

A monk who, after eating and drinking, still felt the need to proclaim his virtue…

Li Changqing didn’t know much about the Buddhist temples within the Vermilion Bird Federation, but seeing the monk’s behavior, he surmised that monks here were probably forbidden from eating meat.

"I am Huijing," the monk introduced himself politely, then turned to Tang Xiaoyu. "If the lady benefactor ever needs, I can perform a free exorcism for you."

At this, Li Changqing’s pupils contracted slightly. Did the monk know Tang Xiaoyu was a ghost?

"No!" Tang Xiaoyu hurriedly hid behind Li Changqing, staring at Huijing in terror.

Li Changqing stepped between them. Was this monk here for Tang Xiaoyu?

"Little Master, she doesn't need an exorcism."

Huijing rubbed his bald head, smiled, and said, "Benefactor, although television dramas often romanticize love between humans and ghosts, their paths are fundamentally different. If you stay with her, the yin energy will be overwhelming—you’ll fall seriously ill at best, or your lifespan could be cut short at worst."

"Is that true?" Tang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but ask.

Huijing nodded. "Of course. Ghosts are by nature beings of yin energy. Prolonged contact with humans will inevitably have consequences."

"If you ever change your mind, feel free to come find me at Tongxin Temple—it’s free."

Li Changqing, however, was curious about something else. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t human anymore, either.

He asked, "Little Master Huijing, are there many monks like you at Tongxin Temple?"

Tongxin Temple was a small place, and there were many such small temples in Nanlin City. The larger ones had hundreds of monks.

"I'm the only one who eats meat and drinks wine," Huijing laughed.

"I meant, are there many monks who can see that she’s a ghost?"

"Oh, just me. I was born with this ability. My master said I have the Buddha’s Eye, able to see through yin and yang—a natural for Buddhist cultivation."

With that, Huijing pressed his palms together again. "I must return to the temple for evening meditation. Farewell."

What an eccentric monk...

Tang Xiaoyu sat on the sofa, looking hesitant. "Li Changqing, do you think I'll really make you fall ill? Or shorten your life?"

"Nonsense. Go to your room and count your money."

"Okay..."

Huijing’s appearance made Li Changqing realize that there were others in this world, not just the Bureau’s agents, who could deal with ghosts.

Yet, even Huijing hadn’t seen through Li Changqing’s own condition, nor had the Bureau’s people.

...

Early the next morning.

Li Changqing woke, ate some raw glutinous rice, and stepped outside.

"Hey, brat! Hey, brat!"

Puzzled, he pushed open the door to the spare room—only to find it empty.

Li Changqing frowned. Had that girl really believed what the monk said yesterday and run off?

He looked under the bed—her stash of money was gone, too.

On the bedside lay a note, left by Tang Xiaoyu.

"Li Changqing, I’m afraid I’ll make you sick..."

Damn.

Li Changqing grew anxious. Why had that timid girl run off? He wasn’t even human—could he really be harmed by yin energy?

He opened the door to go search for her.

In the stairwell, Tang Xiaoyu sat pitifully on the steps, clutching her money pouch.

Hearing the door, she turned her head. "Li Changqing, I... I don’t know where to go."

"I told you, didn’t I? I’m fine."

He strode over, snatched the money pouch from her hands, and walked back inside. Tang Xiaoyu obediently followed.

He stuffed her money back under her bed and scolded her sternly, "Don’t ever do that again. The world outside is dangerous for you."

"I know," Tang Xiaoyu hunched her shoulders, aggrieved. She was simply too timid—without Li Changqing, she didn’t even dare go downstairs.

Li Changqing knew she meant well, so he wasn’t really angry. Seeing her so pitiful, he said, "Alright, if you're bored, count your money, then go watch TV."

Sitting on the sofa after that brief panic, Li Changqing glanced at Tang Xiaoyu in the spare room, counting her money.

Tang Xiaoyu’s urge to leave probably wasn’t just because of the monk yesterday. When Bai Chuan killed Jiang Zhen’er before, she’d trembled in her felt hat several times.

What a coward!

At that moment, Kelly Rosetti knocked and entered.

"My friend, guess what good news I have."

Smiling broadly, Kelly Rosetti sat beside Li Changqing, happily handing him a newspaper. "This storefront is for rent! Just twenty thousand Lang a month, over four hundred square meters—a great deal! We could renovate it into a deluxe office, with a reception area, contract signing area, a wine cabinet, and even a pool table..."

Listening to Kelly’s excited pitch, Li Changqing felt nothing but amusement.

Twenty thousand Lang...

Far too expensive.

"Too expensive," Li Changqing shook his head. "There’s no need for our agency to expand on that scale just yet."