「Three days later.」
Xu Lei had officially become the Host of Longyuan Temple.
He had been at Longyuan Temple for over a decade.
Naturally, no one objected.
And he easily kept the temple running in perfect order.
On this day, Xu Lei received another old acquaintance.
It was the son of Physician Lu, the man Xu Lei had saved when he first arrived in this world.
He was now a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
"Greetings, Little Divine Monk."
He said respectfully, "My father has passed away. His dying wish was to come to Longyuan Temple to worship and to see you again, Little Divine Monk. But he didn't make it; he passed away that very night. Therefore, I can only come today in his stead."
He called him "Little Divine Monk" because they were old acquaintances, and the name felt as intimate as it had in the old days. Most people now simply called him "Divine Monk."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei sighed. "Time is cruel, and the world changes. Another old friend has passed. My condolences, Benefactor."
"Thank you, Little Divine Monk, but my father lived a long life."
Physician Lu's son smiled. "Everyone must die eventually. Old age, sickness, and death—no one can escape them. There's no need for you to be saddened, Little Divine Monk."
It was true that people in this world, much like in ancient times on Earth, had shorter lifespans than modern people from Earth.
Besides, when Xu Lei met Physician Lu, the man was already over fifty. More than a decade had passed since then before he died of old age.
Even Zhao Tieniu had died before him.
For Physician Lu to have only died now could indeed be considered a long life.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei nodded. "Your mind is clear, Benefactor. Well said, well said."
Of course, despite this, Xu Lei still felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
After all, another old acquaintance was gone.
But old age, sickness, and death were indeed things everyone had to face.
Only someone like Xu Lei, whose charitable giving of descendants had now borne fruit, could be reborn if he were to die of old age.
「Another month passed in the blink of an eye.」
During that month, Xu Lei heard that the implementation of Chancellor Wang Linfu's reforms had grown even more intense and ruthless.
He was quoted as saying, "The nation's maladies are grave. Only through harsh measures can there be a new beginning."
Incidents of bloodshed and conflict arose one after another.
「One month later.」
On this day, to Xu Lei's surprise, he received yet another old acquaintance.
This one was a female benefactor.
The corners of her eyes now bore a few fine lines.
But she still looked exceptionally beautiful.
It brought to mind the saying: "True beauty lies in the bones, not the skin."
It was Consort Li.
"Little Divine Monk, it's been a long time."
Consort Li was dressed in plain clothes. She smiled. "I bet you never thought we would see each other again in this lifetime."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei was indeed surprised, but then delighted.
After all, with old acquaintances passing away one by one lately, it was a joy to finally welcome one back.
So he was naturally happy. "It's been many years, but the alluring sight of you bowing your head to tie up your hair is still fresh in my mind, Benefactress."
"The night grows deep."
Consort Li said, "Arrange a room for me. I want the kind with access to the Almsgiving Room. Also, prepare a bath for me. I'm weary from my journey and wish to bathe."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei nodded. "Follow me, Benefactress."
「An hour later.」
Her hair still damp, Consort Li came barefoot directly to the Almsgiving Room.
"My beauty is fading, Little Divine Monk, yet you are still in your prime. How hateful."
She threw herself onto Xu Lei, caressing his cheek. "I know you want to ask why I left the palace, why I came to find you."
"But don't say anything yet. First, bestow your charitable giving upon me. I'll tell you everything slowly afterward."
"Back then, you said, 'If I don't descend into hell, who will?'"
"So now, Divine Monk, are you still willing to descend into hell?"
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said, "As long as a single grievance stirs in hell for a day, this monk will enter it for a day."
"I still have my charms."
Consort Li was very confident. She tilted her head back and swept her long hair aside. "I knew it. I knew you would still be willing to save me from this hell, Little Divine Monk. Unlike a certain someone, for whom I am no different from dirt and stone, no matter how beautiful I am."
"Amitabha Buddha," Xu Lei growled.
"Amitabha Buddha," Consort Li cooed.
「Two hours later.」
"The Saint ordered me to find you."
Consort Li lay on Xu Lei's chest, her hair in disarray. "The realm is in turmoil, the great house on the verge of collapse," she said. "He... asks that the Divine Monk once again bestow a wise plan."
"Because I was with him when we met the Divine Monk all those years ago."
"And because my visit wouldn't attract attention, he ordered me to come in secret."
But Xu Lei, of course, couldn't offer any more wise plans.
Years ago, Xu Lei's goal was to prolong the life of the Da Yu Dynasty to give his own descendants time to grow.
Now, that purpose had been fulfilled.
Xu Lei certainly wasn't going to undertake another thankless task.
After all, when a dynasty's fate is sealed, it can't be saved just by Xu Lei introducing a few more technologies from Earth to increase productivity in certain areas.
That would be defying the heavens.
The potatoes he had introduced back then had only extended the Da Yu Dynasty's life by a little over a decade.
Extend its life again? It was unnecessary. The costs would far outweigh the benefits.
Xu Lei was unwilling to do it.
At this point, the Dynasty had to bleed and crumble before it could be reborn.
"This monk only knows how to bestow children, not how to save the world."
So Xu Lei said, "If you have come seeking salvation for the world, Benefactress, I'm afraid I must disappoint you."
"If you only know how to bestow children, then bestow another child upon me."
Consort Li just smiled. "I can stay for a month at most."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei held her tightly. "You have an affinity with the Buddha, Benefactress. Whatever you seek, you shall receive."
"By the way, I gave birth to a son."
Consort Li only now added, "This time, I want a daughter."
「One month later.」
"I'm returning to the palace."
Consort Li got up and dressed. "Goodbye."
Her family, her son, and so much more required her to return to that cage.
Xu Lei hugged her from behind.
"I'm fully dressed now. Don't mess me up."
Consort Li squirmed a little. "My attendants are waiting for me."
Finally, just as she had before leaving all those years ago, she tied up her hair, bowed her head, and gave Xu Lei a farewell kiss.
"Let's not meet again."
Before she truly left, Consort Li covered her lips and said, "I'm afraid that by the next time we meet, I'll be truly old."
"I don't want you to see me when I'm old. I'd rather you remember me as I am now, beautiful."
"Whether clothed or unclothed."
"Farewell, Little Divine Monk."
「Three months later.」
His Majesty Emperor Da Yu passed away.
The child in Consort Li's womb was his last.
The Young Emperor ascended the throne.
Da Yu was roiled by turbulent undercurrents and raging storms.
「Seven months later.」
Consort Li gave birth to a daughter.
The new Emperor abolished the new laws.
Chancellor Wang Linfu was torn apart by five horses.
The reforms of the Da Yu Dynasty thus came to an end.
It concluded with a victory for the old, vested interests.
Fortunately, however, Wang Linfu had already made preparations.
His descendants were not implicated.
'He sought virtue and attained it.'
Xu Lei sighed. 'An idealist, sacrificed in the end. But he should have truly managed to carve his name into the history of this world.'
'It's just a pity about that woman, Yu Fengying. She spent her life rushing about with him.'
'She treated the common people for him, winning their hearts.'
'She came to a temple to pray for a child for him.'
'She died taking an arrow for him.'
'But in the end, the history books will only remember the name Wang Linfu.'
'No one will remember the name Yu Fengying.'
Thinking of this, Xu Lei took up a brush and drew a picture.
It was a portrait of the beautiful Yu Fengying from that day she came to the temple to pray for a child, her eyes closed before the Buddha.
He didn't use the style of an ink wash painting.
Instead, he used the techniques of a sketch from Earth.
Xu Lei had learned to sketch on Earth.
During his decade-plus in this world, he had also learned ink wash painting.
But this time, he still chose to sketch.
Because it would allow him to more clearly record the woman's beauty from that day.
Then, in a corner of the drawing, he wrote: "A Record of the Yu Family's Daughter, Fengying."
And he signed it with the name: Wu Tan.
'If my reputation as the Divine Monk spreads,' he thought, 'perhaps this painting will be passed down through the ages as well.'