Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2262: Chapter 2261: A Woman’s Cry

After the little novice monk left, Jiang Yichun furrowed his brow and said, ”How about I go with you and wait outside the hall?”

”It’s fine, Xinchan Temple isn’t that big, and I’m not going far. Besides, Master Pudeng has clear eyes; he obviously is a high monk and an old acquaintance of your father, so nothing will happen.” Bai Ruozhu quickly persuaded him, ”Monks love quietness, and if too many of us go over, it might annoy him, making it difficult for your father.”

”Alright, then I’ll wait for you in the backyard. Be quick.” Jiang Yichun replied.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, tidied her clothes, and headed toward the Buddha Hall in the front hall.

As she passed by one side of the corridor, she suddenly heard a clattering sound — bowls and plates were overturned. Probably some little novice monk was careless and would be scolded by the master, right?

Bai Ruozhu sighed inwardly; monks cherish thrift, breaking so many things is truly wasteful.

But these had nothing to do with her, so she continued walking forward.

After just a few steps, there was another clatter of smashing bowls and plates. Bai Ruozhu paused; this didn’t seem accidental — it was someone deliberately smashing them.

She felt a bit suspicious; would people in the temple dare to smash bowls and plates like that? Even pilgrims staying here wouldn’t be that unruly, right?

Though curious, she didn’t want to pry, so she continued walking forward.

At that moment, a little novice monk ran past frantically, catching Bai Ruozhu’s eye. His direction was precisely toward the room where the sound of smashing bowls and plates came from.

Bai Ruozhu deliberately slowed her pace, keeping her peripheral vision on the little monk’s direction. Sure enough, he hurriedly entered that room.

Then more smashing sounds came from inside the room, and as the door opened, there was a faint sound of a woman’s crying.

Bai Ruozhu paused, feeling a bad sensation rise in her heart.

In a previous lifetime, she read a story,

Legend has it that some temples are black temples, appearing to be places for burning incense and paying respects to Buddha, but actually covering filth and vice.

Female pilgrims lodging in temples often suffered, but due to reputation and fear of being blamed by family or in-laws, they kept silent, suffering humiliation in silence. Some women were even taken into the temple and became x|ng slaves for the monks. There’s another story where women long unable to conceive went to a temple known for effective blessings, prayed for children, and many returned pregnant, later giving birth and making the temple’s incense offerings more prosperous. But the truth was these women were either drugged or forced into relations with monks, and the children born were not their husbands’.

Bai Ruozhu connected the sound of things being smashed and the crying woman to this, causing her heart to tighten.

Even though she shouldn’t meddle now, encountering such a situation, how could she turn a blind eye? Her conscience wouldn’t allow it!

By then, the little monk had already entered the room, closing the door behind him. Bai Ruozhu kept walking, thinking carefully that she should wait until she could tell Achun, and investigate when it got dark.

Upon seeing Master Pudeng again, he still appeared every bit the virtuous high monk, though his demeanor was gaunt, much like an ascetic monk.

”Lady Bai seems puzzled?” Master Pudeng said upon glancing at Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu put away her doubts and quickly said, ”Since the Master can help me remove the curse, why can’t you help my husband?”

”Amitabha Buddha, let this monk tell Lady Bai a story.”

Master Pudeng placed his hands in front of his chest and sat cross-legged on the prayer mat. Bai Ruozhu felt it was inappropriate to look down at him while standing, so she took a seat on the other mat nearby.

”In a dye workshop, there was a small pond with several koi fish. One day, a worker accidentally knocked a barrel of dye into the pond, turning the water blue. One koi’s body got stained, and the dye harmed it, leaving it feeling unwell and hoping for someone to save it.”

”Fortunately, an experienced fish keeper came by, scooped the koi out, changed its water, and used special methods daily to wash it. The koi eventually regained its natural color, becoming a koi once more. But this time, a completely black koi sought help to be treated like the koi, but the fish keeper shook his head, saying he couldn’t help.”

By this point, Bai Ruozhu understood his meaning: her curse was externally acquired, akin to the dye on the koi fish, meaning it could potentially be washed away or healed. However, Jiang Yichun’s vein curse was like the inherent color of the black koi; it couldn’t be altered.

Bai Ruozhu’s heart ached, but she refused to believe there were no solutions. Even her trust in Master Pudeng faltered—if this temple was a black temple, Master Pudeng might not be trustworthy.

”Alright, let’s begin. If Lady Bai remains puzzled, think about it slowly,” Master Pudeng said.

”Yes, thank you, Master,” Bai Ruozhu replied.

Master Pudeng stared at her, slightly frowning, seemingly sensing something yet unable to understand. Shortly, he shook his head, closed his eyes, and softly said, ”Sit cross-legged, close your eyes, concentrate, and maintain tranquility.”

Bai Ruozhu did as instructed, yet kept a sense of vigilance in her heart. Soon, Master Pudeng began chanting Buddhist scriptures. Bai Ruozhu wasn’t knowledgeable about them; she didn’t know what he was chanting, only that her mind became clear, and she felt entirely calm.

It felt like having no distracting thoughts, a sensation of comfort that pleasantly surprised Bai Ruozhu, causing her to fall asleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she suddenly heard Master Pudeng’s voice next to her ear: ”Lady Bai, it’s over.”

Bai Ruozhu awoke with a start, shivering. She had been cautious, so how had she accidentally fallen asleep?

She discreetly checked herself; her clothes were intact, her position unchanged—nothing seemed to have happened.

”Go back and rest. Return at the same time tomorrow,” Master Pudeng said, then closed his eyes in meditation, seemingly entering a state of deep concentration.

Bai Ruozhu had no choice but to rise, bow silently, and leave the Buddha Hall.

Passing by that room again, Bai Ruozhu deliberately slowed her steps, hearing no additional sounds, unsure if anyone remained inside or if they had been knocked unconscious.

She returned to the backyard and immediately pulled Jiang Yichun into their room, quietly explaining her discoveries and suspicions.

Jiang Yichun frowned, ”Let’s check it out after dusk.”

”Alright,” Bai Ruozhu replied.

She then shared Master Pudeng’s story and how he chanted a spell that made her fall into a deep sleep unknowingly.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yichun grew tense, ”Tomorrow let me accompany you.”

Bai Ruozhu, curious about what might have happened while she slept, agreed with a nod.

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Could I ask for a few votes? Mouka is accumulating primordial power recently and will explode in a few days~