Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2425: Chapter 2426: Setting Fire to the Scripture Pavilion

Puru’s expression changed briefly, but he quickly calmed down and sighed, saying, ”The journey is long and difficult; without a large ship, it’s really impossible to go to sea. When we arrived years ago, the official ship returned to Danliang Country after the visit. For so many years, we don’t know why they’ve never come back.”

Bai Ruozhu noticed his expression and felt that it wasn’t as simple as that. Could it be that Fusang Country didn’t have ships?

Or perhaps Fusang Country wasn’t supporting their seafaring vessels, or were preventing their return to Danliang Country?

This isn’t impossible, as the Fusang people are devotees of Buddhism and highly regard Zhaoti Temple; not allowing them to leave would be normal.

The monk came in and added a round of tea as Puru continued to chat with everyone.

”My father was a servant following the master at the time; he didn’t shave his head and become a monk. Later, he met my mother in Fusang; to be precise, I am considered half Fusang,” Puru didn’t hide his background.

”My parents lived near the temple. Since childhood, I was influenced by my surroundings and developed wisdom roots, devoted myself to Buddha. For this, my parents almost severed ties with me,” Puru said with a bitter smile, ”as I was their only child, they hoped someone would continue the family heritage.”

”And what happened later?” Bai Ruozhu curiously asked.

”It’s embarrassing to talk about, better not,” Puru shook his head, seemingly unwilling to mention that past.

”The Danliang people who came with you to Fusang aren’t many now, right?” Jiang Yichun asked.

”Many have passed away, leaving behind some descendants,” Puru glanced at Sa Tian, who comprehended and found an excuse to step outside.

Puru smiled, ”Sa Tian was once a novice in our temple. Later, he couldn’t see through the worldly affairs and returned to secular life, but he still respects me as the abbot.”

Bai Ruozhu and the others nodded; previously, Sa Tian mentioned growing up in the temple, which is why he learned Chinese.

”The Danliang people from those days left many descendants, but mostly children of servants, now mixed among the ordinary Fusang populace. However, one official’s daughter married and stayed behind, marrying into the ancient She Family of Fusang, who is She Zongyi’s mother,” Puru said.

Bai Ruozhu noticed that he mentioned She Zongyi without using an honorific, directly calling the name, indicating either familiarity or dislike.

”Didn’t expect She Zongyi to have half Danliang blood,” Gao Zhou said somewhat sentimentally, ”I wonder which family’s daughter his biological mother is from.”

”Her surname is Ma; Ma Family is known for military generals,” Puru said.

”From Ma Tongfang’s family?” Bai Ruozhu asked in surprise.

Puru shook his head, ”I don’t know, only heard my master mention it. He was too young at the time and didn’t know that official’s name, only that everyone called him Ma Daren, who led soldiers to ensure security on the boat. It’s also heard that the Ma Family are all generals.”

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged a glance; it was very likely that the ancestors from Ma Tongfang’s family indeed matched the description of a military family.

At that moment, chaotic footsteps sounded outside, and a monk rushed to the door anxiously, ”Abbot, near the Scripture Pavilion is on fire!”

Puru stood up abruptly, ”How could it suddenly catch fire? There was rain just a few days ago; the buildings are damp; how could it catch fire?”

”I don’t know either; all the brothers have gone to extinguish the fire; there’s just significant flames, some scriptures...,” the young monk said with an unwilling expression.

Puru hurriedly bowed towards Bai Ruozhu and the others, saying: ”The monk needs to check on this, please don’t wander around, pay attention to safety.”

Gao Zhou stood up, saying: ”We’ll also go help put out the fire; perhaps we can reduce the losses.”

He felt Puru and Xinchan Temple shared a lineage and was willing to help Puru from the heart, to repay Master Pudeng’s kindness.

Of course Bai Ruozhu and the others were willing to help, so they followed Puru and went to the Scripture Pavilion.

The fire had already engulfed half of the pavilion; the flames were fierce. If they were mere sparks, how could it burn so quickly? Certainly something was wrong!

”Where is She Zongyi’s group? This matter seems off,” Bai Ruozhu whispered to Jiang Yichun.

Jiang Yichun nodded slightly, ”I’ll go to help put out the fire and see what’s really going on; afraid someone’s trying to hide something.”

Bai Ruozhu’s eyelid twitched, could it be that their arrival made someone lose patience?

Was Puru unaware of this affair during their conversation or was he delaying them?

She turned to look; Puru himself was drawing water to extinguish the fire; he stood too close, and a fire snake brushed against his robe; it was a nearby monk who pulled him back, preventing him from getting burned.

”What about the scriptures, how can I face my deceased master?” Puru cried out in despair, looking particularly disheveled, nothing like an outside master anymore.

Bai Ruozhu quietly observed his expression; the pain on his back was genuine, not feigned, proving he had no knowledge of the pavilion’s fire.

Jiang Yichun and others helped put out the fire, Bai Ruozhu didn’t rush to act; firstly, being a woman, she wasn’t expected to take risks; secondly, she needed to keep an overview and see if anything unusual emerged.

Indeed, one monk rushed to the back, threw a bucket of water, the flames didn’t diminish, instead grew fiercer.

The monk quickly dodged, his clothes caught aflame, he hurriedly threw the bucket into the fire.

Then he rolled on the ground to extinguish the fire on his clothes.

This entire scene appeared as someone putting out the fire with water, but due to the blazing flames, he nearly got hurt. He had to give up the bucket and dodge away.

Had it not been for Bai Ruozhu’s constant observation, this detail would have gone unnoticed, particularly that the monk poured not water, but oil!

”Quick, seize that monk, he’s a spy!” Bai Ruozhu pointed at the monk and shouted.

Unexpectedly, a boom echoed, the pavilion was too badly burned, the beams above collapsed, half the pavilion fell down.

”Ruozhu, look out!” Jiang Yichun dashed over, grabbing Bai Ruozhu’s waist as he swiftly moved towards the perimeter, instantly escaping the collapsing pavilion that crashed where they’d been standing. Some escaped, some perished, screams echoed around.

Bai Ruozhu was hit by a wave of heat, felt dizzy, when she got up to look again, the young monk was nowhere to be found!

”Someone just poured oil!” Bai Ruozhu wanted to catch the person but seeing so many people burning, she immediately changed her mind, ”Forget the rest for now, saving lives is the priority!”

Outside, numerous civilians were organized into rescue efforts; soon the Mu Residence’s Army also sent people, but still many monks perished in the fire, even Puru was carried out, almost unrecognizable due to burns.

”Puru Master, don’t worry, I’ll surely save you!” Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but tear up; someone just speaking with them, turned into such a state in a split second, no one could remain unmoved.