Geographic distance truly can widen the emotional distance between people. After Li Anlan’s departure, Yun Ye’s mood was finally released. He no longer pretended to ride horses—riding was truly an exhausting task. Sitting on horseback for a whole day was enough to drain a person’s energy completely. With a carriage available, why torment himself by riding?

The summer Songshan was full of wild charm. The mountains were covered with dense trees and wild grass. Among the ridges, one could occasionally see small patches of cultivated fields. Those tending the fields were monks with hair, wearing monk robes and chanting Buddhist sutras, yet they weren’t true monks. They were lay disciples, laypeople temporarily residing in the temple. The ordination certificates weren’t easily obtained—they were all waiting for the court to grant them the qualification to become monks.

A little girl carrying a small basket and wearing a flowered jacket walked alongside Yun Ye. She had two bun-shaped children’s hair knots on her head and seemed very interested in Yun Ye lying on the flatbed cart. When Yun Ye invited her onto the cart, the little girl smiled and refused. She was a very well-mannered little girl, appearing less than ten years old. The basket in her hand wasn’t light, but she seemed unaware of it, her feet moving swiftly.

He could tell she wanted to ride in the cart and was also drawn to the beautiful clothes of the Yun Family’s maids, yet she kept running alongside Yun Ye’s flatbed cart. Having a grown man sit in the cart while making a little girl run on foot didn’t align with Yun Ye’s moral values, so he invited the little girl to ride again. If she didn’t like sitting with a strange man, she could ride in the cart with those pretty older sisters instead.

This time she didn’t refuse. With a light leap, she sat on the cart shaft, swinging her legs in a very carefree manner. Yun Ye wasn’t at all surprised that a girl of just a few years could jump onto the cart while carrying a basket weighing over ten pounds. The main reason was that this was Shaolin Temple, the paramount authority of martial arts under heaven. Having a few unexpected occurrences was truly nothing unimaginable.

Yun Ye didn’t like riding in covered carriages, believing they would obstruct his view of the mountain scenery. So Yun San padded the flatbed cart thickly, letting the Marquis lie on it while he drove. Seeing a pretty little girl sitting astride the cart, smiling at him, made him even more energetic, and he drove the cart very quickly.

The sky was overcast, looking as if it would rain, yet there had been no movement. Wang Cai caught up with a cloth pouch hanging under his neck—that damned Dan Ying had hung the treats the maids gave him under his neck where he could only smell but not eat them. The anxious Wang Cai hurriedly came to find Yun Ye, hoping he could help move the pouch down to his mouth.

Dan Ying and Yun Ye had established three cardinal rules: this couldn’t be done, nor could others be allowed to do it. So Yun Ye spread his hands, indicating to Wang Cai that he was powerless to help.

The little girl was attracted by Wang Cai’s peculiar appearance. She took out a piece of date cake from her basket, thought for a moment, broke off half, put half back, then held the date cake in her hand up to Wang Cai’s mouth, wanting to watch him eat.

Wang Cai, who loved sweets most of all, wouldn’t pass up such an opportunity. With a lick of his tongue, he began eating the date cake from the little girl’s hand. The little girl’s hand tickled from Wang Cai’s rough tongue, and she giggled continuously while curling her fingers.

“What’s your name, girl?” Yun Ye glanced sideways at the little girl. This would be yet another girl about to be charmed by Wang Cai.

The little girl didn’t speak, only smiled, revealing white teeth.

The mountain gate of Shaolin Temple was visible in the distance—not very grand, just a structure built from a few wooden beams, without even paint, cold and deserted with no pilgrims in sight. No wonder Hou Jun doubted why they should go to Shaolin Temple to offer incense—this wasn’t a temple for conducting religious services.

From afar, they could see a guest monk in black robes gliding over. After exchanging greetings, the black-robed monk paid no more attention to Yun Ye but spoke to the little girl instead: “Shishi, why are you so lacking in propriety? Spiritual cultivation isn’t for you to covet momentary comfort. We must serve Buddha with sincerity and reverence, hoping one day to achieve great freedom. Having you walk ten li of mountain road is also a way to temper your Buddhist heart. Today’s lessons—you need to double them.”

The little girl didn’t defend herself but pressed her palms together saying, “I humbly accept Master Uncle’s teaching.” After speaking, she picked up her bamboo basket, bowed to Yun Ye, then followed the black-robed monk into the temple.

Cheng Chumo jumped off his horse, looked back at the now-closed mountain gate, and said to Yun Ye: “Ye Zi, these bald donkeys don’t seem to welcome us. I feel like they’re hostile toward us.”

“This isn’t strange. Since the establishment of our Great Tang, Buddhism has been greatly restricted while Daoism has been promoted. Monks’ ordination certificates are difficult to obtain. Haven’t you seen the valleys full of lay disciples who farm and feed themselves? Shaolin Temple, being a famous temple under heaven, wouldn’t dare step beyond the rules even slightly.”

“These monks helped considerably when His Majesty attacked Wang Shichong back then. The Buddhist community hoped they could persuade His Majesty to relax supervision of Buddhism and distribute more ordination certificates. In previous years, Monk Yulin and Monk Jue Yuan went to Chang’an but were refused by His Majesty and returned disappointed. Naturally, they harbor some hostility toward us nobles, which is understandable.”

Niu Jianhu said: “There isn’t even anyone at the gate to announce us. We can’t just barge into the temple, can we?”

“If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain. We’ll set up camp right here. I don’t believe these monks dare be so discourteous. Moreover, Master Daoxin of White Horse Temple is a guest at Shaolin Temple, and I’m acquainted with Old Monk Tanyin. Just based on that, they won’t refuse to see us.”

Yun Ye got down from the flatbed cart and instructed the steward to begin setting up camp. He himself, together with Cheng Chumo, Niu Jianhu, and Dan Ying, walked along the steps to the temple gate and knocked on the door ring. The clanging knocking sound carried far.

A monk of about forty years opened the door and said to Yun Ye: “Benefactor, please return. This temple is for spiritual cultivation and doesn’t receive pilgrims. Please go to other temples to worship Buddha.”

Looking at the monk’s wooden eyes, Yun Ye said: “I’m an old friend of Master Tanyin. I’ve come this time specifically to visit the Master. I also have an important letter that needs to be personally presented to Master Daoxin. Please be accommodating, Master.”

Though wooden, the monk was very polite. He asked Yun Ye to wait while he went to announce them. Yun Ye was extremely interested in Shaolin Temple during the Great Tang period. He cocked his ear and listened for a long time but didn’t hear any sounds of martial monks practicing. Could it be that those martial arts practice areas in later generations’ Shaolin Temple only came later? Otherwise, why was there only the thumping sound of wooden fish in the temple, with no sounds of martial practice?

Old Monk Tanyin arrived, followed by Monk Jue Yuan. They were all old acquaintances. Yun Ye smiled and stepped forward to greet them: “Master Tanyin, since we parted at Maiji Shan four years ago, your complexion is ruddy. Your Buddhist teachings must have advanced further. This is truly cause for congratulations.”

“Young Friend Yun Ye has come from a thousand li away. This old monk is deeply grateful. Please come into the temple for a chat.” Tanyin’s dark, thin face also showed no smile. He only mechanically invited Yun Ye into the temple, without any hint of joy.

After settling in the guest quarters, Yun Ye asked again: “Master has transcended worldly matters. Why would you still have worries? If it’s secular troubles, you can tell this young marquis. Perhaps I can still contribute some effort for your esteemed temple.”

“Young friend jests. Our Shaolin is a branch of the Chan sect—we point directly at the human heart, see one’s nature to become Buddha, and don’t establish ourselves in words. If there are troubles, they are demonic obstacles arising. We should kill Buddha when we meet Buddha, slay demons when we meet demons, to seek advancement. Young friend worries too much.”

Yun Ye sniffed around and said to Tanyin: “Birth, old age, sickness, and death—can you old monk still not see through these? You often say the world has ten thousand kinds of suffering. This eminent monk is about to go to the Western Pure Land of Bliss. You should be happy for him.”

Cheng Chumo and Niu Jianhu chuckled behind them. To have an illness and still drive Ye Zi away—truly hopeless stupidity.

“Master Yulin’s passing is imminent. Even if Marquis Yun doesn’t revere him as a generation’s eminent monk, you should respect his ninety years of age. Why speak so sarcastically?” Jue Yuan was, after all, a warrior monk. Before Tanyin could speak, he furiously revealed the truth in his anger.