Standing at the cave entrance watching the misty rain over Shaoshi Mountain and listening to the rustling sounds behind him, Yun Ye wanted to laugh. After all, she was just a child with an instinctive trust toward people older than her.

“Ready.” A tiny voice came over. Turning his head, Yun Ye burst out laughing. The clothes were too big—Shishi clutched the hem to keep it from falling to the ground. He picked up the little girl’s clothes, found a wooden stick to prop them open, and stuck it beside the fire to dry.

Shaolin Temple only served two meals. Xinyue, worried Yun Ye would go hungry, had specially packed some food in his clothes. He pulled out an oilpaper package containing a huge flatbread stuffed with cured mutton. Tearing the bread in half, he handed one half to Shishi.

She hesitated but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation of food. Children this age were most gluttonous. When Yun Ye was her age, he always felt greedy. When his mother sent him to buy salt, he could lick his fingers wet and dip them in to eat the salt. Practically anything edible, he’d tried—cicadas, grasshoppers, sparrows, small fish from the river. It had nothing to do with hunger—he just wanted to taste different flavors.

Sure enough, Shishi’s reaction was no different from his own childhood. After pulling out several pieces of mutton to feed the little yellow dog, she began eating in small bites, very quickly. In a moment, half the bread had gone into her stomach. Yun Ye tossed the water flask to Shishi while he continued eating slowly. The cured mutton was very salty—she must be thirsty. Seeing her turn it over and over not knowing how to open the flask, Yun Ye put down his bread and unscrewed it. The Yun Family estate now had iron lathes that could cut wood screws. As for steel, there was no solution yet—they couldn’t find suitable cutting tools, so they had to give up.

Holding the flask and drinking some water, Shishi secretly glanced at the man before her. Even his eating was so refined. She’d heard that scholarly gentlemen were all refined like this. The monks in the temple, except for the abbot, didn’t like to smile. He also had something that could produce fire with a single wipe. Her own fire steel had been used for so long that it couldn’t spark flames anymore.

“Where’s your father? Why does he let a little girl like you run all over the mountains?” Yun Ye asked Shishi. The monks in the temple had a strange attitude toward her—like elders, yet also somewhat distant. Having a little girl in a monk temple was inherently unreasonable.

“Father has to chant sutras and teach other warrior monks martial arts. He lives in the temple. I live alone at the foot of the mountain.” Shishi lifted her head, looking at Yun Ye with bright, sparkling eyes.

Her father was a monk? Yun Ye held back for a long time before asking this question, afraid of hurting the little girl’s feelings. Yun Ye had always admired strong children who were self-reliant at such a young age. They didn’t need pity or concern—even if their heads were broken, they would climb out of ditches by themselves.

Yun Ye wanted to see what exactly Xinyue had packed in his clothes, so he pulled things out one by one—first matches, then a handkerchief, followed by a pouch. Mm, not bad. There was also a package of beef jerky and some dried fruit. Very abundant. Since losing cigarettes, Yun Ye had grown fond of snacks. During idle time, if he didn’t have something to chew, he always felt like something was missing.

Spreading out the snacks, he invited Shishi to help herself. Her little mouth chewed rapidly. She held the beef jerky in her mouth, seemingly wanting to taste even the last trace of flavor, squinting her eyes to enjoy the happiness brought by delicious food.

During a pleasant afternoon tea time, no amount of treats could satisfy two people who loved enjoying good food. The clothing by the fire had stopped emitting white vapor. Holding it in his hands, it felt warm. Handing the clothes to Shishi, Yun Ye stepped out of the cave again. The rain outside had unknowingly stopped. The air carried the fresh fragrance of trees. Taking a breath of the cool air made his whole body feel refreshed.

Shishi also emerged from the cave. The two exchanged smiles, quite compatible. Very naturally, he took Shishi’s small hand and pulled her down the mountain. She seemed to like this method very much. The chance encounter in the cave had naturally drawn the two closer.

Regarding Shishi, Yun Ye liked this child from the bottom of his heart—tenacious and sensible, like a small mountain flower, simple and natural.

Shaolin Temple was at the foot of the mountain. At dusk, a monk struck the bronze bell. The sound, ancient and melodious, carried vibrations that wandered through the mountains. The back door was open. The two were tiptoeing into the temple when unexpectedly, Jue Yuan stood inside the back door. Seeing Yun Ye and Shishi enter hand in hand, he immediately said to Shishi: “Come down the mountain before evening lessons every day—that’s the rule. Have you forgotten? Disturbing a distinguished guest is even more inappropriate.”

“Master Jue Yuan, today I asked Shishi to guide me touring Shaoshi Mountain in the rain. If not for her knowing about that little cave for sheltering from rain, I would have been drenched like a drowned rat. Please look upon my humble face and forgive her this once. This time the fault is mine. Shishi was implicated by me.”

Hearing Yun Ye say this, a trace of a smile finally appeared on Jue Yuan’s face. He repeatedly said he didn’t dare, then said to Shishi: “This time, for the sake of you guiding Marquis Yun on his tour, I’ll let you off once. If you violate the rules again next time, you won’t be lightly forgiven. Go, tidy up and head down the mountain.”

“Yes, Father. Your child will go down the mountain now.” Shishi glanced at Jue Yuan, then released Yun Ye’s hand and went to the meditation room to prepare to take her basket down the mountain. So the flower monk was Jue Yuan—a dignified chief warrior monk could not only eat meat but also marry a wife? This was too groundbreaking, wasn’t it?

Seeing Yun Ye looking at him suspiciously, Jue Yuan smiled bitterly and said: “Marquis Yun doesn’t know—this poor monk once violated the precept against lust and thus had this karmic obstacle. This poor monk was also punished by the disciplinary hall to carry earth up the mountain. You see that earthen hill in front of the temple gate—it was accumulated from this poor monk’s five years of hard labor. But no matter how severe the punishment, this poor monk couldn’t bear to abandon this child. Unknowingly, ten years have passed. Watching this child grow day by day, she can no longer live in the temple. That’s why I built her a house at the foot of the mountain for temporary shelter. During the day she can come to the temple, but at night she must return to the house at the foot of the mountain to sleep. Sometimes this poor monk worries so much he can’t sleep all night, yet is helpless. Having attachments greatly damages one’s Buddhist heart—this is even more terrifying than violating the precept against lust.”

This could still be considered a real man. If he violated the precept against lust, so be it—what was the big deal? By carrying earth, he’d accumulated a mound as tall as a five-story building, giving the temple’s precepts an accounting. It was just inconvenient for a girl to live in the temple. Jue Yuan had also shown a father’s concern. Only the last two sentences didn’t sound like human words. Clearly he had harmed the child, yet still had the face to say his Buddhist heart was greatly damaged. Where was he when violating the precept against lust?

Shishi, carrying her basket, bowed to Jue Yuan and Yun Ye, then prepared to go down the mountain. The little yellow dog wagged its tail following behind, looking pitiful. Yun Ye’s heart stirred and he said: “Shishi, wait. Come here—I have something to say.”

Shishi obediently walked over, constantly watching Jue Yuan’s expression. She also didn’t want to leave her father. Jue Yuan turned his head away, not looking at the two of them.

Yun Ye stepped forward and stroked the top of Shishi’s head, saying: “My name is Yun Ye, courtesy name Buqi. I hold official rank of third grade and am titled Marquis of Lantian. In the way of mathematics, I wouldn’t claim to be the world’s foremost, but those who can match me are few and far between. Our meeting can be considered fate. I greatly love your pure and simple character and also pity your lonely helplessness. Would you be willing to enter my tutelage and study mathematics?”

Shishi’s eyes widened, not knowing what to do. Jue Yuan, however, fell to his knees with a thud and immediately pressed Shishi down to the ground. For Shishi, this was an enormous opportunity. How could such a fine chance not be seized? Shishi didn’t know Yun Ye’s reputation, but how could Jue Yuan not?

“Excellent, excellent! That Zhang Shi can receive Marquis Yun’s favor is truly her good fortune and also Jue Yuan’s good fortune. This old monk congratulates Marquis Yun.” Monk Yulin appeared behind Yun Ye at some unknown time, applauding and praising.

Shishi knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed three times. Jue Yuan, as the parent, knelt to the side and also kowtowed in thanks. This was proper etiquette. Yun Ye accepted Shishi’s three bows, which meant from this moment on, he was Shishi’s master and possessed almost the same rights and obligations toward Shishi as her parents.

Yun Ye stroked the top of Shishi’s head again and said: “Entering my tutelage, you should know honor and shame. Don’t fail to do good deeds because they’re small, don’t do bad deeds because they’re small. In studying classics, diligence should come first. In conducting yourself, filial piety should come first. We don’t believe in gods or Buddhas—we only revere our ancestors. We rely on our own hands to open our own heaven and create our own earth. In desperate straits, we don’t pity ourselves. In deadly situations, we strive to survive. Can you do these things?”

Yun Ye’s teachings made Yulin and Jue Yuan gape. They’d never heard of a master teaching disciples this way. No detailed regulations, only broad boundaries. Not believing in gods or Buddhas, only respecting ancestors. Encouraging one’s disciple to use any means necessary to stay alive—what school’s rules were these? A teacher like this would surely produce unruly disciples. Wanting them to become refined gentlemen was absolutely impossible.

Shishi, however, joyfully responded: “This disciple will certainly do so.”

Hearing these words, Yun Ye laughed heartily. With one kick, he sent the basket at his feet flying, picked up Shishi, and strode toward his own camp. Shishi lay on Yun Ye’s shoulder, tears streaming as she bid farewell to her father.

Yun Ye carrying a little girl back to camp naturally caused a commotion. When Yun Ye informed everyone of Shishi’s identity, the Yun Family servants all came forward to pay respects to the young mistress. Cheng Chumo and Niu Jianhu also presented gifts. Dan Ying used his knife to immediately carve a wooden figurine, earning unanimous praise from everyone. Xinyue had her first junior—she wished she could use Shishi’s head as an exhibition stand, covering it with gleaming hair ornaments. Madam Niu and Jiu Yi were equally excited, dressing Shishi like a doll.

Xinyue was selecting fabric for Shishi, preparing to cut new clothes, when suddenly she dry-heaved, tears and snot flowing together. The other two women hastily supported her, preparing to summon a physician.

“Master’s wife is going to have a little brother.” Shishi suddenly interjected. Hearing these words, Xinyue’s eyes widened. She pointed at Shishi and said: “Say that again.”

“Granny Cui said that when a woman dry-heaves, she’s going to have a little brother.” Shishi blinked her big eyes and repeated it.

Jiu Yi, who had given birth before, slapped her forehead hard. Such an obvious sign and she hadn’t noticed—it took a ten-year-old little girl to remind her. In a rush, she charged out to find a physician to check Xinyue’s pulse.

Xinyue only said “Heavens!” then slowly lay down on the bed. Just after lying down, she slowly got up again, muttering: “Slowly, slowly. Mustn’t harm the child, mustn’t harm the child.” She called Shishi over and pecked kisses on her face incessantly like a chicken pecking rice.

Madam Niu’s loud shouting immediately threw the camp into chaos. Although not yet confirmed, Old Qian was already crying tears of joy. The Yun Family having an heir meant his entire family could continue to depend on the Yun Family and enjoy a wealthy life. His early ambitions to distinguish himself had long since vanished into thin air.