Chapter 97

It was said that a few years after Hong Ying’s death, Gu Sheng got married under the arrangement of his uncle. After marriage, he had two sons and a daughter. At that time, he was teaching at a private school and was supported by his uncle’s family, so life was relatively stable. Unfortunately, as the political situation grew turbulent, the Gu family also suffered greatly. Gu Sheng, along with his wife and daughter, was sent abroad by his eldest son to escape the chaos. The eldest son chose to stay behind but was accused of a baseless crime, leading to his public denunciation and imprisonment. The second son tried everything to rescue him but ended up being imprisoned as well. The two brothers were locked up for many years before they were finally released.

In any era, imprisonment was a source of shame and disdain. With the Gu brothers in prison, their wives and children were left to endure the scorn of others, living a very miserable life. The Gu family fell apart, with some members scattering and others leaving entirely.

Jingxing was likely one of the descendants of the Gu family. When Liao Yuan found Jingxing by the trash bin at the temple gate, there was a note in his swaddling clothes with his birth date and name written on it. Based on Liao Yuan’s calculations, there was a high probability that this was true. As for why he was abandoned, Liao Yuan didn’t delve too deeply, simply attributing it to fate. Decades ago, Sis Gu had saved his life twice, and now he had saved a descendant of the Gu family.

Gu Feiyin was naturally shocked as well. She had never expected Jingxing to be a descendant of her little nephew, sharing a bit of blood relation with her. By this logic, didn’t that make her his grandaunt? In an instant, her gaze toward Jingxing changed-from cold and eerie to warm and kind. After all, she was technically an elder now.

Jingxing was baffled by Shizhu Gu’s gaze. If he wasn’t mistaken, he was one or two years older than her, so why was she looking at him like he was a junior? Even if they were related, shouldn’t they be cousins or something?

Liao Yuan the monk immediately pushed Jingxing aside. What was wrong with Sis Gu? She had never looked at him like that!!

Jingxing: “…”

Jingxing asked in confusion, “Shifu, am I really related to Shizhu Gu? Is she my sister?”

Liao Yuan, the old monk, wanted to spit. What sister? What relative? That’s your grandaunt! You should be calling her ancestor! After all, even he had to call her Sis Gu. If she became a sister, then what did that make him? Still, he decided to follow the generational hierarchy and said, “Just call her Shishu.”

Jingxing: “…?”

Gu Feiyin: “…?”

After thinking for a moment, she said, “Why should he call me Shishu? I’m not a Shishu. Just call me grandaunt.”

Liao Yuan: “…”

Jingxing: “…?!”

His Shifu was already somewhat unreliable, but he hadn’t expected Shizhu Gu to be even more so. Was she really trying to take advantage of him?

…

In any case, the generational issue was impossible to untangle. Jingxing could reluctantly accept “Shishu,” but there was no way he could bring himself to call her “grandaunt.” Of course, Gu Feiyin was quite pleased. Her little nephew wasn’t dead, was living well, and even had descendants. Although one of those descendants had become the little monk she feared and disliked the most, life had always been fond of playing tricks on her. She was used to it by now, so it didn’t bother her too much.

She recalled that, at the time of her death, her greatest regret had been her little nephew. She didn’t regret going back to find her parents, nor did she fear death. What she regretted was not leaving the child behind when she returned, forcing him to face death as soon as he was born.

Fortunately, she no longer had any regrets.

As for reuniting with the descendants of the Gu family, she hadn’t even considered it. After all, the only person she cared about-her little nephew-was already dead. She had no emotional attachment to anyone else. Besides, she had been resurrected in another body. How could she possibly explain that? For her own safety, it was better to stay quiet. And anyway, wasn’t Jingxing here? Having someone to collect her body was already a blessing, not to mention she had even prepared her own coffin, so it wouldn’t trouble anyone.

The only thing on her mind now was visiting the grave of the Handsome Monk. She used to fear him, thinking that once he passed away, she could finally live freely. She hadn’t expected her dream to actually come true.

The visit was scheduled for Monday. Weekends were peak times for visitors at the haunted house, and she couldn’t get away. She had only managed to secure leave for Monday. Liao Yuan the monk said he would accompany her back to Baiyu Town and take her to see his Shifu.

Gu Feiyin: “…?”

She stared at the little monk Liao Yuan for a long time. “Your Shifu? Your Shifu is Zong Nan? You’re…?”

Liao Yuan, the old monk, widened his presbyopic eyes in excitement as he looked at Sis Gu. Yes, yes, it was him! He was the adorable little monk who used to bring her roasted chicken, roasted rabbit, and big apples!

“Are you the little disciple Zong Nan took in later?”

“…”

“I did know Zong Nan’s senior disciple. He should be dead by now, right?”

“………”

Jingxing looked at his Shifu’s pitiful expression, feeling both puzzled and helpless. He said, “My Shizu only had one disciple-my Shifu. There were no other disciples.”

What?! Gu Feiyin was genuinely stunned. The Handsome Monk had only taken in one disciple, and it was this little monk in front of her?

She was shocked. “Really? Are you that little, dark, skinny, ugly Gou Wazi from back then? I can’t believe you’ve grown so much!”

Liao Yuan, the old monk: “…”

Back then, it was common to give children unflattering names to ward off bad luck. He had been called Gou Wazi since childhood. After his parents died, the village children bullied him, calling him Gou Wazi and saying he was a jinx who had killed his parents and would bring misfortune to them as well. No one wanted to play with him, and everyone told him to leave. It wasn’t until he formally became a monk and received his Dharma name from his Shifu that he finally escaped the name “Gou Wazi.” He had thought he would never hear it again, but now, here it was, being brought up again. Yet, strangely, he found it endearing.

He couldn’t help but rub his presbyopic eyes. Just as he was about to emotionally exclaim, “Sis Gu, it’s me!” he heard her sigh and say, “I can’t believe Gou Wazi turned out to be so long-lived. Truly impressive.”

…Well, wasn’t that impressive? 🙂

…

Because they were heading to Baiyu Town, Zhen Du, who had been carefully recuperating in the temple, decided to join them. He said he wasn’t sure how the area had recovered after the disaster and wanted to go back and take a look. Besides, he was bored stiff in the temple, and if he didn’t get moving, his body would start to rust. Fine, then. They could all go together.

This was Gu Feiyin’s first time returning to Gu Family Town after regaining her memory, and the place looked nothing like what she remembered. It had changed so drastically that it felt completely unfamiliar, to the point where she couldn’t recognize it at all.

Especially the Baiyu Temple, built halfway up the mountain, where the monks chanted and rang the bell daily. The entire town could hear it, let alone the little ghosts living closer to the mountain. Facing this every day, how could they not be afraid? This was likely the biggest reason why the little ghosts living on the mountain decided to move away-it was like having a sword hanging over their heads. Even if it killed her, she would have moved too.

This was also Gu Feiyin’s first time paying her respects to the Handsome Monk, who was laid to rest in a pagoda behind the main hall.

Liao Yuan, the old monk, escorted her to the entrance but stopped there. His Shifu had worried about Sis Gu for a lifetime, and now that she had returned safely, he would surely be overjoyed.

“Shifu is inside.”

The pagoda stood thirteen stories tall and could be seen from afar in Baiyu Town. Unfortunately, it was never open to the public. It remained perpetually closed, despite many high-ranking officials and wealthy individuals coming to see it, only to be turned away. It never opened for anyone, which made it one of Baiyu Temple’s most mysterious and revered places. Over time, many rumors began to circulate about it.

For instance, it was said that Zong Nan, the eminent monk who had built Baiyu Temple, had his relics enshrined at the topmost level after his passing. People claimed that Zong Nan’s mastery of Buddhist teachings was profound, that he could communicate with spirits and foresee the future. Though he had passed away, he hadn’t truly died but had instead become a genuine “Buddha.” There was even a story about a thief who tried to steal Zong Nan’s relics but failed miserably, suffering injuries and being imprisoned for years. After his release, he continued to have terrible luck for the rest of his life-a fate that was nothing short of tragic. Naturally, such tales only added to Zong Nan’s mystique, drawing even more people to worship him. Even if they couldn’t ascend the pagoda, many still came to burn incense and pray at its base.

But now, for the first time, the pagoda was being opened-for one person.

Gu Feiyin climbed the stairs, ascending level by level. The pagoda was incredibly tall, its grandeur and solemnity intimidating. She couldn’t help but feel nervous and a little scared, worried that the gods, Bodhisattvas, or spirits might accidentally obliterate her soul. If that happened, wouldn’t she be doomed? In hindsight, she thought she should have just burned some paper money outside instead. She hadn’t expected the dilapidated and charred Earth Temple where she had fainted to transform into this imposing structure.

She hurried up to the topmost level, eager to finish her homage and leave. From now on, she decided she would never come back here. If she ever needed to pay her respects to the Handsome Monk again, she would just find a quiet, open space to burn some paper money. The Handsome Monk was a highly enlightened figure-surely he wouldn’t care about such mundane details.

At the entrance, Gu Feiyin peeked inside and saw several statues of deities, offerings of fruits placed before them, and a small black box positioned at the center.

She recalled the time she had spent living in the Earth Temple, watching the Handsome Monk eat vegetarian meals and chant scriptures daily. Nothing catastrophic had happened then, right? This was, after all, the Handsome Monk’s domain-surely he wouldn’t harm her here. With that thought, her sense of security returned, and she cautiously stepped inside.

But as soon as she took her first step, the previously serene and tranquil hall suddenly changed. She was so startled that she almost screamed, her body freezing in place. The room darkened, and when she looked up again, she saw the Handsome Monk sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat at the front of the hall.

His appearance seemed more mature now. In her memory, he had been a handsome but unusually stern and serious young monk. The man before her looked older, with deep, sharp yet gentle features. Beyond his stern and serious demeanor, he now exuded an aura of dignity and authority that was impossible to fathom.

He was even more striking than she remembered! Gu Feiyin stared at him for a long moment, feeling a little giddy as she rubbed her hands together. She asked, “Zong Nan, have you really become a Buddha?”

If he had truly become a Buddha, then wouldn’t that mean she had some sort of connection to the Bodhisattvas now? After all, they had known each other for over a century-a relationship that most people couldn’t compare to, right?

But Zong Nan simply looked at her and said that he was merely a remnant soul left behind by Zong Nan. The real Zong Nan had long since reincarnated, shattering her fantasy without hesitation.

Gu Feiyin was even more puzzled. “Why would Zong Nan leave behind a remnant soul? Did he have unfinished wishes?”

Zong Nan replied that he had something he regretted not doing.

…What was it?

“I never had the chance to thank you, Little Ghost. You saved me, and I never thanked you.”

“Thank me? Just for that?” Gu Feiyin sneered darkly. “You saved me too. You sacrificed your own cultivation and lifespan to stabilize my soul. If we’re being fair, we’re even, aren’t we? Actually, no-your human lives are so short, while I, as a ghost, am lucky enough to live for hundreds or even thousands of years. By that calculation, I’m the one who came out ahead.”

Zong Nan sat calmly on the meditation mat, his eyes serene as he looked at her. “A favor is a favor. It is not measured by its size.”

Gu Feiyin thought about it and realized he might be right. Indeed, the Handsome Monk’s perspective was one she could never reach. She was petty, timid, greedy, and gluttonous, only seeking to live peacefully, with food to eat, clothes to wear, work to do, and money to earn. She would never wait a hundred years just to express gratitude.

Of course, she was very grateful to the Handsome Monk. Without him, she might have long since been obliterated, her soul scattered into nothingness.

“Then I should thank you too. Thank you for saving me.”

Zong Nan smiled faintly, lowering his gaze. The dignified aura he had earlier now seemed to soften slightly.

Gu Feiyin grinned and thought to herself that the Handsome Monk was truly stunning. If she had fainted a little later, she might have been able to admire him for a bit longer. What a pity.

Oh, right. “Zong Nan, you’re so powerful. Do you have a way to get me out of this body? I’ve been trapped inside for so long. You have no idea-life these days is so hard. I don’t have any skills, and it’s tough to find a job. I’m constantly worrying about rent and living expenses; it’s driving me crazy. Being a ghost was so much better. I didn’t have to worry about food, clothing, shelter, or transportation. Life was so carefree back then.”

Zong Nan said, “Little ghost, this is Heaven’s will.”

“Heaven’s will? Heaven wants me to suffer and endure pain?” Goddamn Heaven really is no good, always enjoying tormenting her!

“…You little ghost, you really haven’t changed one bit.”

“Huh?” Gu Feiyin was still a bit baffled. She was just herself, how could she have changed?

Zong Nan looked at her, and in his calm, rippleless eyes, there finally appeared a hint of helplessness: “It is simply Heaven’s will. Just live your life well and don’t think about all that messy nonsense.”

“I’m not thinking about any messy nonsense, I’m only thinking about proper business. Just tell me, is there really no way?”

“There isn’t.”

…No way? Thunderstruck on a clear day!

“The Heavenly Dao is unjust. You’ll just have to endure it.”

“…?!” 🙁

Goddamn Heaven: …???

The Heavenly Dao is unjust, it is partial.

If you look at Gu Feiyin’s natural talent, in the end she could only cultivate herself to soul-scattering, and Heaven struck her into the body of someone with a broken soul. To her, that was actually another kind of redemption.

Not to mention, Gu Feiyin’s fate was unique. She was but a maiden in her boudoir, and even though she had killed those bandits and saved a whole village, she shouldn’t have had such dazzling merit. This could only mean that she had done great good deeds in her previous lives, accumulating over several lifetimes and resulting in today’s radiance of merit. In this way, if the Heavenly Dao favored her, saving her several times, it was not so strange after all.

Gu Feiyin drooped her head and said helplessly, “Is there really no way?”

Zong Nan answered without hesitation, no.

Gu Feiyin was in despair, painfully saying, “So, you mean, my Riverside Villa can only keep collecting rent for a few more decades? Even though that house is much better than where I live now, I can only grit my teeth and wait to move in later.”

Zong Nan: “…”

He closed his eyes. “Now that my mission is complete, little ghost, I must go.”

Gu Feiyin answered softly, wanting to ask who he’d reincarnated as-if she had the chance, maybe she could go see him. But Zong Nan didn’t answer, and his blurry figure slowly transformed into radiance, disappearing into the air.

At the same time, under the pagoda, Zhen Du opened his eyes in meditation. He touched his chest, as if something had filled it, leaving his heart full of joy.

He couldn’t help but smile, and his mood lifted.

Jingxing, sitting beside him, looked at him in confusion and asked, “Why are you suddenly grinning like an idiot?”

Zhen Du thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know, I just feel like something I’ve regretted for a long time has suddenly been made whole, so I’m in a great mood.”

Jingxing seemed to half-understand.

Liao Yuan the old monk looked at Zhen Du. He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks, because just now he seemed to see a few points of starlight fall on Zhen Du? But when he looked again, there was nothing there.

He looked up at the pagoda. Sis Gu had already gone up for a long time, and he wondered what she’d seen up there to make her stay so long. After a few minutes, he finally saw Sis Gu coming out of the pagoda. Her face was pale and bluish, but she wore a sinister smile, waving as she ran over and called, “Let’s go, I’m hungry! When’s dinner?”

Liao Yuan the old monk greeted her with a beaming smile, all his doubts forgotten. At this moment, he looked just like the little monk who used to circle Sis Gu decades ago, trying his best to please her, saying, “It’s ready, dinner’s been ready for ages, we were just waiting for you! Come on, let’s go eat.”

Jingxing shook his head helplessly, exchanged a glance with Zhen Du, and followed along.

Zhen Du said, “I can tell, your Shifu really likes Shizhu Gu.”

Jingxing replied, “Don’t you?”

“Yeah, I always feel Shizhu Gu is very kind, and I still owe her ten yuan.”

“So when are you going to pay her back?”

“Sigh, I’m really too poor.”

“…Oh.”

At dinner, Gu Feiyin ate three big bowls of rice. Even though the vegetarian dishes had no meat, they were salty and flavorful, really whetting the appetite. She also discovered these little monks had quite a knack for cooking. Even the pickled vegetables were crisp and delicious, not too salty. The red carrots were cut into little cubes, and the white radish skin was in thin slices. After a few days of pickling, they’d scoop them out, toss in some chili oil, and the flavor was just wonderful. She could eat several bowls of rice with just pickles.

She ate until her belly was round, even forgetting about Goddamn Heaven’s bias against her. But not long after dinner, she heard Old Master Yu, leading a bunch of little ghosts, calling out eerily at the foot of the mountain: “Master Gu… Master Gu… Master Gu, we heard you’re back…”

“Master Gu, Master Gu, come out, quick…”

“Master Gu, Master Gu, come here, quick…”

Anyone who didn’t know would think they were summoning spirits.

Gu Feiyin went out to take a look and asked what was up-had they found her pit?

Old Master Yu shrank his neck, admitting they hadn’t found her pit, but they’d managed to move the stone blocking the door of Hao-Ge’s pit. That’s a contribution, right?

Wasn’t Hao-Ge’s pit the beautiful ghost’s pit? There was plenty of treasure in there! Gu Feiyin jumped for joy, grabbing the sturdiest-looking little ghost around: “Let’s go, take a look!”

Yet, she went off excited and came back disappointed, because in the beautiful ghost’s pit there weren’t any of the treasures she’d hoped for-only some ghost fat and ghost balm that Hao-Ge and the others had scavenged. There was no mountain of gold or silver. That beautiful ghost really was a miser, moving house without leaving anything behind. Couldn’t she have left a bit? Didn’t she know the wisdom of having more than one burrow?