Lanpu

Chapter 4

A horizontal line runs across her palm. This makes her unsure whether she has a love line or a career line. She also...

She had read some books on palmistry and fortune telling, but couldn't find an explanation for her specific palm shape. She hesitated.

I paused for a moment.

"Miss, may I take a look?" The fortune teller noticed Lan Pu's hesitation.

"Judging from your face, your forehead is dark and the bridge of your nose is dull. You will surely face a great calamity within three days, but Miss..."

A peculiar red aura emanated from between his brows, and the corners of his eyes sparkled with a hint of romance; this was expected to happen within three days.

"I want to see if your palm lines are..." These words immediately killed Lan Pu's interest. Another attempt to...

A sales tactic. She stood up listlessly. "Thank you, but life and death are predestined. Everything..."

"Let it be, Wan'er, let's go." Wan'er obediently replied. They walked out from behind the middle-aged man...

Seeing the disappointment in Zi's eyes, Wan'er whispered in Lan Pu's ear, "Hey, he said you're attracting some suitors!"

"Get lost, you actually believe that?" Lan Pu slapped her hand.

Walking along the main path shaded by old trees for over a hundred meters from the mountain gate of Huayan Temple, you will reach the Reception Hall. Huayan Temple

The Reception Hall is the first hall upon entering the mountain gate. Wan'er enthusiastically took out incense, "Burn incense, burn incense..."

Lan Pu chuckled. "You dare to burn this so casually?" "What's wrong?" Wan'er asked, completely bewildered.

"The Hall of Reception is a temple where one prays to the Buddha to guide deceased relatives to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Your family..."

No one's dead here, why are you burning incense like that? Maybe you've pleased the Buddha with your worship and he'll send your family away early.

"The villager has gone to the Pure Land!" "Ah?!" Wan'er stuck out her tongue again, as was her habit, and stuffed the incense stick...

In Lan Pu's hands, "Go." Lan Pu suddenly thought of Lan Ruo; it had been ten years.

Has Lan Ruo been reincarnated as a human again?

"Let's go in and take a look," Lan Pu said. Entering the Reception Hall, one finds a man-made winding stream and a bridge.

At the top stands a small stone bridge, with the inscription "奈何" (Nai He) carved at its entrance. Behind the bridge is a stone archway dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

It remained. Crossing the Bridge of Helplessness, Lanpu suddenly remembered that dream from years ago. The Hall of Reception.

The incense was burning brightly, and the blood-red wax dripping from the red candles stained the incense burner crimson. On the offering table were many...

The name cards from many people were for appointments to perform rituals. Many people were burning paper money in the bronze cauldron. (Lanpu)

Staring blankly as the flames that occasionally leaped up turned the paper money into black embers, I suddenly felt someone...

He was watching her from behind. When he turned around, his eyes met hers.

---janeadam

Reply [8]: He was a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a gray pullover sweater and black pants.

The girl's hair looked unkempt, falling messily over her forehead. Incense smoke curled in the dimly lit hall.

Amidst the swirling white mist, he stood in the shadows of the corner of the hall, staring intently at Lan Pu. Lan Pu slightly...

He was taken aback, but not nervous. There was no malice in his eyes, but rather an unusual...

He looked sad, and somewhat confused. Lan Pu looked at him carefully, confirming that she had never seen him before.

He turned and left. Wan'er had clearly noticed the man and was about to ask Lan Pu a question when Lan...

Pu stopped her with a look. The two girls left the inner hall and followed the path next to the scripture pavilion towards the seventh...

Walk over to the pagoda garden.

The man followed behind. Wan'er whispered to Lan Pu, "Your peach blossom luck is..."

"It's here!" Lan Pu pinched Wan'er's hand, and Wan'er almost jumped up. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Wan'er said defiantly. Lan Pu didn't answer, but suddenly took Wan'er's hand, turned around, and walked into..."

Bamboo grove. After taking a few steps, she sat down quietly. "What's wrong?" Wan'er asked softly. "I..."

"I don't want him to follow me anymore," they said quietly, remaining in the bamboo grove. From where they stood, one could see...

They could see the path, but not the women on it. They waited a long time, but the man never appeared.

The figures walked past. Lanpu and Wan'er turned back onto the path. The bamboo forest was quiet, from Hua...

A cool breeze blowing from the lake rustled the bamboo leaves, carrying a subtle, refreshing scent through the forest.

A mist spread across the ground. All around was quiet; not a single person passed by. "Huh?" Wan'er asked curiously.

I turned my neck; I had just seen him not far away when I turned the corner, so why is he gone?

"You saw it?" Lanpu said, tugging at Wan'er. "Perhaps they also went through the bamboo forest."

Bar.

The bamboo grove from the Sutra Repository to the Seven Buddha Pagoda isn't very large; it usually only takes about ten minutes to walk through.

Lan Pu had walked through this place countless times; she could walk through it with her eyes closed.

Something was definitely wrong that day. They had been walking for over an hour and still hadn't left that area.

In the bamboo grove, Wan'er started complaining of foot pain. "Ouch, ouch..." She plopped down in the bamboo grove.

On the bluestone. "No way, a small place like Huayan Temple, we'd get lost? Besides, you came here..."

"So many times..." As Wan'er spoke, a hint of panic began to appear in her eyes.

She clearly sensed that something was wrong.

Lan Pu had sensed something was wrong for a while. She had never walked many of these routes before, and even after ten minutes...

It's only about a kilometer away, but even if they circled the woods, they should have been there long ago.

She'd found her way out. She calmed herself down; perhaps some mysterious force was at work.

She didn't know if it was good or bad. She suddenly remembered the fortune teller's words; perhaps he had some...

What's bothering them? They have to find a way, no matter what. But what way is there?

Lan Pu suddenly remembered that her master had given her a talisman before he left. If it was the work of yin energy, then…

I'll just have to try and see if it works. Lan Pu was about to break off a bamboo branch to draw a talisman when she heard a sound coming from the other side of the bamboo grove.

The rustling sound reached Wan'er's ears as well. They exchanged a glance and looked towards the source of the sound.

He walked in that direction. After walking several dozen steps, he was startled to see a grave in the bamboo grove.

Huayan Temple no longer has any graves; the Seven Buddha Pagoda serves as a temporary resting place for ashes. (Two)

The girl mustered her courage and took a few steps forward, then clearly saw the stone tablet standing in front of the grave:

The six large characters, "Tomb of My Beloved Wife Lanpu," were boldly engraved in black Song typeface. Wan'er grabbed Lanpu.

Her hands trembled violently, and she finally couldn't help but scream.

"Senior sister, senior sister..." Someone shook Lan Pu's shoulder frantically, and Lan Pu woke up with a start.

She found Wan'er leaning on her shoulder. Wan'er also suddenly woke up; they were sitting in the bamboo grove.

He was asleep on the rock. It was all a dream. Lanpu wiped the sweat from his brow and realized that they had been called...

It was Wugen. Wugen was a young novice monk waiting in Abbot Xinyue's room. "Wugen, what brings you here?"

"My master told me to come here to find you. He said you were in the bamboo forest." Lan Pu gently exhaled.

Her breath. How did she end up sleeping here? She shook her head in confusion. Wan'er's hand gently reached out...

He grabbed her, and Lan Pu turned her head, only to find that Wan'er was clearly terrified.

A sense of unease settled over me. Had we had the same dream? Was it a dream or reality?

As Lan Pu reached the door of the abbot's room, he heard Master Xinyue reciting scriptures. (Wugen Tui)

He opened the door to the abbot's room and left. Master Xinyue stopped chanting. She didn't raise her head, only remained silent.

He said, "If demons arise in the heart, they will surely perish on their own." Lanpu sat down in front of Master Xinyue.

"Why did I encounter demons?" Master Xinyue didn't answer, but said, "Go tomorrow."

"Take a trip to Laojun Cave; Master Zixu might be looking for you."

By the time Master Zixu appeared, Lanpu had already drunk a cup of tea until it was as clear as water.

Lan Pu never went to the main hall to see Master Zixu; he always preferred to drink tea in the tea pavilion.

Master Xu would always know of her arrival, and when he had time, he would sit and drink tea with her. Lao Jun Cave uses...

A century-old well yields sweet and refreshing water; Lanpu's favorite spot is the simple bamboo shed and stone benches of Laojun Cave.

The pavilion, the simple tea set—everything is rustic and natural. Surrounded by greenery and a gentle breeze, one can leisurely look down upon the surroundings.

The bustling city below.

---janeadam

Reply [9]: Yesterday was a sunny day in the warm spring of March, but overnight spring rain began to fall and blanket the entire area.

In the city, sitting halfway up Lao Jun Cave, Lan Pu simply held her tea and calmly watched the light rain, mist, and clouds drift by in the mountains.

drift.

"Is the tea as bland as water, or is the heart as bland as water?" Master Zixu's hearty laughter echoed behind Lan Pu.

A voice rang out. "None of that, just a person as serene as water," Lan Pu turned around and responded with a gentle smile. "This..."

It's a talisman your master gave you, and specifically instructed you to be extra careful during this period.

After giving some perfunctory explanations, he hesitated before saying, "I originally wanted you to stay at the temple for a few nights..."

"Alright, you must be careful in everything you do." Lan Pu smiled faintly and accepted the gift. An old man and a young man...

After chatting casually for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Lanpu got up to say goodbye.

Master Zixu did not see him off at the temple gate. As he was leaving, Lanpu smiled faintly and said, "Life and death are determined by fate."

"Fate, Master, why are you so concerned about Lan Pu's life and death? What's meant to happen will happen; there's no escaping it."