A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 162 Ci’an Temple

Ci'an Temple is located in the southwest outside the city. Incense burns continuously here, and a large Buddha statue is enshrined.

They observed the temple, and Xiang He went to find the abbot, only to learn from a young monk that he was located in the back mountain.

This Ci'an Temple is very large, enough for them to stay inside for a while.

Xiang He and Zhu Nan followed the little monk to the back mountain. The back mountain was clear and bright, with white doves circling among the forest.

In an open space, a monk was feeding pigeons.

“Esteemed benefactor, that is the abbot. Please come over there on your own.”

"Thank you, little master."

After the young monk had gone far away, Xiang He walked over alone, while Zhu Nan watched from afar.

The abbot's hands were empty of food. He stood up and saw Xiang He beside him. He put his hands together and bowed slightly. "Have you come to feed the pigeons, benefactor?"

"No, I've come to see you."

The abbot was not surprised, but simply shrugged and continued talking as he walked.

Xiang He sized up the abbot's appearance; he had a full forehead and a round chin, clearly the compassionate face described by Buddha.

"Did the master know the national preceptor of Longguang Temple?"

"We are fairly familiar with each other and occasionally exchange ideas on religious doctrines, learn from each other's teachings, and promote understanding between Taoism and Buddhism."

Upon hearing this, Xiang He paused for a moment, and after much deliberation, spoke, "Last September, did the master notice any unusual celestial lightning phenomenon? Approaching the direction of Jiayang Pass."

The abbot, whose expression was usually composed, frowned slightly. "I haven't noticed this before. Jiayang Pass is too far away, so it's normal that we can't find it."

"Didn't you sense anything?" Xiang He tightened her grip on the umbrella. "Did anything happen in the capital in September? Like a dark moon during the day, or nights as bright as day?"

The abbot shook his head upon hearing this, saying, "Such strange phenomena have never occurred before."

Seeing Xiang He looking distressed, the abbot raised his head slightly and looked up at the sky, "However... it rained for three consecutive days in September, which was the hottest time of the year, and the rain was strange."

Seemingly having grasped the situation, Xiang He hurriedly asked, "What's so strange about it?"

The abbot recalled in detail, “For three days, it was cloudy without thunder, and the smell of mud was very strong. Crows flew low over the back mountain and called out intermittently for three days.”

Xiang He looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a lush, green forest that exuded vibrant life in spring.

"The crows fly low..."

When it rains and the weather changes, crows will fly low, but in another sense, this is an ominous sign.

The abbot nodded slightly, looking at Xiang He's face, then lowered his eyes and clasped his hands together, "Isn't that what you're asking about, benefactor?"

Xiang He's heart skipped a beat. After a moment of stunned silence, he nodded. "I'd like to ask the master if he has ever witnessed the art of soul swapping?"

"A soul-swapping technique?"

“Hmm,” she turned to look at the distant mountains, “one person died and his soul was no more, while the soul of another person entered that dead body and survived by relying on his soul.”

Her delicate face remained expressionless, her dark eyes were perfectly calm, as if she were talking about something completely ordinary, but to the abbot, it was anything but ordinary.

The abbot, dressed in a yellow kasaya, said calmly, "I have never witnessed the art of soul swapping. You may wish to seek out the Imperial Preceptor. He is knowledgeable and should be able to answer your questions."

Finding no answer, Xiang He turned and walked toward the temple, with the abbot following behind.

"Does the master know about time travel? It means that a soul, whether ancient or ancient, can arrive in a strange place and possess the body of a stranger."

The question caused the abbot to remain silent for a moment before he replied, "Buddha spoke of reincarnation, supernatural powers, and entering dreams through meditation; I have never heard of time travel."

He slightly raised his eyes to look into the distance. "Your experience is extraordinary. Are you perhaps seeking a way home?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang He's eyes lit up. "Master, you have a method?!"

The abbot simply shook his head. “I am helpless. I will pretend I did not hear what you said today. I hope you can find a way home.”

Hearing this, he felt a pang of disappointment, but smiled faintly and thanked He, saying, "Thank you, Master, for disturbing you."

He clasped his hands together and shook his head, saying, "Don't be discouraged, benefactor. Heaven has its own arrangements."

After expressing their gratitude again, Xiang He and Zhu Nan left the back mountain. The abbot watched Xiang He's slender figure and sighed, "Life is unpredictable; it is all about the arising and ceasing of fate."

-

The disappointment lasted only a moment before Xiang He rallied his spirits and entered the main hall to pay his respects repeatedly.

As I turned to leave, I noticed that the mother and daughter who had gone up the mountain were still there, with the woman kneeling on a prayer mat and praying with her eyes closed.

The woman beside her looked on with worry, until the woman opened her eyes, raised her head, clasped her hands together, and said again, "Buddha, please bless my son and cure his serious illness. He will be taking the imperial examination soon, and we can't let him make a mistake at the last minute..."

Upon hearing the prayer, Xiang He's brow twitched slightly. Just as he was about to take a step forward, the woman, due to her leg injury, nearly threw herself and her daughter to the ground.

Xiang He quickly reached out to support them, preventing them from falling to the ground.

The woman grasped Xiang He's hand and thanked her repeatedly, "Thank you so much, young lady, thank you so much..."

"You are Welcome."

Xiang He released her hand and looked at her feet.

The woman immediately understood and smiled helplessly, "It's an old problem. I fell and hurt my leg before, and it can't be fully healed."

"Madam, please massage your acupoints more often, otherwise your lameness will worsen."

Upon hearing this, the woman's eyes lit up with surprise, "Young lady, you know medicine?"

"I know a little," Xiang He bowed slightly. "Judging from the way Madam walks, she must have broken her shinbone. Even after the injury heals, she should massage it more often, otherwise the muscles will become more and more contracted if they don't get enough stretch."

She was just saying it casually, but to her surprise, the woman grabbed her wrist and said excitedly, "Young lady, could you please come and see my son? He has had a fever for several days, and the doctor prescribed medicine, but he hasn't gotten better. I had no other choice but to come and pray to the gods and Buddhas... It seems that Buddha has been effective!"

"..."

"Mother!" The woman reached out and pulled the woman's hand down, apologizing earnestly to Xiang He, "I was so rude, Mother was just flustered, that's why..."

"It's nothing," Xiang He took a step back to avoid being pulled again, "Tell me about the symptoms, maybe I have a solution, it would be a good deed for the day."

"Thank you so much, young lady!"

The woman, also agitated, supported the older woman, saying, "My brother suddenly developed a fever about two weeks ago, which lasted for several days. We consulted a doctor and got some medicine, but he only felt better for half a day before the fever returned at night. Recently, however, he feels cold during the day and has a fever at night but is chilly during the day. The doctor really can't do anything about it..."

"It's hot at night and cold during the day..." Xiang He gently pinched her chin, "Have you experienced this symptom before?"

"No……"

"Was he in poor health before? Was he often weak and listless?"

The two shook their heads again, the woman's eyes filled with worry, "He's always been very healthy and robust since he was a child, but he suddenly became like this half a month ago, and we don't know what happened..."

"Suddenly?" Xiang He pondered for a moment. "Did he have any personal belongings with him?"

The woman was stunned for a moment, and only when the woman next to her shook her hand did she react. She quickly took out a purse and said, "Why do you want to see his personal belongings? This is the jade pendant he has worn since he was a child. I came to pray to Buddha in good faith, so I brought it with me."

She handed over the jade pendant, and Xiang He immediately took a step back, raising her hand to stop her. "Just look at it like this."

The woman didn't understand, but she did as she was told.

Xiang He looked at the jade pendant in her hand, which was bright green, but there was black energy swirling beneath the bright spot.

"It's hard to explain in just a few words. Where does Madam live? I'll go and see her in a bit."