Chapter 27: Master Kongzhi

At this moment, the abbot of the temple stepped forward, greeting them. “Master Kongzhi has told me this morning that a great benefactor would arrive today. Indeed, it is the Old Madam. I have failed in not greeting you properly, my apologies. Amitabha Buddha,” he said, pressing his palms together in reverence.

Old Madam quickly returned the gesture. “Thank you, Master. You mentioned that Master Kongzhi is here as well?”

Master Kongzhi was a renowned monk, often traveling to various temples. Old Madam had come to the temple many times before, but they had only met a few times in passing.

“Indeed, please, follow me,” the abbot replied, glancing briefly at Xia Qingfeng and Xu Xiaoxiao behind Old Madam. He gave a slight nod and motioned for them to follow.

That brief glance left Xia Qingfeng feeling slightly disoriented. She exchanged a look with Xu Xiaoxiao, and the two quietly fell behind.

“Xiaoxiao, did you see that? The monk smiled at me. What do you think that means? It’s a bit creepy,” Xia Qingfeng murmured, still feeling unsettled.

“Mom, he also looked at me. I don’t think he means any harm, but he might be able to tell something about us. Let’s stay alert,” Xu Xiaoxiao responded, her tone calm but cautious.

“Let’s wait and see. If anything happens, we can just hide in the space. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine!” Xia Qingfeng reassured her daughter, but her grip on Xu Xiaoxiao’s hand tightened.

The group walked toward the back of the temple, where the Zen hall stood. A young monk stepped forward to greet them, opening the doors for them. The abbot led the way, and everyone followed inside.

The hall was simple yet peaceful, with the scent of incense thick in the air. In the center, a monk sat cross-legged on a mat, his robes loose and flowing. His face was gaunt but serene, and his eyes exuded an aura of mystery as he meditated.

The abbot approached him and spoke in a low voice. “Master, the people you were expecting have arrived.”

Upon hearing this, Master Kongzhi slowly opened his eyes. His gaze immediately fell upon Xia Qingfeng and her daughter. His eyes, though calm, carried a deep meaning that both women instinctively felt.

Master Kongzhi stood up with measured grace, his wooden sandals making soft sounds against the floor as he walked toward Old Madam. With his palms pressed together, he greeted her: “Amitabha Buddha. Old Madam, you seem to be in much better health. It seems your body has recovered well.”

“You are correct, Master. It is this young lady, Summer, who helped me. I feel much lighter now,” Old Madam replied, gently pulling Xia Qingfeng forward.

Master Kongzhi looked at Xia Qingfeng with a slight smile. “The Old Madam has great merit; she is destined to overcome any obstacles.”

Old Madam then hesitated before asking, “Master, do you know how Qiyuan is doing? The young man has suffered greatly, and I’ve heard he is still recovering. But I can’t help but worry. I’ve always treated him like my own grandson.”

Master Kongzhi’s eyes shifted to Xia Qingfeng. “Madam should be more familiar with General Cang’s condition,” he said, his voice steady, but there was a knowing smile in his eyes.

Xia Qingfeng coughed lightly before responding, “Indeed, his injuries were serious, but the treatment was timely. There is no danger to his life. He is young and has a strong constitution. He should recover soon… probably faster than expected.” 

In truth, with the help of the space, Cang Qiyuan’s injuries had healed completely. The wounds had left no scars, and his physical condition had returned to normal. However, he had yet to regain consciousness. Xia Qingfeng could only offer this explanation for now.

“That is good news. Good news indeed. Amitabha Buddha,” Old Madam said, clasping her palms together and praying with sincerity.

Master Kongzhi then turned to Xia Qingfeng and Xu Xiaoxiao with a gentle smile. “Would you both like to take a walk with me to the back mountain? The garden there is full of blooming gardenias, and I think you will both enjoy the sight.”

Xia Qingfeng could sense that Master Kongzhi was no ordinary monk. Though she wasn’t sure of his exact motives, she knew she couldn’t avoid the encounter. With a reluctant glance at Xu Xiaoxiao, she followed Master Kongzhi up the mountain. Old Madam and the servants stayed behind, heading to the Zen hall to rest.

The path to the back mountain was serene. The towering pine trees cast shadows over lush grass, and rows of gardenia trees stretched along the trail, their green leaves vibrant against the white blossoms that dotted the branches. The air was thick with the sweet fragrance of the flowers.

Xia Qingfeng paused for a moment, inhaling the scent of the gardenias before slowly closing her eyes. It was as if the world around her had faded into silence, leaving only the scent and the stillness of the mountain.

Master Kongzhi pressed his palms together in a prayerful gesture and murmured, “Amitabha Buddha, the benefactor has arrived.”

Xia Qingfeng’s eyes snapped open at his words, only to notice a sudden, radiant glow emanating from the temple behind her. Her gaze darted toward the source of the light, and in that instant, something strange happened. Within the space she had access to, Cang Qiyuan stirred, his eyelids fluttering open as if the same force that had caused the glow had also reached him.

“Master, what’s happening?” Xia Qingfeng couldn’t suppress the confusion that clouded her mind. 

Master Kongzhi, with his calm expression, answered, his voice soft but meaningful: “It is fate, all has been foreordained. The one who will save the people has finally found you. The people will be saved.”

Before Xia Qingfeng could process the meaning of his words, Master Kongzhi turned and began walking away, his footsteps light as if he were floating above the ground.

“Wait!” Xia Qingfeng called out, but Master Kongzhi did not stop. He simply walked away without a glance back, leaving Xia Qingfeng in a whirlwind of questions.

She turned to Xu Xiaoxiao, bewilderment written on her face. “Xiaoxiao, did you hear what the old monk just said? What does it mean, ‘the one who will save the people’? And what was all that about fate and foreordination?”

Xu Xiaoxiao frowned, clearly deep in thought. “It seems like we have a role to play here. When Master Kongzhi said ‘the people will be saved,’ it almost sounded like something big is coming. Could it be that the people of Dayu are about to face a disaster?”

Xia Qingfeng shook her head, not wanting to believe it. “It can’t be, right? Just the two of us, how could we possibly save a whole people?” Despite her disbelief, she couldn’t shake the strange sensation that something far beyond her understanding was at play.

She then turned to the space, feeling the weight of the questions pressing in. “Space Spirit, what’s going on? Why did we come here? What’s Master Kongzhi talking about?”

She called out repeatedly, but there was no answer. “Space Spirit? Space Spirit?”

A brief silence passed before she tried again. “Hello, are you there?”

Nothing.

“Maybe it’s gone into hibernation again,” she muttered in frustration. She wasn’t sure if the Space Spirit was ignoring her or just too dormant to respond. She pulled Xu Xiaoxiao along as she entered the space, hoping for some answers.

Inside, Xia Qingfeng checked on Cang Qiyuan, who was still in his deep slumber. He hadn’t woken up, and it seemed like nothing had changed. With no other recourse, they left the space and returned to the temple.

When they arrived back at the Zen hall, the servants had already prepared everything. The space was quiet, with a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the chaotic whirl of thoughts in Xia Qingfeng’s mind.

The servants from Old Madam’s side came to invite them to the dining hall. Xia Qingfeng nodded and asked Silver Willow to bring the jar of cornmeal food she had prepared earlier. Together, they made their way to Old Madam’s quarters.

Old Madam, upon seeing Xia Qingfeng, warmly hooked her arm through hers, and the Madam of the Marquis also invited Xu Xiaoxiao to join them for the meal at the dining hall. Everyone had seen the golden light earlier, and the fact that Master Kongzhi had requested to meet with only these two women left people speculating that they must be the “great benefactors” the abbot had spoken of.

Upon arriving at the dining hall, Silver Willow immediately went to the kitchen with the food, which was being steamed by the monks. The sweet aroma of cornmeal quickly filled the air, making it impossible for several little novices to resist peeking inside the kitchen, their little heads sticking out.

Before long, the food was served, and Silver Willow placed a large bamboo steamer on the table. Old Madam, seeing the food was clearly prepared for her, couldn’t help but notice the children’s eager expressions as they eyed the food. Realizing they would not be able to finish it all by themselves, both Old Madam and Xia Qingfeng decided to share. They instructed Silver Willow and Summer Lotus to bring the rest of the steamed food from the kitchen. Soon, everyone in the dining hall had a serving of the fresh, delicious food.

Master Kongzhi and the abbot, hearing about the meal, also joined them. The air in the hall became serene, almost spiritual, as the group ate together in a peaceful atmosphere.

After the meal, the abbot approached Xia Qingfeng’s table, his hands folded in prayer. “Amitabha Buddha,” he said, his voice calm. “Half a year ago, when the lady and the young lady came here to offer incense, Master Kongzhi sensed a deep Buddhist affinity between you both. He invited you to stay, to meditate and offer prayers, and to bless the West Ping Marquis Manor. Master Kongzhi will be giving a sermon in a few days, and we hope the lady and the young lady will attend to listen.”

Xia Qingfeng looked to Old Madam, who seemed a bit surprised but gave a slight nod of approval. 

The abbot then left, and Old Madam turned to Xia Qingfeng. “This arrangement is even better. This way, you can remain here in the temple until the West Ping Marquis comes to pick you up.”

As the abbot departed the dining hall, Master Kongzhi, who had been waiting outside, could no longer hold back his thoughts and spoke to his disciple. “Why would you, a senior monk, break your vow for these two women? What is the reasoning behind that?”

Master Kongzhi, with a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his face, responded, “For the sake of the people of the world, breaking a small vow is nothing. In this world, old monks like me still have a role to play.” He chuckled and then turned to his disciple, Yuan Zhen. “So, how do you find today’s golden yellow steamed buns?”

Yuan Zhen, who had been savoring the meal, smiled brightly. “They’re delicious, Master. Golden in color and sweet in taste.”

“Do you want more?” Master Kongzhi’s voice carried a hint of playful satisfaction. “I’m sure only they can make such a delicacy.”

After this, he turned and left, leaving behind a faint aura of mystery.