CHAPTER 414: CHAPTER 363: WHO IS THE ONE THAT OPENED THE WOUND?

I don’t know why, even though what he said was true, Shang Ruyi always felt that his words were somewhat deliberate.

Like he meant to tease Xiao Yuansui.

However, no matter what, Xiao Yuansui had already lost to him twice, so there was really no need for him to speak in such a teasing manner. It made him seem a bit petty.

It was unbefitting the demeanor of a noble son.

Sure enough, after he said this, Yu Wenye immediately furrowed his brows, as if he also felt it was inappropriate. A hint of regret appeared on his face, he sighed long, and then said, "I’ll be going now."

After speaking, he stood up, left the dining hall, and headed towards the dormitory.

Watching his back, Shang Ruyi seemed to sense something as well. When she turned back again, she barely managed to smile at Shen Wuzheng and said, "He doesn’t usually talk like that."

"..."

Shen Wuzheng watched Yu Wenye leave without any expression and then looked at Shang Ruyi, who seemed to be explaining to him. His eyes seemed to brighten and then dim slightly.

After a while, he faintly smiled and said, "Little sister, you don’t have to explain this to me."

"Ah, oh."

Shang Ruyi also felt that these words were somewhat unnecessary.

She smiled awkwardly.

Shen Wuzheng looked at her for a moment longer and then said, "However, you seem to have some grievances against Xiao Yuansui as well."

Shang Ruyi said, "This person once used our convoy to evade Wang Shaoji’s pursuit, and I fell out with Wang Shaoji because of it; later, I gave him some food. Although it wasn’t much of a favor, it was at least a kind gesture; yet when he was at Xingluo Granary, he actually sent people to capture me into Warehouse City. This time, when we returned from Jiangdu, he blocked us on the road with Liang Shide..."

At this point, Shang Ruyi said lightly, "It seems, it’s just as brother said."

"..."

"Maybe, this is his true self."

Shen Wuzheng thought for a moment, then sighed lightly and said, "In these chaotic times, countless things happen every day, and these things change many people from different perspectives. The person you think is like this may turn into another in places you do not see."

"..."

"So, don’t be too stubborn in believing in some people and things. What you should most believe in, is yourself."

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi found it enlightening and nodded gently.

Looking up at Shen Wuzheng’s gentle gaze, she smiled and said, "And also brother."

Shen Wuzheng smiled and said, "That goes without saying."

The siblings exchanged smiles.

After chatting for a while, they left the dining hall and returned to their respective rooms to rest.

When Shang Ruyi returned to her room, she saw Yu Wenye sitting on the cushion outside.

It was apparent that he didn’t want to go to bed to rest, but he also didn’t have the mindset to meditate on the cushion. He just sat there, with his face showing a bit of unpleasantness.

As soon as he saw Shang Ruyi push the door open and come in, he instinctively turned his face to the side.

Seeing him like this, Shang Ruyi’s steps hesitated for a moment.

At this moment, a loud series of footsteps suddenly sounded behind her. Turning back to look, she saw Shantong’er running over like a little calf, almost bumping into her.

Upon seeing Shang Ruyi at the door and Yu Wenye sitting in the room, Shantong’er immediately stopped and cheerfully said, "Yu Wen’s second brother, Sister Ruyi."

Both of them were taken aback.

They had never been called this before, especially Shang Ruyi, who found it quite fresh and amusing, feeling even a bit closer to the child.

So, she took him into the house, smiled, and said, "Where have you run off to this time, all sweaty."

Shantong’er said, "I just saw outside that the two full carts of grain have been completely distributed."

"So fast?"

"Yes, all the grain bags were turned bottom up."

Shantong’er shook her head and sighed, "These two carts of grain could have lasted me a long time, yet in just half a day, they were all distributed."

Instinctively, Shang Ruyi glanced at Yu Wenye, only to see him gently brushing one hand across, as if trying to smooth the corner of his mouth that had curved up, but he couldn’t quite manage it. When he looked up at Shang Ruyi, both of them couldn’t help but laugh.

Shang Ruyi laughed and said, "At least the people in the city won’t go hungry for a while now. Besides, we still have many carts of grain."

Shantong’er said, "It’s not just people in the city. I’ve just heard that now even people from nearby provinces are coming over upon hearing that Yu Wen’s second brother is distributing grain here."

"Really?"

"Monks do not lie. The master is worried that too many people will come, causing chaos in the city, especially fearing they might disturb the temple’s Bodhisattva. So, they specifically sent senior brothers outside to settle things."

Yu Wenye, upon hearing this, slightly frowned, "Seems I’ve caused them trouble."

Shantong’er hurriedly waved his hand, "No trouble at all, though they are busy, everyone says this is a good thing. The master also said, that second brother, you’ve done a great deed, and in the future, you’re sure to receive great rewards."

"...!"

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s heart was slightly moved.

But looking back at Yu Wenye, she saw his indifferent expression, only waving his hand to say, "I’m not doing this for rewards, but for my own purposes, and the rewards probably won’t befall me. As long as I achieve my purpose, it’s enough."

Shang Ruyi looked back at him again.

Shantong’er seemed not to have expected that someone would so stubbornly hold onto their beliefs and completely not believe in the God Buddha, and couldn’t help but ask, "Second Brother, why don’t you believe in the God Buddha, why don’t you believe in the Bodhisattva?"

It seemed as if feeling Shang Ruyi’s gaze, Yu Wenye looked at her once, then looked at Shantong’er, and said, "If I and my rival both do the good deeds you speak of, and we compete, who will the God Buddha let win?"

"..."

"If my enemy cultivates better than I do, and the God Buddha lets him win, then all my previous good deeds, are they considered good fruits or retribution?"

"..."

Shantong’er, after all, was still young and not well-versed in the Buddhist Law, was rendered speechless by his question.

Even Shang Ruyi was stunned.

Yu Wenye looked at them and then said faintly, "Therefore, I don’t believe the God Buddha can offer me anything. I only believe that by doing every task well myself, I can achieve my goals."

"..."

Shantong’er blinked her big eyes, still unable to speak, her small face holding the expression of being hit on the head by a large rock, dizzy, and unable to distinguish direction.

Shang Ruyi felt he was bullying the child, and hurriedly said to Shantong’er, "Alright, we’ve learned about matters outside, you go down and help first. Later, I’ll also go and help with the grain distribution."

"Oh, oh."

Shantong’er nodded woodenly, reached out to scratch his round bald head, appearing utterly confused, and slowly turned to leave.

His steps seemed to lack the steadiness they had when he arrived, causing Shang Ruyi to smile wryly before turning back to look at Yu Wenye, "Why say such things to the child?"

"..."

"In chaotic times, people having some beliefs, some solace, what’s wrong with that?"

"..."

Yu Wenye was silent for a while, then softly said, "I think that if people trust in others and matters too much, they are prone to go astray."

Though he remained stubborn in his views, his tone was much gentler.

Listening to his words made her recall Shen Wuzheng’s words earlier, but the feeling they conveyed was completely different.

No wonder, she always felt they secretly harbored animosity.

Seeing her spacing out while looking at him, Yu Wenye said, "What’s the matter?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "Nothing."

She slowly walked over, sat on the cushion beside Yu Wenye, and the two exchanged a look, both recalling the last time they sat so close together.

Yu Wenye suddenly said, "Your memory really is excellent."

Shang Ruyi knew he remembered her memorizing the map of Wanggang Village he had laid out with stones and merely smiled lightly but then recalled the matter of Wanggang Village and asked, "By the way, now, it seems the people of Wanggang Village haven’t come yet."

Yu Wenye said, "They will naturally be very cautious about this matter."

"..."

"However, just like a grain sack, as long as a hole can be opened, the grain will continue to spill out, and they will continue to come."

Shang Ruyi’s eyes flickered, "Who is the one to open the hole then?"

Yu Wenye glanced at her, didn’t speak for a while, only gave a faint smile.

|

However, in the following two days, although many from the surrounding counties came to collect grain, they still didn’t see anyone from Wanggang Village come.

By the second day’s evening, the sky was ablaze with sunset clouds.

The ground, having absorbed the day’s fierce sun, began to release its scorching heat, making Yanyue City feel like a steamer, even standing under the shaded trees outside the temple, everyone was still drenched in sweat.

Shang Ruyi was no exception.

But she did not complain, only using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off her forehead and continued to pack a bag of grain, handing it to an old nun with a hunched back. The old nun received the bag, repeatedly thanking Shang Ruyi, "Amitabha Buddha, thank you, lady benefactor."

Shang Ruyi smiled and instructed Shantong’er beside her, "Shantong’er, help Master take the grain to the city gate and then come back."

"Alright!"

That day, Shantong’er had already helped countless elderly and weak people, becoming quite adept at it. He immediately picked up the grain bag and assisted the old nun, the old and the young departing together.

Watching their backs, Shang Ruyi smiled gently.

At that moment, a breeze blew by.

The breeze came suddenly yet carried considerable coolness, seeming to sweep away the stifling feeling in the heart and the fatigue on the body instantly. Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but let out a long, comfortable sigh, raising her head.

In a daze, she seemed to see a cloud.

She paused for a moment, then looked carefully, realizing it was a white-robed monk standing across the street. This person was tall, cloaked in a snow-white monk’s robe fluttering in the breeze. More importantly, despite the sweltering weather, he had wrapped his head in a cloth, concealing his head and the lower half of his face, leaving only a pair of bright eyes exposed.

No wonder at first glance, he appeared like a drifting light cloud.

However, his eyes were extraordinarily clear, with a distant gaze, seemingly capable of parting the clouds to look down upon the world from the sky.

It appeared he was watching her.