"Since that year, both the child and man generously donated to the temple every year. Both of them seemed to have some background. It was because of them and some other generous devotees that we were able to renovate the temple and took care of it", the monk said.
As they were talking, they passed by open space. Yan Xing saw many children crowding in the open space. They were all below ten years.
In the open space, the monks ladled a bowl of porridge with vegetables and were serving the children.
The monk paused and said, "They are all orphans from the capital city and other places"
Yan Xing nodded his head and as they came closer to the children, he noticed that some children had bruises on their skin and some were even handicapped.
Yan Xing frowned at the sight of those children. Jingsheng noticed it too.
Noticing Yan Xing and Jingsheng's facial expressions, the monk hurriedly explained, "These children were brought back by the benefactor just a few days ago from the remote area of Lan city. They were all abducted by some men who were harboring ill intentions but they were lucky enough to be rescued by the benefactor on time"
Yan Xing nodded in understanding as he rubbed the head of the little child who happened to queue in front of him.
The child was taken aback by Yan Xing's action and staggered back. Yan Xing bent down and lightly touched the child's bruised cheek. He smiled at the child and asked, "Little one, what is your name?"
Clang!!
"Waa..waa..", the child dropped the bowl in his hand and started crying. Behind him, Jingsheng quickly took out a moon cake and handed it to Yan xing.
Yan Xing rubbed his nose not knowing what to do. He took the moon cake from Jingsheng's hand and stuffed it into the child's hand while saying, "Don't.. don't cry, brother won't hurt you"
Taking the child into his arms, Yan Xing asked, "Who hurt you? Tell big brother"
"Uncle.. bad uncle..", the child sniffed and said with a stutter.
The child looked to be only seven or eight years. His body was so thin and malnourished.
"The children were traumatized by the incident and so they are all wary of strangers. if not for the benefactor...", the monk sighed.
Hearing the word benefactor, the child in Yan Xing's arms brightened his eyes and said, " Fairy... Fairy Jie Jie1"
"Fairy Jie Jie!", Yan Xing raised his brows in curiosity.
The monk gave a warm smile and said, " That's what the children here address the benefactor. They said that when they were in their darkest times without any ray of hope, Benefactor came to them like a fairy and rescued them"
"It's a lady! Is she from the capital", Yan Xing asked.
The monk shook his head and replied, "I don't know and no one knows her identity or background. We only know that she is a very kind lady and might be from the pugilist world. She had helped save many lost and abused children and rescued and brought back many orphans. She sends the orphan here and all their necessities are provided by her too. If she can't come, then she sends her maid. She had never neglected the children. The houses near the temple are all built by her for children. We are only responsible for looking after them"
"She is very kind and generous", Yan Xing said with a smile on his face.
Yan Xing put down the child in his arms and helped him get a bowl of porridge and vegetables. The monks offered them food too and both Yan Xing and Jingsheng didn't hesitate to accept the food and sat down to eat it beside the children.
It was already past noon and they were hungry too.
When they started eating, they were quite surprised. The rice and ingredients were all of the best qualities and there were even medicinal plants mixed in it. Not to mention that it taste quite delicious and was healthy. It was simply tailor-made to nourish the children.
Yan Xing and Jingsheng quietly looked at each other and silently finished the food.
After the meal, Yan Xing motioned at Jingsheng. Getting a hint from Yan Xing, Jingsheng took out a small pouch from his label and handed it to the monk.
The monk was taken aback and didn't reach out his hand to accept the money pouch.
"Please.. it's for the children. Since master said that we might have been brought here by fate then you should accept it, besides we were able to satiate our hunger here", Yan Xing said.
The monk no longer hesitated after hearing what Yan Xing said and took the money pouch.
"Thank you two benefactors for your generosity", He then deeply bowed toward Yan Xing and Jingsheng.
"Amitabha Buddha", the monk muttered
After touring the temple and its surroundings, Yan Xing and Jingsheng mounted their horses and left after exchanging a few words of pleasantries with the monk.
The monk watched them go and looked at their backs disappearing inside the Cathaya forest. He sighed and pinched his fingers as if calculating something. After a while, he muttered, "The red strings... the wheels of the fate of these two are bound to crash into each other... don't know which one will be overturned"
He deeply sighed and turned back to go into the temple.
Inside the Cathaya forest, Jingsheng looked at Yan Xing and said, "Your Highness, do you think the child that the monk mentioned earlier is Second Miss Zhao?"
Yan Xing had a light smile hanging on his lips ever since he left the temple.
"Maybe, maybe not", Yan Xing replied.
"Then, do you think that child and the lady called Fairy Jie Jie are the same people?", Jingsheng asked again.
"Maybe, maybe not", Yan Xing gave back the same reply.
Jingsheng rolled his eyes in annoyance and decided to shut his mouth. Talking with Yan Xing will simply annoy him to death. But he also knew that Yan Xing might be thinking about something and decided not to disturb him.
After a while, Yan Xing suddenly asked, " Do you remember what happened outside the Lan City a few days ago?"
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1. Jie Jie: Sister