Chapter 4. That Heart at Ease

Luo Qingshu gently patted the little monk's bald head twice, "Although we won't be going back to the mountain, you must not neglect your practice, chanting, and studies. I've already moved the books over. I have noted how many books you read and which ones before you turned a certain age. You must not be lazy."

Mingjing remembered that her master was going to fetch scriptures. She knew it would be a long process; Tang Seng took over a decade to return, and she might have to wait a long time for her master to come back...

But knowing this didn't stop her from having a small wish. She clasped her hands together in a prayer-like gesture, looking expectantly, "Will Master come back on my birthday this year to assess me and grant me a new mark?"

Every year on her birthday, her master would test her learning progress.

In the first year, her master said she performed very well and granted her the first mark. In the second year, she completed about half of the study room and achieved good results on her exams, earning the second mark. In the third year, her master praised her diligence and said she was a little beast as cute as any human child, granting her the third mark.

Only masters could possess these marks, and her master said she had qualified to inherit Qingling Temple. Mingjing felt very proud of this because her master said it was not easy for a little beast to achieve these things. Her birthday was the day she looked forward to the most each year, as it was the moment she received new honors and the time when her master praised her the most.

She couldn't bear to think about what it would be like if her master wasn't by her side on her birthday. Just imagining it made her heart feel like it was submerged in water, wanting to cry.

Luo Qingshu remained silent, watching as tears welled up in Mingjing's clear, bright eyes, filled with anticipation.

After all, she was the little one he had raised for five years. Luo Qingshu felt all the words choke in his throat, emotions rising and falling in his heart. In the end, all that remained was the determination to overcome his illness. He slowly nodded, "Yes, I will definitely come back. Even if I can't make it back in time, I will write you a letter. Remember not to waste time and always keep in mind the four words: 'ask your heart without shame.'"

The little monk jumped up in joy, "Master, don't worry! Mingjing will study hard, get along well with humans, and practice diligently while waiting for Master to return."

Gu Zhaochen, who had been silent, watched the excited little monk and saw a reflection of his past self. Back then, when he was adopted from the welfare home, he felt just as anxious and hopeful as the little monk. Even during the second and third times, he still felt that excitement, like other children, yearning for a real mom and dad. But in the end, it was just a repetition of the previous nightmare, sometimes even worse.

One father had left him waiting at the amusement park, saying he would come back, but after three days and nights, he never returned. He knew his father would not come back.

Now, the little monk's master was saying similar things to her...

Gu Zhaochen couldn't judge whether it was true or not. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Gu Zhaochen had the most severe injuries on his arm and head; the bruises on his leg didn't hurt unless touched, and after the swelling went down, he couldn't run much, but it didn't affect his walking. After applying the medicine, Gu Zhaochen said he wanted to go back.

"I have important things at the Gu family that I must retrieve."

Mingjing immediately offered, "I'll help you get it."

Gu Zhaochen shook his head; those things could only be retrieved by him.

Mingjing knew that the two people wouldn't dare bully this human cub again, so she nodded, "We'll go to the city tomorrow. Gu Zhaochen, you get your things and meet me; bring the important items."

Gu Zhaochen nodded, silently thanking her and saying goodbye as he turned to leave.

Mingjing ran to her room, grabbed a large down jacket that could cover her little legs and could even be used as a small quilt, and rushed out to catch up with Gu Zhaochen, who had already left. "Gu Zhaochen, wear this! It's too cold on snowy days; you'll catch a cold!"

The brown down jacket was fluffy, soft, clean, warm, and beautiful. Gu Zhaochen shook his head, "No need." He was already used to it, and he was very dirty, even giving off a strange smell that would soil the little monk's clothes.

"You need to wear clothes when it's cold!" Mingjing insisted firmly, putting it on him and zipping it up.

Gu Zhaochen froze, warmth spreading from his skin to his heart, flowing through his limbs, blocking out the cold.

This was the warmest winter he had ever experienced.

Gu Zhaochen's dark eyes gazed at the little fairy in front of him, wanting to remember his appearance firmly in his heart. He pursed his lips, bent down, and tore the hem of his pants, pulling out two crumpled bills, red ones, one hundred yuan each.

The money was old, rolled up to the thickness of a French fry, and when unfolded, it revealed dirt and grease. Gu Zhaochen knew it wasn't enough, not even enough to cover medical expenses, but it was all the money he had.

He stuffed the money into the little monk's hands. Seeing her stunned expression as she tried to return it, he shook his head, "I don't need it... I didn't steal the money; I picked up bottles and cardboard to sell." It had been four years; it could have been more, but Lin Shuixiang often found out, so he had saved only this little.

A little is still a little. A child without a real father or mother must always have some money on them, so that when facing the unknown every day, they wouldn't feel completely disappointed or hopeless. He hoped the little monk would find a pair of good parents, not end up like him, living among garbage.

The money was dirty, but Mingjing felt it was as heavy as a brick in her hands. She understood what kind of life this human cub lived, so this money was especially hard-earned and precious.

After Gu Zhaochen finished speaking, he turned and walked away, getting faster and faster until he was running. No matter how loudly the little monk called after him, he didn't look back.

Mingjing had no choice but to return to her master, who was lost in thought. She asked, "Master, do you also think this human cub is too pitiful?"

Luo Qingshu came back to his senses and casually replied. In the past, he would have taken care of such matters easily; raising one was the same as raising two. But now he had to leave, so all his remaining energy was focused on arranging for the little one. Meeting someone like Gu Zhaochen, he could only send him to the welfare home.

The welfare home in Haihe City was relatively more legitimate, and he hoped the child would not encounter people like Gu Zhiming and Lin Shuixiang again.

Tomorrow, Su Shiyang would come to pick her up, and she would also leave Qingshui Town. He had a close relationship with the Su family, and the couple was upright. Sending the little one there was the result of much deliberation...

He was also continuously researching treatment plans. If there truly was a one-in-a-million chance of a miracle, he would bring her home, using his entire life and everything he could have in the future to repay the apology for leaving now.

Giving it all.

The New Year's Eve dinner prepared by the big and small was mostly vegetarian, except for fish soup and eggs.

The little monk had never been able to resist food. While making dumplings, he was drooling as he worked.

Tofu, cabbage, cucumber, tomato and egg, quail eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs...

A rich and fragrant tofu fish soup.

The little monk looked at this and that, her eyes crescent-shaped with joy, clearly looking like a greedy little bug.

However, even though the little monk was greedy, her eyes and heart were filled with desire, she stood obediently by the table, not reaching out with his hands or moving, holding her hands together like a good child.

She would occasionally drool, and her stomach would rumble.

Luo Qingshu sighed, "Do you want to eat that badly?"

It smells so good.

Mingjing nodded vigorously.

Everything had its own unique scent to her nose, even the same thing in different environments and growth stages would have different tastes in her nose and mouth.

For the past five years, her master had continuously taught her biological knowledge. Now she could determine how many days a food ingredient had been picked based on its smell, whether it was fresh or not, and if there were any pesticide residues. She also knew what kind of flavors would blend together when various ingredients were mixed, how to improve the ratios and cooking times to make dishes more delicious.

All things in nature, whether living or non-living, emitted their own unique scents. These scents fascinated her, and she could easily be lured, becoming like a little dog that had accidentally eaten poison, completely losing her rationality.

Greed and gluttony were the nature of a glutton, but she still felt sad and frustrated.

However, her master had very seriously told her that her sense of smell, taste buds, mouth, nose, and tongue, her five senses and six perceptions were rare treasures and talents in the human world. What she needed to do was learn to control them and utilize them.

Her master said that difficulties were not to be feared. When facing challenges, the only thing she could do was find a way to overcome them.

When she was three, a laboratory was built in the temple, and her master taught her to interpret everything in the human world in another way.

She learned about the physical and chemical changes of plants, animals, and non-living things. By combining her special sense of taste and smell, she could discover many interesting and useful things.

For example, with red wine, she could distinguish the subtle differences between the same formula and batch of red wine by smell and accurately identify the reasons for those differences. She could even mentally construct the entire process of quantitative and qualitative changes and what kind of flavors and tastes those changes would bring, then improve based on the feedback results.

Later, after learning some knowledge about medicinal herbs, she could distinguish the authenticity and quality of the herbs.

After understanding the components and characteristics of various gemstones, she could smell whether a raw stone contained jade and what its specific gravity and variety were.

Every living being, every individual, had the most original scent to her. What she needed to do was continuously learn and understand this world, turning the shortcomings brought by her gluttonous nature into a tool to help her understand the world.

In the past four months, her master had taken her to many restaurants and wineries. At first, people didn't believe her, but she proved her abilities through actions, earning 12,333 yuan.

She was very excited and gained a deeper understanding of her master's teachings. She also wanted to learn more about the human world. Whenever she had time, she would dive into the study room. Knowledge and food were equally important to her. When she immersed herself in learning, she even needed to set an alarm to remind herself to drink water and eat. She successfully controlled herself, becoming a little glutton who had gained wisdom and could live alongside humans. She was truly happy...

Twelve vegetarian dishes filled the table. After five years, Luo Qingshu's cooking skills could rival those of a national banquet master.

Luo Qingshu handed a pair of chopsticks to the little monk, who was eagerly watching the table, "Are you hungry? Have a little to eat first."

Mingjing took them, neatly placing them aside, climbed onto a chair, and shook her head, "I want to eat with Master."

"Okay."

Luo Qingshu would make meat dishes every once in a while, but most of the time, they were left aside to train the little one's self-control. He knew this was cruel, but for the little one's future life in the lower world, he had no choice.

Mingjing wanted to eat meat but could restrain herself because she knew her master would not hold back and would eat vegetarian food with her. They had been eating vegetarian for five years.

Her heart felt warm and painful, thinking of her master's good intentions. She could swallow her saliva completely.

Luo Qingshu set the table, took out the little monk's special golden bowl, and saw the little monk's gaze unconsciously following the bowl, filled with joy. He first scooped a full bowl of fish soup and placed it in front of her, "As usual, one bowl of fish soup."

Mingjing didn't move, waiting for her master to serve himself a bowl before lowering her head to take a sip. The delicious flavor amazed her, and her little face flushed with a rosy hue. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply, cradling the little golden bowl in her arms, her short legs swinging unconsciously. She felt like she was in paradise, at ease and carefree.

"Master, the fish soup is really delicious!"