"… This Fahai was not noticeable when he was a child, but twenty years later, his personality is so similar to that of the old monk Zhenhai. He is so stubborn. I am afraid that Master Fajing cannot argue with him, so he is like this now."
The inn was filled with noisy voices. On the east side of the inn, which was gathered in the lobby, there was a small wooden stage. Sitting on a round stool, a woman holding a pipa was plucking the strings. Each sound was as clear as the tinkling of a brook. She raised her little mouth and sang the soft Wu tune.
'… I recall the past memories of West Lake. I remember the tearful farewell of the green plums in the alley.
The gentle waves, green leaves, and falling lotus flowers, the young man fanned himself and stayed on the bridge...'
Ding ding ding…
The sound of the pipa was mixed with the noisy hall. Lu Liangsheng glanced at the stage where the music was being performed, took a sip of the light tea, and in the lingering fragrance, he saw Hong Lian holding up her chin and puffing up her cheeks and staring at him. The scholar laughed, put down the teacup and continued:
"Wait until the rain stops tomorrow, and go to the pagoda to take a look at the center of the formation. If you encounter this Fahai who is unable to slay the demon, you can help him. After all, you are Master Fajing's junior brother."
Lu Liangsheng paused here, thought about it, and added: "Actually, she can be considered a disciple." Seeing Hong Lian still puffing up her cheeks and raising her chopsticks, the woman quickly calmed her cheeks, snorted, and took the tea in front of Lu Liangsheng. The tea in it suddenly lost its color and became bland.
"Then when the rain stops tomorrow, we can go sightseeing in West Lake during the day."
After Lu Liangsheng finished speaking, Hong Lian on the opposite side tilted her pretty face up and shook it, her eyes slanted towards the window frame, a 'successful' smile occasionally appearing at the corners of her red lips.
Soon, the waiter brought the dishes and reported the names of the dishes one by one. He also explained the origins of the dishes. He also talked about the beautiful scenery of West Lake, the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the Gem Mountain and other places worth visiting. Then he went to the door to greet the new guests.
Lu Liangsheng picked up a piece with chopsticks and put it in his mouth. This light and original side dish was quite to his taste, but he didn't know if his master was used to such light dishes.
A scholar was sitting in the inn, not very noticeable. He ate a few bites casually and asked the waiter to help him pack some West Lake water shield and white lotus leaves to take to his room.
"Young man, please get some hot water for bathing." Lu Liangsheng stopped the shop assistant who was about to leave and stuffed a few coins into his hand. The latter understood and put it into his lapel. In less than a moment, he came back with a bucket of hot water and poured it into the big bucket behind the screen. After two or three times, the waiter stirred the water temperature and said, "Sir, it's suitable. If you need anything else, you can call me downstairs."
After sending the waiter away, the scholar took off his robe and sank into the water, leaving only his head exposed, which he rested on the edge of the bucket. He comfortably wrung out a piece of silk cloth and put it over his forehead.
"Sure enough, being a human is much more enjoyable."
Although his body can be as clean as before even if he hasn't taken a bath for several years, Lu Liangsheng likes taking a bath the most. Floating in the water, feeling the water temperature spreading throughout his body, that kind of comfort is something his master cannot understand.
The Toad Taoist sat at the round table, and seemed to know what was going on in his disciple's mind. He turned around with the red rooster bowl in his hand and squinted his eyes. Lu Liangsheng turned his eyes away, walked around the screen and looked at his master, and said casually: "Master, I never said anything about you in my heart."
"Hmph." The Toad Taoist turned back with the bowl in his arms, took a few bites of the food in the bowl, and scooped a spoonful of lotus soup into his mouth.
ton!
ton!
ton!
After finishing the soup, the wooden spoon was placed heavily on the table. After a while, Toad smacked his lips in remembrance: "The taste is a little bland. It would be best if more salt was added. In this regard, the chef of this inn is not as good as me."
When it comes to food, Toad Taoist's face becomes more serious than usual. He holds the chopsticks in his webbed feet and walks back and forth with them behind his back, chattering until it gets dark.
"... Liangsheng, did you understand what your teacher said just now? Next time when you order food, be sure to remind the waiter..."
Then there was another round of chattering, and Lu Liangsheng's head in the bath tub was nodding. He almost buried himself in the water. When he came to himself and wiped the water stains on his face, he saw Hong Lian lying on the edge with her eyes blinking. He quickly pulled a piece of cloth to cover her eyes, stood up with a burst of water mist around him, put on the robe hanging on the screen, and chased the peeking Hong Lian back into the painting.
"Hmph, I don't want it!" The woman turned around and snuggled into his arms, then suddenly came out to take a look, stuck out her tongue, and then went back into the painting, sitting on the swing and humming a little tune complacently.
Lu Liangsheng was too lazy to pay attention to the noise. He lay down on the bed, thought for a while, and fell asleep in a daze. The next morning, the spring rain stopped after a night of rain. He led the old donkey and took Hong Lian out of the room and returned to the street. There were many pedestrians at this time. After asking around, he learned that a Buddhist ceremony was being held at Jingci Temple today. Most of the Buddhists went there, and those who did not believe in Buddhism also went there to join in the fun.
The scenery of West Lake in Hangzhou under the sun is different from that on rainy days. The lotus leaves with lotus buds sway slightly in the wind. In March, the birds chirp, echoing with the morning bells coming from afar.
Green willows brushed across the water. Hong Lian's solid figure, who looked like a sixteen-year-old girl, was crouching on the stone railing with her dress dragging on her shoulders. She stretched out her white arms, trying to grab the nearest lotus bud. The moment her fingertips touched it, the bud slipped through her fingertips and was caught by the donkey's long tongue, pulled into the gap in the stone railing, dragged into the donkey's mouth, rubbed slowly, and swallowed into its stomach with a burp.
"You!!!" Hong Lian was so angry that she stamped her feet and raised her hand to hit it. In response, the donkey's head swayed and grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth, and it screamed twice, attracting the attention of passers-by believers and tourists. The woman then withdrew her hand in dismay, ran to the other side, looked at the scholar in the direction of the tower, pulled up the corner of her sleeve, and shook it with a complaining look.
"Sir, go and clean it up!"
"This young master!!"
At this moment, a crisp female voice sounded at the same time as Hong Lian's words. Lu Liangsheng and Hong Lian turned around to look after hearing the voice. Even the old donkey over there who seemed to be mocking them turned around. Under the green willows on the path paved with white rocks, a woman with a slender waist and a green dress swaying in the wind was smiling.
Lu Liangsheng looked at her and frowned slightly. There was a hint of demonic aura emanating from her. However, the woman looked at the scholar carefully for a moment, her smile became even wider, and she ran over in surprise. In front of Lu Liangsheng, she twisted her waist and spread her long skirt.
"Sir, don't you remember me?"
As she spoke, her lips tilted forward slightly, and a hissing sound came out from between her lips, which made Lu Liangsheng react. He saw a shadow that was difficult for others to see appear behind the woman, a winding snake twisting and spitting out its tongue, and then he thought of a name.
"Cen Biqing?"
"Sir, you still remember Xiaoqing." The woman in green skirt was obviously very happy, and excitedly went to hold Lu Liangsheng's hand. Hong Lian, who was standing next to her, naturally remembered that the young master had mentioned a little green snake to her. She must be very excited to see the person who enlightened her, so she did not step forward to stop him.
"Xiao Qing? Is this the nickname you chose yourself? It sounds nice."
Now that she had turned into a human, he could no longer touch her head like before. Lu Liangsheng let her pull him, then pulled his hand back without leaving a trace, and asked with a smile, "Why are you here?"
"This nickname was given by my elder sister. I came to West Lake with her." Xiaoqing pointed to a long bridge in the distance and said, "Look, sir, that's over there. The one wearing a white dress on the bridge is my elder sister."
The lotus leaves drift away one after another. Above the water waves, there is a long bridge. A woman in a white satin dress with a graceful back is looking at another lotus pond, as if waiting for someone.
Boom!
In the distance, the sound of the Dharma Assembly bell came from a distant and heavy place.