Qiyun Temple

A majestic and solemn ancient temple that has been thriving with incense for nearly a thousand years. Countless believers come and go, but what attracts the most crowd is undoubtedly the abbot of this temple. He is over a hundred years old, yet still vigorous and possesses astonishing wisdom. Every day, he gives lectures to many worldly people, enlightening them about the mysteries of life.

At this moment, on the halfway up the mountain leading to Qiyun Temple, a handsome man in white sat casually on the steps. His face was flushed, captivating the gazes of passing male and female devotees.

"I can't go on anymore, my Lady. I can't walk any further." If I had known that Qinglian wanted to come to this ridiculous temple, I wouldn't have followed. I stared dumbfounded at the small temple on the mountaintop from the foot of the mountain. I regretted it, but Qinglian didn't even give me a chance to explain. She just grabbed my hand and started climbing the mountain.

"Husband, do you know why so many people go up to worship in this temple?" Qinglian looked at me with narrowed eyes. I thought to myself, "Who knows? Why would they build a temple in such a high place if it wasn't to mess with people? Pure mischief!"

Seeing my dumbfounded expression, Qinglian proudly said, "I heard that there is a highly enlightened monk here. After listening to his lectures, many people gain insights into the truths of life." Hearing Qinglian's words, I rolled my eyes weakly. A highly enlightened monk? Gaining insights into the truths of life? If he's that amazing, why hasn't he become an immortal? What's the point of staying here?

"Alright, alright, alright. My Lady is right, I understand now. I will accompany you to sincerely worship this highly enlightened monk," I said. I knew that if I didn't let Qinglian see this monk today, she would come to climb this mountain again in the future. We've come this far together, so it would be a waste to turn back now. Since we're here, let's take a look.

Upon hearing my words, Qinglian gave me a big smile. Without saying anything, she pulled me along. Sometimes I really don't understand. Qinglian may seem petite, but her willpower surprises me. She always thinks carefully about everything and is sweet and considerate. I knew that back in the Beichen Kingdom. But now, she moves me even more. Although she has always maintained the boundaries between superior and subordinate, in the four years we've been together, I've caused trouble and mischief. She has always been there to clean up the mess I made, and recently, I've been dragging her around aimlessly. Yet, she never complains. She accompanies me with genuine sincerity.

"Clang, clang, clang." The unique sound of the temple bell echoed in my ears. I had a strange feeling, as if something was waiting for me up there.

Gradually, we followed the crowd and entered the temple, gazing at the solemn main hall. The monks, detached from worldly affairs, moved about, and for a moment, I felt lost.

"Husband, shall we listen to the lecture?" Seeing me spacing out again, Qinglian quickly spoke up and shook me.

"My Lady, you go ahead and listen. I'm a bit tired and want to rest. I'll wait for you over there, alright?" I pointed to a grove of trees in the distance, thinking to myself that I didn't believe in gods and Buddhas anyway. Since Qinglian wanted to listen, I would let her go while I waited outside.

Qinglian looked worried, staring at me with a slightly pale face. She regretted it because I had been concealing a hidden illness since the serious injury. Lately, she had been worried sick, and today I rashly dragged her up the mountain.

"It's fine, go ahead. After you finish, come and find me there, okay?" Seeing Qinglian's worried face, I knew she was overthinking. I quickly reassured her and urged her to go. It would be crowded if we went any later.

"My Lady... Husband..." Qinglian called out reluctantly.

"Go ahead," I smiled at her, using my smile to dispel her unease.

"Then, don't wander around. Wait for me," Qinglian said, relieved by my persistent smile. She reminded me not to roam around and left to listen to the lecture.

Peaceful. Deep within the forest of Qiyun Temple, a serene atmosphere calmed the mind. A gentle breeze rustled, carrying the fragrance of flowers to my nose. I peacefully sat under an ancient tree, closing my eyes to rest. Thoughts raced through my mind. It had been four years. I still remembered when I woke up in confusion, the first person I saw was Xiao, with a face full of anxiety and exhaustion. In one moment, I was deeply moved, but in the next, my head throbbed, causing my body to curl up in pain. I wanted everyone near me to leave. There was only one thought in my mind: I didn't want to be deceived or used anymore. In the end, Xiao used sincerity and love to mend my broken heart, but even after it was healed, there were still cracks. That's why I couldn't accept Xiao. I kept avoiding him, knowing that he would get hurt, yet I still hardened my heart and ran away.

Recalling the ups and downs of the past four years, I realized that Xiao had sacrificed a lot for me. I felt that I could never repay his feelings. Guilt filled my heart. Initially, I just wanted to leave the palace and have some fun. But at some point, my feelings changed. I didn't want to go back because there was someone who cherished Xiao more than I could. What she could give him was something I couldn't. Going back would only bring pain to the three of us. It's better to leave now. It's best for everyone.

"The rustling sound of leaves interrupted my meditation. I slowly opened my eyes and turned to find the source of the sound.It was an old monk radiating a peaceful aura. He wore a saffron-colored monk's robe with a red shoulder cape indicating his status. His white beard hung down his chest, and he walked with steady steps, showing no signs of aging. It was clear that this person had cultivated his whole life.

"Visitor, you have finally arrived." I looked at the old monk standing three steps away from me, completely stunned by his sudden appearance.

"Visitor, there is no need to be surprised. I mean no harm," the monk explained with kind eyes.

"Master, since you have been waiting for me, what guidance do you have?" I calmly stood up and paid my respects to the sitting monk, maintaining an expressionless face.

"Hehe, this old monk's name is Liao Wu. Visitor, please don't feel restrained," Liao Wu said with a gentle smile.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I raised an eyebrow, thinking to myself, "Liao Wu, enlightened in all worldly affairs, comprehending all things."

"Visitor, everything in this world has its causes and effects. Your identity is extraordinary, with a deep-rooted wisdom. If you let go of worldly matters, you can free yourself from endless suffering," Liao Wu said with profound meaning.

Feeling a little dazed, I recalled his words. Was he asking me to become a monk? I looked at Liao Wu with sharp eyes, not understanding.

"Visitor, you carry a heavy aura of killings. If you don't seek redemption..." Liao Wu's words were interrupted by a melodious male voice. It interrupted his unfinished sentence. "Master, you have transcended worldly matters. Why bother stirring up trouble? Cause and effect, you sow the cause so well, why not accept the consequences? Sir, what do you say?" The last sentence was clearly directed at me. I stared in confusion at the man approaching from afar. It seemed that this forest was not as peaceful as it appeared. Sigh...

It wasn't that person; it was Qi Yuntian. Liao Wu looked at the two of them and understood that it was impossible to resolve this karmic relationship. He looked up at the sky, slowly speaking, "The will of heaven cannot be violated. Good, good. This old monk takes his leave."

Qi Yuntian squinted as he watched Liao Wu leave. He actually wanted Pojun to become a monk. Thinking about Pojun becoming a monk made Qi Yuntian's heart ache, even though he himself had ruthlessly wanted to get rid of Pojun. But what he hadn't expected was that Pojun would appear in front of him again, wearing the same attire as before, but unable to compare to the general he once was. A completely reborn Pojun appeared before him, stirring something in his heart.

Looking at Pojun in the distance, Qi Yuntian remembered that night four years ago. Pojun stood naked in the water, exuding a mesmerizing charm. Was he a god? A demon? A seductress?

"May I have a look at you?" Qi Yuntian blurted out without thinking.

"Huh?" I looked at the man in front of me in surprise. Before I could regain my senses, his hand had already touched my face, and he looked at me with an expression I didn't understand. I awkwardly moved away, letting his hand fall empty.

Qi Yuntian looked at his hand hanging in the air and said apologetically, "Sorry, I was rude."

She had lost her past memories, yet she still held him dear in her heart. But why did she feel displeased when she saw Qi Yuntian's distant behavior towards Pojun?

The sound of birdsong filled the air, crisp and pleasant. Only Qi Yuntian and I stood facing each other in the vast forest, creating an awkward atmosphere.

"You're the young man from this morning," I said, looking at him directly. His gaze made me feel a bit uneasy, and I thought, could it be that he's looking for the peony beauty?

Qi Yuntian calmly looked at me and understood the wariness in my eyes. A faint smile appeared on his elegant face, and the slightly upturned corners of his lips laughed softly.

"Miss, there's no need to be afraid. I mean no harm." Qi Yuntian casually revealed my true gender, Pojun, since you've forgotten me along with the past. Then I'll find a way to make you fall in love with me again! Yes, this time, I won't let you slip away.

"You...you..." I stammered in surprise, unable to speak the words I wanted to say. I was flustered, stepping back step by step, completely forgetting that there was a lake behind me.

"Splash...splash...splash..." Water splashed as two figures fell into the water in succession. Although the climate in Qicheng was warmer than Beichen, swimming in the lake during the autumn was a different matter.

A biting coldness rushed into my body, and the weightlessness after falling into the water made me panic. The cold water soaked my clothes, and every time I opened my mouth, water rushed in. I couldn't breathe properly, and my lungs felt deprived of oxygen. But what frightened me the most was the severe headache that gradually set in. The watery scene in front of my eyes seemed to hold something. My consciousness slowly detached from my body. What was it? Was it liberation?

Qi Yuntian searched for the person who made him anxious in the cold lake water. He regretted not trusting that Pojun used to know how to swim, but it had been four years. Today, Qi Yuntian couldn't bear to take the risk.

Using his eyes, Qi Yuntian noticed a white figure on his left. He hurriedly swam over, and it was her. He grabbed Pojun's hand and looked at her lifeless face. Qi Yuntian felt his heart skip a beat. It couldn't be...it couldn't be. He immediately held Pojun's body tightly, his lips pressing against Pojun's, transferring his own breath to her. He exerted all his strength, swimming towards the surface of the lake with Pojun. He couldn't let her disappear in front of him again. It was the only thought in Qi Yuntian's mind.

"Rushing...splashing..." The sound of water broke the calmness once again. This time, Qi Yuntian held Pojun tightly as they floated on the water's surface. Qi Yuntian lowered his head and saw Pojun's face turning blue and her lips turning purple. Annoyed, he cursed softly, "Damn it," while carrying Pojun quickly to the shore.

Once on the shore, Qi Yuntian quickly activated his internal energy to warm Pojun and protect her from the cold. He held Pojun while sitting under an ancient tree. Gradually, their clothes were dried by Qi Yuntian's internal energy. However, Pojun's body remained cold. Qi Yuntian gently laid her on the ground, holding her head and softly pinching her chin. He took a deep breath and lowered his head to kiss Pojun's lips again. He didn't know how many times they had done this back and forth, but just as Qi Yuntian was about to despair...

"Mmm...cough...cough..." Uncomfortable coughing sounds interrupted the silence, and it made me frown in discomfort.

When Qi Yuntian noticed my slightly furrowed brow, he quickly supported my body. I leaned against his body, allowing myself to vomit the lake water that had entered my stomach. I opened my eyes in a daze and looked ahead. For a moment, I completely forgot where I was. Just as I was bewildered, a male voice came from behind me, "Are you feeling better?" My consciousness gradually cleared, and my senses began to recover. I realized that I was now in the arms of the man who had been speaking.

Qi Yuntian gently turned Pojun's body to face him. At this moment, he finally saw Pojun's current appearance clearly. Her long, ink-black hair hung damply on his arm, and on her delicate face, there was now a mesmerizing peony bud near her forehead. It was the finishing touch, revealing the enchanting beauty of Pojun's tenderness. Although he had known of Pojun's beauty, he was still shocked and unable to find the right words.

"My husband, where are you...ah?" A clear and melodious voice broke the train of thought, and it brought me back from the man's gaze. Oh my...how did I end up looking at a completely unfamiliar man so boldly? A crimson flush spread silently across my face, and I realized that I was burning up. I wished I could find a hole to hide in and save myself from embarrassment. I completely forgot that I had fallen into the lake because of him.

"My husband...where are you...ah?" Qinglian anxiously searched in the forest, wondering if something had happened. If nothing had happened, the Empress would have already responded. It was unfortunate that today, of all days, there was an issue, and she had to wait while the high monk lectured to the believers. Originally, she wanted to leave early, but she thought it would be impolite. Now, in retrospect, she regretted not turning Qinglian's internal organs green from anger. Empress, where are you? Can you at least make a sound? Poor Pojun wanted to speak, but she had no strength.

Finally, Qinglian found them, but her expression at that moment could be described as mixed anger and sorrow. She quickly ran to the pair dressed in white, the same beautiful man and woman, and stared at the man who held the woman in his arms. Then she turned her concerned eyes to her own Empress and coldly said, "Would the young master please let go of my lady."

Qi Yuntian looked at the woman who expressed dissatisfaction with him holding Pojun. He knew her identity well, but just after experiencing the fear of losing Pojun again, how could he be willing to let go?

Although I regained consciousness, the frigid lake water had already invaded my body. As they stared at each other, I felt a wave of dizziness. I weakly said, "Qinglian, I..."

Before I could finish my sentence, I had already fainted. But as soon as I fainted, it shocked the two people beside me.

"Pojun, Pojun!" Qi Yuntian anxiously called out Pojun's former name.

"Empress, what happened to you?" Qinglian also lost her composure and called out the respectful title.