Chapter 757
Extra 2
Chapter 757 Extra 12
He said he wanted to visit Qiyun Mountain Hermit at Shanqing Temple in early winter, but when he actually set off for Shanqing Temple, it was already the following summer.
There was no other way. It was quite easy for Lu Qing and Zhu Yu to set off from the capital. They traveled around, enjoying the leisurely life they could only dream of in the past. However, when they arrived near Shuodi, they encountered Zhu Feng, who was on patrol for Zhu Cheng. Zhu Feng was not about to let his sister and brother-in-law leave so easily, and warmly invited them to stay at the Prince's Mansion for a few days.
It just so happened that the Miao family also really wanted to help Zhu Yu, so Zhu Yu and the others agreed.
This stay lasted for almost a month.
When they left Shuodi to visit Yan Shu in Jieguo, Yan Shu kept them there again, refusing to let them leave. They stayed until spring arrived. During this time, Lu Qing received a letter from Yan Daoxin saying that the hermit of Qiyun Mountain had gone down the mountain to travel and had not yet returned. As a result, Zhu Yu was kept by Yan Shu for another month.
Finally, in early summer, Zhu Yu arrived at Shanqing Temple, a place she had always been curious about and longed to visit.
only……
She never imagined that Shanqing Temple was hidden in such a high mountain!
She never imagined that there wasn't even a proper mountain path leading to Shanqing Temple!
Panting heavily, after traversing the hillsides and forests for most of the day, Zhu Yu almost collapsed to the ground when he learned that it would take another hour and a half to arrive.
"So it seems... the late emperor truly wanted to save your life back then!" She fanned her face with her hand, which was flushed and sweaty from climbing the mountain. "Carrying a child who was barely clinging to life all this way must have been incredibly difficult!"
“Master doesn’t like being disturbed in his cultivation, so he doesn’t allow people to build roads or accept offerings from outside.” Lu Qing said with some heartache, using her sleeve as a fan to cool Zhu Yu down. “Otherwise, with Master’s reputation and abilities, even if no one builds roads, just the trampling of people would probably create a road leading straight to the mountain gate.”
After resting for a while, the group continued on their way. After walking for another half an hour, they saw a man in a blue robe walking briskly towards them. Before they could see the man's face clearly, his voice came over: "I wondered who had come up the mountain. It turns out to be my junior brother and his precious wife!"
Zhu Yu was both amused and exasperated. Yan Daoxin's voice, which could be heard before he appeared, remained unchanged, and his dispute with Lu Qing over their status as fellow disciples continued as always.
The world down the mountain has changed, but here, everything seems unchanged.
Lu Qing glared at Yan Daoxin, and only when he walked up to him did he take a bundle from Fu Wen's hand and toss it over: "These are all precious medicinal herbs that I collected for you along the way. They are all my heartfelt thanks to you."
Yan Daoxin opened the bundle and looked through it. Seeing that it was indeed the good thing he had been longing for, he immediately lost interest in arguing with Lu Qing and smiled so broadly that his eyes disappeared.
"When did Master return?" Lu Qing asked as she pulled Zhu Yu along.
Yan Daoxin's attention remained focused on the medicinal herbs: "It's only been a few days. When I see you, my rebellious disciple, I might be so angry that I'll pack my bags and go traveling again."
"What is the temperament of the old man Qiyun Mountain Man?" Zhu Yu felt inexplicably nervous.
The tension I felt when I met Emperor Jin before stemmed more from the unease that my life and head were in his hands.
This time, however, when she was about to meet Qiyun Shanren, she felt as if she were truly visiting an elder in Lu Qing's family.
"Let me put it this way, as long as you don't call him 'old man' to his face, Master's temper is quite good," Yan Daoxin said to Zhu Yu with a grin.
Zhu Yu laughed when he heard this.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked, and the rest of the journey didn't seem so arduous anymore.
Upon arriving at Shanqing Temple, Yan Daoxin led them to a secluded courtyard. Under a large tree in one corner of the courtyard, beside a stone table, sat an elderly man with a white beard and an air of otherworldly wisdom, playing chess against himself.
"Master, your disciple and my wife have come to visit you." Lu Qing stopped at a distance and spoke respectfully.
Upon hearing the sound, Qiyun Shanren raised his head and looked at Lu Qing. He seemed to want to gesture for them to come and sit down, but when his gaze fell on Zhu Yu's face, his hand paused.
"Hmm?" A hint of surprise appeared on his face. He stood up and walked straight towards Zhu Yu, scrutinizing her carefully.
Zhu Yu didn't know what was going on, and quickly said, "Zhu Yu greets the hermit."
The hermit of Qiyun Mountain ignored her, continuing to scrutinize her with a scrutinizing look in his eyes, while his hands seemed to be calculating something.
Zhu Yu was somewhat at a loss, glancing at Lu Qing and Yan Daoxin beside him. Lu Qing and Yan Daoxin also looked bewildered.
However, they all knew very well that the Qiyun Mountain Man usually wouldn't do anything unusual without a reason, so they could only wait quietly for him to speak.
"I see..." After a short while, Qiyun Shanren finished his calculations and his eyes revealed a knowing look. "I said that I had previously calculated that there was a variable in Lu Qing's fate. Whether he succeeds or fails, whether he lives or dies, is closely related to this variable."
At the time, I didn't understand what this variable was, but now I finally know the answer—it turns out that the variable in his destiny was you, woman.
Zhu Yu was somewhat surprised. She had never heard Lu Qing mention any twists of fate before, and seeing that he didn't seem surprised by this statement, she guessed that he had already heard about it from Qiyun Shanren, but had kept quiet about it for fear of making her worry.
"Now it seems that's true. Heaven has blessed me with a virtuous wife." Lu Qing nodded to Qiyun Shanren with a gentle smile in his eyes and a calm tone.
"Heaven has indeed been very kind to you."
Qiyun Shanren stroked his beard, looked at Zhu Yu, and said to her, "You are no ordinary woman; you have come from afar."
Such a miraculous event could truly be described as a matter of fate.
Yan Daoxin scratched his head and looked at Lu Qing with a puzzled expression.
Zhu Yu came from Shuo to marry into Jin, which is a fair description of her coming from afar, but... she is just a concubine's daughter in the Shuo King's family... her background is not simple... isn't that a bit too much to say?
After all, his master has never put even the emperor in his eyes.
Lu Qing was also somewhat confused.
Unlike the other two, when Zhu Yu met the gaze of the old man from Qiyun Mountain and heard him say those words, he vaguely felt that the old man seemed to have seen through something.
Qiyun Shanren chuckled and said, "So-called fate is not immutable; there are countless variables hidden within fate. If you were not you, my disciple's grave might be overgrown with weeds by now."
Just as you became who you are, his fate was changed, and he will enjoy a long and blessed life, and die a peaceful death.
As for you, since you're here, make the best of it. This predestined fate is both his blessing and a blessing from heaven for you.
“Master… I’ve always felt that I’ve made quite a bit of progress over the years, so why can’t I understand what you’re saying today?” Yan Daoxin said with a wry smile.
"These words are meant for those who are destined to hear them; they have nothing to do with you, so naturally you wouldn't understand," the hermit of Qiyun Mountain replied calmly, then asked Zhu Yu, "And you? Do you understand?"
"I understand," Zhu Yu replied respectfully.
At this moment, she had no more doubts, only her heart pounding.
She was absolutely certain that this hermit of Qiyun Mountain was indeed an unfathomable master who had calculated her miraculous journey into this world.
It's truly astonishing that Qiyun Shanren could predict such an absurd thing, something that would make him seem like a madman if spoken aloud, and accept it so calmly.
Lu Qing was also slightly puzzled, but he knew that his master disliked rambling explanations. If his master was unwilling to explain things clearly and others couldn't understand them, it was best not to ask any further questions.
Anyway, according to his master, Zhu Yu is his destined partner, so it's a happy event as expected, and he can accept it.
Qiyun Shanren nodded to Zhu Yu. He found his disciple's wife increasingly pleasing to the eye, and simply pointed to the side, saying, "My disciple says you are well-read and knowledgeable."
Lu Qing also mentioned your previous experiences and observations outside in his letters.
"As luck would have it, my library is right next door, containing many rare books that have long been lost to the world. Would you like to take a look?"
"Of course I'm willing!" Zhu Yu's eyes lit up, and he nodded hurriedly.
The hermit of Qiyun Mountain smiled and nodded: "Then come with me."
Zhu Yu followed Qiyun Shanren, talking to him as they walked towards the library.
Yan Daoxin and Lu Qing followed behind. As they walked, Yan Daoxin couldn't help but whisper to Lu Qing, "I can tell that Master really likes Zhu Yu."
Back then, I stayed by my master's side for at least seven or eight years before he finally allowed me into his library!
Lu Qing smiled but did not reply.
They walked towards the library, passing by the old courtyard along the way. Looking at the familiar courtyard and then at Zhu Yu's back in front of them, Lu Qing couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions in her previously peaceful heart.
His master was like an elder in his family, his fellow disciples were like brothers, and then there was his beloved wife.
Everything he was experiencing now was something he had never dared to dream of before.
And so, the two stayed at the Shanqing Temple for a while. Every day, Lu Qing and Zhu Yu drank tea and played chess with the Qiyun Mountain Man, telling him about their many experiences outside. They also brought the set of checkers made of fine stone that they had promised to bring to the Qiyun Mountain Man. The mountain man was very interested and happily accepted it.
The moment of parting finally arrived, but this time they felt much less sad.
After all, times have changed. Lu Qing is no longer the carefree prince who was watched, guarded against, and plotted against. Now he can truly be carefree and return whenever he wants.
"Master, we will come to see you again in winter," Lu Qing said to the hermit of Qiyun Mountain before parting.
The hermit of Qiyun Mountain smiled mysteriously and shook his head at him: "You can't come in winter."
Lu Qing and Zhu Yu looked at each other, completely bewildered.
Qiyun Mountain Man waved his hand at them: "I have already calculated this matter. You don't need to travel around anymore after you come down the mountain. Find a place to settle down and take good care of your wives."
Lu Qing and Zhu Yu were taken aback upon hearing this, seemingly having guessed what Qiyun Shanren was referring to. They were surprised but also somewhat embarrassed.
"Furthermore, I've calculated that I have a deep connection with that little grand-disciple, so you must raise him well. When he turns three, I will personally come to your door and bring him to my side. Don't be reluctant to part with him then," said the Hermit of Qiyun Mountain.
Zhu Yu was so surprised that he couldn't find his own voice.
This person is truly an extraordinary expert.
Now that's great! Not only has he predicted what will happen next, but he has also arranged everything after the baby is born!
Lu Qing was also pleasantly surprised. Holding Zhu Yu's hand, she solemnly nodded to Qiyun Mountain Man: "We will be prepared to welcome Master!"
Qiyun Mountain Man waved his hand with satisfaction, signaling them to set off down the mountain.
As he watched the group of people walk further and further away, their figures growing smaller and smaller, he turned his head and looked at the quiet Shanqing Temple behind him.
In a few years, this place will probably become quite lively...
I can't wait...
【Full textEND】
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