novelSusiti Chapter 5 Old Monk Peng of Cihua Temple
Chapter 5 Old Monk Peng of Cihua Temple
Despite his father's teachings, the boy was still a kind-hearted person. Seeing the boy's tearful appearance, he felt a pang of tenderness for some reason and nodded, "Alright, I'll take you there."
Ruan Shanruo quickly curtsied, "Then I'll trouble you, young master!" She glanced at the wild boar on the ground, "But what should we do with this wild boar?"
The boy couldn't help but wonder: Strange, why is this young man bowing like a woman? But the thought only flashed through his mind. "It's alright! I'll come back tomorrow to take it back. The biggest wild animal in these mountains is just a wild boar; it's just unfortunate that you ran into it."
On the way down the mountain, the boy carried Qiaoyun on his back, with Ruan Shanru supporting him from the side. The mountain path was rugged, and Ruan Shanru walked unsteadily, soon panting heavily. The boy wondered to himself: Why is this man acting like a young woman! He seems so weak, yet he's so bold, daring to venture deep into the mountains. It's really quite strange!
"Young master, may I ask your name?" Ruan Shanruo asked, wiping her sweat.
"My name is Fang Yingyu," the boy replied. "And yours?"
"I..." Ruan Shanru hesitated for a moment, "My name is Ruan Ruo."
Fang Yingyu raised an eyebrow, thinking the name sounded a bit feminine, but didn't ask any further questions.
As dusk fell, the calls of birds returning to their nests echoed through the mountains and forests. Ruan Shanruo followed closely behind Fang Yingyu, afraid of getting lost. She secretly observed her savior and noticed that although he was simply dressed, he possessed an extraordinary air about him. Despite carrying Qiaoyun for such a long distance along the mountain path, his breathing remained steady.
"We're here." Fang Yingyu stopped and pointed ahead.
Sure enough, not far ahead stood an ancient temple, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and the four powerful characters "Cihua Temple" above the gate.
Just then, the temple gates were still open. As Fang Yingyu carried Qiaoyun and the other two into the temple, a kind-looking old monk greeted them: "Young benefactor Yingyu, what trouble have you encountered so late at night?"
This old monk was none other than Abbot Peng, respected by all the monks in the temple and the villagers nearby. Fang Yingyu's father, Old Man Fang, had brought him to the temple several times. Abbot Peng saw that the boy had clear features and a pure heart, and took a great liking to him, thus recognizing him at a glance.
Old Monk Peng's secular surname was Peng, and his given name was Fusheng. If we could turn back time several decades, this name would be renowned throughout the martial arts world. Back then, dressed in simple clothes and carrying a medicine chest, he traveled across the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, practicing chivalry and helping the needy. His boxing style was a perfect blend of strength and gentleness, his knife skills were as fast as lightning, and he possessed extraordinary medical skills, mastering both internal and external medicine, often curing difficult and complicated diseases with ease. Because of his nomadic lifestyle, he specialized in treating all kinds of injuries and rare and difficult diseases, thus earning the nickname "Wandering Healer," which made him famous and left behind many legendary stories.
However, having witnessed countless life-and-death struggles and seen through the vicissitudes of life, Peng Fusheng suddenly felt weary in his middle age. He shaved his head and became a monk at Cihua Temple at the foot of this mountain peak, taking the Dharma name "Huineng". But the people were used to calling him "Old Monk Peng", and this solemn Dharma name was not as affectionate as the old name.
After becoming a monk, Old Peng concealed his sharp edges, spending his days in quiet contemplation and meditation, resembling an ordinary, kind elder. Only his eyes, occasionally opening and closing, revealed a glint of shrewdness, hinting at his extraordinary cultivation. Although he no longer concerned himself with the affairs of the martial world, he never abandoned his medical skills; on the contrary, with age and the refinement of his cultivation, they gained a more profound and insightful understanding. If the monks in the temple or the villagers in the nearby mountains were ill, he could often alleviate their ailments with a few doses of herbal medicine or a massage and acupuncture. Occasionally, rumors circulated in the countryside that he had pulled the wounded back from the brink of death, possessing the ability to "bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded," but Old Peng always smiled calmly at these rumors, never arguing, simply attributing them to the Buddha's protection and the patients' own good fortune.
His connection with the Fang family began with a mountain ordeal. Several years ago, the old monk Peng went deep into the mountains to gather herbs and was accidentally bitten on the ankle by a rare five-step snake. The poison took effect quickly, and although he hurriedly sealed the acupoints, he felt dizzy halfway there and collapsed in the thorn bushes, his life hanging by a thread. Just then, Old Man Fang came into the mountains to chop firewood. Seeing this, without saying a word, disregarding his own safety, he sucked the venom from the wound with his mouth. Following the old monk Peng's weak instructions, he found some herbs, chewed them up, and applied them externally. Afterward, he bravely carried him down the mountain to Cihua Temple.
Old Master Peng never forgot the immense kindness of this selfless rescue. He once told the old man, "If the Fang family ever needs anything in the future, this humble monk will do his utmost." Old Master Fang was an honest man who didn't like to bother them much, only occasionally bringing his son to visit so that Old Master Peng could look after the child. Old Master Fang secretly harbored a thought: this old monk was clearly no ordinary person; if he could receive some guidance from him, his son Yingyu might have a better future. Fang Yingyu was naturally intelligent and physically strong, a promising talent, but his family was too poor to afford a teacher. Old Master Peng was well aware of this thought, but the opportunity hadn't yet arisen, so he never revealed it to him.
"Master, these two... friends have encountered danger in the mountains and would like to ask for lodging for the night," Fang Yingyu explained the situation briefly.
Old Monk Peng glanced at the unconscious Qiaoyun and immediately instructed the young novice to take them to the meditation room, and to prepare hot water and clean cloths. Fang Yingyu carefully placed Qiaoyun on the bed, and Old Monk Peng personally re-bandaged her wounds.
"Although the wound is deep, it has not damaged any bones or muscles. Resting for a few days will make it much better," Old Monk Peng comforted him.
Ruan Shanruo was slightly relieved and bowed deeply to the old monk Peng: "Thank you, Master."
In fact, Old Monk Peng saw through Qiaoyun and Ruan Shanruo's true gender with just one glance. Although they were dressed as men, they couldn't hide their slender necks and delicate features. But Old Monk Peng's gaze only paused almost imperceptibly when it swept over Ruan Shanruo's flat Adam's apple—Ruan Shanruo's deliberately lowered voice still had a hint of melodiousness, and her overly pale earlobes were all flaws.
However, the old monk Peng understood clearly: if it's a secret, why reveal it? All phenomena in the world have their own causes and conditions, and those who have left home should be even more compassionate and helpful to others. So he remained calm, as if he hadn't noticed anything unusual, and simply transformed this understanding into silent care.
Old Monk Peng twirled his prayer beads, lowered his eyes, and replied with "Amitabha." Seeing that Ruan Shanruo seemed a little uneasy, Old Monk Peng smiled instead: "Please rest assured, benefactor. If you need anything, please ask the disciples in the temple." Then, he left the meditation room with the novice monk.
No sooner had Old Monk Peng left than Qiaoyun groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Ruan Shanruo's joyful smile, she burst into tears: "Miss...I'm still alive?"