Chapter 109.2

The next day, the young and old from Yu manor were all indeed present, even Yu Miao Qi, who is always missing, was waiting by the carriage. Riding a horse, Yu Pin Yan guarded in front while Old Madam and her three granddaughters rode in the same carriage.

“Xiang’er, if Great Master Ku Hui makes things difficult again, Old Ancestor will go and kneel. No matter what, we have to get your leg treated.” Old Madam, who was taking a rest with her eyes closed, suddenly spoken and her tone was extremely firm.

Yu Si Yu hurriedly discouraged, “Old Ancestor, you are already advanced in age, how can you be the one to kneel? Let me do it. I don’t believe Great Master Ku Hui is so merciless and hard-hearted enough to make things difficult for us weak women.”

Yu Xiang was extremely moved. Holding both their hands, she said, “No one is allowed to kneel. If he is determined to make things difficult, I will not heal these legs. After all these years, I’ve already gotten used to it. Whether he wants to treat them or not, it’s up to him.”

Yu Miao Qi covered her mouth and laughed sarcastically, “Your words sounded beautiful but once you arrive at Zhenguo Temple, don’t cry and beg others then.”

“No one will take you for a mute if you say a few words less!” Old Madam slammed the table with fury.

If it was usual, Yu Miao Qi would have long been scared into silence and shivered, but today she just pursed her lips with a face full of disdain, as if Old Madam was just an ant who she could exterminate with a snap of her fingers or a wave of her hand.

Yu Xiang immediately perceived some inklings and sized her up without leaving a trace. Since Lin Shi’s departure, Yu Miao Qi has almost behaved with her tail sandwiched between her legs and has not been seen so overconfident for a long time. Did she find a way out? Or has she found a more powerful backer than elder brother?

Recalling the plot of the original story in which Yu Miao Qi ascended to the top of the throne, Yu Xiang was horrified.

In the midst of her reckoning, the carriage arrived at the entrance of Zhenguo Temple. Ku Hai and Ku Hui both came out to welcome them personally. The group sat down in the simple and atmospheric meditation room. Ku Hai immediately apologized to the two siblings on behalf of his junior brother.

Yu Xiang waved her hand but her tone was rather mocking, “The fault is not with Master Ku Hai, we dare not accept this apology.”

“Amitabha Buddha, the fault lies with this humble monk. Please forgive me, Benefactor Yu.” Immediately half seated and standing up, Ku Hui sincerely apologized with both his hands placed together.

Yu Xiang stared at him steadily and sneered, “This is Great Master Ku Hui? Indeed young. It is said that monks are compassionate, how come Great Master Ku Hui is so cold blooded and heartless? There are times when devotees come to make pilgrimage in this mountain with the ceremony of three prostrations and nine kowtows, who nevertheless perform it with passion and sincerity which all come from the purest and highest faith within the depth of their hearts. However, Great Master Ku Hui has blasphemed this faith out of your own interest by forcing my Elder Brother to kneel until the top of the mountain in an unlined garment under such cold winter. If it wasn’t for my Elder Brother’s strong and healthy body as he has practiced martial arts since childhood, I’m afraid his pair of legs would have been incapacitated. I would like to ask, is Great Master Ku Hui the Buddha or Asura (devil), how dare you brutalize my Elder Brother to such an extent! It is true that my Elder Brother’s hands are stained with blood but he has saved thousands over thousands of people by protecting our homes and defending our country as well as punishing the traitors. Let me ask Great Master Ku Hui one more question, you have been practicing Buddhism for more than twenty years, is the number of people you save more than my Elder Brother? If not, what qualifications do you have to judge and enlighten him?”

These words were truly sarcastic and hit directly to the point yet irrefutable. Ku Hai was solemn with shame in his eyes while Ku Hui could not even raise his head.

“Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk knows my mistakes. Let this humble monk treat Benefactor’s legs and will spare no effort to heal them.” He was silent for a long time before finally performing a grand obeisance of prostrating himself before them.

Yu Xiang still refused to let the matter drop but both her left and right hands were pulled by Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan, so she could only snort softly and considered it over. Yu Si Yu turned her head to look at her with eyes full of worship but Yu Miao Qi quietly clenched her fists and her heart was churning with strong resentment. She originally thought Yu Xiang could only be an invalid for the rest of her life but she did not expect Great Master Ku Hui would actually return and intended to spare no effort to treat and cure her. How can Heavens be so unfair!

Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan also returned the grand obeisance before making an arrangement with Ku Hui to check the pulse in Yu manor at yinshi (3am-5am) the next day. Several of them then briefly discussed Buddhism then seeing that it was late, they said their goodbyes and left. When they arrived outside the courtyard, they happened to catch sight of someone rotating the 50,000 qian-tong[1].

Old Madam smiled at once then pointed to the qian-tong and reminisced, “Xiang’er, do you still remember? That year before the bamboo lots landed on the ground, you got the grand lot by just a grasp in the air, which startled everyone.”

Yu Xiang nodded her head. Master Ku Hai said, “Not only Benefactor Yu has a destiny with my Buddha, but also has great fortune and unparalleled luck. Naturally, she will get the grand lot. If several benefactors are interested, you can go and try it out. Those who get the grand lot will be the distinguished guest of this humble monk and are welcome to come talk about the scriptures with this humble monk whenever they want.”

Yu Pin Yan has no interest in Buddhism, so he naturally remained unmoved. But Old Madam, Yu Si Yu and Yu Miao Qi were eager to try. When the person in front of them was done with rotating the qian-tong and returned crestfallen, they immediately went around it.

Old Madam and Yu Si Yu both only got the insignificant lots. When it was Yu Miao Qi’s turn, she took a few deep breaths before touching the qian-tong. If Yu Xiang could get the grand lot, why can’t I? She thought to herself unwillingly.

“Ai, it’s a pity.” Once she was done drawing her lot, Yu Xiang moved closer to look then immediately covered her mouth and laughed with mockery revealed in her eyes.

“Indeed one with no luck. Put it back then, it’s time to go back home.” Seeing that Yu Miao Qi was about to break the bamboo lot, Old Madam sighed with a frown.

Ku Hai took a few steps forward to look at Yu Miao Qi. A short while later, he placed both his hands together and warned sincerely, “The minds of all living beings respectively clung to the vain phase, hence the name delusional thoughts which said they will start pursuing these delusions and yearning for it; perhaps it is difficult to know if it’s false but they will repeatedly think about it nonstop, enabling the delusions to confuse and agitate the heart … this Benefactor, you have ignorantly preoccupied with the delusion and has suffered in vain of the world’s great suffering. Perhaps you should devote yourself to cultivate Buddhism in order to be free.”

There were endless streams of people coming to pray today and also a great deal of people surrounding the qian-tong. It was fine she failed to get the grand lot but she did not expect Ku Hai to actually say these slightly derogatory comments. Some people immediately recognized Yu Miao Qi then passed the words by mouth that she had embezzled her grandmother’s share and bought the poisoned jujube. Everyone was in an uproar and secretly said that Master Ku Hai’s face reading was really accurate.

Not mentioning how indignant Yu Miao Qi was, even Old Madam felt ashamed too. So, she had to push her granddaughter forward and exhorted her, “Xiang’er, you go and draw one too.”

It was known to everyone that Yu Xiang had gotten the grand lot. So when they saw her coming forward, they immediately stopped their clamor and stared steadily at her hand rotating the qian-tong.

Just like last time, without waiting for the bamboo lots to land on the ground, Yu Xiang randomly grasped in the air and got the grand lot. When she looked over it, she was stunned herself too. Master Ku Hai laughed boisterously and said, “Amitabha Buddha, Benefactor Yu indeed has a destiny with my Buddha. Excellent, excellent!”

The crowd was electrified, saying that Third Young Miss Yu’s luck was really good and momentarily forgot all about Yu Miao Qi’s disgraceful matters. Old Madam felt greatly relieved and smiled. Although Yu Miao Qi breathed a sigh of relief too, her hatred for Yu Xiang had reached the point of no return.