Chapter 462: Pure Love Little Invisible (4)

Chapter 462: Pure Love’s Silent Observer (4)

A gentle breeze fluttered their robes, rustling the leaves on either side.

The sound of the wind snapped them out of their brief reverie.

Gu Yongnian yielded the path to Song Chuyi.

Song Chuyi nodded at him and stepped into the temple grounds.

Gu Yongnian turned and watched as he entered the gates of the Serene Spirit Temple.

Though the temple thronged with devotees, monks were a rare sight.

Most were volunteers, helping visitors light incense and kneel in prayer or directing lost visitors.

Visitors blessed with rare luck might encounter the monks who practiced within the temple.

Song Chuyi made no effort to seek out any monks. He went to the main hall, lit an incense stick, and placed it in the burner.

Then he turned and left.

The Serene Spirit Temple was vast, occupying nearly the entire mountaintop.

Aside from the broad main paths, there were also secluded, winding paths.

Song Chuyi chose one of these paths to walk along, where the thick canopy shielded him from the scorching sun.

A mountain breeze lifted his fringe of hair, and sunlight dappled through the leaves, falling softly upon him—

hesitant, as though wary of overstaying.

A weathered leaf fluttered down with the breeze, landing in his palm.

Song Chuyi smiled faintly, his eyes softening with warmth.

He crouched down and placed the leaf at the foot of its mother tree.

Nearby, ants bustled about, and a tiny, nameless bug crawled onto the leaf, finding a comfortable spot to rest lazily.

Song Chuyi remained crouched, watching for a while, until the sound of a bell echoed from within the temple.

He stood and turned toward the direction of the bell.

The bell’s toll echoed deeply, rippling across the mountaintop.

Song Chuyi blinked and followed the sound.

After walking for some time, he arrived at a courtyard.

In the courtyard stood an enormous coffee tree.

A rich, woody fragrance lifted the spirits of all who entered.

Beside the coffee tree was the very bell that had tolled.

A monk in robes was sweeping the ground, despite the ground’s immaculate state, without a single fallen leaf.

Perhaps sensing someone’s arrival, the monk paused, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly toward Song Chuyi. Song Chuyi nodded in return, then pointed at the towering coffee tree in the center and asked, “Does it flower and fruit?”

The monk didn’t seem to expect the visitor to ask this question. After a moment’s hesitation, he answered truthfully,

“It doesn’t bloom or bear fruit.”

Song Chuyi wasn’t surprised.

The monk bowed and took his leave.

Only Song Chuyi approached the coffee tree in the courtyard.

A breeze stirred, but the coffee tree stood rigid, as if welded to the ground.

He reached out and touched the nearest leaf.

It felt rough, like weathered wood, lacking the softness of a leaf.

No wonder the wind didn’t sway it.

Footsteps sounded behind him, then a voice spoke.

“This is the Empty Spirit Temple’s Sacred Tree.”

Song Chuyi turned to look at the newcomer.

Gu Yongnian stood nearby, holding a string of dark brown prayer beads in his hand.

Catching his eye, Gu Yongnian walked over.

Standing beside him, Gu Yongnian gazed up at the towering coffee tree and said,

“The Empty Spirit Temple exists because of this tree.”

“It is said that hundreds of years ago, the emperor of that time was being pushed back by rebel forces. His troops, worn out from days without rest, were demoralized.”

“By sheer chance, they came here—and the soldiers’ spirits revived. They rallied and turned the tide of battle.”

“Afterward, the emperor founded the Empty Spirit Temple around this very tree.”

Gu Yongnian looked at Song Chuyi and asked, “Do you really believe a single tree could turn the tide of war?”

Song Chuyi nodded.

“I believe it.”

Of course, he believed it.

Because the emperor had clung to his trunk, sobbing uncontrollably, saying the person he loved had been captured by the enemy and begging the heavens for help.

The emperor’s wailing grated on him, so he subtly amplified his fruit’s aroma, hoping the emperor would find it unpleasant and let go sooner.

But then the emperor, as if struck by madness, led his men and charged off.

Hmm… Guess he got his lover back.

At this, amusement flickered in Gu Yongnian’s eyes.

“I believe it as well.”

“Even if experts write it off as legend.”

Song Chuyi hummed softly and noticed the Buddhist rosary in his hand.

He studied it more carefully.

Just then, Gu Yongnian explained, "This rosary was made from the branches of the Sacred Tree."

"A week ago, lightning struck the trunk of the Sacred Tree, and a small section of its branch fell off."

"I bought that section from the abbot here and had it made into this string of prayer beads."

Song Chuyi gave a slow blink. "Since it's the Sacred Tree, why would the abbot be willing to sell the branch to you?"

The Temple devotees should all revere and worship the Sacred Tree.

Amusement flickered briefly in Gu Yongnian's eyes.

"Because I'm the next abbot."

Song Chuyi: "..."

"Well, that was unexpected."

He didn’t ask further and turned his gaze back to the towering coffee-tree.

It was tall and massive, providing cool shade over the courtyard.

Gu Yongnian looked at the towering Sacred Tree again, letting the breeze flutter his sleeves without stirring the tree at all.

His companion had slipped away at some point, leaving only a fragrance like the coffee-tree’s lingering around Gu Yongnian.

He glanced at the empty space beside him, then lowered his gaze and fastened the rosary around his left wrist.

The beads on this string were small, twenty-one in total, barely noticeable on his wrist.

At a glance, one might mistake it for a simple brown bracelet.

After putting it on, Gu Yongnian pulled down his rolled-up sleeves, concealing the rosary completely.

———

After leaving the Ethereal Temple, Song Chuyi returned home.

His mother had made desserts and, seeing him back, set out a small plate.

"Chuyi, come try the caramel pudding I learned to make today."

Song Chuyi acknowledged and came over, taking a small bite.

"It's delicious."

He lavished praise.

"Mom, weren’t we supposed to have dinner with Uncle Gu’s family today?"

His mother smiled. "Your Uncle Gu had a last-minute business issue, so we pushed it to next weekend."

"Speaking of which, your Uncle Gu has a son named Gu Yongnian."

"He goes to your university, same major too. Have you two met?"

Song Chuyi ate the pudding and nodded.

“Yeah, we know each other.”

“He's really something.”

Song Mu, seeing his unchanged expression, for some reason felt relieved.

“That's good.”

“You're the same age and in the same major—you’ll probably have a lot to talk about.”

“Next weekend, we’re having dinner with your Uncle Gu and his family. Wanna come?”

Song Chuyi thought for a moment, then nodded.

Song Mu smiled wider as she handed him a cup of milk.

“Oh, right—how was your visit to the Ethereal Temple today?”