On the last day of this year, after the heavy snow, the sun hung in the sky, pale and bright.
Above the dome was a lightly brushed pale blue, the color growing lighter the further down it went.
Gradually, it connected with this world blanketed in white snow.
Rime covered the trees, the entire mountain swathed in a pure white, yet thinly misty fog.
Cable cars slowly transported visitors from the foot of the mountain to the base of Guangyuan Temple.
During the New Year period, Guangyuan Temple had an endless stream of pilgrims.
Among them was the Tyrannosaurus Six-Person Study Group, led by Yu Mo.
The six of them got off the cable car one after another, traveling light with only a backpack each.
They certainly didn’t look like people here for a multi-day excursion.
This was thanks to Li Qingqing, who had started organizing a day in advance. The luggage for all six had already been transported to the guesthouse closest to Guangyuan Temple a day before they arrived.
“We really owe it to Li Qingqing for this idea, otherwise today would have been troublesome,” Feng Ruoyu, walking at the very front, sighed as she stepped up the stairs, already cleared of snow long ago.
“Of course, our Qingqing is so resourceful,” Wei Lai was happy for Li Qingqing first.
Hearing this, Feng Ruoyu turned back and tsk-tsked directly at Wei Lai.
“Hey, you Feng Ruoyu, stop right there!”
“I won’t!”
“Ahhh, can you two be careful?”
“Yeah, at least show a little respect for the ice in the corners, okay!”
…
Not even two steps in, these four were already running around, messing about and chasing each other.
Yu Mo watched from a distance, but didn’t join in.
Shen Shuyu had seemed somewhat out of sorts the entire journey, quiet and reserved.
Yu Mo: “What’s wrong? You seem to have low spirits?”
Shen Shuyu looked at Yu Mo ahead, her eyes unable to hide her worry: “Colonel hasn’t been in good shape lately.”
Colonel was the Tosakin goldfish Yu Mo had gifted Shen Shuyu for her birthday last year.
Shen Shuyu treasured this goldfish immensely, using only the best equipment and feed.
Black Fatty and Little Gold had benefited from it, each gaining a whole size in plumpness.
But Colonel hadn’t fared as well. Since winter started, Shen Shuyu had tried all sorts of methods to maintain the water temperature and the aquarium’s ecosystem.
But Colonel’s condition had visibly deteriorated despite everything.
It ate less and moved less.
Its smoke-like, ethereal tail hung limply in the pond water, and its pair of round eyes were listless.
A look of worry also surfaced on Yu Mo’s face, but seeing Shen Shuyu so concerned, she offered solace: “It’ll definitely be fine. Look, just a few days ago we were worried we couldn’t come out today, and the weather cleared up, didn’t it?”
“Everything will be fine,” Yu Mo said, stopping to wait for Shen Shuyu to catch up so they could walk together.
Although a vague unease still lingered in Shen Shuyu’s heart, having Yu Mo by her side added a sense of comfort.
She nodded and walked with Yu Mo towards Guangyuan Temple: “Mm.”
Interwoven between pines and cypresses, a vermilion, three-grotto mountain gate appeared before the six of them.
Towering and majestic, it inspired solemn reverence.
Feng Ruoyu and Wei Lai, who had been fooling around a moment ago, instantly quieted down.
The six young girls, like the other pilgrims, walked quietly towards the inside of the temple.
Passing through the three gates was a large square paved with blue-grey stone slabs, bearing marks of history.
Guangyuan Temple’s incense was strong. The Wishing Wall on the east side was densely covered with tied red plaques, while the fortune-telling area on the west side was crowded with people.
And the main Buddha hall in the center was even more bustling with pilgrims.
“Let’s go draw fortune sticks first?” Li Qingqing proposed.
“Sounds good,” everyone nodded in agreement.
The reddish-brown fortune stick tubes emitted crisp “click-clack” sounds.
Wei Lai, Li Qingqing, Feng Ruoyu, Zhou Qin, Yu Mo – five Best Fortunes in a row.
Although the verses on the sticks differed, they all signified wishes coming true and great potential for the future.
Shen Shuyu was the last in line and took the fortune tube handed to her by Yu Mo.
Reverently, she held the front end to her forehead. Her jade-like hands gently shook it twice.
Suddenly, Shen Shuyu’s heart gave a lurch.
A sudden feeling of weakness nearly caused her to drop the fortune tube.
At that very moment, a stick jumped out from within.
The slender yet weighty stick landed steadily on the table.
But with no one touching it, this stick eerily fell to the ground in the next second.
Everything happened too fast. Besides Yu Mo, no one else noticed this scene.
They only thought the stick hadn’t landed steadily and fell, all curiously watching as Shen Shuyu picked up the stick.
“Maple leaves stain the sleeve, no roots and no trace. Lanterns sent away by the tide, can clouds surge without light?” Li Qingqing, pressed close to Shen Shuyu, read the stick in her hand, her brow furrowing. “Why is yours so much more complicated than ours?”
“Quickly see what the interpretation says?” Zhou Qin was also very curious.
Seeing everyone so curious, and not wanting to spoil the mood, Shen Shuyu retrieved the corresponding fortune slip from the small designated box.
But her heart was filled with unease the entire time.
The small, cream-colored, raw pulp paper was unfolded in Shen Shuyu’s hand. Written boldly at the very top were characters similar to the five others’ slips.
Except, on Shen Shuyu’s slip, it was printed: Worst Fortune.
The cheerful expressions on everyone’s faces retracted instantly.
Wei Lai, eager to console Shen Shuyu, blurted out without thinking whether her words were appropriate or not: “Academic Rep, didn’t you say your goldfish at home hasn’t been well lately? Maybe it’s referring to that, right?”
Yu Mo glanced at Wei Lai, who was looking around for agreement, and, for the first time, dark-faced, snapped: “If you don’t know how to speak, please shut up.”
Wei Lai was rebuffed and pursed her lips tightly.
Seeing the atmosphere freeze, Li Qingqing hurriedly smoothed things over for Wei Lai: “Shuyu, Wei Lai didn’t mean it that way. What she meant was…”
Shen Shuyu quietly read through the brief interpretation on the fortune slip, her expression heavily gloomy, her eyes filled with unfathomable complexity.
She hastily shoved the paper into her pocket, forcing a smile: “Things like this can’t be fully believed anyway, right? Human effort determines everything. Don’t let my one fortune slip make the atmosphere so low. Aren’t there still other places to explore?”
Seeing this, Li Qingqing quickly agreed: “Yes, yes, yes. Let’s go. They say the Wishing Wall over there is very efficacious too. Let’s go make a wish and counter this, okay?”
Guangyuan Temple was indeed a nationally renowned temple. Its strong historical atmosphere alone made the six relatively inexperienced children feel solemn and restrained, not daring to be reckless.
In the back courtyard, hundred-year-old pine trees bowed low, their bodies growing upwards tier by tier.
The sun gradually rose to the top of the dome, a golden sun-wheel haloed at the pines’ peak.
Even though it was winter, the old pines, draped in snow, still shone glossy and bright, like verdant green pagodas.
It was nearly noon. The group had browsed enough and was preparing to leave.
Yu Mo, looking at the four people ahead, stopped and made an excuse: “Oh dear, I forgot! I still need to get a Peace Talisman for my family!”
“It’s like you and Shen Shuyu are both forgetful today. Hurry up, then. Should we wait for you?” Wei Lai had stopped her feet before the first mountain gate and turned back to ask.
“No need, you guys go ahead back. I have the map on my phone, I know the way!” Yu Mo said and doubled back.
At noon, there weren’t too many pilgrims in the temple. Yu Mo quickly ran to the temple square.
But she did not go to the place for Peace Talismans; instead, she ran to the place where they had drawn fortune sticks earlier.
Yu Mo had long ago requested Peace Talismans for Yang Aiyuan and Yu Decai. This time, she had returned for Shen Shuyu.
Thinking about it, Shen Shuyu in her previous life also never believed in religion. She probably wouldn’t care about today’s fortune drawing incident.
But Yu Mo felt that for Shen Shuyu’s fortune stick, which had shown inauspicious signs from the start, she should still find a master to seek a method of resolution.
After all, for matters like this, better to believe they exist than not.
Following the number of the small box written on Shen Shuyu’s fortune slip from memory, Yu Mo took out that slip.
“Maple leaves stain the sleeve, no roots and no trace… Yes, this is it!” Yu Mo’s eyes suddenly lit up as she read the words on the slip.
Clutching the slip, she strode purposefully towards the main Buddha hall in the center of the square.
Climbing over a dozen steps, Yu Mo was forced to merge into a tour group of elderly travelers who had just arrived at the temple.
Threading her way through the elderly men and women, Yu Mo finally reached the entrance of the Buddha hall.
But before she could even steady herself, she saw the hem of Shen Shuyu’s black velvet long skirt appear at the doorway.
Yu Mo’s heart lurched in alarm.
She definitely didn’t want Shen Shuyu to discover she was here for the same matter. She hastily halted her steps into the Buddha hall and nimbly hid behind a pillar as wide as three men.
She saw Shen Shuyu walking out respectfully with the master. Her tone was calm, her attitude deferential as she said something to him.
In her eyes was a visible trace of worry.
So she did care, after all.
Yu Mo thought to herself.
“Then, thank you, Master.”
Perhaps the conversation had concluded. Shen Shuyu put her palms together and bowed slightly in salute to the master.
The master returned the salute, saying: “Benefactor, take care.”
Yu Mo watched Shen Shuyu’s receding back.
Even in winter clothing, under the sunlight, Shen Shuyu’s silhouette appeared so thin and frail.
Yu Mo sighed with pity and tenderness, watching Shen Shuyu leave.
But then thinking she still had the fortune to resolve, she dared not delay a second. She immediately lifted her foot and strode into the temple.
Luckily, in the time Yu Mo was delayed, the master hadn’t gone far.
Yu Mo caught up to him in three quick strides.
“Master, I’m a friend of that young lady just now. I wanted to ask, is there a way to resolve this fortune?” As she spoke, fearful the master wouldn’t believe her, Yu Mo produced the fortune slip in her hand.
The master glanced at the slip in Yu Mo’s hand, then at Yu Mo. His long white beard quivered slightly as he said: “Benefactor, you yourself are the method of resolution.”
Yu Mo’s brow furrowed, deeply puzzled by the master’s words: “Master, could you please explain this to this disciple in detail?”
The master held a string of Buddhist beads in one hand, his tone deep and resonant. “Heaven’s secrets cannot be divulged. Young Benefactor, forgive me for taking my leave.”
Having said this, the master nodded slightly towards Yu Mo, intending to leave.
But Yu Mo, for some reason, was unwilling to let this opportunity slip away so hastily.
Quite improperly, she stepped forward and blocked the master’s path: “This disciple is truly dull-witted. I earnestly request the master to explain a little more.”
The master looked at Yu Mo, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, and showed no annoyance.
He lifted his head, gazing at the full noon sun beyond the doorway, and spoke meaningfully to Yu Mo: “That which has been is that which shall be; that which has been done is that which shall be done.”
Yu Mo was still puzzled by these words, yet her own hand had, at some point, already let go of the master’s wide sleeve.
The master nodded slightly to Yu Mo again. With no obstruction, he lifted his foot and walked freely deeper into the temple.
Only his voice, strong and resonant, echoed long by Yu Mo’s ears: “Nothing but a foolish dream.”
Yu Mo’s frown deepened.
She watched the master walk into the inner chambers of the temple, but her legs simply couldn’t follow to stop him again.
A ray of brilliant midday sunlight streamed into the main hall. Unconsciously, Yu Mo followed the beam upward.
A huge golden Buddha statue, with a smiling face, slightly leaned forward, looking down at Yu Mo.
Kindly brows, gentle eyes, amiable and kind-hearted.
Yet simultaneously majestic and inviolable.
Yu Mo didn’t understand gods or Buddhas. In her previous life, she had only taken Shen Shuyu as her sole faith.
She stared blankly at first, then felt a warm current passing through her chest.
Just like the gaze from this golden Buddha resting on her.
Murmuring silently, warm and serene.
With a quiet heart, Yu Mo walked out of the Buddha hall.
A gust of wind blew, and the wooden plaques on the Wishing Wall clinked together, producing crisp sounds.
One plaque, its red string tied poorly, fell at Yu Mo’s feet.
Yu Mo stopped in time and bent down to pick it up.
She gently brushed off the sand and dirt from it, and found it a new spot to tie it back on.
It was just while tying the red string that Yu Mo noticed a familiar handwriting at the upper left of her vision.
On a red wooden plaque, with a thin black calligraphy brush, were written three small, elegant lines.
In this life, I am fortunate to renew our fated bond with you, my dear. I only wish I am no longer like in my past life.
Vain, solitary, arrogant and conceited, failing your true heart.
— Shen Shuyu.
