Chapter Ninety: Bullying Ling Xiao, the Honest Soul, Are You?

The self-conscious attempt at idleness was exposed, and he had no choice but to go along with them up the mountain. Fortunately, the two young women each carried small baskets with a few odds and ends, so at first he had assumed they would not lend a hand. Only then did he realize he had overthought things and underestimated them.

When they finally reached the temple and began offering incense, he discovered that there were far more worshippers than he had imagined. Following the monks' instructions, they lined up properly and offered incense in order. It was not only Zhang Xiaolan praying for peace and safety; she also divided the offerings among the others. That made Hai Zi feel ashamed of his own petty little scheme to avoid work.

After the incense had been lit and the Buddha worshipped, Little Lotus grew eager to draw lots, and she even wanted Zhang Xiaolan to draw one for marriage fortune and the like. But there were too many people doing the same, and the time they had already spent on incense and prayers had been considerable.

Zhang Xiaolan had originally hoped to take her time exploring the temple, but there were simply too many people inside. If not for that, she might have brought her brushes another day and painted the buildings and scenery here. This temple was truly rather different from the Buddhist sites shaped by modern times.

Before they knew it, noon had passed, and they were all hungry and tired. Only Ling Xiao still wore that calm, detached expression. It seemed unlikely that the temple would have the leisure to prepare a meal for them here, so Zhang Xiaolan decided they should pack up and head back down the mountain together.

"We'd better look for something to eat after we get down the mountain. It's too crowded in here," she said, and the others nodded in agreement.

As noon approached, the pilgrims gradually began to depart, though there were also believers still arriving from afar to burn incense, so the temple remained crowded. Although the temple was not vast, it was by no means small, and even with so many people packed inside, order was still fairly well maintained.

"All right, I'll get everything put away and then we can go," Little Lotus said briskly. She packed up their things, picked up her little basket, and the group set off down the mountain toward home.

Yet there is a saying: it is easy to climb a mountain and hard to descend it. Not to mention that they had not yet eaten lunch, so they were feeling even more worn out. Seeing a fork in the road halfway down, Zhang Xiaolan asked, "Where does the road on the left lead? Can we go down that way too?"

She studied the branching path for a while. Few people seemed to pass this way, and the wild grass had grown in a rather untidy tangle.

"This road leads somewhere else," Hai Zi said. "But if you go a little farther, there's a pavilion over there where people can rest."

He had been here a few times, so he knew the place fairly well. There was indeed a pavilion that way, though he felt whether they rested or not was hardly important; after all, his stamina was better than a girl's.

"Most of the people coming and going here are heading back the way we came. Why don't we go over there and rest for a bit?" Zhang Xiaolan had been born with a strong curiosity. Hearing that there was a pavilion there, she knew it would probably not be anything grand, but she still wanted to see it. Perhaps there would be some unexpected delight. So she merely said it aloud, then set off at once.

"Ah!" Little Lotus answered and followed after her, with Hai Zi and Ling Xiao coming along behind.

At the temple, after they had finished burning incense and bowing before the Buddha, Little Lotus was eager to draw lots, and she even wanted Zhang Xiaolan to draw one for marriage fortune and the like. But there were too many people waiting, and they had already spent quite a bit of time on incense, prayers, and vows.

Zhang Xiaolan had originally wanted to look around the temple properly, but because it was so crowded, she decided that another day she would bring her brushes and paint the buildings and scenery here. This temple was truly rather different from the Buddhist sites altered by modern times.

Before they knew it, noon had passed, and they were all hungry and tired. Only Ling Xiao still wore that calm, detached expression. It seemed unlikely the temple would have the leisure to prepare a vegetarian meal for them, so Zhang Xiaolan decided they should gather their things and head down the mountain together.

"We'd better find something to eat after we get down the mountain. It's too crowded in here," Zhang Xiaolan said, and the others all agreed with a nod.

As noon drew near, worshippers were gradually beginning their return journeys, though believers from farther away were still arriving to offer incense. The temple therefore remained crowded. Though it was not a huge temple, it was certainly not small, and even with so many people inside, order was still maintained rather well.

"Mm! I'll finish packing and then we'll go," Little Lotus said. She neatly put everything away, picked up the little basket, and the four of them started back down the mountain.

But as the saying goes, climbing is easy and descending is hard. And since they had not yet eaten lunch, they felt even more fatigued. When Zhang Xiaolan noticed a fork in the path halfway down, she asked, "Where does the road on the left lead? Can we go down that way too?"

She gazed at the branching path for a moment. Fewer people seemed to pass this way, and the weeds had grown in a distinctly untidy sprawl.

"This road leads to another place," Hai Zi said. "If you go a little farther on, though, there's a pavilion over there where people can rest."

He had been here several times, so he knew the place fairly well. There was indeed a pavilion that way. Still, he felt it made little difference whether they rested or not; his stamina was better than a girl's anyway.

"Most of the people coming through here are heading back, too. Why don't we go over there and sit for a while to rest?" Zhang Xiaolan was naturally full of curiosity. Hearing about the pavilion, she knew it would not be anything especially impressive, but she still wanted to have a look. Perhaps there would be some pleasant surprise.

"Ai!" Little Lotus answered and followed after her, and Hai Zi and Ling Xiao came along behind them.