A piece of Japanese incense

"Shopkeeper, please settle the bill!" Hefeng called the porridge shop owner, rummaged through the package that Yu Zhiyihe carried with him, took out an ancient inkstone, and placed it on the table: "This item is used as compensation." After saying this, he walked away in a dashing manner.

"No!" Zhi Yihe watched him do it, pursed his lips speechlessly, grabbed the last bun on the plate, and hurriedly chased after him.

"Brother, how come I have to treat you? I'm so poor, don't you feel bad about it?"

Zhi Yihe considered his current situation and thought that following them might help him be safer for the time being. He also knew the whereabouts of dozens of people in Yun Mansion, and perhaps he could find some clues from them.

So she quickened her pace and chased after him.

"Why aren't you talking? Hey! Where are you going? Why are you walking so fast? Ouch! I just ate and I'm about to vomit my food because of running."

Zhi Yihe caught up with He Feng and was about to ask further questions. Before she could finish her words, He Feng suddenly grabbed her arm and quickly pulled her to the inside of the street. Because of the hasty action, Zhi Yihe staggered and almost fell in front of the fruit stand next to her.

Hefeng placed one hand on her forehead and grabbed the belt around her waist with the other hand, with such force that he almost lifted Zhiyi up into the air.

At this moment, several children ran by them, playing and chasing each other. Zhi Yihe stroked his chest and panted, saying with a smile: "Thank you, brother He! Thank you! Thank you!"

Hefeng grabbed Zhi Yihe's braid and asked casually, "Do you remember anything now?"

Zhi Yihe smiled slightly, a hint of embarrassment flashed across his brows, and he shook his head meekly.

"Then, I'll send you to see your father." Hefeng grabbed Zhi Yihe's braid and was about to leave.

"Ahhhhhhh~ wait wait! I remember! I remember!" Zhi Yihe held his head with both hands and raised his voice a few degrees.

Hefeng still held her braid, waiting patiently for her to continue.

"Eight or nine miles west of Suiyuan, there is an abandoned Zhangxian Temple. The murals inside the temple depict fairies holding bows and arrows and shooting at heavenly dogs. These are the words that Ah Ban's father left for him before he died."

Zhi Yihe paused, suppressed his dissatisfaction and said, "We have looked several times and found nothing. However, since his father mentioned this matter at a critical moment, there must be a deep meaning behind it!"

A guard asked in confusion: "Suiyuan? Wasn't it reduced to ashes in a fire a few years ago?"

"That's right! Is there...something...Zhangxian Temple nearby?" another person echoed.

"Isn't the Zhangxian Temple for praying for children? What does it have to do with the Yan family?"

"Praying for a child..." He Feng seemed to be thinking, "In the ninth year of Zhaoding, the Crown Prince's concubine became pregnant before the Crown Princess. Yan was eager to have a child, so she built a temple called 'Guanyin the Goddess of Childbearing' outside the imperial city, with mountains behind and water in front."

"You mean 'Luyan Temple'?"

Hefeng nodded.

"Oh! I have heard of this. The most famous thing about Luyan Temple is the 'One Pillar Supporting the Sky'. It is said that any woman who touches the pillar will be able to give birth to a son!"

"Tsk! It's nothing but superstition." Zhi Yihe sneered, with disdain in his eyes.

"Don't disbelieve me! My aunt was childless for a long time, but after touching the pillar supporting the sky, she gave birth to a son!"

"A baby was born at once..." Zhi Yihe imitated the man's tone and repeated it in a sarcastic tone.

"Go to Zhangxian Temple." Hefeng gave the order and everyone immediately returned to their solemn state.

Clear bell sounds were heard, as if they were the unique melody of their own carriage. Zhi Yihe looked back in surprise, only to see a horse galloping towards them with its smooth, satin-like mane.

It stopped in front of Hefeng, gracefully and calmly. The white mist exhaled from its nose sparkled crystal clear in the sunlight, and it rubbed Hefeng's hand with its wet nose.

Hefeng just pushed off with his left foot, and then jumped lightly. He grabbed the belt in front of the saddle with his right hand, and crossed his left leg over the horse's back. Almost at the same time, his right leg landed steadily on the stirrup, moving smoothly and in one go.

Zhi Yihe covered his mouth with his hands, his eyes sparkling with admiration: "Wow! So manly~"

He Feng lowered his eyelashes, and his tone contained a bit of arrogance and leisure: "You are running there?"

Zhi Yihe was speechless for a moment, then she tightly grasped the corner of his clothes and looked up at him pitifully.

Hefeng shook his head and sighed, bent down, and stretched out his hand towards Zhi Yihe with his palm facing up.

Zhi Yihe held his hand without hesitation, and he only needed to exert a little force to pull Zhi Yihe steadily onto the horse's back.

Zhi Yihe sat down, Hefeng patted the horse's neck lightly, and squeezed the horse's belly, and the horse galloped out of the city like an arrow.

After all, this was Zhi Yihe's first time riding a horse, and the bumps on the horse's back caught her off guard. She closed her eyes, clung tightly to Hefeng, and grabbed his belt tightly with her backhand.

“Follow the horse’s pace and adjust your body.” The sound of the breeze reached her ears along with the whistling wind.

Zhi Yihe slowly opened her eyes, the wind, with the scent of freedom, blew across her face, and the tension in her heart was gradually replaced by joy.

"Ah!" She took a deep breath of the freshness of the fields.

Hefeng hugged Zhi Yihe from behind, forming his arms into a protective arc around her waist.

Zhi Yihe's long hair danced in the wind, and his head changed direction several times. Finally, he had to rest his chin on her shoulder to prevent her hair from blowing into his eyes and mouth.

The sudden intimacy made Zhiyi's heartbeat disordered for a moment. She twisted her neck to find balance.

"Don't move." Hefeng said in a low voice, pressing his jaw tighter.

Zhi Yihe's whole body was stiff, and he finally reached Zhangxian Temple.

They were the last to arrive, as the others had already conducted a detailed exploration of the temple inside and outside.

Hefeng jumped off his horse and walked into the temple to check.

Zhi Yihe hesitated for a long time. With a dull "bang", she reluctantly embraced the earth in a way that made her dizzy.

The inner thighs felt itchy and painful due to friction, and Zhi Yihe limped towards the crowd.

The weeds in the temple seemed to be engaged in a silent competition, vying to grow upwards, their stems and leaves intertwined, forming a complex sea of ​​green. Some of the weeds were even taller than her head.

If you have not been here, you may not recognize that there was a temple here. The dust of time and lush greenery have deeply hidden it. Green vines are entwined around the mottled stone walls, and the chirping of birds and insects are the only sounds of chanting here.

Zhi Yihe pushed aside the weeds, and the branches and leaves made rustling whispers. She walked in with difficulty along the moss-covered stone steps. The sharp tips of the leaves touched her exposed skin, leaving bright red swellings in an instant.

"What are you doing here?" Hefeng glanced at her coldly, his tone revealing displeasure.

"Why can't I come in? I'm more familiar with this place than you!" Zhi Yihe answered without showing any weakness.

Hefeng frowned, turned around and continued to strike around the Buddha statue with his sword, looking for clues.

Zhi Yihe knew that they couldn't figure it out, so she casually poured out the ash from the incense burner, wiped it with a handkerchief, held it in her hand, and then imitated them and knocked on the altar.

The painted colors on the beams and pillars have faded badly, but still vaguely reveal the former glory of dragons and phoenixes dancing. Zhi Yihe follows this faded painting and walks into the backyard, where there are towering ancient trees with vines of unknown age entwined between their branches.

"Wow! What a big banyan tree here!" someone standing behind her exclaimed.

"Banyan tree? Why would there be a banyan tree planted in a temple?" Another person approached in confusion.

Zhi Yihe asked curiously, "What's wrong with planting banyan trees in temples?"

"Banyan trees are prone to attracting ghosts and gods. According to folklore, it is an ominous tree. There is a saying: 'Banyan trees do not tolerate people.'"

"There is such a saying!" Zhi Yihe covered his mouth, a little surprised.

"Gilded animal head?" Hefeng took Zhiyi and the incense burner in his hand and examined it carefully.

"Gold? Is it valuable? Explain it first! I got it first!"

Seeing that Zhi Yihe was about to grab the incense burner, Hefeng raised the incense burner above his head. Zhi Yihe jumped a few times, but finally could only pout angrily and lean against the door.

“Gold is not a treasure, but it is strange that such a delicate incense burner is displayed in this dilapidated temple!”

"Yes! It's unusual for a temple to give birth to a child to have banyan trees planted in it!"