A pond full of blooming flowers, an ultimate addiction.

"Lin Kai, let them take action."

Chi Ruiche took a deep breath, trying to inhale all his anger. The moonlight illuminated his cold and stern face, his fist trembled slightly, and the blood that seeped out was particularly glaring at this moment.

"Yes!"

Lin Kai lowered his head and handed him a handkerchief, hoping that Chi Ruiche would think twice before acting.

Chi Ruiche took the handkerchief and casually wiped his hands. "Brother Yang, there's no need to tell Yi Yi what Jiang Guoqing did."

"What are you going to do?"

Jiang Yang also fell into deep thought. Why would his father go to such lengths to kill Xiao Yi? "There's more to this than meets the eye."

"To catch a turtle in a jar." Chi Ruiche had already begun planning.

I will tell my mom about today's conversation.

Jiang Yang no longer hesitated; his taut muscles, like an erupting volcano, were filled with determination.

"It's getting late, let's go home."

Abu relaxed a little, yawned widely, and said, "I'm off." His watch showed 2:35 a.m.

"it is good."

Lin Kai drove Chi Ruiche to a handicraft workshop, where the master craftsman appeared at the shop to wait as soon as he received the notification.

"Mr. Chi, everything is ready, we can begin."

The person who opened the door had a buzz cut and gray hair, wore square glasses, and had wrinkles around his eyes. He was about fifty years old and wearing a plaid shirt.

"Go prepare a clean set of clothes, and then you can leave."

Chi Ruiche twisted his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves. "You don't need to pick me up tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

After giving all the instructions, Chi Ruiche turned his back to Lin Kai and went into the inner room with the old master from before.

Jiang Yi stayed at the old house tonight after having dinner with Grandpa Jiang. She woke up in the middle of the night to complete silence, feeling a tightness in her chest, as if something was wrong.

My phone showed it was 3 a.m., and I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

The next day, after washing up, Chi Ruiche took the things he had prepared the night before and drove to Xiangtai Temple, a famous temple in Xijing.

As we drove along, we were surrounded by lush, verdant pines and cypresses. On a misty winter morning, the evergreen branches were adorned with flecks of white frost.

The crowd offering incense walked up the steps.

Xiangtai Temple is a popular place of worship. The blue stone steps lead all the way to the top. Despite years of wind and rain and being trampled by people, there is not a speck of moss on them.

Chi Ruiche straightened his clothes and devoutly stepped onto the 108 stone steps, ignoring the gazes of the crowd, bowing every three steps as he ascended the steps to enter the temple.

"I bow once, wishing Buddha to bless my beloved Jiang Yi with peace and good fortune."

"Second bow, may Buddha bless my beloved Jiang Yi with peace and good fortune."

"I bow three times, wishing Buddha to bless my beloved Jiang Yi with peace and good fortune."

.......

Even with tiny pebbles scraping against my knees, covered in dust, forehead pressed to the ground, I still managed to stand up and straighten my back.

Chi Ruiche silently prayed, his hands clasped together, his posture quiet and solemn. He repeated this until he entered the main hall.

The abbot was simply dressed, with a kind and gentle face, a peaceful smile, and eyes that radiated warmth and kindness.

"May your wish be granted." The voice was gentle.

"Thank you."

Chi Ruiche clasped his hands together and silently prayed, then pounded his head heavily on the prayer mat, becoming even more devout, "Buddha, will you really hear me?"

"Sincerity moves mountains. If you don't believe, why did you come all this way, bowing and prostrating each step?"

"I'm afraid I'm being too selfish. She's already far away from the vortex, but because of my persistence, I'm keeping her here and getting hurt again and again."

He used to hope that Jiang Yi would live a brilliant and carefree life; now he hopes that Jiang Yi will live a long and peaceful life. He doesn't believe in gods, but she is the only thing he dares not gamble on.

“My benefactor, the bonds between people are inherently based on selfishness. If we weren’t selfish, how could we come together? Since we’re together, let’s cherish it. Some people are destined to meet but not to be together, while others are destined to be together but not to meet. All things change, but our hearts remain the same.”

The abbot took the bracelet from Chi Ruiche's hand, closed his eyes and silently recited scriptures. Chi Ruiche, imitating the abbot, respectfully knelt on the prayer mat.

After an unknown amount of time, the abbot wrapped the bracelet in red paper offered on the incense table, placed it back in Chi Ruiche's hand, and gently patted it twice.

"May the Buddha be merciful and protect all living beings."

The abbot stopped looking at Chi Ruiche and went to the other believers to chant sutras with them.

As Chi Ruiche descended the mountain, the sunlight pierced through the mist and shone upon him. Although the winter was cold, his heart was filled with warmth. Chi Ruiche gazed at the hikers ascending the mountain in the distance, his eyes firm yet gentle.