Chapter 140 - 89: Courtesan Liu Luo

Chapter 140: Chapter 89: Courtesan Liu LuoRan Yan had arrived at the Main Hall when the sermon had already begun. The Main Hall of Yingmei Temple was not large, with only about seventy people in the whole temple. The mountain mist swirled around, and a group of nuns dressed in black sat cross-legged in the courtyard of the Main Hall, listening intently to the Temple Master’s sermon in a tranquil scene. The Temple Master still exhibited an elder’s frail appearance, with eyes closed, twisting prayer beads in one hand while preaching. Ran Yan did not disturb the others, but instead found a cushion at the back and sat down cross-legged. The Temple Master seemed to sense Ran Yan’s arrival and nodded slightly in her direction from afar. Ran Yan was slightly startled in her heart and felt that although the Temple Master had not opened her eyes, she seemed able to see her. Ran Yan also nodded back as a gesture of respect. The aged voice of the Temple Master uttered terms that were obscure and difficult to understand. Ran Yan listened but was entirely clueless. The scriptures were indeed hard to comprehend. Ordinary people could grasp the literal meaning through simple translations, but those phrases containing profound wisdom required deep contemplation. Ran Yan had no interest in delving into the scriptures; some Buddhist sayings seemed illogical and unfounded to her. However, the sound of chanting had a calming effect on the heart, which was her reason for coming. Xing Niang sat cross-legged beside Ran Yan, listening very seriously. Suddenly, she felt as if someone was constantly watching them, paused for a moment, and looked in that direction, only to see a young nun quickly averting her gaze. Ran Yan noticed this but remained composed, listening to the hoarse voice of the Temple Master as she chanted the scriptures. Suddenly, she recalled the bell sounds she heard this morning and the chanting of monks, wondering if there was a temple nearby. As the Temple Master had grown older and could not bear the fatigue, the duration of the sermons had been reduced from an hour to forty-five minutes, and sometimes longer if she felt more enthusiastic. The sermon had already been going when Ran Yan arrived and thus ended shortly after. The nuns all rose and paid their respects to the Temple Master. After she had left, they dispersed to attend to their tasks, many of whom had never seen Ran Yan before were attracted by her beauty and paused to take another look. "Wife," Xing Niang whispered to Ran Yan, "there was a young nun staring at you earlier. I recognized her, the same who has been coming to deliver meals these past times, often looking into the courtyard. Could she be looking for you?" The young nun was only peering sneakily. Ran Yan felt that her recent reputation was not that good, and it was normal for people to be curious or disdainful. But she did not let her guard down and told Xing Niang, "Keep an eye on her." Ran Yan and Xing Niang were about to walk towards the back of the temple when they heard a faint commotion, as if a nun whispered, "A lay guest has arrived! Quickly, prepare!" Ran Yan smirked; Yingmei Temple had come to such a state, yet the visit of a lay guest still stirred up such a fuss. The two had walked only a short distance, having not yet rounded the Main Hall, when they heard a cloyingly sweet voice say, "Miss Ran Seventeen?" The voice was neither too far nor too close, precisely on the steps in front of the hall. Ran Yan followed the sound and saw a woman in a sea-green silk dress standing gracefully like a lotus stem, but her beauty was rather garish, with a demeanor somewhere between a matron and a maiden, not fitting with the lotus leaves at all. Ran Yan felt this woman looked familiar but could not recall where she had seen her. She asked, "Forgive my poor sight, but who might you be, wife?" The woman gave the young nun beside her a polite smile and said, "I’ve encountered an old acquaintance, and I’d like to chat for a moment. Please excuse me, little sister." The young nun performed a Buddhist salute and replied, "As you wish, patron," before heading into the hall. After watching the young nun walk away, the woman then turned to Ran Yan with a charming smile and said, "Miss Ran Seventeen, it’s only normal that a person of your importance might forget me. My name is Liu Luo, and I’m here today merely to deliver a message." With that smile, Liu Luo revealed a touch of worldliness. Ran Yan immediately remembered she was the courtesan who had been feeding the fish in the pavilion at Cai Xiu Hall. Thus, she said, "Miss Liu Luo, please speak." "First, my mother sent me to express gratitude to you, Wife. You reside in the Nunnery for spiritual cultivation, and if it were known that you had connections with people like us, it would harm your reputation. Therefore, my mother didn’t see it fit to personally come over with the others to express thanks." As Liu Luo spoke, she gracefully descended the stairs and approached Ran Yan, stopping just a few inches away, leaned slightly forward, and whispered softly, "Moreover, there’s someone who wishes to ask for the Wife’s help in rescuing them." Sёarᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xing Nang frowned slightly, thinking to herself that our wife is just barely keeping herself safe, and now they want her to save someone else—this must be designed to cause trouble! Although displeased, she managed to hold her tongue and simply looked down, quietly listening to Liu Luo’s words. "This person is locked in a dark room, where they eat, drink, and relieve themselves all in the same place, watched over by an old woman day and night. They cannot speak and, to conceal that they are literate, dare not even look at books. Their only daily activity is to stare at that small piece of sky above their head..." Liu Luo shivered as she spoke, thinking to herself what kind of life that was! Ran Yan’s eyebrows gradually knitted together, and finally, Xing Nang could not hold back. She said, "My lady, such matters should probably be taken to the Government Office. Our lady is just knowledgeable in Medical Skills and has only examined two corpses. Saving someone like this, our lady truly cannot manage it." "Whether you save her or not is a mere effort for you, I am just kindly passing the message." Liu Luo pulled out a piece of paper from her sleeve and placed it in Ran Yan’s hand, "Here’s the address, I’ll leave the rest up to you." Ran Yan unfolded the paper and took a glance, asking, "The person did not reveal their identity?" "It’s said there wasn’t enough time to explain," sighed Liu Luo as she gave a slight bow to Ran Yan. "Since I’ve delivered the message, I shall take my leave now." "Thank you," Ran Yan said, clutching the paper tightly in her hand. At that moment, Xing Nang also somewhat caught on but still hadn’t fully comprehended, wondering aloud, "Wife, do you know who it is? Are you planning to go to the rescue?" "Let’s discuss it when we return," replied Ran Yan, keeping her emotions in check and maintaining a steady tone. Xing Nang nodded, and she walked back to the courtyard where they were temporarily residing with Ran Yan. Wan Lu and Xiaoman had set up a small table in the corridor. Both had painted their faces to resemble that of a flowered cat, one puffing her cheeks while the other furrowed her brow, discontent as she stared at the thick book in front of her, bitterly saying, "Sister Wan Lu, what character is this!" Wan Lu paused for a moment and then turned her head, looking for a long while, "The ’goji’ in goji berries, I guess!" "Sister Wan Lu is amazing," Xiaoman exclaimed with eyes full of admiration. Wan Lu rolled her eyes, "It’s called reading a picture! It clearly depicts goji berries in the drawing." Xing Nang, having listened for a while, burst into laughter, came over, picked up the book, and indeed it was goji berries. "You are clever, just not willing to apply yourself!" Ran Yan, however, paid no attention to their conversation. The rumors in the city only concerned her medical skills and her practice of examining corpses. She could understand if someone came to her for corpse examination or treatment, but why would a confined person seek her out? It made no sense! Unless... this person had significant ties to her. Ran Yan clenched the paper in her hand, the tumult within her refusing to subside for a long while. This person awaiting her rescue—could it possibly be Ge Lan? Aside from Ge Lan, Ran Yan could think of no other. Moreover, in her dreams, she had never witnessed Ge Lan’s death with her own eyes. Could it be that she had miraculously survived? With these suspicions, Ran Yan felt conflicted inside. She was not adept at pretense. If it truly was Ge Lan, such an intelligent woman would probably see through her at once—this Ran Yan wasn’t the same as that Ran Yan from before! What would she face then? Would Ge Lan accept that the woman she had always protected was now inhabited by a different soul? (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) and cast your recommendation ticket or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)