Watching Kudi's retreating back, Huang Sheli said thoughtfully, "This old monk doesn't recognize the true Buddha. It's one thing for him to treat me coldly, but why is he so distant even with you, True Person Jiang?"
"The chief of Guanshi Courtyard has always been like this," Jiang Wang said. "Maybe that's simply his personality. Or maybe he and Senior Kujue don't get along—I've seen them curse each other out several times, and the language was filthy."
"Is Hanging Temple this ignorant of courtesy?" Huang Sheli asked in confusion. "Since you came to see True Person Kujue, even if Kujue isn't here, they should have sent someone close to him to receive you."
Jiang Wang thought for a moment. "Hanging Temple doesn't seem to have anyone who's close to Senior Kujue... He argues with everyone."
Kudi had perhaps had no choice but to come. After all, he was in charge of Guanshi Courtyard. Supervision and precepts fell under his authority, and he was responsible for external affairs as well.
Huang Sheli did not know what to say. After a while, she added, "Monk Kudi just said that you came last year, and the year before that too, and now you're here again—True Person Kujue must be very important to you, for you to worry about him like this?"
"Not really." Jiang Wang smiled. "It's just been a long time since I saw him, so I came to check on him. If one day I wrote you a letter and you didn't reply, I'd have to ask what happened too, wouldn't I?"
Huang Sheli clicked her tongue. "Are you saying I'm important, or that I'm not?"
"You're a fairly important friend of mine!" Jiang Wang said.
Huang Sheli grinned. "That is your honor."
Jiang Wang smiled. "Yes! My honor!"
As they