"Fulfilling a vow?" Zheng Zhuxi was a little surprised.
The Junior Brother Ding she knew was the sort who passed temples without entering and encountered gods without bowing.
Recalling the past, Ding Songyan explained with a touch of emotion:
"Back then, Yan Changqing had me under his control. First, he made me go to the Dock and secretly look at Wangtianmen Island three times. The next day, he sent me to Dangkang Temple to offer three sticks of incense on his behalf, then wander around Potter's Field. All of that was a smokescreen to distract anyone watching in secret. In reality, all he needed was for me to buy a dagger and carry it on me.
"Senior Sister, you know what my situation was like. If I wanted to report him to the authorities, I'd forget as soon as I turned around. If I wanted to do anything, the moment I crossed a certain line, I'd fall into a daze. I struggled with all my strength, trying one thing after another, and finally managed to stir up a little commotion. All of it was to draw your attention so you could discover the problem yourselves.
"Tell me, in that state, how could I offer incense at Dangkang Temple without making a wish and praying while I was there? Looking back now, it seems to have helped a little. At least I escaped that predicament."
Zheng Zhuxi listened quietly, deeply moved.
As she remembered it, Ding Songyan had rarely spoken of his feelings during his time with the "Ding Family," merely recounting what had happened in spare, factual strokes. Just now, for the first time, he had said a little about his plight. Though his tone was as light as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze, suggesting that time had passed