Qin Tiexin saw Chen Zhao leaving Ming'an's small courtyard, then turned out from behind the tree and walked in.
Ming'an is clearing away the papers and pens on the table, inserting the brushes one by one into the pen holder, and covering the inkstone, preparing to start the evening practice.
Hearing the footsteps, he looked up and his eyes lit up.
He dropped his pen, ran over in three steps, and hugged Qin Tiexin's thigh.
"Brother!"
Although both of them live in Zhaoming Temple, Qin Tiexin arranged a separate small courtyard for Ming'an. In addition, because he has been practicing, he has not seen Ming'an for several days.
Qin Tiexin picked up Ming'an with one hand and let him sit in his arms.
The little guy was a little heavier than before, and the two little arms were tightly wrapped around his neck.
"How have you been lately? Are you tired?"
"Not tired." Ming'an shook his head, his little head shaking like a rattle, "In Zhaoming Temple, I am happy every day."
He clapped his fingers and said what he had learned during the day and what pilgrims he had met.
He said that an old lady came to offer incense today, praying for the Art of War's safety, and he helped recite the sutra. He said that the newly planted osmanthus tree in the temple was in bloom, and it was very fragrant. He picked a small branch and offered it in front of the master's memorial tablet. He said that Chen Zhao learned to write his own name today, and it was crooked, and he was very happy.
Qin Tiexin Listen and nod occasionally.
The two talked for a while. Qin Tiexin put Ming'an on the chair and sat down opposite him. The wooden chair creaked under his weight.
"Ming'an." He suddenly said, "Senior brother, you may have to go out for a while."
Ming'an raised his head, and his eyes, which had been smiling a moment ago, suddenly became round. Every time my senior brother said he wanted to "go out," it would take at least ten days.
"Senior brother is going out again. How long will he be out for?"
"This time fortuitous opportunity is going out to find a breakthrough, to retreat and break through the realm." Qin Tiexin said, speaking as slowly as possible, "The shortest term can be five or six months, the long term can be... one or two years."
Ming'an The smile on his face suddenly disappeared.
He jumped out of the chair, the soles of his shoes slapping on the ground, and rushed over to hug Qin Tiexin's waist, refusing to let go.
His little face was buried in his monk's robe, feeling muffled and not looking up.
"Brother, Ming'an doesn't want you to leave."
"It used to be one month, two months, why is it so long this time?" Ming'an's voice was muffled and trembling, coming out from the fabric of the clothes.
"Senior brother, isn't there a place for practicing in the temple? Ming'an promises never to disturb senior brother." After saying that, Ming'an raised his head and looked at Qin Tiexin.
Qin Tiexin couldn't say "I'm actually not your senior brother, I want to go back to where I came from" because he was afraid that the child wouldn't be able to accept it.
Qin Tiexin could only reach out and pat him on the back. He saw Ming'an's upturned face, his eyes were already red, tears were rolling in them, and he tried not to fall down.
This child is still young after all, and he really doesn't want Ming'an to run around with him.
On the way back to Azure Xuan Region, we had to sleep and eat in the open air, and we didn't know how many dangerous places we had to pass.
Ming'an stays here, with Su Qing, Chen Zhao, and Zhaoming Temple, living a stable life.
What good can he gain by following him?
"Ming'an." He softened his voice and changed the topic, "Senior brother will give you a task, okay?"
Ming'an wiped his eyes, sniffed, and rubbed his sleeves against his cheeks, leaving a bright mark.
"Senior brother, what's the mission?"
Qin Tiexin glanced at the door and lowered his voice.
"Look, it's such a big building Zhaoming Temple, just the two of us. If senior brother leaves and no one takes care of it, it will be abandoned or occupied by others."
"When senior brother is away, you have to shoulder the abbot's burden for senior brother."
Ming'an shook his head harder, buried his head back, and said in a low voice, "I don't want to be an abbot, I want to follow my senior brother."
"Ming'an Be good." Qin Tiexin said, gently pressing his hand on his back, "You are a big boy now. The bell in the temple is here, and the memorial tablets of master and uncles are also here. This is our home. We can leave, but who will guard this home?"
He pointed in the direction of the next door.
"You also have sister Chen Zhao and sister Su Qing accompanying you. This temple is the most important thing for us Zhaoming Temple, so naturally we have to leave it to the most powerful Ming'an."
"Can it be done?"
Ming'an bit his lip, which turned white from his teeth.
The tears could not be held back, and flowed down his cheeks, drop by drop, and fell on Qin Tiexin's monk's robe, spreading into small dark dots.
He raised his sleeves, wiped them randomly twice, and nodded heavily.
"It can be done!"
"But..." He raised his face, the tip of his nose was red, "I still can't let go of my senior brother."
Qin Tiexin didn't say anything else, and just picked him up. Ming'an buried her face in the crook of his neck, holding his collar with her little hands, and she was shaking a little.
That night, Qin Tiexin did not go to the practice room, nor did he return to the abbot's meditation room.
He accompanied Ming'an in chanting the sutra, word for word. The sutras echoed in the quiet room, sound after sound.
I also taught him to write a few words, and watched him lie down in front of the case, tracing strokes one by one, with the tip of his pen moving very slowly on the paper.
It was late at night, and the two of them huddled together. Ming'an held his arm and rested his head on his shoulder. It took a while before he fell asleep.
His breathing gradually became even, and his little body softened little by little, like a baby bird that was finally willing to sleep peacefully in its nest.
These days, Qin Tiexin has been living in Ming'an's small courtyard, which can be regarded as the last time to spend time with him.
Ming'an In addition to chanting and studying sutras, he also dug out a piece of dark black wood from the temple.
The wood was extremely hard, and when knocked, it made a dull sound. He found a small carving knife and sat on the porch to carve whenever he had free time.
The blade of the knife gnawed on the wood bit by bit, and the wood chips fell down and landed on his monk's robe, but he didn't care.
Qin Tiexin asked what he was carving, and he only said that he wanted to carve another Peace Buddha for his senior brother to bless him for a successful breakthrough and his early return.
Qin Tiexin didn't stop him, he knew this was Ming'an's intention.
The next day, Qin Tiexin went to Su Qing's place.
Su Qing was arranging medicinal materials in the pharmacy. There was a row of newly collected spiritual herbs spread out in front of him, with water drops still hanging on the leaves. When he saw him, he put down his work and wiped his hands on the handkerchief.
"Junior Brother Qin."
"Senior Sister Su." Qin Tiexin got straight to the point, "I'm going to... take a long trip in a few days. Ming'an, I need you to look after me more in the future."
Su Qing nodded with a serious expression. She knew some details about Qin Tiexin and Chen Xi. She also knew that they would return to Azure Xuan Region in the near future. She didn't know when they would come back.
"Don't worry, I won't leave here for a while, and I will definitely take good care of Ming'an."
Qin Tiexin took out several Jade Slip from the storage ring and arranged them one by one on the table.
"These are some Buddhist martial arts skills that I prepared for Ming'an in advance. Arhat Fist, Karma-Burning Wisdom King Flame, Arhat Dharma Aspect Body, and Sumeru Immovable Instruction." He said, his fingers passing over Jade Slip one by one.
"If I... can't come back, when Ming'an grows up and is able to practice, please Medical Cultivator Su and hand it over to him."