“This jade voice transmission talisman indeed belongs to an old friend. This old monk hasn’t seen it in more than 10 years.” The old monk sighed emotionally before nodding at Qiao Mu and saying, “Benefactress, please wait a moment.”


  Subsequently, he walked to one side of the room and took out a small, pitch-black box from a row of standing pomelo wood drawers.

  Yet after wiping the small box with his sleeve, the old monk stared distractedly at it for a while.

  Dressed in a small, gray monastic robe, the little monk kneeled on a small praying mat next to Qiao Mu and repeatedly sized up this visitor with his moist eyes.

  The old monk carried the small black box towards Qiao Mu and sat down across from her, handing it over. “Benefactress, this is yours.”


  “The Startled Swan?” Qiao Mu hadn’t expected this trip to go so smoothly.

  The old monk nodded and let out a long sigh. “This old monk has waited here for a full 14 years. From today on, this old monk can finally settle this fixation, many thanks to this little benefactress’s assistance.”


  Qiao Mu questioned curiously, “Why do you call it a fixation?”


  The old monk became lost in thought as he looked dazedly at Qiao Mu while murmuring to himself, “Alike, alike……”


  The old monk didn’t say, so Qiao Mu was at a loss. She looked at the old monk and stated, “If you have experienced life and death and faced your very most unbearable past, perhaps you will understand that fixations or not, everything is all meaningless.”


  “Only failing to acquire what you wish will spawn a fixation. Won’t it all be fine if you don’t wish for anything?” Yet Qiao Mu couldn’t resist laughing by herself as she spoke. “But this is only easy to say. How can a person wish for nothing?”


  No matter how she didn’t wish for anything else, praying for her family to be safe and sound was also a wish.

  Qiao Mu spoke softly, “People only need to conduct themselves with integrity and maintain a clear conscience. Why should they care about how the world views them?”


  Even she herself wasn’t aware that she had relaxed her mind before an old monk she just met, and she laughed inexplicably.

  It was as if the old monk was an old friend that she hadn’t seen for a long time. In front of the old monk, there was no need for her to put up any mental defenses.

  The old monk stared at Qiao Mu blankly for a very long time, after which he laughed out loud. “Alike, yet not alike. Good child, your personality is much more unrestrained and at ease than hers, hahahaha.”


  With such a jubilant laugh, the two people became less constrained, and they also conversed much more freely.

  The little monk watched this scene from the side in stupefaction. He hadn’t seen his master treat anyone this familiarly before. Many of the visitors that dropped in before were also dressed in luxurious clothes like this benefactress. It was obvious that they were of high status, yet Master had always spoken bluntly with them.

  “Child, it’s not easy for you to make a trip when it’s all mountains and abandoned villages here, so why don’t you stay here for two days before departing?”


  “Many thanks for Venerable Master’s hospitality, but I still have important matters to take care of and can’t tarry here for too long. Thank you for your kindness.” Qiao Mu replied quickly.

  She had to hurry to Beilan Fortification immediately. She was worried that Mo Lian would be anxious.

  “In that case, you must join me for a vegetarian meal before leaving.” The old monk said hurriedly.

  This time, Qiao Mu nodded. “Accepting deferentially is better than standing on ceremony.”


  The old monk also nodded with a beaming smile. “You first check out this Startled Swan. I’ll go prepare the vegetarian dishes.”