“Monkey Mountain’s temple has been greatly expanded, and it has attracted some esteemed cultivators for secluded practice. Its reputation keeps growing, and the temple fair gets livelier year after year.”
The two rode their horses all the way to Monkey Mountain, and in the open space beneath the main hall, they found a stable and settled their horses before entering together.
The summer weather was scorching, but the dense trees overhead blocked out the sun, making the place much cooler than the city despite the throngs of people and the constant noise of buying and selling.
There were countless small vendors at their stalls, selling everything from incense and offerings to food, toys, and everyday items.
Xiaofu glanced around and said, “It really is livelier than before.”
When he was a child, he used to beg his family to take him to the temple fair, eating along the way and collecting small trinkets to buy. He always thought the place was wide and bustling.
He darted about here and there, and Shiwa, afraid he might get lost, held him tightly. The coins in his pouch were all spent on snacks and toys.
As a child, being small, he could only see things nearby and had limited energy, so many places felt vast to him.
Now, even visiting again, he still felt it spacious—the expansion and renovation had truly made it wider and livelier.
“I heard Uncle Kang and Uncle Fan first met here at Monkey Mountain. Not sure if it’s true,” Shiwa said.
Xiaofu snorted, “You really know everything.”
Shiwa laughed, “Who doesn’t know Uncle Kang and Uncle Fan are a perfect match, a harmonious couple who have walked hand in hand for decades? Everyone wonders who was the matchmaker, where they met, and all those stories.”
“Seeking a smooth marriage without cultivating virtue but relying on matchmakers and match locations—that’s quite funny.”
Xiaofu replied, “Finding matchmakers and match locations is easy, but cultivating virtue is so hard. People’s nature is to seek benefit and avoid harm.”
“You’re not wrong.”
Shiwa nodded. Suddenly, he noticed some small trinkets ahead and strolled forward, stopping at a pottery stall.
“Yueyou, come quickly.”
Xiaofu raised an eyebrow and followed.
Shiwa picked up a small pottery doll from the stall and held it up to Xioafu’s cheek.
“Look, it really does resemble you. The eyebrows are curved, just like when you smile.”
Xiaofu looked at the painted doll, puffing his cheeks.
“The face is too round. Is my face really that round?”
“The potter makes all the faces round for a festive and cute look. It’s rare to find one with similar features, so it’s fate. Young master, talented and handsome, this doll is well matched.”
The vendor’s mouth was quick, “Monkey Mountain’s Bodhisattva is efficacious. Those who buy a token here receive the Bodhisattva’s blessings—career and wealth flow smoothly, and some even find their true loves!”
Hearing this, Shiwa’s lips twitched into a slight smile. He knew the vendor was exaggerating, but still, it pleased him greatly.
He gently stroked the pottery doll, and seeing this, the vendor took another one and handed it to him.
“Although you’ve never liked such toys since childhood, these two dolls are clever. Buy them to keep in your room as decoration. Just a glance every day brings some benefits.”
Shiwa’s face reddened slightly as he said softly, “We’ll each take one, as a lucky token… maybe someday…”
Shiwa was about to voice the words pent up in his heart when suddenly his mouth was covered by a hand.
He glanced sideways at Xiaofu, who frowned slightly.
“Shh.”
Xiaofu stopped him and gave a sidelong look. Shiwa’s curiosity was piqued and he followed his gaze.
“A kind young lady, this old woman must have caught heatstroke climbing the mountain, feeling very dizzy.”
“Now my two old legs tremble, and cold sweat runs down my back.”
Under the locust tree in the distance, an old woman was leaning against the tree, gasping for breath, reaching out to a young girl.
“Could you please draw some water from the well for me to drink? I’d be grateful for your kindness.”
The young girl was no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, her eyes pure and gentle, clearly someone who rarely went out.
“Grandma, just rest a moment and I’ll fetch water for you.”
With kindness, she quickly ran to the well, fetched some water, and helped the old woman sit down to drink.
“A sip of well water relieves the heat. I feel much better now. I’m so fortunate to have met you today. Otherwise, this old woman might have died here.”
“The temple fair seems lively with so many people, but those who offer help are few and far between.”
The old woman said, “I see a noble fortune in your face, young lady, but there is a crookedness at your brow that blocks your blessings. It’s a pity such a kind person is affected this way.”
Hearing this, the young girl asked, “Grandma, you know how to read faces?”
The old woman smiled, “Why else would I have come to Monkey Mountain today? I was invited this afternoon to examine bones and read fortunes for the nobles from the city.”
“Thanks to your kindness, I wish to help remove the obstacle at your brow and ensure your future blessings are endless.”
“Is that really true?”
“If you don’t believe me, young lady, that’s fine. Fate comes naturally. Whether it succeeds or not depends on oneself.”
“If you really can help me, I would be forever grateful.”
The old woman nodded and said, “Since you have a kind heart, first help me to the side room to rest. I’ll drink some patchouli water to calm the heat and then we can dispel the bad luck together.”
The young girl hesitated slightly but seeing the old woman’s frail state and remembering how she helped her, there was no reason to refuse.
They supported each other into the side room.
Without a word, the two understood each other and quietly followed.
“Recently, the county office has received repeated reports of young women disappearing from their homes, and no case has been solved yet. I’m afraid we just stumbled upon a kidnapping.”
Xiaofu whispered to Shiwa, “In these peaceful times, people are precious, and kidnappers risk everything for money.”
Shiwa didn’t yet know the full story, but seeing the old woman leading the young girl away from the crowded fair to a secluded spot was suspicious.
Hearing Xiaofu’s words made him even more alert. Besides his straightforward nature, he now had official authority and was determined to act on behalf of the people. He wouldn’t turn a blind eye to any hints of criminal activity.
The two quietly followed. After a few steps, Xiaofu furrowed his delicate brows and grabbed Shiwa’s hand.
Shiwa almost pulled him to the ground but steadied himself and whispered, “What is it?”
“Why ask? Look at you, all dressed like a peacock, attracting stares everywhere. And we’re still following someone.”
Xiaofu often trained hunting in the mountains and had sharp senses beyond ordinary people. He had already noticed many eyes watching them. Without his keen senses, he would have seen even more during the temple fair.
He said, “I’ll go alone; that might be safer.”
Shiwa’s brow twitched. He was used to others’ gazes and a little dull to them, but he couldn’t accept Xiaofu’s idea.
“That won’t do! If it’s only the old woman, I might feel safer letting you go alone, but if she has accomplices, wouldn’t you be in danger?”
“Two of us can handle them easily. If you don’t trust me, go get help. If they really are kidnappers, we’ll tie them up and hand them to the authorities.”
Shiwa suddenly regretted getting ready so early this morning, fussing over things that only caused him trouble.
“There’s no patrol around here. It won’t be easy to find reliable help without alarming the criminals.”
“Just follow them and I’ll circle around and meet you. That way, neither of us will expose ourselves.”
“Don’t rush in alone.”
Before Shiwa could say more, someone suddenly ran out into the courtyard clutching his stomach, face twisted in pain, dashing toward the outhouse—no trace of his usual graceful composure.
No one had the heart to keep spying on the handsome young master anymore.
“…”
Watching Shiwa leave, Xiaofu quickly followed behind.
A step behind, Xiaofu reached a quiet side room and heard the creak of a door closing. The old woman had already led the young girl inside.
Xiaofu cautiously looked around; seeing no obvious lookout, he relaxed slightly.
He crouched by the door and peeked through a crack, instantly sensing danger.
Inside were at least four people. The old woman, who had seemed weak and feverish, now had sharp eyes with no sign of illness.
“Be careful getting the goods out. You’ll get your reward. There are many young men and women at the temple fair today; be alert.”
Xiaofu realized they planned to move the kidnapped girl and couldn’t wait any longer.
Suddenly, a loud bang sounded as the door was kicked open.
“What audacity, to rob in broad daylight!”
Five people stood in the side room—a pair of burly men, a strong young man, and the old woman disguised as a kidnapper.
The young girl, now unconscious, lay on the ground with a cloth gag tightly in her mouth.
“Who’s this meddling young man?”
They hadn’t finished stuffing the girl into a sack; the crime was obvious and denials futile.
Surprised to be caught, they panicked for a moment, then noticed Xiaofu was alone.
Two men barked at him to keep back.
The old woman sized him up and smiled with ill intent.
“You’re well built and handsome, even more than this young lady. Just what we need for our little business.”
She signaled the two men and the young man, and all three closed in on Xiaofu.
Xiaofu sneered, “No money here, but I’m not coming empty-handed. You can have a whipping instead.”
With that, a sharp crack rang out as his whip struck the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Shiwa hurried around the side path. Though he couldn’t see Xiaofu, he heard the sounds of a scuffle coming from the side room ahead.