C194

After dealing with Sun Delong's case, it was already March. Luo Lingwei calculated the days. At this time, she had already left home for more than half a year, but the task of roaming the world had yet to come to an end. Furthermore, the darn System did not tell her how long this quest would last.

However, the hardest part was Nightingale. Not only did she have to deal with the government affairs, but she also had to keep an eye on Luo Lingwei from time to time, afraid that something bad would happen to her. On more than one occasion, he had either written a letter or had someone send a message for Luo Lingwei to return to the capital, but Luo Lingwei was very firm in her stance and refused to return.

On this day, the group arrived at a small village. Although this village had a lot of good farmland, all the thatched cottages were in ruins without exception. Luo Lingwei looked around at the surrounding farmers. Although their faces were yellow and thin, their eyes were fiery. Each one of them was working in full swing, as if they were not tired at all.

"Empress, it is getting late. Tonight, we will rest in the village for the night, and then we can continue on our journey tomorrow." Zhang Long, who was in charge of leading the way, said to Luo Lingwei who was in the carriage.

At this time, Luo Lingwei had been rushing on for several days and her body was also tired. She agreed to Zhang Long's request and everyone drove the carriage into the village.

When he arrived at the village, he found that the village had also heard the news and rushed over. After all, this group of people were unfamiliar, and the luxurious horse carriages were very strong. Therefore, when someone reported the background, they concluded that this group of people were not small.

"May I ask esteemed guests, where are you from and where are you going?" Li Jun respectfully bowed to Luo Lingwei and the others.

Luo Lingwei got off the carriage, and after seeing the grizzled beard Li Zhengzheng excused her from the ceremony. However, after hearing his question, she almost couldn't help but answer him, "This humble monk came from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands, and headed towards the Western Paradise to pray."

"Old man, we are from Beijing, it is already late. We would like to spend a night in the precious place. Please do me a favor."

Fortunately, Zhang Long stepped forward to interrupt Luo Lingwei's boring fantasies.

"If that's the case, then please follow me." As Old Li was speaking, he began to walk towards the village on his walking stick.

Before long, they arrived at a small, dilapidated courtyard. Although the courtyard in the village was dilapidated, it was even more dilapidated than the other houses in the village. Old Li was just about to use his walking stick to knock on the door when he shouted, "Sis Wang, an important guest has arrived. Quickly come out and take a look."

"What important guest? Let me tell you first. His second uncle, if the ones who came this time were still those bald donkeys, then don't blame me for being impolite!"

An old woman's voice came from the courtyard. Although her voice was weak, it still contained some strength.

After a while, the door of the dilapidated courtyard was opened and an old woman walked out. She seemed to be around sixty years old, and although she was thin and sallow like the rest of the villagers, she seemed to be in high spirits.

"Old granny, sorry to bother you." Luo Lingwei and the rest cupped their hands and said.

This old woman's originally angry appearance, upon seeing Luo Lingwei and her group, changed from angry to surprised. Soon after, she saw those people in extraordinary clothing bow to her, and she began to feel fear. She quickly helped them up.

"Esteemed guests, please come in, please come in." As the old lady spoke, she gestured to the others, inviting them to join her.

At this moment, Li Zheng had already completed his mission. Zhang Long gave him a silver ingot as a token of gratitude. He took the silver and left with a smile.

The few of them followed the old woman into the yard. Zhao Hu also took the horse out of the carriage and led his and Zhang Long's mounts to the barn in the backyard, then went inside to meet up with Luo Lingwei and the others.

At this time, Luo Lingwei and the rest were sitting in the courtyard, chatting and laughing with this old woman.

"Old man, sorry for bothering you tonight." As Luo Lingwei spoke, she took out two pieces of silver and placed it in the old woman's hand. Judging from its weight, it should be around forty silver.

The old woman was slightly terrified as she understood in her heart that a person who could casually take out 40 silver coins as a reward was surely no ordinary person.

"This customer, if you put it this way, it's me, the old lady, who has been duped." The old woman chuckled. After hesitating for a moment, she kept the silver.

"Esteemed guests, you haven't eaten yet, right? This old man will go prepare some food. The farmhouse doesn't have any good food, so please forgive me." As he spoke, he got up to prepare some food.

"Old man, no need to trouble yourself. We have dry rations with us. We are only staying for the night. We will leave tomorrow." Luo Lingwei smiled at the old man.

When this old woman saw Luo Lingwei give her 40 taels of silver, she thought it was to use the 40 taels of silver to buy some delicious food. Luo Lingwei, on the other hand, saw that this old woman was alone and living a very difficult life. That was why she felt sorry for her and wanted to help her.

"Little Qing, prepare a bed for us to rest in a while. Zhang Long, take a look and see if there are any broken doors in this old man's yard. Help her recuperate." Luo Lingwei instructed them.

When the old man saw Luo Lingwei helping her, he was both surprised and happy. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Oh god, I've met a living Bodhisattva today." The old woman looked at Luo Lingwei, tears welling up in her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Luo Lingwei suddenly remembered what this old woman had said earlier when she came to look for shelter.

"Old man, may I ask what do you mean by 'smelly, bald donkey'?" Luo Lingwei asked.

"My lord, everyone in the village calls me Aunt Wang, stop calling me an old man." Aunt Wang said, "This matter is like this."

It turned out that a few dozens of years ago, a few monks came from a mountain not far from the village and built a 'Enlightening Mind Temple' to cultivate. The founder of the mountain was kind and compassionate, often coming down to lecture the people on how to cure diseases. Therefore, over the years, the people of this place had already held this Enlightening Mind Temple in high esteem. But with the transformation of several generations of monks, the monks on the mountain also gradually had evil thoughts. They first coaxed the villagers to use their own crops as incense, and then they kidnapped and deceived the local people.

However, the Enlightening Mind Temple was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the local people. In the eyes of the villagers, the order of the monks far surpassed the words of the officials. Aunt Wang and her family were originally pious and virtuous people of the Enlightening Mind Temple. However, after her son got sick, Aunt Wang went to the Enlightenment Heart Temple to ask for a cure. This monk only asked her to burn incense and pray, but didn't go treat her son. In the end, Aunt Wang's son fell ill and died.

After his son's death, his daughter-in-law also had an affair with a monk in the temple. In the end, she secretly ran away with the monk.