"Brother Yanhuang, you wouldn't overthink this, would you?" Lu Yao saw that Xiao Feng seemed unhappy and softly explained, "Actually, the reason I wanted to ask this is because... because..."

As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer until even she couldn't hear it.

At this moment, Lin Jiaxuan turned around on the steps, hugging her arms with her little face tilted up, and wryly said, "Some people just like to dawdle and make everyone wait for them. Don't get me wrong, I'm only talking about some guys, not girls."

"Heh, were you implying I'm no good?" Xiao Feng unhappily remarked.

"Hmph, some people are at least self-aware."

Xiao Feng: "Ha!"

Lin Jiaxuan: "Hmph!"

Everyone was speechless. Was it really appropriate for Xiao Feng, a grown-up, to bicker like this with a kid all day long?

But it suddenly occurred to them that Lin Jiaxuan wasn't that young either; she was already eighteen, although her appearance often made people overlook her age.

Moments later, Xiao Feng sneered, "Seems like you've forgotten the pain once you're healed. You'd rather lay in bed than move around, just occasionally coming out to see the sun."

Upon hearing the words "see the sun," Lin Jiaxuan was instantly filled with anger.

She still held a grudge against Xiao Feng for placing her under the sun, making her eyes constantly face the sunlight.

Naturally, she wouldn't back down: "Then let's see whose skill is superior. Let's see who knocks who down so they can't get up from bed!"

Lin Zhiyan reprimanded, "Stop being ridiculous, do you realize where we are?"

"Sister, why are you only lecturing me and not him?" Lin Jiaxuan pointed at Xiao Feng, expressing strong displeasure at her sister's partiality.

"Because you started it," Lin Zhiyan said helplessly.

When it came to the relationship between Xiao Feng and her sister, Lin Zhiyan couldn't really understand. It seemed like the two of them turned cold towards each other since the night her sister got hurt, reaching a freezing point, and then started to look down on each other, seizing every chance to make digs at one another.

Of course, in terms of conflict, Xiao Feng generally had the upper hand. He had suffered very little, so little that it could be ignored.

The group climbed the steps but were stopped at the entrance of the main hall by a young monk: "Please wait here, dear benefactors. My senior brothers are about to chant inside the hall. You may light incense outside, or enter after they have finished."

Sure enough, a large number of worshippers exited the main hall, proving the young monk wasn't lying.

Before long, all the worshippers had left the hall.

"Dong... Dong... Dong..."

Three deep and distant bell sounds were heard, seemingly from a very far distance, yet also like they came from within the hall.

The chanting began, not so much as reciting but more like singing, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of a wooden fish being struck.

The melody was unlike anything anyone had heard in songs or opera.

Suddenly, Xiao Feng felt a strange peace in his heart, like a sudden emptiness, and he was involuntarily drawn into the unique rhythm, with all worries and emotions vanishing.

This feeling was like restarting a saved game halfway through; everything returned to the beginning, starting anew.

No thoughts of past causes, no thoughts of future consequences, just this momentary peace.

The reactions of the others were similar; worshippers stopped, looking at the many monks sitting on meditation cushions inside the hall, nobody speaking.

But at that moment, a joyful shout came from the right: "It's you guys!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng and the others, along with the worshippers on and off the steps, turned their heads in unison towards the source of the voice, seeing two women.

The two women realized their slip of the tongue, quickly pressing their palms together, apologetically smiling at everyone.

Xiao Feng had already recognized the two women, and so did Jiuye. The two apologizing nearby were the broadcasters Qi Xiaoman and Xiao Yalan, whom they had met at the rundown school a few nights ago.

"Do you know them?" The little girl noticed the change in Xiao Feng's expression, her tone unfriendly as she asked.

Xiao Feng nodded, pointing to Jiuye: "He and Old Zhao know them too."

The little girl maintained an expressionless face, indifferently posing three questions that cut to the bone: "How do you know them? When did you meet them? Why don't I know about this?"

"We met them at the construction site a few days ago. We only met them once, and we were busy when we got back, so I forgot to tell you," Xiao Feng casually explained.

The group walked toward Qi Xiaoman and Xiao Yalan. After introductions, Qi Xiaoman said, "What a coincidence. On our way here, we were just talking about you. I didn't expect to see you so soon again. Is this what they call 'a longing so deep brings a timely return'?"

The little girl was displeased upon hearing this, especially since Qi Xiaoman occasionally glanced at Xiao Feng as she spoke, making her even more intolerant.

"What were you talking about on the way here?" the little girl asked.

Qi Xiaoman and Xiao Yalan both froze. They hadn't expected such a direct question.

In fact, on the way, the two had talked about what might happen if Xiao Feng and Zhao Guo'an were actual perpetrators with bad intentions.

But such things couldn't be plainly stated, so they had to obscure them: "Nothing really, just some casual chatter."

"What kind of chatter?" The little girl continued to dig, showing no intention of stopping until she extracted the full truth.

Xiao Yalan was somewhat unhappy, saying, "Just some pleasantries, similar to 'since we're here, let's not leave empty-handed'."

The little girl nodded: "It better be that way."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yalan and Qi Xiaoman exchanged glances again, both sensing something off in the little girl's words.

The atmosphere grew a bit awkward, and before it got irretrievably worse, Qi Xiaoman suggested, "Since we've run into each other, why don't we go drum bashing together?"

"Drumming? What do you mean?" Xiao Feng asked, not understanding.

Qi Xiaoman explained, "Usually, in big temples, there's a drum available for worshippers to strike. It dispels bad luck and brings good fortune. We saw a lot of people lining up to drum when we arrived."

"Let's go then," Xiao Feng promptly agreed, since they were idle anyway, and taking this chance to explore the temple was a good idea.

Of course, part of the reason was the mysterious abbot they had encountered earlier; otherwise, Xiao Feng might not have been interested in wandering around.

"Hmph!" the little girl huffed angrily, displeased with Xiao Feng agreeing to drum with Qi Xiaoman without consulting her.

Seeing this, Lin Jiaxuan snickered internally: "Heh, men!"

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