side by side

It was originally a cloudless sunny day, but suddenly it changed color, and dark clouds came from nowhere and gathered densely, pressing down.Without any warning, the heavy rain poured down, crashed on the eaves, rolled to the ground along the curved track, and flowed to a low place. After a short while, a calf-deep puddle formed on the lower dam of the temple.

"This rain is so evil." The pilgrim who burned the bamboo in the courtyard hid in the temple, and couldn't help muttering softly.

"All benefactors, the rain came suddenly, the mountains are high and the roads are dangerous. If you wish, you can stay in the small temple for a night, and it will not be too late to leave when the rain is lighter tomorrow." The bodhisattva's facial expressions, every word and every action, always give people a feeling of spring breeze, and a few words can calm the anxious atmosphere of the scene.

Different from the amiable atmosphere in the main hall, in the abbot's room, Mr. Liang had a gloomy expression on his face. The white silver needles that were his favorite in the past were untouched at the table.

"Today's lot, why don't you let me divination?"

"Everything in the world has a cause and effect, and the cause and effect have a definite number. The so-called destiny, the time has not come, and it cannot be forced." Abbot Keats turned the rosary in his hand, his eyes drooped, showing some compassion, "this Rain, isn’t it also the destiny? You rest for a night, tomorrow, you will know everything you need to know.”

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Mrs. Liang is a Buddhist, vegetarian, and a bodhisattva-hearted lady who can't see the suffering in the world.On weekdays, killing and bloody things are the most unheard of, even an ant can't bear to strangle to death.

At this moment, standing on the periphery of the crowd, she was holding Liang Jixuan's hand and trembling slightly, her jade-like cool and brittle nails subconsciously exerted force, deeply embedded in Liang Jixuan's arm, leaving a few white crescent moon marks .The sharp pain brought Liang Jixuan back to his senses.

"Mother, is that...?"

Madam Liang didn't answer, she took another step forward, her eyes fixed on the center of the crowd.

In the center of the crowd, there is an altar, on which are lit one tall and two short, and three red candles.The red candle was weeping, wrapped in a layer of red wax at the bottom of the lamp, and the candle flame dyed on the top was towering and gorgeous, the most mellow and pure red.Uncle Fu raised his hands holding the red silk with a dignified expression, and suddenly exerted force on his upper arms.The bright red cloth spread out like a cloud, and was firmly supported by the bright red pole. The red silk was thrown to the crown of the laurel tree, and the rest spread out, completely covering the ruined laurel tree.The osmanthus tree trembled and trembled a few times, like an old man who was terminally ill, while everyone was worried, he unsteadily straightened his back and wrapped himself in a layer of red clothes.

Uncle Fu breathed a sigh of relief, bowed deeply three times to the desk, picked up the sharp dagger on the table, walked straight to the osmanthus tree, rolled up his sleeves, gestured to his arm twice, and struck without hesitation. The point of the knife pierced down, and the blood flowed out along the point of the knife, dripped under the laurel tree, melted into the brown soil, and disappeared without a trace, leaving only the vague smell of blood diffused in the air, witnessing This absurd thing is going on.

The candle seedlings swayed in the wind, burning more intensely, and the body of the candle melted more quickly, and the candle tears dripped on the altar, leaving a pool of solidified red marks.

The members of the Liang family dressed in black lined up, repeating in an orderly manner what Uncle Fu had just done. As the line got shorter and shorter, the bloody smell in the air became thicker and thicker, as if it had condensed into ointment.Mrs. Liang turned her head and took a deep look at Liang Jixuan, pursed her lips that were extremely red from being bitten by her teeth, mumbled, and walked firmly to the osmanthus tree without saying a word.

The sharp dagger pierced deeply into Mrs. Liang's pale flesh, and the bright red blood trickled down her wrist, forming a semicircle in the trace, like half a bright red agate bracelet.The bright red was stolen from Mrs. Liang's lips. The blood dripped into the brown soil, and the soil was wet and sank due to too much water. The light reflected the illusion of fertility, and Mrs. Liang couldn't help shaking her body. The whole person became thinner and thinner, like a faded paper man, only the jade-like blue and white remained.

The candle flame was at its peak, and the huge tongue of flame licked the air, warming it up.Only the base of the bottom candle body remained, barely supporting the last frenzy of the candle flame on top.

Liang Jixuan stood outside the crowd, his toes were cold to the top of his head, and his palms were wet.Mrs. Liang stood up straight with the help of the osmanthus tree, and suddenly raised her head, staring at him; Uncle Fu stood by the desk, staring at him too; Gogou stared at him.Liang Jixuan's head sank involuntarily, he felt his throat was tight and he couldn't breathe, he subconsciously took a step forward, and then another step.

The dagger on the table was shining brightly, Liang Jixuan involuntarily reached out to grab it.With his sleeves raised high, he took the dagger and pressed it hard against his wrist at the blade.Pale and limp, the slightly swollen flesh collapsed a little under pressure.

The candle flame trembled excitedly and swayed violently in the wind.

"Aww!" Xiao Hei jumped out from nowhere, and threw himself on Liang Jixuan fiercely, sobbing from his speechless voice, which was vague and hoarse.The big tail slammed onto Liang Jixuan's wrist holding the knife.

"Kang Dang," Liang Jixuan was startled, and the dagger in his hand fell to the ground.

Xiao Hei quickly jumped off Liang Jixuan, bit the dagger handle, and ran away without a trace.

The candle flame was extinguished unwillingly, and white smoke drifted out from the scorched wick.The body of the thick red candle turned into candle tears, melted into a puddle, and condensed on the altar, mixed with the lingering bloody smell in the air, like a puddle of old blood.

Liang Jixuan's legs went limp for a while, and he sat down on the ground directly. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, dripped on the ground, and smashed into small flowers.Mrs. Liang also lost her strength and couldn't support her body anymore. She couldn't stand leaning on the laurel tree, so she sat straight on the ground, covering her face with her pale hands, not daring to look at Liang Jixuan who was not far away, "Xuaner, Xuaner Son, I'm sorry for you..." The voice was miserable and sharp, which made Liang Jixuan's heart shudder.

The red silk wrapped on the laurel tree suddenly began to fade from the top.The bright red seems to be sucked away by something, starting from the top, from deep to light and then to white, spreading from the top, the blood red fades little by little, and the pale white occupies the upper peak little by little, until finally, the original red thick Completely turn white.Uncle Fu tore off the silk, revealing the dilapidated osmanthus tree underneath.

At first glance, the osmanthus tree is still somewhat depressed, but upon closer inspection, the branches are much stronger.After being full of nutrients, the branches glowed a little red, some places even sprouted buds, the thin broad green leaves stretched out, and the tiny flower buds hidden underneath also reappeared, exuding the sweet osmanthus sweetness.

It's just mixed with the lingering bloody smell, which is kind of indescribably weird.

tbc.