Chapter 52
In the northern suburbs of Daxia Kyoto, there is a charity hall, which specially takes in orphans and widows who have no father, mother, or children. There are several similar charity halls, so there are no beggars on the streets of Daxia Kyoto.
On weekdays, dedicated personnel allocate funds to maintain these charity halls. Most of these donations come from some wealthy families in Kyoto. The Fang Mansion also donates hundreds of taels of silver to major charity halls every year.
A carriage slowly stopped, and Qin Dong, who had changed into casual clothes, hurriedly got out of the carriage and entered the Mercy Hall.
"Master Qin, you are here. Please come in quickly."
The steward of Mercy Hall saw Qin Dong and greeted him warmly.
Qin Dong looked gloomy: "I want to see Master Xu."
"Master Xu is practicing, I'm afraid..."
The steward of Mercy Hall had a look of embarrassment on his face.
"Cultivating?"
Qin Dong was slightly startled, and seemed to be a little happy: "Master Xu hasn't left yet?"
"Yes, Master Xu never left."
There is something strange about the management of Mercy Hall.
"That's good, that's good. I can wait for Master Xu to finish his training and see him again."
Qin Dong murmured.
At this moment, a black shadow slowly squirmed from a distance, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a child with only one arm left, who looked about five or six years old.
Seeing this, Qin Dong smiled and squatted in front of the child: "Xiao Wu, have you eaten enough today?"
"Uncle Qin, Xiao Wu is very full."
The child raised his head and said, his eyes seemed to be shining. Although he was missing both legs and an arm, his face was filled with a satisfied smile.
Since coming to Mercy Hall, he no longer has to suffer from hunger and cold. To him, this place is heaven on earth.
"That's good."
Qin Dong smiled and nodded, stood up and said to the steward of the Mercy Hall: "Is there anyone coming to donate money today?"
"It's the young master of Qingyao Hall who is coming, so I asked Xiao Wu to come out and wait."
The steward of the Mercy Hall smiled and nodded.
Green Medicine Hall? Qin Dong had never heard of it. He nodded slightly and was about to say something when he heard an exclamation: "Miss, this child only has one arm left!"
The visitors were Fang Qingyao and her maid from Qingyao Hall. The maid had made the exclamation just now. Fang Qingyao looked at Xiao Wu's appearance, and a flash of emotion flashed in her eyes.
Upon seeing this, the steward of the Mercy Hall immediately stepped forward and greeted: "Miss Fang, please come in and introduce me. This is member Qin. Like Miss Fang, I am here to donate money today and take a look at the orphans and widows here."
"Very handsome."
Qin Dong glanced at Fang Qingyao, with a touch of greed flashing in his eyes.
Fang Qingyao nodded politely to Qin Dong, then squatted in front of Xiao Wu and asked him how his legs and arms were missing.
Xiao Wutian said seriously: "An uncle once said that if I cut off my hands and feet, I would be able to eat enough, and my younger brothers and sisters at home would also be able to eat well."
"How could there be such a villain!"
The maid cried out in surprise.
Fang Qingyao was silent for a long time, touched Xiao Wu's head, then stood up and said to the steward of the Mercy Hall: "Steward He, our Green Medicine Hall plans to donate 500 taels this time."
"Miss, don't you plan to donate 200 taels..."
The maid was slightly startled.
Fang Qingyao glanced at her, "Although our Qingyao Hall has a low profit margin, we can still afford 500 taels. The Mercy Hall takes in orphans and widows, allowing them to have shelter from the rain, clothing to cover their bodies, and food to eat. I can't do that." These can only be done with minimal effort."
"Thank you very much, Miss Fang. I would like to express my gratitude to the widows and orphans in the Mercy Hall!"
The steward's eyes suddenly lit up.
Qin Dong also stroked his beard and smiled and said: "Miss Fang is really kind-hearted. If all the merchants in Daxia are like Miss Fang, all these orphans and widows will be taken care of."
"You have to give me the reward, Member Qin, I just tried my best," Fang Qingyao said.
After a pause, she said to the steward of the Mercy Hall: "He steward, we master and servant want to take a stroll here and take a look, I don't know..."
"You two, please feel free to do whatever you want, as long as you don't enter the inner courtyard. That is Master Xu's retreat, so don't disturb me."
The steward of the Mercy Hall smiled and nodded.
"But Master Xu Hui, the eminent monk who traveled to Daxia a few years ago? My father has admired Master Xu for a long time, but never thought that this old man actually lives here?"
Fang Qingyao was a little surprised.
A few years ago, an eminent monk emerged from Daxia. He had an insight into the sufferings of the world and traveled to every corner of Daxia in a short period of time. Wherever he went, he left a good name and praise.
Finally, the eminent monk came to Kyoto and heard that the order was at the most famous temple in Kyoto, Togaji Temple.
Many people want to come to Kyoto to find Master Xu to answer their questions, but only a handful of people can actually meet Master Xu.
"Exactly, Master Xu said that here he can feel the suffering of the world and help him understand Buddhism."
The steward of Mercy Hall smiled.
"As expected of a generation of eminent monks."
Fang Qingyao showed a look of admiration on his face.
After a few words of conversation, she took the maid to visit elsewhere in the Mercy Hall, not forgetting to let the maid hold Xiao Wu with her.
"This girl is interesting."
Qin Dong looked at Fang Qingyao's back thoughtfully.
After waiting for a cup of tea, the steward of the Mercy Hall took Qin Dong to the inner courtyard. An old monk walked out slowly and looked at Qin Dong calmly.
"Master Xu."
Qin Dong did not dare to be negligent and quickly saluted with clasped fists, because he knew that this monk had a good background. Even the old woman who lived in his house before saw this person and her expression was very respectful.
"Shilang Qin, why are you here today?"
Master Xu Hui spoke slowly.
"Master Xu, Granny Jinhua said that the Blood Spirit Sect is leaving Daxia."
Qin Dong said quickly.
Master Xu Hui was slightly startled, with a solemn look on his face: "Did she tell you personally?"
"Yes, yes, no, no, it's her subordinate..."
Qin Dong nodded at first, but then changed his tune.
"Subordinate?"
Master Xu Hui immediately understood who Qin Dong was pointing to. It was Granny Jinhua's magic weapon, the 'Aoki Puppet'.
"It's not me, I just let the Aoki puppet go..."
Master Xu Hui whispered to himself. He was keenly aware that something was not right. Thinking that Taoist Xue had not shown up for a long time, his expression suddenly condensed.
"Could it be that... some monks discovered our traces?"
A trace of doubt welled up in my heart.
"Master Xu? Is this true? If you just leave like this, who will clean up the mess left behind? There are still many people imprisoned in that place. I won't even be able to deal with their bodies. If If the news leaks out, I, Qin Dong, have ten heads and it’s not enough to cut him off..."
When Qin Dong saw Xu Hui pondering, there was a hint of anxiety in his eyes.
"Since the Blood Spirit Sect has sent us to Daxia, we won't leave until we collect ten Blood Spirit Pills. Something may have happened to Granny Jinhua."
Master Xu Hui said calmly: "Senior Brother Bei has important matters. He has taken the rest of the people on a far journey. I'm afraid he won't be able to come back in a short time. To be on the safe side, you will temporarily stay here from today on."
In the void, Fang Chen looked at this scene calmly.
It turns out that the scarecrow is called Aoki Puppet.
(End of this chapter)