"That’s right, Master, it’s me." Chen Yan nodded and sat down heavily on a stool in the room. "Where did you run off to just now? Do you know how worried Chuyi was?"
The old monk shook his head: "I had an asthma attack in the middle of the night, and my chest felt very tight. I couldn’t catch my breath... So... I went out to get some air and inadvertently walked a bit far. I didn’t expect to worry the child..."
As he spoke, he suddenly started coughing, clutching his chest.
Went out to get some air?
In this cold winter, barefoot, without shoes, without a coat, to get some air in the snow?
Chen Yan scoffed inwardly.
The old monk coughed for a long time. Chuyi was by his side, rubbing his chest and patting his back, attending to him.
Chen Yan remained calm and silent, just quietly watching the old monk without speaking or getting up.
Sure enough, after a while, the old monk, seeing no reaction from Chen Yan, gradually stopped coughing.
He squinted his eyes at Chen Yan: "From Mrs. Huang’s family... well, you’ve been inconvenienced tonight. In this darkness, you’d better go down the mountain and head home. The mountain road is slippery, be careful when you walk, don’t fall."
Chen Yan smiled under the dim light in the room; his smile looked very cheerful and his tone seemed relaxed: "No hurry to go down the mountain. I just happened to have learned some Chinese medicine while in the city, you’re unwell, let me take a look at you?"
The old monk was startled: "No, no need, the village doctor has already seen me and given me an IV..."
Chen Yan said unhurriedly: "Better let me take a look. You’ve been on the IV for days and haven’t gotten better. Besides, I practice Chinese medicine; there’s no need for an IV."
Saying this, Chen Yan looked at Chuyi: "Chuyi, go get me a pot of hot water, after running for so long, your brother is thirsty."
"Uh? Ah! Okay, okay!" Seeing his master found, the anxiety in Chuyi’s heart dissipated. Normally a simple-minded kid, now relaxed, he said cheerfully: "Brother Xiao Yan, you wait, I’ll get you some water!"
"Yes, it’s cold, drinking cold water will hurt my throat, bring me some hot water." Chen Yan smiled gently.
Chuyi was stunned for a moment, stammering: "Bro... the kitchen, the kitchen has no hot water, I..."
"Go boil some then." Chen Yan smiled pleasantly: "I don’t mind waiting, just want a warm drink."
"Okay!" Chuyi nodded immediately: "Brother Xiao Yan, you sit here, I’ll go boil it now."
Watching Chuyi run out, Chen Yan turned around and closed the chan room door, then looked at the old monk on the bed.
Chen Yan’s tone became cold.
"There’s no hot water in the kitchen, I saw it while searching the temple. I purposely sent Chuyi away to boil some water, so we have enough time to talk, Master!"
The old monk made no sound, simply let out a soft breath.
"That bullshit about being short of breath and going out for air, Chuyi might believe, but me..." Chen Yan sneered, staring at the old monk and said slowly: "Master, you know I’m from Mrs. Huang’s family, and you dare lie to me?"
On the bed, the old monk shuddered, then finally raised his head to look at Chen Yan. After hesitating for a moment, he said slowly: "Mrs. Huang is no longer here, even if you are her grandson, it’s useless. You should go back."
Chen Yan raised an eyebrow: "Good, this proves it... Seems like you know my grandmother, Mrs. Huang, had some skills."
He raised his left hand, fingers forming a sword technique, and sneered: "I don’t care what your intentions are, but if you want to harm Chuyi, believe it or not, I’ll make your soul scatter!"
The old monk paused, carefully studying Chen Yan, then shook his head with a bitter smile and sighed: "Are you afraid I will harm Chuyi? You’re mistaken, I treat Chuyi like my son, I would never hurt him!
I, I want to protect him, but... I’m afraid I can’t."
Hearing these words, Chen Yan lowered his hand slowly and pondered these words before frowning: "What do you mean? From what you’re saying, someone wants to harm Chuyi?"
The old monk’s face was ashen, his breath growing weaker. Gasping for air, he said in a low voice:
"Chuyi... he ran into a Spirit Monster!"
Chen Yan’s eyes narrowed!
The old monk continued: "...Unfortunately, my abilities are insufficient to drive away that creature and protect the child. Every time it comes to bully us, it can easily overpower me, leaving me helpless and enduring it all until today."
As he spoke, the old monk’s tone revealed a trace of helplessness and grief.
Chen Yan calmed down, sat back on the stool, and said slowly: "Explain it to me in detail!"
The old monk hesitated for a moment, then started speaking slowly.
"You are Mrs. Huang’s grandson, so you must have some skills...
When I was young and wandered around outside, I learned a few shallow tricks.
After returning to the countryside, I saw Mrs. Huang in the village and realized she was a very capable person, although my Tao practice was minor, I couldn’t really discern the extent of your grandmother’s abilities.
But... she once gave me advice, and I knew that she was far superior to me in a way I couldn’t fathom.
Originally, with your grandmother, Mrs. Huang, here, the area had been peaceful for decades. There were no ghost disturbances in the village, no Spirit Monsters in the mountains—that’s because your grandmother was holding down the fort, and the evil spirits dared not invade.
But a few days ago, your grandmother passed away...
Alas, soon after, new Spirit Monsters appeared in the mountains, and worse... Chuyi ran into one.
I wanted to protect this child, but with my few basic tricks, I was easily overpowered, I couldn’t do anything..."
Chen Yan frowned: "What sort of monster is it?"
"...I don’t know." The old monk shook his head in despair: "My skills are too weak; I can’t see its true form. I can’t fight it, every time it just plays with me for a bit before overpowering me, showing me that its Divine Techniques are much stronger, far beyond my capabilities."