569 Ask and It Shall Be Given (1/2)
Chapter 569: Ask and It Shall Be Given
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
All were silent by the chessboard. Master Qishan looked at Sangsang quietly, a complicated expression crossing his thin face. There was shock from seeing the truth, and a hint of fear. In the end, all these emotions turned into one of confusion.
Ning Que observed Sangsang's condition anxiously and did not see Master Qishan's odd expression. Otherwise, he might have noticed something. Then, he heard the Master sigh.
He looked up nervously. By then, Master Qishan's expression had already returned to normal. He had a gentle and benevolent smile as if he had escaped from a terrifying situation. He was satisfied and calm.
”The three games of chess on Tile Mountain have a long history. However, only five have experienced the final game like you two. And you, young lady, are the second person to solve the three rounds of chess consecutively.”
Said Master Qishan as he looked at Sangsang tenderly.
After ascertaining that Sangsang was fine and that the world in the chessboard was but an illusion, Ning Que could finally rest assured. Hearing the master's praise for Sangsang, he asked, ”Who was the other person who solved the three rounds first?”
Master Qishan said a name that had disappeared from this world for many years. However, it was a name that Ning Que was very familiar with. He looked into Ning Que's eyes and said with a slight smile, ”It was Younger Brother Lotus.”
The Master's gaze was calm and seemingly powerless. However, Ning Que felt as if he could see through all his disguises and the fragments of consciousness deep in his sense of perception. He felt a little uneasy.
He lowered his head subconsciously, unwilling to meet the Master's gaze in order to hide his unease. He continued, ”Who were the three who played chess on this chessboard?”
Master Qishan answered, ”The Headmaster, Mr. Ke, and the abbey dean.”
Ning Que forgot his unease for a moment when he heard the three names. He raised his head in shock.
To him, his teacher, Youngest Uncle and the abbey dean of the Zhishou Abbey were the most powerful figures in this world. No matter how powerful Lotus or Sangsang was, they could not surpass the three.
”How is it possible that the Headmaster couldn't solve this game of chess?”
Master Qishan answered, ”This game of chess is unable to trap them. Why would they need to solve it?”
Ning Que's question was to move the topic away from Lotus, to prevent the Master from finding out what he had hidden. Since it worked, he did not continue the questioning.
He looked at the Master and asked, ”Sangsang has already solved the game. Can you heal her?”
Master Qishan said, ”I would treat her even if she could not solve the game. Since she has solved the game, then there's no reason not to treat her.”
Ning Que's voice was a little dry due to his nerves. He asked, ”Can she be cured?”
It was unknown whether he had used up too much energy refereeing the last game of chess or because he was already weak. Master Qishan seemed to be even more haggard. When he listened to Ning Que's concern, he coughed bitterly before tiredly lowering his head. He was silent for a long while.
Ning Que grew even more anxious when he did not get an answer.
After some time, Master Qishan tenderly looked up at Sangsang and said, ”There is no illness in the world that cannot be cured. However, it will be difficult and painful to cure it.”
Sangsang glanced at Ning Que and said serenely and with determination, ”I'm not afraid of pain.”
She was not afraid of death, but she did not want to die. That was because she knew that Ning Que would be very sad if she died. He might even die with her. That was why she wanted to live. She would continue living no matter how much pain she had to endure. That was why her answer was so firm.
Master Qishan looked at her with the beginnings of a smile. He answered just as firmly, ”Then I will definitely be able to cure you.”
When he heard that, Ning Que suddenly felt a buzz in his mind, and he could not hear anything further. His body seemed to have suddenly turned into floating clouds on the cliff. He stumbled onto the futon and could not speak.
Almost at the same time, all the tightly closed pores on his skin began to sweat. His Academy uniform was drenched in seconds, looking as if he had been in the rain.
This year, while he had seemed as calm as usual and did not seem any different when conversing with others and fulfilling matters. In reality, he had been anxious and fearful in the extreme because of Sangsang's illness.
When he heard the Master's affirmative, the negative emotions he had kept within him for a long time were quicky released in one go, along with the cold sweat. His body and heart were taken over by the extreme joy he felt, and he felt as if he was about to float up into the sky. However, this sudden release of emotions had caused an intense blow to his body. He suddenly became very weak and was like a severely ill patient who had just started to recover.
Master Qishan looked at him and guessed that he must have endured unimaginable torment and pain. He comforted him kindly, ”This is a cause for celebration.”
Sangsang took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat that flowed like rain from Ning Que's face.
Ning Que smiled with difficulty, saying, ”This is indeed something to celebrate.”
Master Qishan looked at the cultivators outside the cottage, who had come to pray to the mountains. He said, ”Since this calls for celebration, then we should celebrate. I will answer a question from everyone.”
When he heard that, Ning Que found the strength to sit upright and stare into the Master's eyes. He reminded him very seriously, ”We came first, Master, so you should treat her first.”
Master Qishan laughed and said, ”Curing an illness isn't so simple. Otherwise, why would you leave the Academy to look for an old monk like me? You have to let me make some preparations.”
Ning Que did not agree and said, ”The longer we drag this, the more dangerous it is.”
Master Qishan said, ”It is not yet a time for it to be dangerous... rest assured.”
The first part of his statement seemed to have a deeper meaning. What time was he referring to? However, Ning Que only heard the last part of the statement. He did not notice anything else.
When they heard that Master Qishan would answer the questions of everyone present, the cultivators outside the cottage were overjoyed. Only Monk Guan Hai appeared surprised. He was worried about his teacher's health.
The Flower Addict had returned from the Buddha statue at the peak of the mountain to the cottage. She heard the last part of the conversation and knew that Sangsang's illness could be cured. She remained indifferent, but her fingers were pinched together, breaking the little flower in her hand.
...
...
The hour was late. The back of Tile Mountain was so dark it looked as if it was deep in the night. Cultivators silently lined up outside the cottage, waiting to enter. The Lanke Temple's monks had lit torches outside the cottage, and the flames flickered in the mountain breeze. They shone on the faces of the people lined up and moved chaotically, just like their feelings while in wait.
According to legends spread through the world, Master Qishan's ability to prophesize was even better than that of the Great Divine Priest of Revelation of the West-Hill Divine Palace. Furthermore, he could solve all doubts, and was able to fulfill demands just like Buddha.
It was every cultivator's dream to have Master Qishan solve their doubts. They were all very excited to have Master Qishan answer them; no matter whether it was an obstacle in their path to cultivation, a question that had long bothered them, or a person or incident that troubled them.
The cultivators would, of course, use this opportunity to solve their greatest doubts or pain. However, those were often their greatest secrets. This meant that they had to reveal them to Master Qishan, so they felt somewhat afraid.
From time to time, Master Qishan would cough painfully in the ivy-covered cliff cave.