“Thank you for choosing us for your first episode.” Andria gave the small crew a professional send off after the shoot wrapped up: “Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any further needs, or if you have any questions.”

  “Thank you.” Leslie McKinsey handed Andria his business card: “We’ll be in touch for the pre-release footage, I believe our show would be a mutual success.”

  There was no post wrap-up meeting or anything simir after. The only thing Wu Xiaoming was asked to do was to keep in touch and await for further updates - things like getting additional shots, narration recording and test audience events might still need him.

  After saying goodbye to the crew as well as the friendly security guard, Wu Xiaoming called himself a rideshare and headed straight toward Shenmue Temple.

  Just like the pictures on its official website suggested, Shenmue Temple was pretty small and tranquil, even for a retively busy day and a retively busy time. One couple and a small group of four tourists were ahead of him, and their chatters brought a light touch of crowdedness to the quiet sanctums, incense burners, pavilions and the lotus pond.

  It was a small temple, so it took Wu Xiaoming almost no time to actually cover almost all corners simply by walking around like a tourist. He kept checking his character panel and inventory, yet nothing happened. Should he put the Stained Brick somewhere? It seemed odd and even offensive. The man just asked him to “bring him to the Shenmue Temple”, yet it seemed he was still missing something.

  “Namo Amitabha.” A monk in a simple robe approached Wu Xiaoming as he entered a small sanctum where brochures of the temple’s history were id out and distributed for free: “Dear guest and donor, this monk doesn’t recognize you. Are you new here?”

  “Yes.” Wu Xiaoming scratched his head, at a loss for a proper way to ask the question on his mind: “I - I have some questions regarding a friend and - it might have to do with your temple. It could be a little bit sensitive.”

  “Oh. ” The monk seemed surprised, he then gestured at a discreet corner in the room behind him: “Please, ask away.”

  Wu Xiaoming followed the monk into the corner. He took a deep breath before asking: “I wanted to ask about a gentleman - from many years ago. More than a decade, even. He’s from Taiwan, and he traveled here to specifically find your temple here. And - he was never heard from again. So I really would like to know - ”

  “Hmm.” The monk thought for a moment, then looked Wu Xiaoming straight in his eyes: “If this monk may ask - what is your retionship with this guest? Because, though this is a humble temple and everyone of us had sworn to a life of humility and retreat, past worldly business and privacy of our brothers will still be respected.”

  “I - you can say our families are somewhat connected. And I took a request to help watch out for any traces of him if I can. I came here after learning about him, I know, this is not much. But I just want to confirm, whether he actually made it here, and whether he came, so I can rey the information to his family when possible.” Wu Xiaoming stammered through his answer - he was more sure he butchered his chance with every word he spoke.

  When he finished, the monk looked into Wu Xiaoming’s eyes for a brief moment. He then sighed: “Please wait here, I would need to ask the Abbot.”

  The Abbot was an old man - older than most, probably in his sixties or even seventies. But he was clean shaven and in a well woven but simple looking kasaya. The monk who went to find him called him “Master Saito”.

  “I heard that you are inquiring about a possible guest from more than a decade ago.” Master Saito fixed his eyes on Wu Xiaoming: “May I ask why, and how?”

  “Our families were connected - and - ” Wu Xiaoming felt himself blushing from having to repeat the lie: “ - and I was also asked to find traces of him if I had the chance.”

  The Abbot nodded and thought for a moment - he did not look fully convinced, but he did not look like he would reject Wu Xiaoming either.

  “Now tell me.” After about half a minute, Master Saito spoke again: “What do you wish to do with the answer, if you find it here?”

  Wu Xiaoming let out a breath of relief, the only implication from this was that the monks in this temple indeed knew something. He just needed to get this information if possible - maybe that was the core motive behind the request of the man.

  “I will try my best to find his family and rey the news - so they may find closure.” Wu Xiaoming gave his answer - this was as honest as he could get, maybe the spirit of the man could count as his own family?

  “Okay.” Master Saito lowered his eyes and sighed: “Young man, I don’t know why you are not honest with me. Maybe you have your reasons, but - ” He paused, ignoring Wu Xiaoming’s uncomfortable facial expression: “But you are the first one to ask, since so many years. And I don’t sense bad intentions from you. Can we count on you to not use the answer for malicious and dishonest purposes?”

  “Yes.” Wu Xiaoming could feel his heart skip a few beats: “Yes, you can trust me on this.”

  “Come with us.” The Abbot turned around and led his student and Wu Xiaoming out into a small garden behind the pond and hidden in the back of the temple.

  A monk in a simple robe was taking care of the flowers in this garden. His eyes were unfocused, and scars of different shapes scattered all over his face. Both his hands were slightly stiff and deformed from injury, yet he was able to work with the tools just fine.

  “This is Kiyohide.” Master Saito extended his left hand at the monk: “He came to our temple fifteen - sixteen years ago, in the middle of the night. He was suffering from serious illnesses and injuries, and could not remember his own name. The previous Abbot treated him and took him in. ”

  The monk turned to the Abbot and Wu Xiaoming and greeted them with a light bow.

  “Abbot Saito. How can I help you?” The monk asked. He was missing a few teeth, and his tongue seemed to have been injured before, causing his speech to slur slightly.

  “This donor came asking about someone who came to our temple more than a decade ago.” The Abbot smiled: “And I think he was looking for you.”

  “Hi, my name is Wu Xiaoming.” Wu Xiaoming extended his hand at the monk: “I am here because of a request I got - ”

  “Namo Amitabha.” Kiyohide bowed at Wu Xiaoming and shook his hand.

  A very thin trace of energy left Wu Xiaoming’s body and mind, and flowed into the body of the monk. Kiyohide shivered, gasped and took a few steps back. The Abbot and his student stepped forward, concerned. Wu Xiaoming took a step back - that brief handshake just flooded his head with several memory fshbacks.

  “I - I think I remember now.” The monk coughed and smiled, even though blood was gushing out of both his nostrils. He fell back on the ground, holding his face with both hands, his fingertips digging into cheek: “I - I remember now - I remember now. Dad - I’m - I’m here! I’m finally here! ” Before anyone could help him, he shot up straight, looking around: “Wait! Where’s the - where’s the jar? Where’s the jar!?” He tried to run, but he colpsed on the ground, having barely taken one step.

  “Hospital. We need to send him to the hospital.” The Abbot took a quick but deep look at Wu Xiaoming before he commanded his student, who took off towards a small pavilion behind the main sanctum of the temple.

  Wu Xiaoming had to find a corner to sit down before he could fully process the images still fshing before his eyes. It was a lot - heavy, it was probably the right word. Much heavier than the old woman’s memories.