Xu Mama was the first to surface from the water, followed closely by Mo Bai. After reaching the shore, they tore off the cloths from their faces and began to vomit, even bringing up bitter water. Lao Fu was the st to emerge from the water. He pulled off the bck cloth dripping with dirty water from his face, twisted it tightly in his hands, and then tucked it into his chest. He showed no reaction, as if the pile of filthy water that accompanied them didn't exist for him at all.

  “Lao Fu, you really are something, not a single reaction.” Xu Mama finally stopped vomiting, wiped the remaining liquid from her mouth with her hand, and disgustedly rubbed her hand on her clothes.

  “Why bother wiping? We're covered in dirty water from head to toe; no matter where we wipe, it won't get clean!” Mo Bai impatiently wiped his face with his big hand.

  Only Lao Fu remained silent. He furrowed his brows, staring at the dirty water, watching the few pitiful but resilient little fish swimming in the muck, lost in thought.

  “Lao Fu!” Xu Mama had no choice but to call out loudly.

  Lao Fu finally lifted his head and looked at the two of them with a strange expression, saying, “Who do you think that person was?”

  Xu Mama furrowed her brows and replied, “Who else could possibly know about this pce, other than us?”

  Mo Bai shook his hair, hoping to shake off as much of the dirty water as possible.

  “No one alive knows this path,” Lao Fu suddenly spoke again, his eyes sinking as he gazed deeply at Xu Mama and Mo Bai.

  "You're saying that..." Xu Mama abruptly swallowed the rest of the sentence. He covered his mouth, terrified that the word might accidentally slip out.

  "Are you saying there are ghosts?" Mo Bai said bluntly, not picking up on the tension. Xu Mama shot him an angry gre.

  Lao Fu lowered his head, remaining silent for a long while.

  20 years ter, they had returned to this pce.

  There was a path here—a hidden, secret tunnel.

  The situation in the tunnel was known only to the three of them.

  But when they entered again, they realized someone had been there.

  This person knew about the secret tunnel.

  This person was very familiar with it.

  This person had come here more than once.

  Who... was this person?

  The eastern sky was beginning to show a hint of white mist. Lao Fu took off the wet, dirty clothes and spoke softly, "We should go back. Xiao Xiang and Er Duo must be awake by now."

  Xiao Xiang was lying on the stone sb in a graceful pose, like a sleeping beauty. The sound of Xu Mama's footsteps was just enough to wake her from her slumber. She rubbed her eyes and softly said, "You're up so early."

  Up so early? Mo Bai gave a bitter smile. He was exhausted and barely able to keep his eyes open. He longed to find a comfortable pce to hold Xiao Xiang and sleep, hoping to make up for the entire night's lost rest.

  "Where is Er Duo?" Lao Fu suddenly realized that Er Duo was missing.

  "Er Duo? I don't know," Xiao Xiang yawned and stretched. "I've been sleeping really soundly."

  Lao Fu, Xu Mama, and Mo Bai exchanged gnces without speaking.

  Xiao Xiang then asked, "What's that smell on you guys?" She covered her nose with her hand.

  "Ah, nothing, just the dirt and filth around here," Lao Fu quickly replied. He reached down to feel where Er Duo had been sleeping. The stone was cold, which meant Er Duo had been gone for quite a while. Where could he have gone? Lao Fu's gaze suddenly turned sharp.

  "Come on, Xiao Xiang, it's time to go home," Mo Bai gently helped Xiao Xiang up and said softly.

  "Home?" Xiao Xiang heard that word again, her face filled with confusion as she looked at Mo Bai.

  Lao Fu stared at the rge door before him, unable to believe that it had become so damaged. He stepped forward and gently tapped the copper ring on the door. It creaked open, and a young monk stuck his head out.

  "Who are you looking for?" the little monk asked cautiously.

  "Looking for someone?" Lao Fu suddenly found it amusing. Here he was, returning home, and still being asked who he was looking for. After a brief hesitation, Lao Fu replied, "I... I'm looking for your abbot."

  "The abbot is not receiving visitors right now," the young monk replied.

  "Not receiving visitors?" Lao Fu forced a smile and continued, "May I ask, what is the Dharma name of the abbot of this temple?"

  "Our abbot's Dharma name is Kong Bei (Empty Sorrow)," the young monk answered.

  "Kong Bei!" Lao Fu, Xu Mama, and Mo Bai excimed almost in unison.

  Lao Fu remembered that Kong Bei was just an unremarkable young monk who swept the temple grounds.

  Xu Mama remembered that Kong Bei was merely the most honest and simple monk in the temple.

  Mo Bai remembered that Kong Bei was the quietest monk in the entire temple.

  And now, he had become the person with the highest status in the temple!