Hui Jingyi had lost count of how many times Zhang Jinqing had climbed over the temple wall. First, a rustling…
Hui Jingyi had lost count of how many times Zhang Jinqing had climbed over the temple wall.
First, a rustling sound outside the wall, then a metallic clang. The crooked tree by the wall shuddered, snow cascading down. A furry head popped up over the wall.
"Amitabha, young lady," Hui Jingyi clasped her hands, bowing slightly, struggling to hold back a smile. "This is a Buddhist temple. Only thieves climb the walls to enter."
"Cut that out." Zhang Jinqing sat astride the wall, brushing snow from her fur collar. "Hungry? Brought you something good. Seriously tasty, flavor's spot on!" She reached down to pull up the Mo blade she'd used as a foothold, carefully lowering it inside the wall.
"I've just had the midday meal. Not hungry yet." Hui Jingyi shook her head. "Come down quick, before the master sees you again."
"Your master's just too fussy, always dithering." Speaking of the temple abbess, Zhang Jinqing had a bellyful of complaints. "Last time, the nice things I brought you got confiscated, and she even threatened to report me to my late father." Zhang Jinqing jumped down from the wall. "My father's been dead over ten years. How's she going to report him? Down below? Or summon him back?"
"Amitabha, please watch your words." Hui Jingyi chanted softly and sat down beside her. "What did you bring? Let me see."
"Heh, check this out!" Zhang Jinqing produced a food box from behind her, squatting on the ground. "I bought hot pot from Skybrim Market. Knew you monastics don't touch meat, specially asked them to use only vegetable broth, not a speck of meat."
"Their peppers are really strong. I told them it was for a monastic, the old guy was really nice, didn't add ginger or garlic, no chili oil either, so it won't cause offense..."
Zhang Jinqing deftly opened the box, took out bowls and chopsticks, gave it a careful stir, then lifted the bowl, offering it up to Hui Jingyi with a bright face.
Steam drifted in the air. Hui Jingyi's face, hidden behind the rising heat, looked like a celestial maiden from a mural.
"Ah, I want meat, I want tripe, I want intestines, I want..." Zhang Jinqing held a bowl of vegetarian hot pot, muttering between bites.
"Then why didn't you eat at Skybrim Market before coming?" Hui Jingyi found it amusing. "No one forced you to come."
"But when I bought it, I was thinking of us eating together," Zhang Jinqing pouted.