Chapter 4

If he were still a strong and healthy adult, Du Shiyi would have carried Du Shisan back without hesitation. However, at this moment, supporting the heavy and trembling little girl, and glancing at Zhu Ying who was in no better condition, he felt his own legs heavy. Considering that Songyang Temple had already refused to treat Du Shisan, it was understandable. But in such a heavy rain, to let a young girl kneel outside the cold and wet temple, it was clear that they were indifferent to human life. He couldn't help but look at the carriage.

"Zhu Ying, you support Shisan first."

Seeing Zhu Ying hurriedly agree, he adjusted his hat and tried to take a step, rushing towards the group visiting Songyang Temple in the rain. When he was still about ten steps away, a man dressed similarly to him walked up quickly.

"What does the young master want?"

Du Shiyi glanced at the carriage not far away, noticing that despite the rain, it still looked worn and old. With few attendants, it didn't seem to belong to a prominent family. He bowed and said frankly, "I am Du Shiyi from Duling, Jingzhao. My sister and I, along with our servant, came to Songyang Temple for some reason. Unexpectedly, we encountered this heavy rain and seek to borrow some rain gear. I would be very grateful."

"Master Du, seeing that your sister and servant are drenched, why not take shelter in Songyang Temple for a while? The temple can prepare dry clothes for you two to change into."

Du Shiyi looked back at Du Shisan and Zhu Ying, then at the still closed temple gate, and said, "I appreciate your kindness, but our home is not far from here, so we won't trouble you."

Hearing this, the man in the hat nodded and quickly returned to the carriage, standing there as if reporting something. Du Shiyi saw the window on the side of the carriage move slightly, clearly someone inside was observing him. Soon, the front door of the carriage opened, and someone handed out a package and an oil umbrella. The man in the hat then hurriedly returned with the items.

"My master said he should have sent you in the carriage, but he is currently feeling a slight cold. He asked me to accompany you. One umbrella might not be enough, so he also provided a set of straw raincoat and hat. I hope the young master understands."

"Your master is truly kind, I am very grateful! Our home is not far from here, if you could send us, it would be a great help!"

Du Shiyi had only come to try, not expecting to actually borrow the rain gear, and even more surprised that the other party was willing to send them. He was overjoyed. After bowing to the carriage again, he returned to Du Shisan and Zhu Ying, and had the man in the hat hold the umbrella over them. He then helped Zhu Ying put the straw raincoat and hat on the shivering Du Shisan, and explained briefly, "The old man in the carriage is kind. He not only lent us the rain gear but also sent us back. Zhu Ying, support Shisan, let's go home."

On the way back, the rain gradually eased, but both Zhu Ying and Du Shisan, as well as Du Shiyi, were exhausted. Fortunately, the man in the hat was very considerate, supporting Du Shiyi all the way and sending them to the straw hut. Du Shiyi let Du Shisan and Zhu Ying go in first, and after they changed clothes, he invited the man in the hat into the house.

Once inside, he instructed Zhu Ying to immediately prepare some ginger soup to drive away the cold, and sent the still worried Du Shisan to bed to sweat it out. Then he took off the wet straw raincoat, apologized, and went to change into dry clothes. When he came out again, he saw the man in the hat had taken off his rain gear, his clothes still dry except for his wet pants. He was a broad-faced, broad-eyebrowed, and cheerful man. Du Shiyi gathered his strength and thanked him again, intending to return the straw raincoat, hat, and umbrella, but the man smiled and shook his head.

"These are trivial things, and we often use them in the mountains. Master Du, please keep them. However, I noticed that your steps are unsteady, and your sister is also staggering. I wonder why..."

Grateful for the help and knowing it wasn't a secret, Du Shiyi said frankly, "To be honest, I have a strange illness that once made me unable to speak or move. My sister has been taking care of me. We heard that there is a Taoist in Songyang Temple skilled in medicine, so my sister and servant traveled a thousand miles to bring me here for treatment. The temple people said the Taoist was not there, but my sister didn't believe it and kept visiting every day, even kneeling today. Fortunately, we met a kind person like your master."

Hearing this, the broad-eyebrowed man looked at Du Shiyi in surprise for a moment, then asked curiously, "Master Du, you said you had a strange illness that made you unable to speak or move, but now..."

"Last night, my parents appeared in my dream. They said that the King of the Underworld was moved by my sister's filial piety and extended my life." Originally, he wanted to surprise Du Shisan, but now he couldn't say he couldn't face this suddenly appearing sister. Since a miraculous recovery was a great event, he had to find a plausible reason. Thinking of his last memory of burning books at his father's grave, he felt a deep sadness.

Perhaps this was his father's last care for him from afar!

After a moment, he came to his senses and explained, "I could only speak and move today. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let my sister kneel at Songyang Temple. Such a heavy rain, and my sister is young and weak. If she got sick because of me, how could I face my deceased parents? In the end, it's all my fault as her brother."

"Brother!"

Almost as soon as Du Shiyi said this, Du Shisan's voice came from inside. He nodded slightly to the broad-eyebrowed man and went in. Seeing Du Shisan on the bed, pale but sitting up, he scolded, "How long are you going to keep this up? Don't you care about your life?"

"Brother, did you really dream of Father and Mother, and did they really extend your life?"

Seeing the little girl clinging to his clothes, determined not to let him go until he explained, he had no choice but to continue lying, "Of course, it's true."

"What did Father and Mother say to you?"

This question left Du Shiyi speechless. In his previous life, he was rebellious and didn't believe in gods or Buddhas, but this life's inexplicable experiences made him at least a skeptic. After a moment, he smiled bitterly, "Father said that living is the future, and I shouldn't just think about tarnishing the Du family's reputation or being stubborn... Mother said to take good care of you, my sister, and not to let you down."

Du Shiyi was just making it up, but Du Shisan's face was full of joy. The broad-eyebrowed man outside also couldn't help but change his expression. After a long moment, Du Shisan tightly held her brother's hand and said incoherently, "It's really Father and Mother! That's great, really great, Brother, you're finally better, you're finally better..."

Seeing Du Shisan so excited, Du Shiyi sighed inwardly. In the Wei, Jin, Sui, and Tang dynasties, ghost and supernatural stories were common, so his explanation was reasonable. Even if this second life was too strange, for the sake of this living sister, who was willing to beg for his treatment, he had to live well. When Zhu Ying brought in the ginger soup, he took a bowl and watched Du Shisan drink it all, afraid she would ask more questions. Then he tucked her in tightly.

"Remember, don't be so reckless and impulsive in the future! Don't let me get better and then you get sick. Lie down and rest!"

The little girl finally calmed down, and Du Shiyi drank his own bowl of hot ginger soup. As the spicy and warm sensation spread through his body, he felt his pores open, and the cold from the rain was driven away. After putting down the bowl, he went to the outer room and saw the broad-eyebrowed man had also finished his bowl of ginger soup.

"My sister is weak, and I couldn't leave her, so I was impolite. I apologize."

"No problem. But allow me to say, Master Du, you just recovered from a serious illness, and today you went to Songyang Temple in the rain. Didn't you think it might undo your recovery and disappoint your parents?"

Du Shiyi answered frankly without hesitation, "My sister traveled a thousand miles for me and even knelt at Songyang Temple. Since I can walk, and seeing the sudden rain, it was my duty to go and bring her back. Moreover, when my parents passed away, they were most concerned about my sister and me. Even if they knew about my actions, they would only be pleased."

"That's true. Your sister traveled a thousand miles to seek treatment for you and begged at the temple every day. Her sincerity is enough to move the gods. And you, despite your illness, braved the rain to bring her back. Such filial piety would move anyone." The broad-eyebrowed man stood up and smiled, "Since I've brought you home, I should return to report to my master. Thank you for the ginger soup."

"The ginger soup is the least I can do for you for walking so far." Du Shiyi personally saw him to the door, and as the rain eased, the man put on his hat and straw raincoat and walked out, already reaching the fence. Du Shiyi suddenly remembered he hadn't asked about the carriage owner and called out, "By the way, I haven't asked your name."

"I am just a servant, my name is not worth mentioning."

Du Shiyi smiled, "Why say that? You brought us rain gear in the rain and sent us home despite the heavy rain. It's like sending charcoal in the snow. Do you think I, Du Shiyi, judge people by their status?"

The broad-eyebrowed man finally smiled and said, "I am a servant of my master, with the surname Sima. I was called Heiyun because of my dark skin when I was young. Master Du, I'll take my leave today!"

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