Standing Next To You-Chapter 538: In the temple again

The storm was finally over.

The first thing Bei Sangyun did was prepare to go to the temple.

She stepped out of her room in her hiking attire. Grandma Bei and Maid Ye Zhai, who had been waiting for her to come out, were stunned to see her up and about.

"Are you going to hike in this weather?" Grandma Bei blurted out. She had intended to ask if her granddaughter was all right and offer some words of comfort, but upon seeing her appearance, she couldn’t help but question her instead.

"I have to go to the mountain," Bei Sangyun said with a nod. If the old monk was hiding somewhere in the mountain, she could search for him.

"The rain has just stopped. The ground is still soft. Can you wait a few days before going up the mountain?"

"I’ll be flying there, Grandma. I just wore this just in case." Bei Sangyun hugged her. "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I’m sorry if I worried you."

Grandma Bei hugged her back. She had wanted her granddaughter to finally leave her room, but to go hiking alone...

Sensing her grandmother’s worries, Bei Sangyun suggested bringing Maid Ye Zhai along. The latter agreed without hesitation.

The wind was cold, and the sky was a bit gloomy. However, the strong winds and rain had stopped, and it was safe to fly. A few hours later, Bei Sangyun and Maid Ye Zhai arrived at the mountain.

Maid Ye Zhai glanced at Bei Sangyun, who walked forward without hesitation. She seemed to know her way around.

She had heard about her young miss coming here before, but she had never been to this place herself. Nor did she understand why Bei Sangyun always wanted to return here with such an urgent look on her face.

The two stopped in front of the temple.

Bei Sangyun turned to her. "I’ll be talking to the monk, and I don’t know how long it will take."

"Take your time, young miss," Maid Ye Zhai assured her.

Bei Sangyun hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and smiling. "Actually, you can come with me inside."

Maid Ye Zhai blinked. She had already planned to follow unless Bei Sangyun told her to wait outside.

Suddenly, Bei Sangyun took her hand. "You’re like a big sister to me. It wasn’t obvious in the past, but you have always taken great care of me. You and Butler Xin stayed with me until the end. Even when you had many chances to leave, you chose to stay. I value you for that. And when this new life came, I saw clearly that what you offered me was more than just loyalty. You gave me a big sister. And I am truly grateful for that."

Maid Ye Zhai was confused. The end? New life?

She couldn’t quite follow. But seeing Bei Sangyun express her emotions and appreciation, she couldn’t help but smile.

"I have the best master to serve," Maid Ye Zhai said sincerely. "I am honored and grateful to have been assigned to you. You are the best master I could ever ask for. And... a family."

Bei Sangyun smiled, her eyes full of genuine emotion.

Together, they stepped inside the temple.

After walking around for a while, a young monk spotted them. He was the same monk Bei Sangyun had met last time, and he recognized her immediately. Without a word, he led her into the main temple.

"Teacher has been waiting for you inside. Please come in."

Bei Sangyun nodded, and Maid Ye Zhai moved to follow, but the young monk stopped her.

Bei Sangyun paused and told him firmly, "She is coming with me."

The young monk was stunned. Usually, only one person entered to speak with his Teacher, leaving their subordinates outside.

But seeing the solemn gaze in Bei Sangyun’s eyes, he finally relented.

Perhaps... that person wasn’t a subordinate.

The doors to the temple closed, and the young monk returned to his duties.

.....

The main temple was much warmer inside.

The old monk sat in his meditative position, holding prayer beads as he silently chanted.

Bei Sangyun wanted to announce her presence, but before she could speak, Maid Ye Zhai had already knelt on the floor and made a quick prayer.

Bei Sangyun: "...."

Right. She was in the main temple.

She quickly copied Maid Ye Zhai, kneeling and pretending to pray.

They waited like that for ten more minutes. Just as Bei Sangyun was growing impatient, the old monk finally opened his eyes.

His gaze met Bei Sangyun’s, and he greeted her politely.

"You have come."

"Well, you were expecting me, right? I waited four months, just as you asked."

"Indeed, you did. You have learned patience. I half-expected you to interrupt my prayers the moment you arrived."

Bei Sangyun coughed. She almost had—if not for Maid Ye Zhai. "Let’s just say that’s the last bit of patience I have left. Don’t expect any more."

Maid Ye Zhai glanced back and forth between them. Her young miss was truly bold—speaking so bluntly to the old monk!

The monk shifted his gaze to Maid Ye Zhai. "Are you sure it’s fine for her to be here?"

"Yes. She’s family."

Maid Ye Zhai looked at Bei Sangyun, her heart warming. This conversation was clearly something private and confidential. She silently swore to herself that, no matter what was discussed, she would never speak a word of it—even if her life depended on it.

The old monk raised a brow, but the smile in his eyes deepened. "Alright. Then you both may come with me."

He led them to another room, the place where the ’reading’ usually took place.

But this time, he did not perform the usual ceremony. Instead, they sat at a table in silence.

Time passed. Bei Sangyun finally broke it.

"Aren’t you going to start the reading?"

The old monk smiled. "Just wait."

Bei Sangyun did as he said.

A while later, the door to the room opened.

An unkempt old man in monk’s robes entered. He did not look like a monk at all—more like a beggar who had simply happened to put on clean clothes.