Chapter 425: Chapter 425 Servant’s Needle (18)_1 Chapter 425: Chapter 425 Servant’s Needle (18)_1 It seemed that because of Bernard, Rosetta had an inexplicably kind attitude toward Fu Qian.
While Fu Qian was brainstorming, she also fell into a brief contemplation, then her eyes lit up.
“If you’re having a tough time right now, why not consider staying here for a while?”
“Really?”
Fu Qian didn’t hide the look of surprise on his face.
“Why not?”
Rosetta answered with a smile.
“This is a monastery, after all; I thought one would have to feign a change of faith first.”
“…How could that be, the monasteries nowadays are no longer what they used to be when first established.”
“What gathers here now is a purer group, simply pursuing inner peace.”
“After all, many of our own kind have almost been achieving what Divine Beings do in myths.”
As she spoke, Rosetta’s expression was somewhere between a smile and a sigh.
“That makes sense.”
Fu Qian deeply agreed.
No matter how lighthearted, the existence of Transcendents in this world has a tremendous psychological impact on ordinary people.
The presence of the Night Watchman has, to some extent, provided a bit of relief.
“So come with me, just say a word to the manager, though the accommodation will be quite spartan.”
“Sure, a bit of hardship doesn’t matter.”
Fu Qian replied quite straightforwardly.
Since he came to investigate the monastery, naturally, he wouldn’t let such an opportunity slip by.
And as for sleeping in hardship—please, what kind of scene hasn’t he experienced?
Seeing Fu Qian agree so readily, which seemed to reflect his eagerness, Rosetta chuckled without saying much, and immediately stood up to lead the way.
As they walked, her thin form became increasingly apparent, as frail as stalks of crops, and at a glance, it seemed she could break at any moment.
However, her vivacity, like waking from a Nightmare, imbued her with a highly contagious energy, creating a bizarre sense of contradiction.
…
The monastery wasn’t very large, but there was a good number of rooms, with the residential area directly beside the foot of the mountain.
Fu Qian followed behind Rosetta, looking around as he walked.
Although there were many rooms, there were hardly any people in sight.
The few that were around had a carefree style and were minding their own business.
Rosetta wasn’t wrong—this place had clearly become a sanctuary for independent cultivation.
The atmosphere was nice; he wondered if they regularly organized debates or the like; the scene must be quite interesting.
And soon enough, Fu Qian met the manager that Rosetta had mentioned.
It was a rather tall elder, with thick hair and no beard, wearing a coarse robe just like Rosetta.
“That’s him, Niwalis.”
Rosetta whispered to Fu Qian and then walked upfront, calling his name directly before turning back to introduce him.
“This is Fu Qian.”
She had already asked Fu Qian for his name on the way.
“Hello!”
Niwali’s gaze was mild, and he gave Fu Qian a glance that revealed no particular emotion, greeting him casually.
“Fu Qian would like to stay here for a while; I’ve brought him to inform you.”
After the introduction, Rosetta didn’t leave any room for Fu Qian to exchange pleasantries and got straight to the point.
“I had guessed as much when you came in.”
Niwalis smiled evenly, looking Fu Qian up and down.
“This is an open place; as long as you don’t disturb others, we welcome you.”
“However, Mr. Fu, you’re so young, have you encountered some trouble?”
“Yes!”
Fu Qian nodded, honestly repeating everything he had just told Rosetta.
Even this time, his description was more vivid, colorfully recounting things like beheading and holding entrails.
It was apparent that both individuals before him were enlightened souls; whether they felt disgusted or not, they certainly didn’t show it.
Niwalis maintained a placid expression, casting inadvertent glances at Rosetta, clearly realizing something.
Rosetta, on the other hand, had a distant look in her eyes, seemingly invoking unpleasant memories, eventually hesitating to speak and silently sighing.
“Escaping delusion often cannot rely on others; it requires a strong force from within. I hope you find what you’re looking for here.”
As expected of the person in charge, Niwalis started with a Zen-like comment, then turned to Rosetta.
“You go help Mr. Fu find an empty room.”
“Mm.”
Rosetta didn’t stand on ceremony, taking Fu Qian and leaving immediately.
Although Niwalis held a managerial position, the relationships here seemed quite casual, with no strict hierarchy.
“Is it here?”
Rosetta led Fu Qian up and down, finally stopping in front of a door.
“No one has lived here since it was cleaned, although the furnishings are indeed quite Spartan.”
Are you sure it’s only a bit Spartan?
Fu Qian looked at the room’s sole stone bed and smiled wryly.
“Where the heart is at ease, that is home.”
“Then that’s good.”
The smile on Rosetta’s face was tinged with relief.
“My place is right next door. I’ll show you in a bit. If you run into any trouble, feel free to come find me anytime.”
“Okay!”
This person clearly cared a lot, thinking everything through thoroughly, and Fu Qian really appreciated it.
“Regarding food, it’s generally each person’s own responsibility, though people often share extra food. If there’s some on the table in the hallway, just take what you need.”
“Besides, I don’t eat much… Currently, I really have nothing to share with you.”
Rosetta seemed a bit embarrassed as she said this.
It was obvious she shouldn’t feel ashamed.
Fu Qian looked at her lean figure and nodded.
“Understood.”
“Let’s leave it at that for now. You rest up. If you think of any questions, come find me.”
Seeing Fu Qian’s somewhat somber expression, Rosetta smiled again and added.
“Don’t worry, Niwalis might seem a bit frosty, but he’s reliable. You should know, most people here are not at all interested in handling room assignments.”
“Understood.”
Watching Rosetta depart gracefully, Fu Qian stepped into his temporary abode.
It had indeed been cleaned out, harboring nothing but a thin layer of dust.
The furnishings were simple, but Fu Qian had never cared about such things. He closed the door and promptly immersed himself in contemplating time.
After a session of deep breathing and meditation, the sun had set behind the mountains.
Fu Qian opened his eyes, confirming that meditating on enlightenment was indeed a way to pass the time.
His current state was quite peculiar.
There hadn’t been such a long time without any anomalies in the world occurring.
So far everyone he met appeared quite proper, and none had degenerated into a horde of fiends or returned to “the real world” to face questioning from Kelly and Brooke.
He felt as if he truly lived among a community of ascetics in an ordinary world, with all previous events fading away.
Could this place be really magical? Perhaps a convergence of spiritual energy, the workings of heaven and earth?
Was that why Rosetta chose to stay here and not leave?
Impossible.
Fu Qian shook his head immediately.
Setting aside missions for the moment, if it were that easy, Rosetta wouldn’t be researching pain therapy.