Chapter 24: Cultivating with Hair

  When Yu Xin Yuan and his entourage arrived at the county museum again, they found Fang Zhengwu in a dimly lit pile of old papers. He was wearing glasses and intently sorting through files. After Yu Xin Yuan explained their purpose, Fang Zhengwu warmly welcomed them, offering seats and tea, making Yu Xin Yuan feel honored.

  "You were introduced by Principal Lu, and Principal Lu's friends are my friends, as well as the friends of the people of Leijiang!" Fang Zhengwu explained.

  Although having been friends with Ruth for many years, Ruth has always been calm and low-key, never mentioning her past experiences. Yu Xin still didn't know that Ruth had such a high reputation in Leijiang.

  Yu Xin Yuan then got straight to the point: "I came to see you today because I wanted to learn more about Cuīyún ān!"

  "Cuiyun An?" Fang Zheng's thick glasses flashed a hint of surprise, "What are you going there for?"

  Yu Xin Yuan explained: "Some time ago, the masters of Cuīyún ān reported to the police station that someone deliberately desecrated the Buddhist holy land. The police station found some clues about the murder case of Yamada Jirō at Cuīyún ān. So today we came specifically to ask you to continue understanding the situation in Lei Jiang during the war of resistance. This is also recommended by the abbot of Cuīyún ān!"

  In order to appear more solemn, Yu Xin replaced the little nun with the abbot master.

  Fang Zhengwu hehe smiled and muttered to himself: "The old lady still misses me!"

  Yu Xin Yuan asked, "Is Master Fang and the Abbot of Cui Yun An very familiar?"

  "It's not just familiarity," Fang Zhengwu laughed and said: "Liao Yin Shifu is actually our family's mother!"

  This is far beyond what I had expected.

  Yu Xin continued to ask: "Then do you know what connection there is between Cuīyún ān and 'Hái tài jūn' Yamada Jirō?"

  As soon as the words "Haita Jun" were mentioned, Fang Zhengwu's face suddenly darkened and he fell silent for a long time. After a while, he slowly said: "Captain Yu, I didn't want to tell you these things at first. But since Principal Lu asked you to come find me, I'll tell you about those unbearable past events!"

  After Leijiang's fall, Mrs. Fang knew her husband was in grave danger and every day she was as restless as an ant on a hot pot. On the third day, Ruihui returned home with a tired body and a haggard face. Seeing Mrs. Fang, she wanted to speak but hesitated.

  Mrs. Fang knew something was wrong and nervously asked: "Sister, is there any news about the 358th Regiment and Tianjue?"

  Rui Hui said in a hoarse voice: "The 358th Regiment was completely annihilated, all officers and soldiers died for the country, not one survived!"

  Although Mrs Fang had made sufficient mental preparation, she still felt as if struck by a thunderbolt on a clear day when she heard this definitive news.

  She rushed out of the door in tears, Rui Hui grabbed her: "What are you going to do!"

  "I want to go and collect my husband's body, I want to pay my respects to him..." Mrs. Fang couldn't hold back her grief.

  Rui Hui sternly stopped him: "The devils are worried that they can't find you, the family members of the anti-Japanese army, and you still go to throw yourself into their net?"

  All night, Rui Hui silently accompanied Mrs. Fang, who was heartbroken and speechless.

  Mrs. Fang's emotions had slightly calmed down, and Ruihui finally said what she wanted to say: "Sister, the most important thing now is where you and the child will go!" Because "Haita Jun" Yamada Jiro said that he would often come to Meifu and discuss work with Ruihui. If Mrs. Fang was still at Meifu, it might cause a lot of trouble.

  Mrs. Fang was clever and had already picked up on Rui Hui's underlying tone. Her husband, who had been through thick and thin with her, had died in battle and his body couldn't even be found, but what she saw that day on the square - Li Tianming being killed by "Haitai Jun" right before her eyes - was a strong stimulus that made Mrs. Fang feel like everything was gray.

  "Sister, help me with one last thing, okay?" Mrs. Fang begged.

  "Please speak!" Rui Hui replied.

  "I want to become a nun and go before the Buddha's green lamp and ancient scrolls to end my remaining life!" Madam Fang made up her mind.

  Rui Hui remained silent. After some thought, in this chaotic world, perhaps the Buddhist door was indeed a shelter for Mrs. Fang and her daughter. So she said: "I have known Master Yuan of Cuicun An for many years, we are old friends. Tomorrow, I will personally take you to Cuicun An!"

  Mrs. Fang said with gratitude: "Sister, I don't know how to thank you..."

  Rui Hui smiled bleakly: "As long as my sister doesn't mind me being in cahoots with the devils, I'll be content. If after I die, my sister can come to my grave every year and lay a wreath of flowers, then our sisterhood won't have been in vain."

  Mrs. Fang was silent, she had already guessed something from Ruihui's expression, and wanted to comfort her with a few words, but she racked her brains and couldn't find the right language to persuade her.

  Two women sat silently facing each other, both with unbearable emotions in their hearts. The only sound was the quiet accompaniment of candlelight and tears until dawn broke.

  The next day, Ruihui made up an excuse that it was the anniversary of her husband's death and she needed to make offerings to his spirit. She had Mrs. Fang disguise herself as a servant and take young Fang Zhengwu out of the north gate to the Cuifeng An, where they sought refuge with Yuan Shi Tai. Since Mrs. Fang still had worldly attachments, Yuan Shi Tai had her practice meditation and introspection, cultivating her self-awareness while studying Buddhist teachings and contemplating Zen koans.

  However--

  There is no intact egg under a destroyed nest. The country has fallen, and even the Buddhist door cannot escape the turmoil. Inoguchi Toshiro was already eyeing the strategic high ground of Raijiang - Cuifeng Mountain when he was secretly scouting out the terrain of Raijiang as "Koizumi Ko".

  Inoguchi Jiro soon after taking office in Leigong, announced that Cuifeng Mountain was a military forbidden zone for the Japanese army, built a gun tower on the top of the mountain, set up an observation post and a long-range howitzer position, overlooking the surrounding area of Leigong, firmly controlling it under the surveillance of the Japanese army.

  The second thing is to establish the "Raijiang Imperial Army Officer Club". The "Imperial Army Officer Club" was an innovation of Inukawa Jiro. The Japanese army's initial momentum on the Chinese battlefield, which had been unstoppable, was greatly curbed in the Battle of Wuhan, and the Chinese army's resistance became increasingly strong. The Japanese army paid a heavy price for every step forward, and the myth of "conquering China in three months" touted by the Japanese military department had long since become an illusion, gradually becoming bogged down in a protracted war of attrition. The endless battle and huge casualties made the Japanese army wake up from its initial excitement of winning victory after victory, and anti-war sentiment gradually spread among some mid-to-low-level officers. To boost morale, Inukawa Jiro built this "Imperial Army Officer Club" in Lei Jiang to provide rest and recuperation for front-line officers.

  Inugawa Jiro's gaze was fixed on the Cuifeng Temple on Mount Cuifeng. The scenery here is beautiful, the environment is quiet and elegant, it is a sacred place for self-cultivation and spiritual growth. Moreover, it is located in a remote area, high above, with strong security and privacy. Since the entire Mount Cuifeng was designated as a military restricted zone by the Japanese army, of course, they could not tolerate having a Chinese temple on top of it.

  When Inukawa Jiro burst into Cuīyún ān surrounded by a group of Japanese soldiers with live ammunition, Liè Yuán Shītài was leading a group of Bhikkhunis in their morning chanting.

  A large group of ferocious and evil devils, armed with gleaming daggers, burst into the serene and solemn Buddhist hall. The Bhikkhunis who were doing their morning prayers couldn't help but reveal terrified expressions.