Facing Nan Yu's inquiry, Tan Linyuan gave the same answer as before, "I'm not sure."
"Have you never been inside?" Nan Yu asked in confusion.
Tan Linyuan paused for a moment. His expression turned profound. He seemed to be lost in memories for a while. "I went in once to deliver vegetarian meals to Master Wenjing."
"And then?"
"As soon as I reached the door, I was shouted out." Tan Linyuan's voice was calm, as if he was used to it. "I didn't see what was inside clearly."
Nan Yu thought for a while. "It's really mysterious."
Tan Linyuan didn't tell Nan Yu that many people had entered this stone cave retreat room before.
Only he, the eldest disciple, was not allowed to set foot in it.
"However, I guess it should be some relics of Master Wenjing." Nan Yu began to let her imagination run wild. "Or some daily necessities, Buddhist scriptures and scrolls?"
Tan Linyuan defaulted. "Some stone carvings are also possible."
Master Wenjing was highly praised during his lifetime. Not only was his Buddhist knowledge widely respected, but his stone carving art also reached a high level and was well - known.
Back then, a single - character seal he carved could be sold for tens of millions in the market.
One reason was his identity, and the other was his superb stone carving skills.
In other words, even if Master Wenjing didn't have the glory of being a living Buddha, he would still be a great seal - carving master just based on his seal - carving techniques.
When the topic of seal - carving came up, Nan Yu suddenly said, "My father also liked stone carving when he was alive, but he was an amateur and not very skilled."
Tan Linyuan nodded, his tone flat. "I know."
Of course he knew. Otherwise, Nan Jiwen wouldn't have appeared at Jing'an Temple so frequently, always bringing a little kid with him.
Most of the upper - class people who came to Jing'an Temple just did it for show.
Mr. Nan, however, hit it off with Master Wenjing. They met more often than he, the eldest disciple.
But unfortunately, the little kid had no impression of him at all.
She only remembered the chestnut cakes, which were of little importance.
Nan Yu's interest in the stone cave remained undiminished. "Is it possible that Master Wenjing took the key to his tomb?"
"No." When Tan Linyuan answered, there was a casual tone in his voice. "I handled all of Master Wenjing's funeral arrangements personally, every detail."
"Could it be hidden in the coffin?" Nan Yu was still not willing to give up.
Tan Linyuan looked at her speechlessly. "I personally put his urn into the coffin. Don't you think I know what's inside?"
Just imagining Tan Linyuan holding the ashes of his master of more than a decade in his hands and then putting them into the coffin for burial, combined with his cold and aloof face...
It sounded rather creepy.
Nan Yu hugged her arms. Feeling that the sun was about to set and there was a bit of chill on her skin, she said, "Could it be hidden under the stones nearby?"
She bent down to rummage through the stones piled near the stone cave.
"Everything you can think of, I've already looked for." He mercilessly destroyed Nan Yu's last hope. "I want to know what's in this stone cave more than you do."
There was no need for Nan Yu to doubt this.
When they left the stone cave, Nan Yu felt very regretful. She couldn't help but sigh, "Will it become an eternal secret that no one can ever uncover?"
"Maybe." Tan Linyuan's eyes drooped slightly. There was not much emotion on his face. It was as if he was just saying it casually. Then he checked the time. "It's getting late. I'll take you back."
On the way back, Nan Yu quietly rolled down the car window and listened to the wind outside the car.
She turned her head and saw that Jing'an Temple was getting farther and farther away from them.
Farther and farther away.
It was like leaving a dream world that had no connection with the outside world.
---
The car was heading towards Yenanwan.
The steering wheel turned, and the car directly drove into the alley. What came into view was a large number of cars parked near Yenanwan.
Tan Linyuan slowed down the car.
Nan Yu also noticed that there was a group of people around her house. She immediately became vigilant. "Who are these people?"
"They are Shen Suhai's men." Tan Linyuan made a decisive judgment.
Nan Yu instinctively tightened her palms.
She even realized for a moment that if Tan Linyuan hadn't taken her away this afternoon, she would probably have been taken away by now if she had been alone in Yenanwan.
These people were waiting here for her to come back.
Nan Yu turned to look at Tan Linyuan. Her breathing became lighter involuntarily. "What should we do?"
Tan Linyuan's eyes were deep. His expression was calm at the moment. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
After Nan Yu got out of the car, those people were about to surround her. But when they saw Tan Linyuan getting out of the car too, they stopped in their tracks.
Just standing there, his cold and aloof aura was enough to make people in awe.
At the same time, from a car surrounded by a group of people, Shen Suhai was helped out.
Holding his walking stick, he stood in the cold night, surrounded by his subordinates. He looked at Nan Yu with anger in his eyes. "Nan Yu, you caused trouble and then dared to hide? Do you plan to live the rest of your life as a coward?"
His vicissitudinous voice sounded particularly sinister in the wind.
In the past, Shen Suhai often used such a threatening tone to force her to obey obediently.
But now, she was no longer a helpless victim.
And most importantly, there was a man standing beside her, telling her "he was here".
Shen Suhai also noticed Tan Linyuan. His eyebrows frowned slightly, and his tone became even colder. "Linyuan, you should know when to stop your nonsense."
"Uncle Shen, please tell me where the younger generation is being nonsense." Tan Linyuan's thin lips parted slightly. His tone was as amiable as ever, but there was still an imposing air about him.
"You've interfered in the Shen family's affairs quite a few times, haven't you?" Shen Suhai coughed twice. "Today, I'm here to sort out my own family affairs. Linyuan, you're not allowed to interfere anymore!"
Sort out his own family affairs?
It sounded rather self - righteous.
Tan Linyuan's voice showed no emotion at all. "Uncle Shen, Nan Yu is not a member of the Shen family for now."
Nan Yu immediately continued, "And she won't be in the future either. Your son already has an illegitimate child. He will marry Wen Ying. Please don't pester me anymore."
"Shut up!" Shen Suhai roared. His voice was sarcastic. "Nan Yu, how much chance do you think you have to confront me head - on?"
"Or do you not want those things left by your parents anymore?"
The wrinkled old face burst into laughter when he saw Nan Yu's suddenly pale face.
His laughter sounded extremely shrill in the night, making people feel a chill down their spines.
"Linyuan, since you're a Buddhist disciple, these worldly affairs have nothing to do with you. Just go back and continue to be your living Buddha."
Shen Suhai paused for a moment and then subtly mentioned, "Or do you want the tragedy to happen again?"
Tan Linyuan's eyes narrowed slightly. A faint chill appeared in his eyes, gradually covering his entire pupils.
His gaze fell on Shen Suhai's arrogant face. His thin lips parted slightly, and his tone was cold and indifferent. "You misunderstood. I really don't plan to interfere."
This calm sentence made Nan Yu freeze on the spot. Her breathing suddenly stopped.
What did it mean?
Was he... planning to abandon her?