At this moment, Feng Yunshu suddenly recalled a saying that her master had repeatedly taught her: "A cultivator must be compassionate, sharing the joys and sorrows of all sentient beings, in order to achieve the Great Dao."
At that time, she didn't understand it at all. She just thought her master was nagging. Moreover, although her master talked about compassion, he would always punish her whenever she made a mistake. So Feng Yunshu asserted that her master was a hypocrite.
Now, Feng Yunshu seemed to have a new understanding of this saying.
Right in front of her, the villagers suddenly knelt down in unison and kowtowed to Feng Yunshu and the others. While kowtowing, they shouted, "Thank you, Bodhisattva, for eliminating this evil spirit for us. It was our superstition that caused the untimely deaths of several children in the village!"
"You are truly living Bodhisattvas!"
"Living Bodhisattvas, we know that such superstition is wrong, but we had no choice but to do so. If possible, could you, Bodhisattva, help to transcend those untimely - deceased children?"
Transcending the dead was not something that cultivators like Feng Yunshu usually did. But looking at the grief on the villagers' faces, Feng Yunshu couldn't help but nod and agree.
With her current spiritual power, she was not capable of doing this, so this task fell to Kong Ze.
During the process of Kong Ze's transcending, a miraculous thing happened. Feng Yunshu felt a continuous stream of spiritual power flowing into her body like a brook. This spiritual power came from the kneeling villagers on the ground and the souls being transcended.
As Feng Yunshu's spiritual power continuously increased, her appearance also changed subtly. Her skin became fairer and smoother, and her originally delicate facial features became more radiant, exuding an irresistible charm.
Feng Yunshu didn't expect that by accident, she would encounter such a good thing. Happily, she looked at Kong Ze and said, "Third Senior Brother, look at my spiritual power!"
Kong Ze was also a cultivator, so he naturally felt the increase of her spiritual power. "It seems that doing more good deeds and slaying demons and monsters is indeed effective for the growth of your spiritual power."
Before Feng Yunshu could even enjoy her happiness, Helan Yanting beside her, although not understanding this, could roughly guess the meaning of their words, and his face darkened a bit.
"Slaying more demons and monsters?" Helan Yanting raised his eyebrows and glanced at the minor wounds on Feng Yunshu's body. "How can I rest assured that you go slaying demons and monsters like this? Just think about this. I won't allow you to take risks."
"Your Highness, you can't be like this... As the saying goes, fortune favors the brave, right? Moreover, as cultivators, if even we are afraid of slaying demons and monsters, how can we protect these mortals?"
Helan Yanting squinted his eyes slightly and pinched Feng Yunshu's puffed - up cheeks. "You're so capable. You're not the only cultivator in the world. Look, isn't there someone more powerful than you beside you?"
Saying this, Helan Yanting glanced at Kong Ze beside him. "Moreover, as the national teacher of the Dan Kingdom, he should naturally shoulder this heavy responsibility, right, National Teacher?"
Kong Ze was annoyed by Helan Yanting. So it meant that you two lovebirds could be all lovey - dovey, and I, a single dog, should be pushed out to take the blame?
"What right? Your Highness Helan, what you said is not right. If I have to do everything, what if I get injured? I'm the senior brother that Yunshu relies on the most. Yunshu will be heartbroken for me... Right, Yunshu?"
Just as Feng Yunshu was about to nod in agreement, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Helan Yanting's already darkening face. She swallowed the words back. "Third Senior Brother, what are you talking nonsense about? And how can you curse yourself like this?"
"Yunshu, tell me. If I and His Highness Helan get injured at the same time, who will you save first? Answer me truthfully from your heart."
Kong Ze really got into a confrontation with Helan Yanting today. He had to compete with him to see who was the most important in Feng Yunshu's heart.
"Humph, National Teacher, you really think highly of yourself."
Helan Yanting sneered and mercilessly retorted.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Feng Yunshu was really at her wit's end. Who could tell her why these two grown men could bicker so childishly? Was this the legendary "old couple"?
It turned out that after all this, she was the most superfluous one.
After complaining in her heart, Feng Yunshu raised her hand and pushed the two of them away. "That's enough for both of you!"
"It's getting late, and there's nothing else to do here. Senior Brother, you should go back quickly. Don't let others suspect anything."
"You really break my heart, girl. I heard you were in trouble and managed to find an excuse to get away from the emperor. I flew here in a hurry, but now that the matter is done, you want to drive me away..."
"With me here, the national teacher is naturally superfluous." Helan Yanting smiled proudly.
Feng Yunshu turned to look at him. "Your Highness, if you have nothing to do, you can go back first."
Helan Yanting immediately frowned and grabbed Feng Yunshu's arm. "Who said I have nothing to do? My most important thing is to stay with my wife."
"Uh..."
Feng Yunshu didn't want to waste any more time with these two childish guys, so she just went to do her business on her own.
She walked up to the village head and asked, "Village Head, is there an Aunt Yu in your village? She's about thirty or forty years old and used to work in the prime minister's mansion."
"Aunt Yu?"
The village head was stunned for a moment. "Most of the people in our village have the surname Yu. There are quite a few women in their thirties and forties... But as for those who have worked in the prime minister's mansion..."
The village head was frowning and trying hard to recall when a villager suddenly spoke up, "I know! I know who you're talking about!"
Feng Yunshu was overjoyed. She looked up at the woman who was speaking. "Auntie, you know the Aunt Yu I'm talking about?"
The woman nodded. "I know. She's the only one in our village who has worked in the prime minister's mansion. Speaking of which, I also went for an interview back then, but I wasn't selected. Fortunately, I didn't go. When she came back, she was in a very poor physical condition. I heard that life in the prime minister's mansion was very hard."
"Auntie, where is Aunt Yu now? Is she still in the village?"
The woman shook her head. "She passed away not long after coming back from the prime minister's mansion. But her son is still in the village. However, his health has always been poor, and he has been bed - ridden for a long time."
"Her son? Where is he now? Could you please take me to find him, Auntie? I have something very important to figure out."
Now Feng Yunshu was the living Bodhisattva in the hearts of the whole village. Since it was her request, the kind - hearted woman quickly nodded and led the way for Feng Yunshu. "Come with me. He's probably still lying on the kang at home."
Feng Yunshu quickly nodded and followed, with a complicated mood.
The Aunt Yu she originally wanted to find was no longer alive. Only her son was left. She didn't know if her son knew what had happened in the prime minister's mansion back then. If he knew nothing, this only clue of hers might be broken.
As Feng Yunshu followed, Helan Yanting followed closely behind.
"Your Highness, your health is not very good. It's so late. You should go back and rest quickly. I can handle this by myself."
Helan Yanting directly stepped forward and took Feng Yunshu's hand. "You're injured. And how could I let you face this alone? Let's go together. I'll accompany you."
Feng Yunshu felt the warmth in her palm and looked sideways at his deep and determined facial features beside her. Suddenly, she felt that her highness was becoming more and more handsome.