The Fox Demon Came to Repay the Monk Before His Vows novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: The Cairn

The abbot found them at dawn.

He opened the cell door without knocking and looked at the two of them tangled under one blanket.

He sighed, in the voice of a very old man who had hoped to sleep late.

"I am seventy-nine," he said. "I am too old to guard two grown men from each other."

Jingmo sat up so fast that the blanket went with him.

"Master..."

"Be quiet. I heard about the bell." The abbot's sharp eyes went to the linen wrapping both of Jingmo's hands, and softened.

"The rule is lifted. Go where you like, both of you. I shall watch what you choose."

"And the Warden?"

"The Warden has called the Council of the Three Halls."

Yanzhi's stomach dropped.

"In two days," the abbot said. "He will ask them to rule on the vows, and on you, young fox."

"I will do what I can. Eat something."

He went out and left the door open.

Yanzhi sat in the grey light with his knees drawn up and his wrapped wrists resting on them.

"Jingmo."

"Yes."

"He said my mother's pearl."

Jingmo did not move.

"You know what he meant," said Yanzhi. "You went stiff as a post. I felt it."

"I know some of it."

"Tell me."

"I'll show you." Jingmo rose and pulled his robe on over the bandages. "Come with me. Don't ask yet."

Yanzhi had never seen him walk like that.

He led Yanzhi out of the cell and across the cloister.

A round figure at the kitchen window said nothing, with great delicacy, as they passed, and then they were in the orchard.

The peach trees stood in rows, heavy with the last fruit of the year.

At the far end, past the biggest tree, the broom lay where Jingmo had dropped it.

He stopped at the edge of the clearing.

"I told you I couldn't save her," he said.

Yanzhi looked at the mound of river stones.

The rice was fresh.

The peach was fresh, soft and gold, set with its stem toward the stone.

"I came up the slope after the Warden's men had gone. It was night."

"She was lying by the stream, and she was not alive." Jingmo's voice shook, and he steadied it.

"I carried her up here. This was the nearest quiet place."

"I dug it myself, and I put the stones on it. And I've come every morning since."

He stopped.

"Who?" said Yanzhi.

But he knew.

He knew the way you know when the floor drops.

He went forward on legs that did not feel like his, and knelt, and put his palm on the cold stones.

He felt for her.

There was nothing, of course, after seven years.

Then he caught a ghost of old fox-scent in the earth, honey and smoke and dry grass, and the rest of him broke open.

← Chapter 9 · All chapters · Chapter 11 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend