The Fox Demon Came to Repay the Monk Before His Vows novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Fox on Top

The abbot's gift was a house.

It stood at the bottom of the orchard rows, behind the watchman's hut, a low cottage of grey stone with a roof of mossy tile.

The door had been painted peach pink by someone with more enthusiasm than skill.

"The orchard keeper died four winters ago," said Cizhao, handing Jingmo a key as long as his hand.

"Nobody wanted the place. It is damp, and it leaks, and it comes with the grave."

"With the cairn?"

"With the orchard. All eleven hundred trees, and whoever sleeps beneath them." The abbot folded his hands.

"The temple will want its share of peaches. I shall send the cook to bargain."

"Master..."

"You are not to thank me. You are to sweep."

He walked away down the row, leaning on a staff that was not his, and Yanzhi would have sworn that he was whistling.

Jingmo stood with the key in his fist.

"Well," said Yanzhi. "Landlord."

"Fox."

"Shall we see if it leaks?"

It leaked in two places.

It also had a stove, a table, and a bed with a quilt that smelled of lavender.

A window looked straight down the rows to the cairn.

By the time they had hung a lamp, it was full dark, and every blossom outside shone faintly in the moon.

Jingmo sat on the edge of the bed.

He sat the way he used to sit on the temple steps at dusk, with his hands loose on his knees, looking at nothing.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"You've got your sweeping face."

"I don't know what to do," said Jingmo.

Yanzhi came and stood in front of him.

"Tonight. Tomorrow." Jingmo frowned at his hands.

"For seven years every hour had a name, and a bell."

← Chapter 22 · All chapters · Chapter 24 →

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