Standing in front of 'An Wu' was a monk.
He seemed young, handsome in appearance, with a robe patched in various colors, straw sandals on his feet, and spoke with joined hands respectfully, looking just like a naive young monk who grew up in a temple.
"Ciji Institute?"
"Just over there." The young monk pointed behind An Guo Temple, "I'm about to head back, want to come along? But there's only space in the large shared room, so you'll have to stay with others."
"Is there a single room?"
"Yes, because it's inconvenient for women or certain patients to share... Are you hungry? If you haven't eaten, there might be some leftovers left if you go now."
Yan Qing followed the monk without much caution. One, this was a small institution, and two, he didn't think anyone in Chang'an City could harm him. The monk was very talkative, introducing himself, "The little monk's name is Ben Zhi, practicing at the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard in An Guo Temple, basically just doing odd jobs... But working odd jobs at An Guo Temple is a good thing, unlike the Martial Monk Courtyard where people have to train martial arts from dawn till dusk, far less tiring..."
"And you can rotate shifts at the Ciji Institute, coming out for three days each solar term... Oh, what's your name, benefactor?"
"An Wu."
"An Wu, this is the Ciji Institute, you see, it's quite close."
Ben Zhi led 'An Wu' to a large mansion with a plaque reading 'Ciji Institute'. Upon opening the door, a strong medicinal smell greeted them, dozens of medicine pots simmering, with a large room beside occupied by dozens of patients lying down.
"This is the patient area. If you're unwell, feel free to come here during the day. Brothers from the Xuanhu Courtyard will come from the county for free consultations."
"The county?"
"An Guo Temple itself has even larger temples outside the county, land is scarce in the city. Other than the main hall, An Guo Temple doesn't have much space to accommodate monks. Want some food?"
"No need," Yan Qing thought, 'I still have dozens of roasted lamb legs in the warehouse.'
"This Ciji Institute was funded by numerous wealthy philanthropists from Chang'an, managed by An Guo Temple. Though it charges nothing, unless for heavily ill or special cases, we advise leaving after seven days at most. If there's nowhere to go, there are people during the day recruiting tenant farmers as laborers at the Ciji Institute; this place won't support idle people..."
"Though the Buddha's blessing is upon the city, where ordinary folks are unharmed by swords, impervious to fire, touching is still allowed, best to sleep with your back to the wall… Even we monks occasionally encounter such ruffians."
With the Buddha's protection, but it's quite common, remarkable that even subordinates call monsters demons; a safe zone where combat isn't permitted naturally becomes the domain of various deities and gods.
Walking along, Ben Zhi opened a side door revealing cleaning tools, clearly a storeroom. Inside the storeroom was a large water barrel. Ben Zhi called over by the barrel, "Benefactor, lend a hand, help carry this barrel over to the well; Uncle Chengyin instructed me earlier, almost forgot."
Such a small favor naturally held no reason to refuse; 'An Wu' stepped to the opposite side of the barrel, preparing to lift simultaneously.
"Stand firm."
The young monk Ben Zhi didn't lift the barrel, but reached for a hanging jute rope beside him.
Pop.
The wooden board beneath 'An Wu' suddenly collapsed, revealing a hole. Yan Qing was too late and unable to stop 'An Wu' from falling. Seeing 'An Wu' slide down like a slide, after nearly twenty seconds of descent, she landed with a pop on a pile of straw.
Though there was a sloped buffer along the way, 'An Wu's health inevitably dropped by a tenth. Yan Qing realized — Chang'an City prevents harm from others, but doesn't prevent fall damage. Thus, one could surmise jumping from a building in Chang'an would certainly result in death.
"Ha, coming so late, yet another newbie?"
Where 'An Wu' found himself was an underground prison, illuminated solely by candlelight, pitch-black iron bars standing atop sturdy bluestone. Outside the prison sat two tall, robust bald monks, quite proper in appearance yet lacking any trace of compassion in their eyes, gazing at 'An Wu' as if a farmer watching his own livestock.
"Goodness, red lips and white teeth, fair skin, dexterous hands and feet, truly fine stock."
"Though appears to be of poor background, will need some training before sale, muddy-legged types don't fetch high prices"
"Not hard, in the end, it's all about looks; if ugly, even a Chancellor's daughter is worthless; if handsome, saying it's a noble offspring will be believable."
Aside from 'An Wu', the prison held over ten others, male and female, some were young children. All invariably were good-looking, many dressed luxuriously, clearly from prominent families, yet all lay weakly on the ground; chamber pots in corners, floor not lacking filth. Thankfully, the game console couldn't detect smell, or else Yan Qing wouldn't be able to stomach his late-night snack tonight.
Yet despite so many in the prison, the two martial monks outside fearlessly discussed selling them at high prices, clearly confident in the prison and entire trading chain, ensuring no chance for those inside to retaliate upon release.
But Yan Qing still didn't understand many details.
"Is this Ciji Institute the place you use for kidnapping? Are the elderly and sick inside fake as well?"
The martial monk brought his hands together, revealing a solemn yet divine smile.
"Buddha is compassionate; it's natural for monks to assist the world. The Ciji Institute is indeed real; should the elderly, weak, or women come to the Ciji Institute, An Guo Temple will certainly do its utmost to care for them. As for providing porridge and coal, repairing bridges and roads, An Guo Temple remains consistent year by year, its benevolence famous far and wide."