Temple Girl
Chapter 6 Sacrifice and Loss

Starting that day, Chiharu began to notice that within a week different people came and made pleas. It seemed that in the past four years he had not paid much attention to Mr. Qi's activities and was busy being outside the house to study medicinal herbs, he said, he never caught anyone praying, so last week was the first thing he saw.

And knowing that Lord Qi a God made Chiharu a little distance, respect and never act out. Even when Mr. Qi didn't say it, Chiharu was always second-guessing his Master's feelings, afraid that he was offending a God.

Then every night before sunrise, the girl always soaked under the waterfall. The sense of time to study medicine is diminishing, making Chiharu feel a little sad. Mr. Qi again wrote the plea that came in the blue-covered book, realizing that Chiharu had since said that he was a God never let go of the dark eyeballs.

"Do you need anything, Chiharu?" asked Mister Qi gently, giving all the attention to Chiharu who kept looking at him.

The girl was surprised instead of playing, not expecting that her presence could be realized by Mr. Qi. "Sorry sir if I'm interrupting. I-I'll go." Then the girl disappears, leaving nothing.

Master Qi sighed tiredly, was saying that he was a God a wrong decision? After all Master Qi was not a God who possessed powerful abilities, he was only an earth god. Its job is to protect the forest ecosystem, protect the food chain, and then give the earth a blessing for a fertile harvest.

His gaze was directed at the clear blue sky, without being stained with clouds. He touched his blindfold, felt a deep loneliness and did not dare to step up. Alienated until now, without ever meeting the other Gods. For thousands of years, until he had forgotten himself.

***

The cold autumn night had re-pierced Chiharu's skin, the girl now held the short wooden sword. Sweating sweat when Mr. Qi started training him, it turned out that Mr. Qi did not at all ease the exercise with the frills that Chiharu was a small child with the addition of a woman.

Since the beginning of autumn, Chiharu has started practicing sword riding again even though he was told to soak for three weeks without touching the sword. Then now physical exercise is given to Chiharu to get used to and have great stamina, breathing repeatedly done Chiharu to scoop up oxygen. Filling his lungs that felt dry.

Without feeling pity, Mr. Qi again ordered the girl to run around the temple again. Perhaps this is the fifth time Chiharu has run, circled, and stopped when he was out of breath. He glanced at Mr. Qi, the white-blasted man casually playing his guzeng, sometimes sipping tea to relieve thirst.

Totally different from Chiharu, his clothes are now wet with sweat, the following nights keep repeating when Chiharu is studying martial arts, and in the morning he will soak under the waterfall. Until his senses he slowly felt accustomed, both to the physical training of Mr. Qi and the waterfall guyran fast.

It's a little hard to believe when Chiharu is able to get through it without a fever or a cold...

***

At noon today, someone came back to beg the temple that Chiharu occupied. The difference lies when Mr. Qi invites Chiharu to see the process from the beginning, write a request, to give a blessing process. With a feeling of anxious expectation Chiharu asked, "Master, is it okay if I see the work of a God?

"God's work is not that difficult and secretive, after all I can only give my blessing." Mr. Qi replied then after completing his divine routine, the man got up from his seat. "Aren't you going to the forest, Chiharu? Let's finish your studies."

The little girl nodded vigorously, running around to carry her usual bag of medicines to collect plants. For some reason, Chiharu couldn't help but herself who was so enthusiastic about the classification of medicinal plants. Constantly searching and never feeling satisfied, after Master Qi the plant was the thing he had always liked.

Now they both try to walk even deeper, trying to climb the higher and steeper mountain areas to find new rare medicinal plants. Because natural ecosystems that have never been touched by humans are the best ecosystems and grow by natural selection, without being damaged through its own processes.

Then Mr. Qi paused for a moment, he approached one of the most striking flowers there. Dark red like blood but has the most properties. "Do you know what flower this is?" asked Mr. Qi while looking at Chiharu beside him.

The little girl explained smoothly the contents of the book that was usually always Chiharu's daily food, she had read many times the book written by Mr. Qi's fingers. So beautiful and neat, Chiharu might not have read this book that was made so special for her.

Chiharu's complete explanation made Mr. Qi inevitably smile, he knew that Chiharu was a smart child. A small compliment from her would greatly make the girl happy, "True, very smart. But there is actually one more efficacy that is not written in the book,"

Mr. Qi plucked the Hong Hua flower, attaching it to Chiharu's braid of hair. It was in stark contrast when Hong Hua's bright red was juxtaposed with Chiharu's dark black hair, "Hong Hua Flower is very pretty for a woman."

Chiharu was stunned, staring deeply at Mr. Qi who was now continuing his journey to reach a higher peak. The wind could blow even louder as the two of them managed to pass through the thickets of the trees, the white mane flying smoothly. Like silk threads that glisten in the wind, Mr. Qi is truly beautiful.

It just looks so fragile, lonely, and surrounded by loneliness. Chiharu somehow since when always follow that shoulder, the shoulder that sustains his life. The little girl's gaze became even more muted, 'Can I chase after you Sir?' chiharu asked her own inner self.

It felt like the hard work he had been doing was not enough to stand beside Mr. Qi, step closer to the little girl, her savior, and Chiharu's entire life. "Get your hand!" it always sounded so soft, never shouting or cursing.

Chiharu according, he approached Master Qi extending his tiny hand and not how much when Master Qi cupped him. Although both of his eyes were covered by cloth, Chiharu was somehow able to feel the sadness of the white-blossomed man. Then the blue fireflies suddenly appear to make the atmosphere there feel warmer and warmer, each time increasing so much that Chiharu was stunned.

The slightly dark forest slowly became bright, the girl often stretched out her hand trying to touch the blue lights there. Running to reach her, "Chiharu," a call from Mr. Qi managed to bring the girl to a standstill.

Mr. Qi also smiled, a very gentle smile. Even somehow softer than usual, "When I disappear later don't be sad, I don't go." Mr. Qi's voice now somehow sounded so shaky.

"I did not leave, but only returned to the ground. Since I am an Earth God, when I am not by your side again assume that I am working on my God's work." after Mr. Qi said, the blue-colored fireflies slowly came to Chiharu's body. Entering the recesses of his body and soul, absorbing up to his bones.

Chiharu's body felt full of energy flow that he could not feel, so full he felt something would spill from him. But the uncomfortable feeling Chiharu endured, he did not care much about it. All he cared about was Master Qi with his words that sounded strange and so pitiful.

"Master Qi where are you going? Didn't you promise not to leave me? Have I made a mistake? No, wait Sir!" chiharu's small hand was trying to grab onto Master Qi's body slowly away from her sight.

The light in Mr. Qi that Chiharu used to love now swallowed his Master, taking him away unseen from Chiharu's sight. "No, wait. Don't go sir, I-I'll do good. It won't be naughty. SIR!!" chiharu's scream may be heard all over the forest.

Still unable to understand what had happened to him all of a sudden, Chiharu also could not believe that the Master Qi who looked so sturdy had suddenly vanished before him. The girl's cry sounded so frustrating, it screamed though to no avail. Keep calling Mr. Qi's name, not accepting the fact that he must lose his source of life.

And that night, all the Gods and Goddesses seemed to have realized that they had lost a figure of the Earth God who had been hiding himself for decades. The forest also darkened, the night was replaced and Chiharu's sadness did not subside.

And the girl continued to be there...

The To Be Continued...