The Temple of Literature is located in Sungkyunkwan on the northeast side of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Joseon royal palace, and enshrines the ranks of Confucius, Mencius, Zengzi and other ancestors. Every time there is a scientific expedition, the government will hold a grand ceremony at the Sungkyunkwan Temple of Literature to demonstrate the devotion of the Korean Confucian forest to mourn Confucius and the sages.

According to Kato Mieko's agreement, Shi Lang and Ye Ruliu came to the front of the Daesung Hall of the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Temple as promised.

At this time, Shi Lang had fully recovered after taking the Zijin Pill given by Mieko Kato.

Regarding this appointment, Shi Tianji and others, except for Luo Shiyin, were opposed, believing that this might be a trap set by the Japanese ninjas, and tried their best to persuade Shi Lang not to come.

Ye Ruliu felt that Shi Lang should go, no matter what, after all, it was Mieko Kato who rescued Shi Lang this time, so it was reasonable to break the appointment rashly. Besides, through this night break into the East Rite House, she felt that Mieko Kato was a good-natured girl, and there might be no need to imagine the other party so sinister.

In the end, with Luo Shiyin's consent, Shi Lang, accompanied by Ye Ruliu, went to the appointment on time.

Under the bright moonlight, the entire Temple of Literature looks solemn and majestic. Although the various halls of the Confucian Temple have been uncleaned and managed after the Japanese army entered the city, it still gives people a solemn feeling when viewed from a distance.

In front of the stone lion in front of the Dacheng Palace, Ye Ruliu stopped and said to Shi Lang: "Brother Shi Lang, I won't go in." ”

Shi Lang hesitated for a moment, and said tentatively: "Let's go in together, you see this kind of occasion, I don't know what to say." ”

"Alright, you're still pretending. I think you'd love to talk to a little girl alone. Ye Ruliu said jokingly.

"Look at you, you're too careful. You don't know what kind of person I Shi Lang is. Shi Lang deliberately stared at Ye Ruliu's face and said.

"Okay, I'm kidding you. I still have that confidence. Besides, I also believe in my Brother Shi Lang. Come on in and thank you. I'm waiting for you here. Ye Ruliu pushed Shi Lang's arm and urged.

"Then I'm really in." Shi Lang pretended to be serious.

"Go ahead." Ye Ruliu waved his hand at Shi Lang calmly.

A faint agarwood fragrance wafted out from the main hall, and Ye Ruliu took a deep breath and savored this strange aroma, also known as daughter incense. It seems that Keiko, the little girl, must have been carefully dressed up tonight, Ye Ruliu thought to herself.

As Ye Ruliu expected, Mieko Kato did dress up carefully for this date with Shi Lang. I saw that she was standing in the center of the Dacheng Hall, wearing a red small tuanhua embroidered with a large flutter pattern of the big sleeve kimono, a pair of black leather grass shoes, and a brown silk hairband neatly tucked her hair back to the back of her head, revealing the beautiful contours of her face, and also making the whole face shape and facial features look neat and fashionable.

Hearing powerful footsteps outside the door, Kato Mieko's heart was flustered, she looked up excitedly and followed the footsteps, a tall figure appeared in the field of vision, gradually, this tall figure is getting closer and closer, under the background of the moonlight outside the temple gate, the outline is more and more clear and clear, it is Shi Lang who has been thinking about it for a long time.

"I ...... I know you're coming. Seeing Shi Lang approaching, Mieko Kato's voice trembled because she couldn't control the excitement in her heart, she secretly hated how she was so unproductive, and when she saw the person who thought about it day and night, even her voice became so weak and powerless.

"Oh, yes. Ruliu told me that you wanted to see me, no, I rushed over with her. Shi Lang was a little uncomfortable with the scene in front of him, looking at the small and delicate little girl in front of him, with smart autumn waves, he couldn't connect her with the sinister and vicious female ninja in his impression.

Hearing that Shi Lang was coming with Ye Ruliu, a trace of loss flashed in Kato Mieko's eyes, and she hurriedly covered up her emotions and said, "Then ...... she?" ”

"She's waiting for me at the door." Shi Lang replied.

"Why don't you call her in?"

"Oh, she doesn't want to come in herself."

"That'...... Has your body recovered? Mieko Kato asked with concern.

"It's no big deal. Thanks a lot...... You see, I don't know what to call you yet. Shi Lang was a little embarrassed.

"Just call me Keiko." Mieko Kato hurriedly said.

"Miss Keiko, thank you for saving your life this time, oh, and last time, if you hadn't given me the antidote, I'm afraid I wouldn't have survived today. Thank you very much! Shi Lang said, bowing deeply to Mieko Kato.

"You...... That's so kind. Seeing Shi Lang bowing to himself, Mieko Kato looked a little at a loss.

Mieko Kato's flustered demeanor made Shi Lang have a good impression of her. If it weren't for a Japanese ninja, she would actually be a very amiable-looking girl, Shi Lang thought to himself.

"I heard Ruliu say, in order to give me this Zijin Pill, you fell out with your sister. I'm really sorry to cause you trouble. Shi Lang said apologetically.

"Don't worry, my sister won't be angry with me. In the eyes of outsiders, we female ninjas are all elusive, and they all seem to be cold-blooded killers who don't eat fireworks in the world, but in fact, we also have our own emotional world, and we also care very much about family and ...... Other feelings. Mieko Kato said, subconsciously glancing at Shi Lang.

"Then I'm relieved, I really hope that your sisters can be reconciled." Shi Lang said seriously.

"My sister is my only relative in this world. I remember when we were very young, under the careful care of our parents, my sisters and I also had a happy and happy childhood, but then a war between the daimyo destroyed our family, my father died in the war, and my mother left us to leave us away.

"My sister led me through the streets. On a snowy night, in order to protect me, my sister strangled a vicious dog to death with her bare hands, while she herself was bitten by the vicious dog and passed out.

"I was so helpless and scared, I thought, if my sister left me, how would I live alone? I had to call out to my sister desperately. Fortunately, my sister finally woke up. Looking at the snowstorm and the vast night, our sisters hugged each other and cried bitterly. Mieko Kato said to the sad place, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't expect to inadvertently arouse your sadness. I can't believe you have such a tragic background. Shi Lang wanted to raise his hand to wipe away the tears for Mieko Kato, but after hesitating, he still couldn't do so.

"Actually, not only our sisters, but almost all female ninjas in our country are orphans who lost their relatives in the war, and we were adopted by various ninja organizations by various coincidences, trained by them, and then worked for the daimyo to whom we were allegiated."

"Have you ever thought that the wars of aggression carried out by the people to whom you are loyal have brought disasters to the invaded lands, and have also caused a large number of homeless orphans like you? Is it worth it to serve such a person? Shi Lang suddenly had a glimmer of hope for Mieko Kato, if he could persuade her to abandon the darkness and turn to the Ming Dynasty, it might be helpful for the completion of the mission to enter the DPRK.

"In any case, it was the president who took in our sisters and was our savior, and the president's directive is the supreme direction for our sisters' actions. As for the rest, my sister and I didn't think too much about it. Perhaps you are right, but the war of aggression against Korea has caused the death of a large number of innocent people, which is morally wrong.

"But our sisters, from the moment we joined the ranks of ninjas, have only known that loyalty to the organization is our only credo as ninjas. If you betray the organization, you won't end well. Mieko Kato seemed to sense Shi Lang's inner intentions, and hurriedly and honestly said what she really thought in her heart, so as not to make Shi Lang play further on this topic. She asked Shi Lang to meet tonight, but not for this topic.

"But this war of aggression has indeed brought endless disasters to the Korean people." Shi Lang heard the meaning of Mieko Kato's words, but he still wanted to try harder.

"Yes, it's not just innocent people who are affected, but also those of us who are involved in the war. Just like me, although I met a man I liked, I never dared to confess to him due to our hostile status. I also know that there is a huge gap between me and him, not only in terms of identity, but also ...... Many other aspects.

"I know that he already has his own crush, and the two of us won't get anything out of it at all, but I just can't forget him. I asked him to meet today, just to get his answer in person, in his heart, is there a place for me? Mieko Kato finally mustered up the courage to say what she was thinking, and then, she raised her head and looked at Shi Lang fixedly, her eyes full of anticipation.

In an instant, Shi Lang finally understood the reason why Mieko Kato had saved him in the past, and in the face of the other party's hot eyes, he was a little overwhelmed, and he didn't know how to answer the other party for a while. Shi Lang tried to avoid the other party's eyes, but it seemed difficult to get rid of Mieko Kato's bright eyes.

Time in the Temple of Literature paused for a while, and finally, Shi Lang spoke: "Keiko, you are a good girl. I, Shi Lang, can meet you in this life, and I can't help but say that it is a kind of fate. You saved my life twice in a row, and I am filled with infinite gratitude to you from the bottom of my heart. In the future, if you need my help, as long as it does not violate the national righteousness, I will definitely help you, even if I give my life for you.

"You know, I have a very close relationship with Ruliu, and she has been in danger to save me several times. The relationship between the two of us has been tested by life and death. In my heart, she is all I have. If you put this war aside, you and I can be good friends. And Ruliu, she admires your character very much, and you will also become good sisters. ”

“…… Okay, got it. Brother Shi Lang...... Can I call you that? Mieko Kato figured out what Shi Lang was thinking, and she was a little lost, but at the same time, the burden that had accumulated in her heart for many days was completely untied at this moment, and she couldn't help but call her "Brother Shi Lang", but as soon as the words came out, she felt that she was a little reckless, so she hurriedly asked Shi Lang.

"Yes." Shi Lang replied briskly.

"Brother Shi Lang, I asked you to meet tonight, in fact, there is another reason, that is, I want to thank you and Sister Ruliu in person. Before I met the two of you, I was blinded by unwarranted hatred, and my heart was always struggling in the muddy swamp, and the endless resentment in my heart caused me to be cynical and sometimes even self-defeating. This distorted mind makes me unable to appreciate the meaning of life at all, and every day is like a walking corpse, eating, sleeping, training, fighting, and killing are all I have in life. My personal life was also messed up by myself.

"Fortunately, I met you and Sister Ruliu, the appearance of the two of you changed my attitude towards life, and I suddenly discovered that in fact, in addition to deceit, life and death, there is friendship, trust, love and being loved. Slowly, I learned how to love life and love others. Really, if I hadn't met you and Sister Ruliu, I'm afraid my heart would still be struggling in the dark night. Mieko Katen revealed her heart to Shi Lang.

"Keiko, it is undeniable that there is evil and pure goodness in this world, and each of us is sometimes forced to do something that we don't want to do due to the powerful effect of some external force, but as long as I hold a loving heart, many things will slowly get better. Keiko, I believe that you will definitely have a good home, and I will silently bless you. ”

"Then thank you Brother Shi Lang for your blessings. Okay, it's not too early, you and I will leave it at that. Don't let Sister Ruliu wait outside for too long. After Mieko Kato finished speaking, she mischievously stretched out her hand to Shi Lang.

Shi Lang reached out and shook Gaten's Mieko's hand and said take care. Then, the two walked out the door.

"Sister Ruliu, I've kept you waiting. I'm so sorry. When I went out, I saw Ye Ruliu standing next to the stone lion outside the door, and Mieko Kato hurriedly greeted her.

"Nothing. Keiko, you're so beautiful tonight! Ye Ruliu said politely.

"Thank you for the compliment. For example, Sister Liu, I really envy that you can meet a good person like Brother Shi Lang. You'll have to treat him well, or I'll be careful that I'll snatch him up!" Mieko Kato joked.

"No problem, we can play fair. Hehe! Ye Ruliu said with a smile.

"Okay, no kidding. Say goodbye. Maybe we'll have to fight each other again in the future. Take care! Mieko Kato stretched out her hand to Ye Ruliu's chest.

"There will be a period in the future, take care!" Ye Ruliu also stretched out her hand and held Mieko Kato's hand tightly.

Mieko Kato glanced at Shi Lang nostalgically and walked into the distance.

"Brother Shi Lang, I love you!" After walking about seven or eight paces away, Mieko Kato suddenly turned around and shouted affectionately in Japanese.

Ye Ruliu and Shi Lang didn't understand Mieko Kato's words, and the two just waved their hands out of politeness.

Mieko Kato also waved her hand, then turned around and quickly disappeared into the night.

"What a good girl, it's a pity that she's a ninja!" Looking at the back of Mieko Kato, Ye Ruliu sighed.

"Don't be emotional, let's go back." Shi Lang took Ye Ruliu's hand and walked in the direction of Baicaotang.

"Hey, why don't you ask, what did I just say to her inside?" Shi Lang left and asked Ye Ruliu jokingly.

"I don't need to ask, Keiko's words and deeds have already told me everything." Ye Ruliu said, happily resting her head on Shi Lang's shoulder.

Shi Lang raised his hand and put his arm around Ye Ruliu's shoulder. Two young people walked next to each other in the somewhat cold autumn night, their hearts full of warmth and happiness.