The Ascetic Monk

In a certain mansion.

The elegant lady who had appeared at Tianhong Medical Hall during the day was chatting with a young woman.

The elegant lady was already stunningly beautiful, with a voluptuous figure that made her a vision of loveliness.

But compared with the young woman before her, she fell slightly short in both looks and figure.

Though the young woman was still an unmarried maiden, her figure was astonishingly alluring. A seductive air radiated from her, inside and out, and paired with her breathtakingly beautiful, pure face, she embodied innocence and desire to perfection.

A woman like her was born to bewitch!

What the elegant lady envied most was the young woman's family background. She was a true daughter of an illustrious, powerful family.

Even in this era of government collapse and warlord strife, her family still wielded tremendous influence.

But it was precisely that background that allowed them to protect her.

"Thank you, Third Miss. If you hadn't introduced me, I wouldn't have known that my poor child..." the elegant lady said mournfully.

Third Miss's eyes flickered. "Madam Qin, don't be too sad. It was an accident."

After a moment, she asked, "Has everything been taken care of?"

"Yes. That master may not look very old, but he truly knows his stuff." A faint smile appeared on the elegant lady's face.

Although Zhou Yan's refusal had displeased her, she understood that a master like him was rare and still felt a measure of respect for him.

"Oh, it seems that Dharma Master Zhou really is quite capable."

Third Miss nodded slightly, her eyes glinting.

Then she comforted the elegant lady again.

An hour later, Third Miss left the mansion and climbed into her carriage.

Twenty brawny men rode around the carriage, each with a Mauser pistol tucked at his waist.

The carriage had a spacious interior. Third Miss lounged lazily on the couch, her eyes fixed on a coarse, yellowed booklet before her.

"Miss, you've been looking at that booklet for a long time. Could there be some secret in it?" Her maid Ruyu couldn't help asking.

Third Miss smiled faintly, unbothered by the question.

She had raised the four maids at her side—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—and had given them their names herself.

They were her maids, but also her assistants.

She rose with a smile. For an instant, her alluring charm left even Ruyu, a woman herself, staring in a daze.

"Miss, you're so perfect. I wonder which family's young man will be lucky enough to marry you someday."

"Do women have to get married?"

Third Miss spoke slowly, her gaze resolute. "Even emperors can be made by those with strong armies. So as long as I'm strong enough, why should I marry? If all the men beneath heaven are at my feet, who could possibly marry me?"

She looked charming and alluring, but her tone was remarkably forceful, ringing with conviction.

Ruyu wasn't the least surprised by Third Miss's ambition. She had witnessed it since childhood, and it had instilled a fierce spirit in her as well.

"Miss, does this booklet really hold a secret?"

Ruyu widened her eyes, confused.

She had already read the booklet and studied it carefully, but had concluded that it was nothing more than an ordinary household ledger.

Yet, for some reason, her mistress kept staring at it, as if it held some earth-shattering secret.

Third Miss nodded slightly and gently ran her hand over the yellowed, coarse booklet.

"That's right. This booklet holds a shocking secret..."

Her fingers rested on the first page, where several hastily crossed-out words could be seen.

Ruyu watched her mistress touch the spot in confusion. They were just a few misspelled words, casually crossed out. She couldn't understand why her mistress cared so much about them.

Third Miss said nothing more. She stared at the barely legible words, her lips parting slightly.

"..."

Zhou Yan arrived at Jin Mantang's dojo and found him at home.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, what an honor! Please, have a seat."

Jin Mantang beamed when he saw Zhou Yan, seeming genuinely delighted.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Yan said, "Fellow Daoist Jin, I've come to ask you for a favor."

"What is it, Fellow Daoist Zhou? Please, go ahead."

Zhou Yan nodded. "Here's the situation. I recently subdued an infant spirit, but I'm not skilled at helping it pass on. I wanted to ask if you know of any fellow cultivators nearby who are good at performing the rites of transcendence."

Jin Mantang looked surprised. "An infant spirit, and you want to help it pass on? You have a kind heart, Fellow Daoist. I admire you."

Zhou Yan waved a hand dismissively. "I just want peace of mind."

At those words, Jin Mantang's gaze shifted slightly, and his manner grew even more cordial.

"Let me think. Abbess Jingming of Ningxin Nunnery is good at helping spirits pass on. I'll take you to see her." Jin Mantang thought for a moment before answering.

Zhou Yan immediately clasped his hands. "Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Fellow Daoist."

"It's no trouble."

Jin Mantang smiled warmly.

He had already thought Zhou Yan was a man with great potential. Now that he knew more about his character, he liked him even more.

He could feel much more at ease associating with someone like him.

Jin Mantang was so courteous that Zhou Yan began to feel a little uncomfortable.

The two soon arrived at Ningxin Nunnery, where they met Abbess Jingming.

Abbess Jingming was a middle-aged nun with ordinary features, but she radiated a peaceful, benevolent air.

That was partly due to her cultivation method and partly because she had spent years helping spirits pass on; it was an aura she seemed to possess naturally.

After hearing why Zhou Yan had come, Abbess Jingming pressed her palms together. "Amitabha. Fellow Daoist Zhou, your kind heart is admirable."

"Not at all. You're the one worthy of respect, Abbess," Zhou Yan replied, hastily returning the greeting.

Even Zhou Yan deeply admired cultivators like Abbess Jingming.

He couldn't do what she did, but he respected her actions.

Zhou Yan handed the infant spirit over to Abbess Jingming. She took it out, transferred it into an enamel doll, then placed it on the altar.

To help the infant spirit pass on completely, she would have to recite scriptures without pause, day and night, for eighty-one days.

Only a true renunciant like Abbess Jingming could endure such grueling work.

Although Zhou Yan wasn't particularly fond of Buddhism, he still respected genuine Buddhist masters like Abbess Jingming.

Before leaving, Zhou Yan tried to leave her a bank draft for a hundred silver dollars, but she refused it.

This was the first time he'd tried to give someone money and failed.

In the end, after Jin Mantang persuaded her, Abbess Jingming accepted ten silver dollars.

She wouldn't accept any more.

Zhou Yan knew that Abbess Jingming was a true Buddhist ascetic, so he didn't press her. At last, he respectfully bade farewell to her and Jin Mantang and left.

As he was leaving, Zhou Yan couldn't help sighing. "I never imagined there'd be a Buddhist master like Abbess Jingming among the people in the streets and alleys."

Jin Mantang nodded. "She's a true Buddhist ascetic."