The Ornate Boudoir of Buddhism

Xiao Yu looked at Lingxin in some surprise. This woman still dared to speak to him?

Just moments ago, she had been acting as though she wanted to die.

Before he could say anything, Lingxin walked inside with red-rimmed eyes.

Xiao Yu looked at the mortals burning incense and worshipping Buddha before the hall, then stepped forward.

The solemn yet lavish temple was wreathed in incense smoke.

Some knelt while others stood, devoutly placing bundles of incense into the burners.

The incense burners overflowed, their rich fragrance rising like clouds of smoke.

Xiao Yu also wanted to imitate those faithful men and women and press his palms together.

Yet for some reason, he could not bring himself to raise his hands.

He merely stood there with cold eyes.

He looked around once more.

The prosperity here was not merely surface-deep.

The incense donation boxes were stuffed full, and the offering tables piled high.

There were old monks holding golden Buddhist staffs and abbots clad in multicolored kasayas.

Even the incense burners used for worship were golden.

Xiao Yu clearly remembered the great mass of refugees outside Jiangliu City.

Within Buddhism's ornate boudoirs were jade nectar, fine wine, and blossoms blooming like brocade.

Yet beyond the city gates, the poor lacked even clothes to cover their bodies.

There were countless people who could not fill their bellies.

He had once thought the saying "behind vermilion gates, wine and meat reek, while frozen bones lie along the road" was already satirical enough.

How could even Buddhism be like this...

Listening carefully with his head lowered, he found that many people seemed to be praying for peace.

Others prayed for wealth and blessings.

The shadow of war hung over this place as well. Some mortals were praying to Heaven to end the conflict.

Xiao Yu slowly walked to one side and asked a young monk, "Little Master, may I ask whether Venerable Ling Huo is in the temple?"

The monk bowed with his palms pressed together. "Amitabha. This little monk greets you!"

The man simply remained bowed, without rising.

Xiao Yu stared at the bald head and froze.

Was this thing asking him for money?

He truly had no money left on him. The monk across from him remained bent over for a long while, still waiting for Xiao Yu to pay up.

By the time he came back to his senses, Xiao Yu had already vanished.

Outside the temple hall, Xiao Yu wore a disdainful expression as he thought of Lingxin again.

Why were all the monastics here so greedy for money?

What a fallen age.

Just as he was planning to sneak around to the back and look for Fire Monk, he seemed to hear cursing from next door.

"Lingxin, you lazy good-for-nothing! You still dared to sneak out?! See if I don't teach you a lesson!"

"You've really turned against us! Every few days, you run off outside!"

Xiao Yu hurriedly hid in a corner.

Ahead, three nuns were surrounding Lingxin and beating her.

Xiao Yu's brows sank. Looking at Lingxin, whose clothes were covered in blood, killing intent had already risen in his heart.

No matter what, Lingxin was his woman.

Those cheap bitches...

Lingxin blankly clutched her sleeve, allowing them to trample and beat her.

It was as though she had long grown used to it.

Just then, the leading nun suddenly snatched the money pouch from her sleeve. "Well, well?! You dared to hide money?"

"You still haven't paid the tribute money you owed last time!"

The moment Lingxin saw her money being snatched away, she could no longer care about anything else.

She rushed forward and bit her.

The nun beside them flew into a rage and picked up a stone from the ground, about to smash it down on Lingxin.

The next second, the three nuns vanished.

The money pouch also fell to the ground.

Lingxin hurriedly picked up the pouch, her face filled with panic as she looked around.

"Mm... a gourd? Where did that gourd come from..."

Xiao Yu had already put away the Jade Maiden Gourd as quickly as possible, yet she had still seen it.

After casting the spell, Xiao Yu looked around nervously.

Once he made sure no one was in the sky, he slowly walked over to Lingxin.

Seeing Lingxin's injuries, Xiao Yu wanted to step forward and comfort her.

Lingxin suddenly rose to her feet, then dodged away with shame and anger on her face.

Before she had run far, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Xiao Yu.

She could not help recalling how he had bought things from her.

He had cast a spell just now, hadn't he?

He was an immortal...

How could an immortal possibly fail to see that the things she sold were fake!

Why had he helped her?

But why had he done that to her after helping her?

And judging from his reaction just now, he seemed extremely wary of the sky. Could he be from the demonic path?

Yet he had helped her...

While she was still dazed, Xiao Yu said quietly, "Why stay in a disgusting place like this? Return to secular life and follow me!"

Lingxin turned her face away, unwilling to look at him.

"I merely wanted to ask for directions, and those bald donkeys asked me for money! How are your injuries? Let me see!"

Seeing Xiao Yu about to approach, Lingxin flushed in panic.

"Y-you... don't come over!"

As their eyes met, she suddenly thought of something. "Q-quick... come with me!"

Xiao Yu followed her, somewhat surprised.

After several twists and turns, he arrived at a woodshed. Lingxin closed the door and slowly let out a breath.

"Phew... You're far too bold. Don't you know there are righteous cultivators here? You still dared to use a spell?"

Xiao Yu's gaze flickered. "I couldn't possibly watch them bully you! You know I'm from the demonic path?"

Lingxin instinctively swallowed. "Don't kill Senior Sisters and the others. Many people in our Spirit Light Temple had no choice... The people from the Profound Spirit Sect come every month to collect money from us... Senior Sisters' crimes do not warrant death..."

Xiao Yu gave a cold laugh. "Anyone who dares beat my woman deserves ten thousand deaths!"

Lingxin grew somewhat angry. "Do not kill them. Whatever you want to do, I'll help you..."

Xiao Yu nodded. "Mm... I came to find Venerable Ling Huo. Do you know where he is?"

Lingxin froze upon hearing this. "Spiritfire Uncle-Master went out. He won't return for three days! Why are you looking for him?"

Xiao Yu said nothing. He did not want her to know too much.

Lingxin slowly exhaled. Looking at the silent Xiao Yu, she said softly, "You're an immortal from the Hehuan Sect, aren't you? I heard in the city before that there was a group like you, cultivating by stealing others' primordial yin."

"You're far too bold. You still dared to enter the city in a situation like this? You even dared cast a spell just now... If you get caught, you'll be finished!"

Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes coldly. "My woman was being bullied. Forget getting caught—even if I died, I couldn't stand by and watch!"

Lingxin's eyes were filled with panic. She had grown up in Spirit Light Temple and had never encountered anything like this.

Coming back to herself, she hurriedly clasped her prayer beads in one hand and chanted, "Sinful... sinful..."

The moment Xiao Yu saw her pick up the prayer beads again, he strode over.

Lingxin suddenly widened her eyes. Looking at Xiao Yu before her, she nearly cried out.

But when she thought there might be righteous cultivators in the sky, she squeezed her eyes shut.

Seeing her like that, Xiao Yu reached out and touched her bald head.

The feeling was quite novel...

Her bald head was warm, and it felt comforting.

Lingxin did not dare move either.

This was too insane...

Inside the temple...

Did he truly have feelings for her?

An immortal was risking his life for her, a mere mortal...

What should she do!

What should she do?

Return to secular life...

Should she return to secular life...

But if she did, how would she earn money to save those children?

One hour later...

Lingxin excitedly scooped water into her mouth with a ladle, rinsing it out.

She turned to Xiao Yu and immediately slapped him. "You bastard!!!"

Xiao Yu reached out and caught her hand. "You can take care of those children for a day, but you can't take care of them for a lifetime! Follow me, and I'll help you settle them properly!"

"Do you intend to spend your whole life making a living by scamming people?"

Lingxin had yet to accept reality. It felt like a dream.

She had actually, just now, in the woodshed of Spirit Light Temple...

With a face full of grievance, she sat on the ground and began chanting the Tranquilizing Mind Mantra while holding her prayer beads. "Sinful, sinful... If the heart is like a bright mirror, dust will surely not stain it... Dust will surely not stain it!"

Not long after, she carried a bundle of belongings and followed Xiao Yu out of Spirit Light Temple.

"I came out with you not because I want to follow you... I'll still return to the temple!"

"I only want to help those children. Their parents are all dead, and they have no one to rely on!"

"You aren't planning to sell me, are you..."

"Spiritfire Uncle-Master usually takes very good care of me. If you dare bully me, Spiritfire Uncle-Master definitely won't let you off!"

Lingxin chattered nonstop along the way.

She did not dare speak loudly, and her face was red beyond belief.

Xiao Yu looked at the three female nuns inside the Jade Maiden Gourd, the corners of his lips lifting.

The three of them were not as pure and sacred as Lingxin.

But they were abbesses, after all...

Tonight, he would have to properly discuss things with them!

For these three days, he might as well treat it as a short vacation and visit Li Qingyun's home.

After all, her mother was gravely ill. As her son-in-law, shouldn't he go help treat her illness?

Upon returning to that shabby courtyard, Lingxin hurriedly called out, "Yaya, Da Long, come out quickly! Pack up today and go to the Li Family with Big Sister!"

The children looked blankly at Lingxin, who had returned again. "Big Sister, why did you run out again? If they catch you, won't they punish you?"

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. "It's fine. Your Big Sister Lingxin was worried about you, so she specially took three days off to find you a good home!"

Yaya looked at Lingxin with grievance in her eyes. "Big Sister... Big Sister, are you not going to take care of us anymore..."

Lingxin's eyes instantly reddened. "N-no... How could Big Sister possibly abandon you..."

Da Long, the slightly older boy beside them, softly persuaded them, "There are more than a dozen mouths to feed. Big Sister definitely can't take care of us all. Li Residence? Is it the Li Residence south of the city?"

"If we really go to Li Residence... we won't have to worry about food or clothes!"

Suddenly!

A slingshot pellet shot over. Xiao Yu caught it in one hand, and his face immediately darkened.

Lingxin hurriedly shouted, "D-don't make a move! They're still young!"

"Oh, you children really are something else. Stop being naughty. This big brother will take us to Li Residence shortly. Be more polite to him!"

Several children behind them shouted excitedly, "Would a big fool have good intentions? He definitely took money from Li Residence! He wants to sell us to Li Residence as servants!!!"

"We're not going anywhere! Big Sister, don't let him fool you!"

"Right! How could there be such a good thing? Sending us to Li Residence? We'll definitely become servants!"

Da Long glanced sideways and shook his head. "Stop making a fuss. Do you know how many people want to become servants at Li Residence and never get the chance? Everyone working there gets their own room..."

"Do you want to keep staying here and wait for death? Or do you want to keep burdening Big Sister Lingxin?"

"People must rely on themselves. We've burdened Big Sister for half a year already. Do you remember how Big Sister was punished by the temple for running out?"

All the children lowered their heads.

Lingxin slowly let out a long breath. "All right, Da Long. Let's go~"