Chapter 10
The mourning hall, which should have been silent, was now filled with the Li family’s angry shouts.
“Man Xue’er, are you crazy!”
“You heartless wretch! Our Li family treated you well, and you actually killed Jia’er!”
“I told Jia’er not to marry you, but he was bewitched by you. What a misfortune for our family…”
…
Man Xue’er knelt in front of the coffin, her eyes tightly closed, ignoring the curses. For the past year since she married into the Li family, she had endured such verbal abuse almost daily and had become accustomed to it.
Heng Yu held her hands in front of her chest, intending to cast a silencing spell for Man Xue’er. But halfway through the spell, she stopped.
She waved her right hand in front of Liaowu. “Senior Brother Liaowu, cast a silencing spell for Man Xue’er.”
Liaowu complied, casting the spell and sending spiritual energy towards Man Xue’er with a wave of his hand.
The sudden silence brought Man Xue’er back to her senses. She touched her ears, then looked at the still-cursing Li family and suddenly understood.
She gave Heng Yu and Liaowu a faint smile.
Seeing her smile, Liaowu asked, “Lord Luo asked this poor monk to cast the silencing spell because you didn’t want Man Xue’er to hear these curses anymore?”
“Harsh words can hurt people. We can’t stop others from saying what they want, but we can choose not to listen. If we don’t hear it, we won’t care.”
Heng Yu paused, then added, “I know you wouldn’t care even if you heard them, but you’re different from them. They are just ordinary people, without strong and fearless hearts.”
Liaowu remained silent. Those controlled by demonic Qi gradually lost their humanity, becoming like the walking dead. Someone like Man Xue’er, consumed by obsession, could normally only be purified by Buddhist methods. Yet, this Lord Luo had used a completely different approach, allowing Man Xue’er to overcome her obsession.
They were currently within the borders of the Longyuan Kingdom.
Since Man Xue’er had committed murder, she naturally had to be judged according to the laws of the Longyuan Kingdom. The young monk Liaonian went to the government office to inform the officials. Soon, he returned to the Li Mansion with several officers.
Qingyun Temple was the only Buddhist temple in this town, and Liaowu and Liaonian were currently residing there. Because the demonic Qi on Man Xue’er hadn’t been completely purified, the officers took her to Qingyun Temple after recording her statement. Once Liaowu finished the purification, they would take her to prison.
The murder case was temporarily settled, and Heng Yu and the two monks left the Li Mansion.
Her courtyard and Qingyun Temple were in the same direction. Heng Yu walked ahead with her umbrella, followed by Liaowu and Liaonian, all of them silent.
Seeing the familiar ginkgo forest in the distance, Heng Yu stopped. “I’ll take my leave now.”
“Lord Luo, wait,” Liaowu said. “This poor monk lost today’s wager. What does Lord Luo want me to do?”
“Anything?” Heng Yu’s interest was piqued.
“Anything within my power and that doesn’t violate Buddhist precepts.”
Heng Yu curled her lip. “Specifically emphasizing not violating Buddhist precepts. Is Senior Brother Liaowu afraid I’ll make some inappropriate request?”
“I’m just leaving myself some leeway, so as not to make things difficult.”
Heng Yu thought for a moment. “Senior Brother Liaowu, have you ever cooked?”
This Buddha-son gave her the impression that he was deeply knowledgeable about Buddhist teachings but was like a blank slate when it came to worldly matters.
Liaowu’s answer didn’t surprise her.
“Never.”
“Then, Senior Brother Liaowu…” Heng Yu winked at him, deliberately making things difficult. “Prepare a meal for me.”
After speaking, she tossed two hard candies towards him.
Liaowu instinctively caught them.
Heng Yu turned and left, her skirt swirling in the air.
Watching her leave, Liaonian scratched his head. “Senior Brother, that demonic woman’s request is rather rude.”
Liaowu looked down at the candies in his hand. He unwrapped one and put it in his mouth, offering the other to Liaonian. “It’s fine. She meant no harm.”
“But even if she meant no harm, it doesn’t excuse her rudeness,” Liaonian said angrily.
He had grown up under strict Buddhist precepts and couldn’t stand such casual behavior. Moreover, this demonic woman was intentionally trying to pursue his senior brother!
Liaowu shook his head slightly without explaining.
Heng Yu failed to break through to the peak of Foundation Establishment once again.
She slowly opened her eyes, saw that it was already daylight, and got out of bed after stretching. Remembering her promise to Man Xue’er, Heng Yu went to Qingyun Temple.
Qingyun Temple was bustling with worshippers. On rainy days, when people had free time, they would bring their children to the temple to offer incense and pray to Buddha. Therefore, many vendors had set up stalls outside the temple, forming a lively little market.
Heng Yu saw someone selling candied hawthorns and walked over with a smile. “Four skewers, please.”
“Alright.” The old man handed her four skewers.
Heng Yu took the candied hawthorns and gave him a low-grade spirit stone. “Keep the change.”
These were ordinary candied hawthorns, each skewer worth only a couple of copper coins. The low-grade spirit stone Heng Yu paid could buy all the candied hawthorns the old man had.
Seeing her generosity, the old man thanked her repeatedly.
Heng Yu waved her hand and used her spiritual energy to protect the three skewers of candied hawthorns from the rain.
She held one in her mouth and ate as she walked.
Crossing the temple threshold, Heng Yu found a young novice and asked him to lead her to Liaowu.
“I have an appointment with Senior Brother Liaowu.”
The novice didn’t doubt her and led her deeper into the temple.
Liaonian was standing outside a room, waiting for his senior brother to finish chanting purification mantras for Man Xue’er, when he saw a novice leading Heng Yu towards them.
His eyes widened slightly. “Why are you here?”
Heng Yu handed him a skewer of candied hawthorns. “I came to take a look.”
“Thank you, Lord Luo, but I don’t need it,” Liaonian declined.
“Really? I bought four, just enough for one each. Wouldn’t it be lonely if we’re all eating and you have nothing?” Heng Yu coaxed.
Liaonian silently reached out his hand.
When Liaowu finished chanting and came out, he saw his junior brother and Lord Luo standing in the corner, each munching on a handful of demon sunflower seeds.
Liaowu: “…”
“Senior Brother Liaowu, you’re out.” Heng Yu stepped forward and handed him a skewer of candied hawthorns.
After a moment of thought, she also gave him a handful of demon sunflower seeds.
Besides various treasures, her storage ring was filled with snacks. She had bought all the local specialties along the way from the Hehuan Sect.
After Liaowu accepted them, Heng Yu entered the room to find Man Xue’er.
“Do you like them?” Liaowu looked at Liaonian and asked gently.
Liaonian was a little embarrassed but nodded.
Buddhist cultivators practiced asceticism. Having grown up in the temple, he rarely ate such snacks. But at his age, he naturally craved them.
Liaowu took a bite of the candied hawthorn and ate a sunflower seed — accepting Lord Luo’s goodwill.
He gave the rest to Liaonian.
“Eat.”
Liaonian’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Senior Brother. I’ll be satisfied after eating these and will continue to cultivate diligently without craving snacks.”
Liaowu patted his head.
In the room, Heng Yu handed the last skewer of candied hawthorns to Man Xue’er.
After she finished eating, Heng Yu took out a travelogue. The cover was a little worn. Man Xue’er accepted it solemnly, smoothing the creases on the cover.
“Thank you, Miss.”
“I’m just keeping my promise.”
Heng Yu thought for a moment. “If you don’t mind, would you tell us your story?”
Man Xue’er said shyly, “I’m afraid Miss will be bored.”
She was actually willing to talk.
Man Xue’er felt some regret. She thought that if she had met this immortal earlier, she might not have made such a grave mistake. But the mistake had already been made, and meeting this immortal before her heart was completely corrupted was a blessing.
“I mainly want Liaowu to hear it.” Having obtained Man Xue’er’s permission, Heng Yu walked out of the room and looked at Liaowu and Liaonian, who was still eating sunflower seeds. “Come in.”
Man Xue’er finished the candied hawthorn and slowly began her story.
Once her marriage to the Li family was arranged, there was no possibility of changing it. Man Xue’er knew this, and after her initial grief, she decided to suppress her feelings for Zhao Fan and marry Li Jia.
When she first married into the Li family, Old Madam Li, her two sisters-in-law, and Li Jia’s younger sister all made things difficult for her, often mocking and ridiculing her. Man Xue’er was introverted and felt miserable. Once, she couldn’t help but confide in Li Jia, but he became impatient.
After that, Man Xue’er never complained to her husband again.
When she returned to her parents’ home, they only urged her to win over Li Jia’s heart and use her husband’s family’s resources to support them.
All this, she could endure.
She was naturally submissive.
Until four months after their marriage, Li Jia failed the imperial examination.
He drank heavily to drown his sorrows. Man Xue’er helped him change his clothes, and then… Unable to alleviate his misery, Li Jia, drunk, slapped Man Xue’er hard.
When Li Jia sobered up, he apologized profusely. Man Xue’er cried, but neither her parents’ family nor her husband’s family supported her, and she eventually forgave Li Jia.
But after that, Li Jia gradually became worse, pushing and shoving Man Xue’er whenever he was unhappy.
“A month ago, Li Jia pushed me to the ground, and my stomach hit the table hard. I didn’t know I was over a month pregnant at the time. I lost the baby instantly.”
Recounting this painful memory, Man Xue’er remained calm.
It was the calmness of complete numbness.
She lost her child.
No one blamed her husband; everyone blamed her for not protecting the baby.
During that time, Man Xue’er couldn’t sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she would hear the faint cries of a baby.
From then on, the thought of resistance gradually grew.
Consumed by obsession, demonic Qi took advantage of her vulnerability.
With the help of demonic Qi, a weak woman like her, with no strength to truss a chicken, managed to kill her husband, a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining.
“That’s all,” Man Xue’er said.
She closed her eyes tiredly.
“Amitabha,” Liaowu chanted softly.
All beings suffer.
Was this the pain Miss Man Xue’er had endured?
Liaowu looked at Heng Yu and transmitted his voice: “Does Lord Luo have any more candy?”
“Hmm?”
Heng Yu seemed to have guessed his intention.
She handed him a handful of fresh candies.
Liaowu stood up, cupped the candies in his hands, and offered them to Man Xue’er. “Have some.”
Man Xue’er was stunned. “…Thank you, Master.”
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