Chapter 34
Having given her room to Mi Yi, Heng Yu had nowhere to stay.
She went downstairs to ask the owner for another room.
“Miss, we only have standard rooms left,” the owner said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
The restaurant categorized its rooms as “heaven, earth, profound, and yellow.” Standard rooms were the lowest quality single rooms. The “yellow” rooms were shared dormitories, which were even less suitable for Heng Yu.
When traveling, Heng Yu wasn’t too particular about her accommodations.
For cultivators, a meditation mat was enough for a night’s rest.
“Then give me a—”
Before she could finish, Liaowu interrupted her. “If Lord Luo doesn’t mind, you can stay in this poor monk’s room. I’ll move in with my junior brother.”
Heng Yu looked at him, considered it, and nodded, accepting his offer.
“Lord Luo, please come with this poor monk.”
Liaowu led her to his room.
He opened the door and started packing his belongings.
There wasn’t much to pack, as most of his things were in his storage ring.
Heng Yu followed him into the room, smelling the faint, bitter fragrance of Bodhi —
The scent was calming, not unpleasant.
It was probably the lingering fragrance of the incense Liaowu burned during his prayers.
“Lord Luo lost the wager,” Liaowu suddenly said as he tidied up the bed.
“What?”
Heng Yu replied instinctively.
Then she realized — after the day’s events, she had completely forgotten about their wager.
“Lord Luo forgot?”
Heng Yu: “…I was about to get Yuanjing to talk, but then Mi Yi appeared.”
She instinctively tried to defend herself.
She had lost the wager unfairly!
Liaowu looked back at her, a smile in his voice. “So, Lord Luo intends to renege on our agreement?”
When Liaowu proposed the wager, Heng Yu hadn’t expected to lose.
She put a hand to her forehead and waved her other hand dismissively. “Do I look like someone with such poor character? What’s the penalty for losing? Cooking a vegetarian meal for you, right? I’ll fulfill my promise as soon as we return to Hua City.”
“Then this poor monk will be waiting.”
After tidying up the bed, Liaowu left the room and went to Liaonian’s room.
Liaonian’s room’s window was closed. Liaowu opened it slightly.
He heard a vendor’s cries from outside.
Heng Yu leaned against the bed, reading the “Continental Records.”
Having been hit by a late Nascent Soul cultivator’s attack, even after taking the Bodhi pill, her meridians still ached faintly. Unable to practice calligraphy or swordsmanship, she could only read to pass the time.
Just as she turned a page, a knock came from outside. Heng Yu put down the book and went to open the door.
Liaowu stood outside, holding a slender vase with a blooming plum blossom. A gentle breeze blew through the corridor, carrying the flower’s fragrance.
“Is something the matter?”
Liaowu offered her the vase. “This poor monk saw a vendor selling plum blossoms and bought one for Lord Luo. You can place it on the table for your enjoyment.”
He remembered there had been a plum blossom on the table in her room.
Heng Yu accepted the vase and played with the petals.
Recalling his earlier words, she smiled. “Didn’t you say you disapproved of picking flowers?”
Liaowu’s reply shut down her question.
He said, “This poor monk didn’t pick the flower. I bought it.”
Heng Yu: “…”
He had a point.
He hadn’t harmed the flower; it was the vendor who did.
He had simply bought the flower, stimulating demand and encouraging the vendor to continue selling flowers : )
“No wonder monks are so good at debating. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be able to justify their actions,” Heng Yu teased.
Liaowu smiled faintly. “Was this poor monk’s reasoning wrong?”
“No, that’s why I praised your debating skills.” Heng Yu paused, then added, “But I like it very much.”
Being so rigid about such minor details wasn’t a good thing.
Liaowu was used to her teasing and simply smiled.
He was about to speak when he suddenly sensed something and looked towards the next room.
The door was slightly ajar, and a corner of a blue robe was visible.
Mi Yi, having woken up, had been standing there for who knew how long, watching them.
Following Liaowu’s gaze, Heng Yu raised an eyebrow. “You’re awake.”
Caught red-handed, Mi Yi remained calm.
She nodded at them and retreated into the room, closing the door.
Heng Yu frowned slightly.
She didn’t particularly like either Yuanjing or Mi Yi.
Before Mi Yi appeared, Yuanjing had still adhered to Buddhist teachings.
But after her appearance, he had abandoned his principles for her.
Heng Yu also wanted Liaowu to be more flexible.
But she only hoped for flexibility in minor matters.
He shouldn’t compromise on major principles or his pursuit of the Dao.
Of course, even without these reasons, Heng Yu wouldn’t like Yuanjing, considering he had injured her!
As for Mi Yi…
Mi Yi had harmed many people with her yang-absorbing technique. Even if she had compensated them in the end, the damage was real.
It was difficult to like such a morally ambiguous person.
Heng Yu’s main reason for letting Yuanjing and Mi Yi stay at the restaurant, even letting Mi Yi stay in her room, was for other considerations.
The next day at noon, the sun shone brightly.
It was a rare sunny day in Ping City. Heng Yu went outside to bask in the sun.
She stretched and, in her peripheral vision, saw a familiar figure in gray robes sitting with his back to her — Liaowu.
Two little beggars sat obediently on the ground opposite him, their faces cupped in their hands, staring at him without blinking.
Heng Yu walked closer and saw what Liaowu was doing.
He held a piece of wood in his left hand and a carving knife in his right.
The carving knife moved swiftly in his hand, wood shavings falling onto his lap as he sat cross-legged.
Soon, the shape of a wooden sword took form in his hands.
Heng Yu, amused, went to the nearby bun stall and bought three meat buns and one vegetarian bun.
Wrapping the buns in paper, she quickly walked over to the little beggars, squatted down, and gave each of them a meat bun.
When she turned around, she saw Liaowu looking at her.
Heng Yu didn’t stand up but took two steps towards him and offered him the vegetarian bun.
The bun seemed to be filled with lotus root.
Standing so close, Liaowu could smell the faint fragrance.
“This poor monk can do it myself.”
“Your hands are covered in wood shavings. Let me feed you.”
After waiting for a while, seeing that Liaowu didn’t react, Heng Yu sighed and was about to hand him the bun.
But then, Liaowu opened his mouth and took a bite.
He swallowed and said to Heng Yu, “Thank you, Lord Luo.”
He took another bite.
Heng Yu: “…”
She only recovered after Liaowu had eaten several bites.
Seeing him eat so calmly and with such relish, Heng Yu…
Suddenly craved a vegetarian bun.
“Is it good?” she asked.
Liaowu nodded. “Not bad.”
He wasn’t particular about food. The bun tasted normal to him.
Heng Yu handed him the half-eaten bun. “Here, eat it yourself. I’ll go buy a vegetarian bun and try it.”
Liaowu: “…”
Who was the one who insisted on feeding him just now?
Just because he said the bun was good, she changed her mind?
Heng Yu didn’t notice his stunned expression.
She gave her meat bun to the little beggar, stood up, and ran back to the bun stall to buy a vegetarian bun.
Taking a large bite, Heng Yu almost choked.
She shouldn’t have trusted Liaowu’s taste!
Seeing this, Mi Yi, leaning against the restaurant door, burst out laughing.
The sunlight shone on her face, making the hibiscus flower tattoo at the corner of her eye even more vibrant.
Hearing her laughter, Heng Yu calmly swallowed the bun. “Have you rested enough?”
“Yes, I wanted to come out and get some sun,” Mi Yi smiled.
When Heng Yu walked over to her, Mi Yi asked, “What’s the identity of that monk you’re with?”
Heng Yu didn’t stop walking, but she didn’t hide anything either. “Buddha-son of the Undying Sect, the Light of Buddhism with innate Buddha bones.” After answering, she walked straight to Liaowu and sat down to watch him carve.
A look of shock appeared on Mi Yi’s face.
After carving two exquisite wooden swords, Liaowu gave them to the little beggars.
The two little beggars took the swords and happily ran off.
“I see there’s still some wood left,” Heng Yu hinted.
Liaowu, whether he understood her hint or not, replied readily, “Does Lord Luo have any particular wooden carving in mind?”
Heng Yu happily held up her right hand, her wide sleeve slipping down to reveal her bare wrist. “Do you think my wrist is missing something?”
“…A wooden bracelet?”
“Yes, with intricate carvings. I don’t like plain jewelry.”
Liaowu picked up a piece of wood, pondered for a moment, and began carving.
Heng Yu sat quietly beside him, intending to stay until he finished.
But just as the bracelet began to take shape, Mi Yi walked over to Heng Yu. “Are you free? I want to talk to you about something.”
This was the opportunity Heng Yu had been waiting for.
She smiled as if she had anticipated this. “I’m free. Let’s talk in my room.”
As they went upstairs, Heng Yu noticed that Yuanjing’s door was slightly ajar.
He was probably watching Mi Yi through the gap.
Heng Yu looked at Mi Yi.
Mi Yi noticed her gaze and asked, her voice slightly raised, “What’s wrong?”
From her expression alone, Heng Yu couldn’t tell if she had noticed Yuanjing watching.
However, after asking, Mi Yi glanced towards Yuanjing’s room, and Heng Yu understood.
“Nothing,” Heng Yu shook her head and continued climbing the stairs.
Soon, they reached the third floor, and Heng Yu led Mi Yi into her room.
After closing the door, Mi Yi coughed violently, covering her mouth with a handkerchief to wipe away the blood.
She sat down.
“What do you want to talk about?”
Heng Yu took out a bottle of Heart-Soothing Dew from her storage ring, poured it into a cup, and offered it to Mi Yi.
Heart-Soothing Dew could relieve coughs and make Mi Yi feel better.
Mi Yi didn’t refuse and took a few sips, feeling the itch in her throat subside.
She smiled softly. “Do you have any questions? I’ll try my best to answer your first question, if it’s not too inconvenient.”
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Really.”
“In that case, I want to ask about the Hehuan Sect.”
Mi Yi was slightly surprised. “I thought you would ask about the events of the past.”
“I don’t like asking questions that make others uncomfortable. Besides, those past events are just to satisfy my curiosity, while the Hehuan Sect matters concern my path to immortality. It’s easy to prioritize.”
Heng Yu was straightforward.
Her main reason for keeping Mi Yi around was her identity — the former chief disciple of the Hehuan Sect.
Someone with such status would definitely know many secrets.
Mi Yi chuckled softly. “But I can’t answer. Before leaving the Hehuan Sect, I was placed under a forbidden technique. I can’t reveal any secrets about the sect.”
Just as Heng Yu felt a little disappointed, Mi Yi continued, “Actually, I can guess what you want to ask. If you don’t mind dual cultivation, all the sect’s arrangements are beneficial to you…”
As she spoke, a trickle of blood appeared on Mi Yi’s lips.
The backlash from triggering the forbidden technique worsened her injuries, and she coughed up more blood.
After coughing, she smiled, her smile strange and alluring, like a blooming poppy on the verge of decay.
Heng Yu quickly handed her the cup of Heart-Soothing Dew.
Mi Yi drank the entire cup, her breathing gradually stabilizing.
“I can’t answer questions about the Hehuan Sect…” Mi Yi thought for a moment. “But I can talk to you about that Buddha-son.”
Heng Yu’s eyes darkened. “Do you know any Buddhist secrets?”
“Having lived for so many years, I know some things. It depends on what you want to know.”
Heng Yu asked the question that had been puzzling her for a long time. “What does innate Buddha bones actually mean?”
Hearing this question, Mi Yi burst out laughing, the hibiscus flower at the corner of her eye seeming to bloom even brighter. “You’ve asked the right person.”
“You know that demons are the enemy of everyone in the cultivation world, right?” Seeing Heng Yu nod, Mi Yi continued, “But unfortunately, only Buddhist cultivators have effective methods against them. Ten thousand years ago, before their deaths, the leaders of the Black and White Academies divined the fate of the Canglan Continent. The divination revealed that innate Buddha bones would become the Light of Buddhism, transforming into a Buddha and uniting all Buddhist cultivators to end the demonic threat.”
The Undying Sect was the holy land of Buddhism, but there were countless Buddhist temples and even more rogue Buddhist cultivators. The Undying Sect lacked a dominant figure to unite them all.
Heng Yu had anticipated the importance of innate Buddha bones.
But she hadn’t expected it to be related to the demonic threat.
After thinking for a moment, Heng Yu felt something was amiss. “If Liaowu’s identity is so important, why would the Hehuan Sect dare to have its disciples pursue him?”
“If I’m not mistaken, that Buddha-son is about to undergo his tribulation of love,” Mi Yi touched the corner of her eye. “Buddha-sons always have to face this tribulation. The women of the Hehuan Sect, with their charm and beauty, are naturally more likely to sway a Buddha-son’s heart. So, the Undying Sect probably turns a blind eye to your inner sect mission, letting it run its course.”
Heng Yu: “…”
According to Mi Yi’s logic —
Liaowu’s identity was crucial. He was likely the one who would end the demonic threat.
But before that, he had to face the test of his tribulation of love.
Instead of letting some random female cultivator become Liaowu’s tribulation, it was better to have a demonic woman from the Hehuan Sect fulfill that role.
Heng Yu suddenly felt like she had been schemed against by both the Hehuan Sect and the Undying Sect.
Seeing Heng Yu lost in thought, Mi Yi suddenly smiled. “It doesn’t matter. Just focus on the pursuit, don’t fall in love yourself. Falling in love with a Buddhist cultivator is never a good thing, even if he’s not a Buddha-son and doesn’t carry the burden of saving the world.”
Mi Yi twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “Seducing a holy man and making him fall from grace is a very fulfilling experience. But…”
The smile on her lips turned cold. “How long can such passionate love last? He’s silent and withdrawn. Even after abandoning the Buddhist path and becoming burdened with attachments, his life remains almost unchanged, offering no novelty. If you’ve seen mountains and rivers, the vastness of the world, how can you love such a monotonous and pale existence?”
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