Tempting the Holy Monk - Chapter 4

At Baohua Temple, Chuxuan was the moon around which all the stars revolved.

I knew it the moment I spotted the crowd waiting in the distance.

At their head stood a bald old man with a white beard and a kindly expression.

Until he saw me. His thick brows drew together, and his voice boomed, “What demon is this?”

The force of his voice shook my soul. Before I could recover, a powerful Buddhist seal came hurtling at my forehead.

I could only move within three zhang of Chuxuan. In desperation, I grabbed his sleeve and ducked behind him.

Chuxuan raised his hand lightly. The seal vanished against his fingertips.

His voice was like a quiet spring in the still mountains. “Master, she saved my life.”

“You’re too kind,” I whispered. “I never ask repayment for a little dew bestowed.”

Chuxuan gave me a meaningful glance without speaking.

A chill ran down my neck. I tucked my head back in.

The old monk frowned. Far from apologizing for his rashness, he said with great composure,

“Then thank her properly and let her leave the mountain. Chuxuan, there is demonic energy on you. Go to Hualing Pool behind the temple and wash it away.”

From behind Chuxuan, I muttered too quietly for the old monk to hear,

“He has demonic energy on him? I have Buddhist energy inside me. How come you can’t see that?”

Chuxuan’s back stiffened.

The old monk led the others through the gates.

A young novice who had been waiting respectfully addressed Chuxuan. “You must be tired from your journey, Grandmaster. Please come inside and rest.”

Hands clasped behind my back, I prepared to follow Chuxuan in.

The novice treated the old monk’s words as law. His hand hovered uncertainly, as though he couldn’t decide whether to stop me.

He was so endearing that I winked and said softly,

“I’m tired too, little master. Could you let me come up and rest my feet?”

His face went crimson. His self-control fell spectacularly short of Chuxuan’s.

He took a step backward and stammered, “L-lady… you… er…”

Meanwhile, his revered Grandmaster, who had held and kissed me last night, remained perfectly composed. Pure and unworldly. A model of virtue.

The beads around my ankle suddenly began to heat up.

That heartless monk was displeased again.

He had taken his pleasure, disowned the whole affair, and shown no tenderness whatsoever.

A losing bargain. Not worth it!

I gave the novice a little smile and half hid behind Chuxuan, all bashfulness.

His face grew even redder.

“Let her in,” Chuxuan said mildly. “I will speak to the abbot myself.”

Relieved, the novice led us inside.

The mountain woods were lush and green. Out of the blazing sun, I followed lazily behind them, dragging my feet.

Baohua Temple was said to flourish through offerings. The merit earned by humans who lit incense for the Buddha all gathered here.

Chanting drifted through the main hall. I resisted it instinctively and frowned.

“You will be cultivating here from now on,” Chuxuan said. “You should get used to it early.”

Kicking a pebble, I smiled. “When have you ever heard of a demon chanting sutras, Master? What an absurd combination.”

A demon was a demon. Insisting on joining the monks would be foolish.

In all my years running the inn, I had seen countless monks: real ones, and plenty of impostors lusting after pretty women. But no one had ever solemnly proposed to reform me.

“The Buddha guides all living beings to salvation, regardless of their kind,” he said.

I pursed my lips and parroted him. “The Buddha saves all beings, you save me, Master. Everyone has something to do…”

I had spent too long being a mischief-making demon. The habit of teasing monks was hard to break. I regretted it as soon as the words escaped.

My life was in Chuxuan’s hands, after all. If I displeased him and he melted me down in his golden bowl, where would I even go to cry?

Chuxuan pressed his lips together and said no more. He led me straight through the main hall to Hualing Pool behind the temple.

A waterfall thundered beside the pool, filling the air with mist.

Chuxuan turned and looked at me quietly.

I understood at once and pouted. “Fine. I won’t look.”

I turned away and sat on a large rock with my back to him.

Hearing him take off his outer robe and enter the water, I couldn’t help remembering the feel of my nails scraping over his skin last night. My fingers curled loosely. My ears grew hot.

I had to admit, he was an unusual monk.

He looked entirely free of desire, but…

Chuxuan was not someone to profane. I tilted my head back and fanned myself.

Even after experiencing him once and learning what it was like, I didn’t dare indulge in fantasies.

“The spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathers here. No evil can enter. Since you are a demon, you had best behave. Even a drop of this spring water will hurt you.”

I had taken off my shoes and stockings and was about to dip into the pool. His warning made me jerk my foot back.

Unfortunately, the rock was slick with moss. I lost my footing and slid toward the cold water.

“Master! Help—”

That was all I managed before the water swallowed me.

From what Chuxuan had said, Hualing Pool was practically a demon-dissolving bath. Our kind had never been accepted by the world. Plunging in with all my demonic energy, I would probably be destroyed without so much as a bone left.

Water flooded my nose and battered my eardrums. Despair seized me.

Yet the pain I expected never came. The pool was cold and clear to the bottom.

I saw Chuxuan half submerged. Then my collar tightened, and he hauled me out.

“Stand on the rock,” he instructed, his expression impassive.

His upper body was bare. His skin was red, as though his flesh had been eaten away by something and grown back.

I stared in shock. “What happened to you?”

He pressed his lips together and said nothing.

“Why didn’t I die?” I asked.

“You carry no karmic taint. Naturally, you are unharmed.” He set me securely on the rock and turned toward the center of the pool.

“But… I made you break your vows!”

Profaning the Buddhist faith was a terrible sin. Didn’t that count?

With his back to me, Chuxuan said quietly, “You did nothing wrong. The fault is mine.”