A Xiu subconsciously looked outside and could vaguely see the silhouette of a figure sitting cross-legged reflected on the window, and imdiately pulled the quilt over herself.
A young man above her, confused, said, "Where is that chanting coming from? Nevermind, A Xiu, I’m here!" and continued his movents.
A Xiu lay in bed, watching the shadowy figure reflected on the window, pressing her lips tightly, frowning and bearing it without making a sound.
Monts later, a piercing scream rang out, and a spray of fresh blood splattered onto the window, leaving streaks of bloodstains.
The chanting from outside paused montarily.
The room door creaked open, and a man stumbled out of the house, not even glancing at Jin Naluo, clutching his hand in pain as he ran away swiftly.
Monts later, A Xiu stepped out the door wrapped in a blanket, her bare white calves exposed to the air, leaning slanted against the door fra, silently watching Jin Naluo.
Jin Naluo looked up at A Xiu and said compassionately, "You didn’t have to do this."
A Xiu’s gaze t Jin Naluo’s, and their eyes locked.
Turning her head away, A Xiu said softly after a mont of silence, "There used to be an ordinary family in Yun Brahman; they were a loving couple with a happy household. Three years after their marriage, they had a baby girl, who was born so beautiful that she was praised by neighbors.
As the girl grew older, she beca even more gorgeous, eventually catching the attention of the City Lord, the King, and the elders of Mahayana Buddhism.
The Great Elder, upon seeing the girl, was also stunned by her beauty and declared that she was the Buddha Girl sent to earth, a treasure bestowed by Buddha, and she was destined to marry the King when she grew up."
A Xiu let out a self-deprecating smile and said softly, "How ridiculous is it that a girl’s future has been decided while she’s only a few years old—that she will marry an old man with white hair? What do you think about that?
The beauty of your so-called world, the freedom of life, none of that has anything to do with her; her future has already been decided."
Jin Naluo brought his hands together in a prayerful gesture and chanted softly, "Namo Amitabha Buddha!"
A Xiu spoke longingly, "Every girl has a beautiful dream in her heart, yearning for a sincere love, eting soone in the hazy dreamscape that makes her heart tremble.
Now her dream has shattered before it could even begin. What should that girl do? Resign to her fate?"
Jin Naluo opened his mouth, unsure of what to say, as his knowledge of Buddhist Law didn’t cover such matters.
A Xiu continued, "But that girl didn’t just accept her fate; she wanted to struggle, to break free from this predestined fate.
But her strength was too weak compared to the force of destiny, like an ant trying to shake a mountain.
On the day before her wedding to the King, in a state of despair, she wandered into a brothel and gave herself to an ordinary person.
Later, she stayed in the brothel. Her beauty captivated all n in the country, and no one could resist her.
When the King heard of this news, furious and ready to execute her, the citizens pleaded for her life, and the powers that be defied the King—not for anything else, but to possess this woman.
Eventually, the girl succeeded; under the collective pressure of the entire Yun Brahman, even the King had to submit.
But this beautiful woman was thus turned into a prostitute, and she set a rule that she would not accept any money, and every man who visited her must leave behind a finger afterward as her revenge on those despicable n."
A Xiu brushed aside the long hair falling on her forehead and said softly, "Little monk, if Buddha is truly compassionate, where were they when that little girl needed help? If Buddha’s divine power is so vast, why didn’t they co and save her earlier?"
Jin Naluo looked up at A Xiu firmly and said, "If Buddha won’t save you, I will. I’ll take you to find your freedom, I’ll take you to watch the sunrise and sunset, I’ll take you to welco a new life."
A Xiu laughed lightly, "Little Monk, I don’t need your salvation!" She turned and walked back through the door, which closed with a bang.
Inside the room, A Xiu walked numbly to the bed, slumped down on it, laying her face on the quilt as she sobbed softly.
Outside, the gentle chanting resud, and as A Xiu slept amidst the chanting, she had never slept so soundly before.
It was only in the quiet of the next morning that the chanting ceased, and Jin Naluo rose to leave.
...
On the third evening, after grooming and dressing herself, A Xiu stood by the window. A learned scholar crept upstairs quietly. Gazing at A Xiu’s back, he swallowed his saliva, touched the three remaining fingers on his hand, and resolutely continued to walk toward A Xiu.
Thump thump thump~ the sound of eager footsteps ascending the stairs echoed.
The learned scholar imdiately stopped in his tracks, turning his head with dissatisfaction toward the door.
Little Green stood at the door, panting and exclaiming, "Miss, that monk has co again!"
The learned scholar frowned and said, "What monk? Today, A Xiu is mine. Hurry and drive him out."
Rubbing his hands together with a sneering smile, he said, "A Xiu, I haven’t seen you for half a year, and I missed you terribly." He reached out toward A Xiu’s shoulder.
A Xiu turned around abruptly, grabbing the scholar’s wrist.
The learned scholar looked at A Xiu in surprise.
A Xiu calmly said, "I’m not feeling well today and won’t be seeing any guests. Please leave, sir!"
The learned scholar said with concern, "A Xiu, what’s wrong with you? Let take you to the doctor."
"There’s no need, sir. Please leave!"
The learned scholar was taken aback, forced to turn around and leave, looking back constantly with reluctance.
As he descended the stairs, the learned scholar crossed paths with Jin Naluo.
The scholar imdiately halted, calling out, "Monk~"
Jin Naluo also stopped in his tracks and looked at the scholar.
The learned scholar eyed Jin Naluo and advised with concern, "A Xiu is not feeling well, so please be cautious."
Jin Naluo brought his palms together in a bow, smiling as he said, "Thank you for the reminder!"
"Sigh~" The scholar let out a long sigh, never considering that A Xiu could be the type of person who only values looks. He glared at Jin Naluo fiercely before walking away.
Jin Naluo ascended the stairs and entered through the wide-open door.
Inside, A Xiu stood by the window, watching Jin Naluo.
Jin Naluo brought his palms together in a bow, chanting, "Namo Amitabha Buddha~"
A Xiu stepped forward, looking at Jin Naluo, and suddenly smiling, she said, "I suddenly want to try out that world you spoke of."
Jin Naluo smiled brightly and extended his palm, saying, "Let take you there!"
A Xiu lifted her arm, placing her delicate hand on Jin Naluo’s palm, and he led her away as they both turned to walk outside.
...
In the following month, A Xiu lived alongside Jin Naluo in a hut outside the city. A Xiu was responsible for laundry and cooking, while Jin Naluo handled wood-chopping and hunting. One seed no longer to be the famous courtesan renowned across the nation, and the other seed no more a disciple of the Buddha Sect.
A small wooden boat floated on the lake, with Jin Naluo poling, and A Xiu rippling the water with her hand, appearing like a scene from a painting.
In the distance, under a large tree, a man in white stood with a smile in his lips, looking out across the lake, and exclaid sentintally, "If heaven has emotions, even heaven will age; if a Bodhisattva has emotions, then that is truly Buddha.
Daji, don’t you think so?"
A ripple ford in the space before him, and a woman in a red robe erged, curtsied, and said respectfully, "Daji pays her respects to the Emperor!"
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