Chapter 209: Taboo

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Under the moonlight, a cool radiance spilled upon Lei Qing and Zhu Xiyu as they walked side by side along the quiet ridge path. The two remained silent all the way, as if each was lost in their own thoughts.

Lei Qing had invited Zhu Xiyu out for a walk for her own sake. On the surface, it seemed that Dongfang Si had suffered the greatest trauma from this incident. But in reality, the blow to his Godmother, Zhu Xiyu, was also devastating.

For some reason, Lei Qing felt a deep connection with Zhu Xiyu, as if he had known her in a previous life. Perhaps it was her gentle and graceful demeanor, or perhaps it was her kind, bodhisattva-like heart; unknowingly, she radiated a maternal power.

This caused Lei Qing to be unknowingly drawn to her, unable to resist wanting to be close to her and rely on her. He even felt he could trust her without reservation. She exuded an aura and radiance that made Lei Qing feel comfortable and defenseless, allowing his heart to completely relax unknowingly.

The two walked to the edge of a cliff and stopped beside a smooth, solitary rock. Gazing at the bright, clear moon in the sky and the hazy night scenery amidst the mountain fences, the gentle evening breeze made one feel relaxed and happy unknowingly.

Seeing the indelible sorrow hidden between Zhu Xiyu’s brows, Lei Qing comforted her softly, “Godmother, life is full of dissatisfaction; eight or nine times out of ten, things do not go as one wishes.”

Zhu Xiyu shook her head slowly and said with some shame, “Qing’er, do you… really, really not look down on me? I… I am just too ashamed.”

“Let me tell Godmother a story.” Lei Qing smiled faintly and said, “In a certain temple, there was an eminent monk. Just before he was about to pass away, he was still frowning, seemingly unable to let go of something.”

Zhu Xiyu’s attention was caught by Lei Qing’s words. She had a kind heart, loved doing good deeds, and was on good terms with Banruo Temple; she had many friends who were eminent monks she got along well with. Hearing that the story Lei Qing told was related to an eminent monk, she naturally became somewhat interested.

However, she was also an intelligent and perceptive woman; she knew Lei Qing wanted to use this kind of story to enlighten her. She could not help but secretly wonder what matter that eminent monk, who was about to pass away, could not let go of? If an eminent monk had a knot in his heart that had not been untied, he could not ascend to paradise.

“The monk’s disciple saw this and wanted to help ease his worries, so he asked the monk what was the matter?” Lei Qing narrated the story eloquently, “The eminent monk said, ‘I became a monk as a child and have devoted myself to the Buddha. I have lived over a hundred years, yet I have never seen a woman’s naked body. Before I pass away, I want to take a look at what a woman’s naked body actually looks like.'”

“Ah!?” Zhu Xiyu was startled and stomped her feet in shock and shame. Her cheeks had already flushed red, thinking to herself, how could Qing’er tell her such a… shameful thing? However, deep down in her heart, she was also faintly curious about what happened next.

Lei Qing did not mind Zhu Xiyu’s reaction and continued, “The disciple found out and wanted to fulfill the monk’s wish. So he went down the mountain to a brothel and found the youngest and prettiest girl. He paid her to take off all her clothes and stand in front of the monk.”

Such a romantic story made Zhu Xiyu’s imagination run wild, and she flushed with shame. While secretly thinking that Qing’er should not tell such a story in front of her, she also thought that the monk just wanted to fulfill a wish. In this case, the monk should have untied the knot in his heart and attained Buddhahood on the spot, right?

Could it be? Qing’er wanted to hint to her that if one has thoughts and longings in their heart, they should go and fulfill that wish? This… how can this be? Qing’er… Qing’er, we are… we are mother and son; we cannot be like this…

Just as Zhu Xiyu’s thoughts were wandering, Lei Qing said, “The eminent monk stared for a long time, then wrote down a sentence with great disappointment, and then passed away. Godmother, can you guess what that sentence was?”

Zhu Xiyu was flushed red with shame by him, but she also knew that this story had a moral. She lowered her head and said softly, “It should be ‘form is emptiness.’ This story wants to warn the world not to be addicted to beauty. Desire is born from the heart, nothing more. No matter how good beauty is, it is just a mere skin bag. The monk saw through the trial of beauty at the final hurdle and should be able to ascend to paradise. It is enviable.”

“No…” Lei Qing shook his head and smiled.

Zhu Xiyu was slightly stunned and guessed a few more times, but Lei Qing kept shaking his head. This completely piqued her curiosity, and she chased Lei Qing to ask, “Qing’er, what exactly did that eminent monk see through?”

“The eminent monk only left one sentence, and that is…” Lei Qing lengthened his tone and said mysteriously, “So, it is the same as a nun’s.”

Pfft! Zhu Xiyu suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, but then she blushed and froze there. After a long while, she suddenly came back to her senses and, feeling both ashamed and annoyed, wanted to punch Lei Qing, “Qing… Qing’er. You… how can you make up such a story and fable to arrange the people in Buddhism?”

“Hehe!” Lei Qing smiled and dodged, “Godmother, don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to arrange them. I just saw that you were unhappy and depressed, so I told a joke to make you laugh.”

“You… you still dare to say that.” Zhu Xiyu blushed and chased Lei Qing to hit him, “This… what kind of joke is this? It is all dirty words.”

Lei Qing smiled and let her hit him a few times before pretending to shout, “Help! Help! My Godmother, Little Guanyin, is going to kill someone.”

“No… you are not allowed to call me that.” Zhu Xiyu stomped her feet repeatedly and reached out to cover his mouth.

Lei Qing quieted down, but on his lips was Zhu Xiyu’s flawless, white, and smooth jade hand. Coupled with her mature and charming appearance, and her flushed face, she looked extremely seductive.

Lei Qing also felt his mouth go dry and did not dare to move, but his breathing inevitably became heavy, and his eyes uncontrollably peeked at her.

Zhu Xiyu met his gaze and was immediately startled by the burning and somewhat aggressive look in his eyes. She hurriedly withdrew her small hand, which was a little damp from his breath, turned her back, and trembled slightly, “Qing… Qing’er. In… in the future, you are not allowed to tell similar stories again. I… I am your Godmother.”

“God… Godmother, you misunderstood.” Lei Qing was also quite embarrassed and apologized in a low voice, “I really just wanted to make you laugh, Godmother. I also wanted to tell you that humans are not grass or trees; how can they be emotionless? Even an eminent monk who has cultivated for over a hundred years has desires he cannot let go of, let alone us mere mortals?”

Lei Qing’s original intention, of course, was to tell Zhu Xiyu that everyone has desires. Even eminent monks could not pass the trial of lust, so she did not need to be too embarrassed about such things. Appetite and lust are human nature; he would not look down on her because of this.

However, a story or a sentence might mean one thing to oneself. But others might interpret another layer of meaning from the story.

Zhu Xiyu turned her back to Lei Qing, trembling uncontrollably. Her heart was in a mess, her face was burning, and she felt weak. She secretly wondered, ‘Heavens, did Qing’er use this story to tell me that everyone has desires? As long as two people love each other, can even eminent monks and nuns break through taboos? Identity, status, age? Are they all just appearances? Should people follow their inner feelings?’

‘Is Qing’er wanting me and him to… this, how can this be? But, the way he looked at me just now was so hot and aggressive. That feeling was as if he wanted to eat me up in one bite.’

Thinking of Lei Qing’s strong and scarred handsome body, and the scene of him charging and fighting like a crazy bull on Dongfang Si’s body. Zhu Xiyu felt as if a thrilling electric current had quickly swept across her lower abdomen. Violent desires began to constantly impact her consciousness.

The scenes in her mind were so clear, as if they were right in front of her, constantly replaying. The fantasy of herself being Dongfang Si appeared again in that extremely wicked scene.

This almost collapsed her will, and she wanted to turn around and hug Lei Qing.

But the reserve and various moral taboos she had cultivated for a long time made her deeply blame herself for such evil thoughts. ‘Zhu Xiyu, oh Zhu Xiyu, you… when did you become so lewd? You… you weren’t like this before. Could… could it be that the effect of the medicine hasn’t worn off yet?’

Thinking of the medicine, Zhu Xiyu felt much better. At least, it wasn’t that her own heart and body were so lewd, but because of the medicine.

However, Zhu Xiyu did not know that no matter how strong the effect of the medicine was, it would have mostly faded away after such a long time. Before, she was not enthusiastic about this matter, and even felt a bit cold and disgusted, because her desires had not been awakened.

This incident made her taste a stimulation and pleasure she had never experienced before. Both her body and her soul were completely released.

Given her cultivation method and physiological cycle, she was at the time when a woman was most delicate and mature. This should have been the age when desire was at its peak and strongest. If she hadn’t tasted such a crazy flavor, it would have been fine, but once she tasted it. It was very likely to be like a floodgate opening, becoming out of control and falling rapidly.

However, reason told her that this kind of thing must never happen. Poor Zhu Xiyu was constantly conflicted between desire and reason. Her delicate body was burning hot and trembling non-stop.

Lei Qing thought she was angry with him, so he could not help but step forward, put his hands on her fragrant shoulders, and apologized softly, “Godmother, I was wrong. Don’t be angry anymore. In the future, I absolutely dare not tell such jokes in front of you again.”

Lei Qing’s gentle words echoed in her ears, and his hot breath blew onto her sensitive earlobes and neck. The masculine scent, which she had become slightly familiar with, teased her heart.

For a moment, Zhu Xiyu, who was struggling hard, felt her delicate body go soft and fell backward into Lei Qing’s chest.

Lei Qing only felt his mind explode, going blank. Zhu Xiyu’s mature and tender body, like a delicious and tempting peach, was now soft in his arms. Could it be… could it be that Godmother likes him? Did she truly have those feelings for him?

The thrill of breaking the taboo also gradually blurred Lei Qing’s consciousness. Controlled by desire, his hands trembled as they moved down from her soft fragrant shoulders…

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