Chapter 7: Willingly Sinking Before the Buddha, Defiling His Most Revered Deity

Chapter 7: Voluntarily Sinking Before the Buddha, Desecrating His Most Revered Deity

He was lost in thought and didn't notice that Lan He's gaze had gradually shifted, his tone turning noticeably colder.

"His Highness the Young Prince is nothing special after all—pretty but useless."

"Say that again?"

"Scared as a mouse, all bark and no bite."

He turned to leave through the door, but a delicate little bottle slipped from his sleeve, rolling with a soft clatter and giving off a sandalwood scent.

Pei Yuhuai, who had been about to curse, closed his mouth.

He bent down to pick it up: "What's this?"

"I made it myself, this humble monk did—no one else can take it." Lan He reached out to snatch it back.

Pei Yuhuai dodged in a flash, clutching the little bottle firmly in his hand.

"Oh, the Zen master made this, huh? What, is it some Buddha relic?"

Lan He's expression turned serious: "It's a poison I brewed. If someone else mistakenly takes it, they'll burn from the inside out, and the poison won't wear off. Your Highness's weak body can't handle that—hand it back now."

"Pfft, yeah right."

Pei Yuhuai rolled his eyes so far back they nearly got stuck. A vegetarian, sutra-chanting monk, carrying poison on him?

Not even a ghost would buy that.

He gave the little bottle a once-over—nothing special, with one pill inside that looked totally plain, like a tiny candied fruit on a stick.

Coated in syrup.

All shiny.

Looking tasty.

Lan He 'reminded' him, all casual-like: "This is for my own use. Your Highness is weak and low on yang—you can't eat this. Please give it back."

That set Pei Yuhuai off right away.

He was always hanging around brothels or going out bird-fighting and cricket-fighting, his wild ways an open secret—but he never actually did the deed, just listening to music and drinking.

Those girls would whisper that he was a pretty face with nothing underneath—pretty on the outside, useless where it matters.

And he could never prove them wrong.

Could he let that sore spot get poked? Hell no!

Pei Yuhuai stomped his foot, furious, jabbing a finger at Lan He and cursing: "Who you calling weak and lacking? Stinky monk, take a look at yourself—you look like your yang's been drained dry, that face is deathly pale. You depending on this pill to keep your yang going?"

Lan He's eye gave a twitch.

"Getting all worked up, Your Highness?"

"Hey, keep running your mouth! I'll eat your pill right now—what are you gonna do about it? Bet that'll piss you off."

With that, Pei Yuhuai shook out the pill, chucked it in his mouth, and swallowed it whole.

"Monk, look with your eyes wide open—am I fine? I'm fine."

Pei Yuhuai put his hands on his hips, looking all proud of himself.

Lan He forced down the smile tugging at his lips, but his shaky voice gave away how rattled he was.

"You grabbed this yourself, Your Highness. If anything feels off, come to Qingwu Manor at midnight."

"Pah, you phony damn monk."

Lan He didn't explain and just left.

Once out of Pei Yuhuai's courtyard, a freezing cold aura radiated off Lan He. A wind kicked up out of nowhere, making the air feel cold.

"Why so angry?"

Sitting on an old tree branch nearby was a guy in green robes, a leaf in his mouth, swinging his legs lazily.

Lan He glanced at him, frowning: "Sneaking around isn't your thing."

"Tsk, I was watching out in the open—you just didn't see me." Xu Sheng hopped off the branch and zipped in front of Lan He.

Lan He turned and walked off, blowing him off.

Xu Sheng didn't care and tagged along behind him: "At least I saved your life, I'm like your second dad. When you kicked it in your past life, I ran around a ton for you."

"Oh, and gotta remind you—you're here for payback. Don't get carried away. Don't forget what went down in your past life when you..."

Lan He spun around suddenly, and Xu Sheng smartly clammed up.

A hundred years.

In that pitch-black coffin, he suffered and ached until his broken soul was stitched back together, and his lost soul was finally reborn.

But after being reborn, he still had all his past-life memories, and became a monk as a kid.

It was karma.

Later, he came down the mountain and ran into the Marquis's Heir, Pei Hang—that wastrel pretty boy. He knew who that wastrel was in one look.

He dug around quietly and found out Pei Hang already had a crush on someone, and was drinking and partying to get over that person, living it up.

Lan He clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms, his face was dark and scary. Black mist swirled around him, all jittery and restless.

"Lan He, calm down—what's wrong with you?"

Lan He didn't notice, lost in thoughts of that young man from his past life.

So he was all about being pure and restrained, huh?

Then he'd lead him step by step into a sea of lust and desire.

So he was so devoted to Buddha, huh?

Then he'd make Pei Hang sink willingly before the Buddha, desecrating the god he held most sacred, smashing those fake rules and worldly norms with his own hands.

"Lan He!"

Xu Sheng slapped him across the face, snapping him back to his senses, and the mist finally dissipated completely.

Lan He rubbed his burning cheek, his gaze turning icy cold as he fixed on Xu Sheng.

"Don't." Xu Sheng cowered back a few steps, forcing a smile. "Don't lose your cool. Your soul never crossed the Bridge of No Return, so it's fragile. If anything goes wrong, there won't be a next time."

Lan He remained silent, turned on his heel, and walked off.

"Hey... what a heartless bastard."

Xu Sheng didn't follow. Driven by curiosity, he quietly snuck back to the tree outside Pei Yuhuai's courtyard.

He peeked,

He hadn't gotten a clear look earlier, but now, seeing him up close, he was indeed a handsome young man with a slim, delicate waist.

With hair, he was even more handsome than in his previous life.

No wonder he'd been pined after for a century.

Too bad he's all looks and no substance.

Xu Sheng grumbled, broke off a twig, and chucked it at Pei Yuhuai, hitting him dead-center in the chest.

"Who's there?!"

Pei Yuhuai glanced around cautiously, but there was no one, only the rustling of the wind in the trees.

Xu Sheng hid in the shadows, watching him without moving for a long while, and couldn't help muttering, "Did he get reborn as an idiot?"

"Forget it, this blockhead's no fun."

"Ah-choo!"

Pei Yuhuai sneezed, wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, shot the sky a complicated look, and muttered curses as he headed back inside.

It must be that damn monk secretly badmouthing him.

The day passed without incident.

Pei Yuhuai ate and drank as usual, quickly brushing off the little episode, and arranged to compete in cricket fighting with Pei Rongjing.

They fought until the sun set and night fell.

The two sat down to rest, and Pei Yuhuai leaned against the table, his face growing redder, his breath heavier.

"Brother, are you feeling unwell?"

"No! I'm perfectly fine."

Pei Yuhuai had indeed noticed something off about his body, but wasn't that just falling for the foolish monk's trick? He couldn't admit it.

Pei Rongjing said worriedly, "Brother, why is your face so red? How about I go fetch a physician to take a look?"

"No, no need, I'm just a bit warm. You head back first; I'm going to bathe and rest."

"Go on, go on."

He shooed Pei Rongjing away, and his body immediately went limp, nearly collapsing to the ground.