Chapter 552: This Lifetime of His, I Want to Try

Half an incense stick's time later.

Along that winding, rugged mountain path leading down from Four Void Mountain.

A man dressed in a monk's robe carried a young woman on his back with great care, walking down the mountain step by step.

Xiao Mo had wrapped his arms lightly around the backs of the woman's knees, doing his best to avoid touching her thighs, wanting only to preserve a monk's proper conduct and distance. Yet the woman seemed to find this uncomfortable, shifting her position now and then, adjusting her posture.

Without quite meaning to, Xiao Mo's own broad hands had quietly settled onto the woman's shapely thighs and even through the coarse linen fabric of her trousers, Xiao Mo could faintly feel the springy softness of her skin beneath.

Beyond that, along the mountain path, his feet had to step over exposed tree roots and larger stones now and then, even cross the occasional gully, and the journey inevitably had its share of jolts.

And her figure was exceptionally striking to begin with, her curves like a winding stream, and she seemed to hold no wariness of Xiao Mo whatsoever, her soft body leaning forward now and then with each jolt of movement.

As a result, Xiao Mo's back would often feel the warm, soft pressure of the two gentle curves against him.

It felt as though the clouds in the sky had been gently pressed into two soft masses, resting warmly and heavily against his own back.

"Young lady." Xiao Mo said quietly, gathering his words.

"Monk, what is it? Am I too heavy?" The woman turned her head slightly, her gaze settling on the side of Xiao Mo's face, her tone sweet.

"Not at all, the young lady is very light. It is only, young lady, that you might rest your hands on my shoulders instead." Xiao Mo suggested tactfully, a note of resignation hidden in his tone.

"But I am holding onto your shoulders."

As she spoke, the woman leaned forward and pressed herself against Xiao Mo's shoulder, the two soft curves seeming to flatten against his back like persimmon cakes pressed flat.

She seemed entirely unconcerned by this kind of intimate contact, resting against him with complete ease, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Her loose strands of hair brushed against Xiao Mo's ear now and then, each touch bringing a faint fragrance, like wildflowers blooming in the mountains, subtle and never cloying.

Seeing the woman so "unrestrained" about propriety, Xiao Mo found himself briefly at a loss for what to say, and could only shake his head with resignation, thinking there was not much of the journey left anyway, and continued carrying her down the mountain.

The woman watched Xiao Mo's slightly awkward expression, and the corner of her mouth curved into a lovely arc, a hint of mischief in her eyes, seeming quietly pleased with herself for teasing such an innocent young man.

Of course, in this woman's own view, he was the only one she had ever teased her whole life.

"Is the young lady from Cloud Village?" Xiao Mo asked, shifting the subject in what seemed a casual manner.

"Mm." The woman gave a small nod, her voice clear and pleasant, like a mountain spring bubbling over stones.

"The village I used to live in was destroyed by demons."

She paused, a note of quiet sadness creeping into her voice.

"I fled together with my aunt, but along the way, my aunt got separated from me and I could never find her again. Before that, she had mentioned I had an aunt living to the east in a place called Cloud Village, so eventually I made my way here."

"But I never expected that when I arrived at the village, the aunt I had never even met had already passed away."

The woman's voice dropped a little lower, and she let out a soft sigh.

"The village elder took pity on me and let me settle in the village, in my aunt's old courtyard."

"I see." Xiao Mo gave a nod, remembering the villagers' earlier talk of a woman "beautiful as a celestial being." It seemed this must be her.

"So, monk..."

Perhaps feeling the walk had gone too quiet, the woman turned her head slightly, her voice brushing warmly against Xiao Mo's ear, her lovely fox eyes blinking as they studied the side of his face with curiosity.

"How many years have you been a monk?"

"Eighteen years." Xiao Mo answered calmly.

"Eighteen years?" The woman's tone was full of surprise. "You... you do not look that old? You must be around my age?"

"This humble monk has just turned eighteen this year." Xiao Mo said with a faint smile, telling the truth. "The abbot said I was abandoned outside the temple gate as a child, and Four Void Temple took me in. So in a sense, this humble monk has been a monk practically since birth."

"I see..." The woman's eyes shifted from side to side, as though thinking something over, then a teasing note entered her voice. "So you did not become a monk of your own will, then? Have you ever thought about... leaving monastic life?"

"Never once." Xiao Mo shook his head candidly, then asked with curiosity, "But why does the young lady ask?"

"Because I heard monks have to follow all sorts of strange rules." As she spoke, the woman counted off her slender, jade-white fingers one by one. "For instance, no drinking."

"And no eating meat, either."

"Most importantly, you cannot marry or have children."

"By rights, would not any normal man want to take a wife eventually?"

She looked at Xiao Mo, blinking.

"Falling asleep every night with a warm, soft wife in your arms, is that not a truly wonderful thing? Do you really intend to stay pure your whole life? Would that not mean this whole lifetime was wasted?"

"I have honestly never thought about it that way." Xiao Mo's tone remained even. "Reciting sutras and chanting the Buddha's name every day is a good life too. As for marrying and having children, having a family is certainly good, but marriage comes with its own troubles as well."

"Oh." The woman drew out the sound, pushing out her lips, a hint of petulance crossing her expression.

Behind Xiao Mo's back, her small hand curled quietly into a fist, as though she very much wanted to give his thick skull a knock to wake him up but in the end the woman held herself back and did not pursue the topic further.

By evening, Xiao Mo had carried the woman all the way into the village and delivered her to the courtyard where she lived.

"Should I go and fetch the village elder's wife? With your ankle sprained, young lady, living alone might be inconvenient." Xiao Mo looked around at the quiet, empty courtyard and asked with concern.

"There is no need. I can take care of myself." The woman shook her head, her tone easy. "I will find a stick to lean on later. No need to trouble anyone else."

"In that case, this humble monk will take his leave." Xiao Mo drew a small medicine jar from his sleeve and set it gently on the table. "Apply this to your ankle daily, young lady. You should recover within three days."

"Many thanks, monk." The woman happily took the jar, her eyes curving as she looked at him. "But I have not thanked you properly yet. Would the monk not like to stay for dinner? I am not boasting, but my cooking is really quite good."

"Many thanks for the young lady's kind offer." Xiao Mo pressed his hands together in a bow. "But the abbot is expecting me back at the temple to report, and with a man and woman alone together, this humble monk should not linger."

"Well, all right then." A quiet flicker of disappointment crossed the woman's eyes, though she still bid him farewell with a smile. "Do be careful on your way up the mountain."

"Many thanks for the young lady's concern. Then, young lady, this humble monk takes his leave." Xiao Mo gave a nod and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

"Monk." Xiao Mo had only taken a few steps when the woman's voice called out behind him.

"Is there something else, young lady?" Xiao Mo stopped and turned around.

"Monk, you saved me, but I still do not know your name." The woman smiled gently, her features lovely as a painting.

"This humble monk's Dharma name is Quyin."

"Qu..." The woman repeated it softly, as though committing the two syllables to memory. "Then, Master Quyin, my name is Xiao Jingci. Do remember it well."

Hearing the woman's name, Xiao Mo gave a faint smile and a small nod.

"Hey, monk, do not just nod without saying anything. I said my name is Xiao Jingci. Have you actually remembered it or not?" The woman pushed out her lips slightly, waiting for Xiao Mo's answer.

"I have remembered it." Xiao Mo replied.

"Not just remembered, but remembered firmly." The woman's smile widened. "You are my benefactor, after all. Do not go and forget all about me in a few days."

"Rest assured, young lady, this humble monk's memory has always been quite good." Xiao Mo promised. "I will not forget."

"Good, then. Hurry back now. It will be dark before long." The woman waved a hand, watching Xiao Mo turn and walk out of the courtyard and once Xiao Mo had left the courtyard, his figure disappearing entirely from the woman's sight.

The woman rose to her feet, as though nothing at all had happened, and walked to the doorway, still looking in the direction Xiao Mo had gone, her gaze lingering there for a long while.

"You said you would always remember." The woman's slender hand rested lightly on the old, whitened doorframe, her eyes shifting faintly, her voice so soft it seemed meant only for herself. "But have you not... forgotten me..."

"But it does not matter. If you have forgotten, then we simply begin again."

After a long while, the woman drew her gaze back and turned to walk back into the courtyard.

Half an hour later, the gate of the woman's courtyard opened once more, and another woman, dressed similarly in linen clothing, walked inside.

The moment she stepped through the gate, what met her eyes was her own Young Miss hanging up laundry to dry.

Glistening water droplets, catching the evening light, slid slowly down her Young Miss's pale, smooth arms, refracting scattered points of light.

Her Young Miss's lovely peach-blossom eyes seemed to carry a genuine warmth of happiness from within, a tenderness impossible to hide across her whole expression.

"Young Miss? Why are you doing this kind of rough work yourself? Just let me do it." Yueshi quickly stepped forward, reaching out to take the laundry from her Young Miss's hands.

"It is nothing. Just washing and drying some clothes." Tushan Jingci shook her head lightly, her tone easy. "And besides, I am simply an ordinary woman right now. If I could not do any of the rough household work, and Xiao Mo noticed something strange about me everywhere, would that not give the game away?"

She paused, then turned her head and asked casually, "Speaking of which, how are things going with the sects nearby? Has everything been handled properly?"

"In reply to the Young Miss, the several small sects around Luoyun Town have already submitted to our Tushan, and all of them follow the Young Miss's commands. None of them would dare come and disturb the Young Miss's peace." Yueshi reported honestly, then raised her head to look at her Young Miss.

"But Young Miss... have you already... seen him?"

"Mm." Tushan Jingci recalled the way he had carried her on his back along the mountain path, and a tender smile spread across her expression. "He is a monk at Four Void Temple now. He is still the same as before. His nature has not changed at all."

"But Young Miss, he is a monk after all now." Yueshi chose her words carefully, worry showing in her tone. "And based on the information we have gathered recently, that abbot at Four Void Temple may not be an entirely ordinary figure."

To be honest, she was afraid the Young Miss might do something rash, forcibly taking Xiao Mo away from the temple.

"I know what you are worried about, Elder Sister Yueshi." Tushan Jingci said in an unhurried tone as she hung the laundry on the bamboo pole. "Do not worry. I know my limits. I will not go and forcibly take him from Four Void Temple. And besides, there is no need to."

"Young Miss, do you already have a plan?" Yueshi asked.

"Elder Sister Yueshi, think about it." Tushan Jingci turned her head slightly. "Though Xiao Mo is a monk now, if he were to break his precept of chastity himself, could he still remain a monk? Would he even want to remain one?"

She turned slowly, the corner of her mouth curving upward, a certain confidence showing in her expression.

"If he no longer wanted to be a monk, what reason would that Abbot Yuankong have to stop him from leaving?"

"And besides..." Tushan Jingci's voice gradually lowered, yet those beautiful eyes of hers grew sharper by degrees, even carrying a faint hint of killing intent.

"Even if I truly did decide to take him away, what could Four Void Temple do about it?"

She lifted her chin, gazing in the direction of Four Void Mountain.

"This lifetime, I will not let anyone take Xiao Mo from my hands again."

"Absolutely not."

…

At the Seeking Immortals Temple, on Seeking Immortals Mountain.

A young woman had already finished packing her belongings neatly.

She stored her pack into her storage pouch, gently closed the door behind her, walked out of the courtyard, and made her way down the stone steps toward the foot of the mountain and just as she was about to step through the mountain gate, a woman still carrying the grace of youth despite her years, dressed in a Daoist robe, was already waiting quietly for her there.

"Master." Gui Junmeng stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.

"You are going to Four Void Mountain?" Daoist Master Yun Xi asked her disciple gently.

"Mm." Gui Junmeng gave a nod, her voice soft. "I want to bring him back to the temple."

"Are you certain?" Daoist Master Yun Xi shook her head lightly, a note of concern in her tone. "Your younger sister should also have already arrived at Four Void Mountain. She will not let you take him away."

"I know."

Gui Junmeng lowered her head slightly, her long, delicate lashes trembling faintly but very quickly she raised her eyes, her gaze clear and resolute, looking directly at her master.

"But Master..."

Her voice was not loud, but each word settled clearly into the wind before the mountain gate.

"This lifetime of his, I want to try."