The Enchantress

Western Oxen Continent, Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

The entire Zhengyin Dharma Temple had been mostly demolished, with only the main hall remaining standing. The rest of the area had been reduced to broken tiles and rubble, currently undergoing repairs.

The reason this hall wasn't torn down wasn't due to any softness of heart or hand on Chen Baiqing's part.

It was because the former abbot of Zhengyin Dharma Temple was still residing within its grounds.

This old monk, once a Buddha, was now lightly holding a chess piece, his gaze contemplative as he looked at the board.

Sitting across from this Buddha, playing the game of Go, was Daoist Yuyang.

The board situation wasn't particularly complex; it was basically at a state where one could play anywhere. One could even toss a piece and let it fall onto the board.

Yet, faced with this very situation, this Buddha had been pondering for nearly an hour.

Daoist Yuyang was growing impatient, his eyes repeatedly scanning the old monk whose face was calm, holding the piece motionless.

Had this old monk entered a meditative trance?

If you don't want to play, then don't. What's the point of freezing like this?

Daoist Yuyang waited a moment longer, then spoke up:

"Why not make your move? Does the venerable one have something on your mind?"

Hearing this, the old monk lifted his gaze, glanced at the small main hall around them, and said with a touch of sudden realization:

"It's just that I hadn't realized... this Great Hall of the Great Hero has confined most of my life to this place... It's been a long time since I've had the chance, like these past days, to simply chat with an outsider."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Yuyang decisively tossed the piece in his hand back into the Go box.

He had thought the old monk was pondering the game, but it turned out he was pondering life.

This game truly couldn't be played any further.

Daoist Yuyang said:

"Chatting is fine, of course. But if you don't feel like playing Go, it's better not to force it."

"You are not a Buddhist cultivator, benefactor. I fear mere conversation might bore you."

"Isn't it just as boring when you hold a piece in silence for an hour without a word?"

Hearing this, the old monk shifted his gaze slightly to the piece in his hand, chuckled softly twice, and said:

"After being alone for so long, one gets used to this."

Daoist Yuyang immediately stood up upon hearing this:

"Venerable one, please attend to your matters. I shall take my leave!"

You enjoy spacing out yourself, but you have to drag someone who doesn't along to keep you company.

Now I must learn from Chu Xingchen: when it's time to run, one must run smoothly!

"Ah, don't be in such a hurry." The old monk reached out to stop him, smiling. "People all enjoy talking about topics they like. Although I don't know what you prefer, you can talk about what you're curious about. Having lived a long time is one of my few merits; I know a fair bit about many things."

Daoist Yuyang paused, his gaze suspicious. These words sounded very much like a hint.

The old monk's face was aged, but his eyes were clear, seeming to have a shimmering light, and the smile on his face carried a somewhat hesitant meaning, as if... hinting.

Faced with this hint, Daoist Yuyang still obediently sat back down first.

He would believe this old monk one more time.

Daoist Yuyang did not directly ask the crucial question but began to probe indirectly:

"With your level of cultivation, you didn't necessarily have to make that bet with Chen Baiqing. If you hadn't agreed, this Zhengyin Dharma Temple wouldn't be left with only this Great Hall. And moreover... you seemed to have gone easy, didn't you?"

"You're not as perceptive as that young girl. With just one glance and two sentences, she understood my thoughts." The old monk smiled, narrowing his eyes, and placed the piece in his hand onto the board. "Naturally, I didn't want to fight you. Besides causing widespread suffering, nothing good would come of it. But I also had to give those above an account, otherwise it would look bad."

Seeing the old monk answer without concealment, responding quite frankly, Daoist Yuyang changed tack and continued to probe:

"I have heard your story. Since the evil Buddha you suppressed has departed, with your status, returning to the Great Thunderclap Monastery shouldn't be difficult. Why do you still remain in this spiritually barren land, wasting your own cultivation?"

The old monk chuckled lightly: "Naturally, because I don't want to go back. That place is even less free than here. At least here, within this small hall, I can be free and at ease. If I go back, I can only sit on that little golden lotus, unable to move. It's not interesting at all."

Daoist Yuyang probed deeper:

"Then what is your view on this calamity that befell the Western Oxen Continent?"

"Intentions vary, but it is because of you that more of the vast multitude of living beings survived. To me, you naturally did better than they did. Moreover, this disaster... may not have been without the intent of those within the Great Thunderclap Monastery."

The old monk wore an indifferent expression, truly appearing daring to ask and daring to speak. He shifted his gaze:

"Young man, after asking so much, how about answering a small question of mine?"

Daoist Yuyang pondered briefly.

The old monk gently waved his hand, provoking him:

"It's just a small question. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. You're at an age full of vigor, how can you be more hesitant than this old monk?"

"Alright then." Daoist Yuyang nodded in agreement.

The old monk leaned forward slightly, as if about to ask something private:

"That girl named Chen Baiqing, where did you meet her, and how did you... subdue her?"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Yuyang frowned, his gaze turning wary towards the old monk.

The old monk looked curious: "That girl is clever and resourceful, with extraordinary methods. Observing her with my Buddha-heart, she resembles a soaring cloud-crane, yet also a bewitching twilight courtesan—neither wholly righteous nor wholly evil. She is not someone who should have come here or done these things without cause."

Daoist Yuyang did not answer fully, offering a simple explanation:

"She is not 'my person.' She is merely the disciple of a good friend of mine, temporarily acting alongside me."

"Then your friend must be truly extraordinary." The old monk's expression showed respect. "To rein in another's restless mind and wandering thoughts without a tether... there is no skill more profound in this world than that."

"However, let me also offer a reminder. Such genuine devotion should be met with genuine sincerity in return."

Daoist Yuyang recalled slightly the scenes of interaction between that master and disciple...

Their relationship could probably be described as—if Chu Xingchen wanted to kill someone, she would decisively hand him the knife, or even personally stab a couple of times herself, just so Chu Xingchen wouldn't have to work as hard.

Although, ordinarily, Chu Xingchen treated Chen Baiqing quite well.

But it didn't seem exceptionally good either. He didn't know why Chen Baiqing was so dependent.

There must be another story there.

Daoist Yuyang nodded gently:

"As you said, with Baiqing being so clever and perceptive, if one did not treat her with genuine sincerity, could one possibly earn her genuine devotion in return?"

The old monk nodded: "That is also true."

Daoist Yuyang thought for a moment. He found Chen Baiqing reliable in handling matters, and their interactions were pleasant. She didn't seem like the 'neither wholly righteous nor wholly evil' person the old monk described:

"Baiqing doesn't seem quite as you described. Eighty percent of her methods were learned from my friend. His methods and his tongue are both quite cunning. I think she's more like a good girl, unfortunately corrupted by my friend's teaching."

A smile appeared on the old monk's face, his gaze turning towards outside the hall:

"In my opinion, if that girl hadn't met your friend, she would likely have been a femme fatale who brought chaos wherever she went, following her own whims, seeking only her own freedom. Judging by her current abilities, in this world, perhaps only Heaven itself could bind her. Truly a most troublesome one."

Daoist Yuyang was about to open his mouth to refute when he suddenly sensed an aura behind him and stopped his words.

He saw Chen Baiqing step into the hall, her expression composed as she greeted the two of them in turn.

The old monk's smile did not diminish as he looked at Chen Baiqing and said:

"Young lady, tell me, am I right?"

Daoist Yuyang's face turned cold. He stood up, his gaze containing anger as he stared directly at the old monk.

Chen Baiqing's expression remained calm, her tone equally devoid of fluctuation:

"Who can say for certain about things that haven't happened? Now that I have met my master, I am who I am now."

"However, gossiping behind someone's back doesn't seem like something a Buddhist cultivator like you should do."

Upon hearing this, the old monk stood up and offered a very formal bow of apology:

"This old monk was in the wrong. I beg the young lady's forgiveness."

Chen Baiqing ignored his apology and instead turned her gaze to Daoist Yuyang:

"A person of utmost importance is on their way here. I have already sent people to receive them, but just in case, I must ask Uncle-Master Yuyang to personally make the trip. The person is on Gentleman Mountain, and you have met them yourself."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Yuyang naturally understood who it was. His expression showed a flicker of surprise, but he quickly collected himself, promptly agreed, and rose to leave the hall.

Chen Baiqing watched Daoist Yuyang depart, then slowly shifted her gaze back to the old monk:

"Before, there were things I didn't understand. Now I see it's only fitting that you ended up in this state."

"Your aim was simply to have Uncle-Master Yuyang remind my master to be wary of me, wasn't it?"

"Don't worry. You will have your chance to tell my master yourself that I am a demoness."

With that, Chen Baiqing turned and left.

In time, her master would surely give this unlucky monk a few punches to vent his anger.

She had never hidden her true self from her master, so what did she have to fear?

The old monk's eyes calmly followed Chen Baiqing's departing figure, the glimmer within them constantly shifting.

The reflection of Chen Baiqing in the old monk's eyes also transformed continuously.

Clad in red, unleashing a tide of slaughter; robed in white, her expression serene and peaceful.

A countenance of bewitching charm, capable of throwing all realms into disarray.

Speaking with righteous conviction, a pillar of the mortal world.

A life of confusion—which version was the true her?

It was truly difficult to discern, yet all part of the myriad facets of human existence.

What was the reason for such constant, contradictory change...

The old monk sat in silence for a long time, then let out a derisive chuckle.

Perhaps he was just old and useless.