IDWBE -Chapter 284 Tuigu Temple

After the monk entered, he bowed in salute. Xie Xiaoqing, however, still held her head high and stood straight. Only when the monk glanced back at her did she reluctantly give Lin Yi a perfunctory curtsy and say, “You’re Prince He?”

Lin Yi had always been generous toward beautiful women. Smiling, he replied, “That’s right. You are quite bold, Miss. May I ask what you intended by sneaking into the Provincial Administration Office at night?”

“I came to see him. It has nothing to do with you.”

Without hesitation, Xie Xiaoqing pointed at the monk.

The monk’s face flushed red. Closing his eyes slightly, he helplessly intoned a Buddhist chant.

Lin Yi was somewhat stunned.

This girl was far too direct!
Couldn’t she be a little more reserved?
Where was the modesty a young lady ought to have?

What truly infuriated him was that he had never encountered a girl like this himself!
Comparisons really did drive a man mad.

He wasn’t even as fortunate as a monk.

“Miss, you truly are straightforward,” Lin Yi said lightly, gazing at her flawless face. “However, the state has its laws and families have their rules. You’ve gone too far. I’m not sure how I should deal with you.”

“Your Highness is merciful. Please spare her. I will bear all the blame myself,” the monk pleaded earnestly.

“Hey, Monk, you don’t need to beg him! If he wants to kill or torture me, let him,” Xie Xiaoqing said, tugging at the monk’s arm.

Though she spoke defiantly, she could not conceal the joy on her face when he pleaded for her.

“Oh? Monk, have you been moved by worldly feelings?” Lin Yi teased.

“Amitabha… a sin, a sin!” The monk lowered his head, too ashamed to even look at Lin Yi.

“You’re human first, and only then a monk. Humans have emotions and desires—it’s perfectly normal,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Xie Xiaoqing snorted. “You’re quite reasonable. But you’re not allowed to make things difficult for him. Otherwise, I won’t let you off.”

Hearing this, the monk turned pale and hurriedly rebuked her. “Miss, mind your words! You must not show disrespect to His Highness!”

Like the others, he wasn’t afraid of angering Prince He—he feared Hong Ying, who stood behind him. That chief steward was utterly ruthless.

“Humph.”

Xie Xiaoqing turned her head away in displeasure.

Lin Yi sighed. “This puts me in a difficult position. If I let you go now, others will think they can run wild before me in the future. Give me a reason to spare you.”

Her eyes rolled mischievously. “What if I trade you some information?”

“You may speak.”

“The Four Great Dharma Kings of Tuigu Temple have entered Chuan Province. How about that?”

“Tuigu Temple? The temple of Nangu—I know of it,” Lin Yi said in surprise. “But who are these Four Great Dharma Kings? And why have they entered Chuan Province? That, I do not know. I hope you will enlighten me.”

“If I tell you, can I leave?”

Hong Ying suddenly snorted coldly. “Insolence! How dare you bargain before His Highness!”

Xie Xiaoqing groaned. Blood once again trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she stubbornly held her ground and continued smiling at Lin Yi.

The monk hurriedly handed her a handkerchief and cast a pleading look at Hong Ying.

“Enough. She’s a guest; there’s no need for this,” Lin Yi said, waving Hong Ying off. He then turned to Xie Xiaoqing. “Very well. I agree. Speak.”

Such a lovely girl—he truly could not bear to hurt her. He had never been one to crush flowers with a heavy hand.

“The Four Great Dharma Kings of Tuigu Temple are second only to the Barbarian King of Nangu in strength,” she said, swallowing back the urge to cough blood. “This time, they are going to cause trouble for Jizhao Nunnery.”

“Cause trouble for Jizhao Nunnery?” Lin Yi frowned.

Even Hong Ying, Ye Qiu, the Blind Man, and Consort Wen working together were no match for Jingyi. Yet the Four Great Dharma Kings dared to challenge Jizhao Nunnery directly?

“My master said they are unparalleled figures of this age. Even against Jizhao Nunnery, they have no fear,” she continued, glancing at Hong Ying behind Lin Yi. “Jingyi and Jingkuan both went to Ankang City. The reason they didn’t fight you was only to preserve their strength to face the Four Great Dharma Kings.”

“So I ought to thank them,” Lin Yi said with a smile.

“You think only Liang has experts? These foreign masters fight in strange and unpredictable ways—you won’t find them easy to deal with. Back then, Prince Pingchuan had Jizhao Nunnery’s full support, yet he still died at the hands of Nangu.”

“Thank you for the information, Miss,” Lin Yi said. “Monk, see our guest out.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” the monk quickly led Xie Xiaoqing away.

After leaving the Provincial Office, the monk supported her and said, “Miss Xie, you were too reckless.”

On the empty street, he seated her briefly on the steps, then brought out a carriage from the residence. They left the city and headed toward a nearby mountain, where he knew of a small nunnery.

The one who opened the door was a toothless, trembling old nun. Only upon seeing the silver ingot in Xie Xiaoqing’s hand did she suddenly spring to life, eyes gleaming.

Xie Xiaoqing lay down in a plain, spotless side room and did not awaken until sunset.

After drinking some water and eating a little, she fixed her gaze on the monk.

Relieved, the monk said awkwardly, “As long as you’re fine, I’m at ease.”

“Monk…”

“If you have any request, Miss, please speak.”

“Promise me that if you ever see people from Tuigu Temple, you’ll run—as far and as fast as you can.”

The monk frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Those who don’t know Tuigu Temple think it’s merely a temple. In truth, it’s more like a tribe. Everyone on Tuigu Mountain obeys the temple’s command. Tuigu Mountain is unimaginably high. Have you ever stood somewhere so high you could barely breathe? Yet for the locals, life goes on as usual. From sunrise to sunset, they live as we do. Anyone from Tuigu Mountain—even a child—is not to be underestimated. If Tuigu does not reach ten thousand, it is manageable. But once it does, it is invincible.”

“Like your Spring Mountain City?” the monk asked.

She shook her head. “Not the same. Spring Mountain City has ordinary people who know no martial arts. On Tuigu Mountain, there isn’t a single one. Nangu has always eyed Liang greedily, constantly raiding the borders. The moment Liang shows weakness will be the moment they advance.”

“I understand,” the monk said, nodding gravely.