Early one morning, several officials from the Great Zhou Imperial Court arrived at the entrance of Baideng Temple on Zhaokong Mountain.
Upon seeing the arrivals from the Great Zhou Imperial Court, the Little Novice Monk guarding the temple entrance hurried inside to inform his abbot.
Before long, Hui Ming, the Abbot of Baideng Temple, ca out. He pressed his palms together in a bow. "This old monk greets you, my lords. Forgive for not welcoming you from afar."
Yan Zhen, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, quickly returned the bow with his subordinates. "Master Hui Ming, you are too kind. We are the ones troubling your esteed temple. How could we dare let you ask for forgiveness?"
Yan Zhen couldn’t help but glance inside the temple. "I was just wondering if Master Wangxin is free today?"
Hui Ming smiled. "Since we have already agreed to your visit, my senior sister has naturally made ti. Please, my lords, follow .
"Then we’ll be in your care." Yan Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and followed Hui Ming into the temple with utmost respect.
To the Great Zhou Imperial Court, this Master Hui Ming was not just a Golden Core Realm Cultivator. More importantly, he was a disciple of the abbot of Kongnian Temple—the foremost Buddhist Temple in the Western Regions.
Even if his Cultivation wasn’t remarkable among the abbot’s many disciples, his prestigious status alone placed him above countless others.
Hui Ming led the group to the main hall of Baideng Temple.
The first thing they saw was a young woman in a Monk’s Robe, kneeling on a prayer cushion.
The young woman sat perfectly straight, her cascade of black hair flowing like a waterfall over her shoulders, stopping just short of her slender waist.
A ray of early morning sun shone into the hall, falling upon the Golden Buddha Statue and tracing the edge of the young woman’s Monk’s Robe.
The young woman was chanting Buddhist Scriptures before the Buddha.
The Buddha looked down at her.
The scene was like a painting, utterly sacred.
Yan Zhen and the others unconsciously slowed their breathing, afraid of disturbing the young woman.
Beside her, a round, winged monster that looked like a sweet dumpling appeared to be sleeping.
"Senior Sister, Lord Yan, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Zhou Kingdom, has arrived."
Hui Ming said to the young woman, his palms pressed together.
The young woman’s long eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened.
She rose from the prayer cushion, turned around, and bowed to the group with her palms pressed together. "Wangxin greets you, my lords."
"Greetings, Master Wangxin."
Yan Zhen ca to his senses and quickly returned the bow.
When the group saw the young woman’s face, they were all stunned.
Beneath her curved, upturned eyelashes, her clear, black eyes were like onyx. Her cool, pale skin was flawless, like silk made from white snow.
Below her fine, straight nose, a light purse of her thin, pale pink lips seed to contain all the colors of autumn.
The young woman was exquisitely beautiful, yet it was difficult for anyone to harbor indecent thoughts about her.
It was as if even the slightest improper thought would be t with self-reproach and guilt. The sense of sanctity she embodied was so complete it could not be defiled in the least.
However, Yan Zhen and the others could not et her eyes for more than a breath before they instinctively looked away, as if her gaze could see through everything.
All their innermost thoughts lay bare before her.
"There are only thirty days until Your Majesty’s wedding ceremony. According to the rites of our Great Zhou, we must trouble Master Wangxin to go to the Imperial City’s Sacrificial Altar every day starting today to chant scriptures for two hours. Furthermore, in thirty days, when Your Majesty weds, there will be certain wedding matters that we may need to trouble you to understand."
Yan Zhen spoke with great courtesy.
Wangxin nodded. "This humble monk understands. I’ll trouble you to lead the way."
"Master Wangxin, please." Yan Zhen quickly stepped aside to clear the path, making a gesture of invitation.
After leaving the temple, Wangxin boarded a horse-drawn carriage by herself.
Yan Zhen and the other officials rode in a separate carriage that went ahead of hers. According to the etiquette of the Zhou Kingdom, they were affording Wangxin the highest level of reception.
Upon arriving at the Sacrificial Altar, Yan Zhen respectfully explained the rites of the Zhou Kingdom to Wangxin.
For example, when to chant, which scriptures to recite, and for how long.
What to do in the ten days leading up to the wedding ceremony.
And what to do on the day of the ceremony itself, and so on.
Wangxin, of course, committed everything Yan Zhen said to mory.
"Then we shall trouble Master Wangxin no further." Yan Zhen bowed with his palms pressed together. "Every day at dawn, a carriage will co to Baideng Temple to receive you, Master. After you have finished chanting, we will have soone escort you back."
"Very well." Wangxin nodded, turned to face the Sacrificial Altar, and knelt on the prayer cushion, preparing to chant.
Yan Zhen and the others did not dare to disturb her further. After a final bow, they departed.
...
"Lord Yan, is this Master Wangxin the legendary Saintess Miaolian?" asked Wang Qi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, glancing back a couple more tis.
The official beside him, nad Zhou Lu, added, "I’ve heard that this Saintess Miaolian was born with a Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, allowing her to perceive a person’s every joy, anger, sorrow, and delight—she can even sense their true thoughts."
Wang Qi couldn’t help but gasp. "I hope I wasn’t thinking anything disrespectful just now..."
"I don’t know about you, but I hold Master Wangxin in high esteem." Zhou Lu smiled. "However, I did hear that a thousand years ago, this Master Wangxin and a certain Saint Heir from a Demon Sect in the Western Regions..."
"That’s enough." Yan Zhen waved his hand, cutting him off. "It is a rare honor for Master Wangxin to be willing to pray for Your Majesty’s fortune. This is the great fortune of our Zhou Kingdom. You are not to gossip about others behind their backs. From now on, the people responsible for receiving Master Wangxin are to be chosen from the daughters of court ministers to avoid any impropriety. Understood?"
"Yes, my lord."
Yan Zhen straightened his sleeves and gazed toward the Imperial Palace. "Your Majesty’s wedding ceremony is of the utmost importance. There can be no mistakes whatsoever!"
...
「The Western Regions, Kongnian Temple.」
Inside the Buddhist Temple, an old monk was sweeping the courtyard with a broom.
"Master." Hui Jue walked to the old monk’s side and bowed formally.
"Mm." The abbot of Kongnian Temple, whose na was Xujing, nodded. "Is there any news from Wangxin?"
"Replying to Master, Junior Sister said in her letter this ti that she won’t believe you anymore. She said that you, old sir, are always tricking people," Hui Jue reported truthfully.
"Hehehe... It seems after tricking her three or four tis, the little one has gotten smarter." Xujing chuckled. "If she doesn’t want to co back, so be it. Let’s wait. When she wants to return, she will."
"Besides Junior Sister, the Sect Leader of the Wandao Sect is also looking for her senior brother. I hear the Wandao Sect has made so progress."
Rembering everything that happened a thousand years ago, Hui Jue couldn’t help but sigh.
"If possible, this disciple still hopes Wangxin doesn’t find him. He is Wangxin’s demon."
Xujing shook his head. "For Wangxin, he is indeed a demon. But Hui Jue, is he truly only Wangxin’s demon?"
Hui Jue’s brow furrowed.
Xujing straightened up, gripping the broom with both hands as he gazed into the distance.
"He...
is Wangxin’s demon.
And he is also Wangxin’s Buddha."
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