Chapter 146: Benefactor, Please Do Not Flirt With This Humble Nun
Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Benefactor, Please Do Not Flirt With This Humble Nun
"My skills were no match for yours. Kill me or cut me to pieces—I am at your mercy." With her hair in disarray, Miao Yin lay on the ground, propping herself up with one hand while clutching her chest with the other. A trickle of scarlet blood stained the corner of her mouth as she glared stubbornly at Pei Shaoqing.
Pei Shaoqing felt helpless. He shook his head, squatted down, and said, "Reverend, with that fearless look of yours, you’re making me out to be the bad guy here."
’He had to admit, the Reverend had a truly voluptuous figure. Lying on her side like that, her curves were on full display, especially the stunning lines of her waist and hips. He could just make out their full, rounded contours.’
"Pah!" Miao Yin spat at him, gritting her teeth. "Your actions are less than human."
Pei Shaoqing wiped the spittle from his face.
’Was he supposed to just fucking take that?’
SLAP!
Miao Yin, who had just been slapped, was completely stunned.
But it wasn’t over. Pei Shaoqing seized her fair throat, his grip tightening as he spoke in a menacing tone, "I told you it was a misunderstanding. I’ve already confirmed my father-in-law is not the Xu Family’s enemy. Elder Wen and the Wen Family are. Why won’t you listen, you bitch?"
’He hated people who wouldn’t let him finish talking.’
"Guh... Hah... Hah..." Miao Yin’s pretty face was ashen. She struggled to breathe, her hands instinctively clutching at Pei Shaoqing’s arm, her eyes filled with terror.
’She felt like she could be choked to death at any moment.’
Only then did Pei Shaoqing finally let go.
"GASP... COUGH COUGH COUGH..." Having survived the ordeal, Miao Yin pushed herself up with both hands, gasping for air and coughing repeatedly. Her full chest heaved violently with each tremor.
After catching her breath, she looked at Pei Shaoqing with shock and suspicion. "Are you telling the truth?"
"Are you even worth the effort for me to lie to?" Pei Shaoqing retorted with a contemptuous look. He then stood up and added, "It would be simpler to kill you and Jiang Xue with a single strike to eliminate any future trouble than to waste my time deceiving you."
Upon hearing this, Miao Yin’s expression became uncertain.
’Though she was furious at Pei Shaoqing’s brutal attitude, she had to admit he was right.’
"Then... what exactly is going on?" she pressed, forcing her trembling body to stand.
Pei Shaoqing didn’t answer. Instead, he said with displeasure, "Shouldn’t you be apologizing to me first?"
"Even if this nun misunderstood you, you beat me into this state..." Miao Yin said resentfully.
As the man in Great Zhou who respected women the most, Young Master Pei cut her off. "That’s because you’re a bitch who deserved a beating."
"You... This is the sacred ground of a Buddhist Sect. Please watch your words, Young Master." Hearing him call her a bitch again and again, Miao Yin, who was so revered by the devout noblewomen in the capital, was furious.
Pei Shaoqing gave a derisive smile and said dismissively, "So now you remember this is a sacred Buddhist ground? Compared to my insolent words, what about you, you bitch? A disciple of the Buddhist Sect who, based on a simple misunderstanding, recklessly drew a weapon on these sacred grounds with the intent to kill?"
At his words, Miao Yin was filled with anger, shame, and embarrassment all at once.
Her face flushed then paled, and she was left speechless.
"The only reason I can stand here and speak to you with this attitude is because I’m stronger than you! Otherwise, wouldn’t I have been unjustly killed by you? Is it really so excessive for me to call you a bitch?" Pei Shaoqing suddenly roared.
Miao Yin froze as if struck by lightning and stumbled back a few steps. Chanting "Amitabha Buddha," she put her palms together, bowed deeply, and said in shame, "It is this nun whose spiritual cultivation is lacking. Your words have been a deafening awakening, Young Master. Please forgive me. This nun is willing to chant scriptures before the Buddha and pray for your fortune to atone for my sins."
’He was right. Pei Shaoqing was alive only because he was stronger than her. If he had been weaker, wouldn’t she have wrongly killed him? Miao Yin was filled with self-reproach.’
"I don’t believe in any of that! If praying to Buddha and chanting scriptures were of any use, the Xu Family would have had their revenge long ago," Pei Shaoqing sneered dismissively.
"You may direct your anger at this nun, Young Master, but please do not disrespect the Buddha. Amitabha Buddha." Miao Yin chanted twice to atone, then pursed her red lips, which were gradually regaining their color. "Then what must I do for you to forgive me, Young Master? I will agree to any condition."
"Really?" Pei Shaoqing sized her up.
Miao Yin’s expression changed instantly. She clutched her chest, took a step back, and said, blushing furiously, "That is absolutely out of the question! This nun has devoted her body to my Buddha. I will not renounce my vows and marry. Young Master, do not get any ideas about my body."
"Reverend, you are too attached to appearances. This mortal shell is but a skeleton adorned in pink. Your concern proves your cultivation is insufficient," Pei Shaoqing said with an air of righteous conviction. "Besides, I could just have my fun with you and not marry you. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?"
As a virgin in her thirties, and a nun to boot, Miao Yin was both ashamed and enraged by his words. She glared with her beautiful eyes and chided, "Please have some self-respect, Young Master! This nun sincerely wishes to atone, but breaking my vows is not an option."
"You misunderstand, Reverend. I was merely responding to what you just said; it doesn’t mean I actually want your body," Pei Shaoqing said calmly, shaking his head. "I want you to work for me."
’It was easy to find a woman who knew martial arts.’
’It was also easy to find a beautiful nun.’
’But finding a beautiful nun who knew martial arts wasn’t easy. That made Miao Yin a rare resource.’
Pei Shaoqing recalled Xie Qingwu mentioning that the Crown Prince Consort was extremely devout, so he figured he would have use for Miao Yin sooner or later.
"I wonder what you need this nun to do for you, Young Master? I won’t do anything immoral." Hearing this, Miao Yin’s expression softened considerably. It was no wonder she’d gotten the wrong idea; so many men wanted to fuck her that she’d come to hate herself for having this vulnerability that men were always trying to exploit.
Pei Shaoqing said nonchalantly, "I don’t need you right now. When I do, I’ll naturally inform you, Reverend. Don’t worry, it will be nothing immoral."
"Then this nun agrees. With the Buddha as my witness, a monastic does not tell lies." After chanting "Amitabha Buddha," Miao Yin added, "Now, can you tell me what the annihilation of the Xu Family has to do with the Wen Family?"
"I see you’re quite pale, Reverend. Your injuries look serious. Why don’t we find a place to sit and talk things over slowly?" Pei Shaoqing suggested thoughtfully.
Miao Yin couldn’t help but roll her eyes. ’Aren’t you the one who injured me this badly?’ "Fine," she replied.
"Let me help you, Reverend." Pei Shaoqing stepped forward, placing one arm around her shoulder and the other on her arm.
Miao Yin’s delicate body trembled, and she subconsciously tried to push him away. "You don’t need to trouble yourself, Young Master... Ah!"
The moment she pushed him away, she lost her balance and swayed, starting to fall.
"Better let me help you, Reverend." With swift reflexes, Pei Shaoqing caught her and pulled her into his arms. Before, he had only been supporting her lightly; now, he was holding her completely.
No man had been this close to Miao Yin in years. Her mind went blank, her body tensed instinctively, and she let Pei Shaoqing lead her away in a daze.
’A beautiful young nun really has a unique charm!’
"Your body is so soft, Reverend," Pei Shaoqing commented.
Miao Yin chided, "Please stop your nonsense, Young Master."
"You smell so good, Reverend," Pei Shaoqing praised again.
Miao Yin’s previously pale face was now as red as an apple. She bit her lip and said, "Benefactor Pei, please stop this reckless teasing of a monastic like me."
"Please sit, Reverend." Pei Shaoqing helped her to a stone bench meant for worshippers to rest. He then took out an Elixir for healing internal injuries and restoring one’s vitals, holding it to her lips. "Reverend, take this healing Elixir and rest."
’Benefactor Pei was actually a good person. He had a reason for hitting her and speaking so rudely. It was all her fault; she deserved to be beaten and scolded.’
"Thank you for the Elixir, Benefactor Pei."
After thanking him, she subconsciously parted her red lips.
As Pei Shaoqing fed her the Elixir, his fingers accidentally brushed against her lips. ’They’re so soft and supple.’
Blushing slightly, Miao Yin flinched back.
"Regarding the annihilation of the Xu Family, I asked my father-in-law about it a couple of days ago," Pei Shaoqing said, sitting down. "According to him, Xu Yong offended Wen Xi... My father-in-law was merely constrained by Wen Xi and acting under the Emperor’s orders. So, if you want revenge, you should be looking for Wen Xi, the true culprit."
Although Miao Yin felt that Xie Wenjin, as the one who carried out the act, should also face retribution, she agreed that Wen Xi was the main culprit. During her time in the Capital City, she had learned much about the various powerful officials and nobles. After a moment of silence, she said, "Wen Xi may have retired, but the Wen Family still has many protégés and former subordinates in the Imperial Court and the provinces."
With Wen Xi retired, the Emperor wouldn’t go too far even if he wanted to completely dismantle the Wen Faction. Furthermore, ever since Wen Xi’s term in the Cabinet, the Cabinet had transformed into something resembling the Qing Dynasty’s Military Affairs Office, with the Emperor holding all power.
This meant he had even less reason to be wary of the Wen Family’s remaining influence in the Imperial Court. As a result, although the Wen Family had kept a low profile over the years, their power could not be underestimated.
Overthrowing the Wen Family would be as difficult as climbing to heaven.
"Wen Xi doesn’t have many years left." What Pei Shaoqing meant was that they could just wait for the old man to die and then go dance on his grave.
But Miao Yin interpreted it as ’time is running out’. She nodded and said, "Yes, that’s why we must act quickly."
"Reverend, you’re so fixated on hatred. Aren’t you afraid the Buddha will blame you?" Pei Shaoqing asked curiously.
Miao Yin’s expression stiffened. After a moment, she said in a low voice, "I will chant scriptures to atone for my sins."
Pei Shaoqing was speechless.
’Damn, he was starting to want to believe in Buddhism too. In the future, even if he committed murder and arson, he could just chant a scripture and be absolved.’
’Wait! He suddenly seemed to understand why so many rich and powerful families started believing in Buddhism after they got wealthy.’
"Will you help Jiang Xue, Benefactor Pei?" Miao Yin raised her head and asked, her face full of expectation.
"Of course," Pei Shaoqing said without hesitation.
Then, his tone shifted. "However, if you want my help in avenging the Xu Family, you must listen to me. The time is not yet right. Once I am transferred back to the Capital City to take up an official post, I will immediately begin working to avenge the Xu Family and clear their name."
"This nun believes you, Benefactor," Miao Yin said, nodding repeatedly.
Pei Shaoqing said, "I have one more question."
"Please ask, Benefactor," Miao Yin said, putting her palms together.
Pei Shaoqing looked at her right hand, specifically at her middle and ring fingers, which were noticeably without nails. With a very serious expression, he asked, "Reverend, does masturbation count as breaking the vow of celibacy?"
In an instant, Miao Yin’s blush spread all the way to the tips of her ears.
"That... that... For a monastic, how could that possibly count? Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha..."
Her gaze darted about evasively and her voice stammered. After just a few words, she began chanting the Buddha’s name over and over.
"Hahahahaha! Food and sex are human nature. The Buddha will understand," Pei Shaoqing said, laughing heartily as he walked away.
He had only taken two steps when he remembered something. He stopped and asked, "I still don’t know your name, Reverend."
"This nun is... Miao Yin."
’Miao Yin? "Wonderful yin?" What a bold name!’
’I’d love to find out just how wonderful it really is.’
’Perhaps she produces pearls of wisdom?’