Chapter 31: The Demonic Cult Enchantress and the Aloof Buddhist Devotee (17)

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“If you like it, would you wear this mask to tomorrow night’s celebration?”

“I’d be happy to,” Fan Sijin said with some confusion. “But if I do that, won’t you recognize me at once? Where would be the fun in the Harvest Festival then?”

“That is precisely the point. I want to recognize you at a glance. Then the real fun can begin.”

“Then… all right.” Fan Sijin agreed reluctantly.

Night fell quickly the next day, and the lanterns along the long street were lit one after another.

Fan Sijin put on the mask and knocked on Kong Xuan’s door. No one answered. Could he have already gone out to enjoy the festivities?

The lively street was filled with people wearing all kinds of masks. Fan Sijin walked alone, afraid that Kong Xuan would not be able to find her, so she deliberately chose a wonton stall in the middle of the street and sat down.

Resting her chin in her hand, she watched the crowds come and go. For a long while, she saw no sign of Kong Xuan.

“How strange. Could he still not have left? Or is he waiting for me?”

The thought occurred to her, and Fan Sijin prepared to turn back. The moment she turned around, the noise in the street abruptly ceased, and the crowd parted to either side.

A sound came from ahead. The crisp clatter of hooves drew nearer, and a young man could vaguely be seen seated on horseback.

Under the glow of multicolored lanterns, Fan Sijin could not make out his features, only the rough outline of his figure.

When he drew closer, she saw that the young man was wearing a mask as well. Yet the flowers blooming across it made his identity unmistakable.

It was Kong Xuan.

The fine horse emerged from the colored light, a flower of red silk hanging from its neck.

Kong Xuan stopped before Fan Sijin and leaped lightly to the ground. He wore the exotic clothing of the Southern Frontier, with golden patterns embroidered along the collar and cuffs. His trouser legs were tucked into tall riding boots, giving him a tall, graceful, and dashing appearance.

With long, pale fingers, he gently removed his mask. A faint smile curved his lips, while starlike sparks seemed to dance in his dark eyes.

In his hand was a flower unique to the Southern Frontier. He held it out to Fan Sijin.

“Does A-Jin like this flower?”

Fan Sijin was caught off guard. The corners of her lips lifted as she nodded and accepted it.

“Monk, is this some sort of Southern Frontier custom?”

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Kong Xuan raised an eyebrow. The next moment, he took her hand and dropped to one knee, performing the Southern Frontier’s marriage-proposal ritual.

“You have accepted my flower. Will you accept me as well? A-Jin, will you marry me again?”

Amid the swirling lantern light, Fan Sijin remembered only the face drawing close to hers. The crowd around them erupted in cheers and teasing cries. Kong Xuan bent down, lifted her into his arms, and placed her on the horse before leading it through the long street.

When they returned to the household where they were staying, the residence was already draped in red lanterns and fluttering red silk. Fan Sijin finally recovered from her daze.

“You planned all this long ago, didn’t you?”

Kong Xuan smiled. “Not at all. Before I entered the monastery, I grew up in the Southern Frontier, so I know the customs of its Harvest Festival. I simply wanted to bring you here.”

“Father knew too?”

Kong Xuan only smiled without answering.

“No wonder Father was willing to let me leave the mountain this time! You had all conspired together. Hmph.”

Moonlight spilled down, and the bed had already been covered with layers of cloud-patterned brocade.

Kong Xuan’s eyes were filled with laughter. He caressed her face, and the self-restraint that usually governed him had vanished completely, replaced by a heated, unmistakable desire.

Seeing Fan Sijin’s delicate, petulant expression, he spoke softly.

“My wife…”

It was the first time Fan Sijin had seen Kong Xuan like this. Even on the day he had married her and left the monastery, he had not been so… enthusiastic.

They had technically become husband and wife then, but in truth, neither of them had yet broken through that final barrier between them.

Yet when she recalled the layers of muscle beneath his monk’s robes—muscles strong enough to kill a man with a single punch—terror and resistance surged through Fan Sijin’s heart.

She absolutely rejected this method of winning her over. Sleeping with him was less appealing than braving a mountain of blades and a sea of fire for his sake.

She only liked gentle, puppy-like men. Could someone please reject muscle-bound men? Who would have thought that a monk could be so muscular beneath his clothes?

The System loved watching the drama unfold at times like this.

“Hold steady, Host! Don’t chicken out! One night together and the mission is complete. That’s an incredible bargain!”

Fan Sijin gave two dry little laughs. Before she could escape, Kong Xuan had already driven her back to the edge of the bed, leaving her no choice but to inch inward as unobtrusively as possible.

Kong Xuan naturally noticed the stiffness in her eyes, but mistook it for nervousness. He soothed her gently.

“Do not be afraid. I will be gentle…”

As he spoke, the hands that usually copied scriptures, wielded a sword, and formed sacred seals slowly drew down the gauzy skirt she wore.

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Beneath the moonlight, the man’s powerful back was taut with tension. Even his breathing seemed to turn fiercer in an instant. The man who was usually cold and distant was now filled with desire. Every inch of her skin stirred his heart with longing and delight. He wanted to cherish her, to ravish her, yet more than anything, he wanted her to feel joy as well.

That night, the moon-white robes and red skirt lay in disarray across the floor, while the sounds of festival revelry outside mingled with the disorderly, ragged breathing within, and together they sank into oblivion.

After spending the Harvest Festival in the Southern Frontier, the two of them began their journey home. The Heaven-Defying Sect was still flourishing, and the mountain gate was packed with people hoping to join. On this trip down the mountain, they had nearly been unable to get back through their own front door. It was absurd.

The next time they went out together, however, the scene was entirely different.

At a tea stall on the outskirts of a small town, a pretty young woman dressed as a married lady lay sprawled across the table in utter boredom, feeding a tiny green caterpillar with vegetable leaves.

Across from her, a handsome man in a moon-white robe patiently placed food into her bowl.

“All right. Your father already let you come out. Why are you still angry?”

“Hmph…” Fan Sijin stroked her slightly protruding belly, full of resentment. “I wanted to come out and have fun by myself, but he insisted that you come along.”

“That was unavoidable. You spend every day coming up with strange ideas and mischievous schemes. If I do not keep a close eye on you, what will happen if you hurt the child?”

The man was unfailingly good-natured. He shelled a peanut, carefully blew away the thin skin, and placed the kernels in the small dish before her.

Fan Sijin felt that ever since they had married, that foolish monk Kong Xuan had become increasingly down-to-earth. He was forever nagging at her. Whatever had happened to the aloof, untouchable holy son he had once been? Could he not turn back into that man?

“All you ever think about is the child!” she complained, patting her belly and deliberately throwing a tantrum. “I think you do not love me anymore.”

Kong Xuan was caught between laughter and tears.

“You know perfectly well that you are the one I love most.”

Naturally, he loved her more than the child. Still, he could not help worrying that their little one had such an unreliable mother.

Suddenly, Fan Sijin let out a startled sound.

“Monk, look at that woman. Doesn’t she seem familiar?”

Kong Xuan followed her gaze. After a moment, he recognized her.

“She is a nun from the Emei Sect.”

“My goodness… It has not even been that long. They really disbanded, returned to secular life, and got married?” Fan Sijin exclaimed.

Abbess Cifa was a harsh woman. Apart from treating Moonlight a little better, she was vicious and cutting toward all the other disciples. They had suffered under her for years and had long wanted to leave the convent.