Chapter 41: Chapter 38: Dyeing Stirs Anqing, Painted Skin Causes Chaos in the Military Mansion

"Amitabha Buddha."

Hui Ming replied, "Of course, there is.

"In fact, it’s not that you can’t cultivate, Master Wu Tan.

"Theoretically, every single person can cultivate.

"It’s just that in this current Dharma Decline Era of cultivation, the Daoist and Buddhist Sects tend to select those who are naturally more sensitive to Spiritual Qi to transmit the Dao Seed to, allowing them to cultivate.

"The so-called transmission of a Dao Seed is when a senior with profound cultivation extracts a sliver of their own Origin and infuses it into the recipient’s body.

"Like passing a flame!

"Like sowing a seed!

"Like scattering seedlings!

"Whether this little spark can grow into a prairie fire depends on the recipient’s own destiny afterward!

"And this sensitivity to Spiritual Qi is what we call innate talent.

"Therefore, everyone actually has innate talent.

"It’s just that some talents are better than others.

"The reason we don’t transmit the Dao Seed to those with low sensitivity to Spiritual Qi is that it requires a cultivating senior to expend some of their Origin.

"This is naturally a drain on the senior cultivator!

"Thus, the implantation of every Dao Seed must be done with extreme caution.

"If it’s given to someone with low sensitivity to Spiritual Qi, even if they can embark on the path of cultivation, the results of their cultivation will be poor. What’s the use in that?

"It’s nothing but a waste.

"Furthermore, giving a Dao Seed to someone with such poor aptitude might not be helping them—it might be harming them!

"Instead of a virtuous deed, it becomes a sin.

"After all, the path of cultivation is fraught with hardship and danger.

"Putting everything else aside, based on what you’ve seen, Master Wu Tan, what has my life been like these past few years?

"Abstaining from women, refraining from meat, cutting off worldly ties, training diligently day after day... If, in the end, my cultivation comes to nothing, wouldn’t I have wasted my life?

"Those with high sensitivity to Spiritual Qi who embark on the path of cultivation at least have a hope of success.

"So, this is why for the past ten or twenty years at Longyuan Temple, Master Wu Gui and I have never revealed that we possess the True Buddhist Dharma, nor have we passed it on to you, Master Wu Tan!

"Firstly, it’s to protect ourselves so we can cultivate in peace and avoid trouble.

"Secondly, it’s for your own good, Master Wu Tan, to prevent you from knowing about the True Buddhist Dharma and insisting on staking everything on cultivating, only to waste your life in vain.

"This should be the same reason your own benevolent master didn’t pass the True Buddhist Dharma on to you.

"That master of yours casually taught you some Skills of Worldly Affairs, and you became so extraordinary.

"Could his Buddhist Dharma and Divine Power possibly be weaker than mine and Master Wu Gui’s?

"He must have far surpassed the two of us.

"Yet he still didn’t pass the True Buddhist Dharma on to you!

"This must be the reason!

"That’s why before, I really didn’t want you to know of the True Buddhist Dharma’s existence, Master Wu Tan.

"Even less did I want you to know that I possess the True Buddhist Dharma and have genuine Buddhist Sect cultivation.

"But alas, your eyes are like torches, your mind is swift, and I couldn’t hide it from you.

"Of course, Master Wu Tan, you must not ask how one can receive the Buddhist Sect’s transmission of the seed!

"In any case, it’s impossible!

"It would only waste a senior’s Origin for nothing!

"And it would cause you to waste the rest of your life!

"Besides, in this life, you were first Zen Master Bu Zhong, and you’ve never been short on wine and meat.

"Now that you’ve entered the world, you have a woman in each arm, living quite the merry life.

"Even if you could receive the seed now, your path of cultivation would have no future.

"You’d be better off just satisfying your curiosity and then continuing to live out the rest of your days freely.

"The reason your master taught you those Skills of Worldly Affairs was likely because he knew that for you, embarking on the path of cultivation would be a wasted life.

"So he wanted you to be able to rely on them to live a life of wealth, splendor, and happiness in this Mortal World."

These words were so convincing that Xu Lei almost believed he really did have an Enlightened Monk for a master.

Of course, on the surface, Xu Lei remained perfectly calm.

After all, he’d been pretending to be an eminent monk for many years.

He had at least that much self-control.

"So that’s how it is."

Xu Lei nodded. "I understand. No wonder you were so secretive before, nephew, as if hiding in a fog.

"Rest assured, Nephew Hui Ming, I won’t force the Buddhist Sect to transmit a Dao Seed to me so I can embark on the path of cultivation.

"I was just deeply perplexed, and after witnessing the Extraordinary, my heart couldn’t stop itching with curiosity.

"Now I finally understand the truth.

"I’ve already squandered most of this life in frivolity.

"It’s naturally impossible for me to pursue Longevity Magical Power now.

"Thanks to your explanation today, the knot in my heart has been untied.

"As for what you said about me cooperating with you to slay a demon...

"Just tell me what I need to do. I will certainly cooperate."

’Of course, though I’m saying that, I have no intention of backing down.’ His thoughts told a different story.

’On the contrary, hearing that all it takes is a senior with profound cultivation to share a bit of their Origin and transmit a seed has my heart stirred.’

’Even if my cultivation progress is terrible afterward, I don’t care.’

’As long as I can set foot on the path of cultivation, that’s enough.’

’After all, the Ten Thousand Lives Book can inherit the cultivation of a past life!’

’I might not accomplish much with cultivation for the rest of my current life, but I can get the Dao Seed first, then formally begin cultivating after I reincarnate.’

Of course, there was no need to say any of this to Hui Ming right now.

Otherwise, with Hui Ming’s personality, he would probably think this would harm Xu Lei.

Or if he saw that Xu Lei was too stubborn, insisting on embarking on a path he knew had no future, he might just turn around and leave.

That would be disadvantageous for Xu Lei.

Xu Lei decided to keep spending more time with Hui Ming.

He wanted to learn more about people like them who possessed the True Buddhist Dharma.

Then, when the time came, he would see what they needed, find an opportunity, and ask for the seed transmission!

He would step onto the path of cultivation in one fell swoop!

"Good."

Hui Ming nodded, then added, "The Spirit Monster we need to capture this time is possibly a Painted Skin Spirit..."

「An hour later.」

After discussing the various details of the upcoming demon-slaying with Hui Ming, Xu Lei returned to his room.

The demon had to be slain.

But not right away.

"Guess who I am."

Suddenly, at that very moment, a soft, supple body pressed against Xu Lei’s back, and a pair of tender, fair hands covered his eyes.

"Let this humble monk think."

Xu Lei said, "Could it be the peerlessly beautiful, heavenly fair Patroness Qingning?"

"Oh, stop."

Wei Qingning let go of his eyes and said, "Divine Monk, you’re just saying sweet things to trick me."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei replied, "Patroness, a monk does not tell lies. In my heart, I truly feel that Patroness Qingning is just as I described."

"Don’t open your eyes."

Wei Qingning then said, "Today, let Qingning take the initiative to help the Divine Monk with his cultivation."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei nodded. "Then I will have to trouble you, Patroness."

「Several hours later.」

Xu Lei and a rosy-cheeked Wei Qingning, now fully dressed again, walked out of the room.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they came out, they saw Zhang Xiaomai standing there, stunned.

"Divine Monk, so all these nights when you didn’t need Xiaoai to serve you, you were coming to find the master to discuss business... but in reality?"

Zhang Xiaomai looked as if she’d received an unparalleled shock. She said, "You two..."

"Ah!"

Wei Qingning’s face turned bright red. She stammered, "Hu—You..."

But at that moment, she had no idea how to explain.

After all, she and Xu Lei had been intimate for over a month; it was impossible for Zhang Xiaomai not to have sensed something was amiss.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei spoke up. "Xiaoai, do you find what this humble monk and Patroness Qingning have done to be unacceptable and incomprehensible?

"In the eyes of this humble monk, there is no distinction between man and woman in this world.

"The Buddhist Sect teaches that all living beings are equal.

"This humble monk is on a journey to overcome the tribulation of lust, seeking to transcend this trial.

"In this, I require your assistance, and I also require the assistance of Patroness Qingning."

Qingning was the name Wei Qingning used in front of outsiders.

After all, when she wore the Jade Pendant, she was the current Patriarch of the Wei Family.

Her public name was Wei Qingning.

Her birth name, the one her mother gave her before she died, was also Wei Qingning.

"My apologies, Divine Monk."

After hearing this, Zhang Xiaomai quickly said, "It is I, Xiaoai, who was being narrow-minded.

"But after hearing your words, Divine Monk, Xiaoai understands now.

"Actually, this is good too. In that case, in the future, Xiaoai won’t have to feel awkward when facing—hm, the Master."

Hearing the conversation between Xu Lei and Zhang Xiaomai, Wei Qingning was somewhat dumbfounded.

Of course, from Wei Qingning’s perspective, Xu Lei wasn’t lying. He really did need her help with his cultivation.

And it was indeed safer not to let Zhang Xiaomai know she was a woman.

Although, from Zhang Xiaomai’s point of view, the situation must seem rather absurd.

Wei Qingning couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.

But seeing that Zhang Xiaomai had accepted it,

she didn’t say anything more.

It made sense. Before, they hadn’t let Zhang Xiaomai know she was a woman.

And they had arranged for Zhang Xiaomai to become Wei Qingning’s Concubine Ping.

This had caused Zhang Xiaomai to feel a little shy and awkward around Wei Qingning after being intimate with Xu Lei.

Now, this situation actually saved them the awkwardness.

「That evening.」

Xu Lei and Wei Qingning were face to face.

"By the way, Divine Monk, this is your share of the profits generated over the past month after the Dyeing Technique was implemented in my Wei Family’s cloth business."

Wei Qingning pushed a thick stack of silver notes across the table. "Just as we expected, after implementing the Dyeing Technique, my Wei Family’s cloth business has skyrocketed. It has now taken the entire Prefecture City by storm!

"The next step is to set our sights on the whole world and promote it everywhere.

"Then, we should be able to acquire even more wealth."

"Amitabha Buddha. Your talent is extraordinary, Patroness."

Xu Lei nodded. "To have such success in just one month, excellent, excellent. However, this humble monk has no use for so many silver taels at the moment.

"Just leave me a thousand taels for expenses.

"You can take the rest back for now, Patroness.

"Promoting it to the rest of the world will require all sorts of connections and investments.

"Moreover, you can hold onto the rest of the wealth we earn for now.

"When this humble monk has need of it, I will ask you for it."

"Divine Monk, you have the air of one who is beyond worldly matters."

Wei Qingning sighed. "To entrust such a vast fortune into my hands just like that." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Money is but a worldly possession."

Xu Lei smiled. "If I want to acquire it, there are other ways.

"But as for money, having enough is sufficient.

"As for myself, it is indeed inconvenient to carry.

"Besides, Patroness Qingning, you have helped this humble monk cultivate with your pure body.

"In my heart, you are no longer an ordinary patroness."

"Mm."

Wei Qingning’s beautiful eyes were shy and sweet. "In my heart, the Divine Monk is also extremely special and important..."

As she was speaking,

"BLEGH." She suddenly felt the urge to vomit.

Her pretty face froze.

"You must be pregnant."

Xu Lei was also stunned, then delighted. "You’re pregnant?"

"I didn’t expect it to be so soon."

Wei Qingning said, "But there’s no need to fear. I have already trained many confidants, and the Wei Family has no shortage of trusted personnel. It’s just that when the time comes for the birth, I will have to hide away for a while."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei reached out and took Wei Qingning’s fair hand. "This will be hard for you, Patroness Qingning."

"It’s just that now that I am with child, it will be inconvenient to help the Divine Monk with his cultivation."

Wei Qingning asked, "What should we do?"

"No matter."

Xu Lei said, "Liang Kun’s method will also work."

Wei Qingning’s face flushed, and she was too shy to speak.

"Does the Divine Monk have need of it now?"

But then she said, "If you have need, I will not refuse."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei nodded. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Patroness Qingning."

「Two days later.」

That evening, Hui Ming came to find Xu Lei again.

"Master Wu Tan, let’s go."

He said, "Take me with you to slay the demon."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei declared, "Slaying demons and subjugating devils is the undeniable duty of us Buddhist Disciples!"

「Half an hour later.」

Under the name of Divine Monk Wu Tan, Xu Lei arrived at the home of Elder General Qin in the Prefecture City to attend a banquet.

Hui Ming had said that the heart-eating Painted Skin Spirit was definitely in the General’s Mansion.

That was why it was inconvenient for him to act directly.

After all, although he possessed the True Buddhist Dharma, which involved the Extraordinary, he couldn’t just waste his precious Magical Power fighting against an army.

Therefore, he needed Xu Lei to bring him to this banquet under the guise of a Divine Monk, to wait for an opportunity to slay the demon.

Xu Lei’s "Divine Monk Wu Tan" persona was personally endorsed by the Former Saint, and he even had an imperially bestowed Token.

As long as the Da Yu Dynasty did not fall, his status as a Divine Monk was one that officials all over the world had to acknowledge!

In addition, although many people didn’t know that the Buddhist Sect had true, enlightened monks possessing Divine Power and Magical Ability, they knew that the Buddhist Sect’s influence was immense!

And Xu Lei, bearing the title of Divine Monk and backed by the Buddhist Sect, naturally commanded respect from everyone.

Therefore, General Qin’s Mansion naturally welcomed Xu Lei’s visit with pleasure.

That night, at the banquet, Xu Lei walked straight in with Hui Ming.

The former was dressed in white, with an upright posture, handsome features, and a transcendent air.

The latter wore a plain, unremarkable gray monk’s robe, silently following by his side.