Hearing Fang Yu'ai's introduction, Xuanzang put his palms together and bowed to Li Ling in a Buddhist greeting.
"This poor monk, Xuanzang, greets the National Preceptor."
"Master Xuanzang, please don't stand on ceremony. I have long heard that Your Majesty invited an eminent monk from Jinshan Temple to Chang'an to expound the scriptures. Seeing Master Xuanzang today, you truly are a man of exceptional talent."
"The National Preceptor flatters me too much. Xuanzang is merely an ordinary monk of Jinshan Temple, and I simply hope to spread the teachings of Buddhism far and wide."
"Oh? I have heard that Buddhism teaches that all living beings are equal. I wonder, when Master Xuanzang came to Chang'an, are you here to expound the scriptures for high-ranking officials and nobles, or for the ordinary common people?"
"Naturally, anyone may listen to the Buddhist scriptures I preach. In my eyes, there is no distinction between noble and humble."
Upon hearing this, Li Ling smiled noncommittally.
"Master Xuanzang truly is an accomplished monk, and I admire you. By the way, Yu'ai, where are you all headed?"
Hearing Li Ling's question, Fang Yu'ai immediately spoke up:
"My father told me to take Master Xuanzang around Chang'an City to get familiar with the place, so he doesn't get lost later on."
"And what about the rest of you?"
"This... National Preceptor, the few of us were planning to go to Miaoyu Brothel to drink wine, compose poetry, and engage in such refined pursuits."
Hearing Zhangsun Chong's words, Li Ling frowned slightly, which made Zhangsun Chong, Cheng Chumo, and the others instantly tense up.
These lawless scions of Chang'an had truly been beaten into submission by Li Ling.
Ever since the incident outside the Fang Estate last time, how could these young masters swallow that humiliation? Several of them had plotted to deal with Li Ling, even calling in a few other second-generation peers from Chang'an.
However, after being beaten black and blue by Li Ling, when they returned home and were questioned by their elders, upon learning that they had gone to stir up trouble with Li Ling, they were subjected to a round of "fatherly kindness and filial piety" once more. Several of them were still grounded to this day!
"National Preceptor, we are only going to drink and compose poetry, nothing else. If the National Preceptor feels this is inappropriate, we will head straight home right now."
Li Ling suddenly broke into a bright smile.
"Since it's a refined pursuit, why don't we go together? Yu'ai, Master Xuanzang has come from afar, we mustn't neglect him."
Li Ling's words left everyone stunned. In his heart, Fang Yu'ai would have been a hundred times willing, but if his old man Fang Xuanling were to find out about this, wouldn't he be beaten to death?
"National Preceptor, I... I won't go, shall I? If my dad finds out... *cough cough*, National Preceptor, you understand."
"It's fine. Just say I told you to go; your dad won't make things difficult for you."
"This... alright then!"
"What does Master Xuanzang think?"
Li Ling turned to ask Xuanzang. At this point, Xuanzang did not yet know what kind of place Miaoyu Brothel was. Hearing everyone call it a refined place, he thought for a moment and said:
"This poor monk will follow the host's arrangements!"
Li Ling clapped his hands and laughed with approval:
"Splendid! Chumo, lead the way!"
In front of the entrance of Miaoyu Brothel, the madam hurried forward to greet Cheng Chumo and the others upon seeing them.
"Oh my! Little Marquis Cheng, Young Master Zhangsun, you young gentlemen haven't visited my Miaoyu Brothel in quite a while. Could it be you've found new favorites elsewhere?"
"Ahem! Cut the nonsense. Get the number one private room on the heavenly tier cleaned up for us."
"You got it! Just wait a moment, gentlemen."
Seeing the scene inside Miaoyu Brothel, even if Xuanzang was completely naive to the world, he finally woke up to reality.
"What is the meaning of this, patron? This poor monk is a man who has left the secular world behind; how can I come to a place like this?"
With a stern expression, Xuanzang turned around and prepared to leave.
"What kind of place is a place like this? Could it be that the Buddha's teaching that all living beings are equal is just empty talk?"
"Patron, do not resort to sophistry. Of course, the equality of all people is not empty talk; we who have left home treat people and wild beasts with equal benevolence."
"Since that is the case, why is the Master leaving? If all is equal, what difference is there between this place and the streets? In the past, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva made a vow: 'If the hells are not emptied, I shall not attain Buddhahood.' How is it that today, faced with Miaoyu Brothel, Master Xuanzang shrinks back?"
"This..."
Seeing that Xuanzang was left speechless, Li Ling continued:
"Everything is merely pink-skulled skeletons; can Master Xuanzang truly not see through this? In my view, there is no need to choose another place to expound the scriptures—let us set it right here within Miaoyu Brothel. What does Master Xuanzang think?"
Hearing this, Xuanzang remained silent. Off to the side, Fang Yu'ai and the others exchanged glances, completely clueless about what medicine Li Ling was selling in his gourd. Still, none of them cared much, as this matter had nothing to do with them anyway.
After a moment, Xuanzang put his palms together and said to Li Ling:
"Everything shall be as the patron arranges!"
Li Ling was slightly startled. Others might not have been able to perceive it, but Li Ling clearly saw a flash of Buddhist light flickering around Xuanzang's body.
[The nine reincarnations are certainly no empty boast. But no matter, I'd like to see just how firm your Buddhist heart is, and how long you can hold out.]
"In that case, please lead the way, Master Xuanzang! Chumo, take us!"
Led by Cheng Chumo, the group walked toward the number one heavenly tier private room, drawing curious gazes from the people around them all along the way.
There was no helping it; Xuanzang's image as a bald monk was simply too eye-catching.
"Look, that guy over there looks like a monk."
"Brother, watch your wording. That isn't just someone who looks like a monk; that *is* a monk. Do monks come whoring these days too?"
"Keep your voice down, both of you. The fellows with that monk are famous young masters of Chang'an; be careful not to provoke them, or they'll break your legs and you won't even have anywhere to seek justice."
"These young lords are truly fierce, corrupting even a monk."
Miaoyu Brothel was the premier entertainment establishment in Chang'an, and everyone who spent money here was a high-ranking official or noble within Chang'an City. Li Ling's swaggering group immediately attracted the attention of the others.
Inside the number one heavenly tier private room, once everyone had taken their seats, Cheng Chumo, Fang Yu'ai, and the others felt somewhat constrained simply because Li Ling was present.
They had only ordered some wine and dishes when Li Ling noticed and smiled:
"Chumo, have the madam call a few courtesans over. With only wine and food and no fair maidens to accompany us, wouldn't we be slighting Master Xuanzang?"
Hearing this, Cheng Chumo silently looked toward Zhangsun Chong, Fang Yu'ai, and the others. Seeing that they all kept their heads down, he gritted his teeth.
"Fine! I'll go right now."
Before long, a few courtesans from Miaoyu Brothel streamed into the private room.
Seeing the bright, avaricious look in the young men's eyes—though they dared not speak up—Li Ling addressed the incoming courtesans:
"Don't just stand there, show off all your best tricks. Whoever performs well will be heavily rewarded."
With that, Li Ling reached into his robe, took out several ingots of gold, and placed them on the table in front of him.
"Tonight, whoever can stay up all night studying Buddhist scriptures with the Master shall have all of this gold."
As soon as the courtesans saw the gold, they forgot all else, scrambling and shoving one another. In the end, Li Ling personally pointed out two of them to sit on either side of Xuanzang.
"......"
Xuanzang closed his eyes tightly and silently chanted scriptures to himself.
Seeing this, Li Ling didn't mind at all, smiling as he drank with Cheng Chumo and the others. Armed with the aggressive conversational tactics used for entertaining clients in his past life, Li Ling quickly helped the others shed their prior restraint.
"Nat—"
Zhangsun Chong had just started to speak when a single look from Li Ling choked the words back in his throat. Zhangsun Chong was not a foolish person, and immediately corrected himself:
"Young Master... Li, drinking wine without music is missing something. Why not have Lady Ruyan come and sing a tune for us?"
"Mhm! What Zhangsun Chong said is true; drinking like this is indeed far too monotonous."
As soon as Li Ling finished speaking, a woman stood up, picked up her zither, and walked to the center of the group. Just as she was about to play, Li Ling stopped her.
"Lady Ruyan, wait a moment! I happen to have a melody here. Why don't you get familiar with it and play this tune instead?"
"This... very well... I wonder where the tune the young master speaks of is located?"
"It's in my head. Lady, please follow me to the inner chamber so I can hum it for you to hear. You'll also need to change this outfit of yours; would that be all right?"
Hearing Li Ling say they were going to the inner chamber and that she would need to change clothes, Ruyan hesitated slightly. She was a courtesan of high standing who only entertained guests with art and conversation, and did not usually take clients.
"Rest assured, lady, I am purely engaging in artistic exchange with no ulterior motives whatsoever. If the lady is willing, all of this gold will be yours."
As he spoke, Li Ling produced another five ingots of gold and laid them on the table. Seeing this, Ruyan was won over in her heart by Li Ling's casual display of vast wealth.
"In that case, I shall defer to the young master's wishes."