"Why has Benefactor Ruyan returned?"
Xuanzang asked the question weighing on his mind. Ruyan smoothed her dark hair and knelt gracefully before him.
"From a young age, Ruyan has cherished the Dharma, yet alas, I drifted into this dusty world of floating life. Today, fate has brought me the chance to meet the Master. I beg the Master to expound the scriptures for me."
"Very well. Then this poor monk shall expound a scripture for Benefactor Ruyan, hoping it may offer you some aid."
Although Ruyan was a high-class courtesan who sold only her art, she had grown up in this world of flesh and wine and naturally knew how to captivate a man. Her large eyes filled with pure adoration as she watched Xuanzang speak in an endless flow of wisdom.
After a long while, Xuanzang stopped preaching. Seeing the look in Ruyan's eyes, his Buddhist heart trembled once more. It seemed he now understood what Li Ling had meant earlier, and he silently resolved to help these people of Miaoyu Brothel escape their sea of suffering.
"Today, Ruyan has been blessed to hear the Master's discourse, and I have benefited immensely. However, I cannot stay long, or I shall face punishment. Please forgive me, Master!"
Ruyan slowly stood up. Perhaps because she had knelt for so long, her legs went numb, and she staggered, nearly falling.
Instinctively, Xuanzang reached out to steady her. As their bodies brushed closely together, Ruyan could clearly feel Xuanzang's body trembling slightly, and she gently pulled away.
"Thank you for your support, Master!"
"Benefactor Ruyan, your hand..."
Hearing Xuanzang's words, Ruyan acted as if only just noticing. She looked down at the finger she had cut earlier, where blood was once again seeping through.
"I am fine, Master. I still have other guests to attend to, so I cannot stay long with you."
Moving with a graceful sway, Ruyan walked toward the door.
"Benefactor Ruyan, you are injured. Can you not rest for a single day?"
"Ah! A small wound like this is nothing. I once had a sister who refused to take clients because of an injury, and all she got in return was a brutal whipping. Here in Miaoyu Brothel, how many of us can truly call the shots for ourselves?"
With those words, Ruyan opened the door and stepped outside.
"Wait!"
Ruyan turned back, her eyes filled with tender affection as she looked at Xuanzang and smiled warmly.
"Does the Master have anything else to say to Ruyan?"
"This..."
Seeing Xuanzang stammering and hesitating, a look of sorrow crossed Ruyan's eyes. She turned back around and walked out.
"Might this poor monk request Benefactor Ruyan's company?"
Ruyan stopped in her tracks, turned back to look at Xuanzang, and after a long moment, let out a soft smile.
"No need. Ruyan does not need anyone's pity. Besides, you may pay for my company today, Master, but what about tomorrow?"
Ruyan lingered no longer and headed out into the hallway. At that exact moment, a shout echoed from one of the rooms.
"Why hasn't Ruyan come yet? Didn't you say she was free?"
"Please wait a moment, sir, Ruyan will be right there."
Then, an angry, bellowing voice rang out: "Ruyan! Ruyan! Where the hell did you die off to? Just slap a bandage on that finger and hurry up to wait on Old Master Qian, or you won't be eating dinner tonight!"
"Understood!"
Watching Ruyan's retreating figure and listening to the chorus of chaotic noises, Xuanzang's brow furrowed tightly. Within his heart brewed a boundless sense of reluctance—the Buddha vows to deliver all living beings, so why was he incapable of saving even a woman like Ruyan?
Suddenly, Xuanzang recalled Li Ling's words from earlier: *How about Master Xuanzang holds his Dharma assemblies right here in Miaoyu Brothel? Since all living beings are equal, how does Miaoyu Brothel differ from the world outside?*
At this thought, Xuanzang lingered no longer. He headed out of Miaoyu Brothel, wandering aimlessly through the streets until he no longer knew where he was.
Back at his estate, Li Ling watched the scene unfold through his immortal senses and smiled faintly.
"Seeking scriptures? If you can manage to walk out of this Chang'an City, I'll concede defeat!"
"Ding! Host has successfully shattered Xuanzang's Buddhist heart. Current collapse progress of the Buddhist heart: twenty percent. Please keep up the good work, Host."
The system's prompt instantly lifted Li Ling's spirits, and he quickly checked the system reward.
The cultivation was directly infused into his current innate physical body. In an instant, Li Ling transformed from a mortal into an Earth Immortal. The heaven-defying array patterns around his body lit up automatically, completely concealing his cultivation level.
In addition, Li Ling obtained a magical treasure named the *Yuanyang Book*, whose function was similar to the red string held by Old Man Yue. One only needed to write the names of a man and a woman in this *Yuanyang Book*, mix their blood together, and link their names to forge a predestined marriage.
Seeing this, Li Ling was momentarily stunned. Was the system trying to make him arrange a romance for Xuanzang? Yet how could a mere mortal romance ever be worthy of the identity of the Golden Cicada? Since ancient times, only trials of the heart and passionate love were the hardest to cross.
After pondering for a moment, Li Ling wrote down the names of Xuanzang and Ruyan first, planning to find a way to acquire a drop of their blood later. As for other candidates, Li Ling already had someone in mind.
When Fang Yu'ai returned to the Fang Estate, it was already late.
Seeing only Fang Yu'ai return alone, Fang Xuanling immediately barked in demand: "Why have you returned alone? Where is Xuanzang?"
Fang Yu'ai shrank back, his voice trembling as he stammered, "Xuan... Xuanzang didn't come back? He left early, I thought he had already returned!"
"Hmph! If he had returned, why would I be asking you? Where did you take Xuanzang? Why is he gone while you have no idea?"
"We didn't go anywhere! We were just wandering around Chang'an City."
"You still dare to lie to this old man? Judging by the stench of alcohol on you, did you dump Xuanzang to go drinking with your pack of good-for-nothing friends?"
"Dad, I really didn't dump Xuanzang! Chumo and I brought him to Miaoyu Brothel and told him to wait for me, but he left on his own!"
Flustered, Fang Yu'ai blurted it out without thinking.
Hearing this, Fang Xuanling's fury flared even higher. He spun around, snatched up the 'loving father's stick,' and began beating Fang Yu'ai across the back.
"Miaoyu Brothel?! You actually had the gall to cause such chaos! Xuanzang is a man who has left the mortal world behind, and you actually dragged him to a brothel! Today I am going to beat you to death, you scoundrel!"
"Stop hitting me, Dad, stop hitting me! The National Preceptor gave me permission to go!"
"You still dare to lie to me! How could Brother Li ever permit you to do such an absurd thing? See if I don't beat you to death today!"
Fang Xuanling chased Fang Yu'ai around, raining blows down with the stick. Lady Lu, alerted by the commotion, hurried over.
"Stop! Do you intend to beat Yu'ai to death?"
Seeing Lady Lu step in front of Fang Yu'ai, Fang Xuanling let out a cold snort. "Step aside and ask him what he did today! He actually dared to take Xuanzang to that den of flowers and smoke."
Lady Lu turned her gaze to Fang Yu'ai.
"Mother, I'm not lying! It really was the National Preceptor who gave us permission. Chumo and Zhangsun Chong can both vouch for me!"
Lady Lu whipped her head around and glared at Fang Xuanling. "Old man, you heard him! Yu'ai says it was Eldest Brother who permitted it."
"Hmph! Wife, don't listen to this brat's wild nonsense! How could Brother Li ever approve of such an outrage? Step aside and let me thrash this beast!"
"If you're going to beat him, you might as well beat me to death right along with him!"
"Wife, you..."
Just then, the voice of the gatekeeper rang out. "Master, there is a squad of Golden Guards outside saying they caught a suspicious monk who claims to know you."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling hurriedly tossed aside the 'loving father's stick' and strode quickly toward the estate gates.
Seeing that it was indeed Xuanzang, he finally let out a sigh of relief and ushered him into the estate.
As soon as they stepped inside, they saw Lady Lu weeping and Fang Yu'ai covered in bruises. Xuanzang could not help but ask, "Benefactor, what is this..."
"Xuanzang, go back and rest first. This little beast actually lied to me, claiming Brother Li permitted him to take you to that den of smoke and flowers. Hmph!"
"He did not lie; it is indeed the truth. Moreover, this poor monk believes that place of smoke and flowers is no different from any other place. The Buddha says all living beings are equal."
Fang Xuanling was momentarily stunned, then suddenly laughed. "As expected of Master Xuanzang, your mastery of the Dharma is profound. In that case, today I shall spare this wretched boy."
Seeing this, Lady Lu hurriedly helped Fang Yu'ai to his feet and led him toward the back courtyard. As she listened to the sound of her husband and this Xuanzang exchanging friendly laughter behind her, a look of profound resentment flashed through her eyes.