So what if she's my sister-in-law? You seduced me first.

Huguo Temple is less than 30 miles southeast of the capital. In midsummer, with rolling mountains, this temple, an important place for the royal family to meditate and worship Buddha, is more solemn and quiet than usual, with the chanting of Buddhist hymns filling the hall.

A monk dressed in a crimson robe stood quietly in the main hall. When he saw the woman light incense and lamps, he went over, took them, and placed them in front of the Buddha.

Ning Yu knelt devoutly on the prayer mat, listening to the monks chanting Buddhist mantras while striking the wooden fish, and gazing at the golden Buddha statue in the main hall.

There weren't many worshippers coming and going outside the hall. The incense burning in the golden censer was bright and auspicious. Xie Xun glanced at the woman who was still kneeling and became impatient to wait.

"How much longer do we have to kneel?"

The hall was solemn, but his voice, like the clash of metal against stone, broke the solemn atmosphere.

The old monk at the head of the group turned around upon hearing the commotion, clasped his hands together, and uttered a Buddhist chant to the two of them.

Ning Yu quickly whispered, "If the Commander is busy, he can go back first."

Xie Xun glanced at the Buddha statues filling the hall and said softly, "Did your copying of the Infinite Life Sutra before the Buddha, and your devout offerings, help you overcome your suffering?"

Before Ning Yu could speak, the old monk in front of him said slowly, "Benefactor, you are merciful. The Buddha has boundless vows and practices. With compassion in your heart and sincere devotion to the Buddha, you can be assured of good health."

Xie Xun turned to look at the old monk and chuckled, "There are too many men and women in the world who are devout believers. Buddha has to take care of the descendants of the east family and protect the peace of the west family. How can he have time to grant her requests?"

Having said that, he looked down at her with his eyes lowered, "It's better to ask me than to ask Buddha."

Strands of light clung to his face, making his handsome, deep features appear to her like a demon from the cycle of reincarnation, a harbinger of death. Ning Yu wanted to ask, "What's the use of begging? Will you let me go?"

"I remember the meditation room I stayed in when I was copying scriptures at the temple was in the backyard. Would the Commander like to go there?"

After leaving the main hall, Ning Yu clung to his arm and led them through the walkway toward the back courtyard. Pilgrims occasionally passed through the path, and her gaze swept across the crowd seemingly unintentionally, as if she were searching for something.

When Xie Xun heard her recount what happened at the temple, he smiled gently and said, "What people say is that a life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body. Does this count as sacrificing one's body?"

Ning Yu cursed him in her heart for being shameless, and retorted, "The Governor is indeed no better than the Liang people."

Popular belief holds that the people of Liang wear their hair loose and their robes fastened on the left, calling them barbaric scoundrels. Xie Xun often heard these jokes during his years of fighting, saying that the people of Liang were transformed jackals and that they could eat people.

He bent down and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. "How about I show you the methods of a barbarian scoundrel later?"

"---"

"The Xie family has produced many talented scholars. I heard that the governor was raised by a famous scholar who did not serve in the government. He was taught the four natures and five flavors of a ruler, minister, assistant, and servant. I'm afraid your master didn't know about the governor's lustful nature."

"I'd say I'm half your mentor."

"What kind of master?" Her master's surname wasn't Xie.

Seeing her stunned expression, he teased, "I taught you the proper etiquette and manners of marriage; wouldn't that make me half your teacher?"

"---"

Ning Yu choked up, not wanting to talk to him anymore, and after a few words they ended up on the bed.

"That governor is probably the mentor of many people."

"Haven't you heard the saying that men are all self-taught?"

"---"

The meditation room was still the same as before, and the layout of the courtyard had not changed either. Ning Yu did not see Xie Yun along the way. Just as she was about to go around to the back mountain, she heard the man say that he was sleepy and wanted to go to sleep.

He wasn't sleepy at all; he clearly wanted to sleep with her and would eventually be drained of all his energy.

"This is a temple." She hurriedly reached out and pushed him.

Xie Xun pulled her close, holding her by the waist. "Do you know how to absorb vital energy?"

He always said all sorts of nonsense in bed. Ning Yu didn't want to pay attention to him, but then she heard him say, "My skills are high. Giving you nourishment will benefit you."

Ning Yu had heard that some people in the martial arts world relied on absorbing yin energy to replenish yang and soothe the chaotic energy within their bodies. She didn't have any internal energy, so even if he poured all his essence and energy into her, she wouldn't be able to use her internal energy.

"I've been in the carriage for an hour, and I'm a little tired. I'd like to take a nap first."

"You sleep yours, I'll sleep mine."

"---"

Ning Yu didn't have a chance to say what she was going to say before she was forced down onto the bed. She kicked her legs in anger, but she couldn't beat the scoundrel. She couldn't help but think of the dual cultivation method he had just mentioned.

----

Inside the main hall.

Xie Yun went straight to the front hall after climbing the mountain. There were very few pilgrims coming and going, and he circled around but couldn't find Ning Yu.

"The shopkeeper said that the girl came to buy some cold rice cakes for her master, who was supposedly going to use them at the temple."

The steward's reply flashed through his mind. He frowned and looked at the monk striking the wooden fish in the hall before stepping forward.

"What brings you here, benefactor?"

Xie Yun was poisoned when he was young and his health has been poor ever since. He was anxious when he first came up the mountain, and now his face is very pale.

"May I ask, Master, have you seen this person at the temple?"

The guard beside him suddenly opened a portrait. After looking at the portrait, the monk shook his head and said, "I have never seen it before."

"Were there any beautiful women who came to worship Buddha today?"

"In the eyes of this old monk, every flower and every leaf in the world is like the various forms of sentient beings, without distinction of favor or disfavor."

"---"

The old monk pointed to the incense lamps placed beside him, "You may take a look over here, benefactor."

Xie Yun was puzzled. He followed the old monk's hand and saw the burning incense lamp. He went over and looked at it carefully, but found nothing wrong with it.

"Your Highness, it seems that some important person has come to the temple today. There are quite a few soldiers patrolling the Zen monastery."

Soon after, Frostblade returned with the scout's report.

Xie Yun immediately walked out of the main hall and headed towards the back courtyard of the meditation room.

Huguo Temple is a royal temple. A few months ago, it was attacked by assassins who burned down Qinglingtai, destroying many murals. The craftsmen in the palace have been repairing it in the temple for some time now.

As dusk settled, the noise inside the house subsided. Xie Xun got out of bed, glanced at the sleeping woman, put on his clothes, and left the courtyard.

Qingfeng was waiting outside the courtyard. Xie Xun slowly descended the stone steps, and Qingfeng immediately handed over the booklet obtained from the interrogation, saying, "This was just delivered. Please take a look, Master."

Xie Xun casually flipped through the items and remembered the incense lamp in the main hall. "Go and fetch the incense lamp she used to burn."

"Yes."

"By the way, King Zhao is also in the temple, seemingly looking for someone."

Xie Xun wasn't surprised at all. He gave a cold smirk and said, "Then let's invite him over for a chat."