Deep in the Zhou village at night, the world was silent, with only soft moonlight falling on this vast expanse.
After Yuyao distracted the Jueming, her gaze fell upon the man before her as waterlike, a trace of slyness flickered in her eyes. Softly she said, "Master, don't worry. I'll help you expel the poison."
As she spoke, her slender and delicate hand gently landed on Xuanjì's back. The movement seemed to be aimed at forcing out the poison, yet it was filled with teasing and temptation.
Xuanjì shook violently, the desire poison in his body was about to erupt, he struggled to maintain the last trace of clarity, suddenly stood up, panicked expression retreated.
He frantically pulled away from Yuyao, afraid that their bodies might touch.
"Yu Sanzhu, this poison is severe. Don't come near, or you might get affected."
His words were tinged with a slight tremble that was difficult to contain, the fear of the surging desire poison within him, and the deep fear that he might not be able to keep his vow of purity and self-control.
Yuyao sighed softly, "Master, your words are mistaken. Saving a life is better than building a seven-storey Stupa, especially for someone as noble as you, a great monk. Although I am a monster, I also know the difference between good and evil. How can I not save someone in danger?"
She spoke as she slowly approached, the fragrance of her body seemed to become more intense as she drew closer.
Xuanjì's heart tightened, the toxicity within him seemed to be further ramped up by the fragrance.
He had an inexplicable fondness for Yuyao, but due to his own identity and precepts, he had always dared not cross the line, and he was also afraid that it might ruin years of his cultivation.
At this moment, under the influence of the desire poison, his willpower was even weaker, and he couldn't help but develop an uncontrollable desire for her.
He felt that she was so enchanting, as if a poppy flower blooming in the dark night.
Terrified, fearing he might lose control and do something against the Dharma, he weakly shouted loudly, "Yu Mistress, you must go! Go quickly..."
"Master, what are you saying? How could I abandon you?"
Yuyao did not leave, but instead, her body got closer and closer to Xuanjì. He could feel her temperature and breath.
Her hair strands gently swept across his cheek, bringing a tingling sensation.
Xuanjì suddenly opened his eyes, and a faint pain and struggle flashed in them.
He knew that he was about to lose control, so he pushed her away violently, and ran recklessly as if to escape from the smothering temptation.
He silently recited sutras, trying to suppress the surging desire poison with the power of Buddhism.
"Amid the Western Paradise, Peaceful and Harmonious, I'm sorry for my transgressions..."
His weak voice was instantly scattered by the gentle breeze.
Yuyao was taken aback and, seeing Xuanjì running, had to follow quickly.
At first, she was puzzled as to where this man was going, but she followed him all the way to the river.
This river runs through the entire Zhou village, meandering and winding forward, like a sleeping giant dragon, without an end in sight, unknown to where it flows.
The moonlight poured down like water, sparkling on the river surface, as if a flowing silver ribbon.
The gentle breeze blows across, stirring up tiny waves. Waterbirds occasionally call out from the reed beds along the riverbank.
Xuanjì dives into the river without hesitation.
A "plunk," the splash of water scattered, causing ripples to ripple out.
He submerged his entire body in the freezing cold river water, the chill like countless ice needles instantly attacked, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.
At the same time, his mind became a bit clearer.
Yuyao stood on the riverbank, watching this scene, secretly rolling her eyes, and was extremely speechless in her heart.
She thought that tonight she could finally get hold of this man, but she didn't expect that this man had such strong willpower. He actually jumped into the river, trying to use cold water to suppress the desire poison.
Although she was silently cursing internally, her expression was one of concern, and she called out worriedly, "Master, come up quickly! The river water is extremely cold, and it's even colder at night. You can't stay in there like this; you'll catch a cold."
Xuanjì paid no heed, constantly reciting sutras, trying to suppress the desire poison with the power of the cold river water and the sutras.
However, the poison of the scorpion spirit was indeed tyrannical, and although the cold river water had helped him clear his mind a bit, it was not enough to expel the poison.
Even suppression was impossible.
Yuyao stood on the riverbank, watching the struggling Xuanjì in the water, her heart was extremely complicated. To be honest, she even wanted to give up this mission at this moment.
Xuanjì was a high monk of Buddhism, and she was taking him down for the sake of completing the task. Would that be too selfish?
"Master Xuanjì..."
Yuyao called out softly, her voice carrying a trace of unnoticeable tenderness, "Master Xuanjì... you persist in adhering to your precepts, do you know that all things in the world are endowed with feelings? The desire poison of the scorpion spirit is extremely domineering. If you continue to resist, you will die."
Xuanjì barely opened his eyes in the freezing river water, seeing Yuyao's worried eyes full of concern, his heart couldn't help but tremble. He struggled to speak, but found that his voice had been swallowed by the water.
"I understand what's in your heart, and I know the difficulties and persistence you have as a monk."
Yuyao continued speaking, her tone containing both understanding and reluctance, "If you die, who will then fight against demons and protect the people? When that happens, there will be more demons causing trouble in the world, and the people will suffer greatly. Is that not a greater sin?"
Xuanjì listened to Yuyao's words in the water, his heart filled with various emotions.
He knew that what she said was not without reason, but his years of cultivation and the precepts in his heart made it difficult for him to make a choice.
Yuyao looked at the expression of pain and struggle in Xuanjì, hesitated for a moment, and transformed into a streak of light, jumping into the river straight towards Xuanjì.
She hugged him without any hesitation, using her own body heat to warm his cold body.
"Yuyao Mistress, you…" Xuanjì was shocked, but more than that, he felt a mix of gratitude and struggle.
He wanted to push her away, but he was unable to resist the desire and dependence that came from his heart.
"Master Xuanjì, as long as you bring more blessings to the people and do more good deeds, wouldn't that be better than adhering strictly to your precepts every day but doing nothing?"
Yuyao's voice echoed softly in Xuanjì's ear, filled with unshakeable determination, "Let me help you detox. After tonight, I will accompany you to travel the world and benefit the people. Will that be alright?"
Xuanjì looked into Yuyao's determined and affectionate eyes, his heart filled with a mix of emotions. His voice trembled as he said, "Yu Mistress, how can I live up to the Buddhist sect and the sentient beings if I break my vows in this way?"
Yuyao gently stroked his face, speaking softly, "Master, you have a compassionate heart. Exorcising demons and protecting the world is for the sake of all sentient beings. Now, detoxifying and saving your life is also for the purpose of saving more people. This is not breaking precepts, but following the will of heaven."
Xuanjì stared at her, his mental defenses finally weakening a little. He sighed deeply, "Well, perhaps this really is fate's arrangement."
He slowly closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek and mingling with the cold river water.
In the night sky, stars were scattered, their brilliant light piercing through the thin clouds to illuminate the silhouette of them embracing in the water.
Eventually, Xuanjì gave up resisting and embraced Yuyao in the cold river water.
The river gently enveloped them, their bodies swaying gently with the water, as if they had become one with it.
The breeze swept over the river surface, causing tiny ripples to form in circles, also tousling their hair.
The fish in the water seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere and swam quietly away to the distance.
That night, with the gentle breeze blowing and the water waves rippling, they immersed themselves in each other's warmth in the water, forgetting all constraints and taboos.
After this night, the desire poison dispersed.
In the morning, the sun's rays pierced through the thin morning mist and fell on their two bodies.
Xuanjì slowly opened his eyes, and at first, his eyes were filled with confusion. Then, they were filled with guilt.
He looked at the woman lying beside him, still asleep, her eyebrows furrowed and lips tightly pursed. His heart was filled with complex emotions.
Yuyao slowly awakened, her eyes half-closed, and upon seeing Xuanjì's expression, the smile on her face vanished instantly. She asked carefully, "Master, are you regretting it?"
Xuanjì remained silent, only sighing deeply and walking away towards the distance.
Yuyao was not sad. She understood Xuanjì's feelings and adjusted her clothes. She swallowed a dragon and phoenix pill silently, and then her steps followed Xuanjì.
