Chapter 182: The Girl and the Monk

Waking up early one morning, Yao Xiu tied her long smooth hair up into adorable twin-tails.

Looking at her makeup-free yet still extremely delicate and pretty face, she nodded in satisfaction. Humming a tune, she left her room.

Today, she was going to practice Joker?Xue’s?1?“I Seem to Have Seen You Somewhere”. After interacting with her idol in recent days, she started to develop a better understanding of his taste. The songs she sang went from the likes of “My Motherland” to more popular and in vogue titles.

Taking light and graceful steps, Yao Xiu walked along a small bluestone path. She could get a better feel for the songs if she practiced in a more serene environment.

Just like that, she arrived at the place where she always practiced. However, she discovered an unfamiliar figure here.

A Buddhist monk with finely chiseled features sat meditating atop a gigantic boulder.

“Huh… It’s a monk?” Yao Xiu tilted her head slightly. If she remembered correctly, their school didn’t have any monks.

Suddenly, she came to a realization and her eyes lit up.

That’s right, the Dao Exchange Conference of the Four Powers is almost about to begin. The Buddhist Kingdom of the West also has to send representatives over. This monk is probably a representative for the Buddhist Kingdom or part of their entourage!

If that’s the case, then he’s my idol’s enemy!

The flames of responsibility as a fan burned within her. She felt that it was time to help An Lin gather the enemy’s information.

As if he was meditating or in deep thought, the monk’s eyes were tightly shut.

M-hm… Let’s wake him up with a human alarm first.

Stroking her chin lightly, Yao Xiu reached a decision in her mind. She walked up next to the monk and looked toward the distant sky. Then, she started to sing unhurriedly. “So everywhere is like happiness being ignited, just like when you were in the class next door. People buried their unspeakable love in the soil, they stood by watching and trying to distance themselves. I heard your voice, I hid my fear to meet you in my heart…”

Her voice was beautiful and the melody of the song was pleasant. However, it caused the monk to slightly furrow his brows.

Seeing this, Yao Xiu tilted her head up in triumph and continued to sing.

Hehe. You continue with your meditation, and I’ll continue with my singing!

Finally, the monk opened his eyes and looked at the girl who was dressed in green.

There was no sign of anger or irritation on his face. Instead, he put his palms together and bowed slightly at her. Then, he started to walk away.

“Hah? Monk, why are you leaving just like that~”

Seeing the monk leave wordlessly, Yao Xiu couldn’t help but call out in panic.

The monk was a bit puzzled as he looked towards Yao Xiu. “Benefactress, this humble monk felt that meditating here would disturb your singing. So, I chose to leave.”

“It’s no bother at all! Why don’t you continue meditating here?” Yao Xiu chuckled.

The monk grimaced. What did she mean no bother? Did he really have to say that he was leaving because the benefactress was disturbing his meditation?

“Ah, that’s right! May I please ask for this eminent monk’s name?” Yao Xiu continued with the friendly chatter.

The monk put his palms together and said kindly, “I dare not consider myself an eminent monk. The clerical name of this humble monk is Qing Zhi.”

“Oh, hi, my name is Yao Xiu!” Saying this, Yao Xiu politely extended her hand out toward the monk.

Looking at her outstretched hand, Qing Zhi was a bit dazed and he shrunk back slightly. “Um… My master told me that I can’t indulge myself in womanly lust, sorry.”

“Hah? Shaking hands counts as indulging in womanly lust?” Yao Xiu’s bright eyes widened in incredulity.

Qing Zhi’s face flushed slightly red, and he turned his gaze away from her.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen beautiful women before. However, he had never had any physical contact with other females before. Thus, he instinctively turned down the offer for a handshake.

He had meditated in recluse at the Varicolored Stone Forest for twenty years and his mind was devoid of filth. However, it was also because his mind was like a blank canvas that he was more susceptible to the enticements of the secular world.

Yao Xiu didn’t mind that her offer for a handshake was rejected. She clasped her hands behind her back and looked Qing Zhi up and down in interest.

Her gaze made Qing Zhi feel a little uncomfortable. He bowed slightly and said, “Benefactress, if there’s no other matter, then this humble monk will take his leave.”

“Hang on! May I ask… Who are the representatives of the Buddhist Kingdom?”

Qing Zhi just wanted to leave quickly. Thus, he promptly answered, “It’s this humble monk and his two fellow junior monks, Qing Yan and Qing Xin.”

Hearing this, Yao Xiu drew in a sharp breath. Looking at the monk with finely chiseled features, she exclaimed, “No joke?!”

Qing Zhi put his palms together and said solemnly, “Monks do not tell lies.”

“Then what are your cultivation bases?”

Yao Xiu felt that Qing Zhi was easy to talk to, thus she continued to ask him questions.

“This…” There was a reluctant look on Qing Zhi’s face.

“I’ll let you go if you tell me!” Yao Xiu chuckled.

“My cultivation base is Half-Step Soul Formation Stage,” Qing Zhi answered immediately. “Both my fellow junior monks are of the Spirit Nurturing Final Stage!”

Hearing this, Yao Xiu nodded in satisfaction. By the looks of it, their school had this Dao Exchange Conference in the bag.

“Benefactress, this humble monk will take his leave now.”

Just as Qing Zhi turned to leave, a crisp voice sounded from behind him.

“Oi, Qing Zhi!”

Qing Zhi turned his head around. “What’s up?”

“Stop calling me benefactress all the time, I have a name you know. In the future, just call me Miss Xiu!” The girl in green smiled sweetly.

Under the warm glow of the sun, her smile appeared especially beautiful.

“M-Miss Xiu?” Gazing at the girl before him, Qing Zhi felt his heart stir slightly.

“M-hm!” Hearing Qing Zhi address her by her name, Yao Xiu smiled and nodded.

For some reason, Qing Zhi’s mind was no longer tranquil and calm like before.

He was alarmed by this, and he nodded at Yao Xiu before quickly shifting his gaze away. Then, he walked away flustered.

Seeing the monk leave in a panic, Yao Xiu covered her mouth and chuckled. “This monk feels so dopey. He’s definitely no match for my idol.”

Initially, she had still wanted to tease this monk a little more. However, seeing him cooperating so sincerely, she couldn’t bring herself to continue teasing him. So, she decided to let him leave.

“Alright, I’ll skip singing practice today. I need to pass this information on to An Lin as quickly as possible. That way, he can get himself mentally prepared!” Yao Xiu was brimming with excitement as she walked down the mountain. As she envisioned An Lin gazing at her with newfound respect in his eyes, she became increasingly worked up.

Meanwhile, a gigantic ark broke through the layers of cloud and flew over from a distance.

The ark was light maize in color, and it appeared primitively simple yet impressive. Two wings of light spanning thousands of feet in length flapped on either side of the ark. The entire ark was shrouded in a white glow, making it appear ethereal and holy.

From another direction, a silvery-white disc also flew over slowly.

Its outer shell looked solid, and it had a rich metallic luster. Under it, lightning crackled and arced about. Unknowing observers would perhaps think that it was some sort of mechanical contraption. In reality, it was actually an enormous creature.

Within the circular disc, there were tree-people whose bodies were entangled in roots and branches, rock golems whose chests’ spit flames, and a bizarre creature who picked off and ate with relish the fruits growing on its own body.

These creatures came from the Creation Realm and were the supreme prodigies of the Hall of Creation. Gazing toward the floating continent which had already appeared in their view, a look of eagerness and excitement appeared on their faces.

Victory in this Dao Exchange Conference would definitely belong to them!