Xu Lei froze when his eyes suddenly met hers.
His previous encounters with her had always been in a small, dimly lit room.
Back then, the female Devotee had been disheveled, repressed, and alluring.
At other times, she had been bewildered, wanton, and wild.
But she was a world apart from the woman standing before him in broad daylight.
Now, she was poised, gentle, and elegant.
Her pinned-up hair and exquisite Brocade Clothing were perfectly tasteful.
"Little master, impressive skills."
A faint smile touched the female Devotee's pretty face. She clapped her hands lightly and asked in a charming voice, "Are you a Martial Monk?"
"Amitabha Buddha. Greetings, madam."
Xu Lei relaxed his training stance and pressed his palms together. "I am not a Martial Monk. This is just some amateurish practice to stay fit."
Of course, at the same time, Xu Lei was wondering to himself, 'Why did this female Devotee suddenly come over to talk to me?'
'Did I slip up somewhere? Does she know that I was the one who performed the Charitable Giving for her?'
"Not a Martial Monk? You looked quite proficient just now."
The female Devotee smiled. "I was even thinking that if I have a son, I'd send him to your temple to learn martial arts. Of course, if it's a girl, that probably wouldn't work."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei replied, "Men and women are equal. A son or a daughter, both are gifts from heaven."
"I am enlightened."
The female Devotee also pressed her palms together. "The Buddha is merciful, and all beings are equal. Indeed, whether a son or a daughter, both are gifts from heaven and deserve to be cherished."
The female Devotee and Xu Lei didn't speak for long, only exchanging a few simple words.
She gave no indication that she knew Xu Lei was the father of the child in her womb.
Just as her husband was finishing his conversation with one of the temple's senior monks, the female Devotee took her leave from Xu Lei.
"I was fortunate to receive your guidance today, little master."
Before she left, however, the female Devotee paused and turned back. "I haven't had the chance to ask for your monastic name, little master."
「Ten minutes later.」
The female Devotee rejoined her husband.
They smiled at each other, held hands, and descended the mountain together.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Watching them leave, Xu Lei softly chanted the Buddha's name.
He suspected the female Devotee had already guessed something. That she had pieced together the clues and deduced that he was the Zen Master Bu Zhong who had performed the Charitable Giving for her.
Although he and the female Devotee had been intimate many times, their connection was purely physical, with very little conversation.
Aside from the first time, when Xu Lei had spoken a little, he had mostly remained silent. It was just endless Charitable Giving, Charitable Giving, Charitable Giving—relentless Charitable Giving.
Thus, Xu Lei couldn't be sure if the female Devotee was a clever woman.
Perhaps she was.
In that case, she might have figured it out.
But there was no need to pursue the truth of the matter.
The female Devotee hadn't said anything.
So naturally, Xu Lei wouldn't bring it up.
Perhaps, through those nights of passion, the female Devotee had developed special feelings for Xu Lei.
But their connection was purely physical. There was no guarantee they would be compatible if they were to actually live together.
It was just as he always thought.
Once she had a child, it was best for both of them to go their separate ways.
Otherwise, an act of merit could easily turn into a transgression.
The whole reason people came to the Buddhist Sect to pray for a child, rather than finding a surrogate father among the common folk, was precisely to avoid the messy complications that followed, wasn't it?
That was why, when the female Devotee had asked for his monastic name, Xu Lei had simply deflected with a few generic Zen platitudes and moved on.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Just then, Qi De appeared, draped in his kasaya. "Junior Brother Wu Tan," he said, "you've worked hard. A job well done.
By the way, Junior Brother Wu Tan, my other junior brother's injuries have improved significantly.
However, the Head Temple wants to transfer him to another monastery to serve as its Host.
Which means Longyuan Temple will be without a Supervisor Zen Master for our seed-sowing operations.
I intend to make you Longyuan Temple's new Seed Sowing Supervisor Zen Master. What are your thoughts?"
"Huh?"
Xu Lei was slightly taken aback. "I've only been at the temple for a little over a month. Is it appropriate for me to become a Supervisor Zen Master so soon?"
Naturally, Xu Lei very much wanted the position of Seed Sowing Supervisor Zen Master.
Buddhist Sect temples were not without their rules.
In fact, they were governed by all sorts of regulations and precepts.
A hierarchy of control, layer upon layer.
The ranks were clearly defined.
If he could become the Seed Sowing Supervisor Zen Master, Xu Lei would be able to manage all of Longyuan Temple's seed-sowing affairs.
For instance, he would be the one to decide which monk would perform the Charitable Giving for which female Devotee.
"Here at Longyuan Temple, what I say goes,"
Qi De stated bluntly. "You saved my junior brother. Making you a Supervisor Zen Master is nothing.
Besides, you handled this recent seed-sowing matter very well. This latest benefactress donated a great deal of incense money.
Furthermore, you were taught by a reclusive master. You're no ordinary monk. Talent like yours shouldn't be wasted.
The seed-sowing business is also a rather clandestine affair, a post typically held only by someone the Host trusts.
After all, if any trouble were to arise, the repercussions could be severe.
And besides, some of our disciples are illiterate; they can only parrot along when reading Buddhist Scriptures.
How could someone like that serve as a Supervisor Zen Master?
But the most important thing is temperament.
To be a Zen Master Bu Zhong, one must be able to withstand temptation.
In the past, when a Zen Master Bu Zhong performed the act of seed-sowing, they would sometimes even drug the female Devotee unconscious.
This was to guarantee the female Devotee would never discover which Zen Master Bu Zhong it was.
This time, the fact that you and the female Devotee were both semi-conscious during the act was something I arranged intentionally.
I wanted to test your discipline.
It seems now that you are worthy of trust.
Even a female Devotee of such exceptional beauty couldn't make you deviate from the rules.
Worthy of a disciple of a reclusive master.
Therefore, I feel more at ease entrusting this matter to you.
Of course, this is entirely voluntary. If you feel that the act of Charitable Giving is detrimental to your spiritual practice, Junior Brother,
then I, your senior brother, will certainly not force you."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Hearing this, Xu Lei stopped hesitating and said directly, "Since Senior Brother has placed his trust in me, it would be improper for me to refuse."
'I have heard the tales of the Buddha carving off his own flesh to feed an eagle. Today, I, Wu Tan, shall sow seeds with my own body!'
'I am the only one for this role of Seed Sowing Supervisor Zen Master!'
"Amitabha Buddha."
Qi De also chimed in, "Junior Brother is truly worthy of being a reclusive master's disciple. Your Buddhist heart is true, and your roots of wisdom run deep."
In short.
And just like that,
thanks to the Anti-Inflammatory Medicine, his excellent performance in the recent seed-sowing, his decent level of education, and gaining Qi De's trust, Xu Lei became the Seed Sowing Supervisor Zen Master of Longyuan Temple.
「Ten days later.」
To Xu Lei's disappointment, although two more pairs of Devotees seeking children had come to Longyuan Temple over the past ten days, both couples were as ugly as sin.
Thus, Xu Lei had no choice but to let the other seed-sowing disciples perform the Charitable Giving.
After all, if he were to perform the Charitable Giving himself, he might accidentally "improve their genes."
If the resulting child turned out handsome, the family's neighbors would start to gossip.
They'd say the child belonged to the guy next door.
That, of course, would not do.
It would violate the rules for a Zen Master Bu Zhong.
'Now that I'm in charge of the seed-sowing operation… the foot traffic is still too low.
I need to find a way to get the word out about Longyuan Temple.
I need to pull in a bigger stream of child-seeking clients!
Then, when the female Devotees come seeking children, I'll personally handle the Charitable Giving for the beautiful ones.
The average-looking ones can be handled by the other seed-sowing disciples.'