"Then today, I shall be your hell and temper that Buddhist heart of yours, Little Divine Monk," Consort Li said, immediately lunging forward and embracing Xu Lei.
"Amitabha Buddha," Xu Lei chanted. He reached out, wrapped his arm around Consort Li's smooth, slender waist, and kissed her cherry-red lips.
"Amitabha Buddha," Consort Li chanted as well.
Soon after, the sound of "Amitabha Buddha" began to echo continuously throughout the Almsgiving Room.
「Ten days later.」
On this day, in the Almsgiving Room.
Ever since that night Consort Li had been filled with solemn respect, Xu Lei had performed Charitable Giving for her for ten nights straight.
That evening.
Xu Lei had just arrived in the Almsgiving Room.
"Little Divine Monk, after tonight, I must leave."
Consort Li stepped forward and held Xu Lei tightly, her voice tender. "This is the last night. Whether I can conceive a child all depends on this. I must ask you to labor hard tonight, Divine Monk. If I still do not conceive, then it is my fate, and I will accept it."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Sensing her anxiety, Xu Lei said frankly, "Actually, Benefactress, you have already conceived."
"Ah?"
Consort Li was astonished, her soft lips parting slightly. "Why haven't I felt anything? Little Divine Monk, how did you sense it?"
"I sensed it through the Buddhist Dharma."
Xu Lei continued, "If I say you have conceived, then you have conceived. A monk does not lie. You may rest easy, Benefactress."
"I have no reason to doubt your words, Divine Monk."
Consort Li's beautiful eyes darted about. She suddenly leaned in mischievously, her orchid-like breath washing over him. "You possess Divine Power and can sense whether I have conceived," she said. "Tell me, did I conceive just now, or was it a few days ago?"
"Amitabha Buddha."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lei simply closed his eyes and chanted, "A sin, a sin."
"I understand, Little Divine Monk."
Consort Li smiled—a sweet, beautiful, radiant smile. She bowed gracefully, her long hair cascading down, as enchanting as a fox spirit. "Since I have already conceived, tonight is not for conceiving a child," she said in a sultry voice. "As a farewell gift, allow me to serve you tonight, Divine Monk."
「The next day.」
Consort Li emerged from the same room as Yu Fengying.
For the past ten days, her official story was that she had been sleeping in the same room as her "sister," Yu Fengying.
She had been secretly drugging Yu Fengying unconscious before heading to the Almsgiving Room.
At that moment, a group of Guards arrived to escort Consort Li away.
Before leaving, she donated a large sum of incense money to the temple.
This made Qi De so happy that he chanted "Amitabha Buddha" several extra times.
Xu Lei did not go out to see Consort Li off.
Nor did Consort Li come to say another farewell to Xu Lei.
After all, they had said all their goodbyes the night before.
However, Xu Lei still watched secretly from afar as Consort Li departed.
Before descending the mountain, Consort Li turned her head and glanced back at the temple one last time.
A shimmering light flickered in her beautiful eyes. Perhaps it was the thought that she might never be able to return, for a trace of sadness touched her lovely face.
But then she remembered what the young Divine Monk in the Almsgiving Room had said—that he wanted to see her leave with a smile.
So she curled her lips into a bright smile. The sudden expression stunned the Guard standing beside her.
Of course, when she turned back around, her lovely face had already resumed its usual air of lofty, dignified nobility.
「Three days later.」
Yu Fengying came again, seeking to have a child.
In the Almsgiving Room.
"Why are there so many gaps in my memory from the last ten days?" she asked Xu Lei as she undressed.
"Amitabha Buddha." Xu Lei simply held her.
"Make it up to me." Yu Fengying smiled, not pressing the issue. She just turned her full hips and said, "This time, I want a son."
"Amitabha Buddha." Xu Lei kissed Yu Fengying's soft lips once more.
「Another month later.」
Yu Fengying was pregnant once again.
The line for the number of descendants in Xu Lei's Ten Thousand Lives Book had changed to:
[Current Number of Descendants: 7]
「Three months later.」
As the cultivation of potatoes proved successful throughout the land, the fame that the current Saint had promised Xu Lei arrived as well.
Longyuan Temple became the most famous temple in the world.
Countless devotees flocked to its gates.
The incense offerings increased countless times over.
Qi De grew tired just from counting all the incense money.
And the stream of devotees seeking to have children also gradually increased.
Devotees from other regions continuously came to Longyuan Temple to pray for children.
Although he had yet to encounter any beautiful female devotees worthy of his Charitable Giving, Xu Lei felt that it was only a matter of time.
On this day, Yu Fengying, her pregnant belly showing a slight swell, came to Longyuan Temple once again with the Lord County Magistrate.
The Lord County Magistrate first went to speak with Qi De.
"Little Divine Monk, it's not easy to see you now. I even had to wait in line. I came today to say... I'm leaving."
Yu Fengying said to Xu Lei with a smile, "My husband has been promoted."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said, "Congratulations. Take care on your journey, Benefactress, and look after your health."
"Thank you."
Yu Fengying said, "Goodbye, Little Divine Monk. I'm saying it now, because there will be too many people around later."
Just then, the refined Lord County Magistrate also came over to bid Xu Lei farewell.
"It is rare to find a benefactor with the courage to disregard life and death."
Xu Lei said to him, "But must you be the one to do this?"
"I cannot shirk this duty."
The Lord County Magistrate replied, "Someone has to do it, don't you think, Little Divine Monk? Besides, there are not many people the Saint can trust."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said, "Then I wish you success in all your endeavors, Benefactor. But I ask that in your actions, you think of your family and ensure their safety."
"Thank you for the reminder, Little Divine Monk."
The Lord County Magistrate said, "I will keep it in mind."
Then, they left.
Xu Lei felt a little sad about Yu Fengying's departure, but he did not try to make her stay.
After all, he was Zen Master Bu Zhong, and she was a devotee seeking the Buddha's aid.
To stop here was, in itself, a virtuous act.
However, he felt uneasy about the Lord County Magistrate's decision.
When he had presented the Anshi Strategy to the Saint, he had only wanted to delay the collapse of the Da Yu Dynasty.
Presenting the strategy was one thing, but the executor could have been anyone. He never expected it to be the Lord County Magistrate.
Xu Lei could only hope that Yu Fengying and the two children she would bear would be safe.
「Thirty minutes later.」
Xu Lei had not yet shaken off the sadness of Yu Fengying's departure.
"Martial Uncle, a female devotee from out of town has come to pray for a child."
A disciple came to report, "She has been examined and is free of any illness, but both she and her husband are uncommonly attractive."
The traffic from his worldwide fame had finally arrived.
"Bring her to the Almsgiving Room."
Xu Lei ordered, "Blindfold her and use incense to cloud her mind."
Not long after, Xu Lei arrived at the Almsgiving Room.
A beautiful, unfamiliar woman stood there, her eyes covered by a black cloth. Her consciousness had become muddled upon entering the Almsgiving Room.
"Amitabha Buddha," Xu Lei whispered, and began the Charitable Giving.
「Ten days later.」
[Current Number of Descendants: 8]
In just ten days, Xu Lei's Charitable Giving was successful.
He no longer had that devotee come.
Because a new, suitable female devotee had arrived.
Naturally, Xu Lei began a new round of Charitable Giving.
「Fifteen years later.」
On this day, Xu Lei looked at the display on his Ten Thousand Lives Book:
[Current Number of Descendants: 101]
That's right. The number of descendants from his Charitable Giving had surpassed one hundred.
After all, fifteen years had passed.
The initial wave of traffic had been quite intense.
In that first year, Xu Lei performed Charitable Giving for over twenty women.
An average of two per month.
However, the traffic tapered off later on.
Sometimes, only one or two suitable women would come over the course of several months.
But his reputation was out there, nonetheless.
Plus, Xu Lei was in charge of the Bu Zhong Hall.
So, off and on, he still averaged eight or nine offspring from his Charitable Giving per year.
Of course, his Charitable Giving for these later devotees was a much more business-like affair for Xu Lei.
Unlike with Liang Fangying, Yu Fengying, Zhao Xiaocha, and Consort Li.
Not a single one of the later female devotees knew that it was Xu Lei who had performed the Charitable Giving for them.
And on this day, the number on the line showing the quantity of his descendants in the Ten Thousand Lives Book suddenly began to climb day by day, even though Xu Lei had not performed any acts of Charitable Giving.