The moon hung high in the sky, clouds gathering quietly.
Master Zhengde, his demeanor serious and dignified, led three monks through Lingyin Temple. The four reached a side hall. The novice monk at the rear looked around carefully before shutting the door.
"Everything arranged?" Facing Zhengde's question, one monk replied softly, "Senior Brother, everything is ready."
"Good. Very good." Zhengde rubbed his shaved head impatiently. He said, "I think the magistrate's wife might still be a virgin. That weak magistrate probably can't sleep with her. Why else would such a beautiful young woman come to the temple to pray for a baby? Our Buddha is kind. So, we monks should make a small sacrifice. We'll act like the God of Childbirth for a while... and 'fulfill' the lady's wish..."
The three young monks laughed lewdly.
"Senior Brother, I heard several young women are staying in the guest quarters. That mother and daughter pair are truly captivating. I wonder…"
Before the young monk could finish, Zhengde smacked him hard across the head. "Those are the women our Senior Uncle has his eyes on! He has big plans for that mother and daughter. Don't you dare make a move! That cultivator has some skills, even our master must be careful around him!"
Only after the junior nodded seriously did Zhengde draw out his words: "If you need to satisfy your desires, the women in the guest quarters of the east wing, aren't they all yours to play with? With so many women coming to the temple daily to make wishes, rich young ladies, wives and daughters, isn't it easy to stay up late with whoever you like? Just don't leave any traces. If you want to get creative, I hear several peasant families who got temple land have new brides. Why not go teach Buddhist lessons to the newlyweds? Wouldn't that be great?"
The group laughed and joked, their lustful desires stirred.
"Now you go. Remember my words, cover your tracks. Don't cause trouble."
The three monks nodded, before scattering in different directions, their destinations unknown.
Zhengde wiped the lustful expression from his face, murmured "Amitabha Buddha" once more, then approached a small courtyard and knocked on the gate.
"Who seeks audience at this late hour?" A woman's clear voice echoed from within upon hearing the knock.
"Lady benefactor, this monk is Zhengde, the temple's guest master. My master has instructed me to escort you to pray to the Buddha and make your vows."
After speaking, Zhengde pressed his ear to the gate, listening closely. Beyond the rustling sounds of a woman dressing, he thought he heard the soft murmurs of maidservants.
"Mistress, maybe we should wait until tomorrow…"
"Indeed! Who would lead someone to worship and make vows at night? The roads are dark and slippery, what if something scares you?"
"But…"
Seeing the magistrate's wife leaning toward her maidservant's advice, Zhengde quickly raised his voice: "My master instructed me before I came: the lady's status is special, and this journey must be secret. Daytime brings too many eyes and ears, so he sent me to guide the lady to worship at night. My master has calculated that tonight, at midnight, is when the goddess Guanyin's power is everywhere. If we are lucky enough to find the form of her that gives children..."
Before Zhengde could finish, the courtyard gate creaked open. A petite maid, Juan'er, darted out, quickly shushing him.
"I know, I know! Great monk, no more talking! The mistress is coming!"
"Juan'er! Mind your manners!" As the words fell, a woman emerged behind Juan'er, her face veiled beneath a straw hat. Zhengde's gaze swept quietly over her black cloak. Perhaps due to her hurried departure, the cloak hung loosely, revealing glimpses of her voluptuous figure, full breasts, rounded hips, a slender waist, and long legs.
"Such a beauty and still a virgin? That Magistrate truly is a waste."
This woman was none other than Cui Yujun, the wife of the Lord.
Cui Yujun apologized to Zhengde: "Juan'er is young and slow to understand. She meant no offense. I pray the monk will not hold it against her."
Zhengde hastily clasped his hands together: "You are too kind Madam. Miss Juan'er is joyful and lively, how could this humble monk possibly blame her?"
"The venerable monk is generous…"
"Not at all, not at all…"
After exchanging a few polite compliments, Zhengde led Cui Yujun and her two servants out of the courtyard.
They bypassed the guest quarters and entered a side hall within Lingyin Temple. The temple was vast, with the main temple, central hall, subsidiary halls, and side chambers. Beyond these lay six distinct courtyards: the Dharma Hall, Meditation Hall, Precepts Hall, Practice Hall, Sutra Lecture Hall, and Enlightenment Hall.
Zhengde led the trio through circling passages until Cui Yujun and her two maids were nearly tired. Only then did he push open a temple door and respectfully invite them inside.
Cui Yujun and her two maidservants entered the hall. Zhengde apologized, closed the doors behind them, and left.
The hall was not huge but felt spacious. Within stood a Goddess statue two metres tall. Unlike the kind, gentle Goddess typically shown, this statue radiated an air of wildness.
"This… this temple… how could it have such a statue… truly… truly…" Juan'er flushed red, completely at a loss.
She wasn't alone, Cui Yujun and the other maid, Zhu'er, also couldn't look away.
The statue showed its chest and breasts, and was holding a baby it was feeding. It was surrounded by several ugly, demon-like creatures. These demons were naked, and their sculpted weapons were pushing against the sides of the Goddess statue. Their whole feeling was openly sexual and disrespectful.
"Don't… don't speak nonsense and offend them…" Cui Yujun flushed red as she scolded Juan'er. Lingyin Temple was a famous monastery throughout the Great Bou Kingdom; it wouldn't worship demonic Buddhas or ghostly immortals. Besides, Goddess Bodhisattva appeared in many forms, perhaps she was just being overly cautious.
Regaining her composure, Cui Yujun took her hat, removed her veil, and retrieved three incense sticks from the altar. She instructed Juan'er to strike the flint to light the incense, then led her two maidservants to kneel on the prayer mats. Together, they performed three bows with utmost respect.
"Buddha, grant this devotee a son soon. The Cui family is now on the edge of ruin. Only by bearing an heir for the Lord magistrate can fortune turn. Should my wish be granted, I vow to build many golden statues in your honor when I return to fulfill my vow. I beg your divine favor."
"Tsk tsk tsk, that big ass…" Outside the seemingly closed temple doors, Zhengde peered through the crack, his eyes shining with lust as he watched the three women making their vows inside. He calculated the time, estimating the soul-stirring incense should be taking effect. Just as he was about to push open the doors, someone grabbed him by the back of the neck.
"What? Wasn't Monk Kongyan sending you to the Penitence Grove? Did you refuse orders? Or were you two just putting on a show all along?"
Before the scared Zhengde could turn his head, I snapped his neck. I tossed his body into a nearby ground.