Chapter 29: Laoshi Heshang

Yiqing Yuan.

This is the name of a brothel.

Ouyang Qing; the first name on the flower list of Yiqing Yuan is hers.

It is said that her greatest skill is treating everyone the same; whether you are a monk or a bald man, as long as you have money, she will treat you as the most adorable person in the world.

For someone in her line of work, having this one skill is already enough.

What's more, although Ouyang Qing cannot be called a peerless beauty, she is not ugly in the slightest.

On her fair face are two attractive dimples, her hair is like a waterfall, and her eyes are filled with tenderness; as long as one is seen by these eyes, one will always have a floating, ethereal feeling, as if one has become the luckiest man in the world.

Of course, not only does the person have to float, but the money in their pocket must also float out.

Like a top-tier courtesan such as her, she is never short of guests.

Right now, there is a guest in Ouyang Qing's room, only this guest is somewhat special.

His head is actually bare, shiningly bare.

There are not a few bald heads in the world, but there are not many who have scars on their bald heads and are chanting "Amitabha Buddha" one sound after another.

This is a monk.

He is a monk wearing a tattered Buddhist robe and dragging tattered straw sandals. He has a square face and large ears, looking quite blessed.

A monk visiting a brothel is truly absurd.

Perhaps it is only slightly better than a eunuch visiting a brothel.

Yet, this monk looks very timid; he does not dare to look at Ouyang Qing, who is lying obliquely on the bed, but only keeps his eyes closed and his head lowered.

Ouyang Qing really finds it interesting and covers her mouth, smiling: "Master, are you a God?"

The monk hurriedly shakes his head: "I am just a monk, not a God."

Ouyang Qing smiles enchantingly: "The money for spending the night here is not low, and yet you, Master, come here every time and do nothing; isn't it because you are a God who has come specifically to give me money?"

The monk's face turns beet red, and he stammers, unable to speak: "I... I... monk..."

"Or is it that you have really fallen for me?" Ouyang Qing covers her mouth and giggles, saying: "But on one hand, you cannot return to secular life, and on the other, you are jealous and unwilling to let other men spend the night with me, so you came up with such a stupid method."

The monk is extremely embarrassed, his face flushed, his eyes staring fixedly at the ground, as if he wants to find a hole to crawl into.

Seeing the monk in this state, Ouyang Qing loses the mood to tease him and just shakes her head: "Sigh, a monk visiting a brothel, it really is absurd enough; why did I have to run into it?"

"Amitabha Buddha, female benefactor, you are mistaken there." Just then, the door is pushed open, and a handsome young master dressed in black walks in, a spring-breeze-like smile on his face.

"Oh, how am I mistaken?"

Procuresses love money, and girls love handsome men. Although this is not a golden rule, it still holds some truth. So when Ouyang Qing sees the young man in black, her beautiful eyes suddenly light up.

Yu Liancheng smiles: "A monk visiting a brothel is not a rare occurrence; some Buddha Sons and grandsons like to 'consecrate' the fallen female Bodhisattvas."

"Pah, you are truly wicked." The female Bodhisattva Ouyang Qing giggles, two blushes rising on her fair face.

The monk is both ashamed and angry, but he does not argue with Yu Liancheng, only chanting "Amitabha Buddha," "Amitabha Buddha" over and over, as if this could eliminate all troubles.

Yu Liancheng adds: "Do you know what the difference is between a high monk and these Buddha Sons and grandsons?"

Although she knows this man in black might be about to say something lewd again, Ouyang Qing cannot help but ask: "What is the relationship?"

Yu Liancheng says leisurely: "A high monk is a monk for a day and strikes the bell for a day. While these Buddha Sons and grandsons are monks for a day and 'strike' the Bodhisattvas for a day. Is the difference between them not quite clever?"

Before his words are even finished, Ouyang Qing's pretty face is already flushed, and she cannot help but laugh until she cannot stand straight; her silver-bell-like laughter fills the entire room, making one feel itchy in the heart.

The monk, however, is already stunned with anger; he remains dazed for a long time before sighing and muttering: "My Buddha is merciful, why did I, a monk, have to run into this benefactor? It is... it is enough to anger this monk half to death, to make me ascend to the Western Paradise early."

"Luckily, this monk is not the Buddha Son or grandson you speak of; he is a God. Because he comes here to me and does nothing." Ouyang Qing laughs charmingly, casting a flirtatious glance at Yu Liancheng: "You must never learn this from him."

Yu Liancheng says: "I am not a God to begin with."

Ouyang Qing slowly rises, her graceful figure revealed without doubt.

She moves with lotus steps, leans into Yu Liancheng's ear, nibbles on it, and giggles: "Being a God has no benefits; as long as you make this monk leave, I guarantee I will make you feel happier than a God."

Yu Liancheng also nibbles on her ear and says: "I fear your eldest sister and eighth sister would be angry; be careful they don't punish you, this cat that likes to steal fish."

Ouyang Qing naturally knows Yu Liancheng, and is very familiar with him, because she is also a member of the Red Shoes organization, ranked fourth.

Her gaze becomes hazy and affectionate, and a slender hand caresses Yu Liancheng's chest: "With you, the Green Clothes Tower Master, protecting me, can they eat me? Besides, you have already come to Yiqing Yuan; could it be for this strange monk?"

Yu Liancheng grabs Ouyang Qing's hand and smiles: "You guessed right, I came specifically for this monk."

Ouyang Qing cannot help but ask: "Who exactly is this monk?"

Yu Liancheng smiles: "A monk who does not tell lies."

Ouyang Qing says: "Laoshi Heshang?"

"Correct, it is indeed the third-ranked of the Four Great Divine Monks, known as 'never telling a lie in his life,' Laoshi Heshang." Yu Liancheng's gaze gradually turns to the monk wiping cold sweat on the side: "However, I have heard people say that Laoshi Heshang does not seem very 'laoshi' (honest)."

Laoshi Heshang defends himself: "Laoshi Heshang is the most honest."

Yu Liancheng says: "If you were truly honest, then why would you come to a brothel to find Ouyang?"

Laoshi Heshang's face flushes again, and like a young bride, he lowers his head, looking at his own tattered straw sandals.

Yu Liancheng smiles: "If you answer one question for me, I will believe you are an honest person."

Laoshi Heshang says: "Benefactor, please speak."

Yu Liancheng smiles: "Are you... an Invisible Man?"

Ouyang Qing cannot help but say: "How could there be an Invisible Man in this world?"

This was originally a very easy question to answer, but Laoshi Heshang's expression freezes for a moment, and he suddenly shuts his mouth, not saying a single word.

Sometimes, silence is also a type of answer.

Yu Liancheng says: "You are indeed very honest; I already know you are an Invisible Man."

Laoshi Heshang sighs: "Sometimes, being too honest is not a good thing. Sometimes, knowing too much is also not a good thing."

As he speaks, his sleeve flutters, and the monk's broad palm presses toward Yu Liancheng's chest.