Lu Xunguang had his back to Li Ying, so she couldn't tell what expression was on his face. She only saw that after a long while, he finally put on his clothes and followed those women down the mountain.
Li Ying just stood there motionless, saying nothing. Before she knew it, A Man had also rushed up. Just one glance at Lu Xunguang's gradually fading back was enough to color her pretty face with deep anger.
"Sister! Let's go home! I originally thought this Lu Xunguang was a man of rare deep affection for you. Who would have thought he's just a fickle and two - faced hypocrite! Sister, since he's lost his senses and is determined to jump into the trap set by Qing Liu, why do you still pine for him?"
Shi Hu also didn't expect to see such a scene. He stood there, stunned, with his mouth agape. After a long while, he finally came to his senses and stammered uneasily, "Boss Li, A Man... The master must have his own considerations. Please calm down..."
Although A Man was young, during her days as a Kunlun slave, she had long been accustomed to seeing fat and wealthy merchants and nobles with multiple wives and concubines, leading a dissipated life. Seeing Lu Xunguang's indecisive look, she immediately recalled all the sordid things of the past and gave Shi Hu a fierce glare.
"Pah! At a time like this, you're still helping Lu Xunguang deceive my sister! Shi Hu, you wait. I'll go and settle the score with Lu Xunguang first. Another day, I'll come and exact punishment from you!"
Shi Hu couldn't say anything more. He could only watch helplessly as A Man supported Li Ying and left.
By the time the two of them arrived, the area outside the temple gate was already surrounded by curious onlookers.
Qing Liu was dressed in plain white. She straightened her back and knelt stubbornly. No matter how the sisters beside her tearfully advised her kindly, she refused to stand up.
"Sisters, I know you mean well and don't want to watch me make a fool of myself and become a nun. But now, I'm truly at the end of my rope. Only by serving Buddha beside the ancient Buddha with a green lamp can I find a moment of peace."
"I know I'm an extra person. I've received great kindness from Lord Lu and Boss Li. Not only can I not share their worries, but I've also caused them to suspect each other because of my own trivial matters. I've really repaid kindness with enmity and committed a great sin! For the rest of my life, Qing Liu only wishes to pray for the two benefactors every day. Other than that, I have no other desires!"
Without any makeup, Qing Liu's slender figure was like a white butterfly. One wrong move and it seemed as if she would shatter and drift away with the wind.
Even Li Ying couldn't help but secretly praise her. Her delicate and pitiful appearance was truly heart - wrenching.
Qing Liu said no more and simply kowtowed heavily a few more times towards the temple gate.
"Please, Master, take in this little woman. Buddhists are kind - hearted. Master, please give this little woman a place to live out the rest of her life!"
There was no nunnery in the fishing village, only a small temple with not much incense.
The temple was full of Buddhist monks. How could there be a pretty little nun?
The abbot also looked embarrassed and recited a Buddhist mantra.
"Amitabha, madam. It's not that the old monk is deliberately making things difficult for you, it's just..."
Before he could finish his words, A Man couldn't hold back anymore. She left Li Ying behind and rushed forward in a few steps, standing toweringly in front of Qing Liu.
"Pah! You shameless hussy! Put away your false act quickly! Your submissive appearance can deceive others, but it can't deceive me!"
"What becoming a nun and ignoring the worldly affairs? With your lascivious and unrestrained nature, you'll probably stir up a ruckus in the temple and start engaging in prostitution!"
These words were very harsh. Many of the on - lookers and the monks in the temple changed their expressions.
Li Ying secretly thought it was bad.
A Man had a bold and unrestrained personality. After returning to her ancestral home in Xikang, the unruly nature in her bones had grown even more.
Li Ying had intended to give her some advice, but she didn't want the girl to become worldly - wise. Moreover, there had been many trivial matters in the village in recent days, so she had put it off for a while.
She didn't expect that today, A Man would finally speak carelessly and cause trouble.
Li Ying was about to apologize for her, but unexpectedly, someone spoke up before her with a cold face.
"A Man, what do you think the fishing village is? And what do you think this pure Buddhist place is! Hurry up and apologize!"
The person who spoke was Lu Xunguang.
A Man raised her head. She knew she had said something wrong, but when she saw Lu Xunguang standing in front of Qing Liu, the anger in her heart flared up again.
"What? Is Lord Lu unable to hold back his temper and come to teach me a lesson? I, A Man, only recognize my sister. Master, you'd better save your breath. It's more important to coax that delicate Miss Qing Liu!"
Lu Xunguang frowned. He knew A Man's impatient temper well and didn't want to have any pointless arguments with her. He just fixed his gaze on Li Ying.
"A Ying, are you blaming me through A Man's mouth now?"
He stared fixedly at Li Ying. The wet hair hanging in front of his forehead was not yet dry. His expression was cold and aloof. For a moment, Li Ying even felt that he was somewhat strange.
"A Ying, is this what you call complete trust?"
The hint of hurt in his eyes flashed by, and Li Ying caught her breath.
She also forced a bitter smile.
The vows of eternal love from the other day now seemed like a joke.
What complete trust?
She had truly never suspected him at all. Today, she had just failed to stop A Man's momentary impulse in time, but she was being questioned with red - eyed suspicion by the man she had deeply loved?
"Brother Lu, I believe I've never really done anything to let you down. If you think so, I have nothing to say."
The two stood face to face, neither of them saying a word. It seemed as if everything in the world had fallen into silence.
It was Qing Liu who nervously tugged at Lu Xunguang's clothes.
"Lord Lu, please don't say such hurtful words. Many a loving couple have gradually drifted apart because of mutual suspicion!"
"Qing Liu... Qing Liu has deep affection for you. My lifelong wish is for your safety and happiness, for you to live in harmony with your wife. Lord, don't persuade me anymore. I'm not worthy of your kindness. Please cherish the one in front of you!"
Qing Liu's words were full of sobs, showing a look of deep affection. It made Li Ying sneer.
What a good move of retreating to advance!
She was quite beautiful. Now, with this attitude of "I truly love you, but I don't want to hurt you. My deep love has nothing to do with you", how many virtuous and self - disciplined men could really resist?
Sure enough, the on - lookers all sighed. Some gossips even kindly advised, "Master Lu, as an outsider, I'll say something out of turn. It's just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks to the family. Why don't you take in Miss Qing Liu?"