Chapter Forty-Two: The Subtle Affection with the Enchanting Nun
He Zhixing was always frustrated to the point of despair; this time, upon arriving at the Compassionate Vessel Temple, he was determined to make things difficult for him.
Entering the gate of the temple, he saw many nuns inside. After exchanging greetings with them, one of them led him to offer incense. Once the incense was offered, he explained his purpose: he wished to meet an old monk, who had invited him here.
The beautiful nun wasn’t sure about this, so she called for the abbess. The abbess was a woman of middle age, slightly plump, with bright, intelligent eyes that regarded him keenly. “You’re looking for an old monk, are you? Well, Brother Jingyun has already instructed us. Please wait in the guest room; he’ll be back soon.”
He Zhixing replied, “Thank you, Master.”
The abbess instructed the beautiful nun to take good care of him and escort him to the guest room.
The lovely young nun responded cheerfully, “Alright, I’ll take him right away. This way, please, benefactor.” With a graceful wave, she led him onward.
She took him to a guest room, and He Zhixing noticed something different about it. There was a pleasant fragrance filling the space, which puzzled him. “Is this really the guest room for receiving visitors?” he asked.
The beautiful nun’s playful nature shone through; she smiled mischievously. “Why don’t you guess?”
He Zhixing walked around, observing the neat bed, touching the quilt and sniffing it, then looking at the windowsill, bookshelf, desk, and a humble study area in one corner—though not truly a study, as it was part of the room. There was a writing desk, the four treasures of the study, and many mounted paintings and sheets of rice paper.
Suddenly, understanding dawned on him. “Could this be your own chamber?”
The beautiful nun replied, “You guessed right.”
He Zhixing asked in confusion, “How can you bring me into your room? You’re so beautiful, aren’t you afraid I’ll take advantage of you?”
She straightened her chest with a sly grin. “Heh, do you dare?”
He Zhixing slowly approached, gazing into her eyes. She blinked and held her head high, showing no fear at all, even puckering her lips and brushing them against his.
He was at a loss for words, unable to restrain himself any longer. He embraced her and showered her with kisses. Her lips were caught and she couldn’t move, trying to speak but only managing muffled sounds. She struggled in vain, then suddenly lifted a slender leg and forcefully pressed it down on his knees, pinning him to the ground.
He cried out in pain and released her, kneeling with both knees.
Unexpectedly, this beautiful nun knew martial arts; the force she used to make him kneel was far beyond ordinary strength.
She laughed, pinching his ear. “What are you doing? I don’t have such a big son, you know—I couldn’t bear it.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. The beautiful nun opened it, only to find the old monk had arrived. She greeted him sweetly, calling him “A-da.”
He Zhixing was stunned. As he was about to stand, his legs nearly buckled again. He thought to himself, “Could it be? The beautiful nun calls the old monk ‘A-da’? What’s going on? Is she his secret daughter?”
The old monk looked at him. “You must be puzzled, Benefactor. She’s my daughter, whom I found wandering during my travels. I never intended for her to join the nunnery, but she insisted, saying she loves the culture of Chinese Buddhism and Daoism.”
He Zhixing’s confusion was finally dispelled. “Ah, so that’s how it is.”
The old monk shifted the conversation. “Jiangni, how is the assignment I gave you coming along?”
He walked toward the writing desk.
The beautiful nun, Jiangni, replied, “A-da, I’ve finished it.”
She ran to the bookshelf and took down several paintings.
“Are these landscape and figure paintings?” He Zhixing watched as she slowly unfurled them. The scenes were exquisite: strange, connected peaks, soaring mountains, brilliant colors, and distant drifting clouds. She had painted two linked mountains, the right one rising sharply, with a waterfall cascading down its face. Beside the waterfall was a crag, and below, a village with stone steps and figures.
The composition was clear and layered, with the perspective skillfully handled, the interplay of light and shadow showing real mastery. The village, stone steps, paths, and waterfall were all integrated, each element highlighting the others; the treatment of the scene was superb, bringing out the village and the mountain waterfall beautifully.