Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: The Successor of Bodhidharma

Page 49

Wang Yuyan arranged for the Duan father and son to stay in a secluded guest courtyard on the west side of the manor. Duan Yuyi lay motionless on the bed. Duan Zhengchun sat alone in the outer room, gazing at the hazy moonlight outside the window, his heart filled with mixed emotions. His son's ambiguous relationship with Li Qiushui, his past feelings for Qingluo, and this tangled and complicated situation all weighed heavily on his chest, leaving him with an indescribable sense of frustration.

He stood up irritably, pushed open the door, and went out to walk around the yard for some fresh air.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the quiet garden path. Duan Zhengchun had just strolled to a clump of dense camellias when he suddenly heard a series of light footsteps. He turned around alertly and saw Madam Wang, Li Qingluo, lifting her skirt, looking around anxiously as she hurried towards him.

"Qingluo?" Duan Zhengchun called out softly.

When Madam Wang saw him, her eyes lit up. Like a startled bird finding its refuge, she rushed into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, her delicate body still trembling slightly with lingering fear.

"Duan Lang... you scared me to death..." She buried her face in his neck, greedily inhaling the scent that haunted her dreams.

With Wen Yu in his arms, her fragrance filling the air, Duan Zhengchun's gloom was instantly dispelled. He took the opportunity to embrace Madam Wang's slender and soft waist, feeling the hot body and surging emotions of the beauty in his arms, and chuckled softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm perfectly fine."

Madam Wang raised her head, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears, and began to settle old scores. She poked his chest with her jade finger and scolded him, "You heartless man! Why did you leave without saying goodbye back then? Making me... making me wait for so many years! Do you know how hard it was for me to live alone in Mantuo Manor with Yu Yan?" As she spoke, tears of grievance streamed down her face again.

Duan Zhengchun, skilled at comforting women, immediately abandoned his joking manner upon seeing the situation, his expression becoming solemn and affectionate. He cupped Madam Wang's face, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb, his gaze fixed intently on her: "Qingluo, I have wronged you. Back then... I had my own unavoidable difficulties. But over the years, have I ever forgotten you for a single day? Your face, your voice, often linger in my dreams. The camellias of this Mantuo Manor, in my eyes, cannot compare to even a fraction of your charm."

His voice was deep and magnetic, and he spoke sweet nothings effortlessly, his eyes so sincere that no one could doubt him. Madam Wang's heart fluttered under his gaze, and these were precisely the sweet words she had dreamed of for years. Her resentment instantly dissipated, and she said coquettishly, "You're just good at saying nice things to coax me..."

"Heaven and earth bear witness, every word comes from the bottom of my heart!" Duan Zhengchun swore to the heavens, then leaned close to her ear and breathed hot air into her ear, saying, "If you don't believe me, tonight at midnight, I will go to your room and explain everything to you in detail, to prove my sincerity, how about it?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang's pretty face instantly flushed red, her heart pounded like a deer's, and she was both shy and expectant. She softly hummed in agreement, her voice barely audible.

Duan Zhengchun was pleased with himself, but he took advantage of the situation and held her slender waist tightly, saying with a wicked smile, "Just agreeing isn't enough, you have to say something nice for me to hear."

Madam Wang was extremely embarrassed and hesitated. Duan Zhengchun persisted, whispering urging her in his ear. Unable to resist his persistent nagging, and fearing overhearing, Madam Wang buried her burning cheeks against his chest and softly called out in a voice as thin as a whisper, filled with infinite shyness:

"Father... Father..."

This call made Duan Zhengchun feel completely relaxed, like drinking ice-cold plum juice on a sweltering summer day; every pore felt refreshed. He couldn't help but rub his hands together and chuckle softly, as if he could already see the wonderful night ahead.

However, unbeknownst to them, atop the upturned eaves of a building not far away, Li Qiushui, dressed in white, stood with her hands behind her back, witnessing the whispers and affection of the two "wild lovers" below. The night wind stirred her clothes, a layer of frost veiled her exquisite face, and a cold smile curved her lips.

"Hmph, you're incorrigible! You still want to harm my daughter? Don't even think about it!"

As night deepened, Lady Wang returned to her elegantly furnished boudoir, her heart pounding like a deer's. She dismissed the maids and, filled with anticipation and sweetness, carefully bathed and changed. Then, naked, like a lithe mermaid, she slipped into the soft, fragrant quilt. She closed her eyes, feigning sleep, a smile she couldn't hide on her lips, quietly awaiting her lover's arrival.

Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a numbness in several places on her body. She had been acupunctured and could neither speak nor move! She opened her eyes in horror and saw that her mother, Li Qiushui, was standing in front of the bed at some point, coldly watching her naked body lying in the quilt.

"Shameless!" Li Qiushui sneered, her eyes filled with anger at her daughter's lack of self-respect. Without another word, she wrapped her daughter in a brocade quilt, lifted her up as easily as if carrying a package, and silently left the room, taking her directly back to her residence and tossing her onto the bed.

Afterwards, Li Qiushui returned to Madam Wang's room. She blew out the candle and disappeared into the shadows of the inner room, her presence blending seamlessly with the surroundings, as if she had never existed. She wanted to see if Duan Zhengchun, that philandering scoundrel, dared to come tonight! If he did, she would make him suffer and completely extinguish any thought he might have of bothering Qingluo again!

Meanwhile, Duan Yu slowly awoke in the guest courtyard, his head throbbing with pain. He struggled to sit up, recalling everything that had happened during the day, his awkward relationship with the "Fairy Sister," his father and Madam Wang… everything felt like a jumbled mess, and he was overwhelmed with shame. He was simple-minded and felt this chaotic situation was unacceptable; he had to confront the "Fairy Sister," to clear things up, even if she scolded or even beat him to death, it would be better than this ambiguity.

He forced himself to stay upright despite his weakened state and quietly slipped out of the guest room. During the day, he had paid attention to the movements of the manor's servants and vaguely remembered a maid mentioning that the old lady lived in the "Moon-Gazing Tower," the highest building on the east side. He composed himself and began to make his way eastward, stumbling along the steep slope.

Meanwhile, Duan Zhengchun, estimating that it was nearly midnight, was already itching to get back to work. He straightened his clothes, made sure no one was around, and then, relying on the route he had subtly obtained from an old servant during the day (he had said he wanted to visit Madam Wang to express his gratitude, and the old servant, without suspicion, had given him directions), he set off in high spirits and with a smug look on his face towards Madam Wang's residence, "Qinfang Garden."

Under the hazy night sky, two figures, each with their own thoughts, were quietly moving towards two points of convergence—Duan Yu sneaked towards Li Qiushui's Wangyue Tower, while Duan Zhengchun sneaked towards Madam Wang's Qinfang Garden (where Li Qiushui was waiting in ambush).

Chapter 146 What a terrible thing!

Taihu Lake · Mantuo Villa · Wangyue Tower

The night was deep and all was silent. Inside the Moon Gazing Tower, Li Qiushui's residence was pitch black.

Lady Wang, Li Qingluo, was completely naked. Her mother, using a unique technique, had her acupoints sealed, wrapped her in a brocade quilt, and abandoned her on the bed. Initially, she was filled with terror and worry, fearing her mother would harm Duan Lang, and ashamed of her wretched state. However, with her acupoints sealed, she could neither speak nor move, not even lift a finger. In the long wait and anxiety, exhaustion finally overcame everything, and she actually fell into a deep sleep in this embarrassing situation, even dreaming of meeting Duan Zhengchun, unconsciously emitting soft moans with a hint of lingering tenderness.

"Squeak-"

A soft push of the door broke the silence inside. Duan Yu crept in. Although he possessed profound inner strength, he was not skilled in stealth. Fortunately, the person inside seemed to be fast asleep.

By the faint moonlight filtering through the window, he could barely make out the outline of the bed. His heart pounded with unease, and he bowed deeply in that direction, his voice filled with remorse and resolve: "Fairy Sister! Duan Yu... Duan Yu has come here so abruptly... to apologize to you! All that has happened in the past is Duan Yu's fault. Duan Yu... Duan Yu is willing to accept your punishment, Sister, but I beg... I beg you not to take your anger out on my father any further..."

He kept rambling on and on, but all that could be heard from the bed were faint, suppressed, and unbearable moans and whispers.

Duan Yu wondered, 'What's wrong with Fairy Sister? Is she ill? Or... is she crying?'

Worried, he disregarded etiquette and carefully moved to the bedside. Through the thin white gauze curtain, he could vaguely see a blurry, curvaceous figure writhing slightly under the brocade quilt, seemingly... barely clothed? The intermittent, strangely alluring soft moans brushed against Duan Yu's heart like feathers.

He was, after all, a hot-blooded young man. Though kind-hearted, faced with this scene—the "fairy sister" displaying such an alluring posture—all his previous concerns and shames about ethics and seniority were instantly swept away by a surge of instinctive, fiery energy. His breathing suddenly became heavy, his mind went blank, leaving only the hazy, enchanting figure behind the gauze curtain and the captivating voice.

Duan Yu swallowed hard, and as if possessed, slowly reached out and tremblingly lifted the thin veil.

Lady Wang, lying on the couch, was in a state between sleep and wakefulness. In her dream, she was entwined with her lover. When she felt someone touching her, she thought it was a continuation of the dream, and her "hmm~" sound carried an indescribable tenderness.

The sound was like the last straw that broke the camel's back! Duan Yu felt all the blood rush to his head. He mustered the greatest courage of his life and, clumsily and as if on a pilgrimage, climbed onto the bed...

Just as he approached, Madam Wang suddenly woke up!

In the darkness, she sensed the presence of a strange man approaching her, and she was completely naked! Overwhelming fear gripped her instantly! She wanted to scream, but her pressure points were sealed, preventing her from making a sound; she wanted to struggle, but her body was stiff and immobile! Only her eyes stared wide-open in terror in the darkness, tears welling up instantly.

At this moment, Duan Yu's voice, filled with infatuation and guilt, rang in her ears like a thunderclap:

"Fairy Sister...I...I..."

It was like being doused with a bucket of ice water in the dead of winter! Madam Wang instantly recognized the voice—it was Duan Yu!

"Oh God!" Madam Wang cried out silently and desperately in her heart. She closed her eyes in anguish, tears streaming down her face. Only one thought echoed wildly in her mind: "What a wicked child! What a wicked child!"

Meanwhile, outside Qinfang Garden

Duan Zhengchun, dressed in a brocade robe, looked even more elegant under the moonlight. He skillfully avoided the night patrol servants and, like a leopard in the dark, silently arrived outside the "Qinfang Garden" where Lady Wang resided.

Gazing at the door that faintly exuded a woman's sweet fragrance, Duan Zhengchun's lips curled into a confident and captivating smile. He could almost see his charming and lovely Qingluo waiting for him inside, her eyes filled with tender affection. He straightened his already impeccably dressed clothes, cleared his throat, and adopted that gentle smile that could melt the hearts of countless women, thinking to himself: 'Qingluo, Qingluo, tonight I will show you that your Duan Lang is as charming as ever!'

He took a deep breath, composed himself, and prepared to knock on the door to a life of pleasure with the utmost elegance. Little did he know that what awaited him inside was not the enchanting scenery he imagined, but a cataclysmic event that would shatter his very soul… a truly earth-shattering upheaval!

Chapter 147 I Still Can't Deal with You

Taihu Lake · Mantuo Mountain Villa · Qinfang Garden

Duan Zhengchun gently pushed open the door to the master bedroom of Qinfang Garden, his movements graceful and confident, a smile playing on his lips. The room was pitch black and quiet, with only the moonlight filtering through the window and casting faint shadows of the bed, the curtains hanging low, suggesting a figure lying on their side.

"My little darling, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting..." Duan Zhengchun lowered his voice, his tone carrying his usual magnetic tenderness, as he skillfully and gently unbuttoned his brocade robe, his movements fluid as if he had rehearsed it countless times. He imagined the shy and bashful appearance of the beauty inside the tent, and his heart burned even hotter.

With his clothes off, filled with anticipation and self-satisfaction, he made a graceful leap, ready to pounce onto the soft bed and embrace the warm, fragrant body he had longed for for so many years.

However, what greeted him was not tenderness, but a cold, jade-like hand that contained an overwhelming inner force!

The hand pressed precisely on his unsuspecting chest, and an overwhelming force surged forth! Duan Zhengchun felt a tightness in his chest, his blood surging, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the pear wood round table behind him. With a crash, the table and chairs overturned, and he fell to the ground in a disheveled state, clutching his aching chest, staring at the bed in utter horror!

The curtains, though there was no wind, rose slowly. In the moonlight, a white figure sat cross-legged on the couch, her face exquisitely beautiful, yet her eyes as cold as ice. Who else could it be but Li Qiushui?!

"What a philandering Prince Duan!" Li Qiushui's voice was icy, filled with sarcasm. "You think you can do whatever you want just because you've got my Qingluo figured out and she can't live without you, is that it?"

Duan Zhengchun was both shocked and furious. The pain in his chest made him momentarily forget how terrifying his opponent was. He forced himself to stand up, wiped away the trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, and said in a hard voice, "Your daughter and I are in love! How can you... how can you forcefully threaten us to break our relationship! Qingluo will not abandon me! I, Duan Zhengchun, will never betray her! You vixen! You can't separate us! If you kill me, Qingluo will hate you for the rest of her life!"

He tried to use his daughter to control the other party. Although his tone was tough, the fear deep in his eyes was hard to completely hide.

"I can't break you two up? Fine, fine!" Li Qiushui was so angry at his "declaration of affection" that she laughed in exasperation, her aura growing increasingly icy. She slowly stepped off the bed, her bare feet touching the floor, and approached Duan Zhengchun step by step, each step feeling as if she were stepping on his heart.

"If I can't control my daughter, then can't I control you?" Li Qiushui's voice suddenly became eerie and gentle, yet it carried an even more chilling coldness.

Duan Zhengchun watched in horror as she approached, wanting to retreat, but found that his aura had been locked and he could not move.

Li Qiushui leaned close to his ear and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, softly mimicked Madam Wang's shy tone, calling out, "Father~ Father~ Ah~"

Duan Zhengchun froze, as if struck by lightning!

Immediately afterwards, with a sharp tearing sound, Duan Zhengchun's only remaining undergarments were instantly reduced to shreds and scattered in all directions by Li Qiushui's casual flick of her wrist!

The moonlight shone down on him without obstruction, and the evening breeze brought a chill to his bones. Duan Zhengchun stood frozen in place, his body ice-cold, his face drained of color, leaving only boundless shame and humiliation. He had always been a man of refined taste and self-admiration; how could he have ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?! Two lines of grief-stricken and resentful tears uncontrollably slid down his cheeks.

'You wretched creature! You wretched creature!' he roared silently in his heart, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into or faint on the spot.

Meanwhile, inside the Moon Gazing Tower, Madam Wang, Li Qingluo, who had been left alone in the darkness, finally felt the acupoints on her body that her mother had pressed reach the right time. Her blood and qi gradually flowed smoothly, and she began to regain sensation in her hands and feet.

This realization initially brought her a surge of joy, but then a wave of even greater terror washed over her! She suddenly realized her current predicament—she was completely naked, and beside her… was Duan Yu, who had just climbed into bed, breathing heavily and seemingly deeply aroused!

'What to do?! What to do?!' Madam Wang's mind raced, countless thoughts flashing through her head. She absolutely couldn't let Duan Yu recognize her! Otherwise, once this shameful affair became public knowledge, how could she face the world? How would Yu Yan cope? Duan Lang… if he knew…

Just as she was in a state of utter confusion, Duan Yu, feeling guilty and lost because he hadn't heard a response from "Fairy Sister" for a long time, and unable to see clearly in the darkness, couldn't help but reach out, his hand trembling, wanting to touch her face, as if to confirm her existence, or perhaps to calm his turbulent emotions.

His hand had just touched the strands of hair that had fallen onto Madam Wang's pillow, and was about to stroke them upwards...

"Ah!" Madam Wang let out a short gasp, not because she was touched, but because she absolutely could not let him see her face!

In a flash, without thinking, almost instinctively, she stretched out her newly freed arms and hugged him tightly with all her might! At the same time, she buried her face firmly and deeply into his young and thin chest, not letting him have any chance to see her face!

Duan Yu was stunned by the sudden embrace. He felt the "fairy sister's" body was warm and soft, her fragrance intoxicating, and the strength of her embrace was so great that it felt as if she wanted to meld him into her body. He froze, not daring to move, his heart filled with both sweetness and fear, stammering, "Fairy...fairy sister...you...you are..."

Madam Wang buried her face in his chest, her voice deliberately low and hoarse, with a hint of seductive allure and trembling, mimicking the murmur of someone in a dream, interrupting him, "Don't...don't look...hold me tight...I...I'm cold..."

As she spoke, her mind raced, searching for a way to escape. She had to get him out of the room as quickly as possible, and make sure he never knew who she was tonight!

Duan Yu felt a surge of pity upon hearing this. Although he felt that the "Fairy Sister's" voice seemed slightly different from what he remembered, with such a warm and soft woman in his arms, and so lost in passion, he had no mind to discern the difference. He quickly did as she asked and hugged her tightly, trying to warm her with his own body heat, murmuring, "Okay...okay...I won't look...I'll hold you...Sister, are you...you're not angry with me anymore?"

Madam Wang smiled bitterly to herself, but on the surface, she could only continue her act, responding with muffled "hmm" sounds through her nose. She felt the vibrant heat emanating from the young man and her own extremely awkward situation, her heart filled with an absurd sense of humiliation. This feeling was strikingly similar to that of her lover, Duan Lang, in the nearby Qin Fang Garden—both were filled with the mockery of fate.

Chapter 148 Witch, Come at Me!

Night fell, enveloping Mantuo Villa in a still, watery hue. Wangyue Tower and Qinfang Garden, though not far apart, seemed like two worlds separated by an invisible veil. A gentle evening breeze swept across the lake, bringing a damp scent and stirring the gauze curtains between the pavilions—like the ambiguous whispers of lovers, or the silent mockery of fate. This night, for the four people separated by distance, held no romance, only a soul-crushing awkwardness, absurdity, and a heart in turmoil.

The next day, Mantuo Villa

The first rays of dawn dispelled the ambiguity of the night.

Li Qiushui had already taken her seat in the main seat of the flower hall, feeling quite pleased with herself. Thinking of Duan Zhengchun's humiliated and dejected state last night, like a wilted eggplant, a smug smile crept onto her lips. 'Hmph, let's see if you, you old lecher, dare to lay a finger on my daughter again!' she thought to herself, feeling this was a permanent solution. However, recalling Duan Yu, a nameless anger rose within her, and she muttered under her breath, "Damn it! Father and son, neither of them are good, just good-looking but useless trash!" For some reason, after cursing him, the image of that "Little Dove," who had been so respectful and even somewhat fearful of her, inexplicably flashed through her mind, startling her.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Kumārajīva, who was solemnly leading the Tibetan entourage to Dali, suddenly sneezed loudly for no apparent reason, and a strange chill crept up his spine.

"Strange..." He rubbed his nose and looked around suspiciously. "What kind of master is eyeing this humble monk again?" He shook his head, casting aside this ominous premonition, and reaffirmed his determination to go to Tianlong Temple to "learn" the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

The atmosphere in the flower hall of Mantuo Villa was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Li Qiushui specially ordered an extremely lavish breakfast to be prepared, with delicacies from land and sea, a dazzling array of dishes. She sat high in the main seat, her gaze like that of a queen surveying her territory, first sweeping over Duan Zhengchun.

Duan Zhengchun sat there, his face ashen, his eyes vacant, as if he had aged ten years overnight. He mechanically held his chopsticks, but couldn't pick up anything for a long time, his whole being like a soulless puppet. Seeing this, Li Qiushui felt even more smug; it seemed that last night's "lesson" had been very effective.

Her gaze shifted to Duan Yu, but a chill ran down her spine. Duan Yu was looking at her with a complex expression, his eyes a mixture of guilt, struggle, and an almost obsessive affection that made her extremely uncomfortable! Li Qiushui quickly looked away, inwardly cursing, 'What's wrong with this little rascal now!'

She didn't notice that her daughter, Madam Wang, sitting to her left, had almost buried her head in her bowl, her knuckles white from gripping the chopsticks too tightly, and her body was trembling almost imperceptibly.

Sitting next to her mother, Wang Yuyan keenly sensed the strange atmosphere at the table. She glanced at the distraught Prince Duan, then at her mother's erratic behavior, then at Duan Yu's odd gaze, and finally at her unfathomable grandmother. She felt incredibly oppressed during the meal, filled with doubt.

Each of them had their own ulterior motives, and they ate in silence. The only sound in the air was the slight clinking of bowls and chopsticks, creating a stifling atmosphere.

In the suffocating silence, Duan Yu seemed to be going through a mental struggle before finally making up his mind! He suddenly put down his chopsticks and stood up abruptly! The sudden movement startled everyone.

Li Qiushui instinctively felt her eyelids twitch violently, and an extremely ominous premonition surged into her heart.

Madam Wang was so frightened that she trembled all over, clutching her clothes tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh, her heart pounding like a drum!

Duan Yu faced Duan Zhengchun, his face bearing an almost martyr-like piety and resolve. His voice was loud and clear, each word resonating distinctly in the silent flower hall:

“Father! After much deliberation, my mind is made up! I...I and the fairy sister...are deeply in love and cannot extricate ourselves! We...we have already pledged our lives to each other! In this life, I will marry no one but her! I beg you, Father, to grant my wish!”

"Snap!" A crisp sound!

The chopsticks in Madam Wang's hand fell to the ground. As if all her strength had been drained, her body went limp, and she and the chair tumbled backward, falling to the ground with a thud. Her face was ashen, and her eyes were filled with endless despair and terror!

Wang Yuyan gasped, covering her mouth in shock. Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief at what was happening before her! Young Master Duan…and her grandmother? They were secretly engaged? This…how could this be?

Duan Zhengchun's ashen face instantly became incredibly interesting! He blinked blankly, as if he had just understood something incomprehensible, and then his gaze suddenly turned to Li Qiushui in the main seat! A raging fire, which he had forcibly suppressed and which was a mixture of the humiliation of the previous night and the shock of the present moment, erupted like a volcano!

'That old hag! She wasn't satisfied with ruining me! She actually... she actually turned around and seduced and ruined my Yu'er? How could she be so... so shameless?' A huge anger and a feeling of being completely fooled and frustrated made him tremble all over!

Li Qiushui was stunned by Duan Yu's earth-shattering declaration, almost jumping out of her chair! Pointing at Duan Yu, her lips trembled with anger, and her voice changed tone: "You...you little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting? Who said we'd pledged our lives to each other? You...you're trying to kill me!"

She was going crazy! What was this brat thinking? In her entire life, Li Qiushui had never been subjected to such absurd and slanderous accusations.

Amidst the chaos and confusion, Duan Zhengchun let out a whimper like a wounded beast, tears and snot streaming down his face! He shakily raised his finger, pointing at Li Qiushui, and roared in a hoarse voice, filled with grief and indignation:

"You vixen! You...you can take it out on me! Spare my son—!!!"

Inside the flower hall, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The only sounds were Duan Zhengchun's grief-stricken breathing, Madam Wang's suppressed sobs, and Li Qiushui's murderous gaze that seemed to spit fire.