Chapter 33: Just…

“Then, if… if I wasn’t a nun, would you… would you like me?”

The breeze ruffled Ruo Wangchen’s skirt, pressing it gently against her body. Barely eighteen, she hadn’t fully matured yet, but her figure was already graceful.

A few strands of her long hair fluttered in the wind, and a faint, sweet scent lingered at Lin Xun’s nose.

Her clear eyes held a pure longing and plea. Lin Xun didn’t dare to look too long and could only turn his head slightly.

Any man, when asked such a question by a pure and innocent girl, would have the words “yes” uncontrollably escape his lips.

However, Lin Xun quickly swallowed the word “yes” back down.

“What are you talking about?” Lin Xun flicked her forehead. “It’s not about whether you’re a Buddhist Disciple or not. I already told you, I’m married.”

“Huh? Married… What’s wrong with being married?” Ruo Wangchen gently covered her fair forehead, wincing in pain, and looked at Lin Xun with wide, innocent eyes beneath her long lashes.

“Married, of course…” Lin Xun stopped speaking halfway, unable to continue.

Lin Xun suddenly realized he didn’t know how to explain… This world was ancient; emperors had three thousand concubines in their harems, even commoners could marry several, and wealthy officials had entire gardens filled with beautiful concubines in their backyards. Even Cultivators could have multiple Dao Companions.

So, women in this ancient world had no concept of “monogamy.”

If there was one thing they cared about, it was the distinction between the main wife and concubines.

And this silly girl in front of him didn’t care about status at all.

But even if Ruo Wangchen didn’t care, Lin Xun still couldn’t get past it in his heart.

After all, he had lived so many years in his previous life; it was truly difficult to change his mindset so quickly. Otherwise, Lin Xun would always feel like he was cheating, and his conscience would bother him.

Even if he adjusted his own views, if he really married Wang Chen, would Qinger truly not mind?

Moreover, if the world knew that the Saintess of Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent married him, what would Qinger do? She was still just a Mortal; she shouldn’t get caught up in such Karma.

Finally, Ruo Wangchen was indeed beautiful, extremely pure and lovely, like a cup of clear spring water; taking a gentle sip would be incredibly sweet, moistening the heart along the throat.

But for Lin Xun, he truly saw Ruo Wangchen as a younger sister, not with the kind of affection between a man and a woman.

If he accepted her, wouldn’t that mean he was just lusting after her body? Would he be worthy of her affection?

Using someone’s affection to lust after their body, damn, he would be too despicable.

Not to mention that the other party was very likely the first Buddhist Disciple to achieve Dao as a woman. How could he, just because he lusted after her body, ruin her future?

Lin Xun snapped out of his thoughts. Ruo Wangchen had been silently watching him the whole time, her clear eyes filled with his image, as if she would never tire of looking.

Really, why is she so naive?

Lin Xun shook his head: “Wang Chen, actually, your affection for me might not be the kind between a man and a woman, but rather a dependency, simply because I saved you, do you understand?”

Ruo Wangchen shook her head.

“Then, for example, if you heard that I was married and had someone I wanted to spend my life with, would you feel unhappy?”

Ruo Wangchen thought for a moment, then still shook her head.

“That’s right, because you don’t love me, so you won’t be jealous or unhappy. You like me simply because I once saved you, understand?”

Ruo Wangchen stared blankly at Lin Xun.

Lin Xun: “…”

Reorganizing his words, Lin Xun said again: “From another perspective, my affection for you is just seeing you as a younger sister, or the kind of liking where I lust after your body, not the love between a man and a woman, do you understand?”

The girl lowered her head and thought, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed, unable to grasp the difference in “liking.”

But when the girl looked up and saw Lin Xun’s frowning, “angry” expression, she reached out and gently held Lin Xun’s palm.

“What’s wrong?” Feeling the delicacy of Ruo Wangchen’s palm, Lin Xun, regretting not having studied Chinese better, was still pondering how to explain.

Ruo Wangchen looked at Lin Xun deeply, her voice soft and sweet: “Don’t be angry, I’ll let you eat, okay?”

Lin Xun’s heart pounded rapidly, stirred by her words, especially that pure and innocent little face. Lin Xun almost couldn’t resist biting her.

“No!”

Lin Xun quickly cut off his Heart Demon.

“Forget it, forget it, I won’t talk about it anymore. It’s all my fault for not being good at Chinese. You should leave quickly.” Lin Xun slowly withdrew his hand from her soft palm. “I’m going back!”

He couldn’t stay any longer! This naive girl had no guard against him at all; Lin Xun was really afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist devouring her!

Damn it! She’s clearly the Saintess of Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent; shouldn’t she inspire tranquility and abstinence? Why is she so alluringly sweet!

Lin Xun stopped explaining and turned to leave, but with every step he took, the girl followed a step behind him.

“Are you coming home with me?”

Turning around, Lin Xun said helplessly.

The girl just lowered her head and said nothing.

Lin Xun turned and walked again, and she quietly followed. When Lin Xun turned around, she stopped, her straight, long legs beneath her skirt pressed together.

“Sigh.”

Lin Xun turned, picked up a branch, and drew a horizontal line between them.

“You’re not allowed to cross this line, understood?”

Looking at the scratch mark on the sand, Ruo Wangchen clutched the hem of her skirt, raised her beautiful head, and looked at Lin Xun with deep yet clear eyes.

“A reply?” Lin Xun didn’t dare to look into her eyes, deliberately raising his voice and sternly saying, “I’m angry.”

“Mhm.” The girl finally nodded, but her beautiful eyes were slightly moist.

“Phew, I’m leaving!”

Lin Xun forced himself to be stern, sighed inwardly, and used a secret technique to instantly vanish from the spot.

Watching the direction he left, the young girl stood for an unknown amount of time. Only when the sun was high did she gently withdraw her gaze.

Gently smoothing her skirt, the young girl slowly squatted down, her fair fingertips tracing the scratch mark in front of her toes.

“Why are there so many different kinds of ‘liking’?”

“I just want to keep looking at you.”

“You asked if I would be sad because you’re married.”

“I don’t know either.”

“It’s just…”

The young girl tightly clutched her chest, tears silently falling, dripping onto the scratch mark.

“Why… does it hurt so much… here, Xun… Is this sadness…?”

…【Thanks to “Xiang Hao Jiu Xing” for 1500 Qidian coins, “Yin Guan Da Ren Yong Wu Ning Ri” for 500 Qidian coins, “No Stranger, No Sound” for 300 Qidian coins, “Jin Nian” for 199 Qidian coins, “Wo Zai Nan Fang Se Se Fa Dou” for 100 Qidian coins, “zfttty” for 100 Qidian coins, and “He Quan Sha Wu Yu Wu He Qin Li” for 100 Qidian coins.】