"Oh, oh, Iâm full, canât eat anymore, really canât eat anymore... Oh, pigâs trotter, oh, oh, I could still eat one more piece, mwah!"
"Ah! Whoâs biting me! Eh? Yuhuan!"
"Ah, ah... pigâs foot, my pigâs foot... donât leave me..."
Pei Yuhuanâs cheek was pinched as she painfully opened her eyes, waking from a beautiful dream with tears in her eyes.
When she opened her eyes, there was no sumptuous feast, just a single temple, a Buddha statue, a Green Lamp, and in front of her, a young nun dressed in a sea green robe, in the bloom of her youth.
Although her head was shaved, she was born with a lovely charm, eyes misty with sleep, with a delicate sweat glistening like fragrant jade pearls, her soft chest undulating, and dew-like droplets rolling down her heart like peony petals. Her supple waist like a willow, full of spring allure just like a bird, cherry-like small mouth with sweet saliva joyously spitting out the tongue tip.
Yet, no matter how charming she was, anyone would become quite like a Yaksha if bitten awake from meditation, rubbing Pei Yuhuanâs face as if kneading dough,
"You silly girl! Not focusing on Qi Refining, dozing during morning lessons! You sleep-dazed monkey, gnawing at my foot and calling me a pig! Ughâmakes me so mad!"
"Ah, ah, Senior Sister, spare me, Senior Sister..."
The little nun rubbed her for quite a while to vent her anger, then sternly admonished,
"Junior Sister Yuhuan, although our Ci Yun Temple canât match the Three Great Sects, we follow the Righteous Method of Dual Cultivation of Buddhist and Daoist ways to achieve the Great Dao.
Master said you are destined in the path of Buddha and the task to glorify the sect will inevitably fall upon you. Donât fall behind in your lessons and worry her."
"Boohoo... Sister Taozi, I know I was wrong... but Iâm so hungry..."
Seeing her pitiful look, the little nun couldnât bear to scold her, took a gourd from the wall, and poured out a Fasting Pill to hand over.
"Itâs Miaozhi, not Taozi.... Ah well, here, take a Fasting Pill."
Yuhuan turned her head,
"I donât want the butt pill, I want pork trotters."
Taozi came up to rub her face,
"Itâs a Fasting Pill, not a butt pill! And this is a pure place of Buddhism, donât talk to me about eating pork trotters again!"
"Waaah~ Sister Xi~~ You forgot last night Xihu hosted a banquet, and those two guests brought such a big mountain pig, there should be some leftovers."
"Oh, youâre right..."
Taozi narrowed her eyes,
"But Yuhuan, youâre from a reputable family and a well-bred lady, why are you still fixated on those pig trotters? Besides, didnât you say the medicinal congee from dinner filled you up?"
Yuhuan, teary-eyed,
"That congee was bitter and sour, without even a drop of oil, how could I swallow it..."
"Pfft."
Seeing the girl looking so pitiful, Sister Taozi couldnât stay mad,
"You really donât appreciate the kindness. The congee at our Ci Yun Temple is made from mountain-aged brews and the finest mountain delicacies, nourishes Qi, and extends life. Itâs a top-notch good item that many princes and officials canât get their hands on, and you donât eat it, preferring to scrounge for swill instead."
"Sister Taozi~"
Pei Yuhuan read the situation, snuggled into her embrace to act spoiled.
Taozi blushed from her hug, helplessly,
"Alright, alright, youâre just spoiled by your family, anything you try you grow tired of after a bite."
Thus, the two left the monastery together, pushed open the door, and saw the verdant forest, clouds wreathed around surrounded by mountains, layers of clouds encircling a lone temple, night herons flying through the mist, aptly fitting a phrase: a touch of green mountain encircling the meditation smoke, layers of cloud images shrouding the meditation pass. Unexpectedly startled the white heron through the woods, fetched the bell sound into the green pond. A place truly divine with scenery akin to Cave Heaven Blessed Land.
But Pei Yuhuan, about starved enough to panic inwardly, lacked the mind to appreciate the wonderful scenery, only gazing from afar at the Buddha tower, wondering at the flickering and flashing tri-color light beams, curiously holding Taoziâs hand,
"Why is Master still awake so late, perhaps engaging in Triple Cultivation with the guests?"
"Oh, youâre going to drive me crazy! Your mouth has no filter, talking nonsense around here!"
Taozi quickly covered her mouth, relieved that no one came flying down from the mountain to slap, then leaned in to whisper,
"Master is refining a secret treasure, the two elders were invited as protectors, no bad intentions, donât gossip idly."
Pei Yuhuan chuckled,
"Sister Taozi, youâre so naive. Those two are seasoned Independent Practitioners, not in their isolated Grotto Heaven meditating in silence, but rushing here to craft magic treasure, gift Elixir Pills, and bring mountain supplies, you think they donât have motives?
I bet their intentions are obvious, arenât they just thinking about what lies beneath the monk robes?"
Taozi was at a loss for words, blushing deeply.
Pei Yuhuan swayed her head,
"But I think, thereâs nothing wrong with becoming a couple, is there? Our Master is so charming, though a renounced person, still can return to secular life.
And look at our cultivation technique, itâs not like the Mystic Sect insist on maintaining the Golden Body.
Having obtained immortality, being all alone, without a companion seems so dull, having two partners would be much better, even have someone to scratch your back in the bath."
"You cheeky girl, talking nonsense at such a young age!"
Taozi scolded her angrily, baring her teeth.
"I was wrong, I was wrong, Sister Xi I made a mistake..."
The two played around a while, and upon reaching the kitchen, indeed found many leftover demon beast meats.
Pei Yuhuan, with her picky and troublesome nature, despite complaining about eating cabbage tofu soup without oil until hungry, nagged for a midnight snack, came here to see yesterdayâs leftover wine and meat, yet found fault with coarse demon beast meat, dismissing it as poorly cooked, too spicy and salty, tough and stinky that couldnât be chewed, refusing to eat more, just licked a bit like a little cat.
Taozi found no way out, fearing the girl would wake up hungry again gnawing at her leg, so she sliced some meat jerky, lit the stove, and made a bowl of noodles for her.