Breaking the Precept

The moonlight was serene, and the breeze carried a gentle coolness—an enchanting night.

Baili Xi's laugh, when she posed that question, was audacious, her phoenix-shaped eyes slightly upturned at the corners. Beautiful, yet holding a touch of seductive mischief, her smile seemed to brim with beguiling charm. Ordinarily, as the head of her family, she maintained a stoic demeanor to uphold her dignity, her rare smiles restrained and cold.

But now, her uninhibited laughter was enough to make even her male disguise fail to conceal her intoxicating allure.

It was no wonder Chu Fengchen was momentarily entranced.

With that enchanting smile still on her face, Baili Xi turned slowly, walking leisurely toward him. Her gaze locked with his, reaching deep into his eyes. Raising her hand, her sleeve slid down, revealing a fair and delicate wrist. While he was still lost in his thoughts, her soft fingertip gently traced his lips.

For some reason, Chu Fengchen felt as though he had been immobilized. His throat bobbed as he tried to speak, but no words came out.

Standing on tiptoes, Baili Xi leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "What's even more scandalous is this: I prefer men over young girls, especially vigorous men like you…"

Chu Fengchen's eyes widened in shock.

With a loud clang, the "Wuwo Sword" slipped from his grip, clattering to the ground.

Startled awake, he lashed out with a palm strike, but Baili Xi was prepared. She instantly teleported a few yards back, her white robes fluttering like petals in the night breeze.

Still smiling seductively, she glanced at him.

Chu Fengchen, his ears burning red, bent to retrieve his sword but fumbled twice before managing to pick it up. Utterly embarrassed, he fled the scene.

Moments later, he burst back through the moonlit gate, his sword raised and trembling in his hand, his voice furious as he shouted, "Shameless! You depraved, despicable, filthy, debauched scoundrel!"

He spat out the words in rapid succession, struggling to think of more insults, before once again storming off in indignation.

Watching him disappear into the night, Baili Xi stifled a laugh behind her fist.

What a fool…

Only she could handle him.

"Patriarch."

A calm voice broke the silence.

Behind her stood Wuchang.

"You called for me," he said.

Baili Xi paused briefly, her smile fading into a composed expression. With a wave of her hand, she set up a soundproof barrier and transmitted her instructions telepathically: "I have a task for you. Travel to the Southern Spirit Buddhist Kingdom, to Kasyapa Monastery."

She explained the situation with Jian Xiaolou.

Wuchang's brows lifted slightly. "So, the rumors of the stolen Buddhist relic are true."

Baili Xi nodded. "Go and return swiftly."

"Patriarch, this is a tumultuous time. Without me here—"

"No need to worry. I've summoned the Two Mirror Elders to return. Besides, you are the only one I trust with this matter."

Wuchang lowered his gaze. "Understood."

"Before you leave, see Xiaolou and hear if she has anything else to add."

"Yes."

Wuchang bowed and turned to leave, but he hesitated, glancing back. "Patriarch, do you intend to tell Chu Fengchen about the child?"

"I merely borrowed his bloodline. What relation does the child have to him?"

"Of course. Forgive my overstep."

Wuchang cupped his hands respectfully, his previously somber expression softening slightly as he left to find Jian Xiaolou in the rear courtyard.

At that moment, Jian Xiaolou was practicing the "Earth Conduction Technique" under Xiao Hei's guidance.

Slap! Slap!

Xiao Hei's wings flapped left and right, smacking her face until she was dizzy and disoriented.

"Dammit! I said spiritual energy attacks, not slapping me in the face!"

Her cheeks were swollen, and her speech was slightly slurred. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"Gah…" Xiao Hei blinked innocently.

"Fine. This is the last time I explain it. The 'Earth Conduction Technique' can only deflect spiritual energy attacks into the ground through the body. It doesn't work against brute force."

Jian Xiaolou decided to demonstrate. Gathering spiritual energy in her palm, she struck a stone table.

Boom! The table exploded into pieces.

"See? Attacks with visible light effects or spiritual patterns are spiritual energy attacks."

Then she walked to another stone table, placed her hands on its edges, took a deep breath, and smashed her head against it. The table shattered into fragments.

"And this kind of raw physical collision is brute force. Got it?"

"Gah…" Xiao Hei nodded its bird head solemnly.

"Now, channel your spiritual energy and attack with it! Stop slapping my face!"

"Gah…" Xiao Hei nodded again, nervously.

Jian Xiaolou steadied her stance and activated the Earth Conduction Technique. "Come at me!"

Xiao Hei flapped its wings, gradually glowing with a faint red hue.

Jian Xiaolou's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's it!"

"Gah—!" Xiao Hei pounced, its glowing wings slapping her cheeks once again with crisp, resounding smacks.

What the heck?! It's slapping me with special effects now?!

"I'm going to roast you!"

Furious, Jian Xiaolou lunged at Xiao Hei, who squawked and flew chaotically around the courtyard to escape.

"Wu Chang, what are you doing?"

Hearing the commotion, Wuchang approached with a twitching eye.

Caught mid-pounce, Jian Xiaolou quickly halted and awkwardly clasped her hands in greeting. "Practicing, Senior. Survival is getting harder, and I must improve as fast as possible."

"Why is your practice leaving you battered and bruised?"

"What can I do when my bird's an idiot?" Jian Xiaolou grumbled, covering her sore cheeks.

Wuchang chuckled lightly. "Then let me spar with you."

He set down the large, ashen coffin he carried on his back. Having learned of the Buddhist treasure within her, he was curious to test its power.

Before Jian Xiaolou could protest, Wuchang opened the coffin with a creak. A black, humanoid puppet emerged, cold and menacing, identical to Wuchang himself in appearance.

Its stark contrast to his white-clad form made them resemble the legendary "Black and White Impermanence."

"Senior, this puppet looks just like you," Jian Xiaolou exclaimed.

"It should. It's my original body."

"Your body? You turned it into a puppet?"

Wuchang nodded with a smile. "Indeed. I'm human, not a ghost. I simply practice ghostly arts."

"Why give up being human to practice ghost arts?"

"They're powerful."

"But isn't a ghost weaker than a living being?"

Wuchang explained, "A ghost is simply a disembodied soul forced to practice ghost arts in the absence of a body. True ghost clans are different; they are born as pure souls, specializing in soul attacks, which are a significant weakness for human cultivators."

Their conversation continued, leading Jian Xiaolou to a deeper understanding of the dangers—and strengths—of ghost cultivation.