Chapter 35: Chapter 33: The Divine Monk Overawes the Crowd, the Origin of the Throat Suppressing Pendant

But at this moment, Young Master Wei and Aunt Hu were also staring in astonishment as the tall, burly bandit’s body slowly collapsed after his head had exploded.

Hui Ming was still held hostage by two bandits with long sabers, his face a mask of shock and bewilderment.

In short, all three of them reacted just like any other normal person at the scene.

For a moment, it was impossible to tell which of them had struck.

To this, Xu Lei could only sigh inwardly, ’Their acting is on point.’

「That same evening.」

Xu Lei and the others were in their rooms at the inn.

"Divine Monk, do you... still need Xiaoai to serve you?"

That night, Zhang Xiaomai bathed and came to Xu Lei’s bedside wearing only a silken bodice. Her face was flushed, her feet were bare, and her fair legs were a dazzling sight. "Do you still want Xiaoai to bear your child?"

"Of course."

Xu Lei nodded. He wrapped his arm around Zhang Xiaomai’s slender waist, his other hand beginning to untie her bodice from behind. "Just like always."

"What on earth is going on?"

Zhang Xiaomai’s lovely eyes sparkled. "You... Aren’t you a Divine Monk? Why...?"

"A beauty may pass through my arms, but the Buddha remains in my heart."

Xu Lei said directly, feeling Zhang Xiaomai’s smooth, tender skin, "As a Divine Monk, I am naturally not bound by the same rules as an ordinary Buddhist Disciple."

"The Divine Monk’s wisdom is profound."

Zhang Xiaomai said, "It is I who was narrow-minded."

"Mm."

Xu Lei nodded and patted her head. "Since your root of wisdom has yet to manifest, allow this humble monk to perform some Charitable Giving and awaken your spirit."

"Your blessings... can they truly awaken my spirit?"

Zhang Xiaomai said, "No wonder I’ve felt my mind has been a bit quicker these past few days."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said earnestly, "A monk does not tell lies. As a Divine Monk, would I deceive you? Of course, the extent to which your spirit can be awakened depends on your own innate talent."

In reality, what spiritual awakening? It was just that Zhang Xiaomai had been eating and drinking well while following Xu Lei. Besides sometimes going to bed late, she hadn’t endured any hardships.

Naturally, her body and mind were healthy, and she felt comfortable all over.

And so, she simply felt that her mind was a bit clearer.

"Thank you, Divine Monk."

Zhang Xiaomai, however, grew excited. She knelt and said in a delicate voice, "Please, Divine Monk, perform your Charitable Giving."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei nodded as well. "Patron, you have an affinity with the Buddha."

「Earlier.」

「On the mountain path.」

Because the tall, burly bandit’s head had bizarrely exploded without anyone touching him,

all the bandits at the scene were so scared they nearly pissed their pants.

After that, they all knelt before Xu Lei, crying out for the Divine Monk to spare their lives.

After all, Xu Lei already had a worldwide reputation as a Divine Monk and had even been highly praised by the former His Majesty the Emperor.

These bandits were already predisposed to believe that Xu Lei was truly an Enlightened Monk.

Previously, some of them still held doubts.

But after seeing the horrifying scene of the head exploding,

they were instantly convinced that Xu Lei was a true Enlightened Monk who possessed Divine Power and Magical Ability!

As for Xu Lei, his expression naturally remained unchanged. He merely muttered, "Amitabha Buddha."

Then, he spouted some Zen phrases from the Buddhist Sect.

The gist of it was that he could have killed them all at any moment.

But monks are merciful!

Therefore, when facing evildoers, his first instinct was still to convert them, not exterminate them.

That was why he had allowed himself to be surrounded earlier.

He just wanted to see what was going on.

Unexpectedly, someone had been so insistent on seeking death, so incorrigibly stubborn, that he had to send him to the Western Heaven.

That’s right. Xu Lei took full credit for the tall, burly bandit’s death.

He was leveraging the attack from some unknown Extraordinary to show off.

In any case, the other party was being secretive and unwilling to reveal themselves.

So, of course, Xu Lei seized the opportunity to make his own display of power even more magnificent.

He completely intimidated the bandits.

The bandits, naturally, all knelt and cried out about the Divine Monk’s mercy.

They said they now knew they were wrong.

And immediately handed over all the various items they had previously stolen back to Xu Lei.

And Xu Lei didn’t slaughter them all.

He just muttered "Amitabha Buddha" again and spoke a few more Zen phrases.

He admonished them that from now on, they must not do evil again, but should do good deeds and accumulate virtue.

How could the bandits dare to argue? They all readily agreed.

Then the whole group scrambled away in terror.

Only the twenty-year-old bandit who had treated Xu Lei with courtesy before, and their leader, who were relatively unafraid, said a few words of farewell to Xu Lei before leaving.

Watching them leave, Xu Lei wore a merciful expression.

After that, the group continued on their journey.

However, Xu Lei still couldn’t figure out which of the three—Hui Ming, Young Master Wei, or Aunt Hu—was the one with Extraordinary Power who had acted.

But Zhang Xiaomai was thoroughly shocked by Xu Lei!

After all, she didn’t know that the previous move wasn’t actually made by Xu Lei.

Instead, Xu Lei had merely used the hidden Extraordinary’s attack to posture.

But of course, Xu Lei wouldn’t tell Zhang Xiaomai any of this.

Besides, now that Zhang Xiaomai knew Xu Lei was a Divine Monk, she actually seemed even more excited and happy when serving him.

So Xu Lei naturally just went along with the misunderstanding.

To be honest, Xu Lei had really thought he was about to lose a life back there.

He never expected there to be an Extraordinary in his own party, let alone one who gave him the chance to piggyback on their power and look impressive.

That was certainly a surprise.

Ever since he’d transmigrated, Xu Lei had always relied on his own efforts to look impressive.

This was the first time he’d ever postured using someone else’s power.

’It feels a little weird.’

Of course, Xu Lei also knew that he was walking further and further down the path of a Divine Monk, and he couldn’t stop now.

Perhaps it would only end when this life was completely over and he was reincarnated as someone else.

「The next day.」

"Thank you for your blessings, Divine Monk."

Zhang Xiaomai gracefully rose from the bed. She said in a delicate voice, "You continue to rest. I will go prepare your things for washing."

Then she got out of bed barefoot, got dressed, and went out. As she walked, her posture was much more confident.

After all, in her heart, she was a woman who had received the Divine Monk’s blessed Charitable Giving!

She... was different from ordinary women now!

「An hour later.」

Xu Lei, fully dressed, walked out of his room.

He found Young Master Wei and Aunt Hu waiting respectfully outside.

"Divine Monk Wu Tan!"

"Greetings, Divine Monk!"

Aunt Hu was dressed as before.

But Young Master Wei was wearing a high-collared robe.

And this time, both greetings were spoken by Aunt Hu.

Young Master Wei opened her delicate lips but didn’t dare make a sound.

After all, without the disguise of the Jade Pendant, her voice was very delicate and would easily give her away.

After telling Zhang Xiaomai to go outside and prepare the carriage for the next leg of their journey, Xu Lei turned his attention to the others.

"Amitabha Buddha. Greetings to you two female patrons."

Xu Lei turned to look at Young Master Wei and Aunt Hu and said with a faint smile, "To come looking for this humble monk so early in the morning, what could be the matter?"

Young Master Wei and Aunt Hu’s expressions both changed upon hearing this.

When the Jade Pendant was snatched, they had immediately covered their throats.

They thought they could deceive others, thought that Xu Lei still didn’t know.

But now Xu Lei had spoken, and with the five words, "you two female patrons"!

He had clearly seen through their disguise.

Of course,

when they recalled the miracle of Xu Lei remotely crushing the tall, burly bandit’s skull from thin air,

they were filled with a solemn respect. They knew how laughable their previous wishful thinking had been.

How could a truly Enlightened Monk, one who possessed Divine Power and Magical Ability, possibly fail to see through their disguise?

"Greetings, Divine Monk Wu Tan!"

And so, Young Master Wei no longer remained silent. Her delicate lips parted, and she spoke in a sweet voice, "Divine Monk, your Divine Power is vast; nothing can be hidden from you.

As such, you must have seen through my female identity from the very beginning.

How ridiculous that we thought we could hide it right under your nose.

Since that’s the case, Divine Monk, we won’t beat around the bush.

That Jade Pendant... after it was stolen by the bandits, they handed it over to you, Divine Monk.

I wonder if you might return it? That item is extremely important to me!

I cannot be without it!

Actually, I wanted to come and ask for it back last night!

It’s just that I heard you and Miss Xiaoai in your room... um, busy.

So I didn’t dare to disturb you, and thus came to see you first thing this morning."

Without the Jade Pendant,

her voice had returned to its natural state.

There was no longer any hint of a man’s voice.

Because her tone was even more delicate and sweet than that of many ordinary girls.

She had what you might call a naturally breathy, cute-sounding voice.

Having said her piece, her charming, fair face had unknowingly turned bright red.

After all, this was the first time she had ever faced a man and spoken to him with her girlish voice.

Moreover, the man before her was handsome, extraordinary, and mature.

And last night, outside his door, she had heard certain sounds that made her blush.

Xu Lei had been observing Young Master Wei and Aunt Hu, analyzing the probability of one of them being the Extraordinary.

But Aunt Hu just seemed very nervous.

And Young Master Wei was also very nervous, but it seemed to be more out of shyness.

She was truly beautiful, in the prime of her youth, her skin plump and much fairer and more tender than even Zhang Xiaomai’s.

Her family background must be much better than Zhang Xiaomai’s; she must have been pampered since childhood.

Hearing her speak with a man’s persona before had felt awkward and dissonant.

But now, paired with her delicate, sweet tone, it was suddenly harmonious.

And it gave off a rather alluring feeling.

Delicate, soft, and easy to push over.

Those seven words immediately came to Xu Lei’s mind.

Of course, he couldn’t make an accurate judgment just from this simple conversation.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Therefore, after listening to her, Xu Lei thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "This item belongs to you, patron. This humble monk has no intention of taking it.

However, if you want this humble monk to return the Jade Pendant...

I must ask you, patron, to explain the origin of this Jade Pendant to this humble monk in detail.

Would that be possible?"