20demayo Page 206
Page 206
……
When Long Yan and Zhang Ling returned to Wulong Temple, exhausted, it was already dawn.
The entire Wulong Temple was brightly lit.
Uncle Da, Master Zhihui, Master Changmei, and Xiao Zhen were all anxiously waiting in the courtyard. When they saw the pale but unharmed figure following behind the "Dragon Group" members, everyone erupted in a huge cheer.
"Xian'er!"
"Miss Xian'er!"
Wang Xian'er is back.
Looking at her companions who were worried about her, she could no longer control her emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes.
When her gaze finally fell upon the monk standing tall and straight like a pine tree in the dim morning light, she rushed towards him without hesitation.
Under everyone's gaze, she threw herself into Long Yan's arms, buried her face deeply in his chest, and burst into tears.
She cried like a child, turning all the fear, grievances, and despair she had endured over the past few days into tears that soaked the monk's robe on his chest.
Long Yan's body stiffened slightly.
He could smell the faint fragrance in Wang Xian'er's hair and feel the softness and helpless trembling of her body.
He tried to push her away, but found that his hands were somewhat out of his control.
At this moment, his once calm and undisturbed Dao heart was stirred with unprecedented, gentle ripples.
In the end, he simply sighed softly, raised his hand, and patted her back somewhat clumsily, yet with utmost gentleness.
“It’s alright,” he said. “It’s all over.”
These few simple words seemed to possess boundless magic, making Wang Xian'er cry even harder, but gradually, her sobs turned into reassuring whimpers.
Uncle Da, Xiao Zhen, and Zhang Ling, who were standing nearby, watched this touching scene of "reunion after the ordeal and embracing each other in tears," and they all smiled knowingly like aunts. They quietly stepped aside, leaving this peaceful space to the two "lovers" who had gone through so much hardship.
Sunlight broke through the clouds and bathed the entire Wulong Temple.
Everything seems to have passed.
But is it really over?
No one noticed that, in the shadows of the distant mountains and forests, a telephoto lens was silently and clearly recording the scene of that "affectionate embrace"...
Behind the camera was a face flushed red with excitement.
"Breaking news! This is absolutely breaking news! A once-in-a-century exclusive!" The man lowered his voice, excitedly muttering to himself, "Wang Xian'er, the leader of the Jade Girl Sect, spent the night in a dilapidated temple deep in the mountains, and passionately embraced a mysterious martial monk! Hahaha! Tomorrow, all the headlines in Hong Kong's newspapers will be mine!"
He is "Pig Oil Boy," the top paparazzo for Hong Kong's most famous gossip magazine, Next Magazine.
He had been lying in wait here for two days and two nights, hoping to get an exclusive story about Wang Xian'er's disappearance. Unexpectedly, he managed to capture such a...shocking scene!
He carefully put away his camera, like a weasel that had stolen a chicken, and quietly retreated from the forest.
Chapter 167 The Rumors Between Long Yan and Wang Xian'er
The next day, the entire city of Hong Kong was shaken by an earthquake.
The latest issue of Next Magazine is displayed in the most prominent position at every newsstand.
Its cover features a striking high-definition photograph that takes up the entire page.
The background of the photo is the gate of a temple that looks somewhat dilapidated.
In the soft light of dawn, Wong Yin-yee, Hong Kong's most popular "Jade Girl" idol, was tearfully embracing a young monk dressed in a grey robe.
The monk had a handsome face and a gentle expression. He gently patted Wang Xian'er's back with one hand, their posture incredibly intimate.
The photo's title is even more sensational and inflammatory:
"From Innocent Girl to Lustful Woman?! The Mystery of Wang Xian'er's Disappearance is Revealed: She Spends the Night in an Ancient Temple Deep in the Mountains, Passionately Embracing a Macho Monk, Exposing Their Secret Romance!"
This report immediately ignited public opinion throughout Hong Kong!
Who is Wang Xian'er?
She is the "fairy" and "dream lover" in the hearts of countless Hong Kong people.
Her image has always been that of a pure, noble, and otherworldly person.
And now, she's actually getting involved with a monk?!
This news is more exciting and thrilling than any of the movies she's acted in!
For a moment, the whole city was in an uproar.
In teahouses, offices, taxis, and on the streets, everyone was talking about it.
"My God! Wang Xian'er actually... actually likes monks? That's such a strange taste!"
"What do you know! Look at that monk in the photo, wow, he's tall and handsome, with an amazing physique! He's even more stylish than those movie stars! That's called 'uniform fetish'!"
"I heard that monk is the stuntman who played the Arhat in the movie 'A Chinese Ghost Story 3'! His name is Long Yan! So they were really doing it on set!"
"Outrageous! This sacred Buddhist sanctuary cannot be defiled like this! This Long Yan is nothing but a frivolous monk, a disgrace to Buddhism! The Buddhist Association should expel him from the monastic order immediately!"
A cacophony of voices arose. Some were driven by curiosity, others by envy, and still others by jealousy. But of course, the majority was a deluge of... insults and accusations.
Fans were heartbroken; they couldn't accept that their "goddess" would do something so "unconventional."
Moral guardians were outraged, believing it to be a desecration of religion and an immoral act.
And the major media outlets, like sharks smelling blood, swarmed over!
Dozens of television stations' mobile press vans, along with hundreds of reporters and paparazzi, completely blocked the mountain road leading to Wulongyuan. They carried their cameras and microphones, trying to rush up the mountain and dig up more juicy stories.
Fortunately, Chief Inspector Lee Ying had anticipated this and deployed a large number of police officers in advance to set up a cordon at the foot of the mountain, which barely kept the frenzied media out.
Even so, Oolong Temple has become an isolated island completely surrounded by a storm of public opinion.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was extremely oppressive.
Uncle Da, holding the copy of Next Magazine, was trembling with rage. He cursed, "Bastards! These paparazzi are all the same! They just read pictures and make things up! I'm going down the mountain and tear their mouths apart!"
Wang Xian'er stared at the glaring photo and the offensive headlines in the newspaper, her face turning deathly pale and her body swaying precariously.
She wasn't afraid of being misunderstood; what she feared was that her actions would tarnish Long Yan's reputation and the temple that had taken her in.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... It's all my fault... I've dragged you into this..." She looked at Long Yan, tears streaming down her face again, her voice filled with endless self-blame and despair.
She felt like an ominous person who would bring disaster to those around her wherever she went.
Long Yan remained silent.
He simply took the newspaper from Wang Xian'er's hand.
He looked at the photo of the two embracing, his eyes showing no anger or panic.
He even... revealed a very faint smile, almost imperceptible to others.
He raised his head, looked at Wang Xian'er who was crying her eyes out, and calmly said something that surprised everyone.
"This photo is...not bad."
"This humble monk looks very photogenic."
This sudden, dryly humorous remark brought Wang Xian'er's crying to an abrupt halt.
She looked up and stared blankly at Long Yan, not reacting for a moment.
Zhang Ling, standing to the side, almost spat out the wine in his mouth.
“Hey monk, what time is it? You’re still in the mood for jokes? People outside are practically cursing your ancestors for eighteen generations!” Zhang Ling said speechlessly.
Long Yan shook his head.
He casually tossed the newspaper aside, glanced at the worried crowd, and slowly said:
"The mouth is on someone else's body. The heart is in one's own belly."
"If the world slanders me, deceives me, insults me, laughs at me, belittles me, despises me, hates me, and cheats me, how should I deal with it?"
"Just tolerate him, let him be, let him do as he pleases, avoid him, be patient with him, respect him, and ignore him. Wait a few more years and you'll see what happens to him."
What he recited were ancient Buddhist verses, full of Zen wisdom.
His voice was calm, yet full of power. It was as if no matter how great the storms in the outside world were, they could not shake the Mount Sumeru within him... named "steadfastness".
Looking at Long Yan like this, Wang Xian'er's chaotic heart miraculously calmed down.
She suddenly realized that the insults and accusations didn't seem so terrible after all.
As long as... as long as this person is still by my side.
However, what they don't know is.
This scandal, sparked by paparazzi, has not only stirred up Hong Kong's entertainment industry.
It was more like the flapping wings of a butterfly, leading an even more terrifying and unpredictable... gigantic vortex to this small neighboring courtyard ahead of time.
In some dark corner of the world.
Tsuchimikado Ryuko looked at the gossip magazine from Hong Kong in his hand, a playful smile on his face.
"Love... is truly the most interesting thing about humankind, and also... its most fatal weakness."
"It seems that our 'Buddha and Demon' are not invincible after all."
"It's time to pay a visit to this... amorous 'holy monk'."
Chapter 168: His romance with Wang Xian'er caused a sensation in Hong Kong!
The scandal storm is escalating.
In the following days, Long Yan and Wang Xian'er's "secret relationship" became the biggest topic of conversation among Hong Kong citizens.
Talk shows on major TV stations invited so-called "relationship experts," "religious scholars," and "senior entertainment critics" to conduct a comprehensive and thorough analysis and critique of this matter.
"This is a classic case of 'Stockholm Syndrome'!" A psychology PhD wearing gold-rimmed glasses spoke eloquently in front of the camera. "After experiencing the immense fear of being kidnapped, Miss Wang Xian'er developed a morbid dependence and infatuation with Long Yan, who rescued her! This isn't love, it's a disease!"
"The most important precept in Buddhism is abstinence from sexual misconduct!" A bloated "director of the Buddhist Association" pounded the table in anguish. "This boy (referring to Long Yan) is impure in his six senses and has defiled Buddhism! He is a disgrace to our Buddhist community! I strongly suggest that he be expelled from the sect to set an example!"
Some film companies even seized the opportunity and quickly announced that they would soon start filming a movie called "The Dragon Seed in the Ancient Temple". The poster features the silhouettes of a monk and a beautiful woman in ancient costume, and the intention is self-evident.