In the present era, the Emperor holds a deep reverence for Buddhist studies and exhibits kindness. The world is peaceful, and the people are content, which arouses great interest in auspicious signs from the heavens. Both civil and military officials understand the Emperor’s sentiments. He is considered a wise ruler, diligently involved in state affairs. However, the court historian lacks a touch of magical color in depicting his reign.
It is often said that royal authority is divinely bestowed. From the Emperor’s birth until now, he has had numerous children. Yet, far from experiencing extraordinary events like “a hundred flowers blooming in one night,” he hasn’t even had peculiar or interesting dreams. Truly, his life is as lonely as snow, lacking any flavor.
Therefore, when a giant turtle shell, approximately seven feet in size, was unexpectedly unearthed beneath an ancient tree in the Dabao Monastery in the distant Yunling, the entire nation was stirred.
The monks of the Dabao Monastery cleaned the turtle shell overnight and swiftly sent the news to the capital’s Xiangguo Monastery. The abbot of Xiangguo Monastery promptly went to report to the Emperor, who, in his early fifties, was delighted. He immediately waved his hand and declared, “Let my son go personally and bring this auspicious symbol here!”
The third prince, Hua Chengyun, known for his unruly and lazy nature, as well as his fickleness and carefree attitude, was indeed a true playboy.
The abbot of Xiangguo Monastery hesitated and hadn’t figured out how to dissuade the Emperor when Prince Hua Chengyun arrived, exuding a fragrance of flowers.
With a hint of flower juice lingering on his slender fingertips, Prince Hua Chengyun, with a half-smile, glanced at the abbot. “You want me to go to the Dabao Monastery?”
Seeing his expression, the abbot knew he was not interested. Overjoyed, he said, “Yes, this journey is long, and as the esteemed third prince, even if the disciples of Dabao Monastery begin their journey to the capital, it will be a challenging road…”
“Hmm?” Prince Hua Chengyun interrupted him, asking with genuine interest, “Disciples of Dabao Monastery? Is it that monk who seems like Pan An, forced to leave home for cultivation?”
Uh-oh!
Three words flashed through the abbot’s mind: complete, disaster, and imminent.
“None of that, none of that. It’s all a misunderstanding,” the abbot hurriedly replied.
It was not easy for the senior monk to encounter such an extraordinary disciple. Since this disciple joined, the incense offerings and donations at the Dabao Monastery have multiplied several times! He couldn’t burden his junior brother!
When the abbot regained his composure, the third prince had already disappeared. The abbot, with a tremor in his heart, bravely asked the Emperor, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Third…?”
The Emperor, with a smiling expression, sipped his tea. He resembled a content Maitreya Buddha more than the abbot. “My son has just left, and he agreed! Indeed, my son is filial.”
The terrain around Yunling was complex, described as a region of a thousand mountains and myriad waters. The mountain roads were rugged, but since they were transporting something as rare and precious as a turtle shell, the Dabao Monastery dispatched five disciples to escort the journey. They even arranged a large and inconspicuous carriage. The disciples meticulously instructed Zong Yuan to take the official route and warned him to be cautious of the third prince.
Zong Yuan, scowling, pushed away his senior monk. “I got it. Don’t touch me. I haven’t settled accounts with you yet!”
The abbot of Dabao Monastery promptly made a hasty retreat.
Zong Yuan’s fluffy beard was all thanks to his abbot.
The abbot, with an appearance of divine grace, remarked, “You still have worldly entanglements.” In his heart, he thought, “I can’t shave his head, or I’ll lose a considerable amount of incense offerings!”
This led to Zong Yuan sporting a hairstyle that looked like he had just been released from prison.
The five of them were now riding horses on the official road.
The men from Yunling were rough in appearance but lacked handsome features. Zong Yuan’s looks indeed met the aesthetic standards of this era, but exaggerating it would be inaccurate.
Tall and with a face full of youthful innocence, the disciples laughed, “It will take over half a month to reach the capital on the official road. Fortunately, someone from the Xiangguo Monastery in the capital will be sent to meet us. It’s just a pity we can’t take a detour to visit the capital.”
Dabao Monastery would surely send someone to accompany them to the capital. All these disciples understood that Zong Yuan, the master, had given them enough face. He would undoubtedly go with them!
Zong Yuan, with a piece of grass in his mouth and a sword at his side, didn’t look like a monk. He looked more like a swordsman. “You go. I’m too lazy to go.”
The disciples exchanged glances, their mouths twitching. The one who had just spoken, named Ming Xin, admired Zong Yuan. He turned to his fellow disciples and said, “Master is still so free-spirited and unrestrained.”
Speaking of the name Zong Yuan, when the abbot of Dabao Monastery had just shaved his head, he felt uneasy. Zong Yuan glared at him, and the abbot hastily waved his hand, saying that the name was good and in line with the Buddha’s will. There was no need to change it.
They were quite intimidated.
The three senior brothers: “…”
Ming Xin, why did you have to admire him? Why admire this great demon king?! (Wishing he could be more resolute!)
The distance between the capital and Yunling was over half a month’s journey. However, Zong Yuan and his group were traveling slowly in a carriage, and they were not in a hurry. Hence, they proceeded at a leisurely pace.
As for Hua Chengyun, he had impulsively agreed earlier, but an hour later, he lost interest. However, he was still on the road at this moment. Disregarding the obstruction of attendants and guards, he rode his horse swiftly towards Yunling.
He thought it through clearly: The sooner he arrived, the sooner he could bring back the turtle shell.
Hua Chengyun’s tendency to quickly lose interest was just the tip of the iceberg.
Three days later, as the sky darkened, Zong Yuan found a spacious place nearby to camp and rest with his senior brothers. Monks refrained from drinking alcohol and eating meat, so the four others obediently took out dry rations and steamed buns. Meanwhile, Zong Yuan looked around for a while and soon hunted down a wild rabbit.
Zong Yuan couldn’t help but shake the small rabbit in his hand that dared not move. “Our fate seems quite deep too.”
In so many worlds, as long as he roasted something to satisfy his hunger, more often than not, it was a rabbit.
0046 asked on behalf of the rabbit’s unspoken thoughts, “Then, do you still eat it?”
Zong Yuan, with a strange expression, counter-questioned, “Then why did I catch it?”
0046, “…”
Ming Xin and the others looked at him bringing over a rabbit with complex expressions on their faces. Even though they had witnessed such scenes many times in the monastery, seeing it again was still… emotionally complicated.
Ming Jue couldn’t help but nag again, “Junior brother, we are traveling outside. Buddha once said to harbor compassion. Although it’s just a rabbit, it’s also a life. It has family and friends…”
He could only advise because after the abbot said, “You have not severed your worldly ties,” Zong Yuan was not a genuine monk.
… He was a monk backup.
Zong Yuan looked at Ming Jue in surprise, then turned to the rabbit. “You have family and friends. Quickly tell me where they are, so I can catch them and keep you company.”
Chuckles.
They couldn’t hold back, bursting into laughter.
Hua Chengyun arrived at this moment, covered in dust.
Seeing the top cover of the carriage and the symbol on it from afar, he tied his horse to a tree and casually flicked off the dust on his clothes. He walked over.
Hua Chengyun first heard a burst of laughter. He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. These monks were really different inside and outside the temple. The common people were bewitched by them as if they had been served a bowl of aphrodisiac soup.
At this moment, he lost interest in the disciple who was rumored to resemble Pan An, and had his mind set on leaving after a word. He took a few steps closer, and the group of monks was chatting happily, completely unaware that there was someone behind them.
Hua Chengyun’s first sight was of a monk with a head full of green stubble.
Under the flickering firelight, the man’s face was half bathed in golden hues, a smile playing on his lips, and the curve formed directly hit the heart of the esteemed Third Prince.
Thump thump, like a fawn stumbling about.
Hua Chengyun’s face slightly reddened. He stared fixedly at this person, feeling his whole body boiling with excitement, and his legs turning weak and numb.
Love at first sight.
Absolutely love at first sight.
Hua Chengyun took a deep breath, slowly retreated, walked to his own horse, took out the dagger he carried with him, and without blinking his eyes, drew a bloodstain on his thigh.
Blood immediately oozed out, soaking his clothes for a moment.
Hua Chengyun thought again, then dispersed his hair, ruffling it, and tore off a few corners of his clothes. He was already dusty and disheveled, and with more blood flowing, there was not a trace of color left on his lips.
Yet, Hua Chengyun still seemed somewhat dissatisfied. With a flash of inspiration, he ruthlessly pinched visible areas of his body, leaving green and purple marks. Satisfied, he put the blood-stained dagger on the saddle, untied the rope, gave the horse a firm pat on its buttocks, and said, “Let’s go!”
The startled horse galloped away.
Hua Chengyun staggered towards the woods, calling for help, “Help!”
Zong Yuan’s expression tightened. He threw the wild rabbit in his arms into Ming Xin’s embrace, grabbed the sword by his side, and briskly walked toward the source of the sound. “Don’t let it escape!”
Ming Jue asked, “What’s going on?”
Soon, they also heard faint cries for help. “Someone’s in trouble!”
Zong Yuan leaped forward with his sword in hand. Seeing the bloodstains around the carriage, his expression darkened, and he quickly walked over. “Are you okay?”
At the rear of the carriage, a man with disheveled clothes and bloodstains all over his body was weakly lying on the ground. Hearing Zong Yuan’s footsteps, he fearfully buried his face between his knees, and Zong Yuan could see his slightly trembling shoulders.
Zong Yuan squatted in front of him, speaking in a soothing tone, “Are you okay?”
The man, as if having gone through a traumatic experience, nervously said, “H-help…”
His clothes were torn and tattered, revealing some fair skin on his calves. Zong Yuan placed the sword in his hand on the ground, speaking in a low voice that exuded a sense of security, “It’s okay now. Where are you injured?”
The man seemed to trust his words. Still hesitating, he slowly lifted his face from between his knees. A pair of beautiful eyes were now moist and shimmering. His lips were pale, his hair disheveled, and his face bore an unusual shade of red. He looked at Zong Yuan in fear and uncertainty.
Zong Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. Tentatively, he placed his hand on the man’s cold and slender hand, gently comforting.
Hua Chengyun’s hand trembled.
He really likes…
Zong Yuan said, “Let me see where you are injured.”
Hua Chengyun lowered his head slightly, stealing a couple of glances at Zong Yuan. Zong Yuan captured his gaze clearly, and with a slight smile, he slightly hooked the corner of his lips toward the man who was currently glancing at him.
The man in front of him suddenly lowered his head.
Quite adorable.
Hua Chengyun hesitated and said in fragments, “I’m injured… on the leg.”
Zong Yuan lifted the man’s leg, exposing the long and fair thigh as he pushed the clothes upward. The man moved his leg uncomfortably, but Zong Yuan firmly pressed it down with one hand.
Zong Yuan’s scorching palm rested on Hua Chengyun’s ankle. His fingers pressed around the wound, examining its depth.
A tingling sensation, along with the warmth of that hand, surged into Hua Chengyun’s heart.
His face grew increasingly red. He watched as Zong Yuan tore a piece of white cloth from his inner garment and skillfully bandaged the wound. “Fortunately, the wound isn’t deep.”
Ming Xin and the others had arrived, rushing over anxiously. “Master, how is he?”
Hua Chengyun, with watery eyes, looked helplessly at Zong Yuan.
In this state, he indeed wasn’t suitable for others to see.
Zong Yuan didn’t allow others to see him like this.
Zong Yuan quickly took off his outer garment, covering Hua Chengyun from head to face, then bent down, horizontally hugging him tightly in his arms.
In the embrace, the person in Zong Yuan’s arms let out a small exclamation and reflexively wrapped his arms around Zong Yuan’s neck.
Zong Yuan smirked, leading him to meet Ming Xin and the others, heading back to the place where they rested earlier.
Meanwhile, Hua Chengyun, buried in the clothes, felt his heart pounding like thunder.
His waist was encircled by a man’s arm, and the clear touch of the man’s five fingers was distinctly felt.
A tingling sensation reached his heart.
Author’s Note:
So, this time the role reversal is a weak, crybaby, scheming, and clingy surface-level receiver of the teasing attacker~ Hope you like this style, hhh. The next world is contemporary!
I’ve considered the worlds you wanted to see~ Combining those with a feeling:
1. Zerg Race (Dominant male x Iron-blooded general with exceptional strategy who easily conquers the dominant male among thousands of female insects)
2. Cute Urban Monsters (A fierce and evil-looking white tiger spirit who reveals tiger ears when touched by humans x A broadcaster who is completely averse to animals but trembles with excitement when touched by the dominant male, thinking he has cat ears (the receiver believes he has cat ears, hhh))
How is it? (*/ω＼*)
