I am Guhuoniao, not an umbrella demon, please do not disturb me.

He would occasionally open his eyes to glance at Kiyohime's house, a flicker of emotion seemingly passing between his brows.

Bai Qingyu decided not to go into the courtyard and instead stayed there with him to wait.

Sure enough, after a short while, the door was opened from the inside, and Kiyohime peeked out.

A year has passed, and Kiyohime has changed quite a bit. She has grown up a lot and matured a lot in terms of temperament.

In this era, children from poor families mature early. Kiyohime's family was relatively wealthy, but they couldn't escape this rule. Normally, she would be old enough to get married.

In Bai Qingyu's sight, she saw Qingji walk out of Qiaoqiao. After looking around and making sure no one was around, she quickly bent down and took out a letter that was pressed under the stone bricks. Her eyes were filled with joy and shyness.

The girl is most likely in love; this letter must have been sent to her by someone she really likes.

Bai Qingyu glanced at the young monk beside him and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Really? Even monks can be moved by such worldly emotions?

So, when the time comes, which should this guy choose: the precepts of a monk or Kiyohime?

Bai Qingyu immediately saw the problem and flashed behind Qingji.

Kiyohime smelled a refreshing fragrance, tilted her head to look around, and after finding no one there, continued to carefully read the letter.

Standing behind her, Bai Qingyu glanced at the contents of the letter.

As I read on, I couldn't help but squint.

The letter was so cheesy, it gave her goosebumps.

But you know what? These cheesy words actually work on young girls.

Seeing Qingji's blushing face and the undisguised joy in her eyes, Bai Qingyu knew that she was already deeply in love.

After reading the letter, the girl returned to the courtyard and didn't glance at the young monk even once.

Perhaps she had grown accustomed to the young monk's presence over the past year, or perhaps she had become so engrossed in the letter that she had forgotten about him.

Bai Qingyu followed her into the courtyard and then back into the house.

Seeing her open a wooden box from under the bed and put the letter inside, even the well-informed Bai Qingyu was stunned.

The box, about the size of a small stool, was crammed full of letters, conservatively estimated to be several hundred.

She was somewhat dumbfounded. She was certain that Kiyohime wasn't like this when she last came. In other words, all these letters were written within a year?

So you really deliver a letter every day, regardless of the season or weather?

In shock, Bai Qingyu heard a name from Qingji.

Brother Wang!

At this moment, Bai Qingyu was still wondering, could it be that the monk outside is called Brother Wang?

That doesn't make sense either. Who calls a monk "Brother Wang"?

Moreover, the girl didn't even glance at the monk when she received the letter.

Or perhaps these letters weren't delivered by that monk?

Bai Qingyu began to realize that something was wrong.

Could Kiyohime's eventual transformation into a demon be related to this?

'Love can be truly terrifying.'

Please vote for me, sob sob sob.

Volume 1: Chapter 151 Why flirt if you don't love?

Bai Qingyu had a general understanding of Kiyohime's situation and couldn't help but wonder if this was the reason she had turned into a snake demon. It's understandable that she thought this way; love is something that is truly difficult to predict and foresee, and anything is possible.

Instead of leaving immediately, Bai Qingyu decided to stay and observe.

She still liked Kiyohime quite a bit. If she could prevent her from turning into a snake demon and let her live a peaceful life, that would be good too.

Bai Qingyu glanced at the wooden box under the bed. If so many kites and letters inside were made by that little monk outside, then the problem was truly serious. Although that monk was a celibate, if he could relinquish his Buddhist heart, given his love for Qingji, he could surely give Qingji a future.

But that's where the problem lies.

Can this young monk truly abandon his Buddhist heart?

If you could, after sending so many kites and letters to Kiyohime all year, why haven't you made up your mind to tell her everything? Are you just going to watch Kiyohime misunderstand that they were sent by that so-called King Brother?

After disappearing from the house, Bai Qingyu arrived outside in the courtyard.

The young monk had already left, probably having seen Kiyohime receive the kite and left satisfied.

Following the scent, Bai Qingyu arrived at the young monk's simple house.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw him sitting cross-legged in front of a low table, writing something.

Most of his writings consist of his observations, experiences, and feelings. In these words, he couldn't help but add his boundless love and admiration for the girl. The emotions revealed in his writing are truly moving.

The monk wrote the first two paragraphs, then suddenly stopped writing, frowning, seemingly lost in thought.

Bai Qingyu heard him muttering to himself.

"The temple fair is the day after tomorrow. Would she like to go with me...?"

Hearing this murmur and looking at the kite in the monk's hand, Bai Qingyu couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. This guy is really something. Since you are a monk, you should either not have this worldly heart, or even if you really have it and can't forget it, then abandon your so-called Buddhist heart, find Qingji and tell her everything, and give her a bright future. Wouldn't it be better for men to farm and women to weave?

If you've fallen for her but aren't willing to abandon your Buddhist faith, then don't disturb Kiyohime's life. You can't even offer her a future, yet you're sending her love letters every day for over a year—aren't you just wasting her time?

At this point, Kiyohime still harbored illusions, but how heartbroken she would be when she learned everything?

Without showing himself, Bai Qingyu spoke directly, "If you cannot be firm in your beliefs, then do not speak. How can one have both in this world, without betraying the Buddha and without betraying the beloved?"

An Zhen couldn't see Bai Qingyu's figure; he could only smell the fragrance on Bai Qingyu's body. When that voice came out, he was so frightened that he stood up and looked around. But after looking around carefully, there was no one else in the room except him.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, An Zhen took out his Buddhist beads and began chanting sutras, as if he wanted to help Bai Qingyu pass on to the afterlife.

However, he didn't maintain this state for long. He stopped after a while, closed his eyes and pondered something, perhaps thinking about what Bai Qingyu had just said.

There is no perfect solution in this world. Between Buddhist heart and Kiyohime, which should he choose?

Choosing one inevitably means abandoning the other, so he hesitated.

This question cannot be answered in just one day. An Zhen has been searching for the answer for a full year. He cannot find the answer in his own heart, as he cannot give up either side.

Looking at him like this, Bai Qingyu felt like punching him.

Hesitating and indecisive, we've already wasted a year, are we going to have to waste another year?

Fine, let's delay for another year. Kiyohime is too young, only sixteen at most, the prime of her life. Why should she be bound by so-called love? Besides, her mother won't live for many more years. Wouldn't it be better to spend these years with her mother?

Without saying anything more, Bai Qingyu disappeared into the young monk's room.

With his indecisive and fussy personality, how could he possibly make up his mind to go see Kiyohime at the temple fair the day after tomorrow?

If you're really that determined, what were you doing all this year?

What Bai Qingyu didn't know was that no sooner had she left than the young monk An Zhen got up from the ground. His eyes were more determined than ever before. He went to the door of Qing Ji's house and knocked on the door.

·

Bai Qingyu returned to Tongzhou, and she planned to go back to visit the day after tomorrow.

She also wanted to know what would happen next.

Back home, everything was as usual. Only here could Bai Qingyu feel a rare sense of relaxation. No matter how bustling the capital was, it couldn't compare to her small courtyard.

"Auntie." Yu Zhuanjin was still reading in the courtyard when she saw Bai Qingyu return and called out sweetly.

"Hey, what are you looking at today?" Bai Qingyu walked over and ruffled the little girl's white hair. He leaned closer to take a look and found that Yuzhan Jin was still reading some unofficial history, but it was no longer the ghost stories she used to like, but rather stories about immortals and gods.

"Still watching these gods?"

"Yes, when I grow up, I want to be a god and help all the little monsters and people in the world."

With a face full of anticipation and expectation, Miketsu said, "I want to help people realize their heart's desires."

"Becoming a god is certainly possible, but fulfilling people's heartfelt wishes is far too difficult, Miketsu."

“It’s okay, I’m not afraid!” The little girl’s eyes were firm. “I want to save those who are suffering.”

“But the human heart is unpredictable.” Tamamo-no-Mae jumped down from the roof. In just one year, he had learned to speak and transform, and even the number of demon tails on his back had increased from four to five, making him a powerful demon in the Nascent Soul stage.

"Human desires are limitless; they will only want more. You can satisfy their basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, but you can never fill the desires and darkness in their hearts. The same applies to mortals."

Tamamo-no-Mae's voice is very pleasant, with a touch of mature charm.

Miketsu pouted, "Not everyone is like that!"

"Everyone has desires, and when you satisfy their desires indefinitely, those desires will be amplified infinitely."

Tamamo-no-Mae placed a fox paw on Miketsu's book and said calmly, "Miketsu, even if you become a god and possess great power in the future, you must always remember that gods can have compassion, but they must never abuse their sympathy. Your sympathy will destroy everything."

Bai Qingyu's gaze was strange, but he was used to it. After all, Tamamo-no-Mae was the former demon king and had retained some memories of her previous life.

With one hand resting on Tamamo-no-Mae's fluffy fox head, Bai Qingyu said softly, "Tamamo-no-Mae is right. Your idea is good—to save the people from suffering. But you must also remember that you can only have enough to eat and wear by doing it yourself. All good things are earned through your own hard work, not bestowed by the gods."

This inevitably brings to mind Xizhou, which is a prime example right before our eyes.

Miketsu lowered her head and said, "I know, Auntie."

What did you have for lunch?

"It's braised fish made by Sister Zhentian!"

"good."

Bai Qingyu spoke with a smile, but Tamamo-no-Mae couldn't help but say, "Auntie, don't touch my head, it makes me feel very uncomfortable."

"Sorry, sorry, it's just a habit."

Bai Qingyu's smile was somewhat wicked, just as she had once said, so what if he was a demon king? Once he was in her hands, he would have to obediently call her aunt.

With his hands behind his back, Bai Qingyu quietly approached Bai Yaoyao, who was playing with a rag doll, and suddenly grabbed her pigtail.

"I'm a bad guy. I've captured Xiao Yao. How much do you think I can sell Xiao Yao for?"

"Xiao Yao cannot be sold!" the Peach Blossom Fairy protested.

She had barely finished speaking when Bai Qingyu scooped her up in his arms. "Hmph, little girl, you don't have a choice!"

"Oh no, Mommy, Guoguo has fallen into the pond!" Xiaoyao exclaimed. Bai Qingyu turned her head and saw a rag doll that had fallen into the lotus pond. It was the doll that Xiaoyao had been holding. Guoguo was just the name of the rag doll.