Bright Moon Pendant

[Love blooms in a desolate place vs. a saint's selfish desire]

Before meeting Hong Ling, Fan Yin was the most esteemed holy monk among the major immortal sects.

Raised by Buddhist senior brothers from birth, he was the reincarnation of a spiritual being, untouched by worldly corruption. A cultivator of the Zen temple, destined by heaven, he knew to be righteous without ever needing instruction.

As for the saying that the pleasure cultivators of Qingnan's Rouge Alley were the natural enemies of those who followed the Heartless Dao, it had never had anything to do with him.

He had long known the pleasure cultivators in the city, but over the years they'd had little contact. They got along like respectful neighbors. No one would ever suspect that mortal passions could have anything to do with him. Everyone believed that the holy monk Fan Yin would surely be the second person, after his master, to ascend from the ancient temple and become a Buddha.

Even the steward of Rouge Alley agreed.

That was until the steward saw with her own eyes a familiar figure shed his dazzling monk's robes and embrace her daughter, the least reverent woman in all of Pleasure Alley, on the rooftop terrace. The hands that had only ever held incense, brushes, prayer beads, and scrolls rested on the woman's waist. His eyes, always lowered to avoid looking at others, were full of pleading desire.

Hearing a sound behind her, the woman hooked an arm around the monk's neck and pulled him into a proper kiss. Then she raised her eyes to meet the steward's, smiling and putting a finger to her lips, her gaze full of wordless teasing.

This was probably what she'd meant when she'd said, “A saint before the Buddha, but nothing special after all.”

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Steward: (slaps her thigh) What a sin! 😤

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[Bonus Scene]

At first, the holy monk whom Hong Ling had forcibly detained in her territory returned to Qingcheng Mountain with his sect.

Everyone stroked their chins and nodded thoughtfully when they saw him. “Oh, the courtesan lost this round. Looks like the holy monk's cultivation really is the superior one.”

Later, word reached them that the holy monk had gone into seclusion to meditate at the Temple of Ten Thousand Ages. Right after that, they saw the red-robed immortal woman walking hand in hand through the streets with a tall man in plain clothes and a hood, who was clinging tightly to her side.

Everyone: ! Didn't they say he was in seclusion? Turns out he was just managing public relations.()

[The top-tier star of the pleasure cultivators vs. the hope of the Heartless Dao]

A story about two idols whose careers have crashed, getting mixed up together (?)

#The heroine has had other partners; the hero is completely inexperienced

#A bright moon was my former self. One backward glance became a smile, and then came thousands of clear, cold springs.

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[Cover lettering: Jiang Wu, Jia Changting]

[Cover illustration: Xipin Zichan Yailai Xiang]

[Character art, regular version: Dada Dafuqi; chibi version: Gancao Gangan]

[Height difference art: Fishko]

[First event background art: Momo sg]

[Second event background art: Jiangshan Yan]

Theme: Against rumor-mongering and verbal abuse, and about love and bonds