Breaking the Precept

"Everyone, leave."

Chan Lingzi finished reading the long and indecent letter, his expression unchanging. He issued the command calmly, and the gathered monks dared not question him. They nodded in assent and filed out one by one.

With the hall empty, Jian Xiaolou could almost hear her own heartbeat.

What should she do? Should she kneel down and beg for mercy?

Wouldn't that be too spineless?

With a thud, she knelt. "Master, I was wrong!"

Unexpectedly, Chan Lingzi folded the letter away without anger and spoke indifferently. "Regarding the 'vow of chastity' embedded in the Soul Seal Curse, I did not explain much to you at the time. That is because I have never experienced intimacy with a woman and thus lack firsthand understanding."

Jian Xiaolou blinked in disbelief. "Master, aren't you nearly ten thousand years old?"

Chan Lingzi frowned slightly. "What does that have to do with age? Since birth, I've simply had no particular fondness for women."

Jian Xiaolou shifted to sit on her heels and squinted at him. "So, Master, you're... inclined towards men?"

Chan Lingzi's little finger twitched slightly. For a moment, he was at a loss for words. Ever since he'd taken this disciple, his worldview had been repeatedly challenged. Years ago, he wiped out every female cultivator in the Southern Ling Continent. Now, he had taken in a female disciple—was it karmic retribution?

"Enough nonsense. Let's return to the topic," Jian Xiaolou said, quickly dropping her playful tone. "So, you don't know the consequences of breaking the vow of chastity, do you?"

Chan Lingzi answered with a question instead. "Since you've chosen to join our Buddhist sect, the vow of chastity should not even be a concern. Or do you still harbor thoughts of marrying someone?"

Jian Xiaolou lowered her gaze, her tone serious. "Master, you should be well aware that I came to Kasyapa Monastery because I was left with no choice. Once my cultivation improves and I can protect myself, I will leave without looking back."

Her words sounded ungrateful, but this was her honest plan. She preferred to make her intentions clear now to avoid complications later.

She had no interest in the Buddhist path. Though the Red Lotus was powerful, she hadn't stolen it; she had acquired it and used it with a clear conscience. "I have no romantic interests now, but that could change. While I can accept that relationships may come and go, carrying the unclear burden of this chastity vow makes me uneasy."

In truth, Jian Xiaolou didn't place much value on romantic relationships. But as the saying goes, "choosing not to" and "being forbidden to" are entirely different matters.

Chan Lingzi's expression froze briefly.

After a long silence, he sighed deeply. "Disciple, I hope you never meet someone you love in this lifetime."

Jian Xiaolou's lips twitched. "Master, are you cursing me?"

"I have never experienced it myself," Chan Lingzi said thoughtfully. "But there was someone who bore the Soul Seal Curse before you. From his experience, I learned that breaking the vow of chastity does not harm your body physically. Yet, its effects are deeply destructive."

He shook his head, his voice heavy. "Life is filled with suffering: birth, aging, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, being with those you hate, unfulfilled desires, and the burdens of existence. The punishment of the vow lies in separation from loved ones and unfulfilled desires."

"What does that mean?" Jian Xiaolou was confused. "Shouldn't the punishment for breaking the vow be something like a physical affliction when engaging with a man?"

"If it were merely physical, it wouldn't be so terrifying," Chan Lingzi sighed again. "The curse seems to detect a unique aura generated between two people in love. Once the vow senses this aura, its power will transfer through you to your partner."

Jian Xiaolou's eyes widened. "Transfer to my partner?"

Chan Lingzi nodded. "The curse will begin to erode your partner's fortune. The more time you spend together and the deeper your feelings grow, the stronger this aura becomes, causing greater harm to them."

Cold sweat began to form in her palms. Jian Xiaolou clenched her fists. "So... we can't meet again?"

"Once the curse is in place, avoiding each other won't resolve it."

Chan Lingzi stood, walked over to her, and placed a hand on her head. "There are only two ways to break it. Either he must relinquish all thoughts of you, or you must sever your feelings for him completely. Only then will the curse dissipate. This is why I warned you that even if you don't wish to practice Buddhism, the Soul Seal Curse will force you to sever all mortal attachments..."

"What have I ever done to you Buddhist cultivators?"

Jian Xiaolou stood abruptly, glaring at him coldly. Though she knew she shouldn't blame him, she couldn't help herself. "I had no choice but to come to Kasyapa Monastery with the Red Lotus, yet you still imposed such a cruel curse on me!"

At this, Chan Lingzi's gaze darkened slightly. "Zhi Kong feared that once you grew stronger, you would leave with the Red Lotus."

"And he calls himself a Buddhist master! Doesn't he fear going to hell after death?"

"He'd likely tell you that to protect the world, he's willing to enter hell himself."

"The world? Ha! Am I not part of this world? Why must I be sacrificed?!" Jian Xiaolou looked up at the towering golden Buddha statue, a cold smile on her lips. "Fine! I'll shave my head and practice Buddhism. But my heart is my own, and neither gods nor Buddhas can control it!"

"I said something similar once," Chan Lingzi murmured, his tone tinged with bitter nostalgia.

He shifted his gaze to her, looking directly into her eyes. "I've said before that I won't force you. If you wish to shave your head, so be it. If not, that's fine too. Stay if you want to stay; leave when you wish to leave. No matter what, you are my disciple. My only hope is that you won't endure the same pain I once did."

Jian Xiaolou was slightly moved. "Master, you've never broken the vow of chastity. Was the killing vow so unbearable that it drove you to forsake demonic cultivation for Buddhism?"

"'Just' the killing vow?"

Chan Lingzi's lips tightened. He raised his right hand, palm up. "Do you know how many lives I've taken with this hand? Even after being cursed, I killed countless more. If you were to kill one person a day starting today, it would take you thousands of years to catch up."

Jian Xiaolou gasped.

How could she forget her saintly-looking master was once a demon?

"I thought the Soul Seal Curse was merely a matter of enduring heavenly punishment. But in my resistance, the curse affected not just me but also the fortunes of everyone I cherished..." Chan Lingzi trailed off, his voice heavy with unspoken pain.

Leaving the Buddha Hall, Jian Xiaolou's face was clouded with frustration.

...