Wang Daxia had never intended to use a honey trap to seduce the Bright King Tie Niu this time. He simply dressed according to his own aesthetic preferences and tastes. The chest was stuffed by himself, the clothes were his own coordination, and the jewelry was also inserted and worn by himself. Lu Ying couldn’t bear it anymore – every time they went out, she had to pull several colorful pearl flowers and silk flowers from his hair bun to prevent him from decorating his head like a flower vase in full bloom. Lu Ying could control the hair ornaments, but she was helpless about the clothes and chest. She couldn’t very well undress Wang Daxia or make his chest smaller. Lu Ying had principles – she couldn’t use her official position to harass subordinates.
Men and women have different aesthetics, and men understand men better. Wang Daxia’s voluptuous chest, plump hips, slender waist, butterfly-like fluttering eyes, red dress and green skirt, and flame-red lips that drew attention – this kind of rich and gaudy beauty held fatal attraction for uncultured rough men, as if created according to their fantasies. Whether the previous stinking Daoist or the current Bright King Tie Niu, they all fell for this type of beauty. Elegant beauties like orchids in mountain valleys, such as refined courtesans like Wang Cuiqiao, better suited the tastes of scholars like Luo Longwen.
Wang Daxia followed his “husband” Lu Ying to stand and enter the altar to participate in the initiation ceremony. The altar hung a painting of a Dragon Flower Tree. Except for Ding Wu – who had already joined the White Lotus Sect – everyone knelt under the Dragon Flower Tree to receive precepts.
Wang Daxia felt a burning gaze fixed on him. Following the gaze, he saw it was the Bright King Tie Niu sitting on the white lotus platform. Under someone else’s roof, one must bow one’s head. Moreover, the cross-dressed Wang Daxia had no moral scruples. Meeting Tie Niu’s gaze, when their eyes collided, Wang Daxia’s lips curved slightly upward in a seductive smile.
What a coquettish, flirtatious married woman with smoky eyes and alluring manner! She seemed… quite easy to obtain.
The Bright King’s heart was stirred by Wang Daxia’s smile like a small boat in tidal waters, rocking back and forth, unable to stop.
“I will conduct their initiation myself.” The Bright King Tie Niu descended from the white lotus altar. He burned incense and distributed sticks to the initiating believers while chanting the incense praise: “Precious tripod burning incense, filling all directions, flowing everywhere to Spiritual Mountain, respectfully requesting the Dharma King. The dharma realm is boundless, all Buddhas descend to this sacred ground. Namo Fragrant Cloud Canopy Bodhisattva Mahasattva.”
When Tie Niu handed incense to Wang Daxia, he secretly brushed Wang’s palm with his little finger.
Wang Daxia devoutly received the incense. Not only was he unashamed or angry, he responded with a brilliant smile: Oh my, this Bright King is just like that stinking Daoist – his six roots are unclean!
Seeing Wang Daxia’s reaction, Tie Niu’s heart was no longer like tidal waters but had become a tornado – his world was now full of storms and rain.
Wang Daxia and the others held their incense, bowing three times to the White Lotus Sect’s precious scrolls before inserting the incense into the precious tripod.
Religion is an art of singing and speaking. Having sung the incense praise, now it was time to recite the membership pledge. Tie Niu said: “…Scripture completion achieved. Gathering virtuous saints, together develop sincere hearts, donate resources for sacred causes, eternally recording fragrant names. At the final Dragon Flower Assembly, everyone continues the Lotus lineage.”
The ceremony was complete. The Bright King Tie Niu personally took up his brush to write the believers’ names on yellow paper as proof of initiation.
When it was Wang Daxia’s turn, the Bright King asked: “What are the names of the two believers?” Within the White Lotus Sect, men were called “great multitude” and women “second multitude.”
Wang Daxia: “Ximen, née Xia.”
So this seductive lady’s maiden name was Xia. Tie Niu wrote down the name and handed the yellow paper to Wang Daxia. This time he was bolder – using the yellow paper as cover, he secretly pinched Wang Daxia’s hand three times.
Wang Daxia responded with another smile.
From their first meeting, Wang Daxia had smiled at the Bright King three times. After three smiles, the Bright King was completely captivated and fell at his feet.
The Bright King said to the beautiful young wife’s husband Lu Ying: “Boss Ximen has spiritual roots and donated generously. I name you Incense Master.”
Lu Ying gratefully accepted the position of Incense Master.
The Bright King Tie Niu glanced at the centipede-like stitched wound on Lu Ying’s right cheek and said: “Incense Master Ximen has injuries. If movement is inconvenient, husband and wife should work together. Madam Ximen can act as Incense Master and handle White Lotus Sect affairs.”
“This…” Lu Ying’s heart jumped in alarm: When did Wang Daxia hook up with Tie Niu?
Wei Caiwei was also shocked: What’s going on? When did all this happen? It was just the time it takes to burn incense – how did Tie Niu take a fancy to Wang Daxia?
Luo Longwen observed Wei Caiwei’s expression: Look at that anxious expression – the affair between these two is real.
Seeing Lu Ying “hesitate,” Wang Daxia said: “Thank you for the Bright King’s favor. My husband’s face needs rest. Let this servant take on the duties. I know some martial arts and can read and calculate. If the Bright King doesn’t mind that I’m a woman, I can certainly do what I can for the White Lotus Sect.”
What I can do is destroy the White Lotus Sect.
Wang Daxia’s words made the Bright King’s heart bloom with joy: My beauty, you don’t need to do anything – you just need to lie down.
If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you catch the tiger cub? Lu Ying realized what was happening and said: “You must obey the Bright King’s commands and not disobey him.”
Seeing the beauty was within reach, Tie Niu gave Wang Daxia an Incense Master token: “With this token, you can enter and exit the White Lotus Sect headquarters.”
Wang Daxia was overjoyed, receiving the token with both hands. The Bright King secretly scratched his palm three more times.
Everyone withdrew except Ding Wu. The Bright King said to Ding Wu: “You’re different from Hua Dalang. Hua Dalang belonged to the sect leader – if he’s dead, he’s dead. I’ve already established myself as Bright King and broken with the sect leader. But you belong to Third Madam. I’m just starting my rebellion and don’t want to make enemies everywhere or offend Third Madam. So I’ll let you return. When you go back, tell the sect leader that from now on, he and I will control the White Lotus Sect separately – north and south – and we won’t interfere with each other.”
The Bright King played with a gold bar donated by Luo Longwen: “The money I sent him every year can be considered payment for over five hundred firearms I bought from him. I built my fortune with these firearms and won’t default on payment. But starting this year, he won’t get another penny from me. In future, I will rule as king in the south. What were Xu Hai and Wang Zhi? Short-sighted fools who were satisfied with small official positions when the court offered amnesty, returning home in glory only to have their heads chopped off by officials. I won’t be so stupid.”
Ding Wu bowed: “Thank you, Bright King, for sparing my life.”
The Bright King pointed to gifts from believers piled like a small mountain: “Since you came to Jiangnan in Third Madam’s name, I can’t let you return empty-handed. Choose whatever you like from these things – whatever catches your eye, take it to present to Third Madam.”
Ding Wu said: “I will tell Third Madam these are all gifts from the Bright King. I’m merely borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha.”
The Bright King saw how tactful Ding Wu was. If he could win over Third Madam through him, that would be good too. He decided to keep him: “The sect leader made you a messenger – I can also make you a messenger. When you return to the Khan’s court, just put in good words for me with Khan An Da and Third Madam.”
Ding Wu naturally agreed: “When I first joined the White Lotus Sect, the sect leader treated me well. Later, seeing Third Madam’s favor toward me, he became suspicious that I harbored ambitions to replace him. He guarded against me everywhere, not letting me handle sect affairs large or small. This time he even wanted to have me killed through others. He and I are already estranged. If the Bright King wants to make me a messenger, how could I not appreciate such favor? Being a messenger is the same whether here or there. I hit it off with the Bright King at first sight. If I weren’t concerned about Third Madam needing people at the Khan’s court, I would stay here to assist the Bright King in ruling the south.”
Ding Wu’s flattering words hit the Bright King’s heart perfectly. The Bright King said: “How dare I compete with Third Madam for talent? When my White Lotus Sect grows strong and advances from the south to the Central Plains to fight the court’s armies, I’ll need Third Madam to simultaneously raise troops in the north. With north-south coordination, the court only has so many troops and can’t manage both fronts. Hitting east and west, if we unite, we can exhaust the court’s armies to death.”
Ding Wu continued flattering: “The Bright King has such grand ambitions and far-sighted planning – truly admirable! The Bright King’s strategies leave the sect leader far behind.”
The Bright King grew more pleased: “My break with the sect leader was because I could no longer endure his ways. The sect leader only knows how to accumulate wealth for himself while being harsh and merciless to subordinates. **Temple devoted himself wholeheartedly to gathering intelligence for the sect leader, loyal and faithful, even selling his body. Such a great contributor was abandoned without hesitation. I heard he was blown to bloody pieces without even keeping a whole corpse.”
With the rabbit dead, the fox grieves. The Bright King sighed: “These past years, I’ve led my brothers with five hundred firearms across the seas, grabbing territory, surviving in the cracks under great pirates like Wang Zhi and Xu Hai. It truly wasn’t easy. Over half my brothers died, but the sect leader didn’t care – he only knew to demand money and precious Western goods from me. Following such a blood-sucking sect leader, what future could there be? In the end, after being drained dry, I’d be replaced by some obedient Iron Bull. How could I accept that? I’m different – I distribute all these riches to my brothers and never keep anything for myself. Only when they live well can I live well.”
Ding Wu continued his flattery: “The Bright King has noble character – worrying before believers worry, enjoying after believers enjoy. The Bright King will surely achieve his heart’s desires.”
Having gained wealth, advisors, and a beauty today, the Bright King felt triumphant, believing he was climbing to life’s pinnacle – even the dragon throne in the capital didn’t seem far away!
Meanwhile, the couple Lu Ying and Wang Daxia returned home together, while Wei Caiwei helped the mobility-impaired Luo Longwen back. Luo Longwen said: “You should quickly find an excuse to check on your neighbor, Madam Ximen. I think that so-called Bright King is drooling over her. Ostensibly appointing Boss Ximen as Incense Master, but his real intention isn’t the wine – he’s taken with Madam Ximen’s beauty.”
How is it that everyone likes this type of vulgar, seductive woman like Madam Ximen!
Wei Caiwei feigned surprise: “This… is it really so?”
Luo Longwen nodded: “I saw the Bright King touch her hand. She’s carrying your child – if something happens… like a sheep entering a tiger’s den. Go think of a way to find an excuse to quit this assignment.”
Wei Caiwei then went over to discuss Wang Daxia’s matter of a “sheep entering tiger’s den” – though it should really be “tiger entering tiger’s den.”
Lu Ying was lecturing his subordinate: “How could you act on your own initiative and use a honey trap to seduce Tie Niu? This is a major matter – you should have at least consulted with us.”
Wang Daxia truly couldn’t defend himself: “I really didn’t seduce any man! I’m innocent! Like Jiang Taigong fishing – those willing take the bait. What can I do about it!”
Wei Caiwei looked at the animated, trembling Wang Daxia and remembered Eunuch Wang from the previous life – completely different in personality. His eyes had been melancholy, his face expressionless, even sometimes serious in bed. Getting into bed was like going to a funeral. Even at his most passionate, he would only whimper like a small cat, making crying sounds. How different from this bone-deep seductiveness now.
Author’s Note: Having lost Wang Xiaoxia, Eunuch Wang also lost part of his personality. In this lifetime, he’s finally a complete person – both in body and soul.