"But…" Little Monk was about to speak.
He was interrupted by a lazy yawn, "Enough of that, I've already made the right decision."
It was Phoenix, walking over bare-footedly with a roll of scriptures in her hand. With her lips curved upward, her eyes met with the stunned gaze of the God of Tian Shan and she continued, "Deity, that means I'm now asking you to get lost with your betrothal gifts, is that clear?"
"You, you!" The God of Tian Shan was really into the looks of this lady before him. But once she spoke, he felt the urge to fight with her. Too bad that he was no match with Phoenix, so he could only attack with his words, "Seems like I'm wrong this time. The rumor is true, a Buddha really doesn't look like one, no matter how pretty she is, physical appearance is all she has!"
After saying so, the God of Tian Shan turned around to leave. But he was not expecting to bump into the Emperor!
"Emperor? Why are you here?" Recently Tian Dao had become the leader of Six Dao, while everyone was trying to fawn over the Emperor of Tian Dao, including the God of Tian Shan.
The Emperor raised his eyebrow while looking dangerous, "Why? Can't I be here?"
"No! That's not true! Of course you can be here." The God of Tian Shan was showing great enthusiasm, "You must be here for Golden Lotus right? Look at me, how can I forget about this."
The man remained silent. He was only looking at him with his lips curved up but there was no sign of happiness in his eyes.
At first, the God of Tian Shan did not realize that. But after some time, he started to have goosebumps. He moved unnaturally and asked, "Emperor, is there anything on my face?"
"No." The man grinned and a sense of evilness was shown in his eyes, "I was just wondering, why do you still have the courage to come out on the streets with such an ugly face?"
The God of Tian Shan was stunned at once. He opened his mouth, but was unsure of how he should retaliate.
"But don't you worry, you won't ever be criticized as having only physical appearance in your whole life." While patting on the God of Tian Shan's shoulder, the man said with a gentle voice, "Because that would never suit you."
Upon listening to this, all the little shamis could not hold their laughter anymore and laughed out loud while looking at the face of the God of Tian Shan.
The God of Tian Shan's face looked so bad as if he had just eaten a toad, it was just too tragic to look at.
He finally knew why he could offend anyone else in the world except the Emperor. He then quickly ran down the mountain in embarrassment with his face covered while pondering since when he had offended the Emperor.
Chapter 816 - His Highness’ Proposal
As he watched the God of Tian Shan left, Little Monk was troubled, "What should we do with his betrothal gifts?" If Honored Sir saw this, my lord, you would surely be grounded again."
"Betrothal gifts?" Phoenix laughed, "Easy, keep the ones that are worthy and throw away the rest."
Little Monk opened his mouth wide, "Keep them? What if those from Tian Shan come asking for them next time? Moreover, Honored Sir…"
"Remember, these are not betrothal gifts. Instead, they are donated by Tian Shan to Leiyin Temple as incense money." Phoenix was playing with a jewelry while she was saying, "Are those from Tian Shan so stingy to take back what they have given?"
Little Monk hesitated. Although the solution given by his lord sounded nice.
But why do I feel as if we are stealing somebody's fortune? Wasn't the God of Tian Shan really here to send betrothal gifts?
It was done now. The God of Tian Shan was not only embarrassed, he could not even get back his betrothal gifts.
Why would he choose to provoke the lord instead of anyone else?
But… Why is the Emperor still here?
Phoenix was having the same thought as Little Monk. She raised her eyebrow while asking the man before her, "Anything?"
The man replied calmly but in an uncourteous way, "Ask your Little Monk to serve me tea. I'm not used to talk while standing outside."
Phoenix was surprised by his response. He's really here for me?
"I don't have tea here." No Gods or Buddhas had ever paid any visit here, so it was reasonable that Phoenix had no tea leaves or spring water prepared.
Upon listening to his lord's words, Little Monk tugged at the corner of Phoenix's robe.
Phoenix looked at him and wondered why he acted like that.
Little Shami tried to smooth things over, "Since Lord Phoenix has no tea leaves here, why don't we go somewhere else, Emperor?"
It is all good as long as both of you don't start fighting!
He even suspected that the Emperor said that he wanted to have tea only to tease Phoenix!
The man ignored Little Shami's words. He stopped and turned around. Then he walked toward Phoenix, lowering his body while stretching his arm to her back for support. There was a strong aura emitted from him along with a hint of danger, "No tea?"
Oh no! Surely they would fight this time!
Not only was Little Shami nervous, even the forehead of Little Monk was covered in sweat.
"Yes." Phoenix smiled and continued, "But I have wine. I've brought it from the magical realm last time. Interested?"
"Sure." The man smiled while looking at her. He put his hand back and tidied his long robe, "After you."
Just like this?! Little Monk and Little Shami looked at each other. Unexpectedly, they did not fight! Besides, they are going to drink together! Drinking in Buddhism?! Isn't this irrespectful?
Golden Lotus was still standing there and the smile on her face faded. She thought Phoenix would say yes to anyone she recommended to her, the God of Tian Shan's qualification was of satisfaction after all.
Now that she thought of it, she had underestimated her.
Little Shami noticed Golden Lotus' gaze, "Lady Buddha, today you…"
"I'm not chanting sutras for the Emperor today, we'll see again tomorrow." Golden Lotus smiled gently, "Those from Tian Dao kept asking me to go over. So both of you should stay with the Emperor and Phoenix to prevent them from having any conflict."
Little Shami responded with an 'Amitabha' and watched as Golden Lotus left. After that, he quickly ran toward the shrine, worrying that both of them would be arguing and eventually starting a fight again.
But the fact was that all of them were thinking too much.
It was just that Phoenix had never drank wine with anyone before. After thinking carefully, she realized this was the first time someone had ever visited as a guest in a few hundred years. So she felt really excited and therefore decided to take out all the flagons from underground.
The table looked a little too simple with just the wine, so she served some peanuts as well.
Phoenix lowered her head as she peeled the peanuts. After peeling, she put it into his wooden plate without even considering the Emperor's preference.
She just wanted to be a good host.
However, after noticing her actions, the man raised his eyebrow, "For me?"
"Yes." Phoenix nodded her head in excitement. It was rather interesting to be able to have a guest like that.
The man then said calmly and coldly, "I don't like to eat food that has been touched by others."
Phoenix did not really care, she pouted as she took the wooden plate back and continued peeling. But this time, the peeled peanuts would go straight into her mouth, "What's the matter?"
It was unbelievable for both of them to sit down together and chat. If this were to be spread out, everyone would be dumbstruck.
"It's no big deal." The man was playing with the glass cup in his hand as he spoke in a carefree manner, "I'm here to propose to you."
Before Phoenix could respond.
Little Monk and Little Shami stood up at once!
"Propose?!"
"Who's proposing to who?!"
"I must have heard wrongly!"
Little Monk rushed over with his face flushed, "Emperor, you're ju
st joking right?"
Phoenix looked at him. She could not understand why this kid was way more excited than she was.
Nevertheless… What's wrong with this man?
"You all should leave first." Phoenix had decided to let Little Monk and Little Shami out first after thinking twice.
How would it be possible for Little Shami to leave? It was such a surprising news!
Lord, please don't…"
"Get out." Nobody could go against Phoenix's order.
Little Monk pulled at the corner of Little Shami's clothes and went out. Once they were outside, they looked at each other.
Little Shami asked Little Monk, "Do you think this is a new way that the Emperor came up with to provoke our lord?"
"Provoking by proposing?" Little Monk felt as if his world had been overturned. This must be a nightmare!
Little Shami replied seriously, "I think it's most probably just a joke."
"Hope so." Little Monk had decided to watch closely at the door. If both of them happened to start fighting, then the Emperor really meant it. Otherwise, if they were still being polite to each other, it must have been a joke.
Or it might be just as what Little Shami had said, the Emperor meant to provoke the lord in order to take revenge for the injury back then in the Hall of Great Strength.
It was not a good sign regardless of each of the possibilities, Amitabha...
After chasing them out, Phoenix laid down lazily by using only one of her hands as support, with her gaze fixed on the man, "What's wrong with you?"
The man's gaze followed along her actions, from the side of her face downward, to her slender, fair neck, and lastly ended at her half-opened cassock. Her fine and beautiful collarbone was urging him to break it...
"I've been to too many matchmaking feasts recently, I've had enough of that." The man retreated his gaze, put down the cup and said, "Perhaps you too are getting tired of receiving betrothal gifts lately. It doesn't feel good to be confined, isn't it?"
Phoenix raised her pretty single-eyelid eye, "Even if I wanted to find someone to help me with this trouble, why would I need you? Emperor, you yourself is already a big trouble to me."
Chapter 817 - They Got Together
"Why?" The man laughed, with his indescribable style he said, "Because among the Six Dao, only I have better looks than you."
Phoenix paused for a second, she realized that there was no way for her to refute him on this!
She had to admit that he really was better-looking than her.
He was an evildoer who could slay across the Six Dao just by his looks.
Only he would compare his physical appearance with a woman.
"Let me think this over." Phoenix then suddenly recalled something and she asked, "I thought you already have that Golden Lotus?"
The man frowned, "Who was that?"
"Golden Lotus, the Lady Buddha," Phoenix reminded him.
The man continued to frown, "I don't remember such a person."
Phoenix suddenly came to realize that all the efforts done by the people from Buddhism in the past few days were all in vain. The pity Honored Sir was still planning to fawn over the Emperor by beauty, but it all went down the drain.
"I've heard that you're cultivating a Bodhi tree." The man said softly, "The mythical water of the entire Tian Dao is under my control. From now onward, you will be able to get it without even violating the precepts of Buddhism."
Looking at the perfectly handsome face, Phoenix laughed suddenly, "Sounds like a great plan, but we can't really consummate our marriage right? How long is the time frame?"
"Around 40 days." The Emperor placed the wine glass near to his mouth and took a sip, "After 40 days, there will be a tough battle between Tian Dao and Buddhism, that's the time we break up."
Phoenix ate a peanut and said, "I can't believe you're even providing me with my enemy's secret. Alright, since you're used to being with women, you should know how a relationship works."
"I don't know." After telling everything he wanted, the man felt that it was time for him to leave. So he stood up with his long legs as he threw toward her an old scroll, "But I have common sense like the others. Try to read and understand these rules. Tomorrow I'll be here to to eat vegetarian food with you and you should recite sutras to me during that time."
Phoenix flipped through the old scroll and her thin eyebrows furrowed, "The daily routine of human world's couples?"
The first rule was to eat together?!
"Is this written by you?" Phoenix suspected.
The man removed the dust on his fingers and smiled charmingly, "I grabbed it from Yue Lao."
"I see." Only this man could make the word 'grab' sound so legal. Phoenix had always been interested in Yue Lao's stuff, so she decided to take a good look at the rules written on the old scroll. She asked, "Have you gone through this?"
"No. But you can tell me about it when you've finished." The man was not interested in these things at all, but, "There's just one more thing on my mind right now."
"What's that?" Phoenix was interested all of a sudden.
When the man saw her eyes lit up, he thought he saw something small and fluffy, urging him to c.a.r.e.s.s her.
After all, she was original a phoenix herself.
"If someone happens to ask who among us was the one being pursued, in order to prevent them from knowing the truth, our answer should be the same, which is me."
Phoenix who was eating peanuts paused upon hearing that, "Why not me?"
"Do you think I look like someone who will chase after anyone else?" The man asked steadily.
But she was not someone who would pursue after anybody else either.
"I'm the one proposing while you're the one pursuing. This sounds just fair." The man's words somehow did make sense.
Phoenix merely murmured in agreement and said, "I heard from that the pursuer has got a lot to do."
"That was before you succeeded, now I'm already yours," said the man in his usual calm tone.
Phoenix was speechless.
I did nothing at all, but I've succeeded?
The ancient words were right, it was really easier for women to pursue men than the other way around.
"Alright, it's settled then," Phoenix paused and then continued, "Remember to bring along the mythical water tomorrow."
The man stopped for a second when he was about to leave. When he spoke again, even his voice sounded distant, "Okay."
The Bodhi tree was the only exception.
Apart from that, the Phoenix of Buddhism cared about nothing else...
"Emperor?" Little Shami quickly went over when he saw the man coming out. However, she could not tell whether the man was happy. The only thing he could sense was the slightly cold atmosphere around them. He stuttered, "You and Lord Phoenix, you both?"
The man laughed and said, "Nothing."
As soon as Little Shami heard 'nothing', he really believed that nothing had happened and heaved a sigh of relief!
Little Monk, on the other hand, further confirmed that his guess was right. So he brought in the meal box to Phoenix as if nothing had happened.
"My lord, I knew that you won't agree with the Emperor's proposal."
By the time she heard what the little monk just said, Phoenix was at the third daily routine on the old scroll. She then looked up and took a glance at him, "Thanks for your trust. But, I've accepted his proposal."
Thump!
The meal box in Little Monk's hand dropped!
He then laughed, "My lord, you must be kidding again. How could you simply say stuff like this."
"I'm serious. I really did accept his proposal." The lazier Phoenix sounded, the more Little Monk thought that she was just kidding.
After all, nobody would believe that Phoenix and the Emperor who had always been intolerable with each other would get together someday.
The next day, even when the Emperor and Phoenix were having meals together, the others were sti
ll thinking that they had gone from a superficial battle to psychological battle.
This situation continued until the fifth day. On that day, Tian Dao had invited Buddhism for a feast and all the Gods were present.
Only then did everyone realize that both of them had really gotten along unlike the way they did before!
Tian Dao was the host of this feast, so of course the God's seat belonged to the Emperor. However, he showed no response when everyone walked in.
Not until Phoenix arrived on clouds. Only then, he looked up at her with his handsome features.
The man's mouth curved up slightly while he focused on the quiet and elegant figure among the crowd. Traces of happiness appeared within his black eyes as he blurted, "Come here."
Then, with everybody staring at her, she walked toward the man naturally.
With one standing and the other one sitting, although they were still some distance between them, there was a hint of indescribable ambiguity between them.
There were commotions around them in seconds. All the Gods and Buddhas who were there stopped whatever they were doing and looked toward their direction.
What situation is this?
How come they are not fighting?
Not only was there no fighting, but how come they even looked harmonious together?
That's right, harmonious.
But how is this possible!?
Different from the Gods and Buddhas, the demons which were pets of the Emperor were staring at Phoenix.
Such an other-worldly deity, she was just too pure!
Besides her purity, her eyes were beautiful too. They were as black as ink and if one were to look at them for too long, one would definitely fall for them.
No wonder the Emperor was interested in hunting her.
As far as they knew, the prettier the thing was, the more the Emperor would want to win it over...
Chapter 818 - Come And Stay At My Place Tonight
"What should we do today?" The Emperor had always been doing things his own way, as if he was born like so. In other words, he was similar to the bamboo plants and plum trees, unique in his own way.
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 348