Allure: Peerless Beauty

chapter 6

"The scroll painting you see now is called a 'thangka,' which is a form of painting that emerged during the reign of Songtsen Gampo. It depicts the Joyful Buddha, with a male and female figure embracing. The male Buddha is known as the Wrathful King, and the female Buddha is the Wrathful Queen. There's a legend about the Joyful Buddha in India as well."

The professor wiped his glasses. "According to legend, a king who worshipped Brahmanism was inherently cruel and slaughtered Buddhists on a large scale. Shakyamuni Buddha then sent Avalokitesvara to transform into a beautiful woman to seduce him. The king, intoxicated by the beauty, was ultimately conquered by the woman and converted to Buddhism, eventually becoming the main deity on the Buddhist altar."

Someone whispered softly from their seat, "Isn't this just a blatant erotic image..."

Laughter filled the classroom, upon closer inspection, it did seem so.

On that thangka, a man and a woman embraced each other. The male Buddha had a fierce expression, his body about twice the size of the female Buddha, tightly holding onto her waist, while the female Buddha's feet were wrapped around the male Buddha's waist. The posture didn't resemble meditation at all; instead, it resembled the most ordinary act between men and women.

Could it be that even gods and buddhas understand worldly desires and pleasures?

The professor took a sip of tea, and said calmly, "In Tantra, the Joyful Buddha serves as a 'tool for controlling the mind.' By continuously observing and contemplating it, one gradually becomes accustomed to it, and desires naturally diminish. This is what we often call 'using desire to control desire.' The charming and graceful Wrathful Queen, who is united with these fierce Wrathful Kings, is an indispensable companion for their practice. Her role in their practice, as described in the Buddhist scriptures, is to 'first attract them with desire, and then guide them into Buddha's wisdom,' offering love and desire to those fierce gods and demons, thereby influencing them, and leading them into the realm of Buddha..."

Some covered their mouths to suppress laughter, while others whispered to each other. Everyone seemed infinitely curious about this mysterious image of the Joyful Buddha.

Ada looked at the naked and embracing figure of the double-bodied Buddha, just feeling dazed, thinking: Can desire transcend the ferocity of gods and demons? But can it dissolve the hostility in human hearts?

At the end of the class, the professor announced that there would be a holiday in a month's time and he planned to take a group of students to Venice for sketching, with the expenses shared among them. He assured them he'd lead the way but wouldn't be responsible for any romantic encounters. Those interested could sign up with him.

There was laughter and chatter among the students, all agreeing that Venice was a great place, known as the city of romance where miracles between people were believed to happen.

Ada, keeping her head down, silently packed her belongings. Her desolate figure seemed out of place among the cheerful young crowd.

Betty hurried over to her, excitedly grabbing her hand. "Ada, come with us. It's Venice! I've been wanting to go for ages. Who knows, I might meet a handsome Italian guy there. Haha, that would be so awesome."

Yes, Venice, a city where one could forget about time.

However, she just shook her head, continuing to tidy her notes as she replied, "Sorry, Betty. You should find someone else to go with you. I already have plans for the holiday."

"What plans could you possibly have? Just staying alone at home, I suppose..." Betty playfully patted her on the back, "Do you have a man now?"

Ada felt as if she'd been stung by something, her eyes widened in shock for a moment before she regained her composure, managing a faint smile. "Come on, don't talk nonsense. I don't." She then picked up her backpack, "Sorry, Betty, there's nothing else, I have to go. See you tomorrow."

Betty watched Ada's slender figure walk away, feeling that something was off with her lately. The Ada she knew before, although quiet and reserved, was a warm-hearted girl. But now, she seemed like a completely different person. When someone called her name, she seemed startled and took a long time to respond. She seemed absent-minded all day long, even drifting away during class.

How should she put it? It's like a small animal waiting to be tortured, staring with innocent eyes, watching itself being skinned alive.

Suddenly, Betty felt a shiver run down her spine. How could she even think of such cruel things?

When she came back to her senses, the classroom was already empty. The professor had forgotten to turn off the computer, and the large screen still displayed the image of the Joyful Buddha. The Wrathful King embraced the naked Wrathful Queen, his eyes seemed to be staring directly at her, with a chilling and sinister gaze.

Betty couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This was too eerie!

The prestigious university even had its side entrance lavishly decorated. Ada walked slowly along the tree-lined path, as if hoping this path would never end.

But every road has its end. And at the end of this one, she would meet the person she didn't want to see, face the things she didn't want to face.

A luxurious Bentley was already waiting there, and the well-dressed driver respectfully opened the car door for her, everything seemed so natural.

But, who knew, just a few days ago, they were still strangers with no connection between them, living their lives as if nothing had changed, not getting close to each other.

Ada glanced at the man beside her with the corner of her eye. He was still as busy as ever, not even resting in the car. In fact, ever since she met him, all she saw was him working hard. Sometimes she felt like he was the little girl in the fairy tale, wearing red dancing shoes, her life ceaseless, her dance eternal.

If a person spends two-thirds of their life making money, she wondered what happiness he had left. If there's no happiness, what's the point of having so much wealth?

She lightly pursed her lips, mocking her own narrow-mindedness. The thoughts of a mortal like her could hardly fathom the mind of a prodigy.

She could never understand him, yet he always seemed to see right through her. So from the beginning, this wasn't an equal game.