235: The inclusive Cao Dai religion

Li Qinghe quickly turned his head and saw Vu Linh Huong standing in the living room, her eyes smiling as she watched him.

A strand of soft hair draped over her front, giving her a touch of gentle elegance.

The noble lady was still wearing her favorite luxury brand skirt suit, today it seemed to be Givenchy haute couture, and a pair of long, slender legs were tightly encased in black stockings beneath the short skirt.

Vu Linh Huong

"A Xiang, didn't you say you wouldn't arrive in Saigon until midday? Why are you here so early?"

Li Qinghe looked at Vu Linh Huong, who stood gracefully in the living room, with a hint of surprise.

"It's because I was thinking of someone; I just took the earliest flight this morning to come over."

Vu Linh Huong spoke these words of affection openly and naturally, without showing excessive shyness.

Li Qinghe stood up and opened his arms with a smile.

Vu Linh Huong beamed happily and threw herself into his embrace.

"It feels so good to be held by you."

Vu Linh Huong pressed her face against Li Qinghe's chest, greedily sniffing his scent—a scent that made her heart flutter, a genetic attraction.

After they embraced for a while, Li Qinghe patted her perky bottom: "Haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"

"I had a couple of bites on the plane this morning, but I didn't have much appetite.

Seeing you, my appetite is back."

Vu Linh Huong, in a cheerful mood, strode with her long legs to the dining room and sat down.

Hoang Dang Minh Thu quickly brought out an identical breakfast.

"Ha, Minh Thu, you actually knew A Xiang was coming early, but you didn't tell me this morning."

Li Qinghe looked at the perfectly synchronized Vu Linh Huong and Hoang Dang Minh Thu, pointing at them in sudden realization.

"Miss Lingxiang came in while you were still filming in the gym."

Hoang Dang Minh Thu smiled as she brought her own breakfast and sat on the other side.

Of course, she had to help Vu Linh Huong keep it from Li Qinghe; she was Vu Linh Huong's Head Maid.

The three of them sat around the long dining table, eating breakfast, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Vu Linh Huong ate breakfast while discussing the itinerary for the next few days with Li Qinghe.

The rule of 'no talking while eating or sleeping' also depends on the occasion; now that the three of them were together, they could be as relaxed as they wished.

Vu Linh Huong stated that she wanted to inspect the beauty salon first, then accompany Li Qinghe on a trip to Nha Trang, and afterward visit Tay Ninh Province, next to Saigon.

"A Xiang, what are you going to Tay Ninh Province for?"

Li Qinghe was a little puzzled.

Tay Ninh Province was not large, bordered Cambodia, and had no particularly special scenery.

"Qinghe, have you heard of Cao Dai?"

Vu Linh Huong uttered a very unfamiliar name.

Seeing Li Qinghe's confused expression, Vu Linh Huong smiled and briefly explained a few things, and Hoang Dang Minh Thu also provided explanations.

Only then did Li Qinghe realize that this so-called Cao Dai was one of Vietnam's two major indigenous religions, currently the third-largest religion in Vietnam, with over 4 million followers.

Moreover, it was a sect that blended the doctrines of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, and many other religions.

Cao Dai was founded by a Vietnamese official in the French colonial government, advocating a syncretic approach, and could be considered the most inclusive religion in the world.

Its full name was "Great Way of the Third Period of Redemption, Cao Dai."

To summarize in a simple sentence, kneeling before the Cao Dai altar and bowing once meant paying homage to all Eastern and Western deities, as well as many modern famous figures from both East and West.

They read Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian scriptures, listened to the Quran, believed in Jesus and also in Sun Yat-sen.

In literature, they had the Immortal Poet Li Bai, Shakespeare, and Victor Hugo; in martial arts, the unparalleled loyal and righteous Guan Yu.

Laozi and Confucius were chanted, while Newton's science was incorporated.

Before the unification of Vietnam, during the First Indochina War, Cao Dai once possessed its own armed forces of 25,000 men.

It was not until the end of the Vietnam War that they disbanded their armed forces and gradually faded into the populace.

However, as an experience from its early days of founding, Cao Dai also maintained a certain presence in the upper echelons of Vietnam.

Vu Linh Huong's trip to Tay Ninh Province also carried a subtle intention of private liaison, a kind of family mission.

She was very frank with Li Qinghe.

Cao Dai currently held 4 seats in the Vietnamese National Assembly, and the Wu Family needed to secure their support.

As a member of the Wu Family, aside from her personal romantic choices which she could freely make with Vu Van Nghia's support, Vu Linh Huong still needed to complete other family tasks within her capabilities.

Li Qinghe didn't care about these things and didn't want to get involved.

The Wu Family had its own considerations, and his consideration was simply to get along well with Vu Linh Huong.

The three of them ate and chatted, talking a lot, and also discussed Vu Linh Huong's visit to Li Qinghe's home.

Vu Linh Huong smiled and said that the few days she stayed at Li Qinghe's home were the days she slept best because she didn't have to think about anything and could fall asleep soundly as soon as she lay down.

"Qinghe, I'm a little sleepy; I need to go sleep for a while."

After breakfast, Vu Linh Huong said she needed to go back to sleep because she woke up too early this morning.

Hoang Dang Minh Thu quickly went to the bedroom to tidy up.

She had been quite engrossed in chatting with Li Qinghe last night, but thankfully she tidied up a bit this morning before making breakfast.

"Qinghe, I'll probably sleep for two hours.

You can arrange your own activities for now.

I should sleep very soundly under the covers you've slept in."

Vu Linh Huong and Li Qinghe embraced again, and she left a fragrant kiss on his cheek.

Both knew that Vu Linh Huong's visit this time would lead to a qualitative breakthrough in their relationship, but the closer they got to this point, the less they rushed it.

They believed that a gradual development would naturally lead to success.

"You rest well.

I'll go with Minh Thu to the beauty salon to prepare the beauty cream."

Li Qinghe touched Vu Linh Huong's cheek.

Both she and Hoang Dang Minh Thu had unknowingly taken the facial firming oral liquid.

They still thought their recent skincare routine had been effective.

Last time, Li Qinghe extracted a beauty cream formula and had Hoang Dang Minh Thu purchase a batch of basic ingredients.

This time, they would use the beauty salon's machines to mix the ingredients and create a barrel of basic raw cream.

Later, it would only need to be added to relevant products to achieve beauty and anti-aging effects.

Once Vu Linh Huong entered the bedroom, Li Qinghe and Hoang Dang Minh Thu changed their clothes, preparing to leave.

Today, Hoang Dang Minh Thu had changed into a solid-colored skirt suit, with a wide calfskin belt cinched at her waist, making her already slender waist even more defined.

Beneath the short skirt, a pair of fair, long legs reminded Li Qinghe of the alluring sway he had seen on her shoulders.

Hoang Dang Minh Thu

With Vu Linh Huong in Saigon, the S450 was left at the apartment for her to use for transportation.

Hoang Dang Minh Thu drove a BMW 5 Series, taking Li Qinghe to the beauty salon.

It took about half an hour to drive from District 3 to District 1.

The two got out of the car in the parking lot.

Li Qinghe looked up; he had never been to Vu Linh Huong's beauty salon before.

The beauty salon was located in a high-end office building in Saigon, catering to the city's wealthy ladies and young heiresses.

And this building in front of them turned out to be the Apex Tower.

The top-floor luxury apartment he had just won last night was right here; what a coincidence!

The beauty salon was on the 29th floor, and Vu Linh Huong had bought the entire floor.

Without the expense of rent, the beauty salon's operating costs would be relatively much lower.

Taking the elevator straight to the 29th floor, they stepped out to a delicate front desk.

Behind the front desk, two beautiful women dressed in beautician uniforms quickly stood up and greeted Hoang Dang Minh Thu: "Good morning, Sister Mingshu."

"Xiao Hua, go call Chun Cao to my office."

Hoang Dang Minh Thu, looking like a dominant female CEO, greeted them but continued walking inside without stopping.

The front desk beauty curiously sized up the tall Li Qinghe, wondering about this man's background.