Chapter 418: In a High Position

Tu Shan Zhi lay lazily on a smooth warm stone, enjoying the sunlight.

Several young, beautiful female cultivators surrounded her, their eyes sparkling, full of undisguised affection.

"What a pretty little fox!"

"This tail... actually has nine!"

"The fur is so soft, like clouds!"

"What's your name? Where are you from?"

They chattered away, unable to resist reaching out to touch her, but held back by propriety, only daring to follow her with their eyes.

Tu Shan Zhi answered their questions absentmindedly, her thoughts elsewhere.

Her narrow fox eyes fixed on the bamboo hut platform ahead, her ears perked and twitching, trying to catch Yu Lin and the Bodhi Old Ancestor's conversation.

Yet, as if shrouded by an invisible barrier, no matter how hard she focused, she could only see their lips move, not a sound leaking out.

After several attempts, she pouted and gave up on eavesdropping.

"Forget it, the master always has reasons." She muttered to herself, then stood up, shook her fluffy fur, and lifted her chin at the female cultivators still surrounding her:

"Wasn't I supposed to be shown around the Three Star Cave? Let's go."

Hearing that, the female cultivators sprang up, eagerly leading the way and chattering about the various sights inside the cave abode.

Tu Shan Zhi then walked with graceful steps among them, seeming to stroll, but her nine tails swayed intermittently toward the bamboo hut.

Inside the bamboo hut, tea fragrance wafted.

Yu Lin and the Bodhi Old Ancestor sat facing each other, having already chatted about the origins of the Dao and the changes of heaven and earth.

At that moment, their conversation paused, leaving only the faint crackle of the hearth and the distant rustle of pine trees.

Yu Lin lifted the teacup before him, took a sip of clear, mellow tea, and upon setting it down, suddenly spoke in a calm yet direct tone:

"Fellow Daoist, did you long ago foresee that the Great Sage would cause great disaster, and thus preemptively expel him from the school to clear your name?"

The Bodhi Old Ancestor's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, then he nodded frankly: "Indeed. That monkey is by nature restless; though his spiritual roots are fine, he lacks depth."

"With divine powers, he's like a child wielding a sharp blade in a bustling market—it's remarkable if he doesn't cause trouble."

His gaze drifted far, as if crossing time and space, he saw that lawless monkey:

"My Three Star Cave, a place of tranquil non-action, cannot accommodate someone whose fate stirs up storms like his."

Yu Lin nodded in understanding: "Indeed. If I had a disciple who ran around causing trouble and could pierce the heavens, I would likely have made plans early to avoid collateral damage."

Hearing Yu Lin actually agree with his approach, the Bodhi Old Ancestor's gaunt face flickered with surprise.

He set down his teacup, looked at Yu Lin, and said: "I thought you might come here to blame me a few times, to curse me with 'abandoning those in danger' and 'shallow master-disciple bonds' and such."

"Ah—" Yu Lin waved a hand, cutting him off, his tone carrying a touch of worldly-wise clarity:

"You overthink it. If I were you, standing in your position, facing your considerations, the choice I'd make would probably not be much better than yours."

"It's merely the difference between fifty steps and a hundred."

The Bodhi Old Ancestor heard this, fell silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

"It's not that I don't wish to save him; it's that I cannot."

He turned his gaze toward the outside of the bamboo hut, landing on each disciple, whether in meditation or labor, with peaceful faces, his voice dropping a little:

"If I had forcibly kept him back then, or later intervened forcefully, under the karmic entanglement, how many of my Three Star Cave's lineage, these disciples devoted to the Dao, could survive? What have they done to deserve this?"

"My Three Star Cave may have only modest renown in the Three Realms Six Paths, and fellow cultivators give it some respect."

"But compared to the might of the Heavenly Court and the flourishing of the Buddhist Sect, it is ultimately far inferior. This calamity... I simply cannot withstand it."

"Better to let that monkey undergo this journey, to temper his mind and calm his restlessness—it would also be a kind of opportunity."

Having said that, he sighed again.

Yu Lin nodded, and did not continue the topic further.

Exalted beings in high positions naturally have many matters to consider.

Moreover, this is the Three Star Cave located here, right next to the Buddhist Sect's Western Ox-Heaven Continent; if we were to ruin the Buddhist Sect's auspicious journey to the west...

Yu Lin thought of that scripture, the Supreme Buddhist Law.

Hmm, this matter certainly won't end quietly.

No more words, just quietly drinking tea until it was about time.

Yu Lin then rose and said: "Today I've troubled you enough; I've had my fill of tea and finished our talk."

"I still have some trifles to attend to, so I won't stay long. Many thanks for your hospitality, fellow Daoist."

The Bodhi Old Ancestor also rose, his gentle smile unchanged: "Why speak of troubling me, fellow Daoist? My humble Three Star Cave welcomes you to stay as long as you wish."

"Since you have business, I won't keep you; I hope we meet again by fate to discuss the Dao. Take care."

Yu Lin nodded: "Certainly, certainly."

Having said that, he turned and walked lightly toward the outside of the cave abode.

Upon reaching the corridor, he called out to Tu Shan Zhi, who was not far off, being accompanied by several female cultivators as they pointed and chattered before a celestial flower:

"Let's go."

Hearing the call, Tu Shan Zhi instantly turned, without hesitation leaving the strange flower and the enthusiastic female cultivators, her form turning into a streak of WhiteLight as she lightly leapt back onto Yu Lin's shoulder.

She skillfully adjusted her posture, then lay again on his head, her nine tails naturally hanging down.

"Here Buddha and Dao coexist, also blended with Confucianism—three teachings in one, quite interesting."

"Indeed, a fine place."

She didn't bother to ask what secret Yu Lin and the Bodhi Old Ancestor had just discussed; she merely brushed his ear with her tail tip and asked, "Where are we headed next?"

Yu Lin's steps did not stop; he continued toward the cave's exit, his gaze drifting to the misty mountains ahead and the faintly visible path, his tone casual: "I don't know."

"Let's go and see—let's see what kind of fated person we'll encounter next."