Chapter 506: What Is Called a Holy Qilin, Not a Holy Spirit?

This year marks the tenth year since Yu Lin left Nazareth.

It is also the year Jesus turned thirty.

Joseph grew older, and more work was handed over to Jesus.

At this moment, Jesus is slowly putting away the carpenter tools that have accompanied him for years.

In front of him stands a wooden carving almost as tall as he is.

The carving's appearance and shape are identical to Jesus himself.

The statue is finished, with smooth lines and natural grain.

Sunlight falls on the polished wood surface, giving off a warm sheen.

Jesus quietly gazes at his "work," a smile appearing on his face.

Since the year he was twelve, when he was "educated" with a ruler by Yu Lin in the Jerusalem Temple and then struck by his parents' tears and words, Jesus became aware of a subtle change within himself.

Wisdom keeps growing.

Without deliberate study, the vast essence of the law, understanding of the world's workings, and insight into human nature flow into his consciousness spontaneously like a spring.

This wisdom elevates him beyond ordinary people, but also brings side effects.

For example, he becomes increasingly rational, his emotions steadier and bland, and love seems to become a principle based on "should" rather than spontaneity.

He loves humanity, but that love sometimes even he feels is more like a universal compassion stemming from his Son of God status.

He does not want this.

He believes true love should arise from the heart, be vibrant, and be able to rejoice or ache because of specific people or events.

One cannot love merely because it is needed, then love for that reason.

After long contemplation, he devised a method—to temporarily separate the ever‑growing "wisdom."

He separates it onto a vessel, a "container" he crafted himself, imbued with his intention.

Thus, this wooden carving came into being.

Each time he lifts a tool, each chip he chips away, he is not only shaping form but also guiding and infusing "wisdom" into it.

It is a long undertaking, like a spiritual "bloodletting" for himself.

Until today, when he lands the final cut and finishes the last polishing.

The uncontrolled growth of wisdom seems finally to have halted, reaching saturation or a critical point.

And the wooden carving, at this moment, is completely finished.

Only… it's a bit regrettable.

He looks around the empty courtyard.

Yu Lin hasn't returned yet, unable to share this scene with him.

Ten years ago he said he would go watch a fight; that watching turned into ten years of disappearance.

Jesus shook his head, suppressing a hint of melancholy.

He still has many things to do.

He carefully puts the tools away, gently wipes the last speck of dust from the carving with a clean cloth, then turns and walks out of the courtyard.

He will go to the Jordan River to find John.

At this time, John has been walking the preaching path for ten years.

He preaches, "The Kingdom of Heaven is near; you must repent!"

He denounces hypocrisy to the people, calling for spiritual cleansing.

He belongs to no aristocracy, nor is he attached to the Temple system.

He only wears his signature camel sweater, eats desert locusts and wild honey, and has earned great reputation through years of preaching.

Now.

Upon hearing he would baptize the crowd, people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the Jordan River region flocked to John, making it bustling.

At the Jordan River, crowds throng, noisy beyond compare.

Though the crowd is massive, it is orderly, spontaneously forming a long line that moves forward slowly.

John stands in the cool shallow water of the Jordan River, his face solemn, eyes like torches, scrutinizing each person who comes before him.

He listens as they whisper or weep and confess sins, then immerses them in the flowing water, symbolizing the death of the old self and rebirth after washing.

The baptism proceeds until John sees, in the line, well‑dressed individuals whose demeanor clashes with the repentant crowd—Pharisees and Sadducees have arrived.

His brows knit sharply, an unhidden disgust and fury rising from his chest.

He then stops, points at them, his voice suddenly rises, like thunder cracking in the wilderness, reaching every ear:

"You brood of poisonous snakes, who instructed you to evade future wrath?"

"You must bear fruit befitting a repentant heart!"

"Do not say in your hearts, 'We have Abraham as ancestor.' I tell you: God can raise descendants for Abraham from these stones!"

"Now the axe is placed beside the tree roots; any tree that does not bear good fruit shall be cut down and thrown into the fire!"

He despises them, the reason being…

The Pharisees' biggest problem is "hypocrisy."

They are versed in the law's wording, strictly observe hand‑washing, fasting, and other complex rites, appearing bright and devout, yet inside are filled with spiritual pride, greed, and injustice.

They cloak themselves in piety while practicing extortion and debauchery, binding burdens onto people without moving a finger themselves, and even using tradition to nullify God's commandments, hindering sincere seekers.

The Sadducees, however, are priestly nobles and vested interests who hold Temple authority, covet secular power, and are a corrupt, rigid ruling class; for them, faith is merely a tool to preserve privilege.

John, the wilderness Prophet, is naturally at odds with this hypocrisy and corruption.

He never allies with them.

Being publicly rebuked so loudly as "brood of poisonous snakes," those Pharisees and Sadducees instantly flushed red, ashamed.

The onlookers around also gave strange looks.

They could no longer bear to stay; under everyone's gaze, they turned away in anger, flicked their sleeves, and left.

What is the point of staying? To remain and continue enduring this "savage's" humiliation?

Having driven away those "fruitless trees," John no longer watched their departing backs, and continued to focus on the Baptism before him.

His voice softened slightly, yet carried a deeper declarative tone:

"I use water to Baptize you, calling you to repentance; but the one who comes after me has greater power than I, and I am unworthy even to fetch his shoes."

"He will Baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire; he holds a winnowing basket in his hand, will cleanse his field, gather the wheat into the granary, and burn the chaff with an unquenchable fire."

Having said so.

He continued the Baptism.

But as he Baptized, suddenly a feeling arose within his heart.

It made him involuntarily halt his motions, lift his head, and gaze beyond the crowd toward the rear.

At that glance, his expression was instantly replaced by surprise, and a blazing brilliance erupted from his eyes.

"Jesus!" he could not help calling out, his voice filled with long‑awaited excitement:

"You have come?"

Jesus passed through the crowd that automatically cleared for him, walked to the shore, gave a slight nod toward John in the water, his demeanor calm:

"Hmm, I have come to seek your Baptism."

John, hearing this, almost instinctively shook his head and gestured, his face showing confusion:

"How can this be! I should be the one receiving your Baptism, why have you come to me instead?"

Jesus looked at him, a gentle smile appearing at the corner of his lips: "Allow me for now, for we ought to act thus, fulfilling all righteousness."

He paused briefly:

"This is our mission, is it not?"

Hearing the word "mission," the words John had prepared to decline got stuck in his throat.

He gave Jesus a deep look, then immediately ceased insisting, and nodded heavily: "Fine!"

Thus, Jesus calmly entered the tail of the line awaiting Baptism, like the most ordinary penitent, quietly moving forward with the procession.

When his turn came, he stepped steadily into the Jordan River's cool water, approaching John.

The two locked eyes, needing no words. John extended both hands, supporting Jesus's shoulder.

Jesus leaned back, letting the river water flow over his head and body, completely submerging him.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze for an instant.

When Jesus rose from the water, the flow sliding off his hair and robes, he breathed the air above the river once more—

Boom!!!

Without any omen, the heavens and earth changed color!

The sky, originally a pristine blue, seemed like an invisible massive curtain suddenly torn apart!

A huge, radiant Light Gate, beyond words to describe its magnitude, thunderously opened in the lofty firmament!

Holy, warm, dazzling radiance, like a tangible torrent, poured down from the opened Heavenly Gate, evenly and precisely enveloping the freshly Baptized Jesus standing in the water!

On the shore and in the water, everyone was stunned!

The clamor fell into absolute silence, eyes widened to the limit.

They held their breath, gazing upward at this miraculous sight never seen in a lifetime, even in dreams they dared not imagine.

Some involuntarily knelt, some trembled all over, some wept profusely.

At the center of that pure, dazzling, unwatchable Holy Light, a figure slowly descended from the high heavens.

John shivered with excitement, his eyes fixed on the figure in the light, lips trembling, murmuring with anticipation:

"Holy Spirit… the Holy Spirit has descended! Indeed! Indeed… hmm?"

His words abruptly halted.

Because the figure appearing in the light grew clearer, it was neither the symbol of the Holy Spirit he imagined, nor any form described in traditional Prophet Prophecies.

It was a person he never expected to appear in such a circumstance!

John's ecstatic expression instantly froze, turning into astonishment:

"Yu Lin?!!"

"How is it you?!"

"Quite a surprise, huh?"