Chapter 52: Leifeng Tower, Lingyin Temple

Night.

"Hoo."

Yu Lin let out a long sigh and emerged from his cultivation state.

Today is the day of his breakthrough, reaching the mid‑stage of the Unbroken, and also the day the living Buddha Ji Gong myth is unsealed.

For that.

He asked Chen Haoxi for a one‑week leave.

Chen Haoxi had no objection.

Not just a week, what about a month?

Who could find a student like this? Whose student could break through to Unbroken within half a year? Whose student is a General? Whose student is a Saint?

Who can? Come on, show me.

Chen Haoxi said, if you're not convinced, come to the arena.

No matter whether others dare to send students, if you're not convinced, come to the arena.

So Yu Lin has plenty of time to complete the mission, unless the flow of time there is the same as here.

"Dragon Lord, Dragon Lord."

"Stop hitting, we're leaving!"

Yu Lin rose from the ground, stretched lazily, and said to Dragon Lord, who was battling in the online world.

"Coming, coming, the last head!"

"Golden headshot, perfect!"

Dragon Lord quickly shut the Computer, turned, and flew straight into the Ding Pattern.

"Let's go."

"Mm."

Swish.

A flash of WhiteLight streaked by.

Yu Lin vanished.

The eighteenth year of the Shaoxing era, Southern Song.

Six years after Yue Fei's death, Ji Gong was born in the Southern Song, in Yongning Village, Tiantai County, Taizhou, Zhejiang.

There is a rumor that when he was born, the statue of the Dragon‑Subduing Arhat toppled, leading people to believe he was the Arhat's reincarnation.

His family was the prestigious Li clan of Tiantai, generations of officials; his father Li Maochun had served as magistrate of Changguo County (now Zhoushan, Zhejiang) before resigning to live in seclusion.

Li Maochun and his wife, nearing forty, only had a child then, so they dote on Ji Gong.

You think all this is to say Yu Lin arrived at Ji Gong's birth?

No, no, no.

Yu Lin arrived during Emperor Xiaozong of Song's Chunxi era (1174–1189).

To be precise, it was the year Ji Gong was twenty‑seven.

Though his behavior was wild, indulging in wine and meat, and the monks of Lingyin Temple called him "Ji Dian", he was protected by his master, Zen Master Huiyuan, so he was fine.

At this moment.

Above West Lake, azure waves ripple, distant mountains like ink.

A few white egrets skim the water's surface, stirring ripples.

Willows by the shore sway lightly, occasional fishing boats pass, leaving a trail.

Clad in a white robe, wearing a Jade Crown, looking like a young master out on a stroll, Yu Lin stands on a small boat, his gaze fixed on Lingyin Temple ahead.

The boatman is a dark‑skinned middle‑aged Han man, turning the oar slowly toward Lingyin Temple.

"Brother, may I ask if Daoji Master is at Lingyin Temple?" Yu Lin pretended not to know, striking up conversation.

The boatman grinned, "Daoji Master?"

"Exactly, he's right at Lingyin Temple!"

"Whether he's there right now, I don't know."

"Seeing you like that, are you new to Lin'an City?"

"Yes." Yu Lin nodded, smiling slightly:

"Yes, I came from elsewhere; I heard Daoji Master is very powerful, so I wanted to see for myself."

"By the way."

"Is that Leifeng Tower?"

He raised his hand and pointed at a tower on the other side.

The boatman nodded, "Yes."

"Sir, if you wish, you could find a time to go; it's said a great snake lies beneath the tower!"

"But it's only rumor; no one has seen whether it's real."

A great snake.

Bai Niangzi?

Yu Lin thought silently, perhaps the legend of Bai Niangzi will appear later, and I could come back to see.

He smiled, "Alright, thanks for the tip, brother."

"I'll go then.........."

"Hey, which family's young master is that?! He's really handsome!"

Yu Lin's words were cut off by a crisp female voice.

He turned his head toward the source of the sound.

He saw an exquisite painted boat glide by slowly, and at the bow stood a girl in a light‑yellow long dress.

She wore a playful bun, a silver bell tied at her waist, and it jingled with the gentle sway of the boat.

"So it's you that I'm calling!" the girl said as she saw Yu Lin looking over, waving generously and smiling brightly:

"Young master, how old are you this year? Any plans for marriage?"

She tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes: "If you don't, I happen to have a perfect young beauty, a graceful and virtuous lady, a beautiful wealthy maiden to introduce to you~"

Such bold and straightforward flirting is unlike the usual subtlety of Jiangnan women.

Yu Lin shook his head with a smile and bowed his hand toward her:

"Thank you for your kindness, miss, but I have no thoughts of marriage at the moment."

The small boat had by then docked; Yu Lin paid the fare and lightly leapt onto the bluestone slab.

He turned back and gave the girl a faint smile: "We'll meet again if fate allows."

The girl was not annoyed, still smiling as she waved:

"Young master, be sure to remember me! My name is—"

Before she could finish, the painted boat had already sailed toward the center of the lake.

Yu Lin only vaguely heard the word "bell" drifting on the wind.

Aside:

"Interesting girl."

The temple sits at the foot of North High Peak, its red walls and black tiles hidden among the verdant forest.

Ancient towering trees stand before the temple, and pilgrims stream in endlessly.

On the bluestone steps, sandalwood incense mingles with the fresh scent of plants.

Yu Lin bought three incense sticks and placed them into the censer.

Wisps of blue smoke rose, merging with the morning light on the golden top of the Great Hall.

"Excuse me, is Daoji Master here?" he called out, stopping a passing monk.

The monk frowned at the mention of "Daoji": "He's not here! That mad monk left for Lin'an City early this morning!"

He lowered his voice, showing a hint of contempt:

"He spends his days in madness, drinking and feasting on meat—where would such a monk exist? If the abbot hadn't protected him, he'd have been expelled long ago!"

"Such a master whose Buddhist heart is not upright............."

"Benefactor, what do you want with him?"

Yu Lin smiled faintly: "At least Daoji Master wouldn't speak ill of others behind their backs."

He swept his gaze over the monks' embarrassed and guilty expressions and shook his head:

"Your Buddhist heart is not as upright as his; you have no right to judge him."

"Keep training, you're really quite weak."

Having said that, he turned and left, leaving the monk(s) stamping their feet in place, muttering continuously.

As if they were refuting Yu Lin's words.