Chapter 53: The Mad Monk

"Ling'er, Ling'er."

"Who were you just talking to?"

A woman with a delicate face, wearing a teal dress, came to Ling'er's side, her face showing a hint of curiosity.

Ling'er pointed at Lingyin Temple, gesturing wildly:

"Xiujuan, you don't know, there was just a very handsome young man, truly handsome!"

"And the first time I saw him, his presence felt comfortable, very comfortable, just like when my dad and mom held little me as a child!"

"Do you understand that feeling?!"

Xiujuan's curiosity deepened: "Really?"

"Really."

"I didn't see it, I don't believe it."

"Ah, you trust me, trust me~"

"Alright, alright, even if I didn't see, I believe you for a moment, after all we are......."

"Hey! Look, it's him!"

Ling'er suddenly noticed Yu Lin walking on the mountain stone steps, quickly raised her hand and pointed: "Look, look! I'm right, aren't I?!"

"Where? Let me see."

Xiujuan looked, and indeed saw a handsome young master descending the steps, and he seemed to sense her gaze, meeting her eyes for a moment, causing a faint blush to appear on her face:

"Yes, Ling'er, what you mentioned was........."

"Is that so? I......." Ling'er withdrew her gaze from Yu Lin, smiled at her, and the words she had intended to say changed the moment she saw the blush on her face:

"Hey hey hey, Xiujuan, what's that expression?"

"That's because I liked him first, okay!"

"But we're good sisters, right? We compete fairly!"

Xiujuan heard that, quickly waved her hand: "No, no."

"Did you forget I have a marriage arranged?"

"Ah, that's right!" Ling'er slapped her forehead, a hint of apology appearing on her face:

"I'm sorry, I.........."

Thump!

"Oh no, someone fell into the water!"

"Left side! Someone fell into the water on the left!"

A cry of alarm rose from the lake surface, Ling'er and Xiujuan quickly turned to look.

They saw a middle‑aged man in brocade struggling in the water, splashing a large spray of waves.

His wife, crouched on the shore, shouted hoarsely:

"Husband! Husband!"

She, tears streaming down her face, turned to the crowd: "Is there anyone who can swim? Please, save my husband!"

"I'll kowtow to you! I'll kowtow to you!"

The people around looked at each other, no one answered.

More and more villagers gathered at the shore, yet they only pointed and whispered, no one dared to wade in.

"Xiujuan, I can swim, I'll go down to rescue!"

Ling'er stepped forward quickly, without a word, about to climb over the railing.

"Girl, wait a moment!"

A filthy hand suddenly grabbed her sleeve.

Ling'er turned back and saw a ragged monk looking at her with a mischievous grin.

The monk wore a cracked monk's hat, a broken Palm Fan at his waist, his face stained with wine, yet his eyes remained bright.

"You filthy monk!" Ling'er stamped her foot anxiously, the lake water already rising over the drowning man's head:

"A life hangs in the balance, why are you stopping me!"

In her haste, she didn't recognize the monk's identity.

The monk simply shook his head, the Palm Fan fluttering lightly:

"Girl, this man is beyond your rescue, you cannot save him!"

"I can't save him, who can?" Ling'er widened her eyes.

"If you keep blocking, I'll throw you down!"

She was about to jump down again, but the monk suddenly pointed ahead: "Ah, don't be so hasty."

"Look, the rescuer is coming."

Ling'er followed his finger's direction and saw a white figure glide from the shore.

The person wore a white robe, a Jade Crown binding his hair, his sleeves fluttering as he stepped through the water.

Each step lightly touched the water, sending ripples outward; he seemed to stroll leisurely, yet moved as fast as a startled swan.

"That's the young master from earlier!" Xiujuan whispered in awe.

Yu Lin walked to the spot, leaned forward, and lifted the drowning man out of the water.

The man was choking on water, unconscious; Yu Lin patted his back a few times, and the man immediately spat out lake water, slowly regaining consciousness.

"Husband!" the woman cried joyfully.

Yu Lin lightly tipped his toe, leapt onto the shore in a single bound.

He gently set the man down, turned to leave.

However, he felt a gaze, uh, possibly many gazes coming from behind, making him involuntarily turn his head to look.

Just like that, he locked eyes with a dirty monk.

His appearance didn't resemble that of You Benchang old sir, but those eyes were strangely alike, as if different people were using the same pair of eyes.

He was smiling, eyes narrowed, looking at Yu Lin.

"Ji Gong?"

He stopped, turned, and walked toward the painted boat; with just a light leap, he arrived before Ji Gong and clasped his hands in salute.

"Yu Lin pays respects to Daoji Master."

"Eh, donor, too much courtesy, too much courtesy!"

Ji Gong helped him up, smiling, and said:

"Donor, you're a good person!"

"Good people receive good rewards!"

Yu Lin rose, curious, asking: "Dharma Master, have you already calculated that I would come here to save people?"

Theoretically, his Miracle should make it impossible for him to be selected by fortune-telling and the like.

Not to mention Ji Gong is currently a reincarnation; even if the true form of the Dragon-subduing Arhat appeared, he probably couldn't calculate him.

But looking at Ji Gong's appearance, it seems as if he knows he will definitely come............ strange.

Ji Gong shook his head: "No, no, monk I am not calculating you, donor; you are a person of great fate, how could this monk calculate that?"

"So it's calculating this drowning person, who will be rescued today by a person of great fate!"

"Donor, you overestimate this monk!"

So that's how it is; that actually makes sense.

Yu Lin nodded, smiling, and said:

"Dharma Master, would you be willing to find a place to meet? I have something I want to say to you, Dharma Master."

"What's not possible? Let's go, let's go." Ji Gong readily agreed, turned and walked into the painted boat.

Behind them, Ling'er watched their backs, then slapped her thigh.

"Xiujuan, is that monk Daoji Master?"

Chapter 50 was stuck in review for a while; now it's released, those who haven't seen it can go check it out.