Chapter 54: The Unreasonable Strongman

Because the painted boat was crowded, there was no place to sit and chat.

So Yu Lin and Ji Gong got off the painted boat and came to the front of a tavern inside the city.

Fú Mǎn Lóu.

A steady stream of diners came and went, and the aroma of dishes wafted out, whetting the appetite.

However.

Just as they were about to step into the tavern, a tall, muscular man suddenly blocked the doorway.

He stood on the steps, looking down at the two of them; after his gaze lingered on Yu Lin for a moment, he cast a disgusted glance at Ji Gong, then raised his hand, pointed at Yu Lin, and said in a coarse voice:

"You may enter."

"But—" he turned his finger, pointing at Ji Gong:

"This filthy monk cannot enter."

"My young master cannot stand any stench; ruining his appetite is not allowed," he snorted coldly:

"Others might tolerate it, but my young master will not; he is a celestial literary star descended to earth, extremely precious!"

Yu Lin furrowed his brow and asked, "Is this tavern run by your young master?"

The muscular man sneered, shook his head, and said, "No."

"But—" he said proudly, lifting his chin, "It was opened by a friend of my lord."

Yu Lin nodded, his tone still calm, "Since this isn't your young master's tavern, the rules are rather lax."

He stepped forward as if to go inside, "We aren't short of silver; can't we have a private room?"

"If we call the manager out and he refuses us entry, we simply won't go in."

The muscular man sneered even more, directly blocking him as well, arms crossed, mocking, "We lack everything except silver!"

"To tell you the truth, the manager isn't here today, so whatever I say is final!"

He glanced sideways at Yu Lin, "If you want to enter, go ahead; if not, hurry and move aside with that filthy monk!"

Yu Lin's good temper was completely drained by this, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:

"Step aside."

"If I don't step aside, what can you do?! Are you trying to compare family backgrounds with my young master?"

The muscular man and Yu Lin stared at each other, briefly sensing something amiss, but thinking of his own young master's abilities, that unease vanished instantly.

At that moment.

Passersby and diners, hearing the muscular man's shouting, gathered around.

They didn't know Yu Lin and his companion, but they knew Ji Gong!

Immediately someone stepped forward, pointing at the muscular man, "You brat, a sightless fool, do you not know that Daoji Master stands before you?!"

"For Daoji Master to eat here is already giving you face!"

As soon as he finished speaking, many others echoed, "Do you know how many people beg Daoji Master to come to their homes, yet you want to turn him away at the door?"

"Hey, move aside for the Master, or my fist won't be smaller than yours!"

"Indeed, indeed, we won't tolerate this grievance, Master! Come to my tavern! My place is a welcoming hall! If you, Master, can come, all today's patrons get a discount!"

"Master, don't go to his place! Come to mine, I..........."

Surrounded by the crowd, the muscular man's face flushed bright red as he growled low:

"None of your business! What master, master? Could he be Daoji Master? If he is Daoji Master, I'll drink the latrine over there dry!"

"Let me tell you, my young master is from.........."

He seemed to recall something and instantly changed his words:

"Today I simply won't allow it, so what shall we do?"

"Who just said they wanted to fight me?"

His words hung in the air.

He raised his hand, gave the doorframe a light pinch, leaving a mark on the solid wood, then tugged and tore off a piece.

It seemed simple, but the wood was specially treated; even a knife could only leave a shallow scar.

If it were a person, this muscular man could snap bones with a pinch!

The scene unfolded before the crowd, startling everyone.

Is this brat still a practitioner?

Seeing their expressions, the muscular man tossed the object he held, crossed his arms, and said:

"Who wants to fight me? Let's sign a death contract!"

"My fist will show no mercy!"

No one spoke, some even stepped back, their gaze fixed on Ji Gong.

They knew they couldn't beat them; only someone like Ji Gong could act!

Yu Lin, seeing the muscular man like that, was about to raise his hand to push him away.

Ji Gong, however, grabbed him first, smiling and shaking his head:

"Ah, benefactor, don't act! Don't act."

"Harmony is the most precious!" He waved his hand, turned nonchalantly, "If he won't let the monk in, then the monk won't go in either."

"Let's go somewhere else."

He said, shaking his tattered Palm Fan, humming a tune, strolling leisurely toward the other side of the street.

Yu Lin, seeing this, followed, walking side by side, and said with a smile:

"The Master's cultivation is truly excellent."

Ji Gong shook his head, fanning with his Palm Fan, and said leisurely:

"The world chases fame and profit, clings to status and rank, yet fails to see that poverty and wealth are all illusion; when the heart is at ease, everywhere becomes a blessed place."

"Moreover, as a monk I'm already filthy and stinky; it's only natural for people to lose their appetite—reasonable."

Yu Lin heard this and gave a slight nod:

"I have been taught."

The two continued forward, but before reaching the next tavern, a sudden call halted their steps:

"Patron, stay! Stay!"

Yu Lin turned his head and saw a middle‑aged man drenched in wet robes and a woman still with tear stains on her face hurrying toward him and Ji Gong.

The man's complexion was still pallid, clearly having just been rescued from the water; his robe hem still dripped, yet he could not bother to tidy it and ran after them.

"Patron, stay! Stay!"

As soon as they reached Yu Lin, they thudded to the ground, kneeling, and gave a heavy kowtow.

"Thank you, patron, for saving my life!" the man said, his tone tinged with lingering fear and deep gratitude:

"Had it not been for your rescue, I would have been buried at the lake's bottom today!"

"Patron, your great kindness and virtue—my wife and I have no way to repay you; we only ask that you leave your name, and we will offer daily worship, praying for your longevity and health!"