Chapter 60: The Tower Won't Fall, The Tower Won't Fall

"Oh no, someone fell into the latrine!"

"Dharma Master Guang Liang and five martial monks couldn't pull him up!"

A panicked voice came from afar.

The Scholar, who was reading, paused his page‑turning, looked up, frowned slightly, and instinctively thought it was Big Tiger.

He could not worry about anything else.

He hurriedly set the book aside, then rose and walked toward the side chamber of Lingyin Temple.

Before he arrived, he could already see the front crowded with people.

Spectating is a human nature from ancient times to the present.

"Excuse me, please make way."

"Please make way........."

The Scholar pushed through the crowd and reached the front.

He saw Dharma Master Guang Liang and five martial monks clumsily trying to pull Big Tiger up,

but whether because the filthy water was too slippery or for some other reason, the usually mighty martial monks could not exert strength now, each turning a deep red with effort.

Big Tiger was drenched in filthy water, a complete mess.

Seeing his master's young master arrive, he hurriedly shouted, "Young master, don't come over! I can get up on my own!"

"Don't soil your robes!"

"You are the literary star, you cannot endure this worldly filth!"

The Scholar was unmoved; instead he stepped forward a few paces, his gaze deep as he looked at Big Tiger:

"Big Tiger, at this point do you still not understand?"

"Understand what?" Big Tiger asked, a blank expression on his face:

"What have I done wrong again?"

At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted:

"So it's you! Your face was covered in filthy water just now, I didn't recognize you!"

"Yesterday didn't you say, if Daoji Master were truly Daoji Master, you would eat up all the waste from the latrine in Qingliu Alley?"

"I told you not to speak recklessly, told you to stop being arrogant, now you get your retribution!"

Big Tiger, hearing this, froze in place.

The Scholar, hearing this, had a flash of realization in his eyes.

He murmured softly, "So that's it......"

He hurried to Dharma Master Guang Liang, clasped his hands and bowed:

"Dharma Master, may I borrow a staff?"

Guang Liang, seeing his frail appearance, worried:

"Benefactor, you should step back a bit."

"Your attendant is too heavy, we will call more people..."

The Scholar shook his head, "This is not a matter that more people can solve."

"Please, Dharma Master, make it convenient; if I cannot, I will step back myself."

Seeing his persistence, Guang Liang had no choice but to hand him the staff.

"Benefactor, just be careful."

"Yes, thank you, Dharma Master." The Scholar went to the latrine edge and extended the staff toward Big Tiger:

"Grab it!"

Big Tiger, seeing the young master come to rescue, was moved to tears, but worried:

"Young master, you cannot pull me..."

"Obey." The Scholar said firmly.

Big Tiger could only grasp the staff.

Strangely, the one who just couldn't exert strength now felt his whole body filled with power, and was easily pulled up.

Seeing the young master's clean robes stained by filthy water, Big Tiger was mortified, about to kneel and beg forgiveness, when a familiar voice came from the outskirts:

"Oh dear, who fell into the Toilet House?"

"Make way for the monk, let me have a good look! In a place to watch a good show, how can I manage without a monk?"

The crowd automatically cleared a path, and Ji Gong, shaking his Palm Fan, strolled leisurely toward them,

with Yu Lin walking beside him.

Seeing him come.

Guang Liang frowned, about to say something, when Big Tiger stepped forward first, fell with a thud and knelt, his forehead pressed to the ground:

"Yesterday I unknowingly offended the Dharma Master, please forgive me!"

"If you wish to blame, blame my ignorance of etiquette, my arrogance! Please do not blame my young master!"

"It is because I do not read often, I lack propriety!"

"From now on, I will sincerely reform!"

He spoke with utmost sincerity, but his foul stench made nearby worshippers retreat several steps, truly unbearable!

The Scholar also stepped forward, came before Ji Gong and bowed deeply:

"I was negligent in discipline, which made him so unruly; I heard the clamor but did not go to stop him..."

"In the end, it is my fault, please forgive me, Dharma Master."

Ji Gong reached out, lifted the Scholar, and said with a smiling face:

"No problem, no problem. The grievances of yesterday—just let them drift away with the wind."

He patted the scholar's shoulder and, meaningfully, added: "But you see, if the Zhuangyuan Tower in one's heart doesn't fall, that tower is hard to topple!"

The scholar, hearing that, instantly widened his eyes, as if something had been stirred by those words.

His lips twitched, about to ask, but Ji Gong had already turned and walked toward Big Tiger.

Ji Gong came before Big Tiger, not at all recoiling from his filthy body, cupped his face with both hands, and met his gaze:

"What do you see?"

Big Tiger stared blankly at Ji Gong's eyes—their eyes were crystal clear, lacking any trace of vengeful delight, instead filled with compassion and tolerance.

In a daze, he seemed to see something dark‑hued enveloping it, yet still an exceedingly bright heart...

"I..."

Big Tiger murmured, a phrase suddenly surfacing in his mind, spilling out:

"Dharma Master, I have awakened."

"A foul skin wraps a thousand karmas, while a splendid heart hides within a clod of mud."

Ji Gong released him, smiling with satisfaction:

"Exactly!"

As the words fell, Big Tiger blinked, finding the filth on himself and the young master vanish without a trace, his clothes clean as new, as if nothing had just happened.

Ji Gong rose, said no more, and instead came to Yu Lin's side, patting Yu Lin's shoulder:

"Patron, the monk's affairs are settled, I'm in a very good mood."

"Would you be willing to accompany the monk and have some fun?"

Yu Lin naturally would not refuse, smiling: "Sure, since the Dharma Master invites, I have free time, there's no reason to decline."

"Let's go."

The two turned and walked forward.

From behind, Guang Liang's voice came:

"Daoji, Daoji!"

"You also make the clothes on me clean!"