Chapter 61: Jinshan Temple

Runzhou Dantu County (now Zhenjiang, Jiangsu).

Cloudy, no rain, suitable for traveling.

On the official road outside Dantu County.

Two people are walking.

One wears an indigo long robe, a plain sash at the waist; the fabric, though not luxurious, is clean and tidy, highlighting his upright figure.

The other dons a tattered brown Monk Robe, a broken Palm Fan tucked at his waist, straw shoes on his feet, staggering as he walks, occasionally pulling out a wine gourd for a sip.

One still, one moving, one solemn, one witty, they walk the official road, drawing frequent sideways glances from passersby.

"Why is that scholar walking together with a filthy monk?"

"What does it matter to you? People go with whomever they like."

"Ah, why are you so angry?"

"If you repay the five taels of silver you owed me a few days ago, my anger will naturally subside."

"No money, you must still be angry with me............."

At a roadside tea shop, a few resting merchants were murmuring, but when Yu Lin and Ji Gong approached, the chatter abruptly stopped.

The shop's waiter, quick‑witted, stepped forward with a beaming smile: "Young master, Dharma Master, what would you like to drink or eat?"

"Tea or food is optional; our plain water is free! Sit wherever you like!"

Yu Lin smiled faintly and said, "Just a pot, please."

He took out a piece of broken silver and handed it over.

The waiter waved his hand quickly: "That's too much! Even the finest tea costs only ten wen!"

"Please, young master, keep it back."

Yu Lin gestured, "The rest is a tip for you."

"Looks like I didn't give the wrong amount after all."

"Thank you, young master, thank you!" Hearing this, the waiter was overjoyed, repeatedly bowing in thanks and leading them to a clean spot to sit.

Soon a pot of clear tea and a plate of osmanthus cake were brought out:

"Please enjoy, and just call if you need anything."

The tea is this year's fresh brew, its fragrance filling the air. The osmanthus cake is golden and fluffy, speckled with tiny osmanthus blossoms, emitting a sweet yet non‑cloying aroma.

Ji Gong, impatient, pinched a piece of cake and shoved it into his mouth, squinting contentedly: "Hmm! This osmanthus cake is great!"

Yu Lin also took a bite; it was fragrant and mildly sweet, not messy, likely the shop's best cake, and he nodded approvingly: "Indeed, not bad."

The waiter, hearing the praise, beamed: "Glad you like it! The osmanthus was personally picked by our manager, and the tea is the finest local cloud‑mist tea."

"I'll be off to attend to other matters, okay."

After the waiter went to attend new customers, Yu Lin sipped the tea lightly and looked at Ji Gong: "Dharma Master, you've walked about three hundred li on this road; are you heading to Jinshan Temple for a visit?"

Lingyin Temple is roughly three hundred li from Jinshan Temple, so when Fa Hai suppressed Bai Niangzi and locked her in Leifeng Tower, it was a three‑hundred‑li journey.........

But that's all myth now; the golden bindings Fa Hai carries were given by the Buddha, so three hundred li or even three thousand li wouldn't be surprising.

He also has a Western lord by his side.

Ji Gong was stuffing a second piece of cake into his mouth, and, hearing that, puffed his cheeks and laughed: "Coming here, of course we have to go see Jinshan Temple."

"To meet the abbot of Jinshan Temple."

"I see," Yu Lin nodded, silently making a mental calculation.

Fa Hai should now be around sixty, perhaps a bit older or younger, but in any case older than Ji Gong.

But Ji Gong is a reincarnation of an Arhat, while Fa Hai is merely a monk favored by the Buddha.

Ji Gong's trip is probably not about Bai Niangzi's matter.

If that scholar causes no trouble, he should be Xu Xian's son, Xu Shilin.

Ji Gong says his Zhuangyuan Tower won't collapse, hinting that he shouldn't cling to his status and should kneel sincerely before Leifeng Tower?

Then Ji Gong comes to deal with Fa Hai? A one‑on‑one duel offline?

Can't say for sure; we'll see then.

Yu Lin shook his head, dispelling the stray thoughts in his mind.

He isn't in a hurry to take the Palm Fan now; strolling beside Ji Gong through these Southern Song scenery is rather pleasant.

The two sit inside the tea house.

A gentle breeze blows, making it comfortable and pleasant.

When the tea is finished and the cake eaten, the two stand to leave, but a terrified woman's scream suddenly comes from the road ahead:

"Robbery! Robbery! Help!"

Yu Lin frowned slightly, his figure flashing away in an instant.

Ji Gong, seeing this, jogged after him, shouting:

"Benefactor, benefactor, wait for this monk! If you take me along, I can also succeed!"

On the other side.

Yu Lin had already arrived at the spot where the shouts originated.

He fixed his gaze.

He saw seven or eight burly bandits encircling a carriage; the leader's face was swollen, wielding a gleaming ghost‑head sword.

In front of the carriage, a rugged‑faced Han man stood with his arms spread, already bearing a banner; beside him, a striking middle‑aged woman wielded a Long Sword, her moves fierce yet gradually waning.

"Who dares to rescue? When the Official Messenger arrives, you'll already be seeing Yama!" the bandit leader sneered, ferocity blazing in his eyes.

A snub‑nosed, monkey‑faced bandit licked his lips and leered: "Big brother, this woman is quite pretty; why not take her back for some fun?"

"Hahaha!" the bandit leader roared: "Fine! I want the people and the goods! You subordinates stop messing around, finish it quickly!"

Before his words had even finished, the bandits' assault suddenly turned fierce.

A Han man made a careless move, was struck in the shoulder by a blade, fresh blood instantly staining half his body red; the middle-aged woman was also forced to keep retreating, on the verge of collapse.

Inside the carriage, the woman closed her eyes in despair, silently thinking that if they lost, she would take her own life......

At this critical moment, a green-clad figure flashed like a phantom.

Bang!

The bandit who struck first hadn't even seen who had come before his whole body was flung backward, slamming heavily into a tree, spitting blood and losing consciousness.

Yu Lin stood before them, waving his hand, signaling them to continue.

The bandit leader, both shocked and angry, shouted: 'Where did this brat come from, seeking death!'

He swung his blade and chopped, the blade's edge producing a fierce tearing-through-air sound.

Yu Lin neither dodged nor evaded, merely raising his hand slightly—

Crack!

The cleaver snapped at the sound, the bandit leader hadn't even reacted before his chest took a palm strike, his whole body flying like a broken-line kite several zhang, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to get up again.

Seeing this, the remaining bandits were terrified out of their wits, turning to flee.

Yu Lin gave a cold snort, his body like lightning, in the blink of an eye he knocked everyone down.

The whole process took only a few breaths, and the seven or eight vicious bandits all lay on the ground wailing.

At this moment, Ji Gong finally came running:

'Oh my, benefactor, you're running too fast......'

Chapter five is fine, lying down (Is there anything free? Crazy hint).

Also, I, the author, will go out tomorrow, so I'll update later.