Chapter 62: Coming to Fight

"Thank you, young master, for saving my life!"

The woman stepped out of the carriage and, together with the man and woman who seemed to be guards, bowed deeply toward Yu Lin.

Yu Lin waved his hand: "No need."

"If there's nothing else, the three of you should hurry into the city to report to the authorities."

Having said that, he was about to leave, but Ji Gong stopped him:

"Hey, benefactor, don't rush off."

"Saving a life shouldn't be in vain."

He smiled warmly at the woman:

"Miss, you agree, right?"

The woman looked at Ji Gong, feeling as if she had seen him somewhere before, but she couldn't recall, so she only nodded:

"Yes, the Dharma Master is right."

She thought for a moment, unfastened the Jade Pendant from her waist, and handed it to Yu Lin:

"This is my family's heirloom Jade Pendant; please, young master, be sure to accept it, otherwise I have no way to repay the life‑saving favor."

The two people beside her widened their eyes at the scene: "Miss, this Jade Pendant is........."

"No need to say more; this is the only way to repay the life‑saving favor!" the woman said resolutely.

Yu Lin didn't quite understand Ji Gong's meaning, but when he indicated that he should accept it, he had no choice but to take it:

"Since that's the case, we are even between us."

"Dharma Master, is this acceptable?"

Ji Gong nodded approvingly: "Acceptable, acceptable!"

"Then it is considered complete!"

"Miss, go report to the authorities; we shall meet again if fate allows!"

With those words, he waved his Palm Fan and headed toward the county town.

After all that, not only the woman but also Yu Lin felt puzzled.

Yu Lin thought carefully: could this Jade Pendant have some effect?

He looked down.

The Jade Pendant was entirely emerald green, about the size of a palm, and felt icy cold in the hand, giving a refreshing sensation yet very light; its surface bore an engraving of a picture that seemed to depict the daily life of a community of common folk.

The carving was lifelike, making it a fine piece.

If appraised by modern standards, it would be:

Open the door, a wide‑open door; nothing wrong with it, at least worth millions as a treasure.

Fine, it can serve as a collectible.

Zhang Jiangping promised him a regional‑level set, including a storage ring as large as a classroom, but after thinking of Ji Gong, he might need this Jade Pendant.

So he casually hung it at his waist.

He came to Ji Gong's side.

Yu Lin and he walked toward the not‑far county town.

The county town was not far, across a river—the Yangtze.

On the Yangtze lay a solitary island.

It was called Jinshan.

On the island stood a temple.

It was named Jinshan Temple.

At the mountain summit stood the Miao Gao Terrace, a meditation spot of Fa Hai, and the Jiang Tian Panorama Pavilion, where travelers inscribed poems.

Mid‑mountain were the Great Hero Hall, the Sutra Repository, and other main structures, with monk quarters cascading down the slope.

At the foot of the mountain, the dock had a ferry pier; pilgrims had to take a boat to disembark.

When close, one could look up to see red walls and golden roofs peeking from the mist at mid‑mountain, hearing bells mingling with river waves.

Ji Gong remarked:

"Jinshan Temple is indeed grand."

Yu Lin raised an eyebrow: "Has the Dharma Master never been here before?"

Ji Gong shook his head: "It's my first time."

"But this monk and I, and Fa Hai, have met before."

"Back then he debated me; we disagreed, so we fought... even though he had a golden bowl gifted by the Buddha, he still couldn't defeat this monk!"

He said this, involuntarily lifting his chin a bit, with a very smug expression.

"Dharma Master, impressive!" Yu Lin praised him, then curiously asked:

"What did you debate? Was it about demons?"

"Indeed." Ji Gong nodded:

"He said that any demonic creature inevitably breaks the natural order, and intermarrying with humans is a sin, a violation of the 'Heavenly Principle'!"

"I said nonsense! If Heavenly Principle has no compassion, why would bodhisattvas lower their brows? All sentient beings possess Buddha‑nature; all are already the nirvana aspect. Before the Buddha, humans and demons are no different!"

"It's just too rigid, clinging only to that precept!"

He said that, then stopped, only shaking his head and sighing a few times.

Yu Lin nodded, indicating he understood, and asked:

"Dharma Master, are you going to debate him again this time?"

Ji Gong shook his head, grinned, and said:

Go look for him to fight.

"........ Dharma Master is awesome." Yu Lin didn't know what to say, could only add another compliment.

Hearing his words, it seems he came for Xu Shilin's matter.

The two chatted casually and ended up entering the county town.

Probably because it's near Jinshan Temple, many people in the county come to pay respects to the Buddha.

Many who see Ji Gong stop to salute and greet him, even wanting to take him for a meal, a bath, and to change into a clean monk's robe.

Ji Gong merely declined, saying:

"This is my patched robe; I'm used to it, wearing anything else makes me itch all over!"

Upon hearing this, the townspeople abandoned the idea, offered a word of praise, and left.

The two continued forward, passing through the bustling market, arriving at the ferry landing.

The river breeze brushed their faces, carrying moist vapor.

"Boatman!" Ji Gong waved toward the riverbank, and a small boat slowly approached.

The boatman was a dark-skinned middle-aged man; seeing guests arrive, he hurried to bring the boat to shore.

"Are you two heading to Jinshan Temple?"

Yu Lin nodded: "Exactly."

"The boat fare is twenty wen; pay upon arrival." After stating the price, the boatman glanced at Ji Gong, seeing his tattered clothes, and asked: "Are you this Dharma Master from Jinshan Temple?"

"Why are you dressed like that? Has the temple been mistreating the Dharma Master?"

Ji Gong shook his head and swayed his body.

"I am a monk from Lingyin Temple."

Upon hearing this, the boatman stared, then looked more closely at Ji Gong's attire—a torn monk's cap, a torn palm fan, and a wine gourd hanging at his waist—and his eyes lit up.

"You... you couldn't possibly be Daoji the Dharma Master, could you?"

Ji Gong gave a hehe laugh: "Indeed, I am that monk."

The boatman was so excited his hands trembled: "To be able to carry the Dharma Master today is truly my good fortune!"

He hurriedly helped Ji Gong aboard.

"Dharma Master, and this young sir, please take your seats!"

The small boat glided smoothly across the river; the boatman rowed with exceptionally gentle force, fearing to jolt the esteemed guest.

Not long after, the boat reached the shore.

"We've arrived! Please, take your time disembarking!" The boatman steadied the boat, saw Yu Lin offering money, and waved his hands repeatedly: "I cannot possibly accept this boat fare!"

"Just being able to escort the Dharma Master is already a tremendous blessing!"

Ji Gong didn't decline either; he simply tapped the boatman three times with his palm fan: "At noon three days from now, do not go out on the boat; stay at home and rest."

"If you insist on going out, disaster may befall you!"

The boatman's heart jolted; realizing the Dharma Master was giving him advice, he hastily bowed in salute.

"Thank you for your guidance, Dharma Master! I've taken note!"

Yu Lin and Ji Gong turned and left.

The boatman stood on the shore, watching their backs disappear into the temple's mountain gate, feeling both grateful and reverent...

To save 200 yuan on high-speed rail, I endured a ten-hour bus ride, paying tribute to the legendary endurance-sitting king.

I'll make it up tomorrow with the early morning shift.

As for the reward button matter, even the author doesn't know what's going on; I can't turn it off, and I wonder why there are still no end-of-chapter comments or book community activity...