Chapter 63: Carving the Wooden Dummy

Dharma Master, are you here looking for someone?

A monk from Jinshan Temple stopped Yu Lin and Ji Gong, bowed to them and greeted them, then asked Ji Gong another question.

Ji Gong pointed upward.

Monk, my Dharma name is Daoji, I come from Lingyin Temple, and I wish to meet your abbot.

May I?

The monk seemed as if Fa Hai had informed him in advance; he showed no surprise and simply nodded.

So you are Daoji Master, please follow this young monk.

Ji Gong did not hurry away; instead he turned his head and gave Yu Lin a slight smile.

Benefactor, please wait a moment for this monk; I will go find him and speak with him.

Dharma Master, go ahead; I can take a stroll around the temple.

Seeing Yu Lin nod, Ji Gong finally turned around and, with the monks, walked toward the mountain top.

Until he entered the hall.

Yu Lin only then withdrew his gaze.

Looking around, he thought it would be nice to first go to the dining hall of Jinshan Temple for a meal, so he stopped a monk, learned the direction, and headed toward the dining hall.

Entering the dining hall, he saw several monks quietly eating.

A young monk, seeing Yu Lin enter, clasped his hands in prayer and said, "Benefactor, if you wish to take a meal, please take a bowl and chopsticks over here."

"Help yourself to the food; no payment is required, but please do not waste."

"Thank you," Yu Lin said after expressing his gratitude.

He took a set of bowl and chopsticks and filled a bowl with steaming vegetarian noodles.

The noodles were firm, the broth clear, and a few tender green vegetable leaves floated on top.

He also picked up two golden, crispy vegetarian spring rolls, accompanied by a plate of perfectly pickled vegetables.

While eating, he suddenly heard a commotion behind him.

Turning his head, he saw a few Xiao Shami surrounding an elderly monk, eagerly asking about Buddhist scriptures.

The elderly monk, with kind eyes, answered patiently, occasionally prompting the Xiao Shami to exclaim in sudden enlightenment.

Seeing Yu Lin watching him, he gave Yu Lin a friendly smile and uttered a blessing.

After finishing the meal, Yu Lin leisurely walked out of the dining hall.

He was about to go see other buildings and scenery when he noticed, on the right side, a simple meditation room where a white‑bearded, white‑haired elder was seated.

The elder, dressed in coarse monk robes, was intently carving a piece of yellow poplar wood.

His knobby, aged fingers were extraordinarily deft; as the carving knife fluttered, wood shavings fell abundantly.

In just a short time, the outline of a cross‑legged seated monk had already taken shape.

A few more strokes, and even the folds of the monk's robe were vivid and lifelike.

Yu Lin couldn't help but step closer to examine.

Through the half‑open door, he could see several rustic wooden racks inside, densely packed with various Wood Carvings.

There were Xiao Shami sweeping the floor, monks with smiling faces, martial monks polishing their bodies, but most were a myriad of ordinary figures.

Yet the interior was dim, and he could not count how many statues there were.

"Dharma Master, your craftsmanship is truly remarkable," Yu Lin praised sincerely.

The elder looked up, and upon seeing Yu Lin's face, froze for a moment, feeling as if he had seen him somewhere but couldn't recall, then simply smiled and said:

"It's just a matter of practice making perfect."

"I've been carving wood at Jinshan Temple for so many years that I can shape a figure even with my eyes closed."

"I'm not a monk either; I'm just staying here… No need to call me Dharma Master, I cannot bear that."

He spoke while continuing his work; the carving knife made a light stroke on the Wooden Dummy's face, instantly bringing its eyebrows and eyes to life.

"I see," Yu Lin nodded, then added, "Practice makes perfect—that's also your skill, elder."

"May I ask, elder, could you carve one for me… uh"

He paused, thought, then said, "Six Wooden Dummies and one Wooden Dragon."

"May I ask how much the elder charges?"

The elder kept working, yet said without refusing Yu Lin, "It's fine, the fee is waived."

"I do this not for money."

"Young master, please sit; after I finish this, tell me how the person you want carved looks, and I will carve the Wooden Dummy."

"Thank you, elder," Yu Lin sat beside him.

He thought that since the elder refused payment, he would later donate some merit money to Jinshan Temple in his name.

It didn't take long—about seven or eight minutes—and the Wooden Dummy in the elder's hands was finished; he rose, entered the room, placed the dummy on a rack, then took out six pieces of wood and came out.

"Young master, what does the first figure look like?"

"Tall and slender, wearing a long robe reaching the ankles, a cloth belt at the waist, hair slightly curled down to the shoulders, beard neatly trimmed."

"Alright, the next one?"

"Thirty years old, not particularly handsome but with proper features, sporting a head of messy, fluffy long hair, wearing a coat, looking very free‑spirited and unrestrained; elder, shall you carve this first?"

"Young master, are you worried I won't remember? Rest assured, once I've seen or heard something, I never forget it."

"Elder, impressive! It's a woman…"

"......"

"And the dragon, is it like this?"

The elder made a few simple strokes on the wood and carved the shape of the dragon.

Yu Lin nodded: "Yes."

In his mind.

Dragon Lord's voice had already begun to shout uncontrollably:

Wow, Yu Xiaozi, Dragon Lord hasn't pampered you for nothing!

This old man's craftsmanship is really not bad, you let him carve a few more; Dragon Lord, I want ones that fly in the sky, swim in the water, walk on the ground, lie on the bed.......

Yu Lin hearing its request, couldn't help twitching the corner of his mouth:

Dragon Lord, if you want it, I'll go find someone to have one custom-made for you, I'll have it carved long and big, mighty and imposing! Even if you want, the Civil Affairs Bureau could carve a statue for you and place it in front of Tiananmen!

Since they won't take my money, you'd better not push your luck.

"Alright." Dragon Lord, hearing him say that, then abandoned the idea and asked again:

Then how come you made one for Qin Zhao that lass, but not for your sister Ning Ya? Aren't you afraid people will get jealous?

Hearing its teasing tone, Yu Lin shrugged:

There's nothing I can do; who let her not be in my crew? Just watch my forwarded abstract videos in your spare time.

Dragon Lord was about to say something else.

Suddenly, a huge sound came from the mountaintop, followed by Fa Hai's voice:

"Daoji, do you think I can't match you, so I dare not strike again?!"

"I'm subduing her, not killing her—that's already showing mercy!"