IDWBE -Chapter 213 Golden Phoebe Wood

“Blind man, are you really hurt?”

The monk scratched his head and smiled, “Last night I saw you fight the steward. I couldn’t help you, don’t blame me. You said it yourself.”

The blind man slowly lowered his hands that were pressing down, exhaling deeply. “Han Nian, your kung fu is mediocre. You still have to work harder, or you’ll suffer later.”

He and Han Nian were both orphans caught in the storm, coming to Sanhe together, bonded like brothers.

After leaving the orphanage, he became a Taoist, Han Nian became a monk, and at the grand temple, they grew even closer than before.

Han Nian became a monk not because of a disability, but because he was fascinated by the Buddhist teachings in the novels about Lord He. He begged the steward to let him study Daweitianlong, taking Fahu from the novels as his model. Now his dharma name was Ji Hai.

If not for Lord He’s favor, the monks at Baiyun Grand Temple could have beaten him to death for giving himself a dharma name.

Unfortunately, after all these years, like Fang Pi, he still lingered at the third rank, unable to advance.

“Who said that!”

Han Nian frowned. “I think I can reach the fourth rank soon!”

The blind man smiled silently.

No matter what Han Nian said, he ignored him, focusing entirely on healing.

Seeing him silent, Han Nian felt bored and closed the door, returning to his meditation.

Lin Yi finished breakfast and was shocked upon hearing that the blind man had become a Grandmaster.

“Grandmaster really is like a cabbage?”

Lin Yi still found it hard to believe.

Hong Ying smiled, “The blind man remembers Lord He’s kindness. Naturally, he doesn’t dare slack off, practicing diligently day and night to reach today’s level.”

Lin Yi glanced at Wen Zhaoyi, then at Hong Ying, curious. “If the three of you teamed up, what about Jingyi?”

That woman always made him uneasy, like a sharp sword hanging above, ready to sever his neck at any moment.

Hong Ying lowered his head in silence, Wen Zhaoyi shook her head.

“This old witch really that strong?”

Lin Yi jumped to his feet. “I wouldn’t be able to press her down!”

Wen Zhaoyi said, “You can’t defeat her now, but the future is unpredictable. My junior sister is a prodigy, not an ordinary person.”

Lin Yi wasn’t convinced. “What if it’s Jingkuan then?”

Wen Zhaoyi pondered, “She wants to kill the three of us—it’s difficult. But leaving her alive is also difficult.”

“So, it’s basically just a stalemate with Jingkuan?”

The excitement drained from Lin Yi instantly.

Wen Zhaoyi snorted coldly, “Apart from Jingyi, Wuxiang Zen Master, and the Demon Lord Zhaoyao, who else in the world could hold a stalemate with Jingkuan?”

“Wuxiang? Zhaoyao?”

Lin Yi had never heard of them. “Who are they?”

“Lord He,” Wang Qingbang spoke, “Wuxiang is the chief elder of Jin’gang Platform in Yuzhou, with cultivation shocking the world. He hasn’t appeared for over fifty years.”

“Jin’gang Platform?”

Lin Yi tapped his head. “I remember you said Du Sanhe, also known as Nie Youdao, came from Jin’gang Platform?”

Wang Qingbang nodded. “Exactly.”

“And who is the Demon Lord Zhaoyao?”

Lin Yi asked further.

Wang Qingbang explained, “The world’s top demon sect is in Chunshan City, led by Zhaoyao. His martial arts are unfathomable. The sect also dominates Chuanzhou, rivaling Jizhao Monastery for a hundred years. Generations of blood feuds have escalated to a do-or-die situation.”

“Also in Chuanzhou?”

Lin Yi chuckled. “And they’re enemies of Jizhao Monastery?”

Wen Zhaoyi said coldly, “Demon sect scum, all deserve execution.”

“No, no, that’s not quite right,” Lin Yi shook his head. “The enemy of our enemy is our friend. As long as they don’t provoke us, we won’t provoke them. Water in the well doesn’t interfere with the river.”

Wen Zhaoyi jumped to her feet. “The demon sect commits all evils, acts in mysterious ways, harming all living beings. How can you reason with them?”

Lin Yi spread his hands. “I didn’t say we must cooperate with them. Don’t get so worked up. Chunshan City, sounds like a real city?”

“Of course,” Wen Zhaoyi said with hatred. “They rule a territory, oppress the people. That’s exactly how the demon sect operates.”

She frowned, floated out of the room, and shouted, “Demoness!”

Then came the silver-bell-like laughter echoing through the Prince Mansion. Clear and melodious, Lin Yi felt as if wrapped in light, deeply comforted.

“Lord He!”

Hong Ying shouted sharply, snapping Lin Yi back to reality.

“She truly is from the demon sect,” Shan Qi sighed, “captivating, impossible to guard against.”

“Captivating?”

Lin Yi thought it was ridiculous, stood, and walked outside.

Wen Zhaoyi carried a young girl into the courtyard and then tossed her down. The girl fell, but staggered to her feet, eyes reddened as she looked at Wen Zhaoyi.

One hand covered her chest, the other slowly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe blood from her mouth, trembling, “Who are you?”

Seeing the surrounding guards, she panicked slightly.

“Demoness, this is no place for you!”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled, “Since you’re here, don’t think about leaving today!”

“Wait—”

The girl hurriedly said, “I came to see Lord He!”

Lin Yi looked at her.

Tall, long-haired, smoky eye makeup—the type he liked—and he asked curiously, “I’ve never met you. What business do you have with me?”

The girl said, “I heard Lord He rejected Jizhao Monastery, so we of Chunshan City are your friends! Naturally, we will help fully.”

“Chunshan City?”

Lin Yi laughed. Sure enough, speak of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives. “My family is powerful. Why would I need your help?”

“Lord He,” The girl said proudly, “This is my master’s goodwill. Lord He shouldn’t refuse.”

“Goodwill?”

Lin Yi, who hated being threatened, snorted. “Tell your master, I appreciate it, but I don’t need help.”

Alas! Jizhao Monastery is like this, Chunshan City too! All acting like the world revolves around them. Annoying.

The girl glanced at everyone in the courtyard and smiled, “Lord He, have you forgotten? Jizhao Monastery has two Grandmasters; you’ll have a hard time resisting them, right?”

Lin Yi said, “That’s my business. You shouldn’t worry; meddling too much makes one age faster.”

“Hmph,” The girl lightly bit her teeth, “Lord He does big things; do you fear gossip? Chunshan City—right or wrong—needs no one else’s judgment!”

“No, no,”

Lin Yi waved a finger. “You’ve misunderstood. How the world judges Chunshan City has nothing to do with me. If I say you’re righteous, you’re righteous. If I say you’re evil, you’re evil.”

The girl puzzled, “Then why refuse hastily?”

“Because I don’t like your tone,” Lin Yi said slowly, word by word, “I despise anyone threatening me in my life.”

“Lord He, take care!”

The girl tried to leave, but suddenly a figure appeared, slapping her shoulder. She hit a column behind, which collapsed. She vomited blood, glaring at Hong Ying with resentment.

Lin Yi smiled, “Did I let you go?”

The woman gritted her teeth, “I don’t know what else you command, Lord He.”

“Command? Just tell your master: no past grudges, no present quarrels. Peaceful coexistence is best,” Lin Yi smiled, “Alright, you may leave now.”

“Thank you.”

The girl glared at Hong Ying, then leaped over the courtyard wall and disappeared.

“Wasteful brat,” Lin Yi looked at the broken column, sighed. “Now I have to rebuild. Money, money…”

“Did you really just let her go?”

Wen Zhaoyi asked.

“If her master came, could you fight him?”

Lin Yi rolled his eyes. Same as with Ye Jinyu—furious but powerless.

Wen Zhaoyi fell silent.

Lin Yi looked at Bian Jing behind him, murmuring, “Cannon, cannon! I need a cannon, to show this is not an inn, not a tavern. You can’t just come and go as you like.”

“Yes,” Bian Jing lowered his head guiltily.

What happened at the Prince Mansion, people in Baiyun City didn’t know. Business continued as usual.

A new racetrack built north of Baiyun City by Southern merchants was finally complete. Baiyun’s horse racing entered a new stage.

Every day, crowds gathered outside the wooden fences, some for fun, some to spot the wealthy.

Disguised, Lin Yi occasionally smoothed his sticky beard, looked outside, found it boring, and didn’t linger.

On the way home, riding a donkey, he heard someone calling him from afar. Turning, it was Han Nian.

“Lord He! Lord He!”

Han Nian chased him, carrying two large buckets.

“Ah, our Ji Hai monk. How’s being a monk?”

Lin Yi teased.

“Lord He,” Ji Hai smiled, “Being a monk is fine. I ring the bell daily.”

Lin Yi looked at the two large buckets on his shoulders, surprised, “Did the temple’s abbot abuse you?”

Ji Hai shook his head, “My masters treat me well.”

“Can’t tell good from bad?”

Lin Yi snapped, “If they treat you well, why do you carry iron buckets? Do you know how heavy they are? And those chains on your feet?”

Earlier he heard Ji Hai’s footsteps clanging. Looking closely, chains were on his feet.

Ji Hai happily said, “Lord He, I asked Yu Xiaoshi and A-Dai to make these buckets and chains. Each bucket weighs a hundred jin.”

“Crazy!”

Lin Yi scolded, “Carrying iron buckets is fun?”

“Lord He!”

Ji Hai looked innocent, “Elder Jueyuan trained his skills with iron buckets! You said so!”

“Jueyuan?”

Lin Yi didn’t react.

“Master of Zhang Sanfeng!”

Ji Hai shouted louder.

“Jueyuan trained with iron buckets?”

Lin Yi had forgotten. Many stories he altered and forgot entirely.

“Yes!”

Ji Hai nodded sharply.

“Fine, as long as you’re happy,”

Lin Yi was helpless, “If you don’t enjoy being a monk, follow my orders to work at the blacksmith.”

“I won’t blacksmith,” Ji Hai shook his head like a rattle drum, “I want to master peerless skills!”

“You’re only third rank.”

A-Dai sincerely said.

“Hmph!”

Ji Hai got angry, climbing steps, chains clanging with each step.

Watching him fade, Lin Yi felt truly guilty. Few children from the orphanage turned out normal.

Walking home, he heard Yu Xiaoshi’s footsteps also clanging.

He pulled the reins. “Yu Xiaoshi, what are your clogs made of?”

The wood grain looked familiar.

Then he looked at A-Dai. “Take yours off too.”

They removed their clogs and handed them over.

Lin Yi didn’t take them, leaned forward, and shouted, “Bastards! My golden phoebe wood! You used it to make clogs! How can you step on it without hurting yourselves?”

“Lord He…”

Yu Xiaoshi and A-Dai realized they were in trouble.

“Bastards!”

Lin Yi pointed, “Beat them! Beat them to death! My golden phoebe wood!”

Following Xiao Xizi’s order, he flung a Buddhist duster at Yu Xiaoshi’s back.

“Don’t hit me alone!”

Yu Xiaoshi couldn’t outrun A-Dai, lagged behind, and felt pain on his back.

Seeing Ma Gui and others stunned, Lin Yi snapped, “What are you standing there for? Chase A-Dai, beat him! Hard!”

“Yes!”

Ma Gui had no choice.

He galloped but couldn’t catch A-Dai. Even if he did, he wasn’t A-Dai’s match.

He chased while shouting, “Don’t run! You can run from a monk but not a temple. I’ll hit lightly, or the steward will hit you worse!”

The steward!

A-Dai shivered, stopped, and looked back at Ma Gui, frowning. “It’s not that I can’t beat you. I let you hit me. Agreed? Don’t hit too hard.”

Ma Gui dismounted, smiling, “Relax, I won’t hit hard. I’ve watched you grow up, I can’t hit too hard.”

He laughed and swung a fist at A-Dai’s face.

Bastard! I’ve wanted to hit you! Never respected me, the leader!

A-Dai widened his eyes, instinctively dodging.

Ma Gui’s punch missed.

“Don’t hit my face!”

A-Dai shouted.

“Then your back?”

Ma Gui asked softly, afraid he’d run again.

“Back?”

A-Dai hesitated, then nodded.

“Turn around,” Ma Gui said.

Yu Xiaoshi slowly turned, closed his eyes, waiting for the punch. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind.

He kicked back hard, hitting Ma Gui in the chest.

Ma Gui collapsed, clutching his chest, coughing, pointing at A-Dai, angry. “You did this on purpose!”

“I’m afraid of pain,”

A-Dai cried outright.