IDWBE -Chapter 215 The Monk Saves Someone

“Promoted?”

Liu Banzi smiled. “Well, that’s good news.”

Liu Duo said proudly, “Now you won’t oppose it, right?”

“This idea is perfect,” Liu Banzi said happily. “Quickly find someone to arrange the match. I bet we’re not the only ones interested.”

“Of course,” Liu Duo snorted. “Families like the Hu or Yan clan will probably also go through matchmakers. Marrying a female chief constable at home? That will save so much trouble in the future.”

That evening, the sun suddenly disappeared, and a light drizzle fell.

Most people stayed indoors if they could, but Ji Hai was the exception, carrying fifty loads of water daily, rain or shine.

Dressed in gray monk’s robes, carrying iron buckets on his shoulders, he climbed the mountain step by step as usual.

Along the way, he paused, sniffed the damp air, stepped down a level, and moved toward a nearby shrub.

He walked while constantly sniffing.

Along the steep cliff path, not a single drop fell from the two large buckets.

Soon, he found the entrance to a cave.

He set down his buckets and went in, discovering a woman lying against the rock wall, her white clothes spotted with blood.

“Amitabha,” he intoned, “Miss, are you hurt?”

The woman suddenly opened her eyes, gripping her sword tightly. “Who are you?” she demanded coldly.

“Amitabha,” Ji Hai said, keeping his gaze averted, “I am a monk from the Baiyun Temple.”

“So you really are a monk,” she said, staring at him. “Little monk, go back where you came from. Don’t tell anyone you’ve seen me.”

Ji Hai asked, “Is someone chasing you?”

Scenes like this were common in the novels of the prince he served under, so he wasn’t unfamiliar with it.

“Yes,” she nodded. “Little monk, you should leave.”

“Reverend, monks are compassionate,” Ji Hai scratched his head. “Saving a life surpasses building a seven-tier pagoda.”

“You silly monk,” the woman chuckled. “You might not even survive one of my moves. How do you plan to save me?”

“Don’t worry, miss. This is Baiyun Mountain; no one can harm you here,” Ji Hai said confidently.

He set down the buckets, picked up some branches, and was about to light a fire when the woman hurriedly shouted, “No! If someone finds me, I’m doomed.”

“Miss, I told you, this is Baiyun Mountain, Baiyun Temple. No one can hurt you here!”

As he reached for the flint, he heard footsteps and turned to see a black-clad woman wearing a bamboo hat standing outside the cave.

“Oh, Ye Jinyu, I didn’t expect you’d be so fast,” said the woman in white from inside the cave, smiling. “I’m right here. Come kill me then.”

“You witch,” Ye Jinyu sneered. “Let’s see where you can run today!”

Clang! Her sword was drawn.

“Amitabha,” Ji Hai hurriedly said, “Heaven cherishes life. This lady shouldn’t be harmed.”

Ye Jinyu pressed forward. “Little monk, step aside, or I’ll kill you too!”

“Yes, little monk, you should move,” the woman in white laughed. “I’m from a prestigious sect. Even if I kill you, it can be justified as ridding evil for the people.”

“Stop boasting,” Ye Jinyu said, and thrust her sword toward the woman’s chest.

Ji Hai panicked, grabbed a large bucket, and swung it at Ye Jinyu’s blade. Sparks flew as metal met steel.

Ye Jinyu instinctively stepped back, avoiding the splashed water.

Taking advantage of her hesitation, Ji Hai dropped the bucket, lifted the woman onto his back, and using light-footed steps, leaped out of the cave and along the cliff.

“Think you can escape with such skills?” Ye Jinyu pursued through the dense forest.

“Help! The little monk is dying! Hurry! Save me!”

Ji Hai used the Lion’s Roar technique to call out, his voice echoing across the mountains.

Fearing the sound would alert the Grand Master of Baiyun City, Ye Jinyu finally stopped, realizing she couldn’t catch them, and reluctantly retreated down the mountain.

Ji Hai watched her figure disappear, breathed a sigh of relief, but kept moving and soon arrived at the temple entrance.

Because of the rain, the temple was deserted.

He set the woman down, and once she sat on the steps, he joined his hands and apologized, “Amitabha, little monk was rude. Please forgive me.”

“Thank you for saving my life,” she smiled. “What is your name?”

“Little monk is called Ji Hai,” he replied, glancing inside the temple. “Miss, let’s part here. Female visitors are never allowed inside.”

Regretting his words, he patted his head and sighed. “I forgot my buckets. I need to go get them. Please make yourself comfortable.”

“Little monk, the Buddha didn’t say ‘save someone’ and stop halfway, did he?”

The woman, soaked from the rain, still smiled. “I’m just a lone woman with no one to rely on. How can you leave me here? If that wicked woman kills me, wouldn’t you feel guilty?”

Ji Hai hesitated. If the white-clad woman were caught by the villainess, she’d likely die.

She sighed. “Little monk, if it’s really too difficult for you, then forget it.”

“Amitabha,” Ji Hai thought, “There’s a storage room outside the temple, usually used by vegetable farmers. Miss, if you don’t mind, you can stay there.”

“Surviving is already enough; no need to worry about comfort,” she cupped her hands. “Thank you, little master.”

“Amitabha.”

Ji Hai helped her up and led her to the storage room.

By nightfall, he returned with two steamed buns and a plate of vegetables.

After lighting a fire and boiling water, he said, “Miss, rest here tonight. Apply this medicine for your wounds. It’s made by Baiyun City’s divine doctor and works well.”

As he turned to leave, she said, “Little monk, you’re cruel, leaving me alone here. What if that wicked woman comes?”

She covered her face and sobbed.

“Amitabha,” Ji Hai said hurriedly. “Miss, don’t cry. This is Baiyun Temple; no one will dare come here.”

He simply thought that if anything happened, the blind monk nearby could help.

“And if she does come?” she sniffled.

“Then I’ll stay with you all night,” Ji Hai decided.

She had a point. He had just gone to find the blind monk but couldn’t locate him. If anything happened to her, it would be his fault.

The night was silent, rain still falling.

Ji Hai sat cross-legged on a chair, while the woman lay on the straw-filled bed, the lamp flickering like a firefly.

After a long while, she finally asked, “Little monk, why don’t you ask my name?”

Ji Hai opened his eyes and softly asked, “What is your surname, miss?”

She giggled. “I’ll tell you. Remember it: my name is Xie Jiuyun.”

“Little monk will remember,” Ji Hai nodded.

“You’re only a low third-rank,” she continued, “and Ye Jinyu is ninth-rank. Why aren’t you afraid?”

“Little monk only wants to save you, never thought of anything else,” he said.

“Do you think I’m beautiful?”

“Amitabha,” Ji Hai closed his eyes.

Her giggles floated again in the room.

By morning, the rain had cleared.

He finally found the blind monk.

“Yesterday, I almost got killed!”

“I know,” the blind monk said calmly.

“Then why didn’t you save the monk?”

“When I arrived, the woman had already left,” the blind monk said expressionlessly. “The prince said she shouldn’t be killed, so I didn’t.”

“I didn’t ask you to kill her,” Ji Hai sighed. “Killing is a sin.”

“Fine, I won’t kill,” the blind monk shook his head and opened the door, seeing Sun Xing approaching. “Master.”

Sun Xing, hands behind his back, glanced at Ji Hai. “Yesterday, someone stole from the kitchen. Figure out who did it. How dare they steal in our temple—it’s lawless!”

Ji Hai’s face reddened.

He had taken the food because he couldn’t find anything to eat last night.

“Yes,” he answered.

After Sun Xing left, Ji Hai returned inside to continue treating the woman’s wounds.

Inside the Prince’s mansion:

Shen Chu reported to Lin Yi that Ye Jinyu had entered Baiyun City.

Lin Yi frowned. “She really doesn’t know her place. Does she think I’m afraid to kill her? She chased someone from Chunshan City all the way to Sanhe.”

Hong Ying said, “Prince, should I go kill her now?”

“No,” Lin Yi shook his head. “Just warn her. If she ever steps into Sanhe again, no mercy.”

Although she was now a sworn enemy of Jizhao Temple, killing their saintess would be another matter entirely. It was better to avoid trouble for now.

“Yes,” Hong Ying quietly withdrew.

“Also,” Lin Yi turned to Shan Qi, “we can’t delay the shipyard construction in Sanhe. Accelerate the recruitment process. No matter what conditions Southern merchants ask for, as long as they’re reasonable, agree. Land for land, people for people, but money? Tell them to take a hike.”

“Yes, sir,” Shan Qi smiled. “We’ll finalize it in the next few days.”

Lin Yi continued, “Make sure we place our people there—choose the clever ones and let them learn the skills firsthand.”

“Yes.”

Shan Qi added, “Prince, Han Hui has been detained for some time. How should we handle him?”

“Follow Sanhe law,” Lin Yi said calmly. “There’s a law for everything, why ask me?”

“Yes, sir,” Shan Qi bowed and left.

Three days later, news of Han Hui’s beheading spread throughout Baiyun City.

Refugees from Yuezhou and Hongzhou celebrated with fireworks that night.

On the execution day, the crowds were massive, packed shoulder to shoulder.

Many had lost their families because of Han Hui.

Seeing him kneel on the stage, if not for the guards, many would have rushed forward to tear him apart.