IDWBE -Chapter 336 Karmic Fate

“Could it be a flirtatious monk?”

Thinking of the stunning Eldest Princess staying in a monk’s temple, Lin Yi couldn’t help but feel a surge of gossip-fueled curiosity.

A man dies young, a little human desire… it seemed almost normal, right?

Ye Qiu said, “Your Highness, Baima Temple is a base for the Secret Guards. Many children taken in there are sent to the Secret Guards. After the blind man disabled the abbot’s skills, he handed him over to Fang Pi to see if he could pry Jiang Zhong’s whereabouts from the abbot’s mouth.”

“Baima Temple colludes with the Secret Guards?”

This was something Lin Yi hadn’t expected. “Then what connection does the Eldest Princess have with the Secret Guards?”

Ye Qiu said, “Since the Eldest Princess won’t speak, I cannot interrogate her by force. I can only try to extract information from the abbot at the same time.”

Lin Yi said, “Baima Temple has always been supported by the court; collusion with the court guards isn’t surprising. But collusion with the Secret Guards—that’s interesting. Make sure Fang Pi keeps the old monk under close watch.”

The Eldest Princess’ secrets might be even more than he imagined.

Ye Qiu bowed. “Understood.”

Upon entering Ankang City, He Jixiang had specifically discussed protocol changes with him. After all, Lin Yi was no longer the “Third Harmony” prince.

He Jixiang wasn’t a fool; he sensed that the balance of power and destiny with Lin Yi was no longer equal.

Now, standing before Lin Yi, he had lost his former pride.

In just two days, he realized that lowering his head wasn’t so difficult.

However, he differed slightly from the blind man. The blind man bowed out of gratitude—dying for a friend.

Bowing to Lin Yi was voluntary.

And himself? From the start, it felt like oppression.

But now, as the blind man said, he had simply gotten used to it.

No plans to change that.

He had food and drink, people to command, and apart from a few exceptions, he was the highest “lord” in the Prince He’s Mansion. Sometimes, he enjoyed giving orders.

Threatening someone with a sword was a completely different feeling.

“Don’t forget the Eldest Princess. If she wants to leave, let her. But always follow her closely to know her whereabouts. Others might not be capable; it’s hard work, but you follow personally. Don’t let my money escape,”

Lin Yi continued, “If she doesn’t speak, I cannot eat or sleep in peace.”

Ye Qiu hesitated. “I dare not deceive Your Highness, but I have a method that would make someone neither able to live nor die.”

“No, no,” Lin Yi waved his hand. “I won’t use such a method. After all, she’s my aunt—I cannot bear it. Once she leaves Ankang City, rumors will spread. Then the Eldest Princess will know the location of the Jizhao Temple silver vault.”

“Your Highness—”

Ye Qiu was startled.

‘Cannot bear it?’ Clearly, he was pushing the Eldest Princess into danger!

If that happened, not just Jizhao Temple but all the martial heroes in the land would come after her! Even as a Grandmaster, she couldn’t evade so many pursuers!

He could only hope that if Jizhao Temple did chase her, their lord wouldn’t send him and the blind man to rescue her.

Their strength probably wouldn’t be enough—they might even get themselves killed.

Chief Hong must return soon!

“Of course, this is the worst-case scenario,” Lin Yi smiled. “My aunt is clever; she shouldn’t do anything foolish herself.”

After all, he had already threatened her.

“I understand.”

Ye Qiu said this and, seeing no further instructions, turned to leave.

Just outside the garden, he sensed a faint yet present killing intent.

As he moved toward it, a figure appeared before him.

The blind man said calmly, “Karmic fate—beyond your or my control.”

“People from Chunshan City are at the gate?”

Ye Qiu focused and finally traced the source of the aura.

The blind man nodded. “Xie Jiuyun.”

“This really is karmic fate.”

Ye Qiu had never experienced romantic feelings. If he had, he would have wielded his sword without hesitation—nothing could influence his sword mind.

But one thing he knew:

Love requires equality.

A turtle or a bastard at least needs to be on the same level, right?

Yet here, a woman liked a monk who had no interest in women—and it was a pair of senior and junior disciples!

It felt… strange.

At the Prince He’s Mansion gate:

Two guards with long spears stood at either side, and Jiang Chou, the scar-faced gatekeeper, stood in the middle.

All three stared strangely at the monk at the gate. Xie Jiuyun held her sword to his neck—they didn’t know whether to intervene.

Seeing Xie Jiuyun grow angrier, her hand unsteady on the sword, Jiang Chou feared she might impulsively pierce the monk’s neck.

He couldn’t help but recall the monk’s kindness.

When he had first entered Baiyun City with Shan Yin, there was a time the monk ignored him. He had no food, no money—a hero defeated by a single coin.

In an unfamiliar place, without family or friends, he thought of Buddha’s compassion and became the first in Baiyun City to borrow money from a monk.

The monk lent him a coin—and he had been grateful ever since.

So now, he could not help but say, “Miss, this is the Prince He’s Mansion, not a place to act recklessly. You should leave quickly.”

After speaking, seeing Xie Jiuyun’s expression, he regretted his words.

He shouldn’t have been so rash—the woman in front of him was a ninth-rank martial artist!

If angered, she could strike him with one sword—he could not defend himself!

He looked behind, praying the blind man or Ye Qiu would appear to deal with her.

Spare him this torment.

“You little monk, you really are a man!”

Xie Jiuyun seemed not to hear Jiang Chou. Her eyes were only on Ji Hai!

Her sword tip pressed against the monk’s neck. With a little pressure, blood would flow. She said coldly, “My junior sister is being punished because of you. Today, she faces her sentence. How can you remain indifferent?”

“Miss, this monk truly does not know,” The monk was confused, though his neck was threatened, he remained calm and joined his palms. “I believe you must have misunderstood something.”

“Misunderstood?”

Xie Jiuyun ground her teeth. “My junior sister admitted in front of our master that she loves you! Can it be false?”

“I hope you will explain to your master. This monk and Miss Qing really… have nothing,”

Ji Hai smiled bitterly. “I live simply, with an ancient lamp and cold vegetarian meals. I am content.”

“Really?”

Xie Jiuyun asked again.

The monk said, “Absolutely. I am willing to swear before Buddha.”

“Enough, no one asked you to swear.”

Clang! Everyone stared in shock as Xie Jiuyun sheathed her sword and covered the monk’s mouth with her hand.