Chapter 354

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Chapter 354: Who Is the Young Lady?

If we were to say that Bai Suzhen was a celestial being from the fairy realm.

Then this young girl would be a beautiful and graceful nature spirit, enchanting without being deceiving, and alluring without being ordinary.

Bai Wei felt a moment of dazedness in his gaze, and when he realized it, he found his gaze to be somewhat impudent. He cleared his throat lightly, handed over the jade pendant, and coughed softly.

"Please keep your valuable items safe."

The girl blinked her eyes and nodded gently. "Thank you for reminding me. I often lose things and get scolded by my elders."

Bai Wei clasped his hands together and said, "Then I shall take my leave."

"Wait…," the girl spoke up, trying to stop him. She asked, "You… don’t you want to know my name?"

"Why do you ask?" Bai Wei was puzzled.

"Do I not look good?" she asked, curious.

"In general terms, miss, you… look as beautiful as a celestial being," Bai Wei answered honestly. "But what does that have to do with me?"

"So, you don’t even want to ask me what my name is or where I live?" The young girl held onto her jade pendant, her big eyes filled with anticipation.

"Hmm, not really eager."

"Why though!" she said, somewhat annoyed.

"Wondering, even if I ask, the young lady might not tell me. Instead, she might think I’m trying to use her kindness for personal gain. What should I do if I, a person who hasn’t made much progress, get labeled as a worthless opportunist?" Bai Wei sighed lightly. "In this day and age, rumors spread like wildfire and words can be dreadful. I’m still young, I don’t want to meet such a tragic end so soon."

"I won’t…"

"Do you not know?" Bai Wei asked. "If it were someone else, you still wouldn’t know, would you?"

"Mmm…" the young girl’s eyes shifted. "Wait a minute, you’re trying to trick me. Answer me quickly about the question I just asked. Why don’t you want to ask?"

Bai Wei deliberately remained silent and continued to ask, "If I were to ask, would the young lady answer me?"

"I will," she mustered up her courage, as if she had made a very important decision.

"Hahaha…" Bai Wei laughed heartily, his laughter sounding nothing like that of a studious scholar, but rather that of a gallant hero. He had learned this laughter from Ouyang Chun, a renowned hero from the north, or perhaps he had been influenced by him. Even Zhan Zhao, the reserved imperial cat, seemed to show signs of being infected by it.

The scholar, acting like a bold hero, clasped his fists and said, "If there is another chance, I will surely ask the young lady for her name and where she lives."

After speaking, he held up his umbrella and turned away.

On the stone bridge, the sprite girl squinted her eyes, then lowered her head to look at the jade pendant in her hand. She lightly bit her lower lip, lost in thought.

…

A few days later, at Golden Mount Temple… This Golden Mount Temple is not the one in Zhenjiang, but the one near Lin’an.

Monk Fa Hai was also a younger version of himself, not an old monk. In fact, he was a formidable monk at Golden Mount Temple, with a flying dragon tattoo on his back. He was a righteous protector, truly worthy of respect.

He didn’t know why Bai Wei liked to be friends with the monks, but he had debated with Bai Wei many times. Through these debates, he gained a deeper understanding of Buddhism and made significant progress in his own cultivation. As time passed, their friendship grew stronger. Bai Wei brought a sense of novelty that the monk couldn’t resist, even though he found practicing Buddhism to be quite boring.

Fa Hai actually envied Bai Wei’s free-spirited nature. Bai Wei dared to stand before the emperor without kneeling in the Golden Hall, and he even made a name for himself in the Jianghu. It was something that the monk, who was focused on exorcising demons and monsters as a recluse, couldn’t achieve.

Today has come again, the time for tea while sneaking a meal from the alms.

As soon as they walked in, Fa Hai furrowed his brow and said, "Both of you, why do you have a strange smell on you?"

Bai Wei retorted, "It’s not me, I don’t have any strange smell. Don’t talk nonsense, venerable monk. I value myself and my dignity. I never visit shady places for fear of catching any contagious diseases. Moreover, I am very clean. I take a shower every day, and I even invented soap."

Xu Xian sniffed himself and said, "Is there a strange smell? It smells like a fragrance."

"It is a fragrance, but it has the scent of sachets. There is some demonic aura in it," Fa Hai added.

"What? Demonic aura?" Xu Xian exclaimed in surprise. "This sachet was given to me by Miss Bai."

"Miss Bai?" Fa Hai looked at Bai Wei. "Is she your relative?"

"Yes, she’s my aunt," Bai Wei said as he sat down.

"It’s all nonsense," Xu Xian said. "Yesterday, as I was sailing across West Lake, I happened to encounter a pair of master and servant on the shore. They boarded the boat with me, and naturally we got closer. Then, they unexpectedly gave me this sachet as a gift… hmm…"

As he continued speaking, he once again began to recall the scene he had experienced on the boat earlier, causing him to lose track of his words and fall silent.

Bai Wei thought to himself, "Another memorable moment."

"Xu Xian seems to be falling in love," Bai Wei winked at Fa Hai. "Don’t you think we should congratulate him?"

"If it were any other day, I would certainly offer my congratulations," Fa Hai said earnestly, "but…"

"There are no ‘buts’, you must be mistaken," Bai Wei denied. "I have also met Miss Bai, with her ethereal aura, she looks as divine as a celestial being."

"…The more they resemble heavenly beings, the more demonic they become," said Fa Hai.

Xu Xian finished his long reminiscence and chuckled, saying, "What were you just talking about, heavenly beings?"

Bai Wei, sitting with his legs crossed, exclaimed, "They say good fortune has brought us together, sailing on the same boat after a hundred years of cultivation, and after a thousand years of cultivation…"

"What?"

"We slept side by side."

"Wow!" exclaimed Xu Xian, his fair face filled with excitement.

Bai Wei looked at Fa Hai and said, "While you’re observing your religious practices, please don’t interfere with the blossoming of love in others, Master Fa Hai. As the Buddha taught, it is better to demolish ten temples than to break apart one marriage."

Fa Hai fell silent and offered a universal phrase, "Amitabha Buddha."

After the tea gathering and vegetarian meal, Xu Xian was the first to descend from the mountain. Both of them could tell that his mind was elsewhere.

Fa Hai asked, "What are you up to?"

Bai Wei said, "I am witnessing a love story that is unfolding."

Fa Hai said, "I’m not talking about Xu Xian specifically. Setting him aside for now, there is a peculiar scent coming from you."

Bai Wei said, "I really didn’t go to the brothel… wait, when you say ‘peculiar scent,’ do you mean demonic energy? I haven’t been to Qiantang River recently, you can’t just say things like that. Lately, there has been a powerful demon with a strong aura in Qiantang River."

Fa Hai clasped his hands together and said, "This humble monk will use a single palm strike to defeat it."

Bai Wei raised an eyebrow and asked, "Hmm?"

Fa Hai changed his words and said, "This humble monk will strike it half dead, then keep it by his side, teaching and transforming it day by day."

"This statement sounds just like a person from the Buddhist realm," Bai Wei clasped his hands together and exclaimed, "How compassionate you are, my dear Buddha."

Fa Hai, "…"

Bai Wei took another sip of tea and said, "But I truly didn’t detect any demonic aura."

"Indeed, it is a demonic aura, but not entirely so. It is the essence cultivated by the spiritual beings within the mountains, a type of demon that is fundamentally different from those who devour humans. All living things possess a spirit, and this aura, although not human, is remarkably gentle," explained Fa Hai. "Perhaps, it is the presence of two celestial spirits that have come into contact with you and Xu Xian."

"Dear fairy… Can you guide me, and perhaps grant me a treasure chest?"

Fa Hai shook his head and said, "Celestial spirits are similar in nature to heavenly beings."

Bai Wei’s eyes lit up with excitement.

The monk continued, saying, "It may not be a good thing for you. Although it will not harm you, as a mere mortal, there will inevitably be some consequences if you come into contact with it."

"Humility brings benefit, while arrogance brings harm?"

"Namaste… this humble monk’s cultivation is insufficient, and my understanding is limited. However, it is definitely not a good thing for us to interact with celestial beings," Fa Hai paused for a moment. "We are mere mortals, while celestial beings have long lifespans, and the same goes for immortals."

"It turns out to be a discussion about lifespan. I thought it was something else," Bai Wei stretched lazily. "Anyway, people only live once, so why bother? Monk, don’t just focus on Buddhism all the time. Take a look at the world of humanity. While it’s not good to be consumed by worldly desires, is it really happiness to renounce everything and attain a state of formlessness? It’s no different from being dead. Don’t underestimate Buddhism, but also don’t underestimate the power of love in this world."

The scholar let out a sigh and said, "Namaste."

Inside Golden Mount Temple, the grand bell of Hongluo resounded, marking the passing of day and the arrival of dawn.

Fa Hai watched the scholar depart and said, "It’s such a pity that you don’t pursue the teachings of Buddhism… But I understand, someone like you, how could you bear to leave behind the bustling world of desires?"

Bai Wei, standing far away, raised his middle finger and said, "Wait until I’m out of earshot before you speak ill of me, I can hear everything! You bald thief!"

Fa Hai paused for a moment, then chuckled and scolded, "I was just saying it for your sake, you disrespectful and deceitful scholar!"

…

Bai Wei arrived at the side of West Lake. His martial arts were quite good, though not as extraordinary as magic powers. Nonetheless, it was not difficult for him to walk on water and return.

Summoning the boatman, they were about to cross the river when suddenly a figure waved at them.

"Boatman, take me for a ride."

"Young Master Bai, look at this…" The boatman and Bai Wei had also become familiar with each other.

"It’s alright," Bai Wei had just finished saying, when he saw a figure leaping off the stone bridge. A young girl landed on the other end of the boat, causing it to shake vigorously due to the sudden impact. The back sank down while the front lifted up, causing the boatman to lose control and hastily grab onto the mast.

The girl in the lotus dress also lost her balance, and was about to fall into the water. Bai Wei kicked the boat plank and exerted force to maintain the balance of the boat. Then he grabbed the girl’s hand and stabilized her. He had intended to let go, but unexpectedly, she held on tightly, not letting go at all, like a startled deer.

"Ah, you scared me… " She nervously gasped for breath, seemingly unaware that she was tightly holding onto the arm of a stranger.

The boatman breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness Young Master Bai was here. Young lady, why did you just jump down like that?"

"Sorry, I was afraid you wouldn’t take me across. It’s getting dark here too…" The girl stuck out her tongue, and the boatman didn’t say anything either. He continued to punt the pole.

"Can you let go of me now?" Bai Wei asked.

"Ah…" The girl finally reacted, letting go of him as if she had been electrocuted. Blushing, she stuttered, "You… I… I just…"

Bai Wei took in the sight of this beautiful girl, who seemed like an enchanting fairy. He also recalled what Fa Hai had just said, but he simply smiled and didn’t let it bother him.

He bowed and smiled, saying, "We meet again. May I ask for the lady’s name? What is your surname and given name, and where do you live?"