Chapter 354

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Chapter 354: Who Is the Young Lady?

If Bai Suzhen could be said to be a celestial being descending from the fairy realm,

then this young girl before him seemed like a graceful spirit of nature—

enchanting, yet devoid of deception; alluring, yet far from ordinary.

Bai Wei found himself momentarily dazed by her presence.

Realizing that his gaze lingered longer than polite, he cleared his throat, handed her the jade pendant, and coughed lightly.

“Please keep your belongings safe,” he advised.

The girl blinked her bright eyes and nodded gently.

“Thank you for reminding me. I often lose things and get scolded by my elders,” she admitted softly.

Bai Wei clasped his hands together in a courteous gesture.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

“Wait…,” the girl called out, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t you want to know my name?”

Bai Wei paused, puzzled.

“Why do you ask?”

“Do I not look good?” she inquired, her tone curious and expectant.

“Miss, you…” Bai Wei hesitated, then spoke honestly, “you look as beautiful as a celestial being. But what does that have to do with me?”

The girl clutched the jade pendant, her large eyes filled with anticipation.

“Then why don’t you ask for my name or where I live?”

“Hmm, I’m not particularly eager to know.”

“Why?” she asked, a trace of annoyance creeping into her tone.

Bai Wei sighed lightly. “Even if I were to ask, the young lady might not tell me. Worse, she might think I’m trying to exploit her kindness for personal gain. What should I do if I end up labeled a worthless opportunist?

In this day and age, rumors spread faster than wildfire, and I don’t wish to meet such an end so soon.”

“I wouldn’t think that way,” she replied, her voice soft.

“Do you truly know that?” Bai Wei asked, raising an eyebrow. “Could you say the same of someone else you just met?”

Her eyes shifted uneasily, and she murmured, “Mmm… Maybe not. Wait! You’re trying to change the topic! Answer me—why don’t you want to ask?”

“If I did, would the young lady answer me?” Bai Wei countered with a sly grin.

“I would,” she said, mustering courage, as if making an important decision.

Bai Wei laughed heartily, his voice echoing across the stone bridge. His laugh was far from that of a studious scholar—it was the bold, unrestrained laughter of a gallant hero.

Clasping his fists, he declared, “If there’s another chance, I will certainly ask for the young lady’s name and address.”

Without waiting for her response, he turned, opened his umbrella, and walked away.

The girl stood on the stone bridge, squinting slightly as she watched him leave. Her gaze fell on the jade pendant in her hand.

Biting her lower lip gently, she seemed lost in thought.

A Few Days Later, at Golden Mount Temple

This Golden Mount Temple was not the one in Zhenjiang but a lesser-known one near Lin’an.

The monk Fa Hai was also a younger version of himself—not the wizened elder he would later become. With a flying dragon tattoo on his back, he was a formidable presence, known for his righteous protection of the people.

Bai Wei often visited Fa Hai, though the monk never understood why Bai Wei enjoyed befriending monks. Over countless debates, however, their bond deepened. Through these exchanges, Fa Hai found his understanding of Buddhism growing sharper, and his cultivation improving significantly.

Fa Hai, though dedicated to his religious practices, sometimes envied Bai Wei’s free-spirited nature. Bai Wei dared to challenge conventions, standing before the emperor without kneeling and making a name for himself in the Jianghu.

On this particular day, they met again for tea and a shared meal.

As they entered the hall, Fa Hai frowned.

“Both of you have a strange scent on you,” he remarked.

Bai Wei raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not me! Don’t talk nonsense, Venerable Monk. I value my dignity. I don’t visit shady places, and I bathe every day! I even invented soap, you know!”

Xu Xian sniffed his robe.

“Strange? It smells like a fragrance… but perhaps faintly floral?”

Fa Hai’s expression darkened. “It’s a fragrance, yes. But it carries the scent of sachets… and traces of demonic energy.”

Xu Xian paled. “Demonic energy? But… this sachet was a gift from Miss Bai!”

“Miss Bai?” Fa Hai turned to Bai Wei. “Is she a relative of yours?”

“Yes, she’s my aunt,” Bai Wei quipped with a smirk.

“Nonsense!” Xu Xian interjected. “Yesterday, I met a young lady by the lake. She and her servant boarded my boat, and we got acquainted. Before parting, she gave me this sachet as a token of thanks…”

As Xu Xian recounted the encounter, he grew quiet, his mind replaying the scene.

Bai Wei nudged Fa Hai.

“Xu Xian is falling in love. Should we congratulate him?”

Fa Hai sighed. “Normally, I’d say yes, but…”

“No ‘buts!’ You’re overthinking things,” Bai Wei declared. “I’ve met Miss Bai myself. She exudes an ethereal aura and is as divine as a celestial being.”

Fa Hai’s eyes narrowed. “The more they resemble heavenly beings, the more demonic they may be.”

Xu Xian, lost in his thoughts, chuckled suddenly.

“What were you talking about?” he asked.

Bai Wei clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Nothing! Just… fortune favors those destined to meet. Who knows, maybe she’s your destined love?”

Fa Hai remained silent, his expression unreadable.

As their tea gathering concluded, Bai Wei and Fa Hai stood watching Xu Xian descend the mountain, his steps lighter than before.

“Love stories are unfolding,” Bai Wei remarked with a grin.

Fa Hai, however, could not shake the unease in his heart.