Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to Secular Life Chapter Fifty-Six: Lin Dong's Transformation
Chapter Fifty-Six: Lin Dong's Transformation
"Respect the child!"
Lin Chen continued his 'comforting,' saying, "It's fine this way… Whether he becomes a scholar or a provincial graduate, as long as it doesn't interfere with his work… he can still clean the latrines as usual…"
"Despicable… Old man, don't get too smug…" Lu Yiping gritted his teeth in anger.
—
Just then, a portly, composed figure appeared before them.
The monk wore a sly smile. He approached and immediately said, "Benefactors, are you seeking ordination? I can introduce you to a great elder as your master… His name is Xiao Yan…"
???
The sudden greeting left both men bewildered for a moment.
"Get lost!" Lu Yiping, unable to vent his righteous indignation, could only shout.
"If you don't want to be ordained, so be it. No need to be so fierce… You both have great potential… In a couple of years, when you lose all your hair, you won't even need to shave your heads… Don't you want to give it another try?"
The two old men nearly wanted to beat this fat monk to death…
—
However, at that moment, Lu Yiping unexpectedly spotted Lin Dong nearby…
This sight eased his expression slightly, suppressing his anger, and he managed a forced smile, saying, "Come on, let's see what your son is up to!"
Lin Chen followed his gaze and also saw Lin Dong.
Lin Dong was carrying two buckets, standing at the entrance to the latrine, simply waiting there…
"So he really is cleaning the latrines? Is he waiting for someone to finish so he can collect the freshest waste? Your son isn't bad…" Lu Yiping seemed much more cheerful now, finding some balance in his heart.
Lin Chen's face, however, turned somewhat sour…
The boy sought a match, how did he become a monk?
Indeed, two wanderers finished using the latrine and were about to leave.
Lin Dong approached them, held out his hand, and said something.
But the two elders were too far to hear clearly.
Suddenly, the two wanderers became furious, drew their swords, and attacked Lin Dong.
"Damn…"
The two old men exclaimed in shock.
Lin Chen, a martial arts master himself, immediately discerned the strength of the two wanderers…
Both possessed inner power exceeding the tenth level…
Although Lin Dong had trained in martial arts since childhood, Lin Chen knew his son only had inner power at the fifth level.
He was definitely no match…
If those blades struck, Lin Dong was doomed…
Yet, it was impossible for Lin Chen to rush over in time to save him; there was still quite a distance…
—
But what happened next was entirely unexpected.
Lin Dong suddenly moved, scooping something from the bucket with his spoon.
—
At the moment the swords slashed toward him, Lin Dong suddenly channeled his energy…
Seventh-level inner power!
"Good boy… He's improved…" Lin Chen blurted out in surprise.
Still, he worried; even with increased inner power, the gap in strength remained considerable…
"Thunk…"
In the next moment, the wanderers' blades were knocked aside by Lin Dong's spoon.
The two men stared in shock, eyes wide; Lin Dong seemed entirely relaxed…
How could this be…?
The opponents were two wanderers with tenth-level inner power…
Lin Chen couldn't make sense of it!
"Whoosh…"
In the next instant, the swords flew directly toward the two wanderers, whistling through the air…
Lin Chen, skilled in martial arts, had already raised his own sword, ready to deflect the blades if needed.
Lu Yiping, meanwhile, had turned pale with fright…
Yet Lin Chen kept his eyes on Lin Dong, ready to risk injury himself if things went wrong, to shield his son.
Lin Dong made a move—the Swallow's Return.
To Lin Chen, it looked like mere fancy showmanship, all form and no substance.
But then something strange happened: Lin Dong flung his spoon, which struck the two swords with even greater speed.
"Bang!"
Both swords spun wildly and reversed direction, flying back.
"Shing…"
The blades embedded themselves in the ground before the wanderers, their handles quivering and humming…
"How… did he do that?" Lin Chen was dumbfounded, eyes wide in disbelief. "Just luck, maybe?"
Only true martial artists could appreciate how difficult that maneuver had been.
As for Lu Yiping, who had never practiced martial arts, he was completely bewildered, simply watching as the swords spun through the air…
But both men were clearly curious about what had just transpired.
The two wanderers immediately knelt and begged for mercy.
"Spare us, hero… I'll give you money…"
With that, they pulled out a few silver coins from their robes and placed them in Lin Dong's hand.
Lin Dong spoke loudly to them.
The two old men still couldn't make out his words, hearing only scattered bits: "My master… Xiao Yan… give money…"
They couldn't piece together these fragments, though the name "Xiao Yan" sounded vaguely familiar…
Had they heard it somewhere before?
—
At this point, Lu Yiping was at a loss for words.
Wasn't he supposed to be cleaning latrines? How had he suddenly become a martial arts master?
Lin Chen's expression was mixed with both joy and concern.
He was pleased with Lin Dong's impressive skills, evidently having learned a remarkable technique, but worried about his behavior.
To Lin Chen, Lin Dong's actions amounted to robbery.
He had always been a good child—how had he suddenly turned bad?
Lin Chen couldn't help but suspect that Golden Mountain Temple was somehow sinister.
He felt a pang of disappointment. He would rather his son dutifully cleaned latrines at Golden Mountain Temple; as long as his character remained intact, everything could still be salvaged.
But…
"Look… Someone's coming…" Lu Yiping, now too unsettled to mock Lin Chen, realized as well that Lin Dong's conduct had crossed a line.
A monk hurried over, said something to Lin Dong, and then Lin Dong set down his spoon and followed.
Lin Chen and Lu Yiping discreetly trailed him.
They saw the temple gate crowded with people.
A young man and a young woman, dressed as heroes, each drove a carriage up the mountain.
Lin Chen recognized them: the siblings from the Chen Sword Sect.
Chen Buqun and Chen Shuwan.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Lin Dong!"
Chen Buqun immediately bowed deeply to Lin Dong.
Lin Dong was left utterly bewildered.
The two observers hidden in the crowd were equally baffled.
Lin Chen understood that this was a gesture between sect members, but Lin Dong… When had he joined the Chen Sword Sect?
Impossible…
Yet, thinking back, Lin Dong's earlier swordplay did resemble their style.
But… something still didn't add up…
Chen Buqun bowing to Lin Dong?
That meant Lin Dong was the senior brother…
Lin Chen was utterly confused.
Everything seemed to defy his logic…
Chen Buqun politely said, "Senior Brother Lin Dong, do you know where Master is?"
Lin Dong shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
"In that case… The money in these carriages was sent up by Master; could you help arrange things?"
Chen Buqun asked.
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