Chapter 54 The Old Monk’s Unreasonable Request: Can I Have a Master?

Chapter 54 The Old Monk's Unreasonable Request: Can I Have a Master?

Inside the meditation room, incense smoke swirled.

The scent of sandalwood calmed little Ruo Xi’s mind and slowly nourished her body’s eight extraordinary meridians.

"Your Majesty!" Master Jing En, with his round face and large earlobes, stepped forward and gave the emperor a Buddhist salute.

"Master Jing En, it has been a long time!" The emperor carried baby Ruo Xi forward and bowed deeply to Master Jing En.

This even moved baby Ruo Xi.

‘Hmm, Uncle, as an emperor, is still so polite—impressive!’

The baby’s evaluation delighted the emperor, who smiled and introduced her to Master Jing En: "Master, this is Ruo Xi, my niece!"

"Hmm, she’s a smart child!" Master Jing En looked at baby Ruo Xi, smiling warmly.

‘He seems kind-hearted, but…’ Baby Ruo Xi raised her tiny eyebrows.

Master Jing En’s brows twitched slightly, then he turned around without showing any change in expression and gestured: "Your Majesty, please come in!"

"Master, please lead the way!" The emperor, being the emperor, strode into the meditation room with baby Ruo Xi in his arms.

Xiaoyue was accompanied by Dong Ju to light incense in the main hall.

Inside the meditation room, chants could be heard, but baby Ruo Xi saw no monks chanting. Just as she was wondering about this, she found herself transported into a space.

"Monk? You can enter my space?" In the space, baby Ruo Xi finally could speak.

"You are not from this world!" said Master Jing En.

"Hmm, it was a coincidence that I came here," replied baby Ruo Xi.

"Are you here to save Great Wei?" Master Jing En asked again.

"I want to save it, after all, the emperor is good, and my mother is good too. If I can save it, wouldn’t it be a great merit?" Baby Ruo Xi, once the supreme demon lord in the cultivation world, spoke confidently to the old monk.

"This would not just be a great merit; you would be a savior of the nation and its people." Master Jing En said.

"Well, then, let’s work hard to save it!" said baby Ruo Xi.

"But it will be very difficult!" After saying this, Master Jing En twirled the beads in his hand, about to speak further, but was interrupted by baby Ruo Xi.

"Because it’s difficult, I must work hard. Otherwise, I’d just be eating and sleeping all day!" Baby Ruo Xi was slightly speechless. Her consciousness was in the space, so she had no physical form. However, the old monk’s face was clear, and she could see his hesitation. She asked, "Monk, do you have something else?"

"You... what you were thinking just now, but... but what?" Master Jing En looked up and asked.

"But..." Baby Ruo Xi smacked her lips and then laughed. "That’s a secret, Master shouldn’t know!"

"...” Master Jing En was speechless for a moment before asking, “When will the young benefactor reveal this secret to this abbot?”

Xiao Yin carried his little niece into the meditation room, sat down as instructed by the master, and gently held the little girl in his arms, patting her softly.

During this time, Xiao Yin noticed Master Jing En’s lowered eyes, as if he were meditating. He did not dare disturb him and continued to pat the little girl.

"Your Majesty!" Master Jing En’s voice broke the silence. Xiao Yin looked up, his narrow phoenix eyes studying the master curiously. "Were you meditating just now? I didn’t want to disturb you!"

Just then, he thought baby Ruo Xi was going to sleep and tried to soothe her, only to see her suddenly smile.

"Just now, I was contemplating an opportunity," Master Jing En said, looking slightly embarrassed, which amused the emperor.

"Master Jing En, we’ve known each other for many years. You have saved me several times, and you are truly my savior. If there is anything you need, please tell me!" Xiao Yin spoke sincerely.

Master Jing En’s martial skills were astonishing, even matching those of the Imperial Tutor. Moreover, he had appeared during Xiao Yin’s most difficult times. Three years ago, if not for Master Jing En, he might have been killed by the seventh prince, and his mother might have been executed. It was Master Jing En who saved them both and then disappeared without a trace.

Since Xiao Yin ascended the throne, he and his mother had donated much to Ganye Temple and often visited to pray and express gratitude to Master Jing En.

Even such a powerful master seemed hesitant now, which puzzled Xiao Yin.

Baby Ruo Xi stretched lazily, somewhat unimpressed with the monk.

"Your Majesty, I have an unreasonable request," Master Jing En straightened his back and said.

"Master, these are words I have waited years to hear. I don’t know how to thank you!" Xiao Yin responded seriously.

"I want to have a master!" Master Jing En said, his face slightly red, looking at the baby in the emperor’s arms.

"...” The emperor’s eyes widened. He looked at Master Jing En and then at the baby in his arms. "M-Master?"

"Yes, while I was meditating, I calculated my own fortune!" Master Jing En explained.

‘Ha, old monk, you can’t even lie properly. Fortune-telling is a Daoist practice!’ Baby Ruo Xi sighed inwardly, wondering why she had agreed to take on this old man as a disciple.

The old man was interested in the nine-story pagoda in her space and wanted to cultivate.

She agreed to help him protect her uncle and grandmother.

"What did you calculate?" Xiao Yin heard baby Ruo Xi’s thoughts and, knowing how remarkable she was, asked calmly.

"Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed!" Recalling what the little girl had told him, Master Jing En repeated it verbatim to the emperor: "But I have a connection with the little master. If I become her disciple, it might benefit Great Wei!"

"Indeed, Uncle, please don't make things difficult for this old man. He's been doing good deeds all his life, so his blessings are plentiful and his merit is great. If we have his help, Great Wei might truly be saved!" Ruo Xi wished she could stuff these thoughts directly into the emperor's head.

"Haha, Master has already done great favors for our Great Wei, and now he is even willing to humble himself and become a disciple for the sake of our nation. I... am deeply grateful!" The emperor, hearing the impatience in the little girl's thoughts and seeing her furrowed brows, couldn't help but burst into laughter.