Chapter 898: The Three Figures
"Me?" Lin Tian pointed at his own nose, incredulous: "Suitable to be a monk?"
For Lin Tian, the image of a monk meant a shaved head, no alcohol, no meat, no women.
Not drinking alcohol, he could accept, as he wasn’t particularly fond of it.
But not eating meat? Unacceptable.
No women?
Are you out of your mind, or am I out of mine?
With so many charming beauties around, are you implying I should be the worst of the worst among players?
Lin Tian felt he couldn’t possibly do such a thing. Not to mention Liou Qingcheng and the others disagreeing, even his parents would break his legs and have Wu Yong drag him home.
"Master, this joke is a bit much. A monk? I’m far from pure and would ruin the Five Pure Ones Temple’s reputation."
Lin Tian waved his hands emphatically; his demeanor akin to a chaste woman resolutely avoiding vice.
"Hahaha." The old monk was amused by Lin Tian’s appearance and said with a chuckle, "I was only saying. In Buddhism, we emphasize fate; we don’t force it, nor can we."
Then, the old monk continued, "Do you know what my most powerful skill is in this temple?"
"What is it?"
"Observing people. Predicting future paths through their features, face, aura, and speech. It may sound unbelievable, but it’s true."
Lin Tian laughed; at this moment, the old monk seemed more like an old trickster swindler.
"Then look at me; what will my path be like?"
The old monk extended three fingers, then retracted one, saying: "Firstly, a household full of wives and concubines, children, a flourishing family."
Lin Tian nodded contentedly; he felt his future would be like that. Otherwise, what’s the difference from being a useless person?
"The second?" Lin Tian asked eagerly.
"The second, your cultivation is unfathomable. You are already at the Golden Core stage; I can’t see your ultimate height, but it’s definitely beyond most, perhaps only comparable to Qiyi."
Although aware that his cultivation wasn’t at its peak, hearing the ’expert’ say so, Lin Tian was quite pleased.
"And the third?"
"The third is... more complex."
The old monk’s smile gradually faded; he sat upright, thoroughly examining Lin Tian as if studying every pore seriously.
"If you were ancient, in martial pursuits, you’d be someone like Yue Fei. In literature, perhaps comparable to Kongming or Guo Jia. Rising to high ranks, you would stabilize and govern through both pen and sword."
As the old monk said this halfway, Lin Tian’s face blossomed with a smile like a chrysanthemum. Hearing such praise, who wouldn’t display such a gleeful expression?
"Don’t laugh just yet, I haven’t finished." The old monk couldn’t help interjecting.
Lin Tian kept smiling broadly, "Please continue, I’m listening."
"Think about it, what was their fate in the end?"
Lin Tian froze, and his grin slowly vanished.
Their fate?
Zhuge Liang fell ill in Wuzhangyuan, unable to command, was successfully ambushed by Sima Yi, and eventually Shu Kingdom perished, his efforts wasted.
General Yue Fei, likely to have died the most unjust and unwilling death.
And Guo Jia, praised as Cao Cao’s top strategist, unfortunately, genius envy cut his life short. Otherwise, the Three Kingdoms would be unified under Wei, not Jin.
Their endings... weren’t too good.
Thinking this, could Lin Tian still laugh?
"Hehe." Lin Tian couldn’t laugh; instead, the old monk chuckled: "Still satisfied with your life?"
Lin Tian thought for a long time and shook his head: "I don’t wish to be remembered forever or have my name in history. Those mean nothing to me. After death, everything ends. I’m not that ambitious. What I want is to live these decades joyfully. Joy for the loved ones, pain for the haters!"
"Hehe, everyone has their ambition, their own ways to live. Honestly, I was once like you, of the same type." The old monk said.
"Oh?" Lin Tian became interested, "Master, are you saying you were also a prominent figure before retreating to this temple?"
The old monk shook his head, exhaling gently, and looked slightly upward at the sky with a reminiscing expression: "No, I was merely a disciple in an ordinary ancient martial family. Like you, I loved competitiveness and flirty endeavors... flirting? Is that how you say it?"
Lin Tian nodded dumbfoundedly, not knowing how to respond. He hadn’t seen it...
This old man, with his kindly appearance, Lin Tian envisioned he was once quite earnest.
"And later? How did you end up here as a monk?" Lin Tian asked curiously.
This old monk indeed had a story.
The old monk waved his hand, smiling bitterly: "Better left unsaid. Just felt the temple’s tranquility is far cleaner than worldly dust."
Everyone has a story; perhaps it’s slow and uneventful, or like a torrential downpour, legendary and touching; maybe moving to tears upon reminiscing.
The old monk before him definitely belonged to the latter two, and Lin Tian, full of curiosity, was intrigued yet he remained silent. It was quite unsatisfying.
Since he wouldn’t elaborate, Lin Tian didn’t ask again; that would only make it more dull.
"You mentioned if I were born in ancient times. How about living in the current society?"
Since the old monk wouldn’t discuss past tales and people, Lin Tian posed his prior question.
"Every society and era has its resemblance. In chaotic times, aside from dying young, you’d be destined for greatness." After pausing, the old monk studied Lin Tian again: "Unfortunately, now it’s an era of peace, at least in our country. I’ll give you one piece of advice."
Still seated in the wicker chair, motionless, without even blinking, yet Lin Tian felt a hidden bitterness in the old monk’s smile; the forthcoming words must be intended for him.
"What is it?"
"Do not enter politics, do not join the military."
Just those six words, yet they carried a strong telekinetic force, roaring and crashing invincibly into Lin Tian’s ears, as if those words were engraved in his mind.
Lin Tian understood, he would never forget this scene for his lifetime.
Telekinesis, the unique ’skill’ of both Buddhism and Taoism.
It could influence, heal, and guide souls. Though ethereal, it existed in the world, significantly impacting one’s spirit.
With telekinetic prowess, one would undoubtedly excel as a psychologist or in sales.
The old monk before him, his telekinesis was so powerful that it was unavoidable for Lin Tian, displaying great mastery.