Chapter 56: 【053】The Strange Old Monk
Seeing Zheng Dongliang and his wealthy friends rushing into the Guanyin Temple to spend money on incense, Wang Longhu had nothing to do and wandered over to the edge of a cliff.
Here was a protruding rock surrounded by a wooden railing, with a few stones laid as steps for people to ascend.
Spirit immediately came to Wang Longhu, as he noticed a sign next to the steps with the words ’Guanyin Footprint’ written on it.
Walking up the stone steps onto the rock, he saw a giant five-toed footprint on the rock’s surface, about three to four times larger than an adult’s foot.
Wang Longhu placed his own foot inside the footprint, feeling even more amazed by its immense size.
"To create an interesting attraction, they’ve made it quite realistic," Wang Longhu couldn’t help but say.
"Young man, you can’t speak recklessly; who said this footprint was fabricated?"
Suddenly, someone spoke from below the rock.
Wang Longhu looked down to see an old monk in a gray robe standing there, gently smiling while spinning Buddhist beads with one hand.
"Is there a story behind this footprint?" Wang Longhu asked.
"Long ago, Dong County’s island was desolate, with wild beasts roaming. Bodhisattva Guanyin came here searching for a place to preach. From the Fairy Altar Rock, she stepped to Daqu Island, and then to Mount Putuo. The footprint you see originally existed. But over time, due to weathering, it faded, so the government deepened it based on the original. Not only Fairy Altar Rock but Daqu Island across also has Bodhisattva’s footprint."