Chapter 475: Guest (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
There was a strong smell of cigarettes in the Daoist temple. Most of the visitors were chatting and laughing with the Daoist child.
Gu Yanfei casually struck up a conversation with the young disciple. “Apart from our temple, are there any other temples holding religious ceremonies today? It seems there are quite a few early-morning worshippers around.”
The little Daoist said with a smile, “Recently, the Temple Master has often held an altar to preach the Dao, so the believers come to listen to the Temple Master’s preaching.”
The Temple Master of Wuliang Temple, Daoist Xuan Cheng, had been a disciple of the Celestial Rectifier Spiritual Master since he was young and had received his true teachings. Later on, he became Second Temple Master of Wuliang Temple. Everyone in the capital knew him, but Daoist Xuan Cheng was a carefree person. Every year, he spent most of his time traveling or cultivating in seclusion. Many people had only heard of him and had never seen him.
Gu Yunzhen said solemnly, “1 heard that Daoist Xuan Cheng’s Dao techniques are profound. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen his true appearance yet.”
The little Daoist boy puffed out his chest proudly. His proud expression seemed to say, That’s right!
“We’ve arrived at the Sanqing Hall.” The little Daoist pointed at the front hall in front.
There were lush trees planted on both sides of the Sanqing Hall that covered the sky. The crown of the tree, which was even taller than the single-brimmed red tile roof, covered the sun, causing the surrounding light to dim significantly.
The Sanqing Hall with carved railings and tall eaves stood in the dense greenery. The surrounding atmosphere suddenly became solemn.
A few Daoists who were in charge of today’s ritual came forward and bowed to the Gu family.
After a while, seven or eight Daoists in the Sanqing Hall were dressed in dharma clothes embroidered with gold and silver threads. They held various Dharma artifacts and sang a solemn tune as they danced leisurely in the altar field, creating a solemn atmosphere.
They recited scriptures and incantations, read the sacrificial words, burned incense, and turned them into paper.
After a series of ceremonies, it was already six hours later. The Gu siblings walked out of the Sanqing Hall hungry.
Gu Yuan’s heart ached when he saw how hungry his two sisters were. He was about to ask if they wanted to eat some vegetarian food before leaving when he heard the little Daoist boy beside him shout in surprise, “Temple Master.”
The three of them followed the gaze of the little Daoist child and looked ahead. Under a Bodhi tree not far away stood an old Daoist who was of medium height and wore an ordinary blue coat.
He looked over 70 years old. His head was covered in frosty white silver threads, but his face was lean and energetic. He had a sage-like aura and matched what Gu Yunzhen had said previously.
The sunlight passed through the tall trees and shone on the courtyard, as well as on the old Daoist. His frosty white hair reflected a golden halo, as if it was the halo behind the Heavenly Venerate ancestors in myths.
He just stood there quietly, giving off a transcendent feeling.
The little Daoist boy introduced with a smile, “Gentlemen, this is our Temple Master, Daoist Xuan Cheng.”
“Young Master Gu, the two ladies are kind and respectful.” Immortal Xuan Cheng smiled kindly at the siblings and brushed the silver horsetail whisk in his hand.
“Temple Master.” Gu Yuan returned the greeting calmly. His attitude was neither warm nor cold, but he wasn’t rude.
Daoist Xuan Cheng’s smiling gaze landed on Gu Yanfei, who was standing in the middle. He sized her up gently. “This is Second Lady Gu, right?”
As soon as he said this, a few passing Daoists stopped in their tracks. When they heard this, they looked at Gu Yanfei with some curiosity and scrutiny. Some even hid a trace of unhappiness and hostility.
Because of Shangqing, the name “Second Lady Gu” was now known by everyone in the Dao Sect. Although Shangqing had reaped what she sowed, there were more or less people in the temple who vented their anger on Second Lady Gu because this matter had ruined the reputation of Wuliang Temple.
Even the little Daoist boy covered his mouth in shock.
He only knew that today, the members of the Gu family were here to perform the ancestral rites in the temple, but now he realized that the “Gu” in the Gu family referred to Miss Gu, the Second Lady.
Gu Yanfei cupped her hands at Daoist Xuan Cheng generously. “Yes.”
Daoist Xuan Cheng stroked his beard and sized Gu Yanfei up. His eyes lit up and the smile on his face deepened. He sighed in admiration. “Miss, you’re the most talented person I’ve ever seen in my life. If you can abandon the secular world and enter the Dao, you’ll definitely have some achievements. You might even be able to comprehend the Great Dao. Who knows?”
The surrounding Daoists were all shocked. When they looked at Gu Yanfei again, their expressions were filled with respect.
The boy was even more surprised, and his eyes widened.
This was the first time he had heard the Temple Master speak so highly of someone.
“…” Gu Yuan’s face instantly darkened. He thought to himself, What is this old Daoist doing? Sister has only been back for a few months, and he wants to persuade her to become a monk? Not good, not good at all!!
He didn’t hide his unhappiness at all, and his body exuded a cold aura.
Gu Yanfei was also sizing up Daoist Xuan Cheng. Her eyes were deep as she praised generously, “The Temple Master’s talent isn’t bad either.”
She wasn’t being polite. When she first saw Daoist Xuan Cheng, she could tell that he had a spiritual root. When she got closer and observed him carefully, she was certain that his spiritual root was still a rare heavenly spiritual root.
Daoist Xuan Cheng’s talent was even better than Shangqing’s.
What a pity.
However, Daoist Xuan Cheng was born in this land of extinction.
After so many years, his heavenly spiritual root had been tainted by too much of the filth of the mortal world.
If he was in the Bright Spirit Realm, with his aptitude and talent, he would definitely be taken in as a true disciple by a venerable.
As he sighed, Gu Yanfei couldn’t help but sigh as well. “What a pity.”
“What’s a pity?” Daoist Xuan Cheng flicked the horsetail whisk in his hand. His snow-white beard danced with the horsetail whisk as he looked at Gu Yanfei with a kind smile.
Gu Yanfei didn’t answer the other party’s question directly. Instead, she said, “It’s feasible to enter the Dao through medicine.”
Entering the Dao through medicine could accumulate merit.
This was a land of extinction. No one could really “enter the Dao” in this world. The only way was to cultivate an afterlife.
As long as he accumulated enough merit in this life, it was very likely that he would enter the Great Dao in his next life.
“I wish the Temple Master all the best.” Gu Yanfei stopped talking about this. This sentence was also the end of the topic.
Daoist Xuan Cheng was deep in thought.
He flicked the silver-white horsetail whisk again. When the horsetail whisk fell, his wise eyes calmed down.
He turned to look at Gu Yunzhen and took out a safety talisman from his sleeve. Then he handed it to Gu Yunzhen and said with a smile, “You’re a kind woman. Your fate is light. This talisman was personally drawn by me. It can protect you from evil forces if you bring it with you.”
“Thank you, Temple Master.” Gu Yunzhen respectfully accepted the Peace Talisman.
Daoist Xuan Cheng was an otherworldly expert, and his protective amulets were highly sought after. It was rare and valuable. Gu Yunzhen was aware of this, so she carefully kept the Peace Talisman in her sleeve.
“Temple… Temple Master.” Another chubby Daoist boy ran over, panting.. He looked very agitated and shouted intermittently, “An important guest… An important guest is here!”