1327 First Glimpse

so fond of raising rats!In folk beliefs and Taoism, the rat is one of the Five Immortals, a very spiritual yet cunning and deceitful "immortal"."You better not move. These little things will jump up...Taoism has numerous deities, unlike other religions that are monotheistic. Some Taoist deities were once mortals who transformed into immortals, or individuals with great merit became minor gods.

This is also the Daoist mindset, cultivating inner peace, not falling into evil ways, saving the world and the people, if one's accomplishments are incomplete then viewing life and death indifferently, and once achievements are complete then retiring to quiet meditation.

When Buddhism entered China, in order to better take root and spread the teachings, it also borrowed from many Taoist deities, venerating them as Bodhisattvas.

To better assimilate the populace, rulers actively promoted Buddhism. However, among the upper classes, some still pursued Taoist ideas.

The reason why Taoism is low-key is also related to the transmission of Tao. It is only considered learning Tao if a master teaches it directly, otherwise, it is better not to transmit it randomly.

I don't have a master who initiated me, but I later became a disciple of Chang Le Jie at Tsinghua University, so I had a lineage to follow. After that, I began learning various scriptures, and Jiang Qiyun also often taught me.

According to this elder Zhang, this "He Qing Zun Shen" is really someone I can't find any information about in my limited knowledge base.

Looking at Jiang Qiyun's expression, he seemed to be hearing it for the first time as well.

However, since it's a Daoist temple, the deities enshrined should be those of Taoism. Zhang Laotai is also an old woman with a story.

I was just scaring her, I didn't intend to destroy her soul-bound gu.

Regardless of whether one belongs to the monastic, Daoist, or lay traditions, as long as they are a practitioner, they often view their spiritual progress as the most important thing in life, and harming others' foundations is not something advocated by Daoism.

Zhang Laotai was frightened by Jiang Qiyun's golden light curse. Seeing me and Yan Yue talking, she became somewhat suspicious.

"Girl, you have great cultivation. I advise you not to go to this temple... This temple is for us ordinary practitioners who stumble upon some sinister and evil objects and bring them to the Black Clearing Temple to offer and dispel the evil Qi in order to prolong our lives and increase our cultivation. You don't need to take this path, it's best not to be involved."

So, it sounds like this place is still a location for dispelling evil spirits

"Zhang Laotai, this Song Wei is my friend. I heard her talk about Lao Shi's family and came to help, but I didn't expect to find that there were evil spirits haunting..."

Grandma Zhang frowned and said, “That little girl’s spirit was attracted by the bracelet. I just wanted to use it, though my control failed, it should still come back... Mr. Shi fell and broke his bones, it's also because of the ghostly hand…”

I asked the little girl where she drowned and followed up by asking about the specific location of that dark, desolate Taoist temple, then I let go of Old Mrs. Zhang.

Elder Zhang didn't believe I had just left like that. When she closed the courtyard gate, those cloudy eyes were still fixed on me.

It's like she's worried I'll go back and collect her natal gu again.

"Hey, what are you guys saying You've been talking for ages" Lao Shi's aunt asked.

I told her, "Your family has been having bad luck because that jade bracelet has been worn by someone who is alive for the past two years."

"A jade bracelet The one my grandmother wears on her wrist! That's said to have been left by my great-grandmother..." Old Shi's aunt didn't quite believe it.

“Leaving something behind and taking it out from a coffin are two different concepts. This bracelet accompanied its owner into the coffin, making it a funerary item. Jade is a spiritually imbued object. It’s also considered taboo to wear someone else's jade, especially old jade from tombs.” I explained patiently.

This jade is obscure and difficult to see, attracting some bad things. It caused the young girl who secretly wore the jade to drown, and then the old woman put it on...

Lao Shi's aunt shuddered, rubbing her arms and saying, "That... That wasn't hearsay, was it They say Dai Yu wards off disaster!"

"Jade isn't something you just wear to ward off evil. It's not about the price, but about fate, whether this jade is meant for you or not. If it is, then there's a saying about it warding off evil. If not, it's impossible... Still, please take the jade off, old woman. If you insist on keeping it, send it to this address so we can remove the bad energy and resentment from it." I handed her my brother's business card.

Old Shi's aunt, seeing how Zhang Lao Tai was so afraid of me, also felt a little intimidated and took the business card in a hushed voice.

"Well, considering Song girl's sake, can you give us a discount..." she said.

Song Wei rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t look to me! I have nothing to do with you guys! Xiao Qiao, just take whatever they offer. Anyway, their family is rich and doesn’t care about us city folk! Take a hundred or eight hundred thousand, let them know that life is more valuable than jade!”

Aunt Lao Shi's face was extremely gloomy. Song Wei didn't even glance at her, and said to me: "I'm revoking that invitation. What kind of ridiculous wedding feast! No wonder our ancestors said that it's important for a couple to be from the same social class, and to find a girl who is both wealthy and virtuous with compatible birth charts! This old lady won't serve!"

Our ancestors also said, "It's better to demolish ten temples than to break one marriage," it all depends on your fate.

"Well, you guys figure it out yourselves. Remember to be calm and collected... I'm heading out now. Song Wei, drive yourself back."

"Huh How did you get here" Song Wei didn't react immediately.

I winked at her, and she nodded knowingly. "Got it, got it. Your husband is here to pick you up, right Okay, okay, I'll go back myself. But there are ghosts around here..."

"Ghosts!" Aunt Lao Shi cried out in alarm.

I made a shushing gesture, and Song Wei stopped talking.

"I'll handle it, don't worry." I whispered.

Song Wei nodded and squeezed my hand, "I'm really sorry, I caused you trouble again because of this. Let me treat you to a meal when we get back. There's a new hot pot restaurant on Old Street that's really delicious! Let's make plans!"

I nodded and led Jiang Qiyun into the night.

After walking a long distance and seeing that there was no one around, he whispered, "Could you please trouble the Emperor with me to take a look..."

"What are you looking at" Jiang Qiyun asked knowingly.

"Then, how about I go to the place where the little girl drowned and perform a ritual for her. Your Majesty, you can go back and look after the child first"

Jiang Qiyun raised his hand and pinched my face: "Mu Xiaqiao, you're getting bolder and even talking back to me"

"Don't pinch, don't pinch, you'll get wrinkles..." I hurried to dodge.

Though his fingers are so slender and elegant, he can still be quite painful when he grasps you.

"Didn't I tell you, ask me to do things, sweet talk is more effective than anything else." Jiang Qiyun drooped his eyebrows, drawing a mischievous smile.

"Can we just say I owe you for now"

"Humph..." He chuckled lightly, holding my hand and saying, "Fine, but I'm not really interested in Duyou. I'd rather go see what that Black Clearing Temple is all about..."

As the Grand Tutor of the Netherworld, Jiang Qiyun naturally wouldn't be interested in such mundane affairs as the rituals performed by mortals. I am also quite curious about that Black Pure Venerable God. After helping this little girl's soul find peace, I shall go and take a look then.

Following Zhang Lao Tai's directions, Jiang Qiyun led me to a small dam.

Here, because of the accumulation of water, a stream flows along a small ditch, forming a small pond.

Although it is flowing water, because of the poor circulation and being covered with algae and moss, this place is indeed prone to accidents.

I burn paper charms on the riverbank, souls drifting and wandering, where do they stay... Come back, soul.

The grass on the shore rustled in the wind, but the little girl's spirit did not stir.

"What's going on" I looked at Jiang Qiyun puzzled.

Jiang Qiyun slightly frowned, raising his hand to form a seal.ems." I retorted."Have you ever seen her when she gets angry You know, a tantrum" Mu Wanchen rebuked. "Besides, Mu Xiaoqiao is naturally quiet and well-behaved, unlike you who has always been restless...