Capítulo 547: Chapter 539: Enjoy the Drama Together
Master Tai Cheng really felt like throwing up, Jinhua Temple was the most incense-burned grand temple in Shengjing, especially since he attained a higher Daoist Skill, the incense offerings had increased tremendously, attracting countless devotees every day.
He ambitiously prepared to have his disciples open branch temples elsewhere, in order to attract even more incense offerings and propagate the teachings of their Grandmaster. By then, by turning the temple into a sect and with the support of faith and merit, it might be possible for him, like the old Heavenly Master Zhang, to achieve Daoist ascension, right?
Such a huge, onion and sesame topped, fragrantly delicious flatbread – Master Tai Cheng planned to make it himself, but Taiyang, this plague-stricken wretch, scattered it all, leaving only the unrisen white dough.
This white dough might even get stained with soot, no longer clean.
Seeing the soldiers, holding torches and in armors surrounding the Daoist Temple, Master Tai Cheng felt like it turned as dark as night; all those fires seemed like ghastly ghostly fires, and instantly, he recalled the most infamous scene of a Daoist Temple being surrounded and razed by the military decades ago.
Yes, a Daoist who has achieved in Daoist Skill is quite formidable, but can he really take on thousands of soldiers?
No matter how profound your Taoism reaches, with one Cloud-piercing Arrow, when thousands of soldiers pierce the sky, your magic hasn’t even been fully deployed and you’re crushed into mud.
Fine, a very powerful Taoist might escape alone with no issues but abandoning the temple and sect, there’s not much left to play for.
Therefore, it’s correct that Heavenly Dao imposes checks and balances, Taoists shouldn’t be offended lightly, but they can’t cover the sky with one hand either, after all, this is an era ruled by imperial power, there are no real Immortals who can wave a hand and destroy the world.
Master Tai Cheng cursed his plague-stricken disciple a hundred times in his heart for stealing someone as significant as Marquis Chang’an, why didn’t he just ascend to heaven directly?
Facing the murderous Marquis Chang’an who personally visited the temple, Master Tai Cheng forced a smile, stepped forward and performed a Taoist ceremony, “Infinite Heavenly Venerate, is the Marquis here to offer incense this early?”
Marquis Chang’an glanced at the pudgy, pale man in front of him and coldly said, “Offer incense to your mother, go call the Jinhua Temple Master and hand Daoist Taiyang over to me.”
Master Tai Cheng’s face turned green, holding back his anger he said, “Marquis, I am the Jinhua Temple Master, my Daoist name is Tai Cheng.”
Marquis Chang’an was taken aback, grabbed a torch from a guard behind him, thrust it forward almost burning Master Tai Cheng’s beard, and looked at Tai Cheng’s face, stating sternly, “Are you playing games with me? Isn’t the Temple Master an old man?”
With a hint of pride, Master Tai Cheng lifted his head and puffed out his chest, “I have achieved further in my Daoist Skill, and have thus managed to revert to youthful form.”
So tremble, all you mortals who wish to run amok in my temple, you must weigh and measure first.
Marquis Chang’an appeared shocked, then sneered, “Indeed a breeding ground for Demon Path, who knows what evil magic you used to alter your appearance. Guards, search for me, find Daoist Taiyang for the Marquis.”
What, evil magic?
Master Tai Cheng panicked, seeing the soldiers attempting to barge into the temple, he said sternly, “Marquis Chang’an, our Jinhua Temple follows Zhengyi Dao, a legitimate lineage of Heavenly Master Zhang, we practice the Righteous Path and prioritize exterminating evil and defending the Dao, there’s none of the Demon Path or evil magic you mentioned.”
His eyes red, Marquis Chang’an coldly responded, “Yesterday, my son suddenly fell critically ill, and after Daoist Taiyang performed his evil magic, it left my son barely clinging to life, his fate unknown. How dare the Demon Path harm my son, I cannot tolerate this. Go inside.”
Master Tai Cheng blocked him and faced Marquis Chang’an, saying gravely, “Marquis Chang’an, if you dare to storm into the temple today, aren’t you afraid that our Grandmaster has spirit and will bring punishment upon you and your clan?”
Marquis Chang’an, furious, his face as cold as ice, his eyes fixed on Tai Cheng, “Are you threatening me? Or are you disparaging the laws and regulations of Da Feng, planning to use some evil magic to wreak havoc in the mortal world?”
What a grave accusation of utmost evil.
Master Tai Cheng said, “That’s not what I mean, I intended to…”
“What did you intend?” Marquis Chang’an flung his sleeve, looking down on him, “I won’t make things difficult for the Temple Master, just hand over Daoist Taiyang, and I’ll retreat immediately, no second words.”
Giggle.
In the night sky, it seemed as if there was a faint sound of cracking melon seeds.
Master Tai Cheng looked with confusion toward the direction from which the sound originated.
The treetops swayed gently with the wind.
Master Tai Cheng then turned to Marquis Chang’an and said, “Marquis, your arrival is truly untimely; Daoist Taiyang has already gone wandering.”
“Tsks, this clearly shows a determination to protect Taiyang. I guess the Jinhua Temple won’t be opening its doors to welcome devotees today, after all.”
Not far away, Qin Liuxi and Feng Mo were squatting on a treetop, enjoying the spectacle.
When they entered the city, Feng Mo slipped away, returned to his own territory for a stroll, and then sneaked into the Marquis Chang’an Mansion following Qin Liuxi’s instructions, to casually check who had cast the spell on Jing Si; after all, once the spell was broken, Marquis Chang’an Mansion would definitely seek someone responsible.
Indeed, he discovered something. It even involved an acquaintance’s fellow disciple, the junior uncle of Xuan Qingzi.
Seeing the commotion, Feng Mo pulled Qin Liuxi from the Prime Minister Mansion, and together, they squatted on a treetop in front of Jinhua Temple to join in as spectators munching on seeds.
After hearing what Qin Liuxi said, Feng Mo grabbed a couple of seeds from her hand and slowly cracked them open with his fingers, saying, “Isn’t that an exaggeration?”
“How is it an exaggeration? Marquis Chang’an has not only been wearing this green hat, but he has also been raising a cheap son for ten years. Now that they can’t catch the culprit, if he doesn’t find a vent for his fury and just retreats like that, he’d literally be a reincarnation of a Ninja Turtle.” Qin Liuxi spat out a mouthful of seed shells, “If it were you, could you endure it?”
Feng Mo: “Do you see a chance for me to be cuckolded? I am a thousand-year-old demon fox.”
Qin Liuxi rolled her eyes at him and continued to watch the drama unfold.
Marquis Chang’an’s patience was utterly depleted, and with a wave of his hand, he ordered, “Search for him, anyone who dares to obstruct is to be killed without mercy on the grounds of practicing Demon Path.”
Master Tai Cheng flew into a rage: “How dare you!”
Marquis Chang’an stared at him fiercely: “You just watch if this Marquis dares or not! Jinhua Temple claims to be of the Righteous Path, yet it practices evil magic, and still dares to proclaim itself righteous? Pah!” He shouted loudly, “The temple master persists in obstructing, could it be that he is harboring foreign spies intending to throw Da Feng into chaos? Later, this Marquis will surely inform His Majesty and demand a thorough investigation.”
Master Tai Cheng’s face turned from red to white from being suppressed.
Feng Mo poked Qin Liuxi and asked: “Do you think he knows that Taiyang made Mr. Jing an old cuckold?”
“Are you stupid? With such obvious protection, he’s very clear about it,” Qin Liuxi, chewing on the seed kernels, said: “It’s a pity, Xuan Qingzi spoke so highly of how their Jinhua Temple was this and that, didn’t expect this temple master to be so clueless, tsk, thought too highly of them.”
Feng Mo raised an eyebrow: “What would Master Chi Yuan do if he were in your shoes?”
Qin Liuxi snorted with humor: “If it were me, do you think I’d let anyone catch any handle on me? Even if they did, my master would fight not to have a Daoist Temple anymore but to protect me.”
“So, you’re saying Master Chi Yuan is also clueless?”
Qin Liuxi shook her head: “Not at all, if I’m there, starting a new temple is no issue at all!”
Feng Mo: “…”
Forgot this one’s the world’s top narcissist, truly a perfect match for me!