In the mountains, where ti seed nonexistent, Qin Liuxi went to rescue Feng Xiu in March, and when she returned to the worldly smoke and fire, it was already the end of May, while Da Feng seed to have entered a year filled with disasters.
First, last year’s snow disaster resulted in no harvest; not only did the rivers thaw late, but repeated heavy snowfalls caused many irrigation channels to collapse and beco blocked. When spring ca, planting was difficult, and shortly after finally sowing the crops, drought struck the north with no rain, while the south experienced continuous rainfall after the Dragon Boat Festival, flooding nurous fields and houses, leaving people holess and starving, suffering terribly.
In so places, despite repeated natural disasters, taxes continued to be levied, leaving the people in misery, and bandits rose all around. Moreover, Prince Xinyang rebelled, declaring himself emperor, and the suppression was unsuccessful, while repeated disturbances occurred at the borders, with frequent conflicts, creating a state of both internal and external chaos, marking the beginning of turmoil.
In the wake of continuous natural and man-made disasters, voices erged accusing the emperor of losing his virtue, with the Saint issuing a decreed apology to try to restore peace. Simultaneously, nurous so-called religious sects claiming to relieve suffering erged, such as Spiritual Cultivation and the Tiansheng Sect, resulting in further ignorance among the people. So even heedlessly believed the nonsense preached by cult mbers, leading them to personally abandon or drown their children.
"I’ve heard early on that when the Saint pursued alchemy and Changsheng, those officials eagerly exploited the common people’s fat and oil. I guessed this day would co, and sure enough, what’s all this nonsense? Can’t we have a mont of peace?"
"Indeed, the young one ascended the throne, and it’s been thirty years now. It was good before, even daring to claim the title of Bright Monarch, but now... truly losing virtue in old age."
"Are you crazy! It’s broad daylight, and you’re drunk without drinking, talking nonsense. Let’s go, let’s go."
The two people conversing dragged each other out of the shop, walking away hurriedly as if evil ghosts were chasing them.
Qin Liuxi and Feng Xiu exchanged a glance, their expressions sowhat grim.
Feng Xiu said, "It seems that finding another place for secluded cultivation to consolidate my cultivation won’t work."
Qin Liuxi replied, "When I calculated the onset of last year’s snow disaster, I already knew this year’s prospects wouldn’t be good, but unexpectedly, it’s worse than imagined."
"Signs of chaotic tis, it’s fate."
Qin Liuxi said, "What they said is not wrong. The Saint’s glorious reputation might just be ruined in his old age."
All these years have been peaceful during his reign, and it seed he could quietly carry the title of Bright Monarch into the history books, but just as this position reaches its end, voices claiming the emperor has lost virtue appear. If things remain like this until his abdication or death, he might carry the stain of being labeled an incompetent ruler.
"With such chaos, the national fortune is likely declining..." Feng Xiu looked at her, recalling the Qi Fortune of the Xie Family and the Yu Family.
Qin Liuxi finished her last bun, took a sip of soybean milk, and said, "He seeks destruction, while we seek salvation."
Feng Xiu smiled, agreeing, it’s simply going against the grain!
"After a while, I will go to inspect the Barrier Array in the Black Desert. Before then, let’s first suppress those heretical sects. You head north, I’ll go south." Qin Liuxi said, "The south is flooded, the weather’s getting hot, and even if the water recedes, plagues will likely arise, so I need to use the dicinal herbs stored in the Changsheng Hall."
"Go ahead and use them; they’re stored in that cave anyway."
Qin Liuxi nodded and said, "Worldly cultivation is still cultivation; send word if needed."
They settled the bill and each vanished into thin air in a desolate place.
Though they were partners, they needn’t always be together; heading towards the sa goal was enough.
...
Qin Liuxi returned first to Qingping Temple, just as she envisioned. Due to constant natural disasters and man-made calamities, the number of refugees and beggars at the foot of Qingping Temple’s mountain had increased significantly compared to before.
She returned to the temple, but the number of believers coming to offer incense was sparse, much less anyone donating incense oil. However, although there were few believers, there were several unfamiliar Daoists in Daoist robes.
"The temple master has returned." Sanyuan lit up upon seeing her, hurriedly bringing a few disciples forward.
The unfamiliar faces varied in age from youthful to middle-aged. Though they knew early on that the temple master of Qingping Temple was the only female in the temple, possessing formidable mana, seeing Qin Liuxi so young, they were still montarily stunned.
This temple master is not only young but also looks extraordinarily beautiful, with an exceptional aura. When her eyes swept over them, it caused their scalp to tighten instantly.
She’s very powerful!
The Daoists dared not act presumptuously, instinctively bowing slightly, clasping their hands into fists, and performing a Taoist ceremony: "Temple Master, have rcy."
Qin Liuxi returned the gesture, saying, "Have rcy, fellow Daoists."
Sanyuan introduced them: "This is Daoist Lin, Daoist Zhang, and Daoist He. They have been lodging at our temple in recent days."
Qin Liuxi replied with a smile, "Qingping Temple is modest, it may amuse you fellow Daoists."
They imdiately replied in protest, with the oldest Daoist, Lin, saying, "We are traveling Taoists, mostly practicing in the deep mountains, but having glimpsed the Heavenly Secret, seeing natural disasters and chaos, we descended to spread the Dao, promoting goodness."
"You are truly benevolent and compassionate." Qin Liuxi bowed again.
The round-faced Daoist Zhang said, "Qingping Temple is the most impressive and has the most flourishing incense and compassion of all the temples we’ve visited, others also do almsgiving, helping disaster victims, but due to poor incense, they are powerless."
Qin Liuxi: "Follow your heart and do your best, that’s true compassion."
"Indeed, indeed."
Qin Liuxi thought for a mont and asked, "I’ve been in seclusion for several months, upon coming out, I hear there are many new religious sects in Da Feng; do you fellow Daoists have any information from your travels?"
"Of course, there are Spiritual Cultivation in the north and Heavenly Saint in the south. Take the Tiansheng Sect, for example; they believe in the so-called Heavenly Saint. All diseases will be avoided if you drink the Holy Water, being protected by Heavenly Saint, with no pain or suffering. This has already attracted thousands of cult mbers." Daoist Lin said angrily, "In the old Taoist’s view, it’s just so wicked paths and crooked ways, those false monks taking advantage of national difficulties, making profits from disasters."
"Oh? Making profits from disasters? How so?"
Daoist Zhang snorted coldly and said, "They deceive the people, asking for silver if they have it, and items if they don’t. So even go as far as abandoning their children, behaving like maniacs."
Qin Liuxi frowned.
The Daoist He, who had remained silent, spoke up, saying, "That Holy Water is likely brewed with sesa and Golden Flower, drinking too much causes hallucinations and addiction."
Qin Liuxi glanced over; this little Daoist was around twenty years old, and quite delicate and refined in appearance. Seeing her look over, he smiled shyly, appearing a bit embarrassed.
"You understand dicine?"
Daoist He nodded, "In Taoist Five Skills, the little Taoist is proficient in dicine and divination."
Qin Liuxi gave him a look and said, "You’re quite capable."
Daoist He was montarily taken aback.
Qin Liuxi then looked at Daoist Lin and asked, "Where is the Tiansheng Sect’s headquarters?"
"It’s in Ningzhou, I heard the Holy Altar was donated by the Saint’s favored concubine, Princess Consort Ru." Daoist Zhang looked at her: "But why is the temple master asking about this?"
Qin Liuxi’s lips curved: "Naturally, it’s to rob the rich and aid the poor!"
Everyone: "?"
Wait, is the Qingping Temple’s temple master this straightforward?
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