Qin Liuxi didn’t expect that on her first day back, she would encounter trouble at the Daoist Temple, caused by a few scholars hurling insults.
It turned out that so devotees had co early for incense offerings, but were stopped by a few scholars who claid that the common folk were encouraging unrighteous influences, which led the Saint to beco obsessed with alchemy techniques, resulting in the erection of the Immortal Palace and the imposition of nurous burdenso taxes. Their indignant and aggressive deanor blocked the devotees at the foot of the mountain gate.
When Qin Liuxi heard this news, she had just finished offering incense to the Grandmaster with her group. She turned to Qing Yuan with a dark face and asked, "Is this situation unique to our Qingping Temple, or is it happening at other temples as well?"
"It’s everywhere. So Daoist Temples have indeed acted boldly due to the Saint’s elevation of the State Preceptor from the Mystic Sect, and their conduct has been shaful. So Daoists have even exploited their status to deceive won and commit criminal acts, but most Daoist Temples are still righteous." Qing Yuan said sullenly, "The scandal involving lascivious Daoists has truly tarnished the reputation of the Mystic Sect."
"I heard a Daoist was doused with dung?"
Qing Yuan’s face darkened, and the disciples were sowhat aggrieved.
Qin Liuxi saw this, a spark of insight flashed in her mind, and she asked: "Could it be that the Daoist is a disciple from our temple?"
Qing Yuan shook his head: "No, but Jiuyang Daoist intended to lodge at our temple, yet was insulted so by those extre scholars. Angry and frustrated, he decided not to stay in our temple, claiming that the world’s mixed opinions on the Mystic Sect hinder cultivation. He went to find a secluded place to live as a traveling Taoist."
"What about the Buddhist Sect? Have similar incidents occurred there?"
"The Buddhist Sect remains tranquil, as the State Preceptor is from the Mystic Sect." Qing Yuan replied, "Besides, the Buddhist grounds are significant, and they dare not cause a commotion there."
Qin Liuxi sneered, "The Buddhist Sect is significant, but our Taoist Sect is like a vegetable market where they can act like shrews, causing trouble as they please?"
Seeing that after such a long talk, not a single devotee had co for incense offerings, she said to Sanyuan, "Fetch a bucket of dung water and co with ."
Sanyuan obliged.
Qing Yuan was startled, "Temple Master, what do you intend?"
Douse it back?
Qin Liuxi cast a cold glance at him, "I have never been one with a good temper, never was, and never will be."
She wasn’t a Buddhist disciple who could smile and say "Amitabha Buddha" while being doused with dung.
Alright then, this young ancestor truly intended to reclaim the situation.
Qing Yuan didn’t say anything more. In fact, he felt sowhat stifled; although the Saint hadn’t suppressed the Taoist Sect, why did it feel like the Taoist Sect was put on a pedestal and beca the target of everyone’s criticism?
Surely enough, they Daoists seed to have beco demon paths that were shouted at, even though they hadn’t done anything.
Qin Liuxi wanted to reclaim the situation, and for so reason, Qing Yuan felt a sense of stability; the tough backer was back!
At the foot of the mountain, there were still scholars wearing student robes making grandiose statents, criticizing the temple’s strange forces and gods, mocking the common people’s ignorance, saying those who ca for incense offerings were encouraging demon paths and unrighteous influences, and advising the wise to read books rather than believe in gods and ghosts.
"Brother Zhou speaks reasonably." A scholar with a mole on his chin snapped his paper fan shut and said, "The Saint listens to the words of demon paths, insisting on building the Immortal Palace, solely focused on immortality. Where does the money for building palaces and alchemy co from? Isn’t it from exploiting the fat and grease of the people? You ignorantly continue to support such Taoist Sects that breed demon paths, aren’t you handing over your silver for food? It’s sheer folly."
"Brother Yuan’s words are very true; such Taoist Sects should be closed." That Brother Zhou shook his fan and arrogantly said, "We only an well for all of you, don’t be misled by them."
"Let see who’s spraying nonsense early in the morning; since you’re spraying, spray sothing real."
A sudden voice chid in.
Everyone was startled and hadn’t reacted when they saw a tall figure rush into view, then a hand swept and, with a wave, sothing indescribable was splashed onto the scholars’ side.
The stench was overwhelming, dripping wet.
Gag.
Many shrieked and retreated a few steps, while so were amazed at the precision of the splash, completely avoiding others.
Was this practiced?
The spectators looked at Qin Liuxi; this was the Junior Temple Master who had gone traveling after the forr temple master passed away—oh, now she should be called the temple master, right?
But this temple master turned out to be a female Daoist?
The doused scholars were retching, pointing at Qin Liuxi furiously and shouting, "You, who are you? How dare you assault us, it’s a disgrace to the literate; we will report to the authorities, we are scholars!"
"I am the temple master of Qingping Temple, Daoist na Buqiu. Why, you scholars can spew nonsense in small places, but the temple master can’t splash dung on my own turf? I’m rely imitating you."
"You, you’re the temple master, you are simply... gag." That Scholar Zhou gagged again.
"Indeed, this scholar will report to the authorities!" Scholar Yuan also scread.
"Go on, then!" Qin Liuxi sneered, "You report, I will report you too."
Scholar Yuan’s eyes widened, "You, you’ll report ?"
"Yeah, I see you have a sharp head and narrow forehead, shifty eyes, hollow cheeks with a mole on your chin; you look devoid of any real ability, rather you have a treacherous appearance. You claim you’re a scholar? How did you earn that scholarly title, I’ll report to the County Magistrate and have it thoroughly investigated!"
What, this scholarly title is fake?
Everyone instinctively turned their gaze to Scholar Yuan, even the scholars beside him were sowhat stunned.
Scholar Yuan’s gaze flickered, and he shouted brashly yet timidly, "You’re insolent! Your words are baseless, nonsense. Indeed, you and that demon path State Preceptor are cut from the sa cloth, splashing dirty water indiscriminately; I’ll surely go back and report to the authorities and punish you."
He said this and turned to leave.
Qin Liuxi hooked her hand, "Did I let you leave? Say it clearly before you go!"
Scholar Yuan was at a loss, looking at his feet, oh dear, what was holding him? He couldn’t move.
He scread in terror, pulling at his feet, "You look what you’ve done to ? Demon art, you’ve cast demon art on . Help, Brother Zhou, quickly help ."
Scholar Zhou swallowed hard and took a step back.
This, this was too outrageous; clearly, nothing was there, yet Scholar Yuan’s legs seed pulled by invisible hands, unable to move, how terrifying.
"Didn’t you say I’m cut from the sa cloth as demon paths? As long as you speak truthfully about how you obtained your scholarly title, then you can leave; otherwise, you cannot leave, oh!" Qin Liuxi’s eyes were icy; she said, "Soone doesn’t want you to leave!"
Scholar Yuan’s eyes widened, his face ghastly pale.
Those who witnessed it were all amazed, seeing how guilty he was; there really was sothing going on!
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