A Poor Ghost's Envious Tears

Chapter 20: Tears of a Poor Ghost's Envy. Yuntai Temple had been passed down through the Zhu Family for over a thousand years; compared to Yuntai Temple, Wangyun Temple, established only a few decades ago, seemed insignificant.

But in the hearts of the common people, Wangyun Temple had more fame and prestige than Yuntai Temple. Zhu Shian sighed at this as she climbed the steps to Wangyun Temple—the stairs were neatly built and wide, requiring considerable manpower and resources, something only a large temple with great wealth could achieve.

Upon arriving at Wangyun Temple, Zhu Shian saw many pilgrims burning incense and making wishes, which was also a strange sight. After all, although social customs were changing, the aftereffects of the decade-long turmoil still lingered; many people, regardless of their inner thoughts, were still very cautious about openly burning incense and worshipping Buddha.

Zhu Fengqin had gotten up early to accompany Zhu Shian to Wangyun Temple. Panting heavily as she climbed the mountain, Zhu Fengqin whispered to Zhu Shian, 'The day before yesterday, Daoist Zhang brought Zhang Jie down from Yuntai Temple to buy salt.

He said Yuntai Temple was very quiet—no one went there to burn incense.' Zhu Shian hummed in acknowledgment. In the hearts of the people of Zhen Shan County, Yuntai Temple was tied to the Zhu Family, unlike Wangyun Temple, which was open to the public.

Compared to Yuntai Temple, Wangyun Temple was more popular. Besides this reason, Buddhism preached saving all sentient beings, while Daoism preached the Dao following nature.

Buddhism was closely related to human birth, aging, sickness, and death; its threshold was low and its coverage wide, making it far easier to spread than Daoism in this regard. If the Xuan Sect competed for incense offerings internally, Daoism would likely lose to Buddhism.

But people like Zhu Shian, who practiced Dao Cultivation, didn't care at all—the Daoist way emphasized nature, letting things be as they may. Zhu Fengqin was clearly not as open-minded as Zhu Shian.

Seeing the gold-painted, resplendent gate of Wangyun Temple, she couldn't help feeling envious. Zhu Fengqin trotted a few steps closer to look: 'Tsk, this Great Buddha Hall is really magnificent!' Zhu Shian didn't pay much attention to the Great Buddha Hall; her gaze was drawn to a bell pavilion on the right side of the square, where a large bronze bell stood.

'An'an, Master Mingjue isn't as skilled as you, so why is Wangyun Temple more popular than our Yuntai Temple?' Before Zhu Shian could answer, Master Mingjue came out with several disciples to greet her: 'Greetings, Zhu Family's Eldest Daughter. It's been a few days; I didn't expect you to visit in person today.

I apologize for not coming far enough to welcome you.' 'Master Mingjue is too polite.' 'Does Zhu Family's Eldest Daughter have important business at the temple?' 'Indeed, I have a small matter on which I'd like to ask for your help.' 'Then shall we go inside and talk?' Zhu Shian nodded.

During their brief exchange, many people burning incense and praying nearby were watching them; this was not a place for conversation. Zhu Shian followed Master Mingjue inside.

Since she had come to Wangyun Temple and had a request, she politely offered three sticks of incense to the Buddha before going with Master Mingjue to the guest courtyard. The guest courtyard was not far, just to the right of the Great Buddha Hall.

Passing through the side gate, the right-side courtyard had no statues of deities; besides a few guest rooms, only a spiraling tall tower stood in the yard. Zhu Shian looked at the tower and said, 'With the high walls and tall banyan trees outside the courtyard, we couldn't see this tower from outside the Great Buddha Hall.' Master Mingjue smiled and said, 'It was built so that the view of Spring River, Mountain Valley, and the County Town below the mountain would not be blocked by trees.' Zhu Shian smiled and said, 'So that night when the Sanqing Taiji Formation in Mountain Valley was damaged and yin qi leaked, you were able to discover it immediately?' 'Yes.' Master Mingjue personally brewed tea and invited Zhu Shian to taste it.

Zhu Shian sipped slowly, not rushing to state her purpose. Master Mingjue didn't press either; he began to tell Zhu Shian in detail about the origins of Wangyun Temple.

'As you probably know, our Wangyun Temple was built specifically to suppress the special feng shui pattern of Zhen Shan County. The most precious thing in our Wangyun Temple is not these buildings, but the set of Parent-Child Bell standing in the square of the Great Buddha Hall.' Zhu Shian had seen it earlier in the square.

She asked, 'I didn't look closely earlier. That bell—could it be that it appears clumsy but is actually ingenious? To me, it doesn't look like a magical artifact at all.' Master Mingjue admired her insight and smiled, 'That yellow bell is indeed not a magical artifact.

The yellow bell can dispel yin qi and suppress evil spirits because of the Diamond Fish hanging inside it.' Most wooden fish that monks strike are made of wood, but there are also other materials; wooden fish made of vajra metal are also common. The sound of a vajra metal wooden fish is clearer and louder, and they are usually engraved with Buddhist inscriptions and gathas, used as magical artifacts.

'The Diamond Fish was originally the guardian object of the Kashaya Temple in the northwest. Later, the temple was destroyed by fire, and the Diamond Fish was lost.

During the Republic of China era, it fell into the hands of an antique shop owner surnamed Zhang, who later gave it to a high monk at the White Pagoda Temple in Nanjing. That high monk recognized the Diamond Fish as the guardian object of the Kashaya Temple.

Later, for the peace of Zhen Shan County, the Diamond Fish was sent from White Pagoda Temple to Wangyun Temple.' Zhu Shian finished a cup of tea and poured herself another. Zhu Fengqin was listening intently to Master Mingjue's story.

She asked, 'Since that big bell outside is useless, why not just use the Diamond Fish directly? Why put a big bell over it?' Zhu Shian said, 'Probably to make it easier to use the Diamond Fish.' Master Mingjue nodded and smiled, 'Exactly.

The Diamond Fish is a Buddhist magical artifact; not everyone has the ability to use it. The inside of the yellow bell is engraved with the same demon-subduing inscriptions as the Diamond Fish, making it easier to activate the Diamond Fish inside by striking the bell.

In fact, the Parent-Child Bell borrowed the method of your Zhu Family's Soul-Calming Bell.' 'The yellow bell of your Wangyun Temple is easier to use than our Zhu Family's Soul-Calming Bell. Our Zhu Family's Soul-Calming Bell is a magical artifact both inside and out; only those who have entered the Dao can strike it.' 'Even so, our Parent-Child Bell is not as effective as your Soul-Calming Bell in suppressing evil spirits.' 'Each has its own merits.' Master Mingjue said, 'After the decline of the Xuan Sect, many magical artifacts of various schools have been lost, which is very distressing.' 'No one covets good things?

No one secretly collects them?' 'There are. As far as I know, the largest collection of magical artifacts is currently held by the National Security Action Group.

Nowadays, any Xuan Sect member invited to join the Action Unit can choose one magical artifact from the Action Unit to use. For example, the Daoist Ding you know—after joining the Action Unit, he took a thousand-year-old Paulownia Wood Sword, which was made from lightning-struck wood.

In terms of preciousness, even our Wangyun Temple's treasure, the Parent-Child Bell, cannot compare.' Zhu Shian couldn't help but smile. It was really hard on Master Mingjue, going around in such a big circle just to persuade her to join the Action Unit.

Zhu Shian still didn't take the bait; she changed the subject: 'Master Mingjue, I have a favor to ask of you.' Master Mingjue sighed, 'Go ahead. If I can help, I certainly will.' 'I heard that the Ministry of Health is gradually restoring Traditional Chinese Medicine colleges.

Additionally, they are discussing giving some folk doctors with medical skills the opportunity to obtain Individual Practice Licenses. Our Zhu Family wants to get this license, and I'd like to trouble you to inquire about the specific details.' 'The Zhu Family has passed down medicine for generations.

Back when your Zhu Shi Clinic was open, who in the neighboring counties didn't know your Zhu Shi Clinic? If Zhu Shi Clinic can truly reopen, it would be a good thing for everyone.

Rest assured, I will help you inquire.' 'Thank you, Master Mingjue,' Zhu Shian said sincerely. Master Mingjue sighed again.

The Zhu Family's Eldest Daughter was focused on reopening Zhu Shi Clinic; her mind was set on that. It seemed she really didn't want to join the Action Unit.

Not only did she not want to join the Action Unit, but last night Zhu Shian had also rejected the underworld's yin contract. When she wasn't strong enough, Zhu Shian didn't want to stand out.

Master Mingjue was not the type to be annoying; he knew when to stop. Smiling, he asked Zhu Shian for some incense candles.

'Your Zhu Family has a secret recipe for making incense candles. When your grandfather was alive, he used to send a bundle to our Wangyun Temple every year.

Those were good things.' 'A little incense is nothing. I'll make some myself and have someone deliver them to you.' 'Then I thank the Zhu Family's Eldest Daughter in advance.' After a few more pleasantries, the sun was already high, and Zhu Shian needed to go home.

Master Mingjue personally saw her off. Walking across the square in front of the Great Buddha Hall, Zhu Shian glanced again at the set of Parent-Child Bell and kindly reminded him, 'Master Mingjue, your Wangyun Temple is not as safe as our Yuntai Temple.

As more people come and go in the future, it's hard to guarantee that no one will covet your Wangyun Temple's treasure. You should increase your protection.' Master Mingjue also knew the importance of the Parent-Child Bell.

'Thank you for your concern. We have people patrolling and guarding it morning and evening; there won't be any problems.' Since that was the case, Zhu Shian didn't say more.

After seeing Zhu Shian off, Huixin stepped forward and said, 'Master, why did the Zhu Family's Eldest Daughter suddenly remind us to be careful about the Parent-Child Bell being stolen? Is there something we don't know?' Xuan Sect practitioners had many unpredictable methods.

Master Mingjue didn't know why the Zhu Family's Eldest Daughter had suddenly mentioned this, but caution couldn't hurt. 'From now on, don't relax the patrols at night either.' 'Yes, Master.' Zhu Fengqin hadn't walked so many mountain roads in a long time.

Going up the mountain early in the morning and coming down at noon, by the time she got home, she was groaning about her sore legs. There were still a bunch of mischievous kids at home.

Since Zhu Fengqin had gone out today, Zhu Changfang, Zhang Hui, and the others had taken over her tasks, buying groceries, cooking, and looking after the kids together. Knowing that the Eldest Daughter wouldn't eat lunch at Wangyun Temple, they had specifically kept two portions of food in the pot.

After Zhu Shian and Zhu Fengqin returned home and had lunch, they each went to rest. Zhu Shian woke up in the mid-afternoon.

Not in the mood for cultivation today, she went to the back storeroom to fetch some green ash made from sun-dried and ground green leaves that the clan members had collected earlier, and also found some thin bamboo sticks. She sat alone, blending Qingxiang incense.

The Qingxiang incense wasn't ready to burn yet; it needed to be dried in the shade before use. The incense Zhu Shian made was so tempting to ghosts that Wang Erzhu, hiding under a lotus leaf, stared at the incense drying under the eaves with ghostly eyes nearly red with envy, driven mad by craving.

If it weren't still broad daylight and his ghostly soul would be scorched if he emerged, he would have rushed over to take a whiff immediately. Wang Erzhu didn't dare show himself, but that Bai Snake, who bullied him every day, wasn't afraid.

Wang Erzhu watched helplessly as that detestable Bai Snake used her tail to curl around a bundle of incense and slink away. After a while, the smell of burning incense drifted over from that courtyard.

Wang Erzhu risked his soul being scorched and carefully poked out a bit of his nose, sniffing, sniffing, sniffing! Ah, how envious it made a ghost!

Why did that Bai Snake, who only bullied ghosts, get to enjoy such fine incense? Enough to anger a ghost to death! In the next room, Zhu Shian nudged the limp Bai Snake with her toe.

'Clean up the incense ash in the corner.' 'Master, I want more.' 'You want more? Get to work.' 'Fine.' Bai Snake went to work reluctantly, then slipped out again.

Wang Erzhu saw her steal another bundle of incense and run off. Wang Erzhu: '...' He was just a poor ghost lodging in a wealthy household, watching them eat and drink well every day, yet he couldn't taste a single bite.

How pitiful. Wang Erzhu silently swore in his heart that in his next life, he would definitely be reborn into a rich family!