Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 795 Gentle Evening Breeze
Is it appropriate to discuss materialism with a Taoist priest?

This is perfect. The conversation wouldn't have been possible with a monk, but it's different with an old Taoist priest. His talent might be average, but this group's ability to accept new things is extraordinary.

People like him are better suited to be a propagator, spreading this idea. Regardless of how well it is received outside, before truly opening their eyes, they first need to have this concept, and then they won't say things like "Fire Dragon True Lord" anymore.

The old Taoist's experiences over the past two days had already overturned his understanding. Now, after encountering Xia Lin's theories, it was as if his shattered worldview was being reshaped, giving him a completely new cognitive system.

This old Taoist priest is particularly representative because he is the kind of person who has walked from a chaotic world to a new era. In his youth, foreign tribes invaded, powerful families seized power, and the dynasty was in turmoil. When he reached middle age, he faced the division of the Central Plains and warlord conflicts. It can be said that he has experienced too much suffering and witnessed too much displacement, family destruction, and death in his life.

Xia Lin stayed up all night to read his travelogue. Just as Mr. Lu Xun said, the whole thing was about "cannibalism." Countless people were swallowed up and their remains were never found. After reading this, Xia Lin knew that this person was definitely a born materialist.

Yes, that's right. He sought immortality, pursuing it relentlessly. But why? To put it another way, wasn't it because his faith in the gods had wavered? He desperately needed an example of the actual existence of gods and Buddhas to solidify the seal of his faith?

Unfortunately, he clearly failed, because even in his twilight years he had not seen a single deity, only a fire dragon created by a group of teenagers.

These young people accomplished what even gods could not do, but they are not gods, but rather vibrant and tenacious lives. Like torches, they used their youth to illuminate a small patch of light in this hopeless and dark era.

However, whether it was Xia Lin or those children who were burning with youthful passion, they always firmly believed that as long as there were enough fireflies, they would be able to completely tear apart the darkness and reveal the dawn.

“Each of them is walking on a bright yet winding road. Sometimes I can see those young and radiant smiles when I close my eyes.” Xia Lin picked up her tea, took a sip, and looked up with anticipation, smiling. “Your travelogue uses metaphors to describe people because you have seen the darkest and most oppressive side of this era. But don’t you think those children are like twinkling stars?”

When the old Taoist heard his words, his heart felt as if it had been struck by a meteor. He thought of the young man walking towards him on his way to see the fire dragon yesterday. The young man's face, covered in coal soot, was filled with a smile as bright as the stars. He admitted that when he recalled that moment, his heart, which had been dormant for many years, was slowly brought back to life, and a smile just like Xia Lin's gradually appeared on his face.

"If there is no torch after this, I will be the only light."

Xia Lin suddenly said this, then laughed and said, "Those kids are practicing this statement all the time. I don't want them to be defeated; they need to win and they must win. Do you understand what I mean?"

The old Taoist lowered his eyes and nodded gently after a long time, saying, "Yes, they must win. I've tasted the bitterness of those days, and they must not repeat the same mistakes."

"I need you to do something." Xia Lin then revealed his true intentions, clearing his throat: "Spread the teachings in the name of our late master."

“But this old man… cannot. I am but an insignificant hermit.”

"You can." Xia Lin didn't stand on ceremony with him, not even bothering to pretend. "I've thought of many methods, but now this is the only way: spreading the word. This method is very unorthodox, but it's the fastest way. Are you willing to help me, sir?"

Seeing his hesitation, Xia Lin suddenly added another factor to his mind: "For the sake of those children."

"I..." the old Taoist priest took a deep breath, "What should I do?"

"It's very simple. Isn't this what you Taoists are best at? The Great Master used a bowl of talisman water to invite a 400-year-old man to his death. If he could do it, so can you."

"I……"

What virtue or ability did the old Taoist possess? He never dared to think in that direction, and what was the Han Dynasty like back then? Things are so much better now; he hasn't heard of anyone starving to death in the last ten years.

If no one starves to death, then it is a peaceful and prosperous era, a golden age indeed.

Taoist priests in prosperous times should be hermits.

Xia Lin waved his hand: "Not enough, not enough, far from enough."

As they were talking, Shui Xian stepped forward and poured tea for the two of them. Xia Lin raised his hand and said, "Shui Xian, help me find out the average expenses of people in various places over the past few years. I need all kinds of information. Just go to the academy and ask them. Tell them it was me who said it."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Narcissus nodded. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Bring some food from outside for the Taoist priest. By the way, is it permissible for the Taoist priest to eat meat?" "No." The old Taoist priest waved his hands repeatedly, "Thank you for your kindness, sir."

Xia Lin nodded: "Then prepare a few vegetarian dishes for the Taoist priest. Make sure to use plenty of tofu and vegetarian eggs, and no scallions, ginger, garlic, or leeks."

"Understood, I'll go right away."

After Shui Xian left, Xia Lin said with a smile, "Daoist, please have some food here. We'll need to study the materials for quite some time when they arrive."

In fact, the old Taoist was quite moved. How could someone who had traveled far and wide not know Xia Lin's reputation? So when he first met Xia Lin, he was on high alert and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

But upon actually meeting Xia Lin, the old Taoist discovered that he was quite different from the image circulating in the martial arts world. He was not some two-zhang-tall monster who ate human blood. He appeared to be a refined and elegant middle-aged man, possessing a scholarly demeanor. In addition, his eloquent speech, full of classical allusions, gradually made the old Taoist associate him with the image of the greatest talent in the world.

After a while, Shui Xian returned with the documents and food, and Xia Lin and the old Taoist chatted while eating.

"Master, please look. This is data compiled by the students of the academy after traveling around. We have indeed not experienced a large-scale famine for many years. We should thank the nearly two million people in the north for their efforts in reclamation, as well as the introduction of various grain varieties. However, the problem is that there are still people starving in places we cannot see. My reach is not that long. Once they are outside my jurisdiction, I really have no time to take care of what they are doing. That is why I need someone like you to help me."

The old Taoist priest was utterly shocked after looking at the statistics. Simply put, in places like Jinling and Chang'an, although the inhabitants were all ordinary people, the value they created and the resources they received on average were much higher than in other places.

The largest disparity is as high as 57 times. What does that mean? In other words, even now, there are still some relatively isolated places where people are starving, enslaved, and oppressed.

"Master, how are you feeling?"

"The task is arduous and the road ahead is long..."

"Yes, it's a long and arduous journey." Xia Lin sighed. "So, what does the Daoist Master think now?"

"Since you have such aspirations, I have no choice but to accompany you, even at the cost of my life." The old Taoist priest looked up at Xia Lin: "But what should I do now?"

"Eat first, and I'll make arrangements for you after you've eaten."

That's why Li Shimin was said to be the strongest carbon-based life form on Earth in the 7th century, and Xia Lin was the strongest succubus in the 7th century. This old Taoist is indeed a wandering monk, but he still has fellow disciples. The key is that his fellow disciples all have extraordinary backgrounds, and they have quite a few believers.

The evil magic Xia Lin taught him was even more bizarre. There were yellow talismans soaked in water, but the water used to write the talismans was aspirin and penicillin. There were also pills, but the hawthorn cakes on the outside of the pills contained various different medicines, from those for treating malaria to painkillers to anti-allergies, and even those for treating angina.

Creating a god? No one knows how to create a god better than Xia Lin. But this time, he is using this evil method to create the great god of materialism. Only by using this method can he quickly transfer those troublesome and ignorant villagers to his camp.

Yes, this method is risky, but sometimes serious illnesses require drastic measures. The practice of sending scholars to the countryside was effective in the past, but its scope was too limited; many villagers simply ignored their classical Chinese teachings.

Since Confucius and Mencius cannot be retained, the great wise teacher is about to take the stage.

After receiving a series of training sessions, the old Taoist priest transformed into the head of the number one Taoist sect in the land, officially appointed by the imperial court, and casually named it Qingfeng Dao. But these are all minor details; in any case, once someone provides funding, the growth rate of this thing is astonishing.

Just as the first snow fell in Fuliang, Xia Lin finally had a triple celebration.

First piece of good news: Perhaps it was because he had truly escaped death and received divine favor, but the eldest princess and Tang Bao'er became pregnant one month apart. The eldest princess was so happy about this that she almost jumped so hard she miscarried. Upon hearing this, the people of Fuliang spontaneously designated the month before the winter solstice as a holiday, and even reported it to the Imperial Observatory. In the end, it turned out to be just a one-day holiday.

The second piece of good news is that after nearly two months of track testing, the train has been basically finalized and is ready for long-distance freight testing. However, the three provinces are now at odds with Prince Hongdu. One side insists on building the line to Nanjing first, with the Ministry of Revenue covering 40% of the costs. The other side refuses to budge, insisting that the first railway's terminus be Hongdu Prefecture. Prince Hongdu has personally gone to the capital to demand an explanation, and his usually mild-mannered brother-in-law is now going with the intention of burning down the three provinces and six ministries – a fierce battle is inevitable.

As for the third piece of good news, after training, the old Taoist priest has now become the oldest materialist fighter in Fuliang and even the world. He has now embarked on his wandering journey again with hundreds of flat-headed "Taoists".

The difference this time was that they brought a lot of materials for writing yellow talismans and refining pills, and of course, their most skilled "bewitching technique" was indispensable.

(End of this chapter)