Ink Burns

Chapter 273 Going Home (Part 2)

The Old Dragon's Cave?
Shan Yue couldn't understand.

Having heard of Qingyue Temple for a long time, I now realize that it is not far from Hanshan Temple and Qiushui Ferry in the east of the city. It is only a short walk of half an incense stick's worth of walking. After passing through a dense forest and a mountain stream, I saw a dilapidated porch and a flickering candle.

Shan Yue followed Xue Xiao along the moss-covered stone path. The further they went, the more they felt something was wrong—the faces of the Three Pure Ones statues ahead were black and looked unhappy.

My gaze shifted downwards.

No, that looks like that big foot. Something's not right.

Shan Yue narrowed her eyes slightly: Why is there a piece of skin peeled up on the instep? And why is there some golden sheen showing under the skin?
Upon closer inspection, the dazzling brilliance bore a striking resemblance to her pair of jeweled bracelets.

Shan Yue withdrew her gaze.

The white-haired old Taoist priest walked forward with his hands behind his back, while relentlessly accusing Xue Xiao of forgetting his roots.

"You've never shown respect to your teacher. Are you some kind of selfless benefactor who doesn't expect anything in return?!"

"When I was a kid, they demolished my Taoist temple, taking dozens of tiles so badly even birds couldn't step on it. The temple still leaks now! Now that they're grown up and in power, they don't even bother to fix it up for this old Taoist."

The white-haired old Taoist muttered to himself as he passed the statue of the Three Pure Ones. With a flick of his heel, the glittering golden light was instantly obscured by the peeling skin on his foot. The whole movement was fluid and graceful, indicating that he had done it quite often.

Shan Yue pursed her lips and turned to look at Xue Xiao.

Xue Xiao shrugged and lowered his voice: "...The Tao is made of gold, covered with a layer of ash and mud—even the old evil dragon knows the principle of not flaunting wealth."

Until you enter the inner room via a winding pebble path.

The wooden door creaked open.

Shan Yue was so blinded by the light that she involuntarily closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she had a clear understanding and recognition of the "old dragon's glittering nest": indeed, it had indeed secretly hidden a lot of treasures. There were many treasures, such as Western Region crystals, inlaid golden toads, and twelve pearl-inlaid screens, but they all had one thing in common - they were all very shiny.

The white-haired old Taoist priest sat down, half-reclining on the rosewood recliner. He smacked his lips, his white beard twitching, and sighed, "Ever since that book went to serve the emperor, the incense offerings to the Taoist temple have been declining day by day."

Shan Yue frowned as she looked at Xue Xiao.

What? Xue Xiao is here, and he's become the leader of religious ceremonies?
Xue Xiao casually sat down, took a sip of tea slowly, and smiled: "The Zhaode Dynasty is in constant turmoil, and the laws and regulations are weak, so naturally there are plenty of people who do things that risk their lives; the current emperor is determined to restore order, and the officials of various prefectures and departments dare not slack off on criminal cases - it is something to celebrate that your business has become less complicated."

"Tch—" The white-haired old Taoist priest's beard stood up straight as the sky: "Don't tell me about the affairs of the imperial court—if it weren't for your uncle saving me, I wouldn't have gotten involved with you!"

Xue Xiao still smiled and said, "You're getting old, you should take care of your body and mind, so you shouldn't do some of the work. If there are any gaps or deficiencies in the Taoist temple, why do you need to step in yourself? Don't you still have me? Min Sunyang from the Ministry of Rites' Taoist Records Office came from the Censorate. If you go to him, you're going to me."

These words pleased the old dragon, but he didn't show it. He only subtly expressed his joy with a twitching corner of his mouth.

"OK OK!"

The white-haired old Taoist waved his hand: "Tomorrow is the grand court assembly. Go to sleep first, in your old room. Take your wife and rest there—you make it sound like your master is a wicked person who repays kindness!"

"If you ever need help again, don't trust anyone except the people in this temple. Don't think that the one on the dragon throne is a good person. The word 'king' is composed of 'jun' (钧), meaning a cauldron of immense weight; and 'king' is composed of 'wang' (亡), meaning the destruction of ten thousand people and the rise of one. Look at your uncle, and look at your mother, they've both suffered greatly!"

Xue Xiao nodded in agreement, even more obedient than his family's parrot, Xue Tuan. After exchanging greetings with his fellow disciples at the temple, he and Shan Yue strolled out. Shan Yue, still confused by the murmurs, was about to ask when she saw a dozen or so Taoist priests, dressed in their robes, already waiting at the entrance.

Upon seeing Xue Xiao emerge, Taoist priests of all ranks flocked to him, some with fists on his shoulders, others with outstretched arms around him, and still others with heavy slaps on his back, shouting angrily, "If things aren't going well out there, then get back here!"

Shan Yue had never seen Xue Xiao laugh like that before.

They responded with smiles, sincerity, and joy.

"I'm really struggling. That's why I'm asking everyone for help!" Xue Xiao said with a smile, elbowing his senior brother.

After the Taoists greeted Xue Xiao, they all turned to Shan Yue and said in unison, "Greetings, Sister-in-law!"

His voice was loud and clear, and his attitude was upright.

Shan Yue was instantly embarrassed: like a mouse hiding in a dark corner, suddenly being scorched by the bright white light and warm heat—this was different from the impact brought by Wang Erniang and Xiao Huangzhi, who had a unique woman's keen sense of boundaries and delicate balance, which was like a gentle spring breeze to her.
These young Taoist priests are like eight-zhang-high waves, crashing and pounding against the shore without any response, until the shore is shattered.

"Hello—Hello, fellow disciples—" Shan Yue's voice and expression were calm as he nodded in response.

Xue Xiao laughed even harder, casually grabbing Shan Yue's wrist and using his other hand to disperse the crowd: "Alright, alright, I'll bring your junior disciple back next time."

what?
Shan Yue frowned.

Before he could reply, Xue Xiao held Shan Yue's hand tightly and walked forward.

The small Qingyue Temple contains a world within itself.

The Taoist temple is located halfway up the mountain. The Taoist priests' quarters are accessible by climbing up a rugged mountain path, as if a vast world is hidden behind the narrow doorway—just like Xue Xiao's first half of life.

Shan Yue had always thought it was just a typical Taoist temple's way of surviving, but now, through the small opening, it seemed as if she was seeing an unexpected past.

"How could a Taoist temple be so wealthy?" Once they reached a secluded spot, Shan Yue finally asked, "Just as the Taoist priest said, the temple's incense offerings are not plentiful. Where did the gold, jewels, and crystals come from?"

The moon hangs in the west, and the grass and trees are lush and green.

Occasionally, the water drips and splashes onto the surface of the pool, blending into the sound of the mountains and water.

Xue Xiao had no clothes to change into; the blood and grime covering his body had seeped into his very skin, the stench of blood mingling with the earthy smell of the mountains and the dampness of the moonlit night.

He let out a soft chuckle, then answered: "The Zhaode Dynasty was in disarray, with laws failing to be enforced, giving rise to many strange phenomena—such as executions and assassinations."

Shan Yue paused slightly: "What do you mean?"

Xue Xiaowei turned slightly to the side: "Give me money and I'll help you kill your enemies—Master is a disciple of Wudang, with unparalleled martial arts skills. Under Emperor Zhaode's rule, the situation was chaotic, and the officials of the Six Ministries followed suit. The Ministry of Rites and the Daoist Bureau did nothing but take a cut from the Taoist temples. The people couldn't survive, so how could they offer incense or perform rituals? After two of my uncles starved to death at the Taoist temple, Master finally came out of the mountains to find work. His first job was to help a local gentry kill a minor official who had taken his wife, for a reward of twenty taels of silver."

Shan Yue pursed her lips.

"Twenty taels of silver is enough to feed more than thirty people in the temple for half a year," Xue Xiao said.