Longevity Candle

Chapter 19 Karma Does Not Apply

Liu Sanzhu recounted the story in a few words.

Jiang Zhu closed his eyes, sensing his surroundings. In the distance, bandits were raping a father and daughter, and then thanking Liu Hao.

If it weren't for Liu Hao, a local, tipping them off and keeping an eye on the town's officials, they wouldn't have been able to easily find out the officials' whereabouts and deal with them.

A moment later, he understood the situation.

Liu Hao, along with the river bandits, posed as a local and brought them in.

Strangers who come here will definitely be noticed and questioned, but Liu Hao covered for them and got away with it.

"brute."

Knowing what had been done, Jiang Zhu was also furious. Having been possessed by him before, he felt that his own body was no longer pure.

He felt that he should become a chivalrous knight-errant who punishes evil and promotes justice.

Even if I suffer the karmic consequences of heaven and earth, I can simply sleep a little longer.

Golden and silver light emanated from his fingertips, instantly splitting into countless forms, with countless starlight falling and merging into the water bandits.

One by one, the bandits died silently.

Seeing the bandits fall, Liu Hao was terrified and his previous arrogance vanished: "God of Qingjiang, please forgive me, God of Qingjiang, please forgive me! They wronged me first. I just came back for revenge!"

"How could I have wronged you?" Jiang Zhu said calmly, "You were a wolf in sheep's clothing even when you were young. I saw everything your grandparents plotted for you."

"I just want a good life, what's wrong with that? He's so rich, what's wrong with him supporting me?" Liu Hao said shockingly, "I'm also a fisherman on the banks of the Qingjiang River, why do you only bless Liu Sanzhu and not me?"

"If Qingjiang hadn't taken my parents away, how could I be living such a miserable life? It's all your fault, you Qingjiang God, you owe me!"

Jiang Zhu was stunned, seemingly not expecting that people could be so shameless.

Liu Sanzhu and Liu Lang were also stunned by his shameless words.

“Then you’ve come to the wrong person,” Jiang Zhu said. “I am not the god of Qingjiang, but the green lamp in your hand back then. I once looked down at your grandfather and caught a net of fish for him.”

I noticed your family was poor, and if you had potential, I would have given you a means to make a living; it was you who failed to seize the opportunity.

"The green lamp..."

Liu Hao stared blankly at the green lamp in disbelief: "That's my family's green lamp?"

As he muttered this, he suddenly became excited: "You are mine, you are mine, you should bless me."

"Where did you get this green lamp?" Jiang Zhu asked. "Tell me the truth, and I will bless you."

Liu Hao's eyes darted around: "It's an heirloom."

"Deceiving me won't do you any good." Jiang Zhu frowned; this person really was incorrigible.

The golden light entered his body, turning into flames that burned his flesh and bones.

He controlled his magic and did not burn him to death.

Liu Hao's shrill screams were unbearable, he was never a tough guy: "It was my father, he was swept away by the river, and my grandfather found the green lamp in the woods when he was looking for his body."

"What year is it tonight?" Jiang Zhu asked.

Liu Sanzhu quickly replied, "The twenty-eighth year of Yong'an."

“Yong’an? How long has it been since Chengwu six years ago?” Jiang Zhu frowned.

Liu Sanzhu was somewhat bewildered, but Liu Lang outside replied, "Chengwu was the reign title of the second emperor. After that, there were two emperors, Yuanwu and Kangning, until the current Yong'an 28th year. We don't know the exact number of years; you'll have to ask Young Master Qin."

"She has already served three emperors?" Jiang Zhu sighed softly. "She must be no longer here."

"God of Qingjiang, who are you looking for? I can help you find them," Liu Sanzhu said hurriedly. Liu Hao also quickly replied, "I can help you find them too, as long as you give me a fortune."

Jiang Zhu glanced at him, and the golden flames engulfed him, burning him to ashes.

“There’s no need to look for her. She has already gone into seclusion and should have a good ending,” Jiang Zhu said. “I just don’t know why she abandoned me in the mountains.”

"Could something have happened to her?" Liu Sanzhu asked cautiously.

"Probably not. Her martial arts skills are very strong, arguably the best in the world. Her name is Gu Yan, and I call her Ayan," Jiang Zhu said.

She is a person from long ago; how many people in the world still remember her?
He glanced back at the green lamp, which emitted a faint scent of incense, but he couldn't absorb it, just like the statues at Baiyun Temple back then.

The merits and incense offerings are unusable even by oneself.

He was puzzled, but he didn't dwell on it. He waved his hand to release Liu Lang and brought him in front of him: "Your martial arts are not bad, but you don't know how to kill."

"Homage to the eternal god of the green lamp." He bowed respectfully.

“My name is Jiang Zhu, a wandering soul in the green lamp, not the god you speak of.” Jiang Zhu said, “Ayan once collected many martial arts techniques, and there just happens to be one that suits you and can complement your martial arts.”

A ray of golden light entered between the father and son's brows: "With my insights and experience, you two go and handle things."

"Yes, God of the Green Lamp." They did not address him by his name: "We will certainly inquire about Gu Yan for you."

"There's no need to inquire further. She should have already been laid to rest. You can live in peace. I don't ask anything of you."

Jiang Zhu waved his hand and said, "Life is short, enjoy the present moment and don't be attached to anything. By the way, I will be in a deep sleep for a long time, so there is no need to worship me. Incense is useless to me. If I don't wake up, your prayers will be useless. Don't rely on me to do evil."

“Yes, we understand. You have already done us a great favor by saving us. How could we ask for anything more?” the father and son said quickly.

“Liu Lang, stay and tell me about the God of Qingjiang,” Jiang Zhu said.

He followed Ayan but did not learn of any supernatural phenomena.

He had fallen into a deep sleep and awoke several times. He had seen Jingwei and the white crane, but had never seen any other supernatural beings. He was naturally curious.

"The God of Qingjiang is an ancient legend, dating back to the previous dynasty. He protects the fishermen of Qingjiang; lighting three sticks of incense before entering the river ensures their safety..."

He recounted his limited understanding: "My father said that during the Chongwu era, temples were destroyed and evil gods were exterminated. The temple of the God of Qingjiang was destroyed, but there were no miraculous events, so people stopped believing in it."

Jiang Zhu pondered, could it be that there's a saying in this world that spirits aren't allowed after the founding of the People's Republic of China?
That's not right either; the elves just haven't descended to the mortal realm yet.

But the god of Qingjiang simply gave up the incense offerings without any resistance?
Without any further information, he dismissed Liu Lang, then floated to the rooftop, sat cross-legged to absorb the essence of the sun and moon, and accumulated magical power.

The household servants and women were all murdered.

The official also got into trouble, so the father and son went to Qingjiang City to find that young master Qin.

Liu Sanzhu instructed Liu Lang not to mention Jiang Zhu, or even Young Master Qin.

He had his own selfish motives, but he didn't dare to cause trouble for Jiang Zhu.

Jiang Zhu sat cross-legged on the rooftop, meditating as usual. The karmic force he had imagined from heaven and earth did not descend.

"Could it be because the river bandits are evil? But eliminating evil brings no merit."

Jiang Zhu looked puzzled: "Or perhaps, it's because Liu Hao offended me?"

He didn't understand that he seemed to be quite different from those elves.

For example, they can absorb incense offerings, but they cannot; they can use merit, but they cannot.

More importantly, one needs to slumber and accumulate the light of the sun and moon in order to briefly revive.

Elves, however, do not have similar restrictions.

(End of this chapter)