Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 170 Autumn Rain in Qingcheng, Wandering in the Immortal Palace
The newcomer stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his black clothes appearing even more serene against the gray, rainy landscape, as if he had merged with heaven and earth.

The longsword he carried was simple and unadorned, with fine patterns faintly visible on its scabbard.

The newcomer exuded an indescribable aura, both as ethereal and unpredictable as clouds and mist, and as steady and majestic as a mountain.

He walked in quietly, yet he exuded a chilling aura, as if even the rain had to make way for him.

Upon closer inspection, the rainwater had not actually soaked his clothes.

A very faint misty aura enveloped him, flowing and shifting like a thin veil.

The raindrops touched this layer of energy and then silently slid off, turning into tiny water droplets that scattered and splashed in the dim light.

When she finally saw the familiar and calm face of the newcomer, Song Wan suddenly stood up, unaware that the progress chart she was holding had fallen to the ground.

Her eyes widened, her face filled with unbelievable surprise, her lips trembled slightly, and her voice was brimming with barely suppressed excitement:
"Master! You...you're back!"

Qi Yun walked slowly in the rain.

Song Wan felt her heart skip a beat.

The Qi Yun before my eyes seems quite different from the one I saw a month and a half ago.

His features remained handsome, but his eyes, which used to gleam with a sharp light, were now completely devoid of brilliance, deep and still like an ancient well, without a ripple.

The man exuded an aura of authority from the moment he stood there, yet it was not something he did intentionally; rather, it was the demeanor of someone who had held a high position for many years.

What's even stranger is that his majesty also exudes an indescribable air of nobility, as if he were not the master of a Taoist temple, but a nobleman hidden in a prominent family.

Song Wan felt inexplicably reserved, and even her breathing became lighter.

Qi Yun seemed completely unaware, and simply smiled slightly: "I had some things to take care of before. Thank you for your hard work during this time."

Song Wan quickly composed herself and said seriously, "It's all part of my job, Abbot, you're too kind."

She bent down to pick up the progress chart from the ground, gently shook off the water droplets, and said, "The construction of the Taoist temple is progressing smoothly. According to the plan, it can be officially inspected in five days."

Qi Yun nodded, his gaze sweeping over the rain-soaked mountains: "Let's talk as we go. Show me around first."

Song Wan responded, opened the black umbrella beside her, and quickly took two steps to shield Qi Yun from the rain. However, she saw him wave his hand, so she did not insist and closed the umbrella to walk alongside him.

The two walked up the wet stone steps.

As Song Wan led the way, she gave a clear and organized report:

"The name hasn't been decided yet. Should we use the original 'Five Organs Observation' or choose a different name? My personal suggestion is... the name 'Five Organs Observation' might be a bit difficult for ordinary worshippers to understand, and it's not conducive to attracting worshippers."

Furthermore, should you personally draft the couplets? The lineage of the Dharma also needs to be clearly defined. Besides the Three Pure Ones, should other deities be worshipped? These are all matters for you to decide.

The rain pattered softly, and the newly built temples on both sides of the mountain path stood silently in the rain.

The scattered Taoist temples that once stood on Mount Qingcheng have all been demolished and rebuilt in a unified and grand manner.

Starting from the mountain gate, the palaces and pavilions rise layer by layer along the mountain slope, with flying eaves and brackets appearing and disappearing in the rain and mist.

Some workers were still putting the finishing touches on, and the occasional clanging and sawing sounds pierced through the rain.

Song Wan pointed to various places, as if listing her treasures: "The main structure uses a reinforced concrete frame to ensure safety and durability, but the exterior is decorated entirely with traditional wooden structures, with green tiles and red pillars, striving for an antique feel."

We tried our best to reuse many of the old bricks and tiles that were removed from the site in the core area, especially the area on the mountaintop.

After walking all the way to the top of the mountain, there is a relatively independent courtyard in front of you, surrounded by high walls, which separates it from the noisy scenic area below.

Song Wan pushed open a heavy wooden door: "The Taoist temple is still modeled after the Qingyang Palace, with an inner and outer section."

The outside is open to tourists, but the inside is for your quiet meditation; it's like a temple within a temple.

The courtyard has a three-section layout, with bluestone paving, winding corridors, and a very quiet atmosphere.

After passing through the last moon gate, a bright and open space suddenly appeared.

The top of the back mountain was leveled to form a wide platform, and the ground was inlaid with a huge Tai Chi Bagua diagram in black and white stones, which was simple and grand.

The raindrops made it appear even clearer and smoother.

The two stood at the edge of the platform, gazing into the distance.

In the autumn rain, Mount Qingcheng is ablaze with color, its forests a tapestry of dark green, deep yellow, and light brown, all washed clean by the rain. Clouds and mist swirl around the mountainside, distant peaks appear like dark eyebrows, and the world is shrouded in a hazy tranquility, broken only by the soft patter of the rain.

Qi Yun stood with his hands behind his back, gazed for a moment, and then spoke: "The name will be as you said, with an inner and outer section. The outer section will be called 'Youxian Palace'. The inner section will remain 'Wuzang Temple'."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The lineage I inherited is that of the Northern Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan's expression changed slightly, clearly indicating that she knew about the "Northern Emperor's Lineage".

She whispered, "The Northern Emperor's Sect... enforces strict laws, summons spirits and deities, and uses ruthless methods to demonstrate their compassion. No wonder you, Abbot..."

She didn't say anything more, but her eyes held a hint of understanding and awe.

Qi Yun did not look at her; his gaze remained fixed on the misty, rainy landscape: "As for the statue, it can be enshrined in the Youxian Palace according to the usual regulations for Taoist temples."

"The statues in the Five Organs Temple..." He paused for a moment, "...will be sculpted by my own hands."

Changing the subject, he asked, "When we were down the mountain, I heard that things haven't been peaceful at Qingcheng Mountain lately?"

Upon hearing this, Song Wan's brows immediately furrowed, and her tone was filled with indignation: "Don't even mention it! It's all disgusting stuff!"
Many of the so-called "Taoists" who were scattered in various places before were just swindlers who made a living by deceiving others.

This unified demolition and relocation project, with its generous compensation, has ironically stirred up some greedy individuals.

Some workers, dissatisfied with the insufficient compensation, repeatedly caused trouble, but to no avail. So they started resorting to ghostly tactic at night, hoping to scare the construction team and delay the project.

She snorted: "I led a group to stake out the place for two nights and caught them red-handed!"

It's the same old trick of playing a child crying on a tape recorder while stealing the tools—it's incredibly clumsy!

The person has been taken to the police station. The rumors have spread, and people down the mountain are telling all sorts of detailed stories—like a deity throwing a tantrum, or ghosts wailing—and it's not going to stop anytime soon.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun couldn't help but chuckle.

He initially thought there were some unruly evil spirits causing trouble, and even considered performing a ritual to help them pass on, but he never expected it to be such a farce.

"Since it was man-made, then it's fine. The rumors will naturally dissipate in time."

The rain gradually subsided, turning into a light drizzle. Qi Yun then inquired about the situation at the 749 headquarters.

Song Wan reported, "I reported it immediately when you left suddenly last time."

The headquarters' reply was calm, simply saying they understood and to wait for the recipient's return.

She glanced at Qi Yun's expression and continued, "In addition, Elder Zhang Mingyuan, the secretary-general of the Xuan Yi Alliance, also called to say that when the temple is completed, several directors will come to attend the ceremony and offer their congratulations. They will also bring a batch of classic texts to enrich the temple's collection of Taoist scriptures."

Old Zhang specifically asked, "Is there any particular scripture you'd like to find?"

"If we could find the scattered books of the Northern Emperor Sect, that would be the best outcome," Qi Yun said.

“I’ve noted it down.” Song Wan nodded, then added, “There will be quite a few people from Bureau 749 coming over, and some leaders would like to take this opportunity to formally meet you and get to know you. I estimate a small meeting will be arranged at the temple; I hope you will agree. Also…”

She paused, then became more cautious in her tone, "Do you have any guests you would like to invite?"

For example, relatives or old friends?
The bureau can issue invitations uniformly, arrange round-trip travel, and the expenses will be handled through the bureau's accounts, without affecting the Taoist temple's funds.

The question was phrased tactfully, but Qi Yun understood the implication.

This is to give him an opportunity to show off his abilities in front of others.

But he had no interest in it. The original owner's social relationships were all entanglements of cause and effect to him. If he were brought here, he would inevitably be asked to do things for his children, work for them, and so on, which would only add to his troubles.

He shook his head decisively: "No. The meeting has been approved!"

All matters have been reported, and the rain has almost stopped.

The mountain air is cool and moist, carrying the fragrance of soil and vegetation.

"I'll be doing some renovations at the old place for the next few days. You're in charge of the inspection yourself!"

“Yes, Abbot.” Song Wan replied respectfully, “Please call me anytime if you need anything.”

Qi Yun nodded slightly, said no more, turned around and walked down the slippery stone steps.

The figure in black quickly disappeared around the bend of the lush mountain path, seemingly blending into the post-rain scenery of Qingcheng Mountain.

(End of this chapter)