Taoist Master, wishing for a sacrifice-based system

The video of Su Nian visiting Qingyun Temple was released that afternoon.

The title is very restrained.

A firsthand look at Qingyun Temple, known for its "wish-granting" practices: Is it genuine or a scam? I have no answer.

But the more restrained they are, the more curious they become.

Coupled with her 480,000 fan base, and the already controversial topic of "Qingyun Temple"—

The video garnered over eight million views that night.

The most upvoted comment:

"In the past, Niannian always came to a clear conclusion in every episode, but this time she said 'there is no answer'? This means that even she is unsure about this area. This is even scarier than directly saying it's a spiritual matter."

The clip of Qin Du responding to "good thing or bad thing" during the live stream was edited out and went viral on various platforms.

"They were desperate before they came. After they arrived, at least there was a result."

This passage was screenshotted, made into memes, and written into jokes.

Qin Du's live stream followers jumped from a few hundred to over six thousand overnight.

While this number is insignificant compared to top streamers, it's still a significant number for a dilapidated Taoist temple that was streaming to thin air just three days ago—

That's already a qualitative leap.

…………

The next morning.

Qin Du will continue to broadcast as usual.

The number of viewers in today's live stream remained stable at around 1,000, which is more than any previous day.

The comments section was ten times more lively than before.

Most people were there to watch the spectacle, a small portion were Su Nian's fans who had "migrated," and a few others—

I came here to make a wish with serious intention.

[Celestial Master, where exactly is your Taoist temple? I can't find it on navigation apps!]

I want to go burn incense, but I'm worried the cost will be too high. Could I ask what the cost would be before deciding?

Can I wish to win the lottery?

Qin Du replied to each of the following:

"Search for Da Ci'en Temple on your navigation app. Once you arrive, walk down the mountain. The one that looks the most dilapidated is ours."

"You can't ask about the price beforehand. Heaven doesn't accept bargaining."

"Winning the lottery? You can try. But let me tell you in advance, God's 'creativity' might be much richer than your imagination."

The screen was filled with "hahahahaha".

Just then—

There were footsteps at the door again.

And it wasn't just one person.

Qin Du looked up.

Three young men walked in.

The one in the lead was in his early twenties, with dyed blond hair, two silver earrings, a floral shirt, and pants that sagged down to his hips.

He had an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth.

The two behind him, one tall and thin, the other short and stout, were dressed similarly.

The three people share a unified and distinct temperament.

They clearly weren't there to burn incense and worship gods.

Yellow Hair walked into the main hall, looking left and right with a hint of disdain on his lips.

"this one?"

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the peeling paint on the statue and the rusty incense burner, before finally settling on Qin Du.

"Are you that Taoist priest who's all the rage online?"

"Celestial Master," Qin Du corrected, "there is a fundamental difference between a Taoist priest and a Celestial Master."

"What's the difference?"

"Being a Taoist priest is a profession, while being a Celestial Master is a title. It's like being a hoodlum, but your boss is the leader. They're not the same."

The smile on the blond-haired man's face froze for a second.

The two behind them looked at each other in bewilderment.

A row of comments instantly appeared:

[Hahaha, this analogy is brilliant!]

The Celestial Master's words are truly venomous.

This Taoist priest has a big heart; he offended someone right from the start.

Huang Mao clearly hadn't expected a Taoist priest to speak so bluntly.

But he didn't come here to argue.

He clicked his tongue, crossed his arms, and walked around the hall before finally stopping in front of the stone tablet.

"Three sticks of incense, one wish. Making a wish is free, fulfilling a wish is up to fate."

He read it once, then turned to look at Qin Du:

"Really? You'll agree to anything?"

"Anything is fine with me."

"free?"

"free."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"Even if it doesn't work, you won't lose anything. I'll cover the cost of three incense sticks."

The blond-haired man stared at him for a few seconds.

Then he laughed.

It wasn't the disdainful laugh from before, but a laugh that seemed "interesting."

"Okay. I'll give it a try."

He gestured with his chin toward the two people behind him: "You two wait outside."

The two underlings wisely retreated to the courtyard.

Huang Mao walked up to the incense burner.

Qin Du handed over three sticks of incense.

"What's your name?"

"Zhang Lei".

Zhang Lei took the incense and lit it with a lighter.

He finally took the cigarette out of his mouth and tucked it behind his ear.

The incense-offering gesture wasn't standard, but it was still considered respectful.

At least there were no joking or laughing faces.

The three incense sticks were placed securely in the incense burner.

Smoke rose up.

Qin Du sensed that familiar change.

The air suddenly felt slightly heavy.

Zhang Lei stood in front of the incense burner and thought for a few seconds.

Then he spoke.

His voice had a slightly roguish quality, but if you listened carefully, you could tell he was serious.

"I make a wish—"

"Give me a secure job with room and board included, so I'll never have to worry about food or accommodation again."

The words had just left his mouth.

Qin Du's expression didn't change much.

However, a message has already popped up on the system panel:

[Ding—Your wish has been granted.]

[Wisher: Zhang Lei]

[Wish: To obtain a stable, lifelong "iron rice bowl" job with room and board included]

[The judgment of Heaven is underway...]

[Estimated compensation: High.]

Qin Du glanced at the word "high".

It's not "extremely high".

It's a level below Zhao Wei's time.

But it's not low either.

He didn't speak.

The live stream chat exploded.

The barrage of comments at this moment was faster than ever before.

Because everyone was thinking of the same thing.

【It's all over, it ...】

[A secure job? Room and board included? Does he not know what he's talking about?]

[This wish sounds so familiar... Wait, isn't this—]

[Prison, bro!!! A guaranteed job with food and lodging—isn't that just prison food?!]

[God: The best job has been matched for you - Cell No. 0731, including three meals and accommodation, minimum 15 years of work experience]

[Oh my god, is this person really going to go in??]

Stop him! Has anyone told him how dangerous this wish is?!

【No, no, no, think about it. Heaven might not take the most outrageous route, right? What if it arranges a real secure job for him? Like a civil servant?】

Wake up, bro! Look at him! He can't even pass the civil service physical exam. It would be absurd if he were allowed to pass the civil service exam.

[Hilarious! So the least outrageous way is actually going to jail? What kind of logic is that???]

Wait a minute—if the logic of Heaven is to "satisfy the literal meaning in the most reasonable way," then for a small-time hoodlum, a secure job with room and board included...

Stop talking, I'm starting to feel sorry for him.

The comments section was buzzing with discussion, speculation, and debate.

But Zhang Lei himself—

I know nothing.

He placed the last incense stick in the burner, dusted off his hands, turned around, and grinned at Qin Du.

"Alright. Go back and wait for good news."

He walked towards the door.

I turned around as I reached the door.

"Taoist priest—no, Celestial Master. If it really works, I'll bring you a pack of good cigarettes."

"Okay, I'll wait for your good news," Qin Du said.

His tone was exactly the same as when he saw Fatty Liu off.

Zhang Lei, along with two henchmen, swaggered away and disappeared down the bumpy road.

The courtyard was quiet again.

Meanwhile, the live stream chat was still flooding the screen at an astonishing speed.

More than 90% of the content conveys the same meaning—

"This person is finished."

In the three days following Zhang Lei's wish, Qingyun Temple's live stream experienced an unprecedented "nationwide guessing game".

Everyone is guessing—

How will Heaven arrange a "secure job" for this petty thug?

The speculations from the live chat were compiled into a post and shared on a forum with the title:

"The 'Iron Rice Bowl Wish' Incident at Qingyun Temple: A Summary of Online Guessing Games"

The top guess (most upvoted): going to jail.

Reason: Free meals and accommodation, lifelong job security, government-backed, a perfect match.

Second place: Military service.

Reason: It's considered a secure job, and it includes meals and accommodation. However, considering Zhang Lei's appearance, he'll most likely fail the political background check.

Ranked third: Become a disciple of a temple and become a monk.

Reason: The temple also provides food and lodging. Although it's not a prison, it's better than one.

Fourth place: Living in a hospital for the rest of your life.

Reason: Referring to Zhao Wei's previous case, it seems that Tiandao likes to solve problems using physical methods.

The fifth most outrageous one is that he was abducted by aliens.

Reason: Even alien spaceships provide food and lodging.

When Qin Du saw these speculations in the live stream, he almost spat out his water.

"Your imaginations are richer than the laws of nature," he said to the camera.

Which one do you think that master is?

"I don't know," Qin Du answered honestly. "Heaven doesn't consult me."

Do you have a premonition?

Qin Du remained silent for a second.

"……have."

What is it?

"It's not convenient to say."

【! ! ! 】

The comments section exploded into chaos.

But Qin Du didn't say another word.

He did have a premonition.

The system's estimate for Zhang Lei's compensation is "high"—not "extremely high".

"Extremely high" is like Zhao Wei's, the price of which is fractures all over his body.

"High" is a grade lower than that.

Based on Zhang Lei's wishes...

Qin Du felt that Heaven would most likely not let him suffer too much physical pain.

But we will find another way to make his "iron rice bowl" truly live up to its name.

But what exactly is this method?

He had already guessed it.

Almost everyone guessed it.

Only Zhang Lei himself was unaware of this, still immersed in it, dreaming about the future.