Taoist priests in the supernatural world

Whoosh!

Another wave of dizziness washed over me.

When Huang Bai opened his eyes, he had already arrived in a new place.

Before me lies a bustling metropolis, with skyscrapers and a constant flow of traffic.

In a corner of a bustling high-rise building lies a crowded slum.

The buildings huddled together, like haphazardly piled bricks, vying for the meager ray of sunlight overhead. Cheap clothes hung from dilapidated balconies, dripping water that made the already narrow alleyways even more slippery. Cockroaches and rats occasionally darted out of the sewers, flashing past in the shadows.

This place is Kowloon Walled City.

Amidst the densely packed buildings, a vermilion palace stands out.

The temple walls were mottled and covered with moss, with children's messy chalk scribbles on them. On either side of the red gate, there were miscellaneous items such as incense, candles, yellow paper, and funeral clothes, and a smell of old paper ash mixed with incense smoke wafted out.

The plaque above the door bears the words "old":

Wong Sin Temple in Kowloon.

The deity enshrined in this temple is none other than Huang Daxian, who attained enlightenment during the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

The wisps of incense smoke curl like gauze as worshippers come and go, seeking peace, marriage, and fortune.

The old Taoist priest, with his white hair and beard and excellent appearance, dozed off in his armchair, showing little interest in the pilgrims coming and going.

"Master Zhigang, how much is this yellow paper?"

"Ten dollars a stack." Old Daoist Zhigang didn't even open his eyes.

"So expensive?"

"Get out if you're not buying." Daoist Zhigang waved his hand impatiently, showing no interest in business.

"Throw away the thunderous scheme, and bring shame upon your family!" The pilgrim's face flushed red as he left, cursing under his breath. If it weren't for the old Taoist's deathly appearance, he would have punched him long ago.

Wong Tai Sin is the most popular faith in Hong Kong, and Wong Tai Sin temples in various parts of the country are bustling with worshippers. However, in this area, the number of believers is small and the place is deserted.

It wasn't that the people of Kowloon Walled City didn't believe in ghosts and gods, but rather that the old Taoist priest had such a terrible personality that he would often insult worshippers and even drive them out of the temple.

Huang Bai approached the old Taoist priest and said, "Greetings, Taoist priest. I've come to apply for the position of temple keeper."

According to the Heavenly Decree's arrangement of his identity, he was merely an ordinary citizen in this realm applying for a temple keeper position. If he could successfully remain, he would be able to obtain a certificate of ordination and become a Taoist priest.

The old Taoist priest glanced at Huang Bai, his eyes filled with scrutiny.

"My word doesn't count; Wong Tai Sin's word counts. The temple keeper of Wong Tai Sin Temple must be a person who upholds righteousness."

"Go and offer incense to Wong Tai Sin. If you pass Wong Tai Sin's test, you can become a temple keeper."

"Okay." Huang Bai was surprised. Could it be that there are immortals and gods in this world?

He is more inclined to believe that the gods and immortals do not exist. If the gods and immortals really exist, then the Department of Miscellaneous Matters would not be in charge of supernatural matters, nor would it tolerate the rampant ghosts and monsters.

Huang Bai entered the temple, lit three incense sticks, bowed devoutly, and observed his surroundings with his divine sense.

Just as I had guessed, there was nothing extraordinary about it.

Wow!

At that moment, the portrait of Wong Tai Sin hanging on the wall fell to the ground.

At that moment, the Taoist priest Zhigang walked in and said, "You're hired. The salary is three thousand, but room and board are not included. If you want to live in the temple, two hundred will be deducted from your salary each month. If you don't want to work here, go somewhere else."

"I agree."

The old Taoist priest handed over the yellow, white, and blue Taoist robe, muttering to himself, "..."

"No stealing incense money is allowed. The main business of the Taoist temple is selling incense and paper money. No discounts are allowed. Anyone who tries to bargain will be kicked out."

"If someone asks for a talisman to ward off evil spirits, then draw the talisman for them according to the one on the wall."

Daoist Zhigang pointed to the pattern on the wall.

Upon closer inspection, Huang Bai realized it was a movie poster for Mr. Zombie. In the poster, the Taoist priest Uncle Nine held a sword in one hand and a talisman in the other, looking majestic, while the zombies and monsters ran away with their heads in their hands.

"This...this actually works?"

This old Taoist priest is clearly a fraud.

"Why not?" At this point, Zhi Gang's eyes turned serious, and he said, "Although I am a Taoist priest, I also have to tell you something—there are no ghosts in this world."

"Ghost stories are nonsense, the boring fantasies of mentally ill people. Don't go near them, or you might get arrested as a mental patient."

"I see."

After that, Huang Bai stayed at the Taoist temple.

The Taoist temple was a place of ordinary daily life, where no one possessed Taoist skills or spiritual attainments, and the only things that mattered were firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

Zhi Gang spends his days sunbathing, looking like he's just waiting to die, and the Taoist temple has been taken over by Huang Bai.

Occasionally, when there are religious ceremonies such as weddings or funerals, Zhi Gang will lead Huang Bai out.

This set still lacks any so-called supernatural elements; it's all just charlatanry.

Good morning, Master Huang!

"Master Huang! Take some fruit back with you."

Since Huang Bai took over the miscellaneous affairs of the Taoist temple, he has been welcomed by the neighbors and neighbors because of his kind attitude.

Nighttime, a side hall of a Taoist temple.

Under the dim nightlight, Huang Bai sat cross-legged, holding the inner core in his hands, visualizing the Five Hells, and absorbing the immense medicinal power of the inner core.

Feeling his divine sense gradually increasing, he has now broken through the ten-meter mark.

On the other side, Zhi Gang was still awake.

He put on his coat, slowly walked to the window, and looked out at the dark night sky.

In the dead of night, Kowloon Walled City was as silent as a giant coffin. The towering buildings, intertwined and blocking out the sun, resembled the coldest and most eerie curtain of the sky, completely covering the human world.

Even those who are clear-headed can only pretend they didn't see it.

"well……"

Zhi Gang sighed softly.

"The true Dharma no longer exists; the Dharma-ending Age has arrived."

He was neither a reclusive master hiding his identity nor a Taoist master feigning madness.

He was just an ordinary person who saw things too clearly but was powerless to do anything about them.

Boom boom boom!

A series of urgent knocks on the door suddenly broke the silence of the night.

"Master Daoist! Master Daoist!"

"Screw you, are you in such a hurry to be reborn?" Zhi Gang cursed as he put on his coat and strode outside.

A middle-aged couple stood outside the door, looking flustered and filled with fear.

"Master, help! My daughter is possessed by an evil spirit, please come quickly!"

"What nonsense about being possessed or not."

Zhi Gang was still sharp-tongued, but he turned around and called Huang Bai out, and then followed the couple home.

Along the way, Zhi Gang kept muttering to himself:

"What ghosts and gods? They're all fake. In this degenerate age, immortals have retreated from the world, and ghosts and gods have disappeared. There are no ghosts left in this world."

He spoke as if he were lecturing someone else, or as if he were desperately trying to convince himself.

"Ahhh"

Just as they reached the door, a sharp, piercing scream suddenly erupted from inside the iron gate.

The voice was so harsh and shrill that it didn't sound like a child's; rather, it sounded like something was being forcefully choked in the throat, sending chills down one's spine.

Several people pushed open the door and entered.

The room was dimly lit.

A little girl stood motionless in the center of the living room, her back to everyone.

The cries abruptly ceased.

Click!

The next instant, her head suddenly turned 180 degrees, her face directly facing the crowd.

Those eyes were filled with resentment and coldness as they stared intently at everyone at the door.

The room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"It's normal for a child's bones to be more flexible since they haven't fully developed yet."

Zhi Gang's Adam's apple bobbed as he forced himself to utter this nonsense that even he himself didn't believe.

Even Huang Bai's eyes twitched slightly as he listened.

He had already secretly tightened his grip on the magic sword.

The ghosts described in "The First Commandment" are extremely difficult to deal with; their possession techniques are impossible to guard against. Once you come into contact with them, you might be possessed by their spirits. He wasn't sure if his current level of cultivation was enough to withstand it.

"hey-hey……"

The little girl let out a strange laugh, and the next moment she suddenly leaped onto the wall, darting around like a gecko, and pounced into the inner room.

boom!

The door slammed shut.

"Taoist Master..." The couple looked pale and pleaded with Zhi Gang for help.

Zhi Gang coughed lightly twice, trying his best to appear nonchalant.

"Well, it's normal for a child to be light and have good jumping ability."

After saying that, he took out two talismans from his sleeve and handed them to the couple.

"Just stick these two talismans on the door, and that will do."

"Walk."

After saying that, Zhi Gang turned and left, his steps were incredibly fast, almost like he was fleeing in panic.

Huang Bai followed him out, his brows furrowed, and he whispered, "Taoist Master, this is clearly a case of possession by a ghost."

"Keep your voice down."

Zhi Gang's face was more serious than ever before, and he almost squeezed out the words through clenched teeth.

Then came the sound of hurried footsteps behind me.

"Master Zhigang, wait! We haven't taken the money yet!"

It was the husband who chased after them.

Zhi Gang paused, but did not turn around.

The man had already run up behind the two, his voice carrying an eerie lightness:

"Master, thank you so much. Xiaojia is much better now."

The moment the man approached, his face turned deathly pale, two streams of bloody tears suddenly flowed from his eyes, and his entire face was twisted so distorted that he looked like a living person. He suddenly lunged at Zhi Gang!

Zhi Gang, however, seemed to have anticipated this scene.

They simply stood there, calm to the point of numbness, as if awaiting a death that was already destined.

hum!

At this moment, the longsword was drawn, its light as bright as a rainbow.