Chapter 949: The God-Pretending Immortal Aunt 1

"When will you change this habit of yours of speaking without thinking? Can you use your brain before you speak? Even if you don't use your brain, can you just talk less? The Immortal Aunt is very powerful; don't think that just because she isn't here, she can't hear you if you badmouth her behind her back..."

Sheng Jiang was lectured by Lao Li for quite a while and dared not say another word.

Upon returning home, he announced: "I am going to eat vegetarian for three days. I won't be eating with you all in the dining room these next few days; I'll eat in my room."

His wife found it amusing: "Oh! Has the sun risen from the west? You actually want to eat vegetarian? Which meal do you usually let pass without meat? What's wrong with you today?"

Although there was nothing wrong with Sheng Jiang's health, it is still better for the elderly to have a light diet.

Yet he was someone who couldn't enjoy a meal without meat; he couldn't go without it for any meal.

Since he suddenly announced he wanted to eat vegetarian today, his wife naturally had no reason to refuse.

Fang Jie was not only skilled at cooking but could make anything, and she made vegetarian dishes taste delicious too, so the three days wouldn't be too hard for him to endure.

Three days later.

The fifteenth had arrived.

It should have been a full moon night, but it was cloudy today, and there was no moon in the sky.

Midnight.

Sheng Jiang got up to take a shower, then put on his coat to go out.

Wang Yinghao was woken up by the noise, sat up, and asked: "What kind of madness are you up to in the middle of the night? Where are you going?"

"Don't worry about it, I have urgent business to attend to."

"What business?"

"Just go to sleep, don't worry about me. Anyway, I'm not going on a date with another old lady."

His wife laughed: "If you had that ability, I wouldn't be worried. Finding another old lady would be fine; let someone else wait on you. I've had enough of waiting on you."

"Hmph! In your dreams!"

He was about to leave, but hadn't said where he was going.

Wang Yinghao grabbed his arm: "Tell me, I won't let you out if you don't say."

Sheng Jiang: "I'm going to Shanlin Temple to offer incense."

His wife's eyes widened: "I'll go with you."

She had also heard of the Immortal Aunt's reputation. In fact, Wang Yinghao was tempted too, but she was worried that their daughter-in-law wouldn't approve, and her husband wouldn't approve, which was why she hadn't taken any action until now.

Now that she heard her husband was going to Shanlin Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings for Zhu Xiangu, she immediately perked up and wanted to go along.

Sheng Jiang: "You stay at home. Shanlin Temple is very far; you can't drive, you have to walk. Your legs already hurt, do you still want them after walking such a long way? Besides, Lao Li told me I had to eat vegetarian for three days in advance, and you haven't eaten vegetarian, so you can't go."

What her husband said made sense, so since she couldn't go, she urged him to be careful on the road.

Try to walk on the sidewalk, and if you must cross the street, watch out for passing vehicles; cars drive fast at night...

She nagged on and on, and he agreed to everything without showing the slightest impatience.

Walking from midnight until dawn, and from dawn until the sun was high in the sky—Shanlin Temple had finally arrived!

Sheng Jiang was in a sorry state now.

He had specifically worn a pair of Spring Shoes for the walk, but the soles of his feet were still blistered.

Every step he took felt as painful as being pricked by needles.

The road was filled with dust, and his clothes, hair, and face were covered in it.

He limped up the steps, knocked on the temple gate, and explained his purpose to the abbot.

The abbot took one look at his travel-worn appearance and then had someone take him to the back hall to rest for a while.

A young monk brought tea and food and invited him to eat: "Benefactor, please eat."

Having walked such a long distance, he was already famished.

But he felt a bit embarrassed to eat someone else's tea and food without making any offering.

Before he could speak, the young monk seemed to have seen through his thoughts, pressed his palms together, and said: "Benefactor, do not worry. All the benefactors who come to us are like this; as long as you are sincere, that is enough."

"Thank you."

He stood on no more ceremony, picked up the tea and food, and began to eat in large mouthfuls, eating with great relish.

After he was full, the abbot came in and personally took him to the side hall to offer incense and kowtow.

After the kowtowing was finished, the abbot handed him a stack of yellow joss paper and told him to take it to the Immortal Aunt. Sheng Jiang thanked him profusely and left Shanlin Temple.

By the time he walked from Shanlin Temple to his home, it was almost dark. Lao Li was waiting for him at the entrance of the residential complex and gave him a thumbs up: "You're really something. I never thought that someone who has never suffered would actually be able to honestly walk there and back."

"The Immortal Aunt already knows. She told me to meet you here."

Sheng Jiang hesitated: "I'm covered in dust; is it appropriate to see the Immortal Aunt like this? Besides, it's already dark. Let's wait until tomorrow morning."

"It doesn't matter, come with me."

"The Immortal Aunt" lived in a high-rise. The two of them took the elevator to the eighteenth floor. As they stepped out of the elevator, Sheng Jiang shivered instantly.

"Why is it so cold here?"

Although the weather outside wasn't very warm yet, the hallway shouldn't be this cold. It seemed as if gusts of ghostly wind were blowing through, making it chilly.

Lao Li whispered to him: "Don't talk nonsense here. Be cautious in your words and actions."

"Mm."

The two arrived in front of door 1801. They didn't need to knock; the door opened by itself.

But there was no one in the room walking back and forth. Sheng Jiang felt this place was even more mysterious.

A young girl's soft, thin voice came from the room: "Come in."

"Yes, Immortal Aunt."

Lao Li urged Sheng Jiang: "Keep your head down as you walk. Don't look around after you go in, and definitely don't look at the Immortal Aunt's face. It is highly disrespectful."

"Okay."

He agreed, and the two of them went in.

The room was dimly lit, filled everywhere with an eerie atmosphere.

The heavy curtains were drawn, and many strange and bizarre objects were enshrined on two of the walls; he had never seen them before and did not dare to look at them closely.

Sitting in the innermost part was a slender young girl meditating.

Two oil lamps were lit on either side of the spot where she was meditating, and all the light in the room originated from them.

It was very strange; the room was so tightly sealed and the oil lamps were lit, yet it did not sting the eyes at all, and there was not a trace of smoke above the lamp flames.

"Lower your head, don't look around." Seeing him staring at the oil lamps, Lao Li assumed he was staring at the Immortal Maiden and immediately reminded him.

Sheng Jiang did not refute this; he immediately lowered his head even further, obediently listening, and did not dare to look at all.

"Sit."

In front of the Immortal Maiden were two bright yellow meditation cushions; there were no chairs, and she invited the two of them to sit on them.

How was he supposed to sit like this?

Sheng Jiang was a bit bewildered.

Sitting down casually as if he were at home would be inappropriate.

Lao Li expressed his thanks, then knelt and sat on his cushion in a proper and respectful manner.

He followed suit, imitating Lao Li's manner, and also knelt and sat on the meditation cushion in a proper and respectful manner.

The Immortal Maiden spoke: "Your Sheng Family is a century-old noble family, prosperous and flourishing. Aside from the shrewd minds of the heads of the family through the generations, your ability to remain enduring and never decline is also inseparable from your family traditions. Do you think I am right?"

Sheng Jiang was filled with admiration.

The slight doubt he had just a moment ago was now completely gone.

"The Immortal Maiden is right; that is exactly how it is."

She continued: "The Sheng Family has lasted a century. Outsiders look at your current achievements and see the head of the family as having good methods for managing the household, but what you do not know is that there has always been a Guardian Immortal protecting the Sheng Family."

"A Guardian Immortal?"

Sheng Jiang was puzzled; he raised his head slightly, and the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the Immortal Maiden's appearance.

She was too young.

The Immortal Maiden had a beautiful face, but she was too young, and his heart began to waver.

"Heh, you don't believe what I said?"

"No, I believe it."

"No, you don't believe it. In your heart, you think I am too young and suspect me of playing the charlatan."

"I will tell you a few things, and then you will understand."

The Immortal Maiden spoke eloquently.

She pointed out that sixty years ago, when he was still a child, the Sheng Family had once experienced a major incident.