Chapter 164

Pangzi's chest rose and fell, and for a long time he could not calm down. It could be seen that he was now very excited, extremely excited.

I couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment: "This old man from the Mediterranean, could his origins really be that unfathomable? He actually made you so excited you couldn't speak."

"No..." Pangzi put away his usual frivolity, his expression solemn as he rejected me: "I am not shocked by his origins, but I admire his virtue. Nowadays, in Daoism, if one were to say who could earn my wholehearted admiration, he would be one of them."

"Er..." I asked in astonishment: "Just who is he, and what exactly did he do that was earth-shattering? To make you admire him so much!"

Pangzi didn't answer me, but simply handed over the box containing the purple gold bloom and said the answer lay at the bottom of this box.

At the bottom of the box were three tiny seal script characters; thanks to Pangzi's eyesight, otherwise ordinary people would really have trouble finding this line of small characters.

But I couldn't understand that line of seal script at the box's bottom; for complex ancient characters, I have always been an idiot.

In the end, it was still Pangzi who revealed the answer.

"Wudang Daoist... Chen Yuanming (alias)" Pangzi said solemnly, word by word. At the same time, a flush rose on Pangzi's increasingly gaunt face, and his eyes were full of reverence.

Wudang Daoist Chen Yuanming, one of the notable figures of contemporary Daoism, is held in reverence by both Daoists and Buddhist practitioners. People revere him not because of his high seniority, nor because he comes from the thousand-year-old heritage of Wudang.

Rather, it is his spirit of traveling a thousand miles, enduring the mundane world, overcoming countless hardships to propagate the Dao. Speaking of Chen Yuanming, one cannot but mention the grandest Daoist temple in the Chaoshan region today, Qixing Dongtian.

Qixing Dongtian, also known as Qixing Guan, is located on the Gaopu Hengping Ridge mountains and is the largest Daoist architectural complex in the Chaozhou region. In 260 CE, the Celestial Master Ge Hong, Chisongzi Huang Chuping, and other immortals came here to seek dragon veins and gather herbs. In 1778 CE, sages Wang Dacheng and Wang Gu, among others, continued the bonds and expanded it, serving the Compassionate Voyage Heavenly Lord and other deities. By the time of China's liberation, only broken steles and ruined tiles remained.

Afterwards, Wudang Daoist Chen Yuanming came here to seek immortals and pursue the Dao. In this desolate place he built a thatched hut from grass, spending over ten years, widely gathering believers and forming good karmic connections. Through his tireless efforts, and with the help of believers and fellow Daoists from all sides, he finally accomplished the largest Daoist architectural complex in the Chaozhou region, today's scenic spot, the union of southern Wudang, Qixing Dongtian.

Within Qixing Dongtian one can see halls dedicated to deities such as Wenchang, Cihang, Linggong, and so on; while in the Daoist courtyard, one often sees a half-bald Daoist holding a broom, standing outside the gate, silently sweeping fallen leaves.

This Daoist is none other than one of the founders of Qixing Dongtian, Wudang Daoist Chen Yuanming. After the grotto was completed, it became the largest Daoist architectural complex in the Chaozhou region, with sincere worshippers from all directions coming in an endless stream, and the number of Daoists coming to lodge here is innumerable.

Thereafter, Chen Yuanming did not become the head of the grotto, but gladly remained a leisurely person within it.

As Pangzi said, in this day and age there are not lacking those with profound magical power, and those who merely sit on empty fame are everywhere. But truly genuine ascetic Daoists like Chen Yuanming are exceedingly rare.

Since ancient times, although Daoism speaks of non-action, living in today's secular world, not everyone can truly achieve natural non-action. Therefore, regardless of major Daoist schools or folk Buddhist practices, outward harmony while secretly engaging in open and covert strife will never be lacking.

Of course, this phenomenon does not refer only to Daoists; even Buddhists are not few in number.

However, whether it be open and covert conflict, or unruly, hard-to-tame individuals, upon hearing the name Chen Yuanming, no one fails to raise a thumb in approval, no one fails to praise him from the heart.

Spending half a lifetime, he accomplished the southern union of Qixing Dongtian, founded the grotto's mansion to educate the world—what merit could compare? This process, how could it not be countless hardships? Such a person, who would not admire him, who would dare to slander him even a little?

Upon learning the identity of that Mediterranean old man, I too was shocked and unable to recover for a long time. Of course, Pangzi felt even more resentful, because although I had not spent much time with him, I had indeed seen Daoist Chen in person.

And Pangzi, however, didn't even catch a glimpse of his shadow. I don't know if using a more refined phrase would count as "brushing shoulders."

Only then did I finally understand the meaning of that verse: "On Hengping Ridge leans the green pine, whistling and planting pepper, an old man sings." Isn't this Qixing Dongtian precisely located on the Hengping Ridge of Chaoshan?

"Forget it, everything is determined by fate, arises from fate. I suppose my fortune is simply insufficient, so I couldn't meet such a high person." By the end, Pangzi also let it go.

"Hehe, if we have fate, we will surely meet again!" I said with a smile.

Afterwards, the two of us simply sat in the hospital hallway, quietly waiting for QingSongShu to come out.

The method to avoid death for Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin was too perilous, so QingSongShu did not let me and Pangzi participate. Even after retrieving the Eight Treasures purple gold bloom, QingSongShu still would not let us rashly venture into danger. Because… the death-averting art, until the very last moment, no one dares to say what the outcome will be.

Yuan Qiu went out in the morning; the reason for going out was that Little Fat's stomach was hungry. Little Fat and Pangzi were, in a past life, a pair of passing enemies. One should never expect them to get along well.

Therefore, the task of buying incense oil and candles to offer to Little Fat fell to Yuan Qiu.

As time passed, Pangzi told me the recent situation of Murong Jia Jia.

After I left, Pangzi, following my instructions, gathered many disciples of Dongling and offered incense and paid respects to Murong Jia Jia.

Under the nourishment of countless incense offerings, Murong Jia Jia's injuries healed at an extremely rapid speed; it is believed that before long she will recover to her former state.

Hearing this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I don't know why, but in my heart I always have a strange feeling toward Murong Jia Jia.

Although I haven't known her for long, my nervousness toward her is no less than that toward Little Fat and Pangzi. I don't know why I would develop such a feeling toward a ghost spirit I've only just met.

Perhaps this is fate; everything seems clueless at first, but after it happens it feels natural and inevitable.

I shook my head, casting these chaotic emotions beyond the ninth heaven, and sat calmly in the chair.

Time slowly passed; the ward remained quiet and still, without a hint of movement. Seeing that the sky had turned completely dark, and having eaten nothing all day, I told Pangzi, then ran out of the hospital, strolling the streets to find something to fill my stomach.

"Later, take your phone as well, just in case something happens so you can be reached," Pangzi said, handing over the big brother phone he had been using.

I said okay, took it in hand, and then walked out of the hospital.

After leaving the hospital, I ran a bit farther and returned to that eatery that sells donkey blood. The purpose of this trip, besides eating, was also to thank the owner.

Although during the search for Huangjing the donkey-blood rope was merely a prop, the owner's enthusiasm saved me from much trouble.

Thus, I went from the hospital on the street to the donkey meat manor next door.

Upon entering, it was still that same waiter who first served me; seeing my first words, she smiled and asked, "Sir, are you here again to buy raw donkey blood?"

That remark drew the attention of the diners inside the eatery; in the end I could only laugh helplessly and tell her, "I came to eat, and incidentally to thank the boss."

However, what I regretted was that the eatery's owner had gone out and would not return for a long time. Being unable to thank him in person, I inevitably felt a sense of regret.

I sat down at a table by the window, ordered a few dishes for hot pot, but before the hot pot was even halfway done, Pangzi called.

I pressed the answer key and connected; Pangzi's anxious voice came through.

"Hai Sheng, where are you? Something happened." Pangzi's voice was extremely urgent.

My heart tightened, thinking that Elder Brother Zheng had again encountered some mishap.

Unexpectedly, Pangzi anxiously said: "Do you still remember Granny Zhao and Shi Shi? It's them who met with trouble; your command flag was placed in the bag, and Red Granny followed the flag's scent back, not only that, but she also suffered serious injuries; I am now preparing to rush over… beep-beep."

Suddenly, the big brother phone cut off directly; I lowered my head and saw, damn, it had run out of power.

Upon hearing that Granny Zhao's side had met with trouble, I immediately dared not hesitate, hastily beckoning to the waiter.

"Check, please."

At the same time, a familiar exclamation suddenly came from behind.

"Hai Sheng, how could you be here?"

I turned my head and couldn't help but let out an astonished "eh."

The owner of that voice was none other than Chen Mo, who had been absent for a long time.

Since Fan Wuchang was sent to the hospital, Chen Mo seemed not to have appeared for a long time; according to Yuan Qiu, she had returned to the police station.

I never expected to see her here. Moreover, Chen Mo seemed to have become much thinner, her red, swollen eyes filled with bloodshot veins, her face full of exhaustion. Such a lively jade-like person, now so emaciated—what has she endured? What psychological pressure has she borne?

I was just thinking when Chen Mo lightly walked over to me.

"Is he okay?" the exhausted Chen Mo said to me, uttering a puzzling remark.

After a moment, I finally realized— that "he" must refer to Pangzi.

"May I sit here?" Chen Mo smiled, though her smile could not hide her weariness; her fragile expression was hard to refuse.

I instinctively nodded, saying "yes" twice in a row, but suddenly I remembered I still had something to do.

So I quickly jumped up, waved at Chen Mo and said, "Next time; this time I have urgent business; next time we'll get together again."

Who would have thought that as soon as I finished speaking, Chen Mo self-pityingly said, "I knew you didn't want to see me! You won't even give me a chance to vent."

At the same time, a hint of a self-mocking smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, as if she were laughing at herself for being overly sentimental.

"Forget it, I'm leaving!" Chen Mo prepared to get up.

"Wait a moment," as Chen Mo was about to leave, I stopped her.

"Go ahead!" I sat down again and said to Chen Mo, who was sitting at the other end of the table.

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