Chapter 21: Envy

Young Daoist Yuanliang, rest assured, we will definitely not disturb your blessing for Ping'an!

When Wang Lin got up to leave, he saw Liu Dongzhu still standing in place, apparently reluctant to leave; he could roughly guess Liu Dongzhu's thoughts, and said:

Dongzhu, let's go, don't waste the Young Daoist's time!

Xuanqing Temple is right next to Hutou Gou; ever since Wang Ruhai gained prominence, his family received tax exemptions and similar benefits, making the whole household wealthy—let alone Hutou Gou, even the surrounding area could be considered affluent.

Whenever there was free time during festivals, they would go to Xuanqing Temple to burn a stick of incense, praying for the family's safety and health, and also praying for Wang Ruhai to achieve high honors in the imperial examinations.

Not long ago.

After Wang Ruhai placed third in the imperial examinations, the whole family went to Xuanqing Temple to fulfill their vows.

Over the years, they have become familiar with every plant and tree in Xuanqing Temple, let alone Young Daoist Yuanliang.

Naturally, they did not worry that Young Daoist Yuanliang was a fraud, nor that he would endanger Ping'an's life.

Ping'an, you stay here, don't cry and fuss; Mom will be back shortly!

Liu Dongzhu glanced at Wang Ping'an with reluctance, knowing that Young Daoist Yuanliang was reciting the blessing scripture for Wang Ping'an's benefit, and only then did she rise to leave.

You little brat, aren't you the reincarnation of a Great Virtuous Person? Why does my master value you so much!

After Wang Lin and Liu Dongzhu had just left and the room door was closed, Yuanliang couldn't help but complain.

Having heard about yesterday's incident from the temple visitors, he was fully aware; he knew his master, for Wang Ping'an's sake, would even dare to kill the steward of the prime minister's mansion.

Worried that this matter might implicate the Wang family, his master went all the way to the Capital City.

Although this trip was fraught with danger, his master additionally instructed him to come to the Wang family every day—not only to recite a passage of the blessing scripture for Wang Ping'an, but also to confirm that Wang Ping'an was safe and sound.

Having followed his master for many years, this was the first time he saw his master value someone else so greatly—and it was merely a newborn infant.

To say he felt no jealousy at all would be impossible!

However.

Yuanliang still quickly suppressed the jealousy in his heart; aside from his years of cultivation, which barely counted as an achievement, it was also because, upon seeing Wang Ping'an's appearance, he inexplicably found it hard to give rise to jealousy.

It seemed that an indescribable affability emanated from Wang Ping'an's smile!

Yuanliang said no more, swept the dust from the ground, sat cross-legged casually, and began to recite the blessing scripture in a low voice.

Wang Ping'an sensed spiritual energy gathering around him, and instinctively began to cultivate the Purple Qi Classic, drawing in even more heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.

The effect was far stronger than if he had merely practiced the Purple Qi Classic on his own—by who knows how many times!

It was truly a case of one plus one being greater than two!

Huh?

Yuanliang was also a cultivator; although his level was not high, he had barely entered the threshold of a Qi Refiner, and he immediately noticed the abnormality, instinctively raising his head, widening his eyes, looking at the infant Wang Ping'an on the baby bed, and exclaimed in astonishment:

How is this possible?

The blessing scripture was not something he recited for the first time; he often chanted it for wealthy patrons down the mountain, knowing its effects, yet gathering such thick spiritual energy all at once was still something he had never seen.

Spiritual energy swarmed toward Wang Ping'an from all directions, seeping into his body through his pores.

A small portion of the spiritual energy was devoured by the black cat beside Wang Ping'an.

At that moment.

Only then did Yuanliang fully understand why there was a spirit cat beside Wang Ping'an; such a cat, capable of attracting spiritual energy, is highly sensitive to it, and naturally could sense Wang Ping'an's abnormality.

No wonder it lay beside Wang Ping'an!

Obviously, while Wang Ping'an was drawing in spiritual energy, the cat was secretly taking advantage. Yuanliang couldn't help but remark: 'No wonder my master values you so much, you little brat!'

Although.

He still wasn't entirely clear what was going on with Wang Ping'an, but the fact that he could provoke such an anomaly in spiritual energy was enough to show he was a promising seedling for the Dao.

His master had always wanted to leave a name in Daoist history, but his master had been mediocre his whole life, making it impossible for himself; thus he pinned his hopes on his disciple fulfilling his dream, something this disciple was aware of.

He also regarded enabling his master to leave a mark in Daoist history as his ultimate goal, but after so many years of cultivation, he knew his own limits, and understood that unless a miracle occurred……

Otherwise.

Expecting him to help his master leave a name in Daoist history is nearly impossible.

Encountering someone like Wang Ping'an, who could very well enable his master to leave a name in Daoist history, would be unexpected unless his master went mad.

But Master, such a fine seedling—how could our Xuanqing Temple possibly retain him?

Yuanliang said self-deprecatingly.

This novel you have reached

Soon.

Yuanliang gathered his complicated emotions, and once his mind had returned to clarity, he continued reciting the blessing scripture.

Originally he only intended to recite the blessing scripture once, but upon discovering Wang Ping'an's situation, knowing Wang Ping'an was a promising seedling for the Dao, and moreover it was his master's hope.

If it hadn't been for meeting his master back then, he would have long since starved to death by the roadside.

He couldn't fulfill his master's dream himself, but since he had encountered someone capable of fulfilling his master's dream, he would do whatever he could to help.

In a short while, Yuanliang recited the blessing scripture several times in succession; when his mental energy was utterly exhausted and the surrounding spiritual energy had been completely drained, he finally stopped, heaved a deep sigh of turbid breath, lifted his gaze to the bedridden Wang Ping'an and the spirit cat, and his face involuntarily showed a hint of helplessness.

Yuanliang said enviously: 'You little brat, in your past life you were a Great Virtuous Person, in this life you are a promising seedling for the Dao—indeed, good deeds are rewarded; it seems I too must do more good deeds, for in this life I cannot hope for fame, but in the next life I will surely leave my name in history, no matter what!'

Having said that, Yuanliang rose to leave; just as he pulled open the room door, he saw Liu Dongzhu looking worried at the entrance, about to speak.

Liu Dongzhu hurriedly said: 'Young Daoist, is there anything wrong with our Ping'an?'

Dongzhu, look at what you're saying—you clearly care about our Ping'an, but you didn't see the Young Daoist drenched in sweat? Look how you've worn him out!

Wang Lin warmly said: 'Young Daoist, the food is ready; let's have a bite first!'

'Old Patron Wang, my junior fellow disciple is still waiting at the Daoist temple for me to return and eat!'

Yuanliang first declined Wang Lin's kindness, then said to Liu Dongzhu: 'Madam Wang, your son is fine; if I come back in ten-odd days to recite the blessing scripture, the damaged origin will recover, and he will surely grow up healthy, safe, and sound—you can rest assured.'

No problem, that's good!

Liu Dongzhu breathed a sigh of relief and, at top speed, entered the room; even before seeing Wang Ping'an, no matter how pleasant Yuanliang's words were.

Deep down, she still had some worries, more or less!

Seeing Yuan Liang preparing to leave, Wang Lin hurriedly said, "Little Daoist, this won't do. Before your master left, he told me to take good care of you. How about this: I'll have my old lady pack some food and send it to the temple; you can eat at my place before heading back."

(End of chapter)