Chapter 121

The old Taoist knew that the decisions made by the Three Clear Temple were never easily changed; he sighed, then spent even more ruthlessly, only leaving with a pile of goods after exhausting all his money.

He had to tell his junior brothers and sisters this news so they could hurry over to buy.

The Three Clear Gathering is called the Three Clear Gathering because it takes place in the Qingshan Realm, and because the gathering originally rose on the strength of the Three Clear Temple.

Although more monks and Taoists came later, and the goods improved, it could not be denied that the Three Clear Temple's products remained among the finest.

The old Taoist hid all the goods he bought on his person; no one knew how he did it—so many vials, jars, and talismans, yet he kept shoving them into his sleeves, and somehow they all fit.

And his sleeves remained wide and flowing, showing not a trace of bulk.

Fang Yuan was stunned by the cost of Daoist cultivation, the popularity of the Three Clear Temple's pills and talismans, and also curious about the old Taoist's sleeves.

After putting everything away, the old Taoist said to the Three Clear Temple disciples: "Brothers and sisters, please hold some items for my junior brothers and sisters—I'll go fetch them right away."

Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao both agreed, and right before his eyes, they put away several vials, jars, and talismans.

The old Taoist watched, reassured, and hurried off to find his junior brothers and sisters.

As soon as he left, Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao immediately took out the pills and talismans they had just put away and laid them back out.

Tao Yanbai picked up a cloth sack and handed it to Tao Ji.

Tao Ji opened it, pulled out numerous pill vials, and arranged them on display—the stock, which had just been nearly sold out, was now fully replenished.

Seeing Miao Zhen also handed a small cloth sack behind her to Master Xuanmiao.

Master Xuanmiao opened it, pulled out pile after pile of talismans, and the talismans, which had just been completely sold out, instantly replenished.

Fang Yuan couldn't help but widen his eyes in shock and let out a sound.

Everyone turned to look; Tao Ji squinted, unpleased: "Why are you still here?"

Master Xuanmiao frowned even tighter, and even Wang Cong and Pan Yun, who always greeted with smiles, asked: "What else do you wish to buy?"

The implication was: if you're not buying, leave quickly.

"N-nothing… I don't want to buy anything…" Fang Yuan stammered and left, his mind reeling.

Pan Yun, seeing the world beyond the camellia tree was lively, asked Tao Ji: "Third Brother, why don't you ever take us out to stroll and buy things?"

Tao Ji: "What's so interesting about their goods? We can make our own pills and talismans— theirs don't match our quality."

He paused, then added: "Still, going out to look around isn't bad—it broadens your horizons. Only when you see how inferior their goods are will you realize how good ours are. Some materials are worth hunting for too; you might even find a bargain."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up instantly. "A bargain? I love finding bargains! Brother, what kind of bargains are there?"

"What else? Herbs, wood, raw materials for cultivation—what else could you possibly find here?" Tao Ji said. "If you went to Long Hushan, you might actually find a real treasure."

The old Taoist was scolding his junior brothers and sisters: "You think you can find bargains? Let me tell you, the Three Clear Temple's pills and talismans are the biggest bargain at the entire Three Clear Gathering—if I had more money, I'd buy them all."

His junior brothers and sisters were unconvinced: "Big Brother, you make us buy from the Three Clear Temple every year, but I've never seen many people buying— we're the only ones who keep getting ripped off."

The old Taoist grew angry, his face dark: "Ripped off? Then tell me— are their pills and talismans better than others'?"

His junior brother's face flushed slightly; he whispered: "They're better, but they're also more expensive."

"Exactly! The price of one bottle of Zi Jin Pill from them could buy two bottles elsewhere."

The old Taoist groaned in frustration: "Don't you see? One Zi Jin Pill from them equals an entire bottle from others! And their pills are poorly refined—they leave behind plenty of pill toxins. Do you know eating too many will poison you?"

"Do you really think the Three Clear Temple has declined? Let me tell you, that's the view of fools." The old Taoist said. "Mediocre people have narrow vision—they think the Three Clear Temple is cursed and fallen, but look up: would I dare show my face to Wang Feiyin?"

"My temple's Yu Chengzi—hah! You think he's powerful, chasing after him like a dog—but in the eyes of the Long Hushan Tian Shi, in the eyes of those with Sun Dacheng cultivation, Yu Chengzi isn't even fit to polish Wang Feiyin's shoes."

His junior brothers and sisters, outraged that he insulted someone they admired, panted angrily: "Big Brother, how can you insult a fellow Daoist? This year, our Fuxing Temple is hosting, and Laozi Palace helped us greatly—especially Yu Chengzi, who came two days early to assist!" The old Taoist rolled his eyes impatiently and snapped: "Just tell me—will you go or not? I've told you: next year, the Three Clear Temple's pills and talismans will rise in price. If you have money, stock up now. That's all I have to say—do as you wish."

The youngest junior brother muttered: "Raise prices again? They're already the most expensive—if we all stop buying, they won't sell anything and will have to lower prices!"

The old Taoist finally snapped: "How did Master ever take in such a fool? Look at other people's junior brothers and sisters—they bring honor. I don't even expect you to bring honor—just don't be so stupid!"

"Do you know how often I want to shove your heads into Fen River and rinse your brains? Did you get brains full of shit at birth, or did you swallow amniotic fluid into your skull? I've never met anyone dumber than you!"

"Fine, I accept your brains are stupid—can't you at least wipe your eyes? Look at how others behave: Yu Chengzi of Laozi Palace, Shi Jidao of Lingji Temple, Xuan Yu and Xuan Ling of Yuling Temple, Hui Yuan and Hui Shen of Fuyuan Temple—even me—when have any of us ever treated Wang Feiyin disrespectfully? Can't you use your stupid brains to think: why do people treat him with such respect? Is it because he's old?"

The old Taoist jabbed his own chest with a trembling finger: "Am I not older than him? Don't I have more wrinkles on my face? Who has ever treated me like that? If you won't use your brains, use your eyes—do what others do!"

Junior brother: "But Long Hushan doesn't even respect the Three Clear Temple. Wang Feiyin's letters are torn up by their little disciples—I don't think Zhu Zifang respects Wang Feiyin either…"

The old Taoist went utterly still.

His junior brothers and sisters, seeing his fury vanish instantly, fell silent, too afraid to speak.

"Go on," the old Taoist said calmly. "Why stop? Let me see just how stupid you can be."

!. Read

His junior brothers and sisters turned bright red, unable to speak.

The old Taoist spoke in a flat tone: "I never thought you'd believe Zhu Zifang's words. Do you really believe Wang Feiyin's letter was destroyed by a mere disciple?"

He sneered: "You take Zhu Zifang's attitude as your standard? If you think he's someone important, haven't you seen how he behaves before Master Xuanmiao?"

"He yields to Master Xuanmiao— isn't she from the Three Clear Temple? Isn't she Wang Feiyin's junior sister?" The old Taoist sneered again. "How could you think Wang Feiyin is inferior to his junior sister? Why do you isolate Master Xuanmiao from the Three Clear Temple?"

The old Taoist grew more agitated, his anger returning: "Zhu Zifang publicly humiliated Wang Feiyin—didn't he even notice where he was? This is Yushan County! This is the Qingshan Realm! Do you think the other Daoists here would side with an outsider against the Three Clear Temple?"

"He has no brains, and you have even less. Go outside, ask anyone with sense: what does Zhu Zifang have beyond his Long Hushan lineage?"

"But Master Xuanmiao? She's no longer Zhang Li of Long Hushan—she's Master Xuanmiao of the Mount Sanqing! Wang Feiyin—hah! You know nothing about him. You're fools. All of you— a bunch of fools!"

Spittle flew, splattering his junior brothers and sisters' faces.

Though still bewildered, they dared not provoke their senior further; their minds were a muddy mess, and they hurriedly said: "Big Brother, don't be angry—we'll go buy right away."

The old Taoist clutched his chest and waved them off: "Go, go! I'm going to die of anger."

His junior brothers and sisters sprinted toward the door.

To ensure his junior brothers and sisters had this advantage all to themselves, the old Taoist had brought them to the very back of Fuxing Temple—the courtyard where they lived—so no one was around.

False.

Wang Feiyin quietly poked his head out, sighed when he saw only the old Taoist, and said:

The old Taoist, weeping bitterly, froze, then whirled around—and locked eyes with Wang Feiyin, who had just emerged from behind the bamboo.

Wang Feiyin showed no embarrassment, but still explained: "Brother Qingyin, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I found them too annoying, so I hid here to rest. Usually, with all the bustle up front, your Fuxing Temple people wouldn't come here…"

The old Taoist frowned, pulling at his mouth: "It's nothing. I know Brother Feiyin didn't mean it. Sigh, I've let you see my shame. I thought if I didn't sire my own child, I'd avoid being provoked by unworthy descendants—but I never expected my master to gather me such a flock of fools."

Wang Feiyin felt sorry for him. "Yes, that's why it's better to find your own junior brothers and sisters. Take me—I helped my master take in all his disciples."

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist pulled at his mouth, displeased. He had a mountain god as his master—could he possibly have one too?

If only his master had ever bothered to listen to his opinion, he wouldn't have ended up with so many fools.

The old Taoist didn't want to reopen his wounds. He changed the subject. "Brother Wang, let's go outside."

Wang Feiyin didn't want to go, but now that he'd been discovered, he couldn't keep hiding on the mountain behind someone's courtyard—it made him look sleazy—so he leapt down the mountain and followed the old Taoist to the front.

Tail number 9

(End of Chapter)