Chapter 25: Respect God as if He were present
After hearing what the two teachers said, Tan Xiao was speechless.
Since people had already found a reason for him, he had no choice but to say firmly: "...Thank you, teacher!"
"Then you continue, you continue." It was already lunch time, and Tan Xiao practiced his family craft. It seemed that there was nothing to say, so the two teachers left together.
Tan Xiao was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard their discussion.
"You're talking about searching through the air? You're just a high school student, after all. What's the difference between this and shooting a basketball in the air?"
"There's no difference, except that he's more handsome. I'd love to see more of him."
Tan Xiao: "..."
You...I...never mind.
"Um, Mr. Liu, are you okay?" Tan Xiao watched Liu Qingquan gradually appear, revealing a not-so-good-looking face of death. Because of this face, Tan Xiao couldn't tell whether Liu Qingquan's face was ugly because of his beating, or if he died like this...
"It's okay, cough cough cough!" Liu Qingquan pressed the place where he was hit, with lingering fear. He was indeed a descendant of the Chu witch who could sign a contract with Peacock. What a brutal witchcraft. "You really scared me, it's too fierce."
Thanks to the fact that Liu Qingquan is also a senior expert and a ghost cultivator with some skills, otherwise he would not have been re-hired after his death and would not have been able to come out and hang around at noon.
"I'm here to tell you some good news. You can't answer the phone when you're in class," Liu Qingquan thought to himself that spiritual masters nowadays are a problem. They are still in school at the age of 17 or 18, and they all came out to set up their own altars in the early years. "It's faster for me to come here from the main road of the underworld to inform you."
He took out a document and said, "It is like this. After repeated discussions in our 404 Office and after asking for instructions from our superiors, it has been approved. Now I formally invite you to jointly compile the "Non-Human Management Work Responsibility List" and the sequel to the Classic of Mountains and Seas - the title is to be determined.
"If you agree, we can provide detailed past data, including the results of the special survey of the Emperor Liujiang. At the same time, you are obliged to cooperate with us in the investigation and promote major projects of the non-human census when we need it."
When he talks about major projects, he is of course referring to cases like the Viper case, which are difficult or confusing for the 404 Office to solve.
Tan Xiao is now Peacock's acting wizard, and is a great help, especially when the 404 office is short-staffed.
"Well, do you think you should discuss this with Peacock God? If you are willing, we can sign a formal contract, which will be renewed every three years. And we have also discussed that we will definitely not 'exploit' you while you complete your studies."
Of course Liu Qingquan knew that Tan Xiao had this intention, otherwise they would not have pushed it.
But whether it is something like the "Non-Human Management Work Responsibility List" or the sequel to the Shan Hai Jing , it is not a big project that can be completed in one or two years.
Tan Xiao is still a teenager in high school, and they are not sure whether Tan Xiao's mind will change.
Therefore, this contract is renewed every three years, so even if there is no cooperation in the future, we can part ways amicably. As an office for overall coordination and linkage, the 404 Office has rich experience in cooperating with various ethnic groups and religions.
Tan Xiao is not very old, and he still has a lot of youth in his heart when he agreed to the contract, but the 404 Office is the official organization for adult players, so they are much more thoughtful.
Tan Xiao took a look at the documents provided by Liu Qingquan and found that they even clearly stated what conditions and rewards would be given after helping to complete the case and meeting what standards.
If you make significant contributions, you can really get extra points in the college entrance examination!
Seeing how serious and careful they were, Tan Xiao also thought seriously, "Okay, I will discuss it with Peacock God and confirm it as soon as possible."
After several collaborations, Tan Xiao realized that as an official non-natural event handling organization, the 404 Office would file a case and rush around as long as the citizens had a need, and was committed to creating a harmonious urban living environment. It was great that he could help.
"By the way, wasn't Xionggui also singled out for praise at the press conference? He finally applied for a vacation. I suspect he will come looking for you again, so don't be scared and kill him again." Liu Qingquan thought of his own experience and said pitifully, "He is very important to archaeological work now. "
Tan Xiao said awkwardly: "...Okay. Sorry for what happened just now." He apologized again.
"It's okay, can I go to your house now? Mu Fei is waiting there. We want to move that A Jin to the office. I heard that you have already finished writing his part?" Liu Qingquan also heard what Mu Fei said. The 404 office is basically communicated by Mu Fei and Tan Xiao.
"Yes, you can move away." Tan Xiao couldn't help but ask, "Then how will you deal with A Jin?" I seemed to have heard Mu Fei say before that A Jin would have to sell his labor to compensate and move bricks to earn incense for Uncle Lin?
"Haha, I won't kill him anyway." Liu Qingquan laughed, "It's just that Jin caused a lot of damage, including the economic losses of the website, the loss of citizens who died in the funeral home because of his occupation of space, etc., all the damage has been assessed. So now, I have to work to pay off my debts."
"What can he do?"
“To be honest, we have been having a lot of data piled up over the years in the 404 Office. It has always been difficult to sort it out. After all, there are too many documents, and they involve various responsible units and religions, which makes it difficult to deal with.
"Now, we have to take the opportunity to compile the list and sort out the data. He is a server after all, and he can kill the backup with a wave of his hand. We thought of taking the opportunity to recruit him as a data processing specialist. The next step is to train him. After the training, he can assist you in writing the sequel."
Tan Xiao nodded upon hearing this. This was really a good use of the resources. "Then wait for me."
…
There was plenty of time during lunch break, so Tan Xiao decided to go back with Liu Qingquan and take A Jin back with them to transfer the data first.
Tan Xiao returned home and saw Mu Fei's car at the gate. He went up to greet Mu Fei. Liu Qingquan, who had taken a shortcut and arrived first, said, "Tan Xiao, please give me permission to enter your house. I'll go call Ah Jin and leave."
In their spiritual master's house, there are too many magical instruments and taboos, and they don't even know whether the Peacock God will show up, so ghosts dare not enter casually.
Tan Xiao then tried to perform the Golden Bridge Technique and built a bridge for Liu Qingquan. "Can you see if you can get in?"
Liu Qingquan floated in smoothly.
"It really works!" Tan Xiao seemed even more surprised than Liu Qingquan. He knew a lot, most of which he had never put into practice.
Mu Fei: “…”
You still haven't fully adapted to the fact that you're not a mascot, right?
"Mr. Liu told you everything, right?" Mu Fei asked.
"I said, I think it's okay. I'll discuss it with the Peacock God and get his consent." When Tan Xiao mentioned Peacock, his tone was more ordinary than Mu Fei had imagined.
Mu Fei thought to himself that he was worthy of being a wizard who had signed a contract with the great god.
Inside, Liu Qingquan had already called A Jin. A Jin stretched out his legs and ran downstairs by himself. His long legs in a suit went down the stairs and headed straight for the yard. As soon as he reached the yard, Tan Chunying's voice was heard from the master bedroom on the first floor.
"Tan Xiao ? Or a thief?"
The Peacock God did not show up, but Tan Chunying did.
Ah Jin: “…”
Lian Tan Xiao didn't expect that Tan Chunying was at home at this time. When she was not working, she would go out to play mahjong in the morning.
When A Jin heard the sound of Tan Chunying opening the window, he was so scared that he immediately squatted on the spot.
Liu Qingquan, who was standing by, had heard that Tan Xiao's mother Wuhun couldn't stand being frightened. No, just in case, he should hide as well. Liu Qingquan dodged and got into A Jin's cabinet, which was so exciting that A Jin almost exposed his legs.
When Tan Chunying opened the window, she saw her son's experiment homework. She didn't know what the 3D luminous cabinet was used for, but it was placed alone in the yard.
What? Is he really a thief?
Tan Chunying jumped out of the window, looked around, picked up the hoe for planting flowers, and stared at A Jin, "Hmm?"
Ah Jin was trembling with fear, but still couldn't control himself. He began to tremble and made electric sounds. After all, Liu Qingquan was such a big ghost that he had drilled into his body: "..."
"Electric leakage?!" Tan Chunying was shocked.
At this time, Tan Xiao ran in just in time and saw Ah Jin, who was halfway through his escape, in the yard. He said, "Uh," "Mom, I have to hand in my homework, so I plan to move it away."
"You were the one who came downstairs just now? Have you become stronger? How could you move so fast?" Tan Chunying asked suspiciously, "Do you know that your thing is leaking electricity? Look, it's vibrating."
Tan Xiao glanced at A Jin, "..."
Ah Jin: “…”
He couldn't control it, he really couldn't control it. If he didn't hurry up, he would stand up and run away.
"Yes, I also called Didi to move it." Tan Xiao pointed at Mu Fei's car outside.
"Oh, then you must handle it carefully. I feel it is going to explode. Why don't you remove the battery?" Tan Chunying didn't understand physics very well. She spent her school time writing supernatural novels and she regretted it now.
"Okay, I'll go get the tools." Tan Xiao walked into the house. He was afraid that if he was any later, A Jin would not be able to hold on.
Tan Chunying looked at A Jin, touching her chin, still feeling something was wrong. Her son had homework, so why not bring it in the morning? He came to bring it at noon. And if he suddenly needed it, he could just ask her to help deliver it, why bother coming back to get it herself.
Although I don't know what this guy is doing, but...
Tan Chunying stared at the big cabinet and concluded, "There must be something fishy going on here!"
Ah Jin: “…”
Liu Qingquan: “…………”
…
After finally sending A Jin away safely, Tan Xiao also found some time to talk to the Peacock God.
And talking to Peacock means...
"Is this a drake? I want a fat and tender one." Tan Xiao was selecting ingredients in the vegetable market, already holding a bunch of vegetables in his hands.
The vegetable market near his home is full of neighbors who have lived nearby for many years. Tan Xiao may not recognize them, but they recognize Tan Xiao. Their family buys a lot of vegetables during the peak tourist season.
"Sure, sure. It must be a good duck." The boss knew that Tan Chunying and Tan Xiao, mother and son, were good at buying vegetables, so he chose fat male ducks. As for chickens, he chose chicks for steaming and castrated chickens for stewing.
Tan Xiao was planning to offer sacrifice to the peacock today to discuss something, so he bought a lot of delicious dishes.
In addition to a fat duck, there is also a mandarin fish, seafood for stewing soup, plus some side dishes and side dishes.
When I got home, Tan Chunying was not at home. Tan Xiao sliced the mandarin fish, soaked it in ice water, added some other ingredients and coated it with batter. He then rolled the slices into flower shapes, steamed them, and fried some other ingredients so that they could be poured on the fish right after they were taken out of the steamed pot.
Hot oil is poured over the snow-white and tender fish meat that is rolled into petals. White mist rises and the fresh and fragrant taste blooms.
He cooked the duck into blood duck which is very popular among people in southern Chu. To make it, the duck blood must be processed first, and then wine, salt, MSG and other seasonings must be added after the duck blood solidifies.
Fry the duck meat lightly first. The duck skin has a high fat content. It will be more flavorful and crispy if it is fried a little dry.
After deep frying, you can stir fry it, add various spices, and finally add duck blood and continue to stir fry. The duck meat is covered with duck blood, and when stir-fried, it will show an attractive brown color, with a strong aroma, and even the bones will be flavored.
This is the essence of blood duck, the blood is wrapped in pulp. Once this dish comes out of the pot, the whole yard will be filled with fragrance.
Then make a small dish, pair it with wine, cakes and fruits. This time, carefully write words like "good luck" and "peace" on red paper and stick them on the paper.
A new god curtain was also placed on the altar, with four words inscribed on it: "Respect the gods as if they are present."
In addition to the dishes, there are incense burners, candlesticks, and god tablets on the altar.
After the arrangement was completed, Tan Xiao lit the incense and chanted: "Spring comes before the birds sing, and incense is burned before the gods are invited..."
He just read a few words, and a man appeared in front of him.
Maybe because the peacock lived in his house, Tan Xiao came after singing only two sentences, which made Tan Xiao almost unable to catch his breath. He swallowed the second half of the sentence, made a "strike greed" gesture with his hands, and solemnly said the long-standing spell: "...eat vegetables, eat vegetables."
Kong Xuan was wearing a long robe today, the color of which burned like fire. It looked to be a solid color but was actually embroidered with dark patterns. He wore a jade belt around his waist, and his black hair was decorated with feathers on the sides. He even wore a golden crown, which shone brightly and made his handsome face even more dazzling.
This is one of the new outfits that Tan Xiao made for him. Doesn’t it look good?
"Are you so thoughtful today?" Kong Xuan was very satisfied, his face still indifferent, looking down at people with dignity.
"Master, let me tell you... I want to discuss something." Tan Xiao took out the contract issued by 404 and handed it to Kong Que. "Look, is this contract ok?"
For Kong Que, as long as the Chu witch can complete the task, it will be fine. Just like the writing of the original version of "Classic of Mountains and Seas", it also took a lot of energy from the Chu people to collect information left by the Shang Dynasty, travel all over the world to conduct investigations, and even consumed more than one generation.
Now that the times have progressed, although Tan Xiao is alone and not a noble, he has more resources at his disposal.
Even after the two sides cooperated, Tan Xiao could get some reasonable rewards from the 404 Office. In comparison, Gu Chuwu was really doing it for love.
"In this way, you don't have to do so many things, and you may even have a chance to get extra points?" Kong Xuan looked at Tan Xiao with raised eyes.
It was clearly written in black and white on the paper, and Kong Xuan was not illiterate. He asked this question that even anyone knew, just to praise Tan Xiao.
Tan Xiao also said knowingly and tactfully: "Yes, I am so lucky to be the substitute wizard of the great god."
Kong Xuan felt more and more comfortable. He said "hmm", picked up the chopsticks, and said lightly: "Then go ahead."
"Thank you, great god. Come and have some wine." Tan Xiao handed over the cup.
"No." Kong Xuan stopped him and said calmly, "I can't drink."
Having never heard of such a thing, Tan Xiao said with a smile: "Why? You are not a minor."
Kong Xuan: “…”
Kong Xuan's face darkened: "How old do you think I am?"
Tan Xiao: “…………”
Uh... Tan Xiao was not so confused as to differentiate the appearance of an old man from a young man, but Peacock had really lived for a long time. He thought it was similar to Laozi, just wearing the skin of a young man!
Tan Xiao was sweating profusely, and quickly changed the subject, asking in confusion: "Why is there a rule that minors cannot drink alcohol?"
"What do you think?!" Kong Xuan asked back.
Everyone has different races, so of course they reach adulthood at different times. Kong Xuan was sent down to work just because he was young, which was like a test for him.
Of course, Tan Xiao doesn’t understand these!
Why didn’t he understand? It was because he couldn’t recognize Kong Xuan.
Thinking of this, Kong Xuan became even angrier, and stared at Tan Xiao with sparkling eyes burning with fire.
Tan Xiao always felt that this look was a little familiar...
It seems like I have been stared at with a similar look.
Why did I think like this again? It's impossible. One is a god and the other is a human. One has a physical body and the other doesn't. One walks and the other floats. Their hairstyles and clothes are completely different. They should just have similar temperaments.
"...Eat the food, eat the food." Tan Xiao chanted the spell again. Seeing that Kong Que was about to continue to attack, he urged, "Hurry up, it's too late. My mother will come back and you can eat it all!"
Kong Xuan: “…………”
Tan Chunying didn't treat the offerings as offerings at all. She wouldn't wait until the sacrifice was over before eating them. She just picked them up and ate them when she wanted to.
Kong Xuan pointed at the divine mantle beside him and said angrily, "Does your mother know the meaning of these four words?"
Respect God as if He were present!
Even if he is not there, his offerings cannot be touched at will, let alone he is right next to them.
Tan Xiao just wanted to change the subject, but he didn't expect that this topic would be so difficult to deal with. He said weakly: "She was not born with a lost soul. Please take care of her, Master."
"This has already been taken care of, otherwise..." Peacock snorted.
Most of the Chu witches are believers of Yuan Feng, and Tan Chunying’s patriarchal deity is also Yuan Feng, he just “changed his career”.
Kong Xuan thought, if my substitute wizard is disrespectful, he will be punished.
Kong Xuan thought about it and glanced at Tan Xiao. But he also really sped up his movements and cleared all the food on the table.
Tan Xiao can get his spiritual response, which means he is really something.
The fish meat is as white as snow, as thin as paper, tender and smooth, and you can taste its fragrance in one bite. The duck meat has no duck smell at all, and the fragrance is rendered more intense under the "blood coating", and the more you chew the duck meat, the more fragrant it is. Then take a sip of the seafood soup that is so delicious that it makes your tongue fall...
Well, it’s worth it that he strictly disciplines his wizard.
…
Tan Xiao watched Kong Xuan eat. He himself had no appetite either. He was not as big of an eater as Kong Xuan. He stood at the window with his hands crossed. This old city area had not undergone much renovation and had largely retained its old appearance. Here, the pace of life seemed to be slower.
This is where he grew up, although he can't remember his neighbors...
rustle……
The breeze brought something strange into Tan Xiao's ears.
Tan Xiao paused. This sound seemed familiar. He hadn't heard it for a long time. However, it was strangely familiar and he would never forget it once he heard it.
Thinking of Liu Qingquan's words, this, can't be...
It's broad daylight now, how can the male viper come to his house to find him?
“Lingzi…Lingzi…”
The sound of multiple voices mixed together came from afar.
It's really a viper.
Tan Xiao felt his scalp tingling as he heard the sound getting closer. It wasn't that he was afraid of the male viper, but he just felt a little uncomfortable when he heard this kind of sound.
There are many snakes in Nanchu, and everyone has had the experience of being scared by a snake.
Tan Xiao looked outside speechlessly, searching for the male viper. He was a little nervous, wondering if the neighbors could see the male viper. After all, the male viper's body could be hidden between yin and yang, and some people with low temper could see it.
Theoretically, Xionggui and 404 have followed the rules in running the school, but Tan Xiao is still a little worried. He always feels that Xionggui is a little silly.
The viper crawled and crawled .
They finally got a holiday today. They thought that they had lived for a thousand years and didn't have many acquaintances in the world. They were optimistic about the spirit child and wanted to establish a healthy contractual relationship with him. They had learned some modern knowledge during this period, but they still had this idea.
Xionggui was even puzzled as to why Tan Xiao ignored them. They were powerful and could move freely between yin and yang, which meant they were very portable. They could also disguise themselves as snake pets and did not need to eat...
So perfect.
How could there be a wizard who doesn't want to raise a viper?
This Lingzi is said to be still a student, and has no position yet... Oh no, it is said that he is a "physics class representative", which I have never heard of. He should be just a minor official. Therefore, he may not be very sensible and does not know how good it is to have a pet with great abilities.
They have to persuade and teach him slowly.
The male snake thought so and climbed up the wall faster. Although he didn't dare to enter the witch's room casually, they climbed high enough and their bodies were long enough. He stood up straight and looked up -
Tan Xiao's face appeared in the window. Hehe, it was him, our future master. Xiong Hu was delighted...
wrong.
The male viper stopped moving, and they saw a figure behind the window, emitting divine light and eating!
Although they didn't know Kong Xuan, snakes had an innate fear of the Yuan Feng clan!
The moment Kong Xuan's gaze fell on them, extreme panic enveloped Xiong Viper like a shadow.
Tan Xiao was still thinking about how to persuade Xiong Gui, but he saw that Xiong Gui had suddenly turned around after a pause and rushed downstairs. His huge body disappeared into the streets in an instant, and he could almost be said to have fled.
This made Tan Xiao, who was ready to drive the snake away, a little confused. He was still holding back a sentence when the male viper ran away too fast. What was going on? Did the male viper figure it out?
The male viper howled in his heart as he ran: Why didn't you tell me earlier, you don't want to raise us because you have someone more powerful? !
