Chapter 8 Taoist Priest: Poor people have no big deal, but the rich and powerful bury human bones
In front of the Qingfeng Temple, the yellow cow lowered its head and nibbled the weeds in the cracks of the bluestone slabs at the entrance without even looking at Lin Ye.
Lin Ye looked solemn and bowed to the old Taoist priest: "Please help me solve the confusion in my heart."
Taoist Priest Ding Xuan explained : "There is a difference between Yin and Yang. In the world of the living, if you do good deeds, pity the orphans and widows, respect the elderly and pity the poor, recommend the virtuous, and provide porridge to relieve disasters, even if the person who does the good deeds cannot repay you, the good deeds will still be accompanied by merit and bless future generations. But ghosts are different. If you get help from ghosts, the ghosts can get rewards without the consent of the living. This is recognized by the way of heaven."
"If the reward is appropriate, it's fine. But people rarely ask ghosts for help. Generally, ghosts will ask for several times more reward if they get the chance. Therefore, if people deal with ghosts for a long time, it usually doesn't end well."
"The fact that Old Man Li borrowed a breath of Yang Qi from the layman is more than a bowl of water. That's why Old Man Li asked the Taoist to express his gratitude to the layman on his behalf."
Lin Ye opened his mouth slightly, not knowing what to say.
"As for why Old Man Li only asked the lay Buddhists for help, it is because Old Man Li is just a wandering soul and cannot show himself in front of people. Only people who practice cultivation or have special physiques can see him."
Hearing this, there was a glimmer in Lin Ye's eyes. Could it be that his special physique meant that his protagonist's halo had appeared?
"I have never seen a person with such an unstable soul as you. His three souls are dim and his seven spirits are not visible. He is only slightly stronger than a person who has lost his soul. He is also the easiest to see ghosts."
Lin Ye's mouth twitched. He knew something about the three souls and seven spirits. They were mentioned every day in TV dramas and novels. Doesn't an unstable soul mean a weak body?
It shouldn't be.
I 'm not a masturbation saint.
Having stayed in the other world for such a long time, especially in the first hundred days, during which he had to do odd jobs every day, Lin Ye believed that his body was much stronger than before. At least he could climb three floors in one breath without being out of breath.
"If the soul is unstable, it is either due to a congenital disease, a weak body, or it is drained by alcohol and sex. It seems strange that none of them is true."
Taoist Priest Ding Xuan stared at Lin Ye in amazement, but Lin Ye felt numb at heart. It was just like being in the hospital, with a group of doctors standing in front of the bed, pointing and talking. Even if the patient was not sick, he would be scared to death.
"Master, will I be in danger?"
"It's dangerous, but it's okay."
Lin Ye heaved a sigh of relief after hearing what Taoist Ding Xuan said. However, just as he relaxed, Taoist Ding Xuan's next words made him nervous again.
"If your soul is unstable, you will easily see ghosts. Try not to go out at sunset. Avoid going to remote places in the mountains and wilderness on weekdays. Do not set foot in charity cemeteries or cemeteries to avoid being haunted by ghosts. Try to stay in places with sufficient yang energy."
A place with abundant Yang energy, Lin Ye looked inside the Taoist temple. What place could be safer than a Taoist temple?
"Master, to be honest, I came to Shangyang County to stay with a distant relative, but after arriving I found out that my relative had passed away several years ago, and his family had moved out of the county. Now I have nowhere to stay. I wonder if I can stay at the Taoist temple?"
Taoist Priest Ding Xuan frowned, shook his head, and said, "Qingfeng Temple has rules that lay Buddhists are not allowed to stay overnight. Lay Buddhists can stay at inns. There are several inns not far away."
How can we live here if we are not allowed to?
Lin Ye rolled his eyes a few times and said with a smile, "Of course the rules cannot be broken. My family also believes in Taoism. We have long known that the divination talismans at Qingfeng Temple are effective. We want to go to the main hall to burn incense and worship. I hope the Taoist priest will help us."
"It's getting late now. If we weren't waiting for you, Qingfeng Temple would have closed long ago. You can come back tomorrow morning." Taoist Ding Xuan was unmoved. It was obvious that he had seen through Lin Ye's purpose.
"Master, please be merciful. I am offering my sincere worship, but I know it is a bit disrespectful at this late hour. To express my apology, I am willing to donate money for the incense."
Lin Ye raised his sleeves, revealing the silver coins. Elder Ding Xuandao narrowed his eyes, stroked his beard with one hand and said, "Blessings to the Supreme Heavenly Lord, young master is sincere, well, then I will make an exception, I think the ancestor will not blame me."
"Master, please be merciful." Lin Ye returned the greeting.
Two people and a cow walked into the Taoist temple.
"What's your name, sir?"
"My surname is Lin, and my given name is Ye."
"It turned out to be Master Lin."
"The Taoist priest has an immortal aura. I think he holds an important position in the Taoist temple."
"I am ashamed. I have practiced Taoism for many years, but my aptitude is mediocre. I can only handle some miscellaneous affairs of the Taoist temple and serve as the temple master."
Lin Ye: ...
…
…
After entering the Taoist temple, Taoist Ding Xuan led Lin Ye to the Sanqing Hall. Lin Ye lit incense and worshipped, then walked to the merit incense placed aside and put the five taels of silver into the box in front of Taoist Ding Xuan.
Lin Ye spent half of the ten taels of silver given by the senior brother in one go, but he didn't feel bad at all. The price of silver in the real world was not high. He could go back and get some silverware, find a store to melt it, and bring it to the other world.
"Master, I want to pray for my family and light a perpetual lamp."
Lin Ye glanced at the ever-brightening lighthouse . Taoist Priest Ding Xuan said with some difficulty: "To light the ever-bright lamp, you need to chant scriptures and pray for blessings, but..."
Without saying a word, Lin Ye threw another three taels of silver into the merit box.
"May the Supreme Heavenly Venerable be blessed. Young Master Lin is filial. I am deeply moved. I will personally chant sutras for Young Master Lin's family all night, praying for the protection of the Supreme Heavenly Venerable."
…
…
"Mr. Lin is awake."
Early in the morning, Lin Ye got up from his bed in the guest house of Qingfeng Temple. There was a well outside his door. After fetching water to wash his face, a young Taoist priest led him to have a vegetarian meal.
Last night, he finally stayed at Qingfeng Temple.
"Where is Taoist Priest Ding Xuan?"
"Master is taking a day off today. Let me tell Master Lin that Qingfeng Temple will be closed for the day."
The corner of Lin Ye's mouth twitched. To be honest, he didn't expect that Taoist Priest Ding Xuan was such an honest person. He actually chanted sutras all night yesterday.
He couldn't bear it anymore in the middle of the night, and Taoist Master Ding Xuan had no choice but to let him go to the dormitory in the Taoist temple where lay Buddhists could temporarily rest.
After finishing the vegetarian meal, Lin Ye left the Taoist temple. It was not that he didn't want to stay, but he learned some information about the temple from the young Taoist priest.
Taoist Priest Ding Xuan did not lie. Qingfeng Temple has a rule that it never keeps guests and does not receive pilgrims after sunset. Yesterday was an exception.
He also learned the reason was not very popular. A rainstorm not long ago destroyed a side hall of the Taoist temple. Taoist Master Ding Xuan was worried about not having enough money to repair the side hall.
"Dawu, has Master Lin left?"
The Taoist temple was closed, and Taoist Priest Ding Xuan appeared with dark circles under his eyes and a tired look on his face.
"I've already left. I gave the requiem talisman to Master Lin as my master instructed."
"That's good."
Taoist Priest Ding Xuan nodded, and the young Taoist priest asked in confusion: "Master, Young Master Lin looks like a good person, and he has donated so much money to our Taoist temple, why don't you let him live in the Taoist temple?"
"Mr. Lin is healthy, and he is not haunted by evil spirits, but his three souls are unstable and his seven spirits are not visible. This kind of person has a big secret, so we should not get involved. Do you remember what your master told you?"
"I know. Master, you said I have several uncles who just like to meddle in other people's business and ended up losing their lives."
"Your uncles are all more capable than your master, but in the end, it's still because of me that your master has become the abbot and lived to this day. If you want to live longer, you should mind your own business."
The young Taoist priest hesitated and said weakly, "But Master, you said that our Qingfeng Temple used to be very popular, and many nobles in the city donated money for it. But now, even the side hall has collapsed and we don't have the money to repair it."
Taoist Priest Ding Xuan glared at him and scolded him, "What do you know? That's because your master only takes jobs from ordinary people. What can ordinary people do? It's just some funerals, prayers, and rituals to save the souls of the dead. Even if they encounter some troubles, it's just that the souls of the dead are reluctant to leave, or they provoke lonely ghosts. We just burn some paper money and scare them a few times, and that's it. Naturally, there's not much money."
"Those wealthy families are evil-hearted. Who knows how many corpses are buried in the dry well in the garden. It's good if nothing happens. If something happens, it will be the evil spirits who are taking lives and the evil ghosts who are seeking revenge. Is this something we can handle? You should also remember to stay away from these wealthy families in the future. The money is hot in your hands and you may lose your life easily if you are not careful."
