beast that has achieved enlightenment.This divine beast in front of me still looks like a "child," small in stature, and shackled."Answer well, and I'll let you go," I said kindly."Let me go Old Mast...This old Taoist speaks in riddles, disrespects elders, and is sometimes foolish and sometimes cunning. He doesn't seem trustworthy at all.

If it weren't for Jiang Qiyun following me, I would rather squat with my knees tucked in the mountains and wilderness for a night than stay here.

Such a remote Taoist temple, rarely visited by people, is inhabited by an elderly Taoist priest. How does he live

And upon stepping into this small temple, I realized it was just as deserted as the outside, with little to no foot traffic.

The Taoist temple consists of a main hall and two small courtyards on either side.

The moonlight in front of the main hall was very bright, while the two smaller courtyards on the east and west sides were somewhat dim because they were shielded by the mountain wall.

What we see from afar is the flying eaves of this main hall.

Though the Taoist temple is small, the main hall is very well-organized. To build a temple in such a remote place speaks volumes about how much effort the devotees must have put in back then.

After closing the temple gate, the old Taoist priest walked forward, dragging the paper effigy with him. He held a hand gesture flawlessly, not like an impersonating Taoist priest; he might truly have been cultivating here for a lifetime.

“A crooked heart, even if one cultivates for a hundred years, is in vain.” Jiang Qiyun watched the old man’s back and shook his head.

The old Taoist walked ahead. As he stepped through the palace gate, he turned back to look at me and said in a low voice, "Little girl, if you want to worship the divine, you need to bathe and fast. Don't offer sacrifices casually, or you will profane the spirits..."

“I haven’t had time to bathe and fast, this is my first time here, and I don’t quite understand the customs. Could you please open a convenient door for me I’ll just bow from afar.” I hurriedly took out my only few cash bills: “This…this should be enough to light a few incense sticks, right”

"Alas, this old man is useless with these things. Since it's your first visit to pay respects, I'll pray diligently before the shrine later on. Just remember to come back next time... bring some fresh fruits and vegetables that will be enough."

This guy... he speaks so clearly. That dazed look must be an act.

The old Daoist stepped into the main hall. The statue's base was only visible, a lotus throne half-hidden behind a curtain and banner.

He wouldn't let me into the hall, just threw a cushion to me and made me kowtow at the doorway.

Jiang Qiyun had already taken a look around. He frowned slightly and said, "This looks like a god but isn't quite a god. What kind of divine being is this..."

"You've never seen it" I was very surprised.

With over two thousand years of life, Jiang Qiyun had yet to see a deity he hadn't encountered.

Although over two thousand years to the celestial gods, it's about the same as being in your twenties.

"Most idols in the human world are imagined and far removed from the true deity." Jiang Qiyun raised his hand, brushing aside a yellow banner streamer, and looked at the scripture embroidered on it.

Abruptly, a shrill scream pierced the air, making my scalp crawl.

This voice, it came from the palace!

The old Taoist priest put the paper figurine into a brazier. He poured something onto it, and as he chanted and made incantations, fire ignited.

The headless paper figure's body was quickly consumed by flames, screams echoing from the basin.

It's the little girl's vengeful spirit!

We deal with malevolent spirits and ghosts mostly through superseding rituals and dispelling techniques, never using such brutal methods of extermination!

"May the blessings of the divine protect us. May all demons and evil spirits in this world be cleansed, and may all lingering souls be dispelled, so that my home remains peaceful and tranquil... Quickly!"

The old Taoist pointed his sword at the fire pit, and the flames leaped up half a person's height. In that fiery light, there was a distorted face.

Jiang Qiyun furrowed his brows deeply, raised his hand and snapped his fingers. A silver light fell into the fire and quickly flew back, stopping in Jiang Qiyun's palm.

The old Taoist was still chanting, unaware that this wisp of residual soul had fallen into Jiang Qiyun's hands.

Jiang Qiyun, riding the wind, rose and flew to the mountain wall on the top of the Taoist temple.

I guessed he was going to ask questions, so I didn't move and remained outside the hall.

The paper figure in the basin had been burned down to its frame, and the bamboo splints were also burning, turning black inch by inch.

The flames subsided, and the old Taoist knelt before his mat, chanting: "Young girl, what is your name The merit of dispelling evil and breaking curses will be protected by the deities, granting you longevity and spiritual cultivation..."

"Ah, my surname... is Mu! A junior like me shouldn't introduce himself first, lest my limited knowledge shame Master. Besides, this paper figure was made by Old Zhang, so please don't attribute any credit to me." I'm truly not good at lying, so I had no choice but to bite the bullet and be humble.

The old Taoist chuckled twice, using a burning stick to gently stir the paper skeleton in the basin. In a low voice, he said, "Mu's Kun Dao It's been many years...many years since I've seen a Kun Dao as young as you come up the mountain to pay respects..."

I took the opportunity to ask: “Senior, may I inquire… which esteemed deity is enshrined in this grand hall”

The old Taoist squinted his eyes and said with a hint of pride, "How many deities are there that can break curses and ward off evil spirits, and also manifest and protect"

I thought to myself, that's not uncommon either. Just saying something like a talisman for warding off evil spirits and bringing good fortune, how could you guess

"Our deity, unlike ordinary deities..." The firelight danced in the old man's eyes, flickering across his face.

I stood on one side of a threshold, listening as he spoke softly.

This temple has been around for over seven hundred years. It was secretly built by dozens of Taoist priests during a time of turmoil.

"Why were they building it in secret" I couldn't help but ask softly.

The old Taoist let out a cold snort. “With the world in chaos, countless lives lost, and barbarian tribes collaborating with outsiders, stirring up trouble and suppressing the Dao! This is an insult to our ancestors! What nonsense about Buddhism being the orthodox religion! Humph! Even fifteen hundred years ago, that emperor who devoutly believed in Buddhism, tolerated evil, recklessly built temples, and harbored nuns didn't dare claim Buddhism as the orthodox religion of our China! And now these barbarian tribes and foreign races…” *cough cough cough*

I was nearly stunned. This old Taoist, when talking about history from hundreds of years ago, could actually get so angry.

Regardless of how history unfolds, looking back now, whether it's honor or shame, it all belongs to the history of our Chinese nation. Those foreign people of the past are now also part of the Chinese nation.

And each school and sect has its own transmission, relatively peaceful.

Although I also regret that Taoism has lost many precious books due to historical reasons, I am not as resentful as this old Daoist.

I was really afraid he might make a mistake in his excitement. I quickly changed the subject and said, "Did the Daoists in those chaotic times choose to build their temple here to avoid the imperial court"

The old Daoist nodded and said, "…Back then, in the Mongolian capital, to rule effectively, they tried to change our Han people's beliefs. They staged a debate on orthodoxy, of course the result was suppressing my teachings, and they forced seventeen ancestors to shave their heads and become monks…"

"The ancestors were humiliated, and the disciples could only endure hardship, practicing in seclusion, and being repeatedly assassinated. Luckily, they received the protection of the divine! We built this temple to take refuge here, and from now on, our lineage will worship the divine, exorcising evil spirits, breaking curses, safeguarding our righteous path, and protecting all living beings!"

The old Daoist became more and more agitated as he spoke. The fire in the brazier gradually died down, and the silvery moonlight from the courtyard cast its glow inside. He bowed to the moon and whispered a prayer: "Limitless Venerable God, Black Purity Great Emperor..."

Infinite Venerable God, Black Clear Great Emperor.

As soon as this hymn was uttered, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my wrist.

I don't know if it's because I've been practicing qigong for too long or if I'm just too nervous, but my wrist feels like it's cramped.

I kneaded my wrists, and the old Daoist priest stood up, his eyes glazed over as he said to me, “Miss Mu... since you came to my mountain gate, you must also believe in my honored god...”

"I, I..." I was frightened by this old man's piercing eyes and took a few steps back. One foot slipped and I tumbled down the stairs.

Moonlight bathed me, cold and sharp enough to sting my eyes. I instinctively raised my hand to shield them.

In a daze, it seemed as if a handful of white light exploded, and a piercingly cold voice rang out in my ear—

"....Mu"

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