Chapter 10 White Cloud Temple

The carriage house had taken its share and dispatched a seemingly honest and simple-minded coachman to carry Lu Zheng and Uncle Li out of the city.

Although he had often seen them, this was Lu Zheng's first time sitting in an ancient donkey cart.

All I can say is... it's really bumpy...

But since it's intended for people, the donkey cart was surrounded by wooden boards, with windows on the sides and a cloth curtain in front, and it had thick grass mats inside.

Even though the road was rough and uneven, it was still a road, and with the grass mat buffer, Lu Zheng felt his backside could still endure it.

The coachman sat outside the cloth curtain, saying "Get along now, get along," as he drove the donkey cart out of the east gate along the official road toward Shaotong Mountain.

Lu Zheng bought some meat and buns, and they made do with a simple meal on the cart. After the sun passed noon, they finally arrived at the foot of Shaotong Mountain.

Beside the official road at the foot of the mountain, there was a small tea and noodle stall, with a few diners scattered around.

"Young Master Lu, White Cloud Temple is not far up the mountainside. I'll wait for you here."

"Alright."

The rest of the way up was a mountain path, and the cart certainly couldn't go up.

Lu Zheng and Uncle Li went up the mountain together, meeting a few pilgrims coming down. By their plain dress, they appeared to be ordinary folks.

"You said the incense offerings at White Cloud Temple are good? But I don't see any gentry or affluent guests."

"Young master, today is neither the first nor the fifteenth, nor any holiday or festival. Unless something happens, who would come to the temple to burn incense?"

"Oh, I see. That makes sense."

There are only so many wealthy people, they can't all take turns coming to the temple every day for incense and divination, that would be quite insecure to live like that.

Very soon, they rounded a mountain corner and lifted their eyes to see the archway of White Cloud Temple. The three characters, White Cloud Temple, were elegant and flowing, set against the nearby green trees and blue sky, with a bit of an Immortal's aura.

We've arrived.

After walking up the stone steps, at the entrance of White Cloud Temple stood two stone statues of a Cyan Dragon and a White Tiger, Taoist guardian divine beasts, with a Daoist greeter welcoming guests at the door.

Seeing Lu Zheng wearing a silk robe, with a clean and fresh-looking old servant behind him, and being quite a stranger, the guest Daoist's eyes lit up, he stood tall, positioned his palm vertically, and bowed, "Infinite Celestial Venerable, greetings to this young sir!"

"Greetings, Daoist." Lu Zheng clasped his hands in salute, "I have just arrived in Tonglin County, and heard that White Cloud Temple is profound in Daoist virtue, with efficacious divinations and talismans, thus I came today to pay respects, burn incense, and seek the protection of the Celestial Venerable."

"The young sir is thoughtful, please inside!"

Usually, ordinary folks who come simply pay respects, burn a few sticks of incense, and toss a couple of coins into the merit box for peace, occasionally buying the cheapest Peace Talisman during festivals.

But from Lu Zheng's attire, it was obvious he wasn't just visiting fleetingly.

Didn't you hear people say? The talismans and divinations here work wonders!

Big business!

The guest Daoist looked at the time, it was already past noon, and most people usually come in the morning. After noon, there are rarely any visitors to the temple.

So the Daoist gestured invitingly, guiding Lu Zheng into the Daoist temple.

Entering the main gate, not far ahead was the Spirit Official Hall, where Lu Zheng approached and bowed in respect.

Passing through the Spirit Official Hall, he also paid respects to the God of Wealth Hall on the left and the Wenchang Hall before being guided by the Daoist to the main hall of White Cloud Temple.

Three Pure Ones Hall.

With the Daoist's guidance, Lu Zheng was first outside the Three Pure Ones Hall burning incense and worshiping, then entered the hall to bow three times before the statues.

Then, under the watchful eye of a black-bearded Daoist, he took out three treasure notes each worth one thousand coins, and placed them into the merit box.

"Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

The black-bearded Daoist clasped his hands and bowed, "This humble Daoist is the master of White Cloud Temple, with the Daoist title Ming Zhang."

This was actually the temple master of White Cloud Temple?

Lu Zheng scrutinized him, seeing the man wore a clean blue Daoist robe, with ebony hairpin binding his hair, his beard and hair were both black, complexion rosy, eyes bright.

"Greetings Daoist Mingzhang, I am Lu Zheng, settled in Tonglin County for half a month now."

"Greetings Young Master Lu, the young sir is dashing and impressive, such a person is rare to see by this humble Daoist."

"Daoist is too kind."

The two exchanged formalities, and then Daoist Mingzhang led Lu Zheng to a side room to serve tea.

After that, it was mostly Daoist Mingzhang chatting casually, and Lu Zheng did not flaunt his modern knowledge, nor did he bring out content from the Tao Te Ching to impress, but responded offhandedly, gradually steering the conversation towards cultivation and unusual matters.

"Speaking of which, I just recently encountered a reclusive sage mingling in the mundane world, who helped me avoid a calamity and remain whole," Lu Zheng recounted the story of the old beggar.

"Locking Qi, discerning breaths, striking people, that old beggar was indeed an Abnormal Person."

Lu Zheng's eyes flashed, understanding the principle behind the old beggar's skill.

It was allowing the cup to remember Lu Zheng's aura, and perhaps it also contained Uncle Li and Aunt Liu's aura, then if anyone other than these three approached, it would automatically attack.

My goodness, an automatic recognition defense system!

In modern times, defense systems can recognize fingerprints, voices, pupils, even body shapes, but what even is an aura?

However, thinking about it, since he had given the cup to Chief Liu, Lu Zheng realized the cup only had one strike's power, and now it was surely useless.

"After this incident, I've taken an interest in Qi refining and cultivation," Lu Zheng smiled and asked, "I wonder if Daoist sees any aptitude for cultivation in me?"

"Young sir, with aura covering the grand hall, living a wealthy life, why seek that elusive Immortal fate, besides cultivation is tough and tedious, young sir, being a person of the world, why complicate things?"

Lu Zheng's eyes flickered.

Just now, Lu Zheng's words were a test, to see if White Cloud Temple had any cultivation techniques.

But Daoist Mingzhang cleverly refused, skillfully avoiding the probe.

Is it that they have none, or are unwilling to teach?

Is it my aptitude is lacking, or the money is insufficient?

Playing language arts, Lu Zheng definitely couldn't outplay this old fox, so he directly asked, "I wonder if White Cloud Temple has any cultivation techniques?"

Daoist Mingzhang smiled slightly, "Our temple inherits from Jizhou Baiyun Temple, naturally we have traditions."

"Then..."

"Since the young sir has met a sage, he naturally has his destiny, just the time is not yet, once the time arrives, naturally, winds and clouds transform the Dragon, perhaps attaining a scholarly degree, or entering the Dao."

Tsk tsk, such clever tactics, executed crisply.

Indeed, a temple's inheritance is the keeper's treasure, not to be rashly passed on.

Judging this way, in a world with demons and ghosts, to establish a footing in a county, White Cloud Temple must possess genuine skills.

"Young sir ascending the temple also shows fate with our White Cloud Temple, I have here a Peace Talisman for the young sir, carry it and evil spirits shall not invade."

Here it is, the return gift for offering three thousand merit coins.

Daoist Mingzhang took out a Yellow Paper Talisman, folded it three times into a small square before Lu Zheng, and handed it to him.

"Thank you, Daoist!"

After a few more words, Lu Zheng took his leave, Daoist Mingzhang saw him off, and instructed the guest Daoist waiting at the door to escort Lu Zheng out.

Lu Zheng intended to probe, and the guest Daoist also intended for Lu Zheng to know, so very quickly Lu Zheng understood the merit coins needed for the various services at White Cloud Temple.

Divination costs a hundred coins, deciphering a divination costs one thousand coins.

Three kinds of Peace Talismans, one for twenty coins, one for one thousand coins, one for ten thousand coins.

It also undertakes visiting residences to assess geomancy of homes, and performing rites to pray for blessings, but prices varied.

Truly, even Mystic Sect people need to eat.