Chapter 155: Prayer For Blessings Ceremony
Ren Yongzheng was the first to speak up, sighing as soon as he opened his mouth: “This matter is indeed due to our Ren Family’s failure in guidance.”
As soon as he spoke, Ren Yongyang, who was sitting beside him and already had a gloomy expression, looked even more dejected and unsightly for a moment.
However, Ren Yongyang had no intention of stopping Ren Yongzheng.
Clearly, they had already discussed it and decided to attend this dinner party.
Old Master Cui, however, took over the conversation, saying with a sigh: “Alas, Ren Er, I know you are the most discerning of right and wrong, so your father felt at ease letting you handle affairs big and small in Yanjing.”
“And Ren Da, that kid Tongli from your family still hasn’t woken up?”
Only then did Ren Yongyang speak, his voice hard and tinged with a bit of world-weariness: “Yes, he hasn’t woken up yet.”
“Alas. This child…” Old Master Cui sighed again, his face showing a worried expression just like that of an ordinary elder concerned for a junior.
However, almost the next second after saying the above, his line of sight shifted from here to Xuan Xia and the others, landing on Daoist Master Qin.
“Daoist Master Qin, we will definitely give an explanation for this matter. However…”
“Look, the dishes are all served. Shouldn’t we eat first and talk later? Nowadays, I’m really getting old; I truly can’t endure hunger like I used to.”
Since Old Master Cui was using his age to show weakness, Daoist Master Qin naturally had to respect the elderly, and couldn’t really let him go hungry while talking.
So Daoist Master Qin smiled faintly and said, “I wouldn’t dare.” He made a gesture toward Old Master Cui.
Old Master Cui showed satisfaction on his face, picked up his chopsticks, and also beckoned everyone to start eating.
However, not everyone could eat.
From Xuan Xia’s side looking over, she immediately saw two bitter faces that couldn’t eat.
One was naturally Ren Yongyang.
This one was probably because his unfilial son Ren Tongli still hadn’t awakened.
Xuan Xia didn’t understand; Ren Tongli had only been clawed once by the old man in the illusionary scenery, plus eaten a few thunder spells from her. It wasn’t a fatal injury, so why hadn’t he woken up yet?
But it was good that he hadn’t woken up. Doing such inhuman things, if he woke up, she’d beat him until he fainted again.
As for the other one, it seemed to be Old Master Cui’s eldest son.
That is, Cui Cheng Zhi’s father.
His son hadn’t fainted and wasn’t waking up, so why was he also frowning bitterly?
Xuan Xia could only guess that he was probably so angry about having such a useless stupid son that he couldn’t eat.
……
Old Master Cui, accustomed to being the head of the family, after eating a few bites to line his stomach, couldn’t help but start leading the topic.
Among the people at this table, the one he knew the least about was Xuan Xia.
Old Master Cui thus asked Xuan Xia: “Back then, I only heard Old Daoist Xuan mention he had such a great-granddaughter, but I didn’t know her specific name. Girl, what is your name?”
“Xuan Xia.”
“Oh, it’s…”
“The Xia of summer.” Xuan Xia knew which character he meant and answered preemptively without him asking.
“Oh.” Old Master Cui nodded, “Northern Di, Northeastern Liao, Southern Manmin, Western Qiang, Southwestern Jiaoyao, Eastern Yi. Xia refers to the people of China.”
Xuan Xia smiled.
It was indeed annotated that way in Shuowen Jiezi.
“Has Xia girl now inherited Old Daoist Xuan’s inheritance?”
Inheritance? Take orders and become a Daoist priest? Xuan Xia immediately shook her head, “No. The inheritance… Daoist Master Qin will inherit it.”
Hearing this, Daoist Master Qin smiled; he hadn’t expected Xuan Xia to include him in her answer.
“Oh.” Old Master Cui nodded thoughtfully again and changed the question, “Then are you living in Yanjing now?”
What was this question for?
Xuan Xia first glanced at Daoist Master Qin, then answered: “Sort of.”
“Then you can come to our home more often in the future.” Old Master Cui pointed to the person beside him, “You young people should get to know each other more.”
Cui Chenglou, who was pointed to, immediately looked over.
Xuan Xia also looked over.
“…”
Xuan Xia felt that Cui Chenglou didn’t look like he wanted to get to know her more.
Old Master Cui probably noticed this too and immediately called to his grandson beside him: “Chenglou, you…”
“Old Master Cui.” Daoist Master Qin didn’t give Old Master Cui a chance to continue.
Figuring that Old Master Cui was no longer hungry, Daoist Master Qin brought the topic back to the main issue.
By this point, Xuan Xia could see that Old Master Cui truly didn’t dare to—or rather, didn’t want to—offend Daoist Master Qin.
After reaching this conclusion, when Xuan Xia looked at Daoist Master Qin again, her eyes carried a bit of admiration.
Daoist Master Qin had truly brought honor to Changsheng Temple!
Old Master Cui coughed twice, pondered for a moment, and said: “As Ren Er just said, this matter is indeed that kid Tongli’s fault. I was also shocked; I didn’t expect that kid to act so confused. And those two kids Cheng Zhi and Cheng Jin also have faults; I won’t protect them.”
“I’ve already spoken with the Ren Family Old Master. Starting tomorrow, that kid Tongli will be stripped of name from the ranking for five years. During these five years, he also may not engage in related matters as a Mystic Sect person. And during these five years, he may not appear in Yanjing City.”
“As for that kid Cheng Zhi, same thing. Though an accomplice, treated as principal offender, stripped of name for five years. During the five years, he may not participate in Mystic Sect matters. At the same time, I will send him elsewhere for secluded reflection. And Cheng Jin participated the least, so stripped of name for three years, to serve as a warning.”
After saying all this in one breath, Old Master Cui asked Daoist Master Qin: “What does Daoist Master Qin think of this disposal?”
Daoist Master Qin neither affirmed nor denied, looking toward Qu Xingxuan, “Better to ask the victim’s opinion. Qu Xingxuan, are you satisfied with the punishment given by Old Master Cui?”
Qu Xingxuan suddenly became the focus, which made him visibly uneasy.
Xuan Xia didn’t know if Old Master Cui’s five-year stripping of name and ban from practice counted as a heavy punishment for these Mystic Sect people, so she could only wait to hear Qu Xingxuan’s own opinion.
Seeing Qu Xingxuan not speaking, Old Master Cui spoke again: “Xingxuan kid, no need for any reservations; say whatever you think. If you feel the punishment isn’t enough and can’t swallow this anger, just say so. We elders will definitely make you satisfied.”
Qu Xingxuan instinctively looked toward his master.
Yuan Zhongshu glanced back but said nothing, waiting for him to decide himself.
Qu Xingxuan couldn’t help but habitually scratch his head, hesitating as he said: “Then let’s do it this way.”
“Good, good, good, then we’ll proceed accordingly.” Old Master Cui, as if afraid Qu Xingxuan would go back on it, immediately clapped the table to decide.
Only then did Yuan Zhongshu slightly furrow his brow.
The atmosphere at the table changed instantly.
The Ren Family brothers and the Cui Family eldest all had “loss” written large on their faces.
The matter of Ren Tongli colluding with Cui Cheng Zhi to lead Qu Xingxuan into the illusionary scenery was thus concluded with this result.
But the matter of it not being a mountain mirage fiend wasn’t mentioned at this dinner party.
Xuan Xia didn’t know if everyone tacitly understood or if they had already reached a conclusion.
After the dinner party ended, she asked Daoist Master Qin and learned that everyone had tacitly agreed not to mention it.
The Cui and Ren families wouldn’t want outsiders to know, so Daoist Master Qin and the others pretended to be confused despite knowing.
Everyone had their own calculations.
“This matter ends here. As for the mountain mirage fiend, don’t mention it anymore. Especially…”
“Especially in front of the Cui and Ren families?” Before Daoist Master Qin finished, Xuan Xia followed up on her own.
Daoist Master Qin paused, then smiled, nodding in approval: “Right.”
Xuan Xia said: “Okay, I got it.”
“Mm.”
“By the way, is that five-year stripping of name and ban from practice a severe punishment?” Xuan Xia remembered and asked.
Daoist Master Qin pondered for a moment, “Put yourself in their shoes: if your management company hid you away for five years. During those five years, you have no work. What would you think?”
Xuan Xia didn’t even think, “Five years? I’d switch to another company in the first year.”
Daoist Master Qin couldn’t help but laugh.
“Alright, five years is indeed pretty long.” Xuan Xia thought seriously, then answered.
Daoist Master Qin “mm”-ed, but said: “For ordinary people, five years has too many variables; it’s indeed a harsh punishment. But for the Cui and Ren families, it might not be too hard to endure; it depends on how you see it.”
Xuan Xia could understand; with the backing of great families, of course it wouldn’t be too hard.
While talking, they arrived at the residential community where Xuan Xia lived.
When saying goodbyes, Daoist Master Qin reminded her: “Don’t forget the day after tomorrow.”
With his reminder, Xuan Xia remembered, “After the day after tomorrow, you’ll go back to Ningzhou.”
Daoist Master Qin ambiguously “mm”-ed.
–
The day arrived for the planned trip to Qinghui Temple.
Xuan Xia figured since it was visiting a temple to pay respects, she didn’t do any deliberate dressing up and set off with Daoist Master Qin in a nearly bare-faced state.
Qinghui Temple was located on Qingfeng Mountain in the western suburbs of Yanjing City. The entire mountain was developed into a scenic area, with Qinghui Temple as the main attraction.
Of course, entering the scenic area required buying a ticket, but Daoist Master Qin didn’t need one because he had certification!
Xuan Xia couldn’t say if she was envious or not.
Fortunately, among the group, she wasn’t the only one needing to buy a ticket; Li Xinze and the other also had to buy tickets.
When checking tickets and entering the mountain, Xuan Xia noticed that there were really a lot of people going up the mountain!
And many weren’t just plain tourists; like Daoist Master Qin, they were dressed as fully equipped Daoist priests.
She was puzzled at first, but upon reaching the mountain, she learned that today Qinghui Temple was holding a prayer for blessings ceremony for “wishing calm and averting disasters.”
Every summer, many areas around Yanjing City suffered flood disasters, and as Yanjing City’s top temple, Qinghui Temple held such a prayer for blessings ceremony every year.
Buddhist temples also held prayer for blessings ceremonies, but Xuan Xia couldn’t possibly attend those.
Those coming to today’s ceremony included not only believers and ordinary tourists, but also Daoist priests from other palace temples specially invited by Qinghui Temple.
After learning this, Xuan Xia immediately asked Daoist Master Qin: “Did Qinghui Temple invite us? Or are we counted among the devotees or tourists?”
Just after asking, Li Xinze nearby pulled out an invitation from his body and handed it over.
Xuan Xia took the invitation, opened it, and saw the content inside: it was an invitation letter to participate in the ceremony.
The invited unit listed above was still Changsheng Temple.
Xuan Xia murmured: “We’re a temple from Ningzhou, yet coming to Yanjing to attend a prayer for blessings ceremony. Won’t the local Daoist Association in Ningzhou have opinions?”
She wouldn’t forget that when she wanted Daoist Master Qin to be temple master back then, Uncle Zhong said the local Daoist Association wouldn’t agree.
So in Xuan Xia’s mind, although she hadn’t dealt with the Ningzhou Daoist Association, it was a rather strict existence.
Daoist Master Qin smiled and explained: “Friendly exchanges between palace temples; the Daoist Association won’t have opinions.”
That was good.
However, the participation on the invitation letter wasn’t participating in the religious ceremony, just invited to observe.
But even just observing, the invited and the self-arriving had different treatments.
The invited observers’ positions were not only upfront, but they would also appear on camera.
Yes, today’s ceremony would not only have news camera shots, but also a network live broadcast.
After knowing there was a live broadcast, Xuan Xia somewhat regretted not dressing up before coming.
She was at least a female celebrity!
Not appearing beautifully on camera, at least let her respond to the occasion by wearing a Daoist robe to look the part.
Now, in her casual clothes standing among a group of Daoist priests, did she look okay?
Not out of place?
“Daoist Master Qin, you did this on purpose, didn’t you!” Xuan Xia looked at the camera not far away and couldn’t help but complain.
Daoist Master Qin looked at her puzzled.
Xuan Xia didn’t speak again because the ceremony had begun.
……
The high master hosting today’s prayer for blessings ceremony was none other than Qinghui Temple’s temple master, Chang Zhendong.
Xuan Xia wasn’t familiar with this person; it was Daoist Master Qin who introduced him to her on the spot.
While making the introduction, the Daoist priests standing on either side of the two occasionally cast glances, probably surprised that someone didn’t even know Temple Master Chang.
Not knowing Temple Master Chang, how could one stand in this position?
However, Xuan Xia’s attire already made people suspect she had come through the back door.
Just like in the live broadcast room currently streaming the ceremony.
Amid a sea of bullet comments from online devotees chanting along with High Master Chang Zhendong, suddenly some unrelated bullet comment contents popped up sporadically.
[Why is there someone in the first row who stands out so much? Shouldn’t the first row all be Daoist priests?]
[Do Daoist priests have lay disciples?]
[What Daoist priest? Isn’t that a celebrity? Who is that again?]
[Oh yeah yeah yeah, I remember now, isn’t that Xuan Xia!]
[Xuan Xia? Who?]
[A celebrity coming to join the fun; is she here to build persona and pave press releases again?]
[A completely unrelated person barging into such a solemn religious ceremony is like a rat dropping in the pot.]
[……]
These few irrelevant bullet comments couldn’t attract the attention of the online devotees participating, and were soon drowned out by bullet comments on the scripture content.
The netizens sending the bullet comments understood this too and quickly shifted the discussion elsewhere.
Soon, the lively gossip field had new fresh news.
‘Content: Friends, go quickly to the live broadcast room of Qinghui Temple’s prayer for blessings ceremony! There’s actually a celebrity participating. You definitely won’t guess who this celebrity is! I’ve broadened my horizons; even this kind of religious ceremony has celebrities joining the fun. What was she thinking? Is she there to donate money or to help chant scriptures?’
“Back after watching; which one? How come I didn’t spot the celebrity? But there is someone who really stands out from the surroundings.”
“Went to check it out in a flash; the gossip poster means Xuan Xia, right?”
“Too lazy to go watch, but I searched and already know who. It’s Xuan Xia from that Summer Romance show.”
“It really is her? Doesn’t look much like on the program; I thought I misidentified.”
“Replying upstairs, of course not like; today you can tell she didn’t put on makeup, pure bare-faced! But she’s a beauty after all; bare-faced still holds up well.”
“Don’t go off-topic; why is an 18th-tier little celebrity going to participate in a religious ceremony? And no other celebrities, just her alone; isn’t she embarrassed?”
“What are you all sour about? Didn’t she herself say long ago that her family has a temple? Her going to a religious ceremony is very normal, isn’t it?”
“Her family has a temple???”
Sick for a solid week, feeling like just surviving day by day; I think maybe I should talk about some metaphysics too.
