Chapter 9: A Dreamless Night
Xuan Xia originally wanted to discuss the bell and its owner further with Daoist Master Qin, but from some point, the topic veered off and suddenly shifted to the Mystic Sect.
The Mystic Sect is a general term, passed down from ancient times to the present, encompassing Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.
Different lineages, different sects, different families, with branches and details too numerous to count.
And precisely because there are so many branches and veins, over long years, there are always rotten branches and corrupted veins.
Some wicked disciples and discarded disciples of the Mystic Sect always like to do bad things.
Xuan Xia listened attentively and asked questions actively, “So according to Daoist Master Qin’s meaning, this bell belongs to a wicked disciple or discarded disciple of the Mystic Sect, and the other party deliberately threw it into the pond in the scenic area.”
Daoist Master Qin was also speculating, so he didn’t speak definitively, “That’s possible.”
Xuan Xia pondered for a moment and analyzed, “Great Grandfather has been away for over three months already, and this bell only appeared today, so the person is targeting either you, Daoist Master Qin, or me.”
Daoist Master Qin believed the other party was targeting him.
Coincidentally, Xuan Xia also believed she was the one being targeted.
Otherwise, why today of all days?
The two tacitly fell silent, each lost in thought, pondering almost the same question: who was the other party.
Until Uncle Zhong came to call them for dinner, the two ended their silence and left the side hall.
As they walked out of the side hall, Xuan Xia suddenly asked Daoist Master Qin, “Is my great grandfather considered impressive in the Mystic Sect?”
Daoist Master Qin stopped his wheelchair, thought for a moment, then gave a very serious evaluation: “Of high virtue and great prestige.”
Xuan Xia smiled, “Oh, oh.” As expected, her great grandfather was indeed excellent.
Seeing her happy expression, Daoist Master Qin couldn’t help but smile along.
Those who didn’t know might think he was praising her.
But her smile was bright and infectious.
–
Although the dinner dishes were all home-style, they were truly delicious. It being Xuan Xia’s first time tasting Uncle Zhong’s cooking, she gave it high praise.
This delighted Uncle Zhong greatly, and he promptly said, “Miss Xuan can come every weekend; I know many other dishes.”
“Does Miss Xuan like dim sum? Steamed buns, shrimp dumplings, barbecued pork puffs—I can make them all.”
Xuan Xia could only offer a polite smile; eating like this every week, how could her weight stay in check?
Toward the end of the harmonious dinner, Xuan Xia received another shocking piece of news.
It turned out that currently in the temple, only Daoist Master Qin lived there; Uncle Zhong and the others lived in row villas not far from here.
Every day, they stayed in the temple until they accompanied Daoist Master Qin to finish dinner, then left the temple to return to the villa, coming back the next morning to work.
The row villas weren’t far, just the area behind the supermarket along the waterfront; a stroll would take only about ten minutes.
After learning this, Xuan Xia felt extremely complicated.
With such employees as a reference, as the boss, wouldn’t she have to step up even more in the future?
Wasn’t this temple a bit small?
Shouldn’t she turn the small temple into a grand one, develop it into a famous historic site, and in the future put up a sign saying “Ancestral Court of the World”!
Currently inside the temple only the Three Pure Ones and the Divine Official were enshrined; in the future, they should at least add the Jade Emperor, the Four Sovereigns, the Three Officials, and the patriarchs, right?
And then the backyard for living—in the future as the Ancestral Court of the World, the number of employees wouldn’t fit in this small courtyard; it would have to be expanded…
Xuan Xia was calculating so unrealistically that she didn’t even realize when she fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was already bright outside, with the birds holding their morning meeting.
This sleep was comfortable; Xuan Xia sat up and stretched lazily.
Halfway through the stretch, she suddenly froze.
She suddenly realized something: she had slept through the night without dreams, straight until broad daylight!
