Chapter 112: Chen Han: Daoist Master, I’ve Done It!
Ma Qi saw the Chen family head deny it, and once again pleaded, “Chen family head, my wife and son really know they were wrong. They know they shouldn’t have been messing around in front of the Statue of the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation, and even more that they shouldn’t have torn the altar cloth. Otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten this strange illness.”
Chen Han still spoke with a smiling face. “Section Chief Ma, if you are sick, going to the hospital for treatment is the proper way. Linking this symptom with a deity is nonsense. You really must believe in science.”
“Chen family head, sorry for disturbing you.” When Ma Qi heard this, he sighed. He could see this person simply would not admit to such a thing, and could only helplessly take his wife and son and leave.
As soon as they started walking, his son cried out in pain.
Chen Han watched Section Chief Ma leave with his wife and son, and just as the other stepped out the door, he said again, “Section Chief Ma, some things must be experienced. How about coming to offer a stick of incense in 8 days?”
Ma Qi was just stepping out of the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation Hall when he froze at these words. “Chen family head, you mean…”
“Section Chief Ma, I did not say anything. Believe in science!” Chen Han added with a smile, already walking toward the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation altar. He took the brush Aunt-Grandmother handed him, dipped it into the cinnabar ink beside him, and began painting a new Enlightenment Talisman.
The punishment for the mother and son could not be waived just because the other side pleaded a few words. But it was also necessary that, after they received the punishment, they develop sufficient awe. Otherwise the punishment would be for nothing.
As for anything else, if asked, the answer was to believe in science.
Ma Qi understood, so at this moment he could even hear his own heartbeat speeding up with a muffled thump-thump.
This strange hemorrhoid his wife and son had gotten was precisely because they had messed around in the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation Hall and were punished. But clearly the Chen family head would not admit it and would only talk about believing in science.
It seemed the other had still left them a thread, using this way to inform them.
His meaning should be that the punishment lasted 10 days and they would recover after 8 days. Today was the second day.
He could state even the time so precisely, and yet still said to believe in science?
“Husband, what does this Chen family head mean?” Chu Fei asked with a face full of dejection.
“Eight days from now, you and our son’s illness will be cured. Take these 8 days to properly remember this lesson.” Ma Qi shook his head. Perhaps the Chen family head was right; it was good to let the mother and son learn a bit of sense, so they would not cause trouble outside in the future.
“Ah? Eight days?” Chu Fei’s face instantly collapsed. She already felt unbearably miserable now. How was she supposed to get through 8 days? She could not help saying, “Or… should we go to the city and give it a try?”
“If you want to try, then go try.” Ma Qi agreed as well. Although he had gotten the 8-day timeframe from the Chen family head, since his wife wanted to go, he would let her try. If it did not work, she could give up completely.
In the future, when encountering such things again, this lesson would be engraved in their hearts.
Sigh…
…
Today, members of the Chen clan were also returning one after another.
Chen Jun was one of them. After he and his girlfriend resigned, they handled matters over there and then bought tickets back.
By evening, he took a taxi to the Chen clan. After he and his girlfriend got out of the car, he looked in surprise at the completely changed Chen clan, and at the tourists going in and out.
Compared to when he left last time, the entire Chen clan had changed drastically.
Outside there was even a market now, where the uncles and elders from Shangyuan Village were all selling things inside.
“Chen Jun, it is so lively here.” His girlfriend looked in surprise at the tourists coming and going. She had been very much looking forward to coming back with her boyfriend this time.
On the way here, she had been watching videos about the Chen Clan Ancient Architecture. The Chen clan already had considerable fame online, and the links for booking accommodation in the Chen clan were basically all full.
So the work arranged by her boyfriend’s clan would certainly be stable.
“Let’s go, Xiaoxiao, let’s go into the Chen clan.” Chen Jun took the luggage from the taxi and held his girlfriend’s hand, walking toward the Chen Clan Main Entrance.
Once inside, looking at the street, he felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
It was familiar because the street clearly had not changed, it was still those houses, but somehow they now looked far more impressive.
It seemed Brother Han had really renovated the Chen clan very well.
Lin Xiaoxiao, however, stared in amazement at the rows of ancient buildings. She had thought the promotional videos were using filters, but it turned out they really were this attractive.
This made her cast a reproachful glance at her boyfriend. When they had just gotten together, she heard he was also from the countryside and that there was only an old house. She had even encouraged him mutually.
Now she understood that not all countryside was the same, and not all old houses were the same. Some old houses could serve as scenic spots for tourists to visit, while some really were just old and shabby.
Chen Jun’s home was on the west side of the Chen clan. Because of the geographical location, the courtyard at home was triangular. When they arrived, he introduced with a smile, “Xiaoxiao, this is my home!”
As he spoke, he excitedly pulled his girlfriend to enter the courtyard, but suddenly a figure in armor rushed out and blocked his way.
Woof woof woof! ~
A dog barked, baring its teeth. A big yellow dog stared at him like a tiger watching its prey, its gaze as if driving off an intruding stranger.
“Chen Jun, that is such a big dog.” Lin Xiaoxiao was so frightened that she hid behind her boyfriend.
“…” Chen Jun was dumbfounded.
He came home and was being driven away by a dog?
“Xiao Huang, move aside, this is your brother.” A shout sounded and a middle-aged man walked out.
When the big yellow dog heard the voice, it immediately went to the middle-aged man’s side, squatted down by his feet, and wagged its tail.
“Dad!” Chen Jun quickly greeted him.
As Chen Duojin loosened the armor from the big yellow dog, he introduced to his son, “Xiao Huang was assigned by the clan. It has to patrol every day. It just got off work and did not know you, that is why it barked. It is actually very gentle.”
“Is it one of those adopted stray dogs?” Chen Jun was very surprised. He had seen related videos before and was curious. Now even the dogs in the Chen clan had jobs?
But then Chen Duojin looked over at Lin Xiaoxiao behind Chen Jun and asked, “Is this your girlfriend?”
“Hello, uncle, my name is Lin Xiaoxiao.” Lin Xiaoxiao hurried to introduce herself.
“You brat, you have good fortune.” Chen Duojin grinned, and after undoing the dog’s armor, he called to Chen Jun, “Your mom has finished cooking. Put down your luggage first and eat.”
“Okay, dad!” Chen Jun nodded, holding his girlfriend’s hand and going inside. His mom had already prepared a full table of dishes for him. Perhaps because he was bringing his girlfriend home, every dish had been made with care.
Chen Jun had been away working, and now that he was back, he immediately felt the warmth of home.
After eating, he began to ask, “Dad, mom, the Chen clan has changed so much I hardly recognize it. Also, Brother Han has become an internet celebrity. He can leap over walls and run along eaves, and Uncle Dagou and Uncle Shuisheng can actually do martial arts too.”
“I really did not know any of this before. At first I thought I had transmigrated like in a novel.”
“If I had known the Chen clan had all this, when I was a kid I would have shamelessly begged them to teach me. Maybe I could be leaping over walls and running along eaves like Brother Han.”
Chen Duojin shook his head. “You did not have the qualification to know, which means you did not have the qualification to learn.”
“Why?” Chen Jun asked in confusion.
“Because you are not from the main family.” Chen Duojin explained simply, “Uncle Dagou and Shuisheng’s fathers’ generation were split off from the main family, but your grandfather’s generation already had no connection with the main family at all. So if the family head had not become popular online and Uncle Dagou and Shuisheng had not been recorded in videos, you might never have known these things.”
In fact, the main point was that he himself had not had the qualification to know. It was only recently that he heard it from the clan elders.
“Ah, so when grandpa told us when we were little that we had to listen to Brother Han, that was the reason!” Chen Jun immediately recalled his childhood. He had not understood before, but now perhaps he did.
So he had not had the qualification back then to know the Chen clan’s foundation.
Only now was he truly getting to know the Chen clan.
“In the future, call him the family head. Do not be so casual,” Chen Duojin reminded, then thought of something and said, “Right, later you and Xiaoxiao come with me to register your onboarding information. You can start work tomorrow. There is a lot going on in the clan now. Everyone needs to get busy.”
When Chen Jun heard this, he immediately nodded. “Sister Xiao Yu agreed to let Xiaoxiao and me apply as guides.”
But Chen Duojin immediately said, “Xiaoxiao can be a guide. You go to the Demon Subduing Hall. I begged Uncle Dagou for a long time before he agreed to take you.”
“What is the Demon Subduing Hall?” Chen Jun was clearly stunned.
“Security,” said Chen Duojin.
“Ah?” Chen Jun was dumbfounded and quickly protested, “Dad, I am not going to be a security guard!”
“Pfft!” Lin Xiaoxiao could not help laughing. When she heard the name Demon Subduing Hall just now, she had already felt it did not sound like a serious department. She had not expected it to be security.
But giving security such a name as Demon Subduing Hall really was as abstract as that Chen family head’s videos.
“Are you stupid?” Chen Duojin said irritably. “To outsiders, you are security. Internally, you can be like Uncle Dagou and have a chance to film videos with the family head. In the videos, you are a member of the Demon Subduing Hall. And in ancient times you would be the family head’s personal guard.”
“Uncle Dagou also said he will drill the Demon Subduing Hall members. He might even teach you martial arts. You think this is an ordinary security job? If you really do not want to go, I will tell Uncle Dagou.”
“No, I will go, I will go…” Chen Jun said urgently. Thinking of Uncle Dagou’s ability to take down dog thieves in a few blows, only a fool would not go.
After dinner, Chen Jun took his girlfriend and followed his father out, heading to the tourist center, to a dedicated personnel office.
“Xiaoyan, this is my son and his girlfriend. They are here to register their onboarding information.” Bringing them in, Chen Duojin spoke to Chen Xiaoyan inside.
After her husband took their daughter back to the city, Chen Xiaoyan had officially started work, handling personnel matters for the Chen clan.
Seeing Chen Duojin, she said, “Uncle Duojin, have them give me their ID cards and fill out the onboarding information. Also, you and Aunt-Grandmother need to submit your bank card information. Next month the bank will issue salaries uniformly.”
“Okay, okay, we will give it to you tomorrow.” Chen Duojin said with a beaming smile.
Chen Jun and Lin Xiaoxiao each received the onboarding forms and began filling them out.
Lin Xiaoxiao was very amazed. It was her first time seeing this kind of family-style enterprise, and such a big family at that. Then she saw that the form also included fields for height and three measurements. The Chen clan would be issuing Hanfu, and they would have to wear Hanfu at work in the future.
This made her a bit expectant. She had never worn Hanfu before; working in Hanfu would definitely be a different experience.
After Chen Jun had completed the procedures, he returned home with his father, then took out his mobile phone and sent Brother Han a message. “Family head, your little one has returned!”
To him, no matter what Brother Han became, he was convinced by him.
When Chen Han received Chen Jun’s message, he had just returned to his room. Seeing that this little childhood follower had come back, he was quite happy and replied with a head-pat emoji.
After all, when they were little, the other boy had been the dedicated “son” in their pretend games, and he had patted his head plenty.
Putting down his phone, he took out the Enlightenment Talisman he had drawn that afternoon in the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation Hall from the warehouse.
For the Enlightenment of the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation, the Enlightenment Talisman had to be thrown and accurately hit the heart of the Statue of the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation. This was not something an ordinary person could do. After all, not everyone was like Uncle Jiu.
The consecration was to be held in the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation Hall. During the consecration, only the 60 lineage representatives could enter the inner hall to watch. The tourists acting as believers in the outer hall would not see it. But in front of the clan members, if, during the Summoning the Heart and Guiding the Spirit step, he simply walked from the altar to the statue, stuck the Enlightenment Talisman on the statue, and then walked back to the altar, that would be way too low.
It would not look at all like the deep and unfathomable family head.
So he planned to use the Sword Control Technique to control the talisman, throwing it through the air directly to stick on the statue’s chest from a distance. That would have the bearing of an expert, and with so many clan members watching, it would be a perfect moment to show off.
Also, he could have the Enlightenment Talisman appear from the warehouse seemingly out of thin air, another chance to show off in front of the clan.
The more he displayed, the more the clan members would respect and revere him. Balancing grace and authority was very important.
Thinking this, Chen Han used the Sword Control Technique. The Enlightenment Talisman instantly floated up from his hand, and under his control flew toward the opposite wall, landing precisely at the position he had designated.
Very good.
Although the Basic Sword Control Technique still could not control very heavy objects, a single piece of talisman paper was no problem at all.
With a wave of his hand, the runes flew back again and landed in his hand.
After practicing several times in a row, he became very skilled. Then he stored the Enlightenment Talisman back in the warehouse. Since this was his first time as family head organizing such a large ceremonial activity, he also thought about what else he could show off.
Right, the Quiet Heart Art.
In the Grand Enlightenment Ceremony, besides the 60 lineage representatives and some others reciting the Three Purities Mantra after the consecrated statue was brought out, the person in charge of the consecration also had to recite the Quiet Heart Art once before beginning.
In Daoist consecration rituals, reciting the Quiet Heart Art is usually meant to help dispel distracting thoughts and keep the mind clear, so as to carry out the ceremony better and achieve the effects of praying for blessings and warding off evil.
If he was going to recite a Quiet Heart Art, he might as well recite the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》. After all, he would be facing tourists later with the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》. With the quiet heart +2 attribute, it would definitely attract those tourists who needed to clear their minds and nurture body and mind.
Especially those in creative professions.
Sometimes those people needed a still mind in order to produce good works.
By then, once the accommodation renovations of those complete courtyard houses in the Chen clan were finished, these people would be the main clientele.
He had already learned the Daoist scripture notation before. Becoming familiar with the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 scripture notation in the evening would be no problem at all.
Thinking this, he took out the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》 and began practicing.
At the same time, the Chen clan was growing lively, not because of tourists, but because many clan members who had returned were going around chatting with neighbors.
Xiao Yu and Xiao Mi had finished editing the videos they had shot today and uploaded them to Douyin. Only then did they go out together, heading to their senior brother’s place. Xiao Yu had something to report to him.
But along the way, she behaved mischievously, constantly reaching to grab Xiao Mi’s chest. “Sister Xiao Mi, do you really not have that swelling feeling anymore? I still do, so we cannot help each other tonight!”
When Xiao Mi heard this, her pretty face flushed slightly. She had been swollen before, but after letting him try it, and after he had “tormented” her for so long… it eased…
When Xiao Yu entered her senior brother’s courtyard, she heard his scripture chanting from the second floor.
She recognized it at once. “Senior brother is reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》. This hand seal seems to have a special quieting effect when combined with the family feng shui array, but senior brother has been practicing all along and it seems to have had no effect.”
Xiao Mi had heard Xiao Yu talk about that 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》. She had also seen it in Chen Han’s room, in his hands. It seemed the Chen clan’s feng shui array was also recorded in that 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》.
It was just that the way he was reciting it did not seem to be effective.
The two girls entered the attic, preparing to go up to find him, but as they reached the second floor, they heard Chen Han once again reciting the 《Ancient Quiet Heart Art》: “When people are quiet, they are at peace; when matters are quiet, they go smoothly; when the heart is quiet, it prevails… the mind should be calm…”
At first, the chanting did not feel like much, but suddenly the two girls froze. His pitch and tone changed, and then an indescribable feeling washed over them.
That feeling made them unconsciously stop in their tracks.
He had succeeded?
