Chapter 49: Temple Keeper’s Story
“Bodhisattva, today it’s me who came to worship you first again.” The summer sun blazed fiercely, and the hunched old man with missing teeth smiled kindly, kneeling before a faded Stone Bodhisattva, saying, “In the blink of an eye, several decades have passed, and I’ve robbed this first incense for decades.”
The Stone Bodhisattva wore a compassionate smile, eyes downcast in serenity, solemn in precious form, holding a Precious Pearl in his left hand and a staff in his right, seated on a thousand-petaled azure Lotus platform, as if he could hear the Old Temple Keeper’s words, quietly listening.
The Old Temple Keeper chuckled as he knelt on the cushion, chatting casually with the Bodhisattva as usual, as if the Bodhisattva in this temple was one of his old friends.
After murmuring about his own affairs, he clasped his hands behind his back and stood, preparing to open the temple. Though he knew no one would come to worship today, he would still meticulously clean the temple and open the door on time.
To him, this was no longer a matter of duty, but part of his life.
However, today when opening the door, the Old Temple Keeper encountered an unexpected thing.
He saw a staggering Middle-aged Man holding a three- or four-year-old Daughter standing early at the temple door. When he saw someone actually waiting outside, the Old Temple Keeper’s first thought was not that the other party was waiting for the opening to come worship, but that they had come to the door for help.
The father and daughter didn’t look wealthy, and the Father’s face had obvious unhealed wounds, looking more and more destitute the more he looked.
After a brief daze, the Old Temple Keeper curiously asked: “Hello, is there something wrong?”
Hearing this, the Middle-aged Man who was the Father immediately stated his intention: “My Daughter and I came to burn incense and worship.”
The Old Temple Keeper looked surprised, then smiled warmly, welcoming the father and daughter’s arrival. Though somewhat unexpected, he wasn’t particularly delighted.
When the father and daughter arrived in the temple, the Old Temple Keeper stood by preparing burning incense for them, briefly explaining the steps for burning incense and worship, then basically stood silently by watching.
During the Pilgrim’s worship, the Old Temple Keeper felt a slight emotion inwardly, not expecting there were still people in the world who remembered the Bodhisattva like him.
However, the Old Temple Keeper soon discovered that this father and daughter Pilgrims’ actions during worship were somewhat eerie. Normally, when burning incense and Worship Buddha, everyone worships the main deity in the Ancestral Hall Shrine, and the left and right protectors can be worshiped or not, but this father and daughter not only worshiped all, but when Worship the Crimson-faced General beside the Bodhisattva, the Worship time was even longer than for the Bodhisattva, with a gaze that was faintly more pious than when Worship the Bodhisattva.
The Old Temple Keeper was full of doubts, and only after the father and daughter Pilgrims finished Worship did he couldn’t help but ask.
In response, the Middle-aged Man said with a sincere appearance: “We were both saved by him, so we are very grateful to him.”
The Old Temple Keeper was somewhat surprised after hearing this, then asked: “Do you know who this Bodhisattva is?”
The Middle-aged Man shook his head.
“Then do you know the identity of this Crimson-faced General?” The Old Temple Keeper slightly frowned and asked again.
“I only know he is called General Zeng.” The Middle-aged Man shook his head, then sincerely asked, “Please teach me.”
The Old Temple Keeper fell into Silence, feeling it eerie, because no one would travel dozens of miles up a hundred-meter-high mountain just to worship knowing only the name of a Deity, and one that was a side Deity to the main one. It was as if what the Middle-aged Man had just said was true—he had really encountered the Deity’s manifestation and been saved by the Deity, harboring gratitude.
This isn’t scientific… The Old Temple Keeper thought for an instant.
In response, the Old Temple Keeper slowly told the Middle-aged Man the story of the Deity enshrined in this temple: “You want to know about this Crimson-faced General—he is not actually a proper god, not even a Deity.
He and the Azure General were originally goblins that brought chaos to the world. After being subdued by the Bodhisattva’s Buddhist Dharma, they converted to the Bodhisattva and became the current protectors before the carriage, later ordered by the Bodhisattva to protect the Human World. The two Generals received the Bodhisattva’s enlightenment, gaining mystical power; they have eyes that see through the merits and sins of all beings, thus Bestow Fate to people they meet.
The Crimson General Bestow Fate to those with profound merits, increasing lifespan; the Azure General Bestow Fate to those with heavy sins, reducing life. Thus the Azure General is called the Diminishing General, and the Crimson General is called General Zeng…”
“I see.” The Middle-aged Man suddenly realized, laughing heartily, “So that’s the reason I could live until now?”
The Old Temple Keeper looked at the Middle-aged Man, shaking his head inwardly, not knowing if it was delusion at work, to have such fantasies.
After getting his questions answered, the Middle-aged Man purchased a temple peace talisman Necklace from the Old Temple Keeper, one for each father and Daughter, carefully hanging them around their necks.
For an instant, the Old Temple Keeper felt that this father and daughter might be even more pious toward the Bodhisattva and them than he was.
But the things that happened in the following days were beyond the Old Temple Keeper’s expectations.
A few days later, a group of people in black clothes, seemingly from an Organization, came to worship without warning just like that father and daughter Pilgrims. Though not as sincere as the father and daughter Pilgrims, they were generally respectful, and after Worship, they also inquired with him about the story of the Deity enshrined in the temple.
The Old Temple Keeper was also worried that these people came with ill intent, so he patiently answered them one by one.
Finally, the group of mysterious people cheerfully donated tens of thousands to the temple’s Incense, then left, also buying some wooden carvings he made in his free time of the Bodhisattva and protector Generals statues, and other Talisman products.
Watching them leave, the Old Temple Keeper felt for a moment that his temple might have a chance to prosper again.
However, after that, no one came again, and the temple returned to Tranquility.
The Old Temple Keeper sighed inwardly: “It’s still just three minutes of heat after all; it’s not that easy.”
He sat at the red table at the door, looking at the Stone Bodhisattva, smiling: “In the end, it’s still only me accompanying you.”
Another evening, the Old Temple Keeper who had fallen asleep at the table propping his Head for some reason suddenly woke up. Seeing it was late, he prepared to close the door and end business to rest early.
But just before closing, the Old Temple Keeper noticed a plainly dressed Young Man standing before the Bodhisattva, smiling peacefully at the Stone Statue, as if appreciating it or teasingly mocking it.
“Young Man, it’s closing time today; if you still want to see the Bodhisattva, come tomorrow.” The Old Temple Keeper supported his waist as he approached, saying with a chuckle.
Hearing the Old Temple Keeper, the Young Man turned back to look at him, as if not hearing, smilingly asked: “How many years have you been here? How long has this temple been around?”
The Old Temple Keeper wasn’t annoyed, smilingly explaining: “Since I was born, this temple has been here. According to my Master, this temple is three or four hundred years old now, and I’ve spent over 70 years here.”
“Do you believe in him?” Lin Ling pointed at the Stone Statue without Respect and asked.
“Yes.” The Old Temple Keeper smiled, “This is also the reason I’ve Persevered for so many years.”
“Do you believe because you think good things will happen, or believe because you think bad things won’t happen?”
“In the past, believing in Him might have considered these, but now, believing in Him has become a natural thing—not Worship for whether He can Help achieve one’s Wish, nor believe for His Greatness… It’s like eating and sleeping, just something I feel I must do to live on.”
“Enlightened.” Lin Ling smiled and nodded, patted the Temple Keeper’s shoulder, then slowly left.
The Temple Keeper only felt this young man was quite eerie, with rude manners, but for some reason felt unexpectedly natural, not awkward. He gently sniffed, actually feeling the residual Warmth on his shoulder Warmth, with a Smoky Scent like burning incense, making one feel refreshed and comfortable all over.
Then he suddenly felt a chill, his mind flashing like lightning, everything before his eyes dissipating like clouds and smoke. He fell into Darkness, then immediately saw Light at the black Seabed, his strong Will to Survive making him chase after the Light trying to leave him.
“Ugh—” The Temple Keeper woke up, sitting at the red table at the temple door, sweating profusely. The Door beside him was open, sunlight spilling Inside the house, autumn wind invigorating his Spirit. He looked at the dust on the ground and table, nearly a millimeter thick.
Immediately, the young Temple Keeper burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably…
There’s another update tonight, opening the story of the third volume.
