{"id":10663,"date":"2020-02-05T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=10663"},"modified":"2020-02-26T12:53:27","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T17:53:27","slug":"pttp011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp011\/","title":{"rendered":"Part-Time Taoist Priest 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I Have a Special Pose for Drawing Talismans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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On one hand, Baoyang Temple had become a popular attraction and people kept coming to check it out. Xie Lingya and Zhang Daoting were both very busy; Xie Lingya was glad that he had promptly and decisively hired Zhang Daoting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the roof was repaired and the venerable founder\u2019s new statue had also been restored. As such, it was necessary to choose a day to conduct a consecration ceremony, \u2018Kaiguang\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, literally \u2018opening the holy light\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statue\u2019s restoration was completed, but before worshipping it, it needed to be consecrated, which was rather pressing business. Zhang Daoting\u2019s skills weren\u2019t high enough, so Xie Lingya had to do it. As he was not as familiar with the rites as Zhang Daoting, he had to take \u201cmake-up lessons\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kaiguang ritual was a type of invocation ceremony\u2014inviting a god to bestow a part of their spirit onto the \u201cempty\u201d effigy, filling it with their divine essence. Although nowadays, charms, amulets, and magical tools could also be consecrated by undergoing the Kaiguang ritual, in the very beginning, it referred exclusively to the consecration of godly statues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this time, Mao Zhengqing, a priest from Taihe Temple, called to invite Xie Lingya to attend some kind of a lecture sponsored by the Taoist Association. \u201cMy two shidi<\/em> 1<\/a><\/sup>‘Junior Apprentice Brother(s)’ – junior male fellow student(s) or apprentice(s)<\/span> would like to thank you face-to-face for your help with the recent incident. Besides, you said to inform Baoyang if our temple was having any activities, so I decided to just invite you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was important to maintain a good relationship with the local bigwigs, so despite being busy, Xie Lingya made time to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, since Xie Lingya was just a layperson, Zhang Daoting should have been the one to attend, but Baoyang Temple couldn\u2019t be without its sole priest. Moreover, Zhang Daoting didn\u2019t know Mao Zhengqing and would feel rather embarrassed visiting Taihe due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his last stay there,2<\/a><\/sup>Zhang Daoting lodged in Taihe (per custom, he could do it for free for three days). If he wanted to stay longer, he should have paid, but he didn’t have money, so they asked him to leave.<\/span> so Xie Lingya went instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zhengqing welcomed Xie Lingya warmly. He brought him to have tea first as there was still time before the lecture started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya was only concerned about one matter: \u201cWhere is Shi Daozhang<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShi Daozhang <\/em>has been busy with purifying the malevolent spirits these days and might not be attending the lecture. You should see him if you stay for dinner, though,\u201d Mao Zhengqing replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOk, then I won\u2019t hesitate to accept the hospitality,\u201d Xie Lingya said. He seized the chance to ask, \u201cShi Daozhang<\/em> is from the provincial capital, right? How long will he be staying here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zhengqing thought, Aren\u2019t you two friends? Why are you asking me?<\/em>, but he replied anyway. \u201cIt seems that Shi Daozhang <\/em>came not just to preside over the Rain Invocation Ceremony\u2014he will be staying in Niuyang for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya bluntly continued asking, \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zhengqing floundered a little before hesitatingly replying, \u201cThese past few days, we\u2019ve all been rather busy. Especially Shi Daozhang<\/em>\u2026 he didn\u2019t have much downtime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya: \u201c……\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You said that Shi Daozhang was too busy to attend the lecture, but the truth is, you haven\u2019t talked with him at all, right?!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was hard to say if Shi Changxuan\u2019s personality really was cold or if it was just a facade and he was actually much more passionate inside,3<\/a><\/sup>‘Mensao’ [\u95f7\u9a9a]; a bit like tsundere if you want some comparison.<\/span> but he did appear quite taciturn. It would already be a feat to get more than a few sentences out of him normally, not to mention trying to have a deep conversation or randomly chatting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To save his image, Mao Zhengqing added, \u201cBut Shi Daozhang\u2019s <\/em>family has a tradition of wandering and studying at different temples. Perhaps he plans to continue his cultivation here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he cultivates in Niuyang, then will he be lodging in Taihe? Well, it\u2019s not as if he would come to Baoyang anyway.<\/em> Xie Lingya wanted to convince Shi Changxuan to become his uncle\u2019s disciple, but when it came to such matters, one shouldn\u2019t act with undue haste. At least Shi Changxuan was staying in Niuyang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Xie Lingya was pondering, Mao Zhengqing changed the topic, \u201cWere the talismans you used last time drawn by yourself, Xiao Xie Jushi<\/em>?\u201d4<\/a><\/sup>Lay Taoist practitioner (as opposed to formally ordained priest).<\/span>\n\n\n\n

Actually, he was already mostly certain\u2014after all, at that time, he\u2019d witnessed Xie Lingya draw the characters on the wall. Before this, the only person he\u2019d ever met who could draw the characters without reciting incantations was Shi Changxuan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remembering the talismans, his heart ached. Why didn\u2019t the young man use them more sparingly? Using them without consideration for how long it would take others to draw as many!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although technically, Xie Lingya did not convert to be a Taoist, he was practicing the Taoist skills and arts passed down in Baoyang Temple, so he didn\u2019t correct the way Mao Zhengqing addressed him. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSuch a solid foundation, as expected of Wang Daozhang\u2019s <\/em>nephew,\u201d Mao Zhengqing exclaimed. \u201cWhat a pity that we don\u2019t have such young talent here at Taihe. But since we are all in Niuyang, we can have more contact in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He looked at Xie Lingya with regret. Those from the older generation knew of Wang Yuji\u2019s skill and talent, but they weren\u2019t aware he had a nephew with such a great talent in talismans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Xie Lingya had not inherited Wang Yuji\u2019s legacy, he would have headhunted him. The best would have been to let him join the temple as a priest, or if he didn\u2019t want to become a priest, at least be a resident lay practitioner. These days, there were too few Taoist priests, and even fewer talented ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Mao Zhengqing recently had been busy with nursing his injuries and other things, he still didn\u2019t know about the furor over Xie Lingya\u2019s mosquito-repelling talismans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, it\u2019s a shame we hadn\u2019t kept in contact as much. Taihe Temple is the leader of Niuyang Taoist Association after all\u2014from now on, we will definitely visit more often,\u201d Xie Lingya said modestly. \u201cBy the way, on what aspect of Taoism was today\u2019s lecture about again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLecture?\u201d Mao Zhengqing once more checked the information he received to make sure he hadn\u2019t remembered it wrong, and said, \u201cYou must\u2019ve misheard\u2014this isn\u2019t a lecture on Taoism, but a meeting of Taoist temples\u2019 music bands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya: \u201c???\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The priest explained, \u201cThat is, our Taihe Taoist Music Band would like to share their performing experience with other bands in the association. Although Baoyang doesn\u2019t have a band, I thought you could attend anyway. The main purpose was for you to get to know more of your peers and give us the opportunity to express our gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya: \u201c……\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Eh, no wonder Uncle didn\u2019t like to come here. They have enough people to provide musical accompaniment for ceremonies and form a band. It makes Baoyang look even more desolate in comparison!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mao Zhengqing introduced Xie Lingya to Taihe\u2019s leaders. Among them was the priest who had jumped off the building the other day. He still had his leg in a plaster cast and moved stiffly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t jump of his own will but because he had been possessed by the malevolent spirit. Unfortunately, as the poor man was quite elderly, it was hard to tell how long it would take for the fracture to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other two priests also came to thank Xie Lingya. That day, they had lost consciousness right after the fight and failed to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regrettably, Abbot Chen was still recuperating and did not make an appearance. Officially, Chen Shansheng was ill, but Xie Lingya knew he was injured because he\u2019d failed to break a curse and suffered a backlash. It seemed he had been severely weakened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat about that shi niang<\/em>?\u201d Xie Lingya asked again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zhengqing replied coldly, \u201cShe was already at the limits of her power that day and she spent her last energy animating the corpse. She died not long after we brought her back. She and her husband had a bit of a reputation in Boshan province back in the day, but then they were involved with a wealthy businessman in some shady affairs and ran into some trouble. In the end, they were chased out of Boshan and were casting curses for people to earn some quick cash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rearing ghosts and zombies had always been a risky business. Moreover, the malevolent spirits she\u2019d caught were exceptionally fierce. It was true that using them greatly increased the user\u2019s power, but it came at the risk of suffering a sudden backlash. What\u2019s more that the husband and wife usually took up transactions that were high-risk… As the saying goes, if you often walk along the river bank, you can\u2019t avoid having wet shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya nodded. Money was nice, but he preferred to live honestly and draw mosquito-repelling talismans worth twenty yuan apiece\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the meeting, the Taihe Taoist Music Band not only performed Taoist classics like the \u201cTao Te Ching\u201d, they also performed a few pop songs that they rehearsed in their free time. Xie Lingya was envious as he watched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damn, next time he would start a Baoyang Taoist Music Band and make them play \u201cLittle Leaping Frog\u201d<\/em> for him during the off-hours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There were other members of the Taoist Association attending the event\u2014presumably they came to listen to the performance or were part of a band. They saw that Xie Lingya was a new face, so they came over to say hello and ask where he\u2019s from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as Mao Zhengqing mentioned Baoyang Temple, a priest interjected, \u201cThe one that has no mosquitoes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zhengqing was confused. \u201cWhat doesn\u2019t have mosquitoes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTheir Baoyang Temple! The one in the city centre, right?\u201d the priest said. \u201cYesterday, a worshipper at the Chenghuang Temple5<\/a><\/sup>City God Temple; the Chenghuangshen (literally: “god of the moat and the walls” or “god of the boundary’), is a tutelary deity or deities in Chinese folk religion who is believed to protect the people and the affairs of the particular village, town or city of great dimension, and the corresponding afterlife location.<\/span> said that recently Baoyang Temple has been selling mosquito-repelling talismans and that the whole temple was completely mosquito-free because of said talismans. Now, a lot of people go there to see if there really are none.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zhengqing understood then. \u201cOh, so you\u2019ve also studied minor talismans, Xiao Xie Jushi<\/em>,\u201d he said, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid they mention the other talismans we have?\u201d Xie Lingya was more concerned about this. He really didn\u2019t want \u201cmosquito repellant\u201d to become the first thing people thought about hearing Baoyang\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, I didn\u2019t pay too much attention to that. So\u2026 is the mosquito-repelling talisman real?\u201d the priest asked with curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although there were many types of minor talismans, the mosquito-repelling talisman was created by Wang Ziran and had once been a trademark of the temple he belonged to; it wasn\u2019t shared to outsiders. This was nothing unusual\u2014many Taoist sects focusing on talismans had their own unique techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if there were no barriers to passing down the knowledge, a person\u2019s energy is limited\u2014rather than studying minor talismans, many people would rather practice other types of magical charms. Moreover, not everyone could achieve the degree of proficiency high enough for the talisman to work with as perfect efficiency as the ones made by the genius, Xie Lingya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without a doubt, the talisman\u2019s effectiveness was related to the maker\u2019s talents and skills. Not everyone was a genius. Even if someone had a natural talent, they wouldn\u2019t necessarily become Taoist priests; even if they did, it might be because they were sincere believers and only wanted to serve the gods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya said generously, \u201cIt\u2019s real. You\u2019re welcome to come look for mosquitoes too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their conversation caught the attention of other priests. The news about Baoyang\u2019s mosquito-repelling talismans were still spreading; many of them hadn\u2019t heard about it yet, and their interest was piqued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am so jealous, you have such a practical minor talisman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally? Not even one mosquito?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow big is the area of the effective range?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation continued to derail. Xie Lingya patted himself down for a moment. \u201cToo bad I didn\u2019t bring any with me or I would put it up here and let you see it for yourselves\u2026 Oh, right\u2014Mao Daozhang<\/em>, you probably have talisman paper and cinnabar here, right? I can draw one on the spot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya really didn\u2019t have the talisman with him, but he would\u2019ve said he didn\u2019t even if he did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, this was such a good opportunity. With so many peers here, of course he had to use the chance to get to know more people and, by the way, tell everyone: We at Baoyang Temple have some real skills, we welcome you to jump ship.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoist priests were indeed intrigued\u2014the mosquito-repelling talisman seemed to be unique to Baoyang Temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zhengqing was indebted to Xie Lingya and besides that, he wanted to have a good relationship with him too. He would be happy to see him have a good time exchanging ideas with everyone, so he agreed to allow a demonstration later, adding \u201cHehe, Xiao Xie Jushi\u2019s <\/em>talisman drawing speed is very fast, you\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time the lecture adjourned, Xie Lingya had already exchanged WeChat contacts with the other priests and everyone headed downstairs together. Mao Zhengqing led everyone to a meditation room. The rooms in this area were used by priests for meditation, drawing talismans, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, there was an altar with items such as incense, joss sticks, talisman paper, and cinnabar on it, as well as a wooden sofa and tea table for taking a rest. The priests stood to the side to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya walked to the altar, picked up a piece of talisman paper, dipped a brush in cinnabar, and moved over to the sofa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a moment, no one reacted, everyone just stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The door to the room was still open and sounds from outside were coming in. There weren\u2019t any chairs, so Xie Linya sat on the sofa, leaned over the tea table, and began to draw. He didn\u2019t feel comfortable standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone: ???<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hold on, why is he lying on his stomach?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The priest from Chenghuang Temple was dazed. He whispered, \u201cOur school doesn\u2019t specialize in talismans, so I might not know\u2014is this some new sort of ritual?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone turned to look at Mao Zhengqing, but Mao Zhengqing was speechless too. He only knew that Xie Lingya could draw talismans quickly but he didn\u2019t know he could also draw them hunched over! Wasn\u2019t this the same as elementary school students doing their homework?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was a severe blow to the confidence of the priests who had to bathe and burn incense6<\/a><\/sup>Performing a cleansing ritual etc.<\/span> before drawing talismans!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya had drawn so many mosquito-repelling talismans these days that he couldn\u2019t be more familiar with it. Not even needing to think, he completed the symbol without a single pause. Including the time he spent to pick up the paper and cinnabar, the total time used was less than a minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t feel there was anything wrong with his posture or process. Zhang Daoting had never commented on it, and neither did Shi Changxuan, who only gave him a few more glances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGenerally speaking, it could only guarantee an area of roughly ten square meters to be mosquito-free. The further away, the weaker the effect.\u201d As for the duration, he didn\u2019t comment on that detail since he didn\u2019t know it. After all, none of the talismans in the temple had stopped working yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Xie Lingya explained, he pasted the talisman on the wall. Seeing everyone\u2019s shocked expressions, he believed they were surprised by his description on its effectiveness, and felt proud. Yes! I succeeded in showing off!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Suddenly, I feel like I\u2019ve never learned drawing talismans<\/em>, the priests thought in their hearts. Uh, although there were no rules regarding what posture one should take when drawing, but doing it so casually\u2026 shouldn\u2019t the failure rate be very high?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as soon as the talisman was stuck onto the wall, the faint buzzing sound in the background vanished. Taihe Temple was located in the outskirts and surrounded by greenery, so there were even more bugs here than in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the ease with which Xie Lingya drew the talisman! The priest from Chenghuang Temple finally understood how Baoyang was able to sell so many talismans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a strong premonition in everyone\u2019s heart\u2014Baoyang\u2019s luck was changing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Xie Lingya finally saw Shi Changxuan at dinner. Recalling Ding Aima\u2019s question, he asked, \u201cShi Daozhang<\/em>, do you know how ghosts feel when they\u2019re purified? And do most ghosts hope to be purified?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shi Changxuan: \u201c… I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See! Even Shi Daozhang can\u2019t answer!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya thought that sure enough, it wasn\u2019t that he didn\u2019t study properly but that these questions were too difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya noticed Shi Changxuan was still looking at him, so he explained, \u201cI want to send off a ghost, but this ghost is exceptionally timid.<\/strong> This cowardly ghost kept asking me all these questions, but I couldn\u2019t answer. Well, since you don\u2019t know either, I have no choice but to investigate this further on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shi Changxuan: \u201c……\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional matters out of the way, Xie Lingya then asked casually, \u201cI heard from Mao Daozhang <\/em>that you might be continuing your cultivation in Niuyang? Will you be lodging in Taihe Temple?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shi Changxuan looked at him. \u201cHe is mistaken. I\u2019m preparing to start my graduate studies in Quedong College. Taihe Temple is too far away, it is inconvenient for attending classes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya: \u201cGraduate studies? I thought you were a full-time priest!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huoju daoshi<\/em>, being secular Taoists, could have another job to earn a living. However, with Shi Changxuan\u2019s family background, Xie Lingya didn\u2019t believe he had to worry about a lack of money. What\u2019s more, the first time he saw Shi Changxuan, the man was presiding over a ritual, so he really didn\u2019t expect this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took a long moment for Xie Lingya snap out of his daze. \u201c…Oh, so the rain-invoking ceremony was a summer job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shi Changxuan: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shi Changxuan opened his mouth but in the end, didn\u2019t say anything. Perhaps even he himself was confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya pulled out his student ID from his pocket. \u201cBy the way, I graduated from Quedong College. If I had managed to pass the admission test I would be in the graduate program with you! What a pity!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shi Changxuan finally responded, in a slightly suspicious tone, \u201cYou didn\u2019t return your student ID after graduation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya: \u201c……\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a lot going on then and I forgot. It is not a fake ID and I didn\u2019t keep it deliberately,\u201d he said, awkward. \u201cRight, what are you majoring in?\u201d He suddenly thought of something and raised his hand. \u201cWait, don\u2019t tell me, I\u2019ve figured it out\u2014Department of Philosophy, Religious Studies, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the whole country, there were only twenty or thirty higher education institutions which offered majors in religious studies. Quedong College was one of them. No wonder Shi Changxuan came to Niuyang City\u2014this should be the only college in Quedong Province that offered this major. If he didn\u2019t want to be too far away from home, it was the best choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t a popular major. Xie Lingya recalled that many of his classmates ignorantly believed that students graduating from that major would become monks, priests or other clergymen, but religious studies7<\/a><\/sup>Religious studies, also known as the study of religion, is an academic field devoted to research into religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.<\/span> was actually the opposite of theology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Shi Changxuan, many of the people in that academic field weren\u2019t believers. They studied religious behavior and belief from an observer\u2019s perspective, purely objective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As expected, Shi Changxuan nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya thought this major was very fitting for Shi Changxuan. He said, \u201cI\u2019m familiar with Quedong College. If you need any help, just let me know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shi Changxuan glanced at him and nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c……\u201d Sigh, why did you look at me again?<\/em> Every time Shi Changxuan looked at him, Xie Lingya felt the meaning in his eyes was subtly different but couldn\u2019t quite place how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Xie Lingya left after the meal. When he got back to Baoyang Temple, it was quite lively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baoyang wasn\u2019t big, so it didn\u2019t take a large number of people for the inside to seem crowded, and visitors occasionally coming in and out added to the hustle and bustle. There were also many people standing at the temple entrance, probably attracted by the commotion or curious why there were so many people inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Xie Lingya approached, he heard a man exclaim loudly to his friend, \u201cIt is all just a ploy to attract visitors. Although I haven\u2019t cracked it yet, it is surely just some trick. Getting cured just by praying to a clay statue? What a load of rubbish!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His companion said helplessly, \u201cKeep your voice down, everyone can hear you. Have some respect even if you don\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya couldn\u2019t help but throw him a few more glances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man saw Xie Lingya staring at himself and said defiantly, \u201cSo what if they can hear? I can\u2019t speak if I don\u2019t believe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xie Lingya looked around, making sure that the man was talking to him, and replied seriously, \u201cI just want to say, the Spirit Official\u2019s statue has already been replaced\u2014it\u2019s brass now, and will be consecrated in a few days. Anyway, don\u2019t say it is a clay statue anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The venerable founder is so concerned about his dignity. Say whatever you want, but why of all things you must bring up his dark history?<\/em>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Translator’s Notes:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  1. Shidi <\/em><\/strong>– ‘Junior Apprentice Brother(s)’ – junior male fellow student(s) or apprentice(s).<\/li>
  2. Jushi<\/strong><\/em> – Lay Taoist practitioner (as opposed to formally ordained priest).<\/li>
  3. Chenghuang Temple<\/em><\/strong> – City God Temple; the Chenghuangshen (literally: “god of the moat and the walls” or “god of the boundary’), is a tutelary deity or deities in Chinese folk religion who is believed to protect the people and the affairs of the particular village, town or city of great dimension, and the corresponding afterlife location. (Wikipedia<\/a><\/strong>)<\/li>
  4. Religious studies<\/em><\/strong>, also known as the study of religion, is an academic field devoted to research into religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives. (Wikipedia<\/a><\/strong>)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Translator: <\/em>Velvet
    TL check:<\/em> Zryuu, Eques
    Editor: <\/em>Eques, Miiya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    << Chapter 10<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Project Page<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Chapter 12 >><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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