{"id":12159,"date":"2020-06-17T14:00:59","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T18:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=12159"},"modified":"2020-07-01T11:59:03","modified_gmt":"2020-07-01T15:59:03","slug":"pttp018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp018\/","title":{"rendered":"Part-Time Taoist Priest 18"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.5%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button alignleft is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-white-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp017\/\" style=\"background-color:#5bc0de\">&lt;&lt; Chapter 17<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.5%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-white-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp\/\" style=\"background-color:#5bc0de\">Project Page<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button alignright\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-white-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp019\/\" style=\"background-color:#5bc0de\">Chapter 19 &gt;&gt;<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><em>Taisu <\/em>Pulse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Wang Yuji, like his predecessors, though ordained in Baoyang Temple, had pledged to many teachers of Taoism across the four cardinal directions and contributed to the contents of Baoyang Temple\u2019s notes. This resulted in the notes\u2019 astonishing contents, which included knowledge of various Taoism arts and other miscellaneous techniques and were not limited to only skills imparted by the predecessors of Baoyang through the generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, as Xie Lingya looked at Hai Guanchao, he still believed the man was too young; definitely much younger than his uncle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Xie Lingya understood that enlightenment was not dependent on age\u2014Confucius himself learned under the seven-year-old Xiang Tuo\u2014but had never seen this kind of scenario take place in modern society. It was just that the age and generation difference between Hai Guanchao and his uncle was too jarring&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao noticed Xie Lingya\u2019s hesitancy and his smile widened. \u201cAfraid I\u2019m a con man? Has your uncle never mentioned me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya looked at him sadly and said, \u201cMy uncle passed away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guan Haichao\u2019s smile faded into disbelief.&nbsp; \u201cImpossible. We were in contact before I came, his phone\u2019s service stopped, I thought he just hasn\u2019t paid his bills&#8230; (Xie Lingya: <em>Was my uncle really that poor?<\/em>) How could he suddenly pass away? It was just a few months ago that we were in contact. I\u2019ve even taken his pulse before, his lifespan could not be so short!\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wang Yuji had not had time to entrust any worldly matters to Xie Lingya before he met his maker. Thus, after he passed away, Xie Lingya didn\u2019t pay his mobile phone bills either. His funeral was also arranged in a simple manner with only a few participants. Upon hearing how Hai Guanchao put it, he said dejectedly, \u201cHe had an accident while cultivating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being in this field exposed them to unusual things; danger was inherent, destinies could change, no one could foresee them accurately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao was momentarily stunned, then he let out a deep sigh. \u201cI\u2019ll burn some incense for your uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya led Hai Guanchao into the temple and they stood before his uncle\u2019s spirit tablet to burn some incense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Hai Guanchao was burning the incense, Xie Lingya took the opportunity to look down at his phone to check something. He had already made an electronic copy of the temple notes. There was so much content, he couldn\u2019t read it all at once. This time, the search for Hai Guanchao\u2019s name certainly gave some results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His uncle had recorded that last year, in a certain month, in a certain place, he\u2019d met a young man with great skills, named Hai Guanchao. As to where this person\u2019s specialty lied, the two of them felt a kindred familiarity upon meeting and thus pledged himself to be his student, to learn his ancestral art of physiognomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After reading two lines only, Hai Guanchao finished burning the incense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya conveniently asked, \u201cWas there a reason you came here seeking my uncle?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao sighed. \u201cI, your <em>Shiye<\/em>,<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"1\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"00000000000004ad0000000000000000_12159\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-00000000000004ad0000000000000000_12159-1\">1<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-00000000000004ad0000000000000000_12159-1\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"1\"><em>Shiye<\/em> = grand martial uncle. It&#8217;s the same as <em>Shigong<\/em> (only Hai Guanchao is referring to himself)<\/span> was boycotted by my peers. During that time, I made a promise with your uncle. After matters from that side were sorted out, I would come to Niuyang to teach him all that I\u2019d promised to teach him. He had something to do at that time, so I only taught him a mantra.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why did he repeatedly bring up this \u2018grand martial uncle\u2019 title&#8230; Xie Lingya rejected that fact in his heart, but once he heard the latter half of the sentence, his attention was caught and he said, \u201cAlthough I have inherited the Taoist temple, in reality, I am not ordained and I am just minding the business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHowever, with me here, it\u2019ll be the same as when my uncle was here. Rest assured that you can lodge here. I\u2019m still looking for a disciple for my uncle. When that time comes, you can teach him as well, and fulfill your promise to my uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His uncle wanted to learn the art of physiognomy from Hai Guanchao, thus Hai Guanchao had to be very skilled\u2014he surely was a person of talent. Since he\u2019d offered himself to his doorstep, even sharing such a connection, of course he needed to be retained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLodge here? In the temple? I came here to Niuyang to establish a clinic.\u201d Hai Guanchao gave him a strange look that also felt regretful. Xie Lingya strongly suspected it was because Hai Guanchao did not manage to get him to call him \u2018grand martial uncle.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surprised, Xie Lingya looked down at his phone for verification. \u201cDidn\u2019t my uncle want to learn the art of physiognomy from you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao answered, \u201cYes, but I am not a Taoist priest. I am a doctor, a Chinese physician.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Goddammit, this was really awkward. He didn\u2019t expect modern Chinese physicians to be so multi-talented that they even knew physiognomy. Even Taoist priests would kneel before them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao looked at Xie Lingya and, as if he knew what he was thinking of, gave a non-committal smile. \u201cIn the past, witchcraft and medicine were the same. Later, many people knew witchcraft practices that made use of talismans to heal, and in medicine, there were some mysterious and abstract techniques too. Do you know about the <em>Taisu <\/em>Pulse?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya shook his head. In his entire life, he had never once visited a Chinese physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao explained, \u201cDuring the Ming Dynasty, the Recluse of Qingcheng, Zhang Taisu, obtained the teachings of a legendary person to deduce the fate of a person through one\u2019s pulse. He made it even more thorough and passed down the <em>Taisu<\/em> Pulse technique. The generations after him believed that the pulse of human beings changes frequently and that examining someone\u2019s pulse to predict their destiny was a groundless practice. Thus, in the course of time, fewer and fewer people passed down the technique.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy family have been practitioners for generations, passing down the <em>Taisu <\/em>Pulse technique. In reality, the true <em>Taisu<\/em> Pulse makes use of the pulse as a foundation and references the physiognomic theories. When one is proficient in the skill, they could even foretell the fate of the patient\u2019s descendants, in a way that would not fail under any circumstances!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2026Whoa, that awesome? No wonder Uncle wanted to learn it! <\/em>Xie Lingya thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao originally had a trace of pride on his face, but after the explanation, the color of his face dulled. \u201cI\u2019ve taken your uncle\u2019s pulse before and deduced that although he had no destiny with wealth, he should have enjoyed a long life free from illness. Yet, he met an early death. I didn\u2019t foresee that. It means my skills are not refined enough!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya sighed. Fate, who could be certain about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a while, both of them exchanged glances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya asked softly, \u201cSo, are you still establishing a clinic in Niuyang?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s no difference to me. I brought all my belongings with me. It\u2019s the same no matter where I set it up,\u201d Hai Guanchao said emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThen, stay in Niuyang. You can live here for the time being. I will help you look for a suitable unit to open your shop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wang Yuji had always upheld traditional values of friendship. Xie Lingya was the same. Although it was the first time he and Hai Guanchao met, he would not have second thoughts about helping him due to the agreement made with his elder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao looked at him, admiration shining in his eyes, and agreed without hesitation, \u201cThank you for your trouble, Xiao Xie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>After a detailed discussion, Xie Lingya came to know that Hai Guanchao had a clinic in the previous city he lived in. Due to his talents, he was rejected and framed by competitors working in the same field. They had even hired trouble-makers to harass him so that he couldn\u2019t do business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was during that time that Hai Guanchao got to meet Wang Yuji, who was helping someone exorcise evil spirits in the area and had gone to his clinic to purchase cinnabar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao said, \u201cThat\u2019s right, I do not have much money left. Before this, in order to resolve some matters, I spent quite a bit. Back then, your uncle said we could search for a haunted unit so the rent would be cheap, then he would drive out the evil spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c&#8230;This is indeed a good plan. But, you cannot just wish for a haunted unit to appear!\u201d Xie Lingya complained regretfully. \u201cLet me have another look.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao had rented a room in a nearby hotel, and all his luggage was there. Although Baoyang Temple\u2019s environment wasn\u2019t as good as the hotel\u2019s, the hotel rates were expensive. So, after a discussion, Xie Lingya helped him bring all his things over to Baoyang Temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is Doctor Hai!\u201d Xie Lingya introduced Hai Guanchao and his background to Shi Changxuan and Zhang Daoting as his uncle\u2019s teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao stared at Zhang Daoting, pondering over the possibility of asking him to call him <em>Shigong<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a pity that although Zhang Daoting belonged to Baoyang Temple, he had never pledged himself to a teacher. He could call Xie Lingya <em>Shixiong <\/em>from time to time, but calling Hai Guanchao <em>Shigong<\/em> might be a bit too much of a stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shi Changxuan was even more out of the question. He was not even of the same sect as Wang Yuji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao was exceptionally disappointed. It was unknown where the obsession of wanting to become someone\u2019s <em>Shigong<\/em> had come from. Xie Lingya strongly suspected that something of this nature was discussed between them when his uncle pledged to be his student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRight. Doctor Hai, I\u2019ve seen it in my uncle\u2019s notes, this mantra of yours is really unbelievable. Are there really so many changes to a person\u2019s pulse?\u201d Xie Lingya thought that the things he\u2019d seen were often very profound, but this <em>Taisu <\/em>Pulse did not belong to legitimate, traditional arts of physiognomy, so he was a little curious.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao wasn\u2019t very old. However, he had been studying medicine and the <em>Taisu <\/em>Pulse technique since he was very young, and on top of that, he had a natural gift for these kinds of things. Otherwise, he wouldn\u2019t have been able to impress Wang Yuji. He firmly said, \u201cOf course. The <em>Taisu <\/em>Pulse is divided into five <em>yang <\/em>pulses, five <em>yin <\/em>pulses, four <em>ying <\/em>pulses, and many other changes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSince you are Wang Yuji\u2019s nephew, you can try learning it yourself. But this isn\u2019t something just anyone could learn, <em>hehe<\/em>. Your uncle only stayed with me for a while, and he only memorized all the mantras.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<em>Sigh<\/em>. I don\u2019t want to. If I learn it, how would we distinguish our seniority? Don\u2019t you want me to call you my <em>Shigong<\/em>?\u201d Xie Lingya was originally interested, but he refused to be inferior by two levels of seniority. He was very sly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao adjusted his glasses, speaking in a completely natural way, \u201cI was your uncle\u2019s senior to begin with. Don\u2019t make it seem like just anyone could learn it. How about this?&nbsp; You can try learning it. If you succeed within three months, consider it a gift from me, and we will no longer mention the matter of this \u2018Shigong\u2019 title. If you fail, then call me as your uncle did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After he finished speaking, he realized that Shi Changxuan and Zhang Daoting were also looking in his direction, as if he had said something strange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao: \u201c???\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya smiled broadly. \u201cIf you put it like that, then I am certainly willing to learn from you. Challenge accepted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao was a bit weirded out by the stares from the other two, however, he couldn\u2019t grasp what about it was strange. He was confident that the <em>Taisu <\/em>Pulse technique was definitely difficult to learn, so he said, \u201cThen you need to prepare yourself. Don\u2019t cry if you fail to learn it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shi Changxuan and Zhang Daoting looked at Hai Guanchao again: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao\u2019s expression of superiority froze. He had a stifling feeling in his heart\u2014why were they looking at him like that? He didn\u2019t understand. Had he said something wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>These days, due to his friendly personality and his generous opening of the temple well for local residents to fetch water, Xie Lingya had formed quite a good relationship with the merchants around the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once he asked around, he really did find a unit for rent in the back street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The back street was where the market was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The unit for rent was near the end of the road, close to Golden Osmanthus Street, Dawn Plaza, and so on. Naturally, the rent was quite high. It was much cheaper further away from the main roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya had considered renting a bit further away, but after a discussion with Hai Guanchao, they decided against it. If they rented further away, the visitors would be fewer, and it would be inconvenient for living and eating. In this district, the rent was higher and the unit was smaller, but it was close to Baoyang and there were quite a number of people living there as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya said, \u201cAt worst, I could open the door in the back, then paste a signpost to your clinic at the front of the temple, so that people could pass through our temple and go out the back door. This way, there would be no need to fear that it\u2019d be difficult to find.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao couldn\u2019t help smiling, deciding that this young man really was something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOver by Mingxi Street?\u201d As Bai Lu\u2019s senior spoke, he even purposefully exhaled a cloud of smoke to make his appearance seem more mysterious through the smoke, before adding meaningfully, \u201cIt\u2019s haunted!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu\u2019s eyes opened wide and blinked. \u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo, if you go to the pedestrian street for karaoke at night, best bring a man with you. The more men, the higher the <em>yang <\/em>energy.\u201d The senior had unknowingly exposed his own goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu just smiled.\u201cOh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The senior thought that she wasn\u2019t taking him seriously, and repeated, \u201cHey, I\u2019m serious. There\u2019s someone in the other class named He Zun. Do you know him? He\u2019s encountered ghosts by Mingxi Street twice. Once, when he, like you, had just finished a session of karaoke, and another time with his roommates from the same dorm. Now, everyone in his dorm carries a talisman. And when they are free they go to the Taoist temple to burn incense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>News of this had spread throughout the school, how would Bai Lu be ignorant of it? She even found it funny and said, \u201cSenior, you wouldn\u2019t really believe all that, would you? These incidents are very obviously related to the Taoist temple on the pedestrian street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The senior said, \u201cExactly. The talismans came from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI mean that it must be that Taoist temple\u2019s business strategy,\u201d Bai Lu said helplessly. \u201cScammers are everywhere now. They\u2019ve just taken a different form. Don\u2019t tell me you didn\u2019t realize?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou mean, He Zun and the others were paid by the Taoist temple to do it?\u201d The senior considered this for a moment and thought it was possible. After all, all they knew about these ghost sightings was based on word of mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu raised a brow and said, \u201cThis is called being superficial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The senior: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eh, wait. How did they stray so far from the subject? The senior said again, \u201cStill, be careful at night. People are scarier than ghosts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu chuckled. \u201cIt\u2019s fine. It\u2019s quite a busy place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The senior didn\u2019t get what he wanted in the end, but, even places that were normally busy during the day may not necessarily be as busy at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That night, by the time Bai Lu and her friends finished singing karaoke, all the units on Golden Osmanthus Street were closed and not a single soul was on the streets. They had lost track of time. Bai Lu had even napped for a while, but as she recalled something she needed to do the next morning, she hadn\u2019t stayed over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The others weren\u2019t headed in the same direction as her. Everyone waved their goodbyes. After her friends watched her book a ride with an app, they left, telling her to send a message once she got back home safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUnderstood.\u201d Bai Lu looked down as she walked, prepared to go to the junction to wait for her ride. At this moment, the driver sent her a message, saying that he was actually done for the day and about to go home, but because he wasn\u2019t familiar with the app, he had mistakenly accepted another order and begged her to cancel it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu was utterly speechless, but she could only cancel it and book another ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu suddenly felt something was off. On the quiet street, her high heels were clicking loudly against the ground, but when listening closely, there seemed to be another sound mixed in with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Bai Lu\u2019s considerably keen sense of hearing, it sounded like\u2026 incredibly light footsteps?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her senior\u2019s words from earlier resurfaced in her mind, but wasn\u2019t that just a ruse? In fact, Mingxi Street was a few minutes away from this place, it couldn\u2019t be&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surely someone was behind her, Bai Lu thought as she abruptly turned around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An empty street, not a soul in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d Bao Lu turned back and continued walking. Was she just imagining things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu let out a breath. At this moment, she heard the obvious sound of footsteps from behind her again. It was definitely not her imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu swiveled around again and was scared out of her wits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the midst of darkness, there was a distorted face of a ghost floating midair; its eyes were hollow, its mouth open wide to expose a bloody-red tongue, and its face so deformed that both its cheeks were bent inwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu\u2019s legs gave away beneath her, her heart beating frantically and wildly, face pale and green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ghostly face paused for a moment before flying towards her at great speed. Then Bai Lu realized that this wasn\u2019t a ghost face floating in midair, but someone wearing a black robe with a mask!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu didn\u2019t know whether to laugh or cry. It certainly was a person, but it was definitely not a good person!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At night, that mask was truly terrifying. As she thought about his possible intentions, Bao Lu shrieked and made a run for it. Her hand fumbled with her phone like her life depended on it, though it was a pity that the more she hurried, the more mistakes she made.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a slip of her hand, her phone fell to the ground. She wanted to pick it up, but Ghost-face was male and she was female, plus she was wearing high heels. When she turned to look, the masked person had caught up quite a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At that moment, many thoughts ran through Bai Lu\u2019s mind. Although it was two in the morning, would any merchants or pedestrians on the street hear them? Even if she was unlucky and there were none, could she guarantee that she would be unharmed if she gave her wallet to this pervert?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2026However, someone dressed like this could not be trusted! Bai Lu was about to burst in tears. She dared not stop and continued running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu\u2019s heart was beating wildly. Scared and regretful, she felt her head spin. She couldn\u2019t stop herself from looking back and saw that Ghost-face was only three to four meters away; she could almost hear the other\u2019s breathing. Her heart beat faster, and her screams became louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghost-face even said softly, \u201cYou still dare to run, little wretch\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as he uttered those words, he tripped. It was unclear how a person could trip and fall on flat ground. And he had fallen terribly, sliding a few meters forward, until he was practically touching Bai Lu\u2019s calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu shrieked as she kicked his face once, then continued running wildly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As she ran to the junction, although there was no one in the square, a car seemed to be coming from afar. Bai Lu turned around and looked; Ghost-face climbed to his feet, limping and continued to run in her direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019m finished. I\u2019m finished! Don\u2019t tell me I won\u2019t make it!<\/em> The thought had just crossed Bai Lu\u2019s mind when Ghost-face tripped and fell again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This time, Bai Lu saw it with her own eyes. It was truly a terrible fall. She found it difficult to believe someone could fall so terribly on flat ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d Bai Lu was in a daze, and suddenly saw the huge door next to her open, and a good-looking young man stepped out. \u201cPretty lady, were you the one shouting?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu was elated, pointing at Ghost-face: \u201cThat person wants to rob me! Please call the police!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The man immediately pushed the gate wide open, took out a phone to dial a number, and said, \u201cCome in!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How would Bai Lu still hesitate? She took a few steps in.\u201cClose\u2014close the door first!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This young man was good-looking, but there was still Ghost-face behind her that looked like a pervert!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the young man didn\u2019t show any intention of closing the door. In fact, he said, \u201cOy, watch him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After saying that, he began reporting the situation to the police on the phone. Bai Lu curiously stretched her head out, realizing that Ghost-face, who had fallen twice, had subsequently fallen for the third time. In fact, this time he did not get up, he clutched his head instead and rolled on the ground, screaming, \u201cHelp me! There\u2019s a ghost!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu\u2019s face paled. This person\u2019s screams were far too strange; his actions were also strange. Additionally, recalling how he suddenly tripped out of the blue just now, \u201cHe\u2026 He\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The young man looked at her expectantly. \u201cHm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu: \u201cHe\u2019s crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The young man: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu felt a chill. \u201cThis is too scary. Maybe he\u2019s not trying to commit robbery. Instead, he could be a lunatic acting up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c&#8230;I have called the police. Don\u2019t be afraid.\u201d The young man put his phone away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghost-face rolled around twice, turned his head in their direction, and started running over. \u201cHelp!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The young man quickly closed the door. Ghost-face hammered on the door outside. \u201cMotherfucker, open the door! Isn\u2019t this a motherfucking Taoist temple? Why is there a ghost here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The man replied, \u201c&#8230;Fuck your uncle!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu felt the urge to laugh. Perhaps she had judged the book by its cover. This man was quite adorable when he cussed; wearing a face of indifference, but once the other cussed, he had to cuss back, in fact\u2026&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIs this a Taoist temple?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d The young man asked in return, \u201cYou only just realized it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The police came quickly, arriving within two minutes and they caught that person wearing the ghost mask. Ghost-face even cried happily, \u201cYou guys finally came!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The policemen: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu took the chance to kick him a few times. The policeman waited for her to finish kicking before reaching out a hand to stop her, \u201cAlright, let\u2019s not fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu scolded, \u201cCan you commit crimes just because you\u2019re a lunatic?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The face behind the ghost mask had already been exposed; the face was both swollen and green with bruises, all of them came from the falls he\u2019d sustained just now. He scolded loudly, \u201cWho is a lunatic? You are a lunatic! There is a ghost, couldn\u2019t you see?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bai Lu answered,&nbsp; \u201cI saw it. It was you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The police told the young man, \u201cXiao Xie, you aren\u2019t bad, helping another little lady. It\u2019s fortunate you heard her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the same policeman who came last time, Officer Wang. He felt that the young man in Baoyang Temple was really good, helping others without a second thought. This was truly what the ordained should do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHehe, I didn\u2019t do much.\u201d Xie Lingya rubbed his eyes. What could he have heard? His backyard was quite a distance from this place. He was woken up by Qin Limin beating on the window outside with all his might, gusting in all that <em>yin <\/em>wind. At that moment, he regretted ordering Qin Limin to do the patrols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The others could not see it, but at this moment, Qin Limin was floating in the air above everyone, repeatedly chanting, \u201cI\u2019ve done a good deed! I\u2019ve done a good deed! I\u2019ve done a good deed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>At noon the next day, Xie Lingya received a phone call from Officer Wang, saying that the girl from last night wanted to give him a banner of appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya was taken aback.\u201c&#8230;Ah? It wasn\u2019t a big deal, was it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If someone suggested offering the banner to Qin Limin, it would still be within reason, but that girl couldn\u2019t see Qin Limin, nor did she believe in Taoism. He hadn\u2019t intentionally publicized this incident either.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Officer Wang sniggered, \u201cWhether or not it was a big deal, don\u2019t you know why she\u2019s doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the local police station, a blushing Bai Lu gave Xie Lingya the banner. She originally wanted to go to the Taoist temple, but Xie Lingya had told her not to worry about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this moment, Xie Lingya laughed drily, \u201cThank you\u2026 Ah, I really don\u2019t feel I deserve it. Please be more careful next time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes, yes. I know.\u201d Bai Lu\u2019s face turned even redder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghost-face had only spouted nonsense, so he was most likely a lunatic, or at least, that was what Bai Lu thought. However, this had not thwarted her in having a new impression of Baoyang Temple and she decided to pay it more visits in the future to have tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya took the banner home. The temple was conveniently void of people. Zhang Daoting and Hai Guanchao were sitting down and having tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHuh? Where did this banner come from?\u201d Zhang Daoting asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last night, Xie Lingya hadn\u2019t woken up the others, so they didn\u2019t know what happened. \u201c<em>Hmph<\/em>, of course, someone gave it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s good. Hang it up.\u201d Zhang Daoting excitedly said, \u201cWe even have a banner now. Which group of believers gifted it? What is written on it? \u2018Person of Limitless Guidance\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zhang Daoting and Hai Guanchao didn\u2019t know why he wore such a speechless expression, so Zhang Daoting asked, \u201cWhere did it really come from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hai Guanchao suggested, \u201cWell, could it be a banner with \u2018Boundless Strength\u2019 written on it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya: \u201c&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xie Lingya turned the banner over\u2014on it were the words \u2018An act of bravery for a just cause\u2019\u2014and told them everything that happened last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although in his heart he knew the truth was that Qin Limin was the biggest contributor, in the eyes of outsiders, the entire process was obviously a lunatic criminal tripping over the street thrice. All he\u2019d done was shelter the girl and contact the police. Oh, he also scolded that person\u2019s \u201cuncle\u201d&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo in the end, although this says \u2018An act of bravery for a just cause\u2019, it should actually be read as \u2018You\u2019re so good-looking\u2019?\u201d Hai Guanchao asked, \u201cSo, are you going to hang it up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOf course!\u201d Xie Lingya said fiercely. \u201cI earned this banner with my good looks, why wouldn\u2019t I hang it up?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Translator: <\/em>Joan<br><em>TL checker:<\/em> Darkchocolatesan<br><em>Editor: <\/em>Miiya<br><em>Proofreader:<\/em> Taalia<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.5%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button alignleft is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-white-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp017\/\" style=\"background-color:#5bc0de\">&lt;&lt; Chapter 17<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.5%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-white-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp\/\" style=\"background-color:#5bc0de\">Project Page<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button alignright\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-white-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/pttp019\/\" style=\"background-color:#5bc0de\">Chapter 19 &gt;&gt;<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eques:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This chapter was translated by absolutely awesome <strong>Joan<\/strong> from <a href=\"https:\/\/dustbunnytranslations.wordpress.com\/translations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dust Bunny Translations<\/a> &#8211; she&#8217;s helping us out. Thank you! \ud83d\udc96\ud83d\udc96\ud83d\udc96\ud83d\udc96\ud83d\udc96<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":11249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[35,67,39,78],"class_list":["post-12159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pttp","tag-bl","tag-comedy","tag-modern","tag-supernatural"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/pttp.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12159"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12251,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12159\/revisions\/12251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}