Over the next five to seven days, Huang Huai figured, Xunzhen Temple would receive several thousand visitors a day. In just a few days, it could easily welcome over ten thousand people.
At the thought, Huang Huai could no longer sit still. He had to take the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan back to Xunzhen Temple right away. Every day he delayed meant losing a vast amount of Incense and Fire Prayer Power.
With Incense and Fire Prayer Power, the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan could destroy every Demon in that otherworld and keep him safe.
Whatever the case, letting the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan gather as much Incense and Fire Prayer Power as possible could only be a good thing.
He sprang up, shedding the lazy air of someone sprawled on the sofa, and dashed into the bedroom. He stripped off and changed into a tracksuit in no time.
After a moment's thought, Huang Huai went to the study and opened the safe. He took out a jar of tea, found one of the small tins he usually used for tea, and filled it to the brim with about half the tea from the jar.
Though it wasn't his first time seeing Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea, Huang Huai still couldn't help marveling at it when he got another close look.
He had no idea what secret method had been used to make Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea. Every leaf looked as if it had just been plucked from the tea bush, lush and dewy green. It felt warm and smooth as jade in his hand, and gave off a soothing fragrance.
The appearance alone lived up to its name. Every leaf looked like a piece of fine jade that had just been splashed with water.
"I imagine this little tin should keep Master supplied for a while!"
Truthfully, Huang Huai felt deeply attached to Great Daoist Master, his older kinsman from the same clan. Not only did they share the same ancestry and fall within five degrees of kinship, but without Great Daoist Master's devoted care over the years, his health would never have become as good as it was now.
Huang Huai spent nearly a third of every year at Xunzhen Temple. He could say he had grown up by Great Daoist Master's side, and regarded him as one of the closest people in his life, as dear to him as a parent.
So whenever Huang Huai got something good, the first people he thought of were those closest to him.
It was only some tea with rather remarkable effects. Plenty of top-grade teas in this world were praised for refreshing the mind and nourishing the heart. Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea wasn't some miraculous elixir, nor could it bring the dead back to life. If he gave it to Great Daoist Master, the most he would do was marvel that Huang Huai had found him some superb tea. He likely wouldn't suspect anything more.
As for the rare treasures he might obtain in the future, by then he should have enough power to protect himself. He could quietly share them with his loved ones without worry.
They said that when one man attained the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascended to heaven. But he had parents and family. No matter how great his fortune, he was still an ordinary man—a son and a brother. He would never become one of those cold-hearted ascetics who cut away all love and desire for the sake of cultivation.
Huang Huai put the tin in his backpack and walked into the living room. First, he bowed to the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan, even murmuring a few words: "Second Master, please don't take offense."
He had moved the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan several times in just a day or two. Even Huang Huai felt a little embarrassed about it.
After checking everything, Huang Huai left the residential complex, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for Xunzhen Temple on Taihe Mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, Huang Huai got out. He would have to make the rest of the climb on foot. He had never once taken the cable car up or down; as Great Daoist Master put it, it was good exercise.
Even in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, Huang Huai could feel the excitement building ahead of the long holiday. The enormous lot was nearly full, and he could see plenty of tour groups arriving by bus. Led by their guides, some headed for the cable car while others split off to hike up the mountain.
Huang Huai gave the tourists a cursory glance, then paid them no mind. He adjusted his backpack and set off along the well-maintained mountain path.
Xunzhen Temple
When Huang Huai reached the mountain, he spotted Xunzhen Temple in the distance, nestled among the trees. Though it was already afternoon, the steady trickle of visitors entering the temple made its popularity plain.
Like any other visitor, he followed the crowd into Xunzhen Temple. In the main hall, Great Daoist Master was guiding his disciples as they showed visitors how to offer incense and pray for blessings.
True Person Datong swept his gaze over the crowd and noticed Huang Huai. He paused in surprise, then smiled and nodded at him.
Huang Huai approached. Great Daoist Master gave him a sidelong glance. "I thought you'd be staying down the mountain for a few more days before coming back."
Huang Huai smiled. "What are you saying, Master? The statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan has already been repaired, so I hurried straight back to bring him home. After all, the side hall feels like something's missing without Holy Lord Emperor Guan there to watch over it, doesn't it?"
Great Daoist Master glanced at the bulging backpack on Huang Huai's back. "Now that the statue has been repaired, return it to its place. If you don't have anything else to do, stay on the mountain for the next couple of days and help ease Chen Wei's burden a little."
Huang Huai answered, then carried his backpack back to his own courtyard and put his things away. His gaze landed on the palm-sized Jade Ruyi, and an idea struck him. He took a red cord, threaded it through the ruyi, and hung it around his neck. Feeling its smooth warmth against his skin, he finally felt at ease. Something this important was best kept close to his body.
After changing into a Daoist robe, Huang Huai brought out the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan and walked toward the side hall in the second courtyard.
Some visitors saw Huang Huai in his Daoist robe, solemnly carrying the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan, and couldn't help staring. Against the surrounding scenery and the statue, Huang Huai seemed so refined and otherworldly that he left them awestruck.
"Wow, that young man has such a presence!"
"I imagine the real Daoists of ancient times were just like that!"
For a moment, quite a few people gazed at Huang Huai in astonishment. Some hurriedly pulled out their phones to take pictures or record short videos.
Huang Huai wasn't distracted by them. He strode straight into the side hall.
Chen Wei, who was rushing around inside, spotted Huang Huai approaching with the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan and immediately lit up. He looked as if he'd just seen family. If there hadn't been worshippers around, he might have thrown himself at him.
Huang Huai respectfully placed the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan on the altar. He lit the candles and incense, then bowed to Holy Lord Emperor Guan. Only after finishing did he wink at Chen Wei, who wore a delighted expression. "Brother Chen, aren't you deeply moved to see me back?"
As he spoke, Huang Huai naturally took up a spot beside him, sharing some of Chen Wei's burden by handing sticks of sandalwood incense to the visitors who had come to pray.
The side hall was thick with incense smoke. Row after row of visitors knelt before the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan to pray. Huang Huai had never thought much of it before, but now every one of those devout visitors, burning incense and offering their prayers, seemed so pleasing to him.
By evening, after the last visitor had left, Chen Wei could hold back no longer. He dropped onto the cushion before the statue and said to Huang Huai, "Xiao Jiu, you really are a good brother. You truly care about your Brother Chen. If you hadn't come back today, after this long holiday you'd probably have to visit me in the hospital!"
Before you continue