Guanyin Bodhisattva

Seeing Chen Wei's exaggerated expression, Huang Huai couldn't help but laugh. While cleaning the overflowing incense ash from the censer, he said, "It's not that exaggerated. The foot traffic today isn't much more than usual."

Chen Wei immediately retorted, "How is it not much? Don't you see what time it is? The tourists who went up the mountain in the morning have already gone down. Anyway, just for today, I've almost used up the two thousand portions of Sandalwood Incense I prepared; there aren't many left!"

Huang Huai's eyebrows shot up. If Chen Wei wasn't exaggerating, then the foot traffic was indeed beyond his expectations.

However, thinking about the hundreds of portions of Sandalwood Incense that had passed through his hands since he returned this afternoon, it was plausible that there were indeed that many for the entire day.

While rubbing his thigh, Chen Wei sighed, "Thinking about the upcoming short holiday, and the crowds... it gives me a headache."

Hearing Chen Wei say this, Huang Huai thought of the crowded conditions in the side halls during the short holiday and couldn't help but show a look of anticipation on his face. The more people, the better. Even if it were tens of thousands a day, he wouldn't complain about hardship.

The more people there were, the more Incense and Fire there would be for Holy Lord Emperor Guan.

As if thinking about the busy days ahead, Chen Wei looked utterly dejected. He had intended to commiserate with Huang Huai and lament the future together, but instead, Chen Wei saw anticipation and joy on Huang Huai's face.

Blinking his eyes, Chen Wei couldn't help but wonder if he was mistaken. He called out to Huang Huai, "Hey, Xiao Jiu, what's with that expression? Don't tell me you're looking forward to the May Day holiday. You're not..."

As he spoke, Chen Wei seemed to recall something, pointing at Huang Huai with an expression as if he had been betrayed by his best friend. "You're planning to sneak away during the holiday..."

Huang Huai had already cleared the incense ash from the censer. He glanced at Chen Wei and said, "Brother Chen, if you're not hungry, you can keep busy. I'm starving!"

"Ah, you rascal..."

Xunzhen Temple, which had been bustling all day, returned to peace. Most of the people who had been busy all day had already rested. Huang Huai, taking advantage of the night, headed towards the Great Daoist Master's residence.

The Great Daoist Master's residence still had its lights on. Huang Huai knocked on the door. After receiving a response, he pushed the door open and entered. He saw the Great Daoist Master sitting there, flipping through an account book.

Seeing Huang Huai enter, the Great Daoist Master said casually, "Just in time, you're here. Your mother called this afternoon and asked for a few days off for you."

Huang Huai wasn't surprised by this. He just muttered softly, "My old lady didn't even tell me!"

The Great Daoist Master looked at Huang Huai and said, "Before, you were just a nominal member of the temple, but now you have a formal position. She was afraid you'd be too embarrassed to ask me directly, so she spoke on your behalf. Even if your senior brothers have any objections, they won't target you. She's doing all this for your own good!"

The Great Daoist Master then chuckled, "Of course, with all the things your father sends up the mountain every year, none of your senior brothers will have any objections about this matter!"

Huang Huai chuckled and took out the tea caddy containing Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea from his pocket, presenting it to the Great Daoist Master as a treasure. "Master, this is a top-grade tea I found for you. Even my dad hasn't tasted it yet. Don't you think I'm full of filial piety?"

Hearing Huang Huai say this, the Great Daoist Master's eyes lit up. Especially when he heard that Huang Huai said even Dad Huang hadn't tasted it yet, his face seemed to bloom with a smile.

The Great Daoist Master entered the Daoist sect after a change in his life in middle age. It had been several decades since then. His parents and relatives were long gone, and he had no children. Therefore, ever since Huang Huai came to the mountain, the Great Daoist Master had treated him with special favor, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he treated him like his own child.

His gaze fell upon the small tea caddy. The Great Daoist Master, feeling gratified, got up to fetch his tea set and said with a smile, "Since you say so, I must taste it first!"

As a tea lover, the Great Daoist Master's tea set was quite good. He skillfully arranged the tea set, boiled the water, and picked up the small tea caddy. It felt light. With the Great Daoist Master's experience, he could estimate that the weight of this small caddy, excluding the caddy itself, was probably only a few qian, not even one liang.

As he opened the tea caddy, the Great Daoist Master said to Huang Huai, "Your tea doesn't seem to be much in quantity..."

Before he could finish speaking, as the tea caddy was opened, a refreshing tea aroma wafted out, and the Great Daoist Master's face immediately showed an expression of intoxication.

Especially when the Great Daoist Master saw the tender buds in the tea caddy, which were emerald green and looked as if they had just been plucked from the tea tree, his eyes revealed surprise.

Huang Huai saw the Great Daoist Master's reaction and a smile appeared on his lips. He could say that the Great Daoist Master's reaction was completely within his expectations. Let alone the Great Daoist Master, anyone who saw the appearance of the Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea at first glance would be amazed.

Taking a deep breath, the Great Daoist Master, who had come back to his senses, reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the tea leaves that looked like works of art. He gave Huang Huai a deep look and asked, "Does this tea have any special story?"

Huang Huai thought for a moment and said, "My friend said this tea was found by chance from a solitary plant in the mountains, and it's processed using a secret method. The annual yield is only about one jin. Each brewing requires only one leaf, and it has the effect of calming the mind and nourishing the spirit."

The Great Daoist Master nodded slightly. Looking at the verdant tea leaves, he carefully used small tweezers to pick out one leaf and put it into his beloved purple clay teapot.

As boiling water was poured into the purple clay teapot, the emerald green leaves tumbled in the clear water, like jade. A faint and distant tea fragrance spread out.

Before brewing, the Great Daoist Master knew that Huang Huai had given him absolutely top-grade tea just by smelling its aroma. Now, smelling the brewed tea fragrance, he couldn't help but look intoxicated.

Carefully pouring two cups of tea, the Great Daoist Master, ignoring Huang Huai, couldn't help but pick up a cup and take a small sip. Instantly, his eyes sparkled with wonder. He couldn't help but take another sip, savoring it and saying, "Good tea, good tea! I've never tasted such good tea in my life."

Huang Huai knew that giving such good tea as Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea as a gift to the tea-loving Great Daoist Master was definitely the best choice.

"I'm glad Master is satisfied!"

Putting down his teacup, the Great Daoist Master, who had savored it for a long time, carefully put away the tea caddy containing the Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea as if it were a treasure. "This is good stuff, I must save it to drink slowly! Otherwise, I might never drink it again once it's finished!"

Seeing the Great Daoist Master's constant glances and the meaning behind his words, Huang Huai knew what the Great Daoist Master was thinking.

So, Huang Huai showed a look of difficulty on his face and said, "The yield of this tea is really too small. If it weren't for a stroke of luck, I probably wouldn't have gotten even a liang. But Master, please drink it first. I'll think of a way to see if I can find some more."

The Great Daoist Master laughed heartily, "Alright, I know it's good stuff. It's thoughtful of you, kid."

Huang Huai chuckled, looking as if he had something to say but hesitated.

The Great Daoist Master was a shrewd person. Seeing Huang Huai's expression, he smiled and said, "I knew you wouldn't bring me such good tea for no reason. You must have some ulterior motive. Go ahead, what do you want this time?"

Huang Huai said without any embarrassment, "I knew my little thoughts couldn't escape Master's dharma eye."

While leisurely sipping the tea with a look of intoxication, the Great Daoist Master glanced at Huang Huai, giving him the impression of "speak if you have something to say, fart if you have something to release."

Huang Huai quickly said, "I have a friend, um, the one who shared the Spilled Jade Spirit Nourishing Tea with me. He wants to invite a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva to enshrine at home!"