Daoist Xue hurried along. Earlier, he had accompanied the County Magistrate's wife and her entourage from the City God Temple; now he was hurrying back there.
It was noon, and there were relatively few worshippers in the City God Temple. Daoist Xue was certainly not there to set up a stall, nor did he pause outside the temple gates. Once inside the courtyard, he headed straight for the main hall.
Ordinary people visiting the City God Temple naturally followed the usual routine of offering incense, worshipping, and praying, but Daoist Xue would not do anything so simple.
A temple worker was tidying up inside the main hall. Though the visitor looked like a Daoist, the worker immediately wanted to approach him and eagerly sell him some sandalwood incense. After all, he did not seem to have bought any from the stalls outside.
But the worker had only taken two steps when he saw Daoist Xue put down his Backpack and take an incense tube from it. He promptly rolled his eyes in that direction and lost all interest in approaching.
Daoist Xue had not noticed the worker's disdain, but even if he had, he would not have cared.
The incense tube in his hand was only as thick as a forearm. When he opened it, a faint, delicate fragrance drifted out.
There was little incense left inside-only five sticks in all. Daoist Xue carefully drew out three sticks of sandalwood incense. Rather than lighting them immediately, he held them in both hands and stood quietly before the God Statue with his eyes closed, murmuring under his breath.
After a little while, Daoist Xue opened his eyes, but his murmuring did not stop. Apparently chanting an incantation, he respectfully laid a sheet of yellow paper over the Incense Burner.
"Hey, hey,