The Temple Fair

Inside the Courtyard House's courtyard.

Chu Xingchen had only just returned when a visitor arrived. At this point, even Li Xingtian had yet to come back.

Li Yingling was not at the Courtyard House either. Presumably, she was still wrapping things up with Li Xingtian.

If they came back, they would probably return together.

"Did you arrange all this?"

Seated on a stone chair, Yaoqin took a sip of the tea Chu Xingchen had brewed himself.

Chu Xingchen remained expressionless. "Which part do you mean?"

Yaoqin set down her teacup and said seriously, "The Clearwind Sect."

Chu Xingchen sighed. "Originally, yes. But after investigating it myself, I realized there was no need to go out of my way. The Clearwind Sect probably won't last much longer anyway."

Chu Xingchen had understood the moment he saw that Blood Qi Spirit Stone.

The Clearwind Sect was probably just a main course on the Evil Cultivators' dinner table.

But this main course came with a thorn-a grand elder in the Nascent Soul Realm.

That forced the Evil Cultivators to plot their moves slowly.

Chu Xingchen asked, "Did Zhao Wanqing show you the Blood Qi Spirit Stone she brought back?"

"Yes." Yaoqin's expression grew solemn too. "We've already reported it to Central Province. Specialists should arrive to handle it in about half a month."

"This is far too dangerous. Stay out of it for now, and wait for the people from Central Province to clean it up."

Chu Xingchen gave a soft chuckle at that, but said nothing.

Yaoqin held her teacup. "I've told Zhao Wanqing to stop as well. Her younger brother is out of danger now. It's only a matter of time before he wakes up."

Chu Xingchen sighed, seemingly losing interest:

"I understand."

With his answer secured, Yaoqin nodded gently, then turned her lovely eyes toward the clear blue sky.

She said nothing, holding her teacup in her hands.

Chu Xingchen gave Yaoqin a puzzled look.

She usually chased people out as soon as she finished talking. Why was she sitting here so quietly, watching the sky today?

After a moment's thought, realization dawned on Chu Xingchen. "Are you craving my cooking?"

Yaoqin glanced sideways at him, still saying nothing.

She did rather want some, but that was not her main reason for coming.

Yaoqin unconsciously turned the teacup in her hands:

"Are you free tonight?"

Chu Xingchen propped his head on one hand. "Tonight? Later on, yes. I promised my disciples I'd take them to the temple fair tonight."

"Then never mind."

Having received her answer, Yaoqin stood and headed straight for the gate.

When she reached it, she turned back and reminded him, as though still worried:

"I'll pay you the spirit stones Zhao Wanqing owes you. Don't get involved in this anymore."

After all, back when Chu Xingchen was poor, he had done who knew how many dangerous things for spirit stones.

If the brat thought there was profit to be had, he might well run off and court trouble again.

The previously listless Chu Xingchen instantly perked up, unable to hide his delight:

"Okay! My rich lady friend, I promise I'll stay out of it."

Yaoqin frowned at that and protested, "What do you mean, 'rich lady friend'?! That sounds awful! Don't call me that!"

Chu Xingchen argued his case. "What's awful about it? Where I come from, everyone loves rich lady friends like you-pretty and generous."

"I don't care. I don't like it! Don't call me that!"

Yaoqin shot Chu Xingchen a cold glare, then snorted and turned to leave.

With Yaoqin's departure,

the courtyard fell quiet once more.

Chu Xingchen looked down at the tea before him, then drained it in one gulp.

Events had veered somewhat off course, but for now, everything was still more or less under control.

"Master! I'm back~"

Li Yingling excitedly pushed open the gate and ran inside, a shovel in her hand and a broad smile on her face.

Li Yingling announced proudly, "Mission accomplished!"

Li Xingtian followed right behind her. "Master, everything went smoothly."

Chu Xingchen obligingly applauded and praised them:

"Excellent! Just what I'd expect from my two beloved disciples!"

Li Yingling proudly lifted her little head.

After praising them, Chu Xingchen abruptly changed tack. "But let's put those preparations aside for now. Tonight, we're gathering for the temple fair!"

Li Yingling immediately asked:

"Did something happen?"

Chu Xingchen shrugged. "It does seem to be something pretty serious. Yaoqin told us to stay out of it."

Li Yingling sighed. Didn't that mean all our work was for nothing?

Oh well. Going to the temple fair with Master wouldn't be bad either.

Li Xingtian simply nodded, unbothered.

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction:

"Good! Get ready for the sect's first team-building outing!"

The temple fair could be considered a warm-up for the Lantern Festival.

It was held at Yuzhou City's largest Buddhist temple-the Zen Grove Buddhist Temple.

To be honest, the Lantern Festival had not originally had much to do with Buddhist temples.

There had not been a temple fair at first, either.

After all, the Lantern Festival involved writing wishes on lanterns and letting them drift down the Yuzhou River, symbolizing wishes sailing smoothly along with favorable winds and waters.

As for the wishes on those lanterns, they amounted to little more than winning promotions, making fortunes, and finding partners.

Simple and unadorned was the name of the game.

But to explain why there was a temple fair, one had to explain how the Zen Grove Buddhist Temple had become Yuzhou City's foremost Buddhist temple.

In this world, the path to immortality demonstrably existed, so faith was mostly something mortals unable to cultivate pinned their hopes on.

And the number of believers was nothing impressive, either.

What true cultivator did not declare, "My fate is mine to command, not Heaven's"?

Thus, unlike the monks in Chu Xingchen's previous world, who were exempt from taxes, the monks here had to pay taxes once they lost the advantages faith conferred!

First, monks were human. Second, monks needed to eat, and eating cost money.

Making a Golden Body for the Buddha statue cost money too.

Relying solely on believers' offerings would barely keep them fed and clothed.

If they wanted to make Golden Bodies for the Buddha and bodhisattvas, they would have to visit the Duke of Zhou at night—in their dreams!

As it turned out, monks driven mad by poverty would abandon their doctrines too.

The Zen Grove monks set their sights on Yuzhou City's most popular celebration-the Lantern Festival-as a chance to make money.

Lanterns were meant for making wishes, but wishes did not have to be made on lanterns!

The Buddha could handle them too! If you were going to spend money releasing a lantern, you might as well come offer a stick of incense!

Besides, a stick of incense cost considerably less than a lantern.

No matter which world it was, there were always more poor people.

There were always people who could not afford lanterns to make wishes, and the much cheaper incense became their alternative.

From then on, the Buddha, who taught people to cast aside greed, began blessing them with wealth too.

And there were some truly clever people among the Zen Grove monks.

The Zen Grove Buddhist Temple deliberately widened the road outside its grounds and rented it to vendors, collecting fees for the space.

With an attitude of "As long as you don't bring grilled meat skewers into the temple, the Buddha can tolerate anything," they did indeed attract plenty of vendors.

They even understood scarcity marketing, holding the fair for only a few days before the Lantern Festival and never extending it, keeping enthusiasm high.

By hitching a ride on the Lantern Festival, the Zen Grove Buddhist Temple raked in money until its pots and bowls overflowed.

And the Buddha's Golden Body grew larger and larger.