To Chen Shi'an, Pure Dust Temple was not just a place to cultivate, but the home where he made his life.
As the grandest traditional holiday, the New Year required far more preparations at the temple than in an ordinary household.
He had grown accustomed to these customs while learning from his master since childhood. Now that his master was gone, the responsibility for overseeing the temple's New Year affairs had fallen on his shoulders, and Chen Shi'an still handled everything in an orderly fashion.
The first thing to do after setting down his bags was to dust and sweep.
Chen Shi'an went back to his room and changed into the old short jacket in his wardrobe. Then he took a bucket to the Back Mountain for spring water, filling the large water vat in the courtyard first.
Then he fetched another bucket of clean water and found a rag, carefully wiping the statues and offering tables and brushing away the cobwebs and dust between the beams and pillars.
The temple's several rooms also needed cleaning.
Fat Cat seemed to sense the festive atmosphere and, for once, became remarkably industrious.
It ran circles around the courtyard, faster and faster, gradually stirring up a wind around itself. The breeze swept up the fallen leaves on the ground, which followed it one after another before finally gathering into a great heap in the clearing at the center of the courtyard.
"Meow," Fat Cat called, as though asking for praise.
"Perfect. I'll take those to the woodshed later to fuel the cooking fire," Chen Shi'an replied with a smile.
After doing just that little bit of work, Fat Cat felt exhausted. It plunged headfirst into the leaf pile, covering itself in golden leaves. Lying on top of them, it rolled belly-up and leisurely