If this actually worked out, it would be like finding Jingting a night job. And if he did well, Clear Breeze Temple might someday have a real Daoist, the kind who could perform rituals and catch ghosts.
While Yun Zhaozhao was picturing this rosy future, Jingting suddenly grew excited after hearing her out. "You want to bring me along so I can swear at ghosts on stream?? I can do that!!!"
Yun Zhaozhao: "...???" Swearing at people isn't enough for you anymore? Now you want to swear at ghosts on stream???
Chapter 36
Daoist Qingxin thought it over for a night. The next day, he said that since Yun Zhaozhao had treated him to drinks and meat before, he could try taking Jingting along for a while and see how things went.
And so, that evening, when Jingting went out with Daoist Qingxin to stay in a haunted house, he started a livestream right away.
Jingting's viewers had thought they were already used to his ever-changing streaming style, but that night's turn of events still caught them off guard.
So much so that the moment the stream began, the viewers couldn't resist switching into roast mode-
Viewer A: [At first I thought I was following a hotheaded streamer. Then I thought I was following a food streamer. Turns out I've actually been following a ghost-hunting streamer this whole time?]
Viewer B: [So swearing at people isn't enough for you anymore, and you're switching to ghosts?]
Viewer C: [The bold really do get to enjoy the world first. I don't even dare sleep alone at night, and some people are already bold enough to swear at ghosts in haunted houses?]
Viewer D: [Do Daoists all work this hard these days? Streaming themselves swearing at people by day and ghosts by night. Looks like every industry's caught up in the rat race!]
Of course, besides discussing just how badass Jingting's new line of work was, quite a few viewers also recognized Daoist Qingxin, who was there with Daoist Priest Jingting:
Viewer E: [This handsome Daoist looks so familiar. I feel like I've seen him somewhere...]
Viewer F: [You won't even leave Daoists alone? You really must be thirsty!]
Viewer E: [Get lost, you. Oh, I remember! Isn't this Daoist Qingxin, the guy who tells ghost stories on the streaming platform? It really is a small world. These two actually did a dream crossover.]
Viewer G: [Another weird ship to add to the list. Jingting and the chubby Daoist were a father-son ship, so what's his ship with this ghost-story Daoist? A ghost ship?]
Reading their comments, Jingting couldn't help setting the record straight on stream. "One correction: I'm not a ghost-hunting streamer, because I don't know how to catch ghosts at all. And just like you, I can't even see those things. Can you see them, Daoist Qingxin?"
Daoist Qingxin said nothing. Upon entering, he had first made a round of the whole house, inside and out, before taking things out of his bag one by one. Jingting had seen some of them before, such as talisman paper, a peachwood sword, and a Three Pure Ones bell. Others were things he had only heard of but never seen, such as copper coins and a ritual mirror.
Jingting was very interested in the ritual mirror, because he thought it must be the legendary demon-revealing mirror. According to legend, shining a mirror like that on demons, monsters, and ghosts would reveal their true forms, so he couldn't resist reaching out to touch it.
But the moment he reached over, Daoist Qingxin stopped him. "Don't touch things."
Jingting was obedient enough. Since Daoist Qingxin wouldn't let him touch it, he didn't, and sat quietly to one side, watching.
Daoist Qingxin had worried that Jingting would cause trouble because he was young, but seeing him sitting there quietly with his phone, watching without saying much or asking lots of questions, he warmed to him a little. He even took the initiative to ask, "You came empty-handed with nothing but a phone? What are you planning to do if we really run into something?"
Jingting laid on the flattery with practiced ease. "Well, I have you! Our temple master said that as long as I stick close to you, you'll definitely protect me."
Daoist Qingxin secretly enjoyed this round of flattery, though he kept his expression neutral.
Then, a second later, he saw Jingting pull a stack of papers from inside his clothes and continue, "Besides, it's not like I came completely unprepared. I do have a backup plan."
Daoist Qingxin leaned over curiously for a look, only to discover that what Jingting was holding wasn't some comprehensive ghost-catching guide, but-One Hundred Ways to Insult People Without Swearing.
Daoist Qingxin: "...????" You lunatic!
Before coming, Jingting had been looking forward to watching Daoist Qingxin show off his skills that night. To his surprise, after laying everything out on the table, Daoist Qingxin simply lay down flat on the bed, seemingly intending to sleep.
Jingting waited patiently for ages, but Daoist Qingxin made no further move. Feeling that the man might fall asleep if he waited any longer, he finally couldn't resist asking cautiously, "Daoist Qingxin, what are we waiting for? Are we waiting for the ghost to come?"
With his eyes closed, Daoist Qingxin spoke inscrutably. "People have their paths, and ghosts have theirs. Each follows their own, neither disturbing the other."
Jingting asked with endearing cluelessness, "Translate that for me. What does it mean?"
Daoist Qingxin's patience ran out. "It means be quiet and go to sleep."
Jingting leaned over, covered his phone's microphone, and whispered, "So we're just taking the money without doing any work? Think this through, Daoist Qingxin. I'm still streaming. Your esteemed clients might see this."
At that, Daoist Qingxin finally opened his eyes and glanced at Jingting's phone. To his dismay, he discovered that despite it being almost midnight, more than eighteen thousand people were still awake, eagerly watching the stream. Just like Jingting, they didn't know what they were waiting for, but somehow felt they ought to wait a little longer.
Daoist Qingxin really hadn't wanted to move, because the ghost in tonight's haunted house was a minor one and didn't look particularly vicious. But with so many people waiting, he felt it really wouldn't look good to do nothing. He could only roll over, get out of bed, and pick up the peachwood sword beside the head of the bed.
Before he could even act, Jingting grew excited beside him and shouted, "Fight! Fight! Fight..."
Daoist Qingxin: "???"
Are you here to be a cheerleader?
The little ghost had probably been provoked by Jingting too, because it slapped him from far away. Jingting didn't feel anything happen, but his head instinctively tilted to one side, and a clear handprint immediately appeared on his face.
The viewers were clearly stunned by this turn of events too. After a deathly silence, they began reciting slogans such as prosperity, democracy, and science.
As for Jingting on the stream, once he came to his senses, he was already jumping up and down in fury, cursing up a storm. A ceaseless torrent of classic Chinese profanity poured out, leaving the stream sounding like nothing but censored words, along the lines of *********.
What happened to those hundred ways to insult people without swearing? Your insults are nothing but swear words, Daoist Qingxin grumbled inwardly as he leaped out the window after the little ghost, peachwood sword in hand.
Jingting: "..."
The viewers: "..."
Were they seeing things? Wasn't this the third floor?!
After spending a night out with Daoist Qingxin, Jingting returned feeling that his entire worldview had been reshaped.
For one thing, a ghost had slapped him, dealing an almost devastating blow to his pride. For another, he discovered that Daoist Qingxin really did have some genuine skills. Though Daoist Qingxin never explicitly said whether he had caught the ghost that slapped him, even by the time they parted, Jingting felt that jumping from such a height without falling to his death was proof enough that he had some real ability.
When Yun Zhaozhao had suggested that he become Daoist Qingxin's disciple, deep down, he hadn't taken it very seriously. He felt that he should and could only ever have one master in his life. Though his elderly master had already passed away, a master for a day was a master for life, so Jingting had never intended to take another.
But after last night, his resolve had wavered a little.
With something weighing on his mind, he remained unusually silent throughout breakfast.
Yun Zhaozhao usually didn't get up early, so by the time she rose, breakfast at Clear Breeze Temple was already over. But Daoist Chang Kong had saved her some food, so she was in no hurry and even had time to stroll over and ask Jingting how last night's ghost hunt had gone.
It had to be said that Yun Zhaozhao was a little more observant than Daoist Chang Kong after all. Daoist Chang Kong had eaten an entire breakfast with Jingting without noticing the new handprint on his face, but Yun Zhaozhao spotted it as soon as she walked over. "What happened to your face? Did someone hit you?"
At the mention of the handprint, Jingting's already low spirits sank even further.
"...Don't even mention it. Some bastard ghost hit me, and I don't even know which one. I'm so pissed off..."
Looking at the handprint, Yun Zhaozhao felt a little sorry for Jingting. But at the same time, for some reason, she couldn't help wanting to laugh. Of course, however funny it was, she couldn't bring herself to laugh in his face, so she struggled for quite a while before managing to suppress it.
Jingting clenched his fists and looked straight ahead, giving himself a pep talk. "I've figured it out now. Just running my mouth isn't enough. It's not intimidating enough. I need to study hard and train my fighting skills, so next time I can hit them while I swear. Basically, it comes down to this: if I can out-insult them, I will. If I can't, I'll fight."
Yun Zhaozhao: "..."
Yun Zhaozhao said, "Then do your best. I believe in you. Whether Clear Breeze Temple can one day strike terror into the hearts of humans and ghosts alike depends entirely on you."
Jingting nodded with firm resolve. "Don't worry, Temple Master. Clear Breeze Temple has me!"
That evening, Jingting went back to the haunted house with Daoist Qingxin, because the owner had booked them for a full week.
This time, Jingting didn't stream. For one thing, getting hit on yesterday's livestream had badly wounded his pride. Afraid something else might go wrong today, he decided to take a break first. Of course, there was another, more important reason: his swearing during yesterday's stream had been so filthy that he had ended up getting a suspension warning from the platform, so even if he wanted to stream, he couldn't right now.