Poor Taoist Qiu Chuji

Chapter 329 Another Fahai Emerging from Leifeng Pagoda

The figure became clearer and clearer.

What followed was worry and fear.

Fahai couldn't help but wonder what kind of punishment Xiaoqing would receive for helping him escape the Taoist temple, and whether she would be in danger of losing her life because she had offended the Taoist priest.

This is why love breeds sorrow and fear.

People only become afraid of sudden loss and become weak and restless after they have gained something and cherished it in their hearts.

Fahai suddenly opened his eyes, picked up the jianzhi (a type of wooden fish) he used to strike the wooden fish, and began to strike it rhythmically.

"You monster! Get out of my head!" Fahai suddenly stood up, immediately breaking the precept against anger.

The Bodhisattva's countenance was solemn and dignified; he looked at Fahai with seemingly boundless compassion.

Fahai gasped for breath and then chanted Buddhist scriptures, but the more he tried not to think about the demons, the more they were etched into his mind.

His magic power was still sealed, and he could not forcibly use his own powerful magic to block out those thoughts that should not exist.

After struggling for a long time, Fahai knelt down in front of the Bodhisattva with a thud, put his hands together and said: "Bodhisattva! This disciple has broken the precepts and could not control his worldly desires. Please guide me."

As the sun began to set, a lingering shadow fell upon the nearby pagoda.

Upon seeing this, Fahai's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Disciple understands! Demons and monsters have acted recklessly and must enter Leifeng Pagoda to atone for their sins. Disciple has also violated the precepts and must also enter Leifeng Pagoda... This is quite fair!"

The pagoda gradually grew larger, and the vermilion gate at the entrance was suddenly flung open. After hesitating for a moment, Fahai stepped inside.

The Golden-Haired Roar followed closely behind Fahai, also wanting to go inside.

Fahai turned around and gently stroked the top of the golden-haired lion's head: "You can stay outside and live a good and carefree life!"

The golden retriever tilted its head and let out a roar.

"Listen to me!" Fahai patted the golden-haired lion's head again, then walked alone into the depths, soon disappearing completely into the shadows of Leifeng Pagoda.

However, the pagoda did not close its doors and shrink again.

Instead, it radiates layers of golden light.

Before long, bathed in a golden light, Fahai, with his solemn appearance and even more stern expression, emerged from the tower with a young monk who looked exactly like Xu Xian and Xu Xuan.

Seeing Fahai return so quickly, the golden-haired lion was running forward excitedly, but stopped halfway. A look of confusion appeared on its dog face. It sniffed hard and then bared its teeth at Fahai, who came out of the pagoda.

"If their ferocity remains unchanged and their Buddha-nature is not fully developed, even if they are spiritual beasts, they should not be tolerated!"

After saying this, Fahai waved his hand and a beam of Buddhist light enveloped the Golden-haired Roar. Then the Golden-haired Roar shrank smaller and smaller until it became a Buddhist bead, which Fahai held in his hand.

······
At Bao'an Hall, Xu Xian finally finished his day of house calls. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, feeling a pang of nostalgia for the days when his wife was by his side, accompanying him on his medical journey.

Back then, whenever he felt tired, his wife would always bring him a bowl of tea and then massage his shoulders.

Thinking of his wife, Xu Xian smiled happily again.

In a few more months, the little life he and his wife were carrying together will be born.

He's going to be a dad!
Although half of his identity had been taken away, just the thought of a little life sweetly calling him "Dad" made him feel refreshed, like drinking plum juice on a hot summer day.

Ding-ding-ding-ding!

The sound of metal colliding sounded.

Xu Xian looked up and saw Fahai striding in.

Xu Xian was startled. He secretly held the talisman that Qiu Chuji had written for him in his hand, and then said warily, "Monk Fahai! Are you going to keep bothering me?"

"I let you escape before because my master is kind-hearted and spared you. Don't be ungrateful."

As soon as Xu Xian finished speaking, he noticed the somewhat timid young monk following behind Fahai.

The monk looked exactly like him...

"Xu Xuan? He became a monk?" Xu Xian was first surprised, then delighted, but quickly denied it. He knew Xu Xuan well; even if he died, he would never become a monk, betraying his master and his wife.

"Could it be one of my past lives?"

"How could I have had so many past lives!" Xu Xian lamented inwardly.

He's already tolerated enough that half of his wife has been taken away by Xu Xuan. If another one comes along... how will that be enough?

Xu Xian was still in a daze when Fahai spoke up: "Xu Xian! Your wife is a snake demon who has cultivated for a thousand years, are you aware of that?"

Xu Xian looked at Fahai strangely, then gave him an expression that said, "You're outdated. No, you're not anymore! With Master's help, my wife shed her demon form and is now a pure human being."

Fahai frowned: "Once a demon, always a demon! Xu Xian... are you going to remain stubbornly deluded?"

Xu Xian activated the talisman in his hand and said defiantly, "So what if she's stubborn? Whether my wife is human or a snake demon, I respect her, love her, and am willing to spend my life with her."

"You're a monk, what do you know about love?"

With a flick of his robe, Fahai activated the array that had been surrounding Baoan Hall, intercepting the talismanic light.

“Such stubbornness seems beyond redemption. Dao Feng… why don’t you temporarily return to secular life for a few days and become Xu Xian again?” Fahai turned to the young monk following behind him and asked.

The young monk clasped his hands together, his eyes filled with evasiveness and hesitation, while his gaze toward Xu Xian was a mixture of longing and resentment.

"I will obey Master's decree!"

Fahai nodded, pointed at Xu Xian, and Xu Xian turned into a frog lying on the counter.

Frogs are one of the snakes' favorite foods, and Fahai's act of turning Xu Xian into a frog was undeniably cruel.

The young monk who had been following Fahai had his robes transformed into long gowns, and his hair had grown back, making him look almost exactly like Xu Xian, who had been turned into a frog.

"Coo-coo-quack!" Xu Xian looked at the young monk who had transformed into his own appearance and knew something was wrong. There must be a conspiracy involved. He tried his best to jump out of the window, but the young monk, whose Buddhist name was 'Dao Feng', grabbed him, wrapped his legs with strips of cloth, and stuffed him into his arms.

"Dao Feng! Find out the whereabouts of those two snake demons."

"Then, together with my master, we will once again vanquish demons and monsters!" Fahai said solemnly.

Dao Feng replied, "Yes, Master!"

Three days later, early in the morning, Xu Xuan came to relieve him of his shift.

Xu Xuan, who was covering his face with a veil and wearing a cloak, tapped on the table and said to 'Xu Xian' who was doing accounts, "How is it? Has Old Man Li's illness been cured? His leg ailment is a bit troublesome. My medical skills are not as good as yours, so I'm not sure."

Xu Xian was a little stunned when he heard this, but he still nodded in agreement.

"That's good! Hurry up and change your clothes with me, then go back to serve Xiaobai. I'll have you learn a few new dishes from the head chef at Wanghu Tower so you can cook them for Xiaobai. Have you learned them yet?" Xu Xuan asked, taking off his cloak and pulling off his face mask.

Looking at the face in front of him that looked exactly like his own, Xu Xian subconsciously grabbed the frog in his arms.

Still here!

quack!
quack!
quack!
Xu Xian saw Xu Xuan through the gap in his collar and began to shout at the top of his lungs.

They wanted to warn Xu Xuan that danger was approaching.

"Hey! Are you planning to make frog legs for Xiaobai?"

"That's good, but... why didn't you prepare more?"

"Who can one frog possibly harm?" Xu Xuan couldn't understand the frog's croaking, so he naturally didn't know that Xu Xian was giving a warning.

"This is just practice. Once I've mastered it, I'll make it for my wife." Xu Xian, also known as Dao Feng, said this, which can be considered an explanation.

"That's too little... You're really stingy."

"It's alright, when I have time I'll go to the pond and catch a basketful. I used to catch frogs for a treat when I was catching snakes, I'm quite skilled at it!" Xu Xuan patted Dao Feng on the shoulder and said with a chuckle.

(End of this chapter)