The old things I repaired have become fine

Chapter 734 Shen Le: What?! I'm being pressured to get married, in this ancient era?!

The Way of the Celestial Masters.

Oh, the Five Pecks of Rice sect.

Oh, the Yellow Turban Army.

Wait, the current version isn't at the Yellow Turban Rebellion stage yet, is it?

Shen Le silently translated the words he heard into nouns that he was more familiar with and could understand without difficulty, and then went out to see.

Upon hearing that the Celestial Masters sect had come to cast talismanic water, every able-bodied family in the village, supporting the elderly and children, carrying, supporting, and helping the sick, flocked to the village entrance, forming circles under the big locust tree:
"May the immortals have mercy!"

"Daozu, be merciful!"

"Save my dad! He's dying!"

"Please save my son..."

A large, dark mass of people, some carrying elderly parents, others holding young children, and still others supporting their husbands or wives, walked unsteadily.

Shen Le quickly turned around and stopped all her family members from returning inside, lest they, who had just recovered, contract the disease again. She herself took a long detour to look from afar.

Led by the long-bearded Taoist priest, the other Taoists formed a large array under the locust tree in an open space. The long-bearded Taoist priest stood before a long table, a wooden sword in his right hand and a token in his left, with a pair of large candles lit in front of him.
The eldest disciple was taking out talismans from his backpack, stacking them in small piles and placing them flat on the long table, making sure they wouldn't get touched by sparks.

The two youngest disciples busily dug the ground, piled up stones, added firewood, and placed a large pot on the stone stove...

Does this "talisman" possess magical powers?
Shen Le quietly took two steps closer and used his spiritual power to investigate. His spiritual power, like silk threads, silently approached, passed through the crowd, and reached the Taoist priests.

No, no, this isn't there either, this isn't there either... So, is the so-called "talisman water" just a hoax?
As he was thinking, he saw several slightly older disciples stepping out from the crowd.

Some went to appease the villagers, some directed them to line up, and others went straight to a few village elders whose clothes were slightly neater and who looked a little wealthier:
"Old man, may I ask where the well is in this village? We need water to boil for the talisman water we're distributing..."

"Don't worry, the talisman will definitely work. This is the mercy of the Dao Ancestor, and also our merit..."

"Merit? Dear believers, if you could donate some rice and cook it together with the talisman water, it would make the talisman water more effective..."

Rice is the essence of the five grains, the foundation of vital energy, and can support the power of spiritual talismans... By giving rice, you all naturally accumulate merit, which can uphold righteousness and ward off evil, preventing external evils from interfering..."

After a few persuasive words, young men soon volunteered, or were called upon by elders to fetch water, while others went to people's homes to carry rice to give as alms.

Shen Le stood at a distance, listening intently, and couldn't help but want to smile:

Is the talismanic water effective?

The case is solved. According to their current explanation, it must be effective.

In the depths of winter and early spring, when the wind is biting cold, drinking a bowl of hot water is always better for your health than drinking a bowl of icy well water or even river water.

Maybe drinking a few more bowls of hot water will help me get through dysentery and recover completely? That would be the difference between life and death...

If some rice were added to this "talisman water," it would be even better. For rural people, hunger is the norm; being able to eat their fill for one month out of the year is considered extremely auspicious.

Having a bowl of rice porridge, hot rice porridge—illness fears three bowls of rice; if you're full, many diseases can naturally be overcome!
Having discerned these secrets, Shen Le slowed his pace and stood at a distance to observe.

Half a bag of rice was poured into the pot, along with a bucket of well water. The firewood was lit, the water boiled and bubbled, and the aroma of the rice porridge gradually wafted through the air.

Shen Le clearly saw that the villagers standing around the Taoist priests were moving their throats up and down, as if they wanted to rush over and have a bowl right then and there.

However, before they could even move, the long-bearded Taoist priest had already struck the token, wielded his sword with the Yu Step, and strode swiftly in front of the long table:

"Red inscription on yellow talismans, radiant with vermilion light."
"A celestial star descends, a sinister spirit lurks..."

He recited it aloud, his tone drawn out, with intonation and rhythm, using the special intonation of Taoist incantations, chanting it like a song.

If Shen Le hadn't gone into the mountains to learn his skills and watched the Taoists work in the memories of the Ironclad and Porcelain Tower, he really wouldn't have been able to understand what he was singing.

At present, all I can say is—it's alright, it's fairly effective, and it doesn't try to fool people by lip-syncing to "one, two, three, four, five"...

After chanting the scripture once, he circled the table with the steps of Yu, then suddenly swung his wooden sword, pointing it at the talisman paper on the edge of the long table. With a flick of the sword tip, the talisman paper grazed the candle flame and instantly burst into flames;
With another swing of the wooden sword, the talisman was sent flying through the air, landing on the large cauldron. The flames of the burning talisman were tinged with purple, causing the villagers to gasp in surprise.

"Fairy magic!"

"It really is a divine technique!"

"Purple flames streak across the sky, driving away evil spirits and vanquishing demons!"

Shen Le: "..."

What element produces a purple flame test result? Is it harmful to humans? Is it a heavy metal? Oh no, I can't quite remember...

It's true that the college entrance exam is the peak of a person's comprehensive knowledge. After that, you either forget everything you learned or you become unbalanced in your subjects... Speaking of which, is this also the reason why I failed the civil service exam?
I also failed the "General Knowledge" subject, and I don't know where the points were deducted...

The followers of the Five Pecks of Rice sect were clearly oblivious to the fact that someone was currently agonizing over his failed examination. The disciples were completely absorbed in chanting scriptures around the altar;

The long-bearded Taoist priest kept picking up one talisman after another, and then another...

The talismans flew through the air, burning and curling as they went, until they were almost completely reduced to ashes when they landed above the large pot, falling down in a soft rustling sound.
Soon, the ash from the talisman dissolved into the rice water, and after a few tumbles, it was swept to the bottom of the water and disappeared.

There are no magical powers.

From beginning to end, there wasn't even the slightest fluctuation of magic.

A gust of wind blew by, and Shen Le sniffed, sensing a slightly different smell:

This smells like... medicine?
What kind of medicine is it? He thinks he smells ginger...

Shen Le noticed that some of the talismans were burned to ash and dissolved in the pot, while a few talismans were not burned and were directly picked up and fell into the pot. They sank down, slowly dispersed, and disappeared. He didn't know if it was due to the "immortal magic" or if the talismans themselves had been tampered with.

That's true. Some medicines might still be effective when burned to ash, while others won't work as well and need to be dissolved directly in talisman water... Good job!

He couldn't help but smile, feeling a renewed sense of confidence in these followers of the Five Pecks of Rice sect. Even if they were just using superstition to deceive people…

But as long as it works, who cares? In ancient times, people didn't care about these things anyway; saving lives was more important than anything else.

Unlike now, when they sell Chinese medicine pills, which contain things like acetaminophen, amoxicillin, chlorpheniramine, codeine phosphate, metformin...

Some are outright counterfeit drugs, the kind that will get you arrested and imprisoned. Others, believe it or not, are legal traditional Chinese medicines, clearly stated on the packaging and in the instructions...

He quietly observed the distribution of the talisman water. Only after the villagers expressed their gratitude profusely and dispersed, each holding a bowl of talisman water, did he slowly step forward.

The long-bearded Taoist priest had noticed him long ago. Seeing that he was holding the talisman water, neither gulping it down nor immediately taking it home, but instead taking a sip as if lost in thought, the priest smiled and said:
"Young man, what are you looking at?"

"You flatter me, Daoist Master." Shen Le quickly glanced left and right, seeing that the villagers had already left, and even the long-bearded Daoist's disciples were packing up five or six steps away, he stepped forward and whispered:

"I want to taste this talisman water and see just how effective it is."

Is it very effective?

"Pretty good." Shen Le smiled generously.
"It contains cinnamon twigs, ephedra, perilla leaves, and saposhnikovia root..."

He had only mentioned four kinds of medicine when the long-bearded Taoist priest smiled and raised a finger to his lips. Shen Le, sensing the opportunity, stopped speaking, paused, and chuckled softly:

"I admire the Taoist priest for his compassionate teachings and efforts to cure the plague through the use of divine means."

The long-bearded Taoist priest's eyes curved slightly, and the wrinkles on his face relaxed. He sighed softly in relief:
"Yes... The Great Teacher came up with this method, having us spread talismanic water everywhere, it's truly..."

What?
Shen Le was instantly startled. Who are you talking about?
A great and virtuous teacher?

Zhang Jiao?!
Is it already Zhang Jiao's era? Is the Yellow Turban Rebellion about to begin? Is the great chaos of the late Eastern Han Dynasty about to arrive?!
His mind was in turmoil, but he dared not ask, for fear of frightening the other person.

The long-bearded Taoist priest gazed at the village in the distance, at the wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, and at the village head who had returned but dared not approach. He then turned to Shen Le and solemnly said:
"I see that you, young man, possess extraordinary insight and a compassionate heart. May I ask if you would be willing to join my sect and travel the world together to provide disaster relief and help the people?"

Ah this...

Shen Le was immediately conflicted. To be honest, he really didn't want to stay here:
Chaos is imminent. Staying here will likely mean becoming one of the disaster victims. It's better to go out and have a chance to survive.

Even if they managed to infiltrate Zhang Jiao's group, their chances of survival would still be somewhat higher.
Whether they followed one of the Yellow Turban leaders and eventually became a common soldier under a famous general of the Three Kingdoms, or surrendered at the Battle of Julu and then followed Liu Bei and his men...

Speaking of those who gained initial power during the late Han Dynasty by fighting the Yellow Turbans, who else comes to mind? I think Cao Cao also fought the Yellow Turbans…

Although the battlefield at Julu was quite dangerous, Shen Le, who had followed Li Shimin through the battle of Hulao Pass, was confident that he would at least survive on the battlefield!

But, but...

He couldn't help but turn his head to look at the village. In that thatched hut made of rammed earth and bricks lived this body's family:
In middle age, they had become so thin and frail that they resembled elderly people;
My younger brother is not tall enough and his shoulders are still immature, so he cannot shoulder the burden of the family.

My little sister, who hadn't even reached his chest yet, was already able to stand on a small stool and wobble as she helped wash the dishes...

"While parents are alive, one should not travel far." He smiled regretfully at the long-bearded Taoist priest.

"Feel sorry……"

"Ah this..."

The long-bearded Taoist priest was somewhat disappointed, but didn't say anything. Seeing Muramasa approach, he changed his expression, becoming amiable and chatting with him:
"Donating rice to do good deeds? -- Of course! Donating more or less is all about the intention. Saving a life is a good deed! With good deeds protecting you, you will naturally receive good fortune and be protected from all evil!"

The village head is considered a prominent figure in the village, and his family owns two hundred acres of land.

Having just been ravaged by a plague, each member of the family felt much better after drinking a bowl of talisman water. They were eager to strike while the iron was hot and get more benefits to keep the family free from all illnesses.

While instructing the servants to move rice, he glanced at Shen Le standing to the side:

"Immortal Master, this young man, I just saw him talking with you, and it seems he has quite a connection?"

These Taoist priests seem quite capable. If even one child in the village could follow them and learn a little something, even just leaving behind some goodwill, it would be a good thing for the village.

Moreover, they are outsiders, dirt poor, so using their child to form this bond is the most cost-effective option.

The long-bearded Taoist's eyes lit up. He had always admired Shen Le's calm and insightful nature. Recognizing herbs wasn't difficult; the real challenge lay in seeing through their deception without revealing it, exchanging knowing smiles and understanding each other implicitly—that was no easy feat.

He had led hundreds or even thousands of followers, and had dozens of disciples around him. He didn't even dare to let most of them know the truth, for fear that they would collapse. When he saw a promising talent, he really didn't want to let go.

At this moment, with Arimura stepping in to plead for it, it was the perfect opportunity to go with the flow!
He hesitated for a moment, looked at Shen Le, then at the middle-aged couple who had rushed over and were standing anxiously not far away, and said slowly:
"This young man is indeed destined for my path. If he can become my disciple, follow me in cultivation, and serve the Dao Ancestor, he will not only accumulate great merit himself, but also bring blessings to his family."

Our sect takes care of its followers. Even the lowest-ranking ghost soldier receives five dou of rations a month, and if one becomes a priest, one can support their family with one shi of rice a month. In addition, our sect's talismanic water will be given priority..."

Five pecks of rice!
The family lost a piece of meat but gained five bushels of rice. In this lean season, when food was scarce and the epidemic had just passed, it was a life-saving treasure!
Shen Le immediately saw that the eyes of the body's parents lit up and their breathing became rapid.

They looked at the long-bearded Taoist priest, then at their own son, their eyes shining with a mixture of longing and reluctance.
They just let their son go like that?
"It's a blessing that the Taoist priest values ​​Gouwazi!" the father replied loudly after a moment. He quickly stepped forward, knelt down with a thud, and reached out to pull Shen Le up.
"You brat! Quick! Kneel before the Taoist priest and thank him for accepting you!"

Shen Le reluctantly squatted down, swaying slightly. Before her knees even touched the ground, she heard her father say again:
"But... could you please stay a few more days, Daoist Master...? We need to arrange a marriage for Gouwazi, and get it done as soon as possible... He's gone so far, at least he'll have an heir..."

What? !

I wasn't pressured to get married in modern times, but now I'm being pressured to get married in ancient times?!

And it was an arranged marriage, with the wedding night immediately following?!
I don't want to!!!
Shen Le sprang to his feet reflexively. In a flash, he took two steps back, almost leaping behind the long-bearded Taoist:
"Father! Mother! Let's not talk about marriage again. It will ruin your virginity and hinder your cultivation! Please stay home and live peacefully. Your son is leaving!"

(End of this chapter)