I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 295 The Living Sutra, The Little Monk

Legend has it that there is a Azure Dragon in the world, with a body like a long snake, a head like a Qilin, and a tail like a carp; it has long whiskers, antlers like a deer, five claws, and a body covered in blue scales.

This Azure Dragon is the head of the Four Symbols Divine Lords, belongs to the element of wood, is green in color, appears at the spring equinox, and disappears at the autumn equinox. It controls wind and thunder, and gives birth to all things.
The characteristics of the Separation and Union Wind that Xu Qing cultivated happened to be compatible with the Azure Dragon.

The Huainanzi states: "Among the celestial deities, none is more noble than the Azure Dragon!"
The dragon is the head of all scaled creatures, and the Azure Dragon is the most revered.

Its form is extraordinary, with azure scales shining in the sky and eyes containing stars.

Its dignity and majesty are such that when it is happy, rain will fall, and when it is angry, thunder will roar.

They are of noble character, love benevolence and righteousness and uphold justice, and abhor filth and evil.

Its laws are boundless, it guards the easternmost reaches and governs the eight directions, it controls the spring wood and governs growth and development.
When Xu Qing went to the Dayong Imperial Mausoleum to deal with the lightning disaster in his early years, people in Tianjin spread the word that they saw a blue dragon fall from the sky above the Baisha River.

Xu Qing initially dismissed it as a rumor. The legendary Azure Dragon possessed immense magical power, so how could it possibly have fallen to the mortal realm?

It wasn't until Xu Qing stumbled upon six or seven lapis lazuli scales that he began to waver.

"It is said that the Azure Dragon is fond of cleanliness and abhors turbidity and obscurity. In prosperous times, it manifests its divine power to stabilize the nation's destiny, while in chaotic times, it hides in the vast sea to avoid being defiled."

"We are now living in a world of turbidity and depravity, where yin and yang are out of balance, even worse than in times of chaos. Can a sacred beast like the Azure Dragon truly escape its fate of being corrupted by hiding deep within rivers, lakes, and seas?"

Xu Qing fell into deep thought.

He had twice encountered the 'human calamity' that the golden carp suffered.

Xu Qing obtained a drop of dragon blood once, and the other time it was the green scale in Chen Liuer's hands.

These two encounters reminded Xu Qing of a long-standing folk legend in Tianjin.

According to local elders in Tianjin, if a live carp is caught three times and then released back into the wild, it will accumulate good fortune and have the opportunity to leap over the dragon gate.

However, if a carp is not rescued and released even once, it means that the carp is not destined to become a dragon and can only become food on a plate.

This is why dragons dislike chaotic and disastrous times and prefer peaceful and prosperous ones.

In times of war, people are filled with fear and famine, and people are struggling to survive. Who would be willing to show compassion and help a carp?
Not swallowing the fish bones shows that one has a kind heart!
Only in times of peace and prosperity, when blessings abound and people have plenty, will the carp in the river have more opportunities.

The practice of releasing carp back into the wild has a long history, though it is unknown when it originated. People only know that this custom existed in Tianjin a thousand years ago, or even earlier.

That is, every New Year, people will choose to release live carp into the wild, just to pray for good fortune.

However, the idea of ​​saving carp for good fortune did not come about overnight.

Only live carp that have been caught and released three times, possessing extremely strong luck, can bring good fortune to the person who releases them.

Later, people came up with a way to mark it: they tied a small red string to the dorsal fin of the fish as a marker.

The hope is that one day, when a fisherman or a bystander accidentally catches this fish, he will see the red rope, realize that the fish is a spiritual creature with a predestined connection, and then release it to help it continue its celestial bond.

However, time flies, and generations change.

Throughout history, the people of Tianjin have looked out over the water, searching every river and marshland, seeing all sorts of fish swimming and algae floating, but no one has ever seen the red-lined carp leap out of the water.

Xu Qing vaguely felt that this custom might not be unfounded. If the rumors were true, had those two golden carp children already survived three human tribulations?
"The road to heaven is blocked, and at this time of chaos, you still dare to undergo tribulation. You are truly audacious!"

Xu Qing calculated that if the rumors were true, and considering his and Chen Liuer's two rescues, the "golden couple" were still one step away from achieving their goal of "leaping over the dragon gate" (a Chinese idiom meaning to achieve great success).

But if there really is one last calamity, will they be able to survive it?
At that time, Xu Qing was blinded by the two generous golden carp.

Of course, more than anything, he was kind-hearted and loved to do good deeds and help the dead. So he passed down a new rule in the Cat Fairy Hall: if you encounter a golden carp, you should release it.

"That drop of dragon blood helped me refine a hand bone. The blue scale in Chen Liuer's hand is no ordinary object either."

When Xu Qing possessed the body of the Goddess of Life Protection through the Blood Lake Dharma Realm, he saw Chen Liuer showing off the green scales in front of Xiao Shiyue.

The magical power contained in those blue scales was far stronger than the scales he picked up in the White Sand River!

"This brat is swaggering around with those scales; he's probably not very safe. As a deity of the Baosheng Temple, I can't help him solve this safety hazard!"

Xu Qing stood in the reception hall of the county magistrate's mansion, listening to the sounds coming from deep within the courtyard, and had already made up his mind.

As dusk fell, Chen Guangrui, who had been handling official business at the yamen, finally returned home.

As soon as Magistrate Chen entered the front hall, he saw Xu Qing, who had come to visit.

After the two exchanged glances, Chen Guangrui asked curiously, "Manager Xu, is there something important you need from me?"

Xu Qing laughed and said, "It's nothing serious. A few years ago, Sister Liu, you know, the midwife who delivered the baby for the county magistrate's young master."

"Sister Liu once borrowed a conservation manual from me and gave it to the county magistrate to make a copy, hoping to pass it on to the world."

“That booklet was written by a friend of mine, and now it’s time to return it. So I have no choice but to swallow my pride and come to you, sir, to borrow it.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangrui chuckled and said, "That booklet was written by Mr. Xu's friend, so I should return it to him."

"Lord Xu, there's no need to be embarrassed. In fact, I'm the one who should feel guilty. I boasted back then that I would spread that booklet throughout the land so that every citizen of Dayong would know about safe childbirth and childcare. But who knew..."

Chen Guangrui shook his head with a wry smile, his words filled with helplessness.

Xu Qing understood what was going on. The conservation manual was related to the struggle for the continuation of the imperial lineage, and the Celestial Master's Mansion would never sit idly by and let the manual end up on the emperor's desk. Even if it did end up on the emperor's desk, given Emperor Jingxing's temperament, he might not take the matter seriously.

The people's livelihood in the Great Yong Dynasty was full of problems. Emperor Jingxing was riddled with problems. Even if the conservation manual was passed down, it could not be turned into silver to make up for the deficit in the national treasury.

Furthermore, His Majesty, who is seventy years old, has recently contracted an inexplicable illness and has frequently lost his temper in the palace over the past two years.

The imperial physicians were evasive and unwilling to speak plainly until Emperor Jingxing grew impatient and wanted to make an example of him. Only then did someone speak frankly, saying that the emperor's illness was not caused by wind or cold, nor by weakness or overwork, but by excessive consumption of unorthodox elixirs and evil practices, which had depleted his innate kidney essence, leaving it as fragile as a broken stem.

A bent root is truly difficult to straighten.

Emperor Jingxing didn't like listening to such nonsense; he only asked if it could be cured.

Knowing that answering or not answering would both lead to trouble, the old imperial physician decided to act as a fearless censor, stating bluntly that the emperor's illness stemmed from excessive sexual activity, resulting in severe depletion of his vital essence. He argued that the illness was now terminal, beyond the reach of any medicine or remedy, and even a divine physician would find it difficult to cure such a lustful ruler.

Emperor Jingxing couldn't stand it and immediately had all the imperial physicians in his bedchamber who overheard the conversation killed.

From then on, no one dared to mention 'childbirth', let alone present the childcare manual to anyone.

Chen Guangrui's words were pointed, and Xu Qing roughly understood what he meant.

That means that the conservation manual could only be spread throughout the world after Emperor Jingxing passed away.

Xu Qing calculated the amount of incense from the Blood Lake in his hand. As long as Emperor Jingxing didn't die, his divine avatar would have to delay its cultivation by one day. So, what was hindering his path wasn't diligence, but rather the dreadful, dying emperor in the capital?
Xu Qing was confident he could outlast the seventy-year-old emperor, but he always felt he was at a disadvantage.

It should be known that the one who demanded the Nine-Turn Profound Pill and made things convenient for Daoist Baiyun was none other than this current fratricide and inhuman dog emperor.

Now, with the Baosheng Temple incident added to the already tense relationship between Xu Qing and Emperor Jingxing, the animosity between them has deepened even further.

"Magistrate Chen need not worry. Perhaps before long, this conservation manual will be presented to the Emperor."

Chen Guangrui chuckled to himself.

Is it possible that His Majesty will pass away soon?
Back then, Emperor Longping lived to be over eighty years old before he was buried. Who can guarantee that Emperor Jingxing won't surpass his master?
After the two talked for a while in the reception room, Chen Guangrui invited Xu Qing to the study to retrieve the first edition of the conservation manual.

However, before the two even reached the study, Chen Guangrui saw two gleaming pearls come into view.

Magistrate Chen took a closer look, and sure enough!

Those aren't two bright pearls, they're clearly two little bald heads!

At this moment, the two young monks were standing in the courtyard. The light was not the glow of pearls, but the afterglow of the sunset, which shone on the heads of the two children.

Chen Guangrui was taken aback at first, but when he discovered that the two children were his sons, County Magistrate Chen immediately became furious.

Who had the audacity to shave his son's head?

If this gets out, it's a small matter if he loses face and his family members are criticized, but if someone submits a memorial accusing him of not following etiquette and filial piety, of being incompetent in managing his household, and convicting him of disobedience and unfilial piety, then that would be a big problem!

In this world, filial piety is of utmost importance. This is because our bodies, hair, and skin are given to us by our parents, and we dare not damage them. This is the beginning of filial piety.

Apart from homeless monks, only unfilial people or those who have been punished would cut their hair.

According to the Da Yong Code, one of the five punishments, "shaving the head," was the punishment of cutting off one's hair.

Seeing that Chen Guangrui was truly enraged, Xu Qing knew that Chen Liuer was doomed today!
"Zi'an! Come here!"

As soon as Chen Zi'an, who was the same age as Chen Liu'er, approached, Chen Guangrui said with a gloomy face, "Let me ask you, who shaved the black hair on your head?"

Chen Zi'an had just been scolded by his mother, and he felt extremely guilty as he said, "It was done by a barber in Dongdaokou Hutong who shaved people's faces and cut their hair."

These days, there's no such thing as a barber; there are only hairdressers who trim hair, shave, and clean stubble, or shaving masters.

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangrui immediately retorted angrily, "What a barber! In broad daylight, he dares to force a child to shave his head! He truly has no regard for the law!"

At this moment, Chen Liuer, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "It wasn't the barber who forced Zian and me to shave our heads. I gave the barber the copper coins I used to buy the sugar figurine so that he could shave our heads."

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Chen Guangrui looked at Chen Liuer in disbelief.

This child has always been clever and sensible, so why would he suddenly have such a bad idea and go to a barber to shave his head?

"Liu'er, your body and hair are gifts from your parents, and you should not disrespect them. Tell me, did someone instigate you to take Zi'an to get your head shaved?"

Chen Liuer kept his mouth shut and refused to say anything no matter what. Seeing that Chen Guangrui was pressing him too hard, the brat pouted, as if he could burst into tears at any moment.

At this moment, the magistrate's wife, accompanied by her wet nurse and nanny, came forward and advised, "The child keeps his mouth shut and is unwilling to betray his friends, which is a matter of loyalty. Since his hair has already been shaved, it's like spilled water that can't be taken back. Sir, please don't be too harsh on him."

"From now on, when Liu'er and Zi'an go out, I'll have my foster mother keep a close eye on them. If Liu'er returns to his ancestral home, I'll also talk to his mother and make sure he doesn't wander off alone, lest he be tricked by someone with ulterior motives."

While Chen Guangrui was talking to his wife, Xu Qing beckoned Chen Liuer to come closer and asked:
"Little Liu'er, who taught you to shave your hair like that?"

Seeing that Chen Liuer hesitated to speak, Xu Qing changed the subject and said, "You only need to tell me, and I promise I won't tell anyone else!"

"Really?"

"Of course, I'd be a monster if I lied to you!"

Chen Liuer believed it and immediately reached out her little hand and beckoned Xu Qing to squat down so she could whisper in his ear and tell only Xu Qing.

After hearing Chen Liuer's words, Xu Qing immediately stood up and said to Chen Guangrui, "Little Liuer has already told me the truth. The one who asked him to shave his head was a crazy monk from Qianzhou. This monk's Dharma name is Xinyuan. He said that Chen Liuer has an affinity with Buddhism and wanted to guide him into Buddhism. Little Liuer thought what the other party said made sense, so he wanted to shave his head!"

"At that time, young master Chen Zi'an happened to be there. He heard Chen Liu'er talk about the benefits of becoming a monk, and he felt that he was born to be a monk. So he followed Chen Liu'er, took out the money he had spent on sugar figurines, and had the barber at Dongdaokou shave his head!"

Xu Qing spoke rapidly, and when he finished speaking, the entire courtyard fell silent.

Chen Liuer looked at Xu Qing in utter shock, stammering, "You clearly promised me just now that you wouldn't tell anyone."

"Are your parents outsiders? Are your foster mother and nanny outsiders? Since none of them are, why can't I tell you?"

Xu Qing clasped his hands together, tucked into his sleeves, and said with a smile, "Compared to him, that mad monk who talks nonsense is an outsider. How long have you known him? Not even an hour. Why are you shaving your head? Why don't you tell the elders at home who care about you the truth?"

"I"

Even a thousand-year-old tree demon would suffer a setback in front of the inhuman Xu Qing, so how could Chen Liuer, a mere child, possibly be a match for Xu Qing?

The child had even forgotten his grievances; he felt dizzy, his vision blurred, and he could barely speak.

After learning the truth, Chen Guangrui was about to order the yamen officials to arrest the mad monk, but then he thought that it was getting late and this was a private matter of his own household, so he decided to postpone it until he went to the yamen the next day to give the order.

However, Chen Liuer still needs to be educated!
You can get away with shaving your own head, but how could you drag your brother along to get a haircut too?

Xu Qing casually entered the study, and when he saw the small stool in the corner, he was reminded of the young master Shang who had married into the Gu family.

It remains to be seen whether the situation in Jingzhou has changed under Shang Shaoyang's efforts.
In the study, Xu Qing was visibly stunned after receiving the first edition of the childcare manual.

The seemingly ordinary booklet before me seemed to have undergone some kind of transformation.

When Xu Qing's palms touched, the feeling was strangely similar to being connected by blood.

Xu Qing vaguely sensed the strong desire for incense offerings from the conservation manual, to the point that even the incense offerings in his Blood Lake Dharma Realm began to stir.

Leaving the study, Xu Qing strode towards the county magistrate's mansion, not even having time to ask Chen Liuer about the azure scale.

Upon arriving outside the mansion, Xu Qing could no longer suppress the excitement in his heart. He summoned a wisp of blood lake incense and attached it to the conservation manual.

The next moment, the conservation manual spontaneously combusted without wind. When the manual turned to ashes, a book appeared floating above the Blood Lake in Xu Qing's Blood Lake Dharma Realm.

On the cover of the book were three large gilded characters that read—

The Living Man's Guide.

(End of this chapter)