Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 23: More money! We absolutely have to pay more! [Seeking monthly votes]

After Gongsun Da Niang finished speaking, she stood up and gave Zhou Yi a deep curtsy:

"Thank you, Daoist Master, for saving me from this calamity. Your recommendation to worship the Great Emperor of Mount Tai was absolutely right. All obstacles have been cleared away. From now on, I will pray for the God of Mount Tai every day!"

Emperor of the Eastern Peak?

Zhou Yi then realized that the girl had left in a state of great fear and trepidation. He had taken her to the Dongyue Temple to pray and had lied to her that the Dongyue Emperor would handle the matter.

Now, after hearing what Granny Gongsun had to say, even Zhou Yi himself was confused.

I was just trying to make this girl happy, but it felt like the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak had really appeared.
He couldn't figure out the intricacies of the situation and decided to observe more closely in the future, as logic and dialectics require verification from multiple perspectives.

Just as he was pondering this, Aunt Gongsun started clamoring for spicy hot pot. Zhou Yi stopped carrying bricks, got up and went to the kitchen to cook, and reminded the girl to come earlier next time, otherwise he wouldn't take her to the county town.

The word "play" immediately ignited Gongsun Da Niang's enthusiasm. She had just finished eating when she started clamoring to go back so as not to delay her next visit to Hunyuan Palace.

A few days later, after the statue of the God of Wealth was enshrined, Sun Chenglin drove the statue of Zhao Gongming, the God of War and Wealth, to the shop. Before leaving, he gave Zhou Yi a large red envelope containing three thousand yuan.

With increasing income, Zhou Yi's anxiety about poverty finally eased somewhat.

Soon, the day arrived for the lobster restaurant to open.

Early in the morning, Wu Meiniang, dressed in a blue Taoist robe, arrived at Hunyuan Palace, bringing news that Li Jing's health was gradually improving.
"Upon seeing the telescope, the old general was overjoyed, saying that with this device, he would be able to command the army and control battlefield intelligence more easily. He even wanted to find a small country to conquer and experience the feeling of using the telescope."

Zhou Yi listened with deep emotion.

As expected of an old general who has fought a lifetime of battles, he gets excited whenever he sees a treasure that can help in the war.

It seems that the extra bit of merit gained will belong to General Li. I wonder if I'll get a share of the merit when he conquers a small country in the future.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yi said:
"Today I'm going to the county to see what medical equipment we can buy, so we can try to improve the old general's health."

As they were chatting, Chen Tang and Aunt Gongsun arrived one after the other.

Zhou Yi took out the newly bought blue Taoist robe, and Chen Tang went back to his room to change into it. The general who originally made the Western Regions countries tremble with fear instantly became a melee mage whose muscles could burst through the Taoist robe.

Lady Gongsun put on a red robe and tied her hair with a red lotus crown, looking at herself in the mirror from left to right:

"Master, since I am a Taoist priest, I should have a Taoist name, shouldn't I?"

Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said:
“Meiniang is the Peony Fairy, and your red outfit resembles a pomegranate, so let’s call you the Pomegranate Fairy.”

Hearing that she was called a fairy alongside the Empress, Gongsun Da Niang was very happy. She secretly glanced at Wu Meiniang and was relieved to find that the Empress did not blame her.

Chen Tang tied up his hair, put on his crescent-shaped crown, and asked for his Daoist name:
"Sir, am I not suitable to be called a fairy or something like that?"

Zhou Yi smiled and said:

"If you like money, then let's just call you the Money-Grubbing Taoist Priest. Anyway, today is just a formality; the main thing is to eat crayfish."

Chen Tang felt it wasn't domineering enough:

"Isn't this title a bit too frivolous?"

Wu Zetian explained with a smile:

"It's not child's play. Taoism allows people to enter the Tao in various forms. It's not unreasonable for a general to enter the Tao through wealth. Money is an important part of national stability. Understanding the great Tao through money is indeed a form of spiritual practice."

Upon hearing this, Chen Tang immediately took a liking to his title.

With everyone ready, Zhou Yi began packing the ritual implements he needed to obtain.

Such rituals, which require setting up an altar for business openings, celebrations, and prayers, are called "Zhaijiao" rituals in Taoism. The rituals require a full range of ritual implements, including but not limited to more than a dozen items such as a magic sword, a token, a magic seal, a wood for suppressing the altar, the Three Pure Ones bell, the Heavenly Canopy Ruler, the Bagua Mirror, and the Sweet Dew Bowl.

The process is roughly the same as when inviting Zhao Gongming, but it is more complicated, including but not limited to setting up an altar, offering sacrifices, burning incense, ascending the altar, drawing talismans, chanting incantations, beating drums, lighting the incense burner, summoning the deity, welcoming the spirit, presenting memorials, reciting scriptures, praising, and proclaiming the words. It is also accompanied by music and steps, and is very particular.

Zhou Yi had performed rituals with his grandfather in the past, so he was quite familiar with the procedures.

He wasn't under much pressure to open the business, but the possessed person felt that they should be fully prepared, so when packing the box with magical artifacts, they stuffed in powerful magical artifacts such as the money sword, peach wood sword, soul-destroying nail, and ghost-suppressing talisman without missing a single one.

All his fear stemmed from a lack of firepower, so he took all the magical artifacts he could carry... Whether he could make money or not was another matter, but at least he had to ensure his own safety.

Even when the box was full, he was still a little uneasy, so he simply opened the cabinet, took out the Tai Chi sword left by his grandfather, and had the Pomegranate Fairy, Granny Gongsun, hold it.

If anything unexpected happens, simply drawing the sword will solve everything. Chen Tang, unfamiliar with martial arts, assumed these were essential, but Wu Meiniang said:

“Last year, when the Imperial Preceptor Yuan prayed for the Tang Dynasty, he didn’t use so many magical artifacts. Isn’t the Immortal Master being overly cautious?”

Zhou Yi smiled:
"It's better to be cautious. I'd rather never use any of these things than regret it later."

Once everything was ready, he rode his motorcycle down the mountain, drove Sun Erfa's van up the mountain, loaded it up, and then took Chen Tang, Wu Meiniang, and Gongsun Daniang down the mountain.

Chen Tang and Gongsun Da Niang had never been down the mountain before, and they thought that people outside dressed the same as in ancient times. When they saw modern people, they were so amazed that they wanted to press their faces against the car window to see them.

Wu Zetian fared somewhat better, but not by much. It was her first time riding in a car, and everything seemed new and exciting.

Especially after leaving Yunwu Town, Zhou Yi increased the car speed to eighty. At this speed, she felt both nervous and inexplicably excited.

Chen Tang was so excited he yelled:
"This thing is so fast; if it could be transported to the Han Dynasty, we could definitely wipe out the Xiongnu!"

The Book of Changes says:

“The roads over there aren’t very good. If a vehicle like this drives over there, it will most likely get stuck in the mud… Infrastructure development isn’t something that can be done overnight; it takes time.”

Upon arriving in the county town, the sight of those twenty- or thirty-story high-rise buildings left the group of old-fashioned country bumpkins dazzled.

Wu Meiniang had a lot to say, Gongsun Da Niang wondered if she felt dizzy standing on the roof, and Chen Tang thought that if a building were built in Chang'an, any movement within a hundred miles could be seen.

While waiting at the traffic light, Zhou Yi asked:

"What are your impressions of visiting the county seat for the first time?"

Wu Zetian pursed her lips:

"I thought I understood this world, but after coming here I realized that I was just a frog in a well."

Gongsun Da Niang secretly regretted it:

"If I had known this place was so much fun, I wouldn't have hidden in Hunyuan Palace those few days."

Chen Tang's mind was always on war and money; he wasn't interested in these kinds of topics.

Zhou Yi drove his car, turning left and right, until he arrived at the county town's commercial street. He parked his car in front of a crayfish restaurant, where red flags were waving and drums were beating.

Upon seeing Zhou Yi, Sun Chenglin quickly came over to greet him:

"Master Yi, when does the ceremony begin? There aren't many people watching right now. Can we make a big commotion to attract people over?"

"How about I give you a lightning strike? That would be quite a spectacle..." Zhou Yi muttered to himself, pondering Sun Chenglin's request.

People these days are no longer interested in grand opening ceremonies. Even if they give out eggs on the spot, it only attracts some elderly people. Young people simply don't care to participate.

What should I get?
Just as she was worrying, Granny Gongsun, holding a Tai Chi sword, came over and said with a smile:

"Master, your sword is truly magnificent. Shall I demonstrate my swordsmanship? I haven't practiced my skills lately, so I'll take advantage of this space to show off my skills."

In front of the lobster restaurant was a large square paved with bricks. As soon as Aunt Gongsun saw this kind of place, her desire to perform was immediately aroused.

Zhou Yi didn't want to agree, because the Tai Chi sword was the real thing.

But then I thought, Gongsun Da Niang is someone who could even conquer Li Bai and Du Fu, so she must have a high level of skill in wielding a sword. Maybe this performance could actually attract a crowd of viewers.

He said:
"Sure, give it a try. Do you need any music?"

"A drum will suffice!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Tang took out the large drum from the cart and began to beat the military drum.

Gongsun Da Niang drew her Tai Chi sword and began to dance to the rhythm. Her graceful figure, paired with the Tai Chi sword that shone like autumn water, truly resembled what Du Fu described:
Swift as Yi shooting down nine suns, graceful as emperors riding dragons in flight;
It comes like thunder, then subsides with fury; it departs like the calm waters of a still river!
Gongsun Da Niang danced alone, filling the entire small square with sword light. Her exquisite dance quickly attracted many passersby, who all took out their phones to film her.

Sun Chenglin was overjoyed. He had only said it casually, but he never expected Zhou Yi to have prepared such a surprise.

We must give Master Yi more money!
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Second update delivered, please give me double monthly votes, brothers!
(End of this chapter)