You, a monster, still want to travel to the West?

"how?"

"The fields are full of rice and frankincense, but the price of sugar has only doubled. I think someone must be secretly supporting it."

Qingxin nodded. Although the city was dilapidated and the people were not well dressed, they looked like they could still survive.

While they were chatting, someone beside them suddenly asked tentatively: "Little Immortal Master?"

Xia Zhiming and Qing Xin immediately turned their heads and saw a middle-aged man dressed as the City God, wearing a purple robe, jade belt, and a black gauze hat. His face looked somewhat familiar.

Qingxin tilted her head: "Who are you?"

Xia Zhiming's red eyes flashed: "The one who dreamed of the fox girl at night and suddenly felt her penis?"

The City God's face turned bitter: "My humble servant is Li Youcai."

Chapter 131 Buddha? He will never return!

Above the tea stall——

Li Youcai, who had transformed into a scholar, asked the shopkeeper for a pot of hot tea. After adding a bowl of tea to himself, he looked at the man and the snake and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that I would have the chance to meet two immortals again in this life."

Xiao Qingxin picked up her teacup and took a sip, looking at him with a slightly puzzled expression.

On the girl's shoulder, Xia Zhiming also said: "We traveled together in our dreams, how did you remember us?"

When he first brought Qingxin to Anshui County in his dream, he had not yet practiced the "Forty-nine Chapters of the True Scripture of Taoism". Before that, he did not have any magical powers or spells that could make people remember the experiences in their dreams.

Across from him, Li Youcai heard the question and, though puzzled, he still answered honestly, "It was a dream that day. I felt like an immortal was touching my head. I still remember the half-year dream vividly. I don't know the specific reason."

Xia Zhiming nodded after hearing this, and probably knew the reason -

Li Youcai was troubled by the construction of the water diversion canal. After Xia Zhiming gave him some advice in his dream, things finally took a turn for the better. It was probably some saint who took a look at him and gave him some advice out of kindness.

As for who it is, it’s hard to say.

Huang Jiao Daxian has the greatest motivation to benefit the people.

If you can't let it go, it's possible that Lingbao Tianzun is also wrong.

If you can’t let go, Guanyin Bodhisattva is the most motivating.

The rest include Bodhi Patriarch who watches over his disciples, the compassionate Hou Tu Emperor, and the Gou Chen Emperor who controls the three talents...

In short, the saints are really more idle and capable than each other. Anyway, Xia Zhiming is too lazy to continue to delve into such meaningless things.

At this moment, Qing Xin didn't think too much about it. She pointed at the houses in the city, which were even worse than they were five hundred years ago, and asked in confusion: "Why has the city become like this?"

Across from him, Li Youcai heard this and shook his head, saying, "It's a long story. If you think about it, the blame will ultimately fall on me."

Xia Zhiming teased: "Are you still a corrupt official?"

"He embezzled a lot of money."

"I guess he became a high-ranking official in the end?"

Li Youcai saluted and said, "I am not talented, but I have been promoted to Grand Tutor."

Xiao Qingxin looked at the white snake on his shoulder and asked doubtfully, "Zhiming, is this official very important?"

"He is one of the Three Dukes, a first-rank official. You can probably understand him as the Three Pure Ones of the Mortal Dynasty."

Xiao Qingxin was stunned when she heard this, and looked at Li Youcai opposite her and said in surprise: "You are so amazing!"

Li Youcai's face turned bitter: "I am a corrupt official. I feel guilty accepting such incense, let alone comparing myself to the Three Pure Ones."

Xia Zhiming laughed and said, "The word 'official' has two mouths. You have to feed the small mouth on top so that the big mouth on the bottom can be full. Then people who understand will naturally not blame you."

Li Youcai sighed: "I haven't seen you for many years, and you are still so insightful..."

Xia Zhiming nodded, then pointed to the people in the city, who were dressed even more simply than before, and changed the subject: "So, what is the situation now? You said the blame is on you, but what did you do?"

Across from him, Li Youcai sighed and then began to tell the story—

Let’s talk about five hundred years ago.

After Li Youcai's dream, he began to make arrangements. He also learned the lessons from the construction in the dream and hired craftsmen to compare and draw day and night. After some work, he finally completed the task of digging the canal and diverting water beautifully.

With this achievement and Xia Zhiming's guidance, Li Youcai adhered to the style of being both greedy and efficient throughout his life, and his career was prosperous all the way.

After he returned home in glory, Li Youcai naturally became a celebrity in Anshui County because of his former high position.

Later, some people came to ask for advice and a strategy to get rich.

Li Youcai was knowledgeable and after some thought, he took advantage of the good water and fields in Anshui County and instructed the people to start planting storax trees.

You must know that the frankincense tree has a unique wonder, which is the balsam in the tree. It has a unique fragrance and can be used as medicine, to kill insects, to make ointments, and to make fragrant oils. Although it is not as valuable as gold, one pound of balsam is more than enough to exchange for thirty-two taels of silver.

Cutting trees to extract resin is a business with no capital investment. After receiving his guidance, the people in the city became wealthy within ten years. The reputation of Anshui County also spread along with the resin, and it was even praised by the king, who bestowed the name of Mintian County.

After Li Youcai grew old, the people in the county directly placed his spirit tablet in the City God Temple.

Having said that, Li Youcai took a sip of the tea in his bowl, then slammed the bowl down on the table and angrily cursed, "How unpredictable things are in this world!"

After cursing, Li Youcai continued to narrate——

The people finally had money, but what followed was not a wealthy life, but rounds of plunder.

Balsam is precious, so the tax is naturally set very high. In addition to miscellaneous taxes, the court also collects a lot of balsam. With less income, the people naturally plant more trees.

However, trees will die, and the conditions required are very simple: a locust plague.

As for the money in the hands of the people, they would naturally give it all away after the merchants raised the price of grain while they had no surplus grain.

What happened next was that the people went bankrupt one after another, and wealthy businessmen who heard the news bought large tracts of fertile land. From then on, the fertile land of Mintian County had nothing to do with the people anymore.

This is not the end. The rich also need to spend their money, and some of it could have fallen into the hands of the common people. However, about four hundred years ago, the Buddhas descended to the neighboring Jinping Prefecture, and the emperor regarded it as a good omen, so he issued an imperial decree, requiring Mintian County to provide 1,500 kilograms of frankincense oil annually!

From now on, no matter whether they are big or small families, no one in Mintian County can expect to have a good life.

At this point, Li Youcai angrily cursed: "Mintian County was rich because of trees, but in the end it became poor because of trees. How sad!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qingxin tapped her lips with her finger and frowned, saying, "I seem to have heard this before."

Xia Zhiming tapped her cheek, pointed in the direction of the Yong'an River outside the city, and said with a smile: "Five hundred years ago, someone said: Anshui County, born by the water, and died by the water."

"Zhiming, why are you laughing?"

"Since it's the Buddha who's causing the trouble, then go ask where that evil Buddha came from. Why think so much?"

"Zhiming, you are so brave!"

"Even if the Tathagata Buddha himself came, the so-called Buddhas today are all evil Buddhas. What do you think?"

"Hmph! I want to hit him!"

Xia Zhiming nodded in satisfaction. Although he already knew what was going on after hearing the whole story, he didn't mind following Li Youcai's words. After all, the Buddha certainly wasn't in the mood to beat him up.

Across from him, Li Youcai overheard the conversation between the man and the snake. After a moment's thought, he bowed and reminded them, "I know the immortal has good intentions, but this place is at the foot of the sacred mountain..."

Xia Zhiming flicked his tail and said, "Cricket Buddha, would my Qingxin Patriarch be afraid of this?"

Xiao Qingxin nodded in response: "Yeah!"

Zen Master Wuchao: "Friends of immortality should be truly kind."

Xia Zhiming:!!!!!!

Xiao Qingxin:!!!!!!

Chapter 132 The Story in the Buddha's Eyes

Xia Zhiming: What should I do if I talk behind someone's back and the person who is talking hears me?

Xiao Qingxin looked at the Zen Master Wuchao who suddenly appeared, blinked her eyes, and looked innocent.

Li Youcai looked at the Zen Master Wuchao who quietly sat down at the table. After thinking for a moment, he bowed and said, "May I ask your name, Master?"

"My name is Wuchao."

Zen Master Wuchao clasped his hands together, looked at the man and the snake, and said jokingly: "Why don't you say anything, my friend?"

Xia Zhiming spat out his snake tongue and said, "Master, I apologize now, can we let this go?"

Zen Master Wuchao smiled and said, "No."

Xia Zhiming shrank his head and hid in Qingxin's arms. Little Qingxin touched the white snake's tail, blinked, and said softly: "Master, please don't bully Zhiming."

Looking at Xia Zhiming, who was acting like a coward, and Xiao Qingxin, who was deliberately trying to be cute, Master Wu Chao said with a smile, "What are your plans for the Buddha's auspicious arrival in Jinping Prefecture?"

Xiao Qingxin didn't hesitate and said directly: "I want to beat them."

Hearing the Zen Master talking about serious matters, Xia Zhiming no longer pretended to be timid. After thinking for a while, he asked tentatively: "The Zen Master has lived in Lingshan for a long time. I think he knows about this matter. I wonder what the Zen Master saw?"

Zen Master Wu Chao looked across at Li Youcai, who was horrified by what he heard. He thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "What ordinary people see is like looking at a leopard through a tube, not seeing the whole picture. My view is different from yours. Are you willing to listen?"

The two men and the snake nodded: "I'd like to hear more."

Zen Master Wuchao smiled and nodded, then continued to tell the story -

Eight hundred years ago, there were three rhinoceroses in the West Sea. They had astronomical appearances, one hole, three hairs and two horns, all of which were noble.

Over the years, these three rhinos achieved enlightenment and were able to fly on clouds and walk on fog, travel in rivers and seas, and were good at opening waterways. Therefore, they were able to ward off cold, heat, and dust, and called themselves the king.

These three rhinoceros spirits are very fond of cleanliness. They often feel that their own shadows are too obvious, so they have to go into the water to bathe every day.

About four hundred years ago, the three monsters were in a Buddhist temple at the foot of Lingshan Mountain. They smelled the fragrant oil offered by believers, stole the oil and tasted it, only to find the unique fragrance was so strong that even after they wiped their bodies with it, a faint fragrance remained.

So, after consultation, the three rhinos went to Jinping Prefecture, disguised themselves as Buddha statues and made a deal with the officials - if the believers offered 1,500 kilograms of butter, fragrant oil and other delicacies every year, they would ensure good weather in the entire Qingshan County.

The star gods in heaven knew about this, the Buddha in Lingshan knew about it, and the Dragon King in the sea knew about it, but no one cared.

Since then, Mintian County has suffered.

At this point, Zen Master Wuchao looked at Li Youcai at the table and asked, "In the past four hundred years, has Qingshan County ever experienced drought or irregular weather?"

"No……"

"Do you think it's worth it?"

"..."

Li Youcai sighed helplessly upon hearing this - if providing for the suffering of the people in just one county could guarantee good weather and good harvests in nearly a hundred counties under the prefecture, he would have made the same decision without hesitation even when he was still the Grand Tutor.

At this time, Xiao Qingxin asked doubtfully: "It's not difficult to have good weather and good harvests, is it really worth it?"

Li Youcai sighed: "It's worth it."

Xia Zhiming spat out the snake letter: "It's worth it."

Zen Master Wu Chao shook his head and said, "It's worth it."

Xiao Qingxin frowned when she heard the three people's opinions that were different from hers, and could only pinch Xia Zhiming's tail.

Seeing her like this, Xia Zhiming said, "It's certainly not difficult to have good weather and good harvests, but we're in Heaven. If we want it to rain, we have to report it to the Jade Emperor. This is the law of Heaven. If a monster is willing to do this, it's indeed a good thing. Heaven, Lingshan, and the Dragon King all know about this, but no one is doing anything about it. That's why."

He once drew out the clouds and mist from the Qingxin Glazed Lamp and cast a spell to make it rain for the Lion Country. The rain from that rain entered the soil as soon as it met the ground, and dispersed when it met any living creatures. This was to avoid violating the rules of heaven. Although it was not a big deal, he didn't mind spending a little more effort on it.

Beside him, Xiao Qingxin couldn't help but frown when she heard this, and said with a pout: "The Heavenly Rules are so troublesome."

"Without rules, there will be no order. This is a difficult task even for the Great Heavenly Venerable."

"Hmph~!"

Xiao Qingxin snorted and looked at Master Wuchao. After a flicker in his eyes, he said pitifully, "In that case, can't we take care of those three rhinoceros monsters?"

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Wuchao looked at the white snake on the girl's shoulder and smiled without saying a word.

Xia Zhiming couldn't help but rubbed the girl's cheek and said with a smile: "Qingxin, are you unhappy?"

"Zhiming, I want to beat them."

"Then go."

“They didn’t do anything wrong…”

Xia Zhiming spat out his snake tongue and said jokingly: "Who said that? My Qingxin said he was wrong, so he was wrong."

Xiao Qingxin rolled her eyes at him, and after a moment's thought, she tentatively asked Master Wu Chao, "How about I go beat them up and make them charge less for the balsam in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Wu Chao chuckled and praised: "Amitabha, little donor, make your own decision. Just don't miss the auspicious time of the Ullambana Festival..."

After saying this, Zen Master Wuchao stood up from the tea stall and slowly walked out of the city. Soon he disappeared in the crowd.

At the tea stall, Xia Zhiming saw this and complained: "The Zen master is so cool, but in the end he left the matter to us."