Ask about the Immortal Way

When the boat arrived at the dock, Qin Sang also listened to the old man telling many stories about Taoist Ji Xin.

The Qingyang Temple in Cuiming Mountain was prosperous at first, but then gradually declined. The Taoist priests in the temple left one after another, leaving only a few old Taoists, who gradually died of old age.

The Taoist temple has not been repaired and is becoming more and more dilapidated and overgrown with weeds. If it were not for Taoist Ji Xin, within a few years, only the ruins of Qingyang Temple would be left.

What is most popular about Taoist Ji Xin is not his identity as a contemplative master, but his benevolence and righteousness.

After he took over Qingyang Temple with a young disciple, he did not ask for incense. Instead, he went to the mountains every day to collect medicines and give them to the poor to cure their diseases.

Some people have injuries from falls, wind, cold, dampness or heat, and they just ask to come to the door. Taoist Master Ji Xin will treat them attentively. The medical skills may not be very good, but the consultation fee is very low.

If he really didn't have money, he could keep accounts, but if he didn't pay it back for three to five years, he wouldn't ask for it. His reputation gradually spread, and with his identity as the master of Qingyang Temple, he got the title of a living god.

The old man parked the boat in front of the pier, and while helping Qin Sang off the boat, he persuaded him: "Brother Qin's leg injury is not serious. The living gods will definitely help you diagnose and treat it. But Cuiming Mountain is between Sanwu City and the ferry. You can go there from here." It’s a ten-mile journey, and we have to walk on a mountain road. Brother Qin needs to hire a car, but I know a few rickshaw drivers, so I can guarantee that the price will be fair..."

Qin Sang declined the old man's kindness. Under the disappointed eyes of the old man, he limped into the crowd with a wooden stick.

Walking in the crowd, hearing accents from all over the world, Qin Sang secretly thought that Sanwu City was indeed well-deserved.

Affected by his leg injury, Qin Sang stopped and walked, which really made him hear the accent of his hometown. Looking over, he saw a few people wearing silk and satin on the shore directing the workers to load goods on the ship.

Watching them load a cargo and sail away from the river bank, Qin Sang turned around resolutely and walked into a restaurant without saying a word.

After eating the delicious river fish and river delicacies, Qin Sang sat on the second floor, enjoying the river breeze, holding a tea cup and looking out the window at the vast river surface and the busy beings, and was lost in thought for a while.

"Store, check out!"

Qin Sang took out a piece of broken silver and watched the shopkeeper weigh it with his hands. He held the found copper coins and asked, "Thank you, shopkeeper, I want to go to Sanwu City. Where can I hire a carriage?"

The shopkeeper looked at Qin Sang and pointed out the door, "Go straight west along this street. At the end, there are more than a dozen car dealerships crowded together. They are all doing serious business. Most of them go to Sanwu City and other places. Carriage at Grand Ferry.”

Maybe Qin Sang ate too much, so the shopkeeper kindly reminded him, "These days... it's best for the young master not to go on the road alone. It's cheaper to hire a car with a few people."

From the first intersection to Sanwu City, the terrain goes up all the way. Several major ferries have to take this road to enter the city. There are many pedestrians on the road, the road is wide and smooth, and the carriage is not bumpy.

Qin Sang got off the car at the foot of Cuiming Mountain and looked up at the mountain in front of him. The road on the mountain looked a bit dangerous, and his legs and feet were not very flexible, so he felt a little scared.

There are undulating mountains on both sides of the Wuling River. Cuiming Mountain is just one peak in this long mountain range and is not very conspicuous among the mountains.

However, Cuiming Mountain has its own unique elegance and charm. Nestled among the dense forests on the mountain, there are sometimes the cornices of some temples and towers sticking out, and occasionally the long sound of bells echoes in the mountains and forests, clarifying people's hearts.

Qin Sang heard several legends about the monsters and spirits in Cuiming Mountain from the coachman. He didn't know whether these temples and Taoist temples chose Cuiming Mountain because of various legends, or whether they had these legends after they came.

Qin Sang reluctantly climbed to the halfway point and met several people who were going to Qingyang Temple for medical treatment. With their help, they reached Qingyang Temple halfway up the back mountain.

Qin Sang stood in front of the gate of Qingyang Temple, leaning on his stick.

The size of the Taoist temple is indeed quite large. The Taoist temple is surrounded by a large bamboo forest. The afternoon sun is not too hot, but the bamboo leaves are rustling and the cool breeze is blowing.

Because the mountain is steep, you can see the edges of the floors inside even if you stand outside the temple. The architectural style is similar to the Taoist temples Qin Sang saw in his previous life, but they are both very dilapidated. Broken roof tiles can be seen everywhere, and the thatch under the tiles is everywhere. The clusters are exposed, and it is estimated that there are few that are not leaking.

Standing outside, you can hear the voices inside, and there are quite a few people.

Qin Sang moved in step by step along the bluestone steps. The stone strips on the door lintel were engraved with the words "Qingyang Temple". Two decayed wooden doors hung diagonally on both sides, and the door knockers above were covered with rust.

The entrance is a large courtyard with haystacks, donkey pens, ancient wells, windlass, millstones and stone mortars. There are two large gardens. The small one is used to grow vegetables, and the large one is planted with things that Qin Sang doesn't recognize. They are probably herbs.

There are a few high steps at the back of the courtyard, and there is a main hall on top. It is the largest and most magnificent hall in the entire Qingyang Temple, and it is also the best-renovated.

There is a wooden plaque on the main hall, which reads in bold characters - Qingyang Hall. The paint on the characters is almost peeling off.

No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t look like a place where gods live.

Qin Sang sighed secretly and was about to go in. Three people pushed the door open and came out. Two men in ragged clothes were holding a pale old woman. They turned their heads and thanked her as they walked out, promising to give away the medical fees next month. Come.

Qin Sang knew that there really were gods in this world and did not dare to be disrespectful. His expression naturally became solemn and he walked into the Qingyang Hall quietly.

The main hall is empty, and the paintings on the walls are peeled off and mottled, and it is impossible to see what was originally painted.

Only the three statues in the main hall are as colorful as new, and the paintwork and carvings are extremely exquisite.

A stick of incense was burning on the altar table, the smoke curled up, and the room was filled with sweet fragrance.

There is a long table and two cabinets on the side of the offering table, one filled with medicine and the other filled with scriptures. Behind the long table, a skinny old Taoist sits as straight as a pine tree, taking the pulse of an old man.

The old Taoist's hair and beard are all white, his face does not look old, his eyes are particularly bright and scorching, and his long snow-white beard hangs down to his chest. He really has an air of immortality. He was wearing a green robe, which had been washed a little white but was very clean.

On his right hand is a pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and on his left hand is a medicine box, as well as strange tools such as a medicine hoe, cinnabar, yellow paper, and a sign tube.

He must be Taoist Ji Xin, Qin Sang thought to himself.

"Sir, are you here to offer incense or to treat an illness?"

Qin Sang looked over at the sound and saw a young Taoist priest walking out from the crowd waiting for medical treatment. He was about thirteen or fourteen years old. His Taoist robe looked a bit bulky and funny, and he looked fair.

Remembering that the old man punting the boat had said that Taoist Ji Xin had a disciple, Qin Sang smiled and said, "Taoist priest, please be polite. My surname is Qin. I injured my leg the day before yesterday. Please help Taoist priest take a look at it."

The little Taoist priest brought over a small wooden pier and said, "Master Qin, please sit down."

Qin Sang sat down as he was told. The little Taoist priest lifted Qin Sang's injured leg, stretched out his hand to touch the bones, and said: "Mr. Qin, your leg bones are not broken. There may be some bone cracks. Take some bone-nourishing soup." , it won’t take long to recover. If you are not in a hurry, you can sit and wait and let my master take a look at it for you."

Qin Sang came here for the old Taoist priest, so he naturally agreed, "Thank you, little Taoist priest."