Zuo Zuo held up her plump little hand and hiccuped in rebuttal. After she finished speaking, she quickly withdrew her hand and clung tightly to his leg, gently swaying it. “Master, please don’t drive...Kowloon Peak, San Qing Guan.
The Taoist temple stood tall and imposing, but its sides were lined with withered yellow leaves. The air was silent all around, yet a plaintive cry suddenly pierced the stillness.
"Master, please don't drive me down the mountain. I can't bear to leave you. Please, master!"
Inside the main hall, Zhouzhou sat on the ground, using both her hands and feet to tightly hold onto Li Yuanming's legs. The little girl's forehead was smooth, but she wore a worn-out Taoist robe that had been washed white and was patched up everywhere, making her look like a little beggar.
At this moment, she looked up at Li Yuanming, letting out a dry wail with her mouth wide open, trying hard to squeeze out a few tears. Her chubby face was full of sadness, and she stared at him pitifully with her lips pursed.
"Don't cry, I just want you to go down the mountain and gain some experience. It's not that I want to get rid of you." Seeing her little apprentice crying so pitifully, Li Yuanming also felt a pang of sympathy. His gaze fell on her shiny scalp, he touched it gently, and then looked regretful and remorseful.
If only he had known, he wouldn't have fought with the bald donkey next door over his apprentice!
No wonder when he went to rob people at first, they readily handed over their belongings. The abbot even made him swear that he wouldn't return them. He thought it was because the temple wasn't popular and couldn't afford to support the children. At the time, he ridiculed them mercilessly.
Only now do I realize, Zuo Zuo is actually born to be poor!
After the old monk took back ZuoZuo from the cradle, three years later, the once bustling temple had become deserted.
And their Dao Guan, having taken her back, was nearly bankrupt in just a year.
On the contrary, this year, the temple next door, after she left, gradually regained its former prosperity.
Recalling the past, Li Yuanming sighed with heartache and shook his head. His gaze fell on his younger brother holding a cracked bowl in his hands. The rice soup inside contained only a few scattered grains of rice. His resolve strengthened, he suppressed the urge to hug his young apprentice and comfort him, instead hardening his face and saying, "No, you're grown up now. It's time for you to go down the mountain."
“I’m not very big, I’m only four years old.” Zuo Zuo held up her plump little hand and hiccuped in rebuttal. After she finished speaking, she quickly withdrew her hand and clung tightly to his leg, gently swaying it. “Master, please don’t drive me away, okay I promise I’ll never steal food again.”
Li Yuanming was swayed by her and nearly tripped, he steadied himself and said with a firm face: "No!"
"You've said this countless times, next time you'll cheat again."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhou felt a little guilty. She touched her stomach and pouted pitifully, "But I'm hungry."
"We're hungry too!" Li Yuanming said emotionally, "You eat five meals a day, eight bowls per meal. You're going to eat us all out of house and home!"
"That's fine, if we run out of money, we can just earn more. But you're obsessed with money! Even if we earn a fortune, it won't help. Not even our ancestors' incense is burning anymore!"
"Your elder and younger brothers have all gone down the mountain to work, yet they can't even support you. If you don't come down the mountain, tomorrow we'll have to go begging for food together!"
Upon hearing these words, Zuo Zuo felt even more guilty and whispered, "Master, is there no room for discussion"
Li Yuanming shook his head.
Seeing this, Zuo Zuo pouted her lips and drooped her small head, listlessly leaning against his leg, her ears drooping as well, just like a discarded puppy.
"Alright, then I'll go down the mountain. Whether I become a beggar or starve on the streets in the future, it won't drag my master down. It's even better to become a spirit, that way I can stay by my master's side forever and not have to eat."
Saying that, she wiped her eyes with her sleeve, looking sad yet strong.
Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a pang of sadness. He sighed softly and patted her head, "Don't be afraid, Master has already contacted your Mingtong master uncle. He is doing well now, follow him, and you won't go hungry."
"Besides, haven't you always wanted your master's Universe Mirror Here, take it as a parting gift."
Saying that, he took out a copper mirror from his bosom and handed it to her.
Zuo Zuo's ears twitched quietly, her eyeballs following suit. She didn't lift her head, still appearing heartbroken and sad, her shoulders shaking with sobs as she cried even louder.
Li Yuanming gritted his teeth, "I'm also giving you the Xiao Yao Ding."
"Okay!" Zuozuo's sobs stopped abruptly. Her hands and feet relaxed, and she sprang to her feet in a flash. A brilliant smile spread across her face, erasing all trace of tears. "Thank you, Master. I'll go pack my things now."
After finishing, he took small strides and ran towards the room.
Li Yuanming looked at her back, and nowhere did he expect that he had just been tricked by this little girl. He was so angry that he blew his beard and stared, angrily shouting: "Traitor!"
The junior disciple chuckled and said, "Well, this thing you were going to give to Zhou Zhou anyway. Besides, your alchemy and divination aren't as good as Zhou Zhou's. Keeping it here would be useless. It's better to use it to its full potential."
Li Yuanming snorted and said stubbornly, "Who says I'm not as good as her I am her master!"
The younger brother smiled at him, not pointing it out, smiling but saying nothing.
Back then, all the skilled brothers went down the mountain to make a fortune. He was just too inexperienced, so he was left behind as the temple caretaker.
Li Yuanming also thought of this, awkwardly rubbed his nose, mumbled a word, and walked toward the back.
Originally, if it wasn't for her extraordinary aptitude and being a rare prodigy in the mystical arts that appeared once every thousand years, he wouldn't have fought to take her away. He certainly wouldn't have ended up in this predicament today.
Those monks didn't even tell him about this, bald heads are just full of tricks!
He grumbled to himself.
In a short while, Zhouzhou came out. Her shiny bald head was plastered with fortune charms, three copper coins hung around her neck, a gourd tucked at one side of her waist, and a large pixiu ornament, carved by herself, hung on the other side. It was ugly beyond description, but its only redeeming quality was its size.
All the items were meant to attract wealth, but she was born with a poor financial destiny. Whenever fortune gathered around her, it would dissipate completely upon contact, rendering them utterly useless.
Seeing her outfit, Li Yuanming twitched the corner of his mouth, "Zuo Zuo, you were born to be poor, you have no luck with money, give up, don't think about it anymore."
Zuo Zuo shook her head, carrying a burden on her shoulders that was bigger than her. "No way," she said, "Big Brother said my fate is in my own hands, not the heavens'. As long as I work hard, I can definitely make money. When I earn money, I'll give it all to the Daoist Temple!"
Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a touch of emotion. Sometimes his apprentice was a bit of a prankster, but he was still thoughtful.
He walked over and handed her a dusty statue, which looked exactly like the people in the main hall.
"Good disciple, since you are so eager, Master will now entrust you with the important task of restoring the Daoist temple. Come on, Master believes in you!"
Zuo Zuo lowered her head, curiously looking at the statue in her hands, and asked strangely, "Master, what did you make this ancestor statue for me And where is the golden light on the ancestor"
When she was young, she saw the ancestral tablet in her master's room, shimmering with gold. It was so beautiful! How come it now looks so dusty and worn
"What do you think" Li Yuanming gave her a resentful glance.
Zuo Zuo instantly reacted, it must be because of her "poverty destiny" again.
The Taoist temple is in decline, the ancestral master has no incense offerings, wouldn't that be the result
She gave a wry smile and hurriedly hugged the statue close. "Master, please rest assured, I will definitely work hard to earn money and restore Grandmaster's former glory!"
Li Yuanming glanced at her, knowing that it was impossible for someone in such dire financial straits to achieve what he desired. But he didn't discourage her, saying, "The incense business isn't something the master forces upon you. As long as you can eat, that's enough. After you descend the mountain, if you encounter anything that needs help, lend a hand. Do many good deeds, earn some merit for the ancestral master, and that will be sufficient. It's also beneficial to yourself, improving your financial situation."
Hearing this, Zhuzhu's eyes lit up, and she nodded solemnly, "Mmm, Master, I remember!"
Looking at his little apprentice's tear-filled eyes, Li Yuanming felt a twinge of reluctance. In the end, he patted her shoulder and said, "Go down the mountain. Remember to find your master Mingtong, he will take care of you."
"Okay." Zuo Zuo pulled his hand, looking at him with reluctance. "Master, you have to take care of yourself too. When I earn enough money, I'll come back to see you."
"Well, go on then. It'll be dark soon."
"Hmm." Zhouzhou nodded, taking three steps back for every one step forward. Watching this, Li Yuanming felt a pang of sadness.
If the Daoist temple wasn't on the verge of collapsing, he wouldn't have been willing to let his junior disciple leave.
I just hope she has a smooth journey.
After she could no longer see them, Zuo Zuo retracted her gaze and ran quickly. She arrived at the foot of the mountain in no time, tiptoed up on her toes, and stretched her neck to look at the scenery outside. A smile couldn't help but appear on her lips, and two dimples appeared on her chubby cheeks as well, sweet and lovely.
It's great, I finally made it down the mountain.
I'd heard from Seventh Brother long ago about how many delicious and fun things there were down in the mountains, and I'd been craving them ever since.
She finally got a chance to experience it.
Thinking about it, her smile became even brighter, and she walked forward with light steps. Just a few steps in, she suddenly realized that there was a crowd of people gathered ahead, buzzing excitedly.
Then someone shouted, "Doctor! Is there a doctor! Help our old lady!", looking sad yet strong.Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a pang of sadness. He sighed softly and patted her head, "Don't be afraid, Master has already contacted your Mingtong master uncle. He is doing...