Immortal Liu’s words displeased Qin Yining.

How could this person speak with such a mercenary tone? Her eyes were shrewd and her smile was commercial – she didn’t resemble a religious person at all. She was even more like a merchant than Manager Zhong, and a dishonest one at that.

She couldn’t help but worry about Tang Meng. Tang Meng had lived here for half a year – surely she hadn’t been mistreated by this mercenary temple master?

Who would have known that Tang Meng would rush into Immortal Liu’s embrace with a beaming smile, calling out sweetly: “Master.”

“Oh my, it’s Jingzhen! Having not seen you for many days, have you been well?”

“Master, I’ve been very well. Miss Qin has taken me in, and from now on I’ll follow her. She is a person of pure and kind heart who will surely treat me well. Master can set your mind at ease.”

Upon hearing this, Immortal Liu began to size up Qin Yining, who stood behind Duke Dingguo’s wife.

Being stared at by those shrewd, gleaming eyes, Qin Yining felt uncomfortable all over. She always felt that in this person’s eyes, she was being viewed as merchandise waiting to be sold, as if assessing how much money she could fetch.

Immortal Liu stared at Qin Yining, while the young gentleman on the side also looked over casually. His tiger-faced attendant behind him blinked his large eyes, clearly very curious about Duke Dingguo’s wife’s group.

Qin Yining raised her eyes to meet the young gentleman’s gaze and felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

This person looked refined and scholarly – how could he not understand proper etiquette? With ladies present, a truly well-mannered person would avoid the situation even if the temple master didn’t drive them away. How could they keep staring at her instead?

Immortal Liu acted as if she hadn’t noticed and smiled: “This old Taoist nun has a poor memory. Seeing the Old Madam bring such a beautiful young lady, I was so focused on talking that I forgot to ask you to sit. Please, please sit.” As she spoke, she led Duke Dingguo’s wife to sit in a round chair on the right side, directly across from the young gentleman.

Qin Yining respectfully stood behind Duke Dingguo’s wife.

Tang Meng stood beside Immortal Liu along with two other young Taoist nuns, looking intimate as she held onto Immortal Liu’s arm without letting go.

Seeing Tang Meng like this, Qin Yining’s opinion of this mercenary-faced temple master improved somewhat.

Tang Meng wasn’t foolish. If this person had treated her poorly, how could she be so intimate with her? It seemed Immortal Liu might not be a bad person after all. Perhaps she had judged her by appearance based on her own subjective assumptions.

Duke Dingguo’s wife began chatting with Immortal Liu, speaking only words of greeting and idle conversation.

At this time, anyone with any sense would have excused themselves.

But that young gentleman still sat steadily to the side, playing with the blue and white covered bowl in his hands, occasionally sipping tea, with no intention of leaving whatsoever.

Duke Dingguo’s wife had always known Immortal Liu’s temperament. When she said this person was her major patron, she knew Immortal Liu wouldn’t ask him to leave. And since she herself wasn’t familiar with him, it would be even more inappropriate for her to drive him away.

Having no choice, she could only suppress her frustration and looked back at Qin Yining.

Qin Yining understood and said: “Temple Master Liu, we came here today regarding Jingzhen’s return to secular life. Please release her ordination certificate so that it will be more proper for her to follow by my side in the future.”

Immortal Liu’s eyes flashed with shrewd light, her round face smiling like a blooming flower: “Infinite Celestial Deity! This young lady appears to be someone with karmic affinity. However, Jingzhen has been cultivating at our temple for some time, and we’ve put quite a lot of effort into her!”

Immortal Liu began counting on her fingers: “You all know Jingzhen’s background. Although our Immortal Maiden Temple avoids worldly disturbances, we can’t avoid those worldly people who come to cause trouble. Do you know how much suffering we’ve endured to protect Jingzhen? We’ve worried ourselves sick. Jingzhen, isn’t that right?”

Tang Meng nodded earnestly upon hearing this: “Yes, if not for Master’s protection, where would I be today?”

“Exactly!” Seeing Tang Meng say this, Immortal Liu became even more energetic: “Moreover, during these past six months, whether food, clothing, or daily needs, we never once shortchanged or mistreated Jingzhen. We never had the heart to make her do rough work. Not to mention anything else, I even arranged for people to take care of Jingzhen. Jingzhen, tell me if Master is right?”

“Yes, Master even arranged for two junior disciples to accompany me.”

“So, this humble temple of mine has truly exerted all efforts for Jingzhen’s sake. We had to withstand pressure while worrying, spending this time both anxious and fearful. Even this old Taoist nun has lost four or five pounds from all the stress.”

After hearing this mercenary economic discourse from Immortal Liu, how could Qin Yining not understand? She immediately smiled and said: “The temple master’s compassionate heart earns my deep admiration. Moreover, Jingzhen’s worldly family has indeed suffered injustice. Today I came firstly to arrange Jingzhen’s return to secular life, making it convenient for me to keep her by my side in the future. Secondly, I also wish to hold a forty-nine day ritual ceremony here at Immortal Maiden Temple to absolve grievances and pray for blessings for the entire Tang family.”

As she spoke, Qin Yining took several bank notes from her sleeve, stepped forward slowly, and presented them with both hands, smiling broadly: “Here are four hundred taels in bank notes. The remaining sixteen hundred taels I will have someone deliver to you later. Regarding this ritual ceremony to absolve grievances and pray for blessings, I hope the temple master will take the trouble to oversee it. You and I both have Jingzhen’s best interests at heart, and this matter is also for Jingzhen’s future.”

After Qin Yining approached with the bank notes, Immortal Liu immediately changed her expression. Before Qin Yining finished speaking, she had already said several “yes” and “good,” finally nodding: “At first glance, this humble Taoist can see that Miss is a person of orchid-like quality and supreme benevolence. Having Jingzhen follow by your side puts my mind at ease. Regarding the ordination certificate, I still need to go to the Bureau of Taoist Affairs to handle it. Once it’s properly done, I will certainly give Miss definite word.”

In this dynasty, those who wished to become Taoist practitioners couldn’t simply decide to leave home on their own. They had to possess an ordination certificate issued by the Bureau of Taoist Affairs to prove their identity as Taoist priests. If they wished to return to secular life, there was naturally a certain process to follow.

Qin Yining said understandingly: “In that case, I’ll trouble the temple master.”

“No trouble, no trouble.” Immortal Liu clutched the bank notes in her hand, her eyes flashing with shrewd light, even developing crow’s feet at the corners, pulling Tang Meng’s hand and saying: “This young lady has a good heart and is sincere toward you. You should follow her from now on.”

Tang Meng’s smile was somewhat embarrassed, but she also nodded obediently: “Yes, Master.”

Immortal Liu looked at the bank notes again, made a couple of tsk-tsk sounds, and smiled: “Look at this situation, it’s as if this humble Taoist is soliciting donations from you.”

“Where does the temple master get such words,” Duke Dingguo’s wife, seeing that Qin Yining had so generously handled this matter, spoke up: “Donations are also our merit. Since this girl has such intention, it means her good karma has arrived. Immortal Liu is the karmic connection for her to accumulate merit. Using worldly mundane objects to exchange for merit that will protect her entire life – if we discuss ‘giving and receiving,’ I’m afraid this girl gains much more.”

“The Old Madam is truly a person with wisdom roots.” Immortal Liu smiled and nodded, finally willing to put away the bank notes. She pinched several finger positions, then said in a seemingly joking manner: “I see that the Old Madam’s mountain root is darkened and sunken. I’m afraid there will be unfavorable events in the residence recently. May this humble Taoist examine the Old Madam’s palm?”

Seeing Immortal Liu speak so seriously, Qin Yining found it somewhat amusing. Having received donations here, was she now turning to solicit from Grandmother as well?

Duke Dingguo’s wife, however, smiled and leaned forward, extending both hands.

After Immortal Liu examined them carefully, her expression became somewhat grave: “Supreme Great Unity Deliverance Celestial Deity! Old Madam, please listen to this humble Taoist’s words. Within two months, your residence will face a calamity of blood and violence, and the situation will likely be extremely dire.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining’s brows furrowed.

Even the young gentleman and his attendant on the side looked solemn.

Duke Dingguo’s wife’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly asked: “Where will this disaster befall? Just now the immortal said my mountain root is darkened and sunken – could it be that my husband he…”

Immortal Liu quickly pinched several finger positions, shook her head, and sighed: “It is time, it is fate. If the Old Madam usually accumulates good karma, the residence might have a thread of hope for survival. Otherwise, I fear there will be a catastrophe of family extermination.”

These words were already too heavy.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but doubt her previous thoughts. Could it be that Immortal Liu wasn’t soliciting donations?

Where would someone solicit donations while speaking so gravely? At most, a phrase about “calamity of blood and violence” would be enough to chill one’s heart – why would there be need to mention “catastrophe of family extermination”?

Could she really see something?

Duke Dingguo’s wife’s expression became somewhat tense. Actually, her heart had been hanging in suspense for these past few years. As the war between Great Zhou and Great Yan escalated and drew closer to the capital, she always felt that her entire family was like being roasted over fire, fearing that something would eventually happen someday.

In such days of walking on thin ice, with Immortal Liu’s additional words of “calamity of blood and violence, catastrophe of family extermination,” Duke Dingguo’s wife felt her heart turn cold.

She took a deep breath and said: “Coming out today, I didn’t bring much silver with me. I would like to request the immortal to hold a forty-nine day peace ritual for my family members. I will have someone deliver two thousand taels of silver later, which can be considered forming good karma for the Sun family while I have the ability.”

Immortal Liu nodded and no longer showed that money-hungry expression from before. Instead, she smiled at Qin Yining: “Miss, come over. This humble Taoist will also take a look at you.”

Qin Yining naturally wouldn’t refuse and walked to Immortal Liu’s side with a smile.

Immortal Liu first carefully studied Qin Yining’s face, then took her hands to feel them, and after examining her palms, she smiled: “Miss is a person with great fortune. Although your fate has been bumpy, you can always turn misfortune into blessing. Miss has ears higher than your eyebrows and an oval face, which shows you’ll be prosperous throughout life. Moreover, Miss has excellent marriage prospects, and your Red Luan star has already begun to stir.”

As Immortal Liu spoke, she actually looked with a smile toward the young gentleman who had been silently listening from the corner of her eye.

That gentleman seemed oblivious and continued drinking his tea.

Qin Yining felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

Was this immortal reliable or not? How could she say such things in front of an outside man? She decided that Immortal Liu had indeed been trying to extort money earlier!

But Immortal Liu smiled and gave Qin Yining a little push toward Duke Dingguo’s wife: “This granddaughter of the Old Madam’s is extremely pure and kind, with fortune accompanying her. Perhaps your good karma and thread of hope lies with this young lady.”

Duke Dingguo’s wife embraced Qin Yining and patted her hand consolingly, smiling: “Thank you, immortal. My granddaughter is indeed excellent.”

Standing up, she added: “Having come to the temple today, we should look around and offer incense and bow to Doumu Yuanjun.”

Immortal Liu smiled: “The Old Madam and Miss may do as you please.”

Duke Dingguo’s wife smiled and took Qin Yining’s hand as they walked outside.

Just then, a young Taoist nun hurried in from outside, bowing with clasped hands: “Master! Madam Yurou has arrived!”

Upon hearing that Madam Yurou had come, Immortal Liu jumped to her feet and said to the young gentleman who had never been asked to leave: “Master patron, please take this young man to stroll around as well.”