Calamity Messenger-Chapter 104 - 84: You Were Wrong

Couldn’t find it.

The Buddhist culture in Jiangnan City is indeed rich, with a temple every three streets and a cluster of Buddhist pagodas every five, the incense is flourishing, devotees are everywhere, compassion is seen everywhere, and everywhere the sounds of piety can be heard, from Jiangnan’s four hundred and eighty temples, all towers are filled with Jinling’s incense.

But Yan Qing couldn’t find a place to offer incense.

Even the first temple he encountered could be considered honest, as the minimum offering at several temples afterward started at Five Spiritual Jades, with no cheap incense available for One Spiritual Jade.

At first, Yan Qing was a bit angry, wanting to argue with these money-grubbing monks, but eventually, Yan Qing couldn’t care less. Seeing that there was only expensive incense in the temple, he’d simply turn around and leave.

It’s not that he couldn’t afford the pricey incense, but rather that such temples, reeking of money, were unworthy of his worship.

To be honest, at Yan Qing’s current pace of earning a thousand Spiritual Jades every half hour, the time he was wasting now far exceeded the price of one stick of incense. But Yan Qing, being who he is, could be ruthlessly efficient and devoid of compassion when gaming, yet if he deems something worth it, he’ll spend dozens or even hundreds of times the effort for an insignificant achievement.

For instance, in the game "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1," rumors claimed that collecting 99 Puppet Insects could save Lin Yue’ru, so he tried it; or in "Red Dead Redemption 2," to get Arthur into the Eastern Legend outfit, he exploited bugs to complete all challenges; or in "Black Myth: Wukong," upon seeing his fourth sister captured, he was prepared to unleash Wind Spirit Moon Shadow for a big showdown.

The couple who helped him along the way, seeking only for him to pray for their daughter-in-law even with no reward, and Yan Qing was willing to fulfill their request with all his might.

He wants to find a truly compassionate temple, even if it means working to earn one stick of incense, he’s resolute about not spending money to worship at deceitful temples. He can’t explain the difference between ’labor-earned incense’ and ’purchased incense,’ and he doesn’t truly believe in gods and Buddhas blessing people, but he stubbornly feels only the former can repay the kindness of the couple.

Of course, Yan Qing can be so leisurely partly because he doesn’t have much to do now.

After entering Jiangnan City, the ’Mouse Monk’ had already met his current goals, and they needed to wait until their actions were planned out tonight at midnight before Yan Qing could determine where to dispatch the ’Mouse Monk’ for investigation.

He continued along the main street, visiting temple after temple, only to be turned away time and again until the sun was nearly setting. Yet Yan Qing didn’t grow impatient, as he snacked on street food along the way and felt he wouldn’t need dinner afterward. He also enjoyed watching the beauties of Jiangnan, perhaps due to being in the main city. The streets were full of lovely young women under umbrellas, vibrant with youth, laughter, and chatter. They’d greet the ’Mouse Monk’ with a smile and a prayer salute.

On such a nice day, one should stroll the streets, admire the beauties, munch on freshly made street snacks, and enjoy the cool breeze blowing from the riverbank, rather than hiding in a room like a mouse, peeking at others’ lives through a screen. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Yan Qing began reflecting on his life again, and after reflection, he continued eating his rice rolls. He would only ponder over his life situations briefly, for even if it was safe outside, he was too lazy to move.

Unconsciously, the ’Mouse Monk’ had already reached the inner area of Jiangnan City, and from afar, the outer walls of the Imperial Palace were visible. Just as Yan Qing planned to head to a temple in the East City District, he noticed a nearby temple bustling and noisy, as if an argument was taking place.

"Let me go! Let me go! I won’t go, I won’t go!"

"Oh dear girl, you’re just harming yourself with all this fuss, bringing disgrace to the Li Family without knowing what hardships you’ll face afterward."

"Stop wasting words with this brat. You’re a Li Family member in life, and a Li Family ghost in death, yet you dare to run!"

Several strong women surrounded a young girl, her hair disheveled, with a wooden hairpin stuck in it, her waist slender, clothed in grimy patched grey, a clear sign of poverty, but her natural beauty shone through despite long days without grooming, malnourishment, and plain attire.

The strong women surrounded her with sticks but did not hit her, pushing her along with an improvised cage. An Cuihua couldn’t break through their encirclement, like a Little Rabbit trapped in a cage.

Outside the strong women, there were several house men calling out: "Ladies and gentlemen, this here is An Cuihua’s indenture, bought by our master for thirty Spiritual Jades from her father, stamped by the Government Office, definitely not coercion! We ask everyone to clear the way, please clear the way!"

A crowd gathered to watch and discuss, and after eavesdropping for a while, Yan Qing more or less understood what had happened: An Cuihua’s father was a gambling addict, gambling away to ruin, and seeing his daughter grown, he sold her to the Li Family for gambling fund. Yet An Cuihua wouldn’t comply, fleeing to hide in Jiangnan City from the Li Family by night, but having neither money nor relatives, where could she possibly hide? Only around several large temples in Jiangnan City, begging for daily sustenance, and within days, the Li Family found her.

These instances seem quite common, as many debt-ridden individuals seek refuge in Jiangnan City, praying for Jiangnan City’s gods and Buddhas to protect them. But as the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way; just as the Li Family could send strong women to ’imprison’ An Cuihua, Jiangnan City is no outlaw haven, and creditors can still settle accounts if they have enough manpower.

The house men seemed wary of any busybody intervention, repeatedly asserting their case’s legality and righteousness, assured even in court they’d be in the right, hence, the onlookers simply enjoyed the spectacle, without seeing it as wrong. Amidst it all, a few troublemakers cracked jokes: "Hey, left side, run from the left side!" "You’re dumb, poke their eyes for a chance!" "Quick, poop in place, last time someone escaped with a handful of poop!"

However, the strong women seemed experienced, showing neither dodge nor alarm at whatever An Cuihua did, suppressing any physiological reaction, remaining stationary while pushing An Cuihua like a moving cage. An Cuihua screamed and shouted hysterically like a madwoman, but how could her starving, frail body clash with the robust, stout women? Instead, she lost her strength and lay on the ground like trash, yet the women nudged her onwards with their feet.

"I don’t want to, I don’t want to go..." An Cuihua cried her heart out, calling to the people outside: "Save me, I’m very capable, I can raise pigs, I can weave textiles, save me, I’ll repay you greatly, save me!"

People whom An Cuihua called out for help all shook their heads and avoided her. Although some showed reluctance, they didn’t want to get into trouble. An Cuihua was on the verge of despair, reaching through the gap between the robust women, trying to grab the feet of passersby: "Madame, help me, I don’t want to go... Young sir..."

"Master, please help me!"

"Alas."

This young monk in coarse clothes let out a helpless sigh and approached the robust women. The retainers immediately noticed him and shouted, "Hold on, Master, we are—"

Smack!

’Mouse Monk’ grabbed the robust women, using them like sandbags to toss them out. Though his level was only 1, with 6 points of innate Qi Blood, ordinary people were no more than toys before him. Even if the robust women fought back, he could perfectly dodge and counterattack. Before long, all six robust women were thrown out, and he leveled up in the process.

"You have comprehended the ’Basic Fist Technique’, your current level is 1."

"Your Qi Blood has increased by 0.5"

"Your soul has increased by 0.5"

"Your agility has increased by 1"

"You have reached level 2!"

An Cuihua quickly got up and hid behind him, wiping her dirty little face, her voice hoarse and tearful: "Thank you, thank you, Master..."

"May I know where Master practices? What is your Dharma name?" The retainer, having seen ’Mouse Monk’s skills, realized he couldn’t resolve the matter: "My master is Li Chongxin of the Li Family. Could we possibly form a kind bond?"

"You don’t recognize me?" ’Mouse Monk’ asked.

"I know all the abbots of the major Buddha Forests in the city, but I’m truly unfamiliar with you, Master," the retainer glanced at ’Mouse Monk’s tattered clothes, "However, with Master’s skills, why not let me introduce you to my master, perhaps you could find a place?"

"That would be nice. Now, be gone," ’Mouse Monk’ waved them off.

"Huh? But if you don’t leave your Dharma name, how will we find you?"

"You’re not supposed to find me. Anyway, with me here, you won’t catch her today."

The retainer completely understood now. The monk in front of him was just a nosy, unruly man. He glanced at An Cuihua and said with a false smile, "Fine, we’ll come again tomorrow. I want to see how long, Master, you can protect this wench."

"You, you, stay here and keep watch. Report back if anything happens," he ordered.

Although they left, two retainers stayed openly to keep an eye on An Cuihua.

Clearly, as soon as ’Mouse Monk’ left or if An Cuihua left Jiangnan City, they would immediately report back for the Li Family to send someone to capture her. An Cuihua realized this too, her body trembling, clutching the sleeve of ’Mouse Monk’ with her right hand as if holding onto a lifeline.

Seeing that there was nothing more to see, the crowd dispersed. ’Mouse Monk’ led An Cuihua to the roadside, with the two retainers following from afar, watching them.

"Do you have any relatives you can turn to? Or a place you can go? Have you ever worked at a shop before?"

No matter which question it was, An Cuihua shook her head tearfully, rubbing her eyes and sobbing, "I, I only have my father as family..."

"You’ve done something wrong."

’Mouse Monk’ turned his head, not knowing when a middle-aged man with a blank expression had appeared behind him.