"..."
"Senior Sister?" Seeing the Taoist nun remain silent, Xu Qing called out several times before she finally responded, "Since you are so familiar with her, why don't you assist her in managing the hall yourself? Why come to seek me?"
Hmm?
Xu Qing blinked and suddenly twitched his nose, pretending to look around, "Where did this sour smell come from? Did someone's vinegar jar get knocked over? Did you smell it, Senior Sister?"
"..."
"If you have nothing else, I'll be taking my leave first!"
Xu Qing quickly grabbed the Taoist priestess's hand.
Yizhen shuddered, but then she heard Xu Qing ask, "Senior Sister, you haven't mentioned anything about the new hall..."
Daoist Yizhen reluctantly withdrew her hand, nodding with downcast eyes, "Since junior brother has invited, how could I refuse?"
Hearing this, Xu Qing was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Even though I'm acquainted with Lady Bao Sheng, we're not that close. If we were as intimate as you say, I'd have taken the role myself!"
Daoist Yizhen's expression softened slightly, but to calm her inexplicable unease, she forced herself to speak coldly, "I've already agreed. Why bring this up again? No matter how good your relationship with her is, do you think I would blame you?"
"It's not the same!"
Xu Qing didn't say how it was different; he quickened his pace and caught up with Yizhen, saying, "Entering the temple is no small matter. You agreed without asking the reason. Aren't you afraid I might be lying to you, Senior Sister?"
Just as they were about to reach the coffin shop, Yizhen suddenly stopped. She lifted her cool gaze, earnestly looking at the smiling Xu Qing and said, "Even if you deceived me, I would still listen to you."
These words were actually Hu Baosong's last words to Yizhen before he died, though the exact words were 'Listen to Xu Qing, but do not believe him.'
Although it was a rather ordinary warning, spoken by Yizhen now, it seemed to carry a special meaning.
The Taoist nun's gaze was so earnest that Xu Qing didn't dare to continue.
The tricky thing about getting involved with a Nine-tailed Fox is that it's hard to tell whether they are talking about cultivation or matters outside of cultivation.
Xu Qing quickly changed the subject, "It's no big deal. I wish for you to go to Bao Sheng Temple because the master of Bao Sheng Temple is a disciple of the Goddess of Zhonghuang Temple. The Goddess once granted the authority of Gaomei to the Tu Shan tribe, allowing them to manage mortal marital affairs."
"Now, the Tu Shan lineage is almost extinct, and the position of Gaomei has long become nominal only. Fortunately, the Goddess appeared in spirit today to regrant the Gaomei authority. As you have Tu Shan blood and normally cultivate through matchmaking, wouldn't joining the Bao Sheng Temple and becoming the Hall Master of the Marriage Hall bring you a step closer to completing the Tu Shan legacy?"
"Moreover, you have the Hu Guang Mirror, the Worship Moon Banner, the Silk Threaded Double Swords, and the Yuwang Qin, all prestigious legacies of the Tu Shan. Besides you, I can't think of anyone more suitable to manage the Marriage Hall."
Xu Qing's words weren't without foundation; the Tu Shan lineage has long influenced worldly matrimonial affairs, otherwise, the "Song of Tu Shan" from the era of the first ancestor emperor would not have been passed down.
"Sumptuous white fox, grand nine tails. My family gracious I, come and welcome the king. Making a home and family, I bring prosperity... If Senior Sister can join the Bao Sheng Temple, using the red thread as the basis of your path, the way of fate is bound to succeed."
Reciting the folksy words, the female Taoist's eyes sparkled with interest.
"In charge of the Marriage Hall, can cultivate the way of fate, help people tie the knot, and create beautiful marriages?"
Xu Qing laughed, "Exactly so!"
"Hmm..."
Daoist Yizhen seemed deep in thought, her intentions unclear.
Xu Qing continued, "Senior Sister needn't worry about her skills, as the Nine-tailed Fox naturally cultivates through fate, helping to connect hearts should be no issue."
"Of course, if it's your first time matchmaking and you feel rusty, you can always ask Lady Bao Sheng for guidance. She has some experience in this regard."
Daoist Yizhen gazed dazedly at Xu Qing, who was tirelessly guiding her, momentarily lost.
Xu Qing, having spoken at length, seeing no response, turned his head and asked, "Senior Sister, why aren't you speaking?"
"Go on, Junior Brother, I'm listening."
Daoist Yizhen lifted her plain hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze unbelievably enchanting.
"..."
Xu Qing finally understood where the enchanting fox eyes came from!
Good thing he's a zombie; if he were a living person, his bones might have turned to jelly.
Xu Qing shook his head, "Enough talking! If Senior Sister ever has urgent questions but doesn't want to discuss with Lady Bao Sheng, it's never too late to come to me."
Daoist Yizhen ultimately did not know the true identity of Lady Bao Sheng, and when they meet again, who knows how distant they might feel!
But with him as the messenger, the situation was different.
Whether Senior Sister sought Lady Bao Sheng or him, he would be the first to know about the new hall at Bao Sheng Temple.
And perhaps about things Senior Sister might tell Lady Bao Sheng but not him.
Xu Qing had experienced many such situations at Bao Sheng Temple.
For example, the guardian red-tail monkey sneaking to Bao Sheng Temple to bow before Lady Bao Sheng, hoping to make his monkey descendants prosper and help him become the king of all monkeys; or Sister Liu from the temple coming to him privately, asking whether to use the incense money for gilding statues or for spreading blessings...
Immortal disciples always have private matters they don't want to discuss with the Sect Leader; Bao Sheng Temple too has issues inappropriate for a direct query to 'Lady Bao Sheng'.
But several sects acting in between would ease communication considerably.
At least among the three teachings, what Lady Bao Sheng doesn't know, he knows completely, what the Cat Immortal Hall Sect Leader doesn't know, he still knows, what the Daluo Sect Leader is oblivious to, Xu Qing can also learn through the other two sects.
In sum, Xu Qing was like the ultimate gossip Sect Leader among the three great sects, no one knew their affairs better than him!
"Where's Bai Qiuyu?"
Inside the coffin shop, Xu Qing looked around but didn't spot the other Nine-tailed Fox.
"That fox ran to the bridge to tell fortunes again!"
The Temple Master Jingxu couldn't understand, "The foxes are said to be clever, but to me, none in this shop seems bright. Some owe hundreds of silver taels but spend every day telling fortunes for a few coins, and in a year, their earnings aren't enough for their expenses. Decades have passed, and the debt has gone from hundreds to over a thousand taels, can you believe there are such foolish foxes?"
Having mentioned the hopeless fox, Temple Master Jingxu subtly shifted topic, "That's nothing; unlike some foxes who almost serve themselves up to others like their mother, letting themselves be exhausted and still thinking highly of them."
"How can there be such foolish foxes in the world!"
Tao Sanmei, having lost a few games of chess, was full of frustration and blurted out, "The kind of master raises the kind of disciple. How can a foolish fox be blamed? It's the old fox who can't teach!"
"..."
The Temple Master Jingxu silently put down the chess piece and immediately conjured her Magic Sword, heading to the backyard!
Tao Sanmei, already familiar with the old Taoist's temper, didn't stop her but grabbed an axe for making coffins, heading to the treasure chest where Temple Master Jingxu usually resided.
Temple Master Jingxu's Primordial Spirit had achieved the way, without a physical body, relying on the chest to ward off pollution.
Seeing that neither could coerce the other, they acted as if nothing happened, returning to the chessboard to continue determining life and death on the board.