Jiulong Mountain, Sanqingguan
The Taoist temple stood majestically, its grandeur contrasting starkly with the roads flanked by withered yellow leaves, shrouded in silence. Suddenly, a childish cry pierced the stillness.
"Woo... Woo... Master, don't send me away. I don't want to leave you. Please!"
In the main hall, ConCon sat on the ground, her hands and feet tightly wrapped around Li Yuanming's legs. The little girl had a bare head and wore a shabby, washed-out robe that bore numerous traces of sewing and mending, resembling a little beggar. At this moment, she looked up at Li Yuanming, grinning and howling, trying to force out a few tears. Her chubby little face was filled with sorrow as she gazed at him miserably.
Seeing the little apprentice crying so pitifully, Li Yuanming's heart softened, but his eyes fell on her bare head, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his face. He regretted not foreseeing this from the beginning.
He should have known better than to compete with the bald monks next door for an apprentice!
No wonder they handed her over so readily when he tried to take her. The abbot had even made him swear never to return her. Li Yuanming had assumed it was because the temple couldn't afford to raise children due to a lack of offerings. Now he realized it wasn't the temple's financial situation at all; it was ConCon herself!
She was destined to bring misfortune!
When you think about it, the temple began its decline only after the old monk found ConCon as a baby. In just three years, the once-thriving temple became desolate.
After bringing her to the Taoist temple, it took only a year for them to face near bankruptcy.
In contrast, the neighbouring temple, after sending her away, gradually regained its former prosperity this year.
Reflecting on the past, Li Yuanming shook his head bitterly. He glanced at his junior brother, who was holding a cracked bowl with only a few grains of rice in the rice soup. Resolutely, he resisted the urge to embrace and console the little apprentice. With a stern face, he said, "No, you have grown up. It's time for you to go down the mountain."
"I'm not big, I'm only four years old," ConCon protested, raising her chubby little hand, hiccuping as she spoke. She quickly withdrew her hand and hugged his leg tightly, gently shaking it. "Master, don't drive me away, please. I promise not to steal again in the future."
Li Yuanming almost lost his balance as she shook him. He steadied himself and replied firmly, "No!"
"You've said that countless times, and you always steal again."
Feeling a bit guilty, ConCon touched her stomach and said pitifully, "But I'm hungry."
"We're hungry too!" Li Yuanming exclaimed, his voice full of frustration. "You eat five meals a day, eight bowls each time. We're going to be impoverished because of you!"
"That's it. If you don't have any money, you can earn it again, but you have a knack for running us dry. No matter how much we make, it's never enough. Even the incense for the ancestors is gone!"
"Your senior brothers and nephews have all gone down the mountain to find work, and they still can't afford to support you. If you don't go down the mountain, we'll have to start begging for food together tomorrow!"
Hearing these words, ConCon's heart sank further. She asked in a low voice, "Master, is there no room for negotiation?"
Li Yuanming shook his head.
Seeing this, ConCon became despondent. Her little head drooped as she leaned listlessly on his lap, her ears hanging down like an abandoned puppy.
"Fine, then I'll go down the mountain. In the future, whether I beg for food or starve to death on the streets, I won't trouble Master. It's better to become a spirit body, always by Master's side without the need for food."
Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a pang of sorrow. He sighed softly and gently touched her head with his large hand. "Don't be afraid," he said, his voice tender. "Master has already arranged for you to join Master Mingtong. He is doing well now, and if you follow him, you'll never lack a mouthful of food."
"And here, haven't you always wanted Master's Qiankun Mirror? Take it as a parting gift."
As he spoke, he took a bronze mirror from his bosom and handed it to her.
ConCon's ears perked up, and her eyes darted around. She didn't raise her head, maintaining a look of sadness and sorrow with her shoulders slumped. Her cries grew louder. Li Yuanming gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, you can have the little medicine tripod too."
"Okay!" ConCon's cries abruptly paused. She loosened her grip, stood up, and beamed brightly, though traces of tears still lingered on her face. "Thank you, Master. I'll go pack."
With that, she darted off with her short legs to the room.
Li Yuanming watched her retreating figure, feeling a mix of frustration and reluctant fondness. He blew out his breath, his mustache bristling in anger, and muttered, "Rebel!"
His junior brother chuckled and said, "It's alright. Didn't you always plan to give the tripod to ConCon? Your skills in medicine refining and calculations aren't as good as hers, and it's better that the items are put to good use."
Li Yuanming snorted, stiffened his neck, and retorted, "Who said I'm inferior to her? I'm her master!"
The junior brother smiled knowingly but chose not to argue further.
Back in the day, the talented brothers had all gone down the mountain to make their fortunes, leaving him behind to be the master due to his lack of skills.
Li Yuanming thought about it and muttered to himself as he walked back. If it weren't for ConCon's extraordinary Qingqi roots, a rare talent in metaphysics, he wouldn't have fought to take her in, nor ended up in his current predicament.
Those monks hadn't warned him about this, despite their lack of hair, they had plenty of schemes.
He snorted to himself, lost in thought.
It didn't take long for ConCon to emerge. Her smooth head was adorned with numerous lucky charms, and three copper plates hung around her neck. A gourd was pinned to one side of her waist, and a huge, self-carved Pixiu dangled on the other side. Though the carving was extremely ugly, its sole redeeming feature was its size.
All these items were meant to bring fortune, but ConCon was born with a fate that repelled wealth. Any riches she gathered dissipated as soon as they touched her, rendering them useless.
Seeing her appearance, the corners of Li Yuanming's mouth twitched. "ConCon, you are destined to lack wealth and fortune. Give up; don't dwell on it."
ConCon shook her head, carrying a burden bigger than herself on her shoulders. "No, senior brother said, 'My fate is in my own hands.' As long as I work hard, I'll be able to make a fortune. When I earn money, I'll give it all to the Taoist Temple!"
Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a pang of warmth. Despite her antics, his little apprentice cared deeply.
He walked over and handed her a dusty statue that resembled the figures in the main hall. "Good apprentice, since you are so determined, I now entrust you with the important task of restoring the Taoist Temple. Come on, I have faith in you!"
ConCon lowered her head, examining the statue curiously. "Master, why are you giving me this statue of our ancestor? And what happened to the golden light around it?"
She recalled seeing the golden, radiant statue in her master's room when she was younger. Now it was tarnished and dull.
"What do you think?" Li Yuanming glanced at her resentfully.
ConCon quickly realized the cause—it must be her misfortune.
The Taoist temple had withered, and the ancestors were no longer worshipped with incense, but it hadn't deteriorated this much.
She smiled smugly and hugged the statue tightly. "Master, don't worry. I'll make good money and restore Master Zu's golden light!"
Li Yuanming glanced at her, knowing her obsession with wealth, but he didn't chastise her. "Master doesn't insist on a temple full of incense. Just ensure you have enough to eat. If you encounter anyone in need, help them. Do more good deeds, earn merit for Master Zu, which will also be beneficial for you, and may improve your financial fortunes."
Hearing this, ConCon's eyes sparkled, and she nodded earnestly. "Mmm, Master, I understand!"
Seeing the little apprentice's watery eyes, Li Yuanming felt a pang of reluctance. He patted her shoulder gently. "Go down the mountain and remember to seek out your Uncle Mingtong. He will take care of you."
"Okay," ConCon said, holding his hand and looking at him wistfully. "Master, you take care too. When I earn money, I'll come back to see you."
"Well, go on now. It'll be dark soon," Li Yuanming urged.
"Hmm." ConCon nodded, turning back three times with each step, leaving Li Yuanming with a heavy heart.
If it weren't for the Taoist Temple's dire situation, he would never have let the little apprentice go. He just hoped she would have a smooth journey.
Once she was out of sight, ConCon retracted her gaze and quickened her pace. She soon reached the foot of the mountain, standing on tiptoe to peer at the scenery outside. The corners of her mouth lifted, revealing two small dimples on her chubby cheeks.
Great, she was finally down the mountain.
She had long heard from Senior Brother Seven that there were many delicious and fun things below the mountain, and she had been eagerly waiting for this chance.
Her smile grew even brighter as she walked forward briskly. After only a few steps, she noticed a commotion ahead.
Voices shouted, "Doctor! Is there a doctor? Save our old lady!"