Looking at the now flat mountain path, Xiao Hei asked, “Now that the road is also built, isn’t it time to consider the development of the Daoist temple?”
Tang Xiaoyu lightly said, “The road in my heart has just begun. Our Daoist temple has long been developing, you just can’t see it.”
After speaking, Tang Xiaoyu picked up his tools and walked towards the distance.
“Where are you going?”
“To cut stones and pave roads.”
“Are you stupid? Doing these meaningless things every day.”
What was left for Xiao Hei was only a firm and calm back.
Tang Xiaoyu came to a place full of bluestones and wanted to carve these stones into paving stones.
One day, two days, three days... there were enough bricks, and Tang Xiaoyu began to carry them back onto the road.
"Daoist Tang, what are you moving these stone bricks for?"
"To pave roads."
"This road is good enough, it’s already very convenient for us to go up and down the mountain."
"I want this road to no longer have dust."
"Since you want to fix it, we can't walk this road for nothing. I'll help you fix it tomorrow."
"Me too. When the road is built, there's no need to worry even on rainy days."
"Ok." Tang Xiaoyu just lightly replied with one word and continued to carry the stone bricks.
The next day, Tang Xiaoyu woke up on time from his meditation, went to the Taoist Ancestor Statue, kneeled and lit incense, and began to recite the Tao Te Ching.
After finishing the morning exercises, he had to go out to continue carrying stone bricks. When he opened the door, dozens of villagers were standing outside, men and women, young and old.
Tang Xiaoyu bowed: “Good morning, kind people.”
"Good morning, Daoshi."
"Daoshi Tang, what god does your temple worship?"
"We worship the Supreme Ancestor of the Heavenly Dao of the Taoist school."
"The Ancestor? He seems very powerful!"
A little girl asked crisply, "Uncle Daoshi, if I make a wish, can the Ancestor hear it?"
Tang Xiaoyu smiled slightly, "If you are sincere, he can hear it."
"Then can he protect us?"
"The Ancestor sent me to protect everyone."
"Uncle Daoshi, you look so thin, how do you protect everyone?"
Tang Xiaoyu touched the little girl's head, turned around and walked to a big tree outside. He gently tapped it and the big tree crashed to the ground. Then Tang Xiaoyu stood the tree back up and returned it to its original position and buried it. With a casual wave of his hand, water flowed into it.
Everyone knelt down together: “We pay respect to the immortal, we pay respect to the immortal!”
Tang Xiaoyu gently held everyone up with his magic power: “No need for this. I’m just someone seeking and asking about the Dao.”
"Immortal, can we go offer incense to the Ancestor?"
Tang Xiaoyu nodded, “Yes.”
The crowd lined up and kneeled to worship and offer incense. The people also wanted to donate incense money, but Tang Xiaoyu refused.
"Our Daoist temple does not accept money. Please don't break the rules, everyone."
"Yes, immortal."
"I'm not an immortal. I'm just someone seeking and asking about the Dao. You can call me Daoshi."
"Yes, Daoshi."
"Alright, let’s go build the road!"
"Yes, Daoshi!"
Tang Xiaoyu was kind by nature and would not look down on others just because he was a Yuan Ying cultivator.
While working, he talked and laughed with everyone and even sang songs for them.
"You look like a painting of spring"
"The painting is filled with red peach blossoms over the mountains"
"The blue, blue sky and the green, green fence"
"Flower petals fall below you"
"Is that your home in the painting"
........................
"My nine sisters, my nine sisters”
Everyone applauded, “Well done, Daoshi Tang!”
Tang Xiaoyu laughed, “I have embarrassed everyone.”
In the morning, the crisp little girl said, "Uncle Tang sings better than my sister!"
Tang Xiaoyu picked up the little girl, “Then shall uncle teach you a song?”
"Okay! Okay!"
Tang Xiaoyu held the little girl and sang:
"Two tigers, two tigers"
"Run fast, run fast"
"One has no ears, one has no tail"
"How strange, how strange"
Tang Xiaoyu asked, "Did you learn it?"
The little girl nodded, “I learned it. I’ll sing it to my sister when I go back.”
"Good."
Happy times always pass quickly. More and more villagers came to help every day.
The temple’s incense was also increasing.
After a month, a flat bluestone road appeared in the dense forest of the green mountain.
People coming to offer incense were endless.
Since more and more people knew that an immortal lived in Qing Mountain, Qingshan Daoist Temple's reputation grew bigger and bigger.
This alarmed the local government. The government then sent people to check out the situation in order to put it on record.
Tang Xiaoyu didn’t understand these things, so he went to the government to register according to the requirements.
When he arrived at the government office, Tang Xiaoyu faced a coldly beautiful woman.
"What is your business?"
Tang Xiaoyu bowed, “You notified me to come register.”
The woman snorted, “Don’t tell me it’s another one of those temples deceiving people for money!”
Tang Xiaoyu gently said, “No, we are a Daoist temple.”
The woman shouted, “What's the difference from those temples? They are all things deceiving people!”
Tang Xiaoyu did not explain further and still gently said, “Please help me process it, kind woman.”
The woman mumbled grumpily, very dissatisfied, “What's the name of the Daoist temple?”
"Qingshan Daoist Temple. Qing means clear water, and shan means mountain peak."
"Even Qingshan is not as good as Qing Mountain! How many people and buildings?"
"One person, one dog, three wooden houses."
The woman sneered, “Few people, poor temple, might as well disband!”
“Kind woman, you are joking.”
“What’s the name of the temple chief ?”
“My name is Tang Xiaoyu, the dog’s name is Xiao Hei.”
The woman laughed, “Can’t get enough of small names! What interesting naming sense.”
Tang Xiaoyu just smiled slightly. Soon the documents and the like were put into Tang Xiaoyu’s hands.
“Processing fee, 1 liang.”
Tang Xiaoyu smiled bitterly, “I have no money. Can I substitute it with something?”
“What goods?”
“Rice and vegetables that I grew myself. Is that okay?” Tang Xiaoyu said.
The woman saw Tang Xiaoyu’s emaciated figure and simple clothes. He didn't look like he was lying. She nodded, “Fine! My house just needs these things. I'll buy yours!"
Tang Xiaoyu picked up two large bags of rice and vegetables from the ground behind him, at least 200 catties. He placed them down in front of the woman.
“Kind woman, is this enough?”
The woman used all her strength to lift it. (It has some weight. How could he pick it up so effortlessly?)
"It should be enough! I'll visit your temple in a couple days too."
"Thank you kind woman. Good fortunes to you." He turned and left after speaking.
Watching Tang Xiaoyu’s dusty back, the woman was filled with mixed feelings, uncertain what she was feeling.
“Strange guy. I wonder what his temple is like. Really want to go see now.”
Tang Xiaoyu walked on the stone path up the mountain. People passing by would all bow to greet him, and Tang Xiaoyu would bow back to every one of them, without being irritated by the crowdedness.
“Hey brat, stand right there for me!”
An arrogant voice came from the side woods.