Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Master Niu’s Advice (1/2)
Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Master Niu’s Advice
Translator: 549690339
Upon getting into the car with the eight-armed, eight-eyed wood carving, Feng Xiuye gave an address. The driver immediately set out, knowing the route like the back of his hand.
They got onto the highway, exited, then drove up a mountain road for over two hours.
At first, Feng Xiuye casually put the wood carving next to him while he sat in the backseat. But he found his eyes constantly drawn to it, and he couldn’t help but think of the ghastly eight-armed, eight-eyed creature from the dream. Eventually, he took off his coat and covered it up.
Only when he saw through the car window a small, unobtrusive temple outside, he finally relaxed a little and picked up the jacket-covered wood carving to get off the car.
The temple seemed to be lacking in worshippers, so much that it could be called deserted. It was three in the afternoon, but there wasn’t a single pilgrim to be seen, and no one attended to the entrance.
Feng Xiuye didn’t care. He entered the main gate with the driver, walked along the corridor beside the main hall into the backyard, and headed towards the second room on the right.
The door to the room was wide open. Inside, a man whose age was indistinct, casually wearing Taoist robes and sport shorts exposing his hairy legs, was playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice on a TV with a controller in hand.
“Master Niu?” Feng Xiuye called out. Seeing a Taoist priest playing a PSI* in a Taoist temple didn’t surprise him at all — because he was the one who had gifted the PS4.
Master Niu paused his game, turned around and saw Feng Xiuye. He smiled and said, “Huh? What brings you here today, Boss Feng?” The man had a full beard and a bun on his head, making him look somewhat untidy.
Feng Xiuye knew, for all its small size and despite Master Niu appearing rather unfashionable, this place had a rather good income. He knew of several big bosses who often invited him to evaluate the architecture and layout of their houses and properties.
He had once suggested making a donation to renovate the temple, expanding along the central axis, constructing more courtyards, erecting more main halls, and at least building the Jade Emperor Palace, Nine Emperors Palace, Dong Yuedian, and Xiyuedian, since the vacant land next to it belonged to the temple as well, but he was firmly refused by Master Niu.
The reasoning was that having too many worshippers would make the temple hard to clean and would be too much trouble to manage.
Reading between the lines, Feng Xiuye understood this to mean that Master Niu was afraid he’d end up with too much work and wouldn’t have time to play video games…
However, Master Niu’s professional capabilities were indeed exceptional. When he evaluated the architectural layout, he would meticulously explain why certain things should be placed in certain locations, including the theories and the principles within. He could quote texts from Taoist classics at will and if you didn’t understand, he would explain it with simple language, and even explain the differences between Taoism and being a Taoist, the characteristics of Quanzhen and Zhengyi branches, etc.
In short, after getting an architectural evaluation from Master Niu, wherever Feng Xiuye bought a property, he always felt compelled to have him come and evaluate it, even though his services weren’t cheap.
“Master Niu, I think I’ve encountered some weird stuff.” Feng Xiuye said, and took out the wood carving that had been wrapped in his clothes.
Master Niu took the wood carving and examined it for a while, then asked,
“What happened?”
Feng Xiuye turned to the driver, who had followed him over and was standing by the door, and said, “You wait for me in the car.”
When the room was only left with him and Master Niu, he detailed everything that happened in his afternoon dream. Unlike the vague descriptions he gave to his father, he explained everything to Master Niu in great detail, including his feelings at the time, the detailed depiction of the eight-armed, eight-eyed monster, and the subsequent changes to his body, etc.
Master Niu listened attentively without interrupting, playing with the wood carving while squinting his eyes at Feng Xiuye. When he finished speaking, Master Niu spoke, “Boss Feng, you drank at noon, didn’t you?”
Feng Xiuye was startled, then nodded. Master Niu: “Can I see your tongue?”
Feng Xiuye stuck out his tongue as required. Master Niu: “Stretch out your left hand.”
Feng Xiuye reached out his left hand.
Master Niu placed his three fingers on his left wrist, then said, “Now the right hand. ”
After he also felt the pulse in Feng Xiuye’s right wrist, Taoist Master Niu asked,
“Have you been indulging in any improper behaviors recently?”
Feng Xiuye naturally knew what Master Niu meant. But hearing these words out of his mouth still felt strange, so he humbly nodded, “A few times.”
Master Niu said, “My advice, try to get to a hospital for a check-up soon. Just get a blood test at dermatology, it’s simple, but go to a reputable tier-three hospital. I recommend ** hospital, their dermatology department is top-tier nationally. Also, show some restraint in certain aspects, maintain regular habits and diet, exercise more, interact more with family and friends, and keep an optimistic mindset.”
“Huh?” Feng Xiuye was a little confused, he stared blankly at the eight-armed, eight-eyed wood carving in Taoist Master Niu’s hand, asking, “Then… what about this wood carving…”