Chapter 53: The Taoist Priest Mao

  Because my master, Zhangshan Old Dao, is not around, so it's impossible for my mom to ask him. As for the "ghost pressing on the bed" thing, my mom had heard of it before, and many people have encountered it, but she wasn't very worried. This kind of thing doesn't happen often in a lifetime, so my mom thought that since last night was over, there shouldn't be anything else to worry about.

  But on the second night, I was pressed by a ghost again, and my mother was woken up by my recitation of "Qian Kun Jing".

  It's been two days in a row like this, and my mom is getting anxious. You know, being pressed down by a ghost, under normal circumstances, it's impossible for it to happen two days in a row.

  For two days in a row, I encountered ghost pressing the bed, my mother thought that there must be dirty things making trouble. To drive away the dirty things, we can only go to ask the Taoist priest, but my master, Zhangshan Old Tao, is not around.

  My mother knew that this matter couldn't be delayed, if it was delayed for a long time, I might get into some trouble. Helpless, my mother decided to go to the neighboring village to invite that Taoist priest.

  That Taoist priest was a young Taoist, only in his thirties, and had some reputation in the nearby villages. However, his reputation was all blown out by himself. According to his own introduction, he was a direct disciple of the Mao Mountain Sect.

  In short, in his own mouth, his Tao is deeper than that of my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao. The extermination of the door and other things are not even a fart in front of him.

  Although the Taoist priest boasts loudly, he still has a sense of self-awareness when it comes to collecting fees. He charges less than my master, Zhangshan Lao Dao, for exorcising evil spirits and warding off disasters. Due to his price advantage, he can still get some small business in nearby villages, at least enough to make a living.

  It's said that people don't recognize goods, but money does. Everyone knows that if the Taoist priest Mao was really more powerful than my master, Zhangshan Laodao, he wouldn't have quoted such a low price. However, everyone also knows that Taoist priest Mao has some skills too. Therefore, when encountering small disasters, villagers would go ask for help from Taoist priest Mao who charges lower prices; and only when encountering big disasters would the villagers be willing to spend money to invite my master Zhangshan Laodao.

  My mother is a decisive person who never delays in doing things. As soon as she thought of going to invite that Taoist priest, my mother set off immediately.

  That Taoist priest lived in the neighboring village, and the two villages were separated by a small ditch. So, within less than two hours of leaving home, my mother had already invited that Taoist priest back to our house.

  Actually, I wasn't too disgusted with that Taoist priest at first. But after he came to my house, the guy kept boasting about how great he was. Putting aside his self-praise, what's key is that when he was elevating himself, he also constantly belittled my master, Zhangshan Laodao.

  Let's not talk about the Taoist priest's moral character for now, at least his emotional intelligence is really not good. You know, I, Lu Xiaofei, am already the legitimate disciple of the old Taoist of Zhushan, and this has spread throughout the surrounding areas. Therefore, that Taoist priest cannot be unaware of it. In front of someone else's apprentice, saying that someone else's skills are not good, even a person with a little emotional intelligence would not do such a thing.

  My master, Zhu Shan Lao Dao, was very good to me, so when I heard Mao Dao Shi speaking ill of him, I couldn't help but feel unhappy.

  Actually, after listening to Mao Dao's words, not only was I unhappy, but my mom's face also showed some displeasure. However, my mom is an adult after all, and she can distinguish between the importance and urgency of things. Therefore, her displeasure only flashed across her face for a moment and did not show obvious signs.

  This kid of mine is definitely not as calm as my mom. As soon as I'm unhappy, I'll immediately explode.

  "You said you're more powerful than my master, so why do you charge less for your services? Are all those people who asked for my master's help fools?" I questioned the Taoist priest.

  Because I was just asking questions and didn't swear or scold anyone, my mom didn't stop me. After all, in my mom's heart, she was also very dissatisfied with that Taoist priest. So, by saying this, it was as if I helped my mom vent her anger.

  As soon as I asked this, the Taoist priest's face immediately turned green with a large patch, revealing some embarrassing expressions. What made him even more embarrassed was that my mother didn't help him out by scolding me or anything.

  Seeing his mother didn't say anything, Mao Daoshi had no choice but to force himself to speak up.

  "We Taoists, we're all about helping the world. A true practitioner like myself will help people resolve their troubles without seeking wealth or riches." The Taoist priest said with a very noble demeanor, speaking to me.

  Although what Mr. Mao said was hypocritical, I didn't mind and didn't mean to respond to him. However, the sentence he uttered immediately after that made me very unhappy.

  "Like your master Zhu Shan Lao Dao, who doesn't help people get rid of evil spirits without being paid, is a fake Taoist and the shame of the Taoist family!" Mao Dao Shi said to me with a hypocritical expression.

  Originally, I thought that after asking the question just now, I wouldn't bother with this Taoist priest anymore. But since he said that, even if I didn't bother with him, it would still be impossible.

  I still have feelings for my Shifu Zhu Shan Lao Dao, and I also know that although my Shifu is greedy for wealth, at least he is a very powerful Taoist. This Mao Dao Shi, in terms of Taoism, was left far behind by my Shifu Zhu Shan Lao Dao, yet he not only lacks self-awareness but also dares to brazenly say that my Shifu is the shame of the Taoist family.

  "You said that a true Taoist who helps others to eliminate disasters does not seek wealth, so when you do rituals, shouldn't you also not collect money?" After following my master, the old Taoist Zhangshan, for a period of time, this little kid's skills in other areas didn't improve much, but his skill in talking nonsense did increase quite a bit.

  Actually, I originally wanted to scold that Wang Daoist, but because he was invited by my mother, I had to give my mother some face. So, although I was very angry, I still knew that I couldn't swear, swearing isn't what good kids do. I have to reason with him, I want to use logic to calm down that hairy Daoist.

  Originally, after Mao Daoshi finished speaking, my mother's entire face fell. I knew that if it weren't for the fact that she had personally invited him over, she would have immediately asked him to leave.

  But after I asked this sentence with a bit of sarcasm, my mom's face immediately floated out with a smile. I knew that my words made my mom feel relieved. More importantly, since this was said by a kid like me, it could be considered as "children speak the truth" and wouldn't hurt the adults' dignity.

  So, for my mom's sake, the words I said to Mao Dao Shi not only helped her suppress his arrogant attitude but also didn't make her and Mao Dao Shi fall out with each other. It was a win-win situation. Therefore, after I finished saying those words, my mom didn't scold me at all.

  After I finished saying this, Mao Daoshi's face, which had become somewhat complacent due to stepping on my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao, immediately changed color and turned into a cloudy and overcast look.

  "My Taoist cultivation is still shallow and not deep enough, only slightly better than your master Zhu Shan Lao Dao. Therefore, with my current level of attainment, I am not yet able to waive the fee entirely." The Taoist priest saw that my mother didn't say a word, so he himself smoothed things over.

  I don't know if it's because fellow practitioners are destined to be enemies, but every time this Taoist speaks, no matter what he says, he always brings up my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao and steps on him.

  However, judging from Mao Daoshi's words, to be honest, there is one thing that makes him quite similar to my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao. That is his attitude towards money. Just now, I was just joking and said that he shouldn't charge for doing Buddhist rituals, but he immediately dodged the issue by saying that his Taoist skills are shallow. It's clear that if there's no money involved, he definitely wouldn't do this ritual!

  Just as I was about to retort again, my mother spoke up.

  "Xiao Fei, behave yourself and don't talk nonsense," Mom said.

  I know that at this moment, my mother is saying this because she's afraid I'll speak out of turn and mess up the relationship. If that happens, not only will we fail to complete the Buddhist ritual, but her face will also be lost.

  I'm still a good kid who listens to my mom's words. Since my mom doesn't want me to talk, I'll just be obedient and not speak anymore.