Chapter 141: Repairing the Roof
When An Wensheng appeared, Xiang Jiannan and his master were standing in the backyard in a daze. The two were only focused on staring at the roof, as if they were completely unaware of the movement behind them.
“Something big really did happen.”
“Master, when have I ever lied to you?”
At this time, he had already entered the incense hall once, but before he could even cross the threshold, he was sent flying by a force, causing his face to turn red and his neck to swell. An Wensheng looked at the two Taoists without saying a word.
He had heard Gao Yu’an and Xiang Jiannan’s conversation clearly, so after standing next to the two, he first followed local custom and stretched his neck.
The length of his stretched neck quickly exceeded his own height, and after a few glances, he didn’t see the so-called big event that the little Taoist had mentioned.
The tiles on the roof were scattered, and it was obvious that they were caused by an impact, leaving several large holes.
……
A small matter, is it necessary to make it so mysterious?
With the height of you two, it’s probably a problem to see the roof clearly, yet you’re acting so serious.
This City God actually believed it.
“Huh? A giraffe!”
After finishing his conversation with his master, he thought about greeting An Wensheng. Turning his head, he could only see his neck. Xiang Jiannan was so shocked that he almost twisted his own little chubby waist.
What’s going on? It hasn’t been long, and he’s already lost all sense of shame? He really is a ghost who has gotten his hands on the Earth Book, so inflated!
It’s quite scary in the middle of the night when you’re caught off guard like that.
“Five holes, we can fix them tomorrow.”
As Xiang Jiannan spoke, An Wensheng retracted his neck. Seeing that the two Taoists had finally noticed his presence, An Wensheng simply shook his official robe after returning to his original form.
He was already different from before. From the inside out, everything was new, including the jade belt around his waist that proved his City God status. If he didn’t show it off, it would be a real waste of the flowing colors on it.
The color of the jade belt had changed from light cyan to dark green. The deeper the night, the more dazzling the color on the belt became.
“So, you’ve become the Prefectural City God?”
Seeing An Wensheng walking with his jade belt held high, even his gait had turned into a figure eight, Xiang Jiannan exchanged a glance with his master and almost turned into a lemon, filled with jealousy.
An Wensheng was obviously more arrogant than he was. His name had only just been written in the Earth Book, and his temperament had immediately become different.
He’s become the type to go looking for trouble!
By analogy, one can infer.
Since the Earth Book is in the hands of the Earth Sect, then does the Three Pure Ones Temple in the city hold the Heavenly Book?
Does their Human Sect have the Human Book?
“I was just sleeping, and then the imperial decree came.”
In a great mood, he laughed heartily at the two Taoists, then suddenly stopped. An Wensheng looked up at the sky:
“I thought I would be stuck in this Ping’an Town forever. Old Taoist Priest, I, An Wensheng, really have nothing to say.”
After saying that, he bowed, wanting to perform a salute, but was stopped by the silent Gao Yu’an, who reached out his hand:
“You just said there are several holes in the roof?”
“Five.”
“That’s perfect. While you’re still excited, call your ghost messengers and help this old Taoist repair the roof.”
“If you have nothing to say, then show some practical action…”
“That’s too much, Old Taoist Priest…”
“I, An Wensheng, have lived through two dynasties and have never done anything like this before.”
“For a dignified Prefectural City God, to be helping people repair roofs on his first day in office, it’s simply absurd!”
Half an hour later, under Gao Yu’an’s supervision, he quickly summoned several ghost messengers. They floated up to the roof first. An Wensheng finally couldn’t help but complain when he stepped on the tiles.
He had no complaints about the old Taoist, but he felt that today’s request was really a bit outrageous.
And because Gao Yu’an had been kind to him, he had no choice but to take the lead after his ghost messengers arrived.
Complaining was inevitable. He had just taken office as the Prefectural City God, and this was the first time he was facing his subordinates. He had to set a good example.
“Go and take a look in the town. If any family has extra tiles, quietly move some over here.”
Ignoring An Wensheng on the roof, seeing that the ghost messengers who had come because of him were all a little at a loss, Gao Yu’an raised his finger to the top of his head and explained:
“Those few holes appeared because of your Prefectural City God. Judging from the celestial phenomena, it might rain later. You few, you must be quick.”
“This…”
Hearing the old Taoist’s meaning, they were being asked to steal. The bearded ghost messenger hesitated as he spoke, looking embarrassed.
These past few days, he and a few of his subordinates had been lurking around Ping’an Town, which was why they were able to arrive quickly when An Wensheng issued his first order.
The City God Temple in the prefecture couldn’t hold out for much longer. Without a Prefectural City God in charge, it wouldn’t be long before the building would collapse and be unable to withstand the power of incense.
The Earth Sect’s appointment was very timely. Just as they were feeling uneasy while waiting, the vacant position of Prefectural City God was filled by An Wensheng. They didn’t know where to pay their respects, and then the City God’s order came out.
They had come to Ping’an Temple with great enthusiasm, but honestly, they were now a little disappointed.
The new City God seemed to have a very soft nature. He was actually being ordered around by Gao Yu’an to repair the roof. Although they had long known that there was something unclear between the two, as the Prefectural City God, he should at least have some dignity.
How could he just jump onto the roof at someone else’s command? He should at least put up some resistance to show his subordinates.
“Do as Master Gao instructs. Remember, when moving the tiles, you must not disturb the people.”
Standing on the roof, already prepared for the next big task, An Wensheng, now as the Prefectural City God, was also not polite to the bearded ghost messenger and the others.
A new official takes office with three fires. His fire hadn’t really started yet. Today was the first time he was meeting his subordinates as the Prefectural City God. Apart from the two Taoist priests, he had to establish the corresponding prestige.
Otherwise, he would be letting down his new identity.
“Yes, why aren’t you going out to take a look?”
He immediately obeyed the order and signaled his ghost messengers to go out and take a look. With a move of his body, he floated up to the roof just like An Wensheng. The bearded ghost messenger’s face changed rapidly.
He had already witnessed Gao Yu’an’s strength. Repairing a roof was actually not considered a grievance.
If the Prefectural City God could do it, then what could he, as a subordinate, not do? The message from the Earth Book was clear. If nothing unexpected happened, then for a long time to come, the only person he could rely on was the newly appointed Prefectural City God on the roof—An Wensheng.
Therefore, he had to build a good relationship.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Just as the bearded ghost messenger floated onto the roof and was about to strike up a conversation with An Wensheng, several gusts of cold wind blew past, and black shadows suddenly fell into the backyard of Ping’an Temple.
In an instant, the backyard was packed full, and they all knelt on both knees facing the roof.
“Greetings, Prefectural City God. We were late due to the long journey. Please punish us, City God.”
“Enough, all of you, get up. Send up a few skilled ones when this City God is done with his work.”
Without even turning his head, he just ordered a few more helpers on the roof. Seeing An Wensheng’s official demeanor becoming more and more impressive, Xiang Jiannan felt a burst of contempt in his heart as he stood below.
Some of the new black shadows were ghost messengers who had been under the former Prefectural City God, while the other part were unfamiliar faces he had never seen before.
He also knew that the Prefectural City God’s entourage was not small, but he didn’t expect it to cause such a big reaction.
There should still be some on the way, right?
“The tiles are here, be careful.”
Not long after a few more figures jumped onto the roof, following the direction pointed by the bearded ghost messenger, Xiang Jiannan quickly saw stacks of tiles floating from the southeast. After they were delivered to the roof and placed down, An Wensheng, who had tied up his sleeves, immediately started working.
While working, he also joked with his master:
“Master Gao, if you ask me, you might as well not fix these holes. It’s so nice to look at the moon!”
“Lay them down tightly…”
“Alright, the moon is bright and the stars are sparse. I’ll invite three or five old ladies I get along with. As cultivators, we have to be good to ourselves sometimes!”
