My Master is the Real Boss – Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Equivalent Exchange

For two whole days, Xiang Jiannan hadn’t spoken a single word to his Master. It wasn’t until the duo sent to deliver the silver arrived at Ping’an Temple that Xiang Jiannan decided to temporarily bury the hatchet with his Master.

The matter of accepting or not accepting the silver was quite important. Given his Master’s nature, Xiang Jiannan didn’t trust him to make the decision alone. That day, if he hadn’t been standing beside him with a stern expression, this old Taoist would probably have agreed on the spot. Don’t be fooled by his disdainful look; after laughing, he didn’t show any intention of refusing.

“Master, there are people looking for you outside.”

Holding the scripture titled Yin-Yang Fuzhu, Xiang Jiannan stood outside the temple and called out. It was noon, and the incense guests had long since dispersed for their meals. Xiang Jiannan had been sitting outside the gate, flipping through the scripture for over an hour, and he felt that time had flown by.

Perhaps to avoid unnecessary trouble, the two who came to deliver the silver were not bald. They had fair complexions and the air of somewhat frail scholars. Both looked to be in their early twenties. The older-looking one carried a blue cloth bag and stated their purpose upon meeting.

They were from Baofu Temple, here to see the Master of Ping’an Temple, Gao Yu’an.

Baofu Temple was the name of the temple in the county. The duo delivering the message did not shy away from using Gao Yu’an’s name.

“Coming, coming, I’m coming, my disciple,”

His legs moved quickly beneath his Taoist robe. Gao Yu’an was very excited when he heard Xiang Jiannan call out to him, answering repeatedly as he came. He even lifted his feet higher than usual when crossing the threshold.

Two days, a full two days! Who knew how this old Taoist had endured these past two days step by step!

No matter what he said, his disciple would respond with silence. Because he was in the wrong, he could only bear it with heartache. Today, he finally heard him speak first. This feeling was more joyful than a hundred taels of silver.

One tael more is more, one tael less is less. One hundred taels of silver was just right to accurately measure the joy in his heart.

“Disciple.”

“Hmph!”

He had intended to use this as a starting point to break the cold war between master and disciple. However, after leaving the gate of Ping’an Temple, Gao Yu’an was quickly rebuffed again. When he asked Xiang Jiannan in an almost ingratiating tone, the latter immediately turned away and let out a cold “Hmph,” shattering his wishful thinking.

His disciple was still holding a grudge. The way his small body turned was very much like his own back in the day.

“I am Gao Yu’an, the Master of Ping’an Temple.”

With a hint of embarrassment, Gao Yu’an looked at the two below the steps, trying his best to maintain his aura as he spoke.

What harm was there in being seen? This was what made his Ping’an Temple different. Between Master and disciple, there were never so many rules.

Mostly because there were few people. If they were too strict, he was afraid the other party would run away.

“We two were sent by Baofu Temple. Xiaoneng and Xiaoli, we greet you, Old Taoist Priest.”

Somewhat curious about the identities of Gao Yu’an and Xiang Jiannan, the one named Xiaoli had many complaints in his heart. The younger one looked more like a Master. In their temple, a disciple who showed such disrespect would have been punished long ago.

Giving his Master the cold shoulder, and in front of outsiders, no wonder the Taoists of the Great Zhou Dynasty could never compare to them monks.

They had no manners at all; it was truly laughable.

“Xiaoneng, Xiaoli? Are you two brothers?”

Attracted by the duo’s strange names, Xiang Jiannan couldn’t help but turn around and ask. In this Great Zhou Dynasty, was there even a surname Xiao? These two were probably using their childhood names. What was their relationship with Baofu Temple? Could they be bodyguards?

Their physique didn’t look like it. Otherwise, they were old acquaintances of Baofu Temple, like incense guests or something.

“We are fellow disciples. We two are monks from Baofu Temple.”

“Oh, lay disciples.”

Suddenly realizing, after hearing the duo say they were monks from Baofu Temple, Xiang Jiannan immediately understood. The Buddhist sect had always had the tradition of recruiting lay disciples. Even in this Great Zhou Dynasty, it was no exception.

“We are not lay disciples. Taoist Priest, you have misunderstood.”

Reaching out to tug at his hair, the one named Xiaoli seemed anxious to explain. As his fingers forcefully grabbed, the hair roots that were originally close to his scalp were pulled up in a clump, revealing several neat ordination scars. He then quickly let go, allowing the hair to cover them again.

It was a wig. Their Master had given it to them before they left. This time, delivering the silver was of great importance. They absolutely could not let more people know they were bald.

“Two Masters, please have some tea.”

After welcoming the duo to the backyard of Ping’an Temple, Xiang Jiannan still hadn’t recovered from the self-proving act of the monk Xiaoli. Wearing a wig without saying so earlier was truly shocking. He thought the monk was going to self-harm. The moment the wig was lifted, Xiang Jiannan’s heart had jumped.

Now, looking at the duo again, he automatically imagined them bald. Without the wigs, these two monks looked even more handsome. Their aura was there.

“Thank you, two Taoist Priests.”

Having already handed the cloth bag to Gao Yu’an, the two monks were not in a hurry to drink tea. After thanking them softly, they waited for Gao Yu’an to give them a reply.

Their Master had said that they were not allowed to leave without a reply. If the Taoist didn’t agree, they had to remember to take the silver back. Seeing the old Taoist’s solemn expression, the two exchanged a look and waited quietly.

“May I ask, Great Dharma Monk, what is your relationship with them?”

The three of them sitting together felt awkward. Xiang Jiannan broke the silence first. His Master was currently pondering something, turning his back to them and not speaking for a long time. As the next Master of Ping’an Temple, he still had to observe the proper etiquette.

“Master Dharma is our Martial Uncle. You must be Taoist Priest Xiang here.”

He was not as cold as when they first arrived at the temple. When he heard Xiang Jiannan call their Martial Uncle “Great Dharma Monk,” the expressions of the two monks changed slightly.

What a rude Taoist! No wonder Master Dharma was furious after returning that day. He didn’t dare say much to Zen Master Lekong, and in the end, he could only vent his anger on them juniors. If their Master hadn’t stepped forward to protect them in time, the ones coming to Ping’an Temple today would definitely not be them two.

In the area of tormenting people, Martial Uncle Dharma’s methods were always very clever. Looking at the entire Baofu Temple, no one could surpass him.

“Understood.”

Feeling that the Dharma names of the monks in Baofu Temple were too interesting, Xiang Jiannan could only take a sip of tea first. Great Dharma, Xiaoneng, these Dharma names were too casual. The Dharma name of Monk Lekong was good, but unfortunately, the cultural heritage hadn’t been passed down. Could it be that they changed abbots midway?

Completely ignorant of the rules of the temple, Xiang Jiannan could only guess to himself as he drank water. He was also waiting for his Master to make a decision. The longer it took, the more uneasy he felt.

True rejection didn’t require any thought. When those girls rejected him, they were very decisive. Based on his decades of life experience, the longer one thought, the greater the variables. Moreover, his Master had always been easily defeated by money and silver. There was no such thing as a test. The moment he encountered it, he would immediately surrender.

This time, it could actually be considered pushing the limits.

“This old Taoist has thought it through. On the ninth day of next month, I will attend the Fahua Assembly on time.”

He hadn’t even had a few sips of his tea when Xiang Jiannan saw his Master suddenly turn around. With a rustling sound, he poured all the silver from the cloth bag onto the table. Then, he took out a few Peace Talismans from his sleeve:

“This old Taoist will keep this silver for now. In exchange, I’ll give you some Peace Talismans.”

“No need, Old Taoist Priest, you should keep them for yourself.”

Having received Gao Yu’an’s affirmative reply, the two monks were no longer willing to take his Peace Talismans. Their temple also had such things. If they brought them back, they would be ridiculed by their fellow disciples. As monks, what would they do with a Taoist’s Peace Talismans?

“No, this old Taoist never takes advantage of you monks.”

Ignoring the two monks’ repeated refusals, Gao Yu’an quickly put away the Peace Talismans and tied the cloth bag again. When he handed it to the monk Xiaoneng, his tone was generous, and he instructed them not to be embarrassed by this matter:

“This old Taoist’s Peace Talismans are thirty taels each. We are all cultivators, so don’t be so formal. If you really feel embarrassed, when we meet next time, just make up for the extra silver. Seeing how lightly you’re traveling, you don’t look like you can come up with any extra silver.”