Chapter 124: New God Becomes the New God
In the eyes of these two, Gong Mengbi certainly wasn't an old friend. But in Gong Mengbi's eyes, he had indeed long admired his name and had a long-standing friendship.
When he was practicing in the county town, he heard a lot of stories about these two people.
It was still early when Gong Mengbi brought the five ghost gods to visit.
I first went to Taiqing Temple and handed in my visiting card. A moment later, Taoist Master Yao came to greet me in person.
"How come you have time to come to me today, fox fairy?" Taoist Master Yao invited him in and chatted with him as they walked.
Gong Mengbi took a small basket from Huang Changxia and handed it to Taoist Master Yao, saying, "I love the moonlight and the moon's dew. I often pick it and have a lot left. I thought of you and Zen Master Faming, my fellow Taoists, so I came to visit you."
Taoist Master Yao took the bamboo basket and felt a chill before he even touched the porcelain bottle filled with moon dew.
It is the hottest time of July, and although the heat still lingers, the cool breeze immediately gives us a feeling that autumn is approaching.
Taoist Master Yao laughed and said, "Last time we visited, we both left empty-handed. Now you've come to my door and brought me gifts. This really makes me ashamed."
Gong Mengbi laughed and said, "We are all neighbors. We should visit each other often."
Taiqing Temple has many pilgrims coming and going, and it is actually not a quiet place. Huaguang Temple is actually the same. Taoist Master Yao suggested going to Shuangye Pavilion for the beautiful scenery to view the scenery.
Gong Mengbi's real intention is not to drink, it's the same wherever he goes.
He then invited Zen Master Fa Ming to the Frost Leaf Pavilion to taste tea and discuss the Dao. They drank tea made from moon dew and had some snacks, while they spent time enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Frost Leaf Pavilion.
Taoist Master Yao said, "It's not even autumn yet, and the Frost Leaf Pavilion isn't at its most beautiful yet."
Gong Mengbi said, "Now the green shade is like clouds, and the mountain flowers are in full bloom. It is already extremely beautiful."
"When autumn arrives, the red leaves, after being frost-bitten, look like they're on fire, and the mountains and rivers are all ablaze with red. It's an extremely rare sight." Zen Master Fa Ming smiled as he sipped his tea and said, "Let's get together again when that time comes."
Gong Mengbi also smiled and said, "Good. It's thanks to the proper relief after the flood and the restoration of fertile land that we have this peace."
Talking about the flood, both of them were filled with emotion.
Even if the City God had not killed people, the population of Wuning County would be much smaller today.
Gong Mengbi said casually, "It is also thanks to the hard work of the two of you in guiding the souls of the dead and eliminating disasters that we can have peace and tranquility with the smooth flow of yin and yang."
Taoist Master Yao waved his hands repeatedly: "Young friend, you are really embarrassing me by saying that."
Zen Master Fa Ming said, "It's all part of our duty. How can we ignore it? It's tiring, but I'm willing to do it to accumulate good deeds. But now it's all good. The new City God has taken office and is reorganizing the yin and yang. There's no need for us to bother anymore."
Gong Mengbi was surprised and said, "Oh? So the new City God has taken office? I wonder which deity it is?"
Taoist Priest Yao said, "I only heard that he was a founding hero, and was worshipped with incense and sacrifices. Now he has taken up the position of City God of Wuning County."
Gong Mengbi was genuinely surprised. "After such great achievements in founding a nation, he ends up being a city god in our tiny Wuning County? Isn't that too much of a concession?"
Zen Master Fa Ming laughed. "He's not the founding general you're thinking of. He's probably a junior general, an assistant minister, or a military officer. A founding general will either ascend to heaven or become an official in the underworld. Even if he becomes a city god, he'll have to be the city god of a provincial capital to qualify."
Gong Mengbi laughed and said, "I've lived in the mountains for a long time and have little knowledge. I don't even know about such things. I haven't even paid my respects to the new City God since he took office."
Taoist Priest Yao said, "I just took office today. Even if you go, I'm afraid I won't be in the mood to receive you."
Zen Master Fa Ming said, "We will go together in a few days. After all, it is the righteous deity who has taken office, so we cannot be disrespectful."
Gong Mengbi said happily: "Well, then I, a wild fox, will benefit from your help."
"You are a fox fairy, why do you have to make fun of us?" Taoist Yao twirled his beard and shook his head with a smile.
Gong Mengbi asked again, "The City God has just taken office, but has the County Magistrate taken office yet?"
Taoist Master Yao said, "Well, I think your visit today was fake, but you were really asking for information."
Gong Mengbi smiled and said, "Who told you to live in the city? I live in the countryside."
Zen Master Fa Ming shook his head: "Slippery, slippery."
Although they said so, in reality, neither of them cared.
Taoist Priest Yao said, "The county magistrate took office even earlier. He arrived just after the imperial envoys arrived to provide disaster relief. He has been very benevolent since the beginning. I heard he was a good official recommended by the King of Wu."
Gong Mengbi laughed and said, "It's good to be a good official. People's livelihood is in decline and all industries need to be revived. If I'm not a good official, I'm afraid the people will be miserable."
I felt so much emotion at once.
After finding out the news, Gong Mengbi did not just leave. After all, tools also need to be taken care of. If they are annoyed, they will not be useful next time.
I still accompanied Taoist Master Yao and Zen Master Fa Ming to talk about Buddhism and Taoism, and told them what I saw and heard, and my insights into spiritual practice.
Gong Mengbi's cultivation in the form of a beast is different from that of ordinary people, but they complement each other and seem to have the same goal.
They agreed to visit the City God together three days later, and then they parted ways.
Three days later, Gong Mengbi arrived as promised, and the three of them visited the City God Temple together.
It is not easy to come during the day, and it is night when you come.
The ruins of the City God Temple have been rebuilt, and this reconstruction is much simpler and far less luxurious than before.
The incense offerings at the City God Temple are actually not as high as before. After the good deeds of the previous City God, it is now far from easy to win back the hearts of the people.
But Gong Mengbi and the other two still showed basic respect to him and did not act arrogantly just because he was weak now.
When they arrived, the gatekeeper went to report immediately, and the City God came to receive them in person with the civil and military judges.
The previous judge still had three divisions and six judges, but this time, there was only the Yin and Yang Division, which was responsible for civil and military affairs.
"It turns out that a Taoist master has come, bringing honor to our humble home." The City God came forward with a smile and invited the three people into the temple.
The City God's Domain, which was rebuilt at the junction of Yin and Yang, was no longer as large and luxurious as before. The palace was majestic, with only one courtyard and several deep houses.
The City God laughed and said, "Master Yao of Taiqing Temple and Master Faming of Huaguang Temple, am I mistaken?"
Taoist Master Yao said, "It's us."
The City God looked at Gong Mengbi, startled for a moment, then asked, "Who is this immortal friend? Forgive my poor eyesight, I didn't recognize him."
Gong Mengbi said, "I am Gong Mengbi, a student of the Heavenly Fox Academy. I am now in charge of the foxes in Wuning County. I am just a little wild demon."
Gong Mengbi was so modest, but the City God did not dare to look down on him. The students of Tianhu Academy were serious practitioners, and they could not be called wild demons.
"So it's Immortal Fellow Gong." The City God invited the three of them to sit down and said, "My mansion is newly built and is in a very poor state. I'm sorry to have caused you three to laugh at me."
Gong Mengbi said, "No, the City God has been busy sorting out the yin and yang since he took office. It's us three who are disturbing him."
The City God sighed, "If it weren't for the last one... well, let's not talk about him. I'm starting over from scratch now, which is incredibly difficult. Even the little ghost guarding the gate was a temporary addition. If I hadn't subdued two evil ghosts along the way and barely filled the role of civil and military judge of the Yin-Yang Division, I'm afraid things would be even more awkward."
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