Life is often filled with partings.
The next day.
When the God of Wealth from the North Road strolled to the front hall, he discovered that Qian Jin was already waiting inside the hidden magic array, intently watching a female worshipper who had just stepped into the hall.
The woman had her hair piled high in the clouds, and wore a long, flowing brocade dress. A delicate jade hairpin adorned her hair, its exquisite craftsmanship clearly indicating its high value.
She had a beautiful face, but a lingering melancholy hung between her brows.
"What are you looking at?" The God of Wealth from the North Road quietly walked up to Qian Jin and followed her gaze.
Qian Jin didn't turn her head, but muttered to herself, "Look, God of Wealth, this worshipper's hairpin alone is probably worth this much." She gestured, "Dressed so elegantly and with such a beautiful appearance, what troubles could she possibly have that require her to seek divine help? I'm really curious."
The God of Wealth of the North Road stroked his beard and chuckled, his voice gentle: "As the saying goes, the poor ask the rich, the rich ask the road ahead, and those with both money and a road ahead ask about their calamities. The troubles of the world are all different, how can they be concealed by outward splendor?"
"A calamity?" Qian Jin tilted her head, the word making her heart tighten inexplicably.
"Let's go, let's go listen together." The God of Wealth of the North Road flicked his sleeves, and a ripple like water swept by. The two figures completely merged into the air, with only the wisps of incense rising from the hall bearing witness to their existence.
The woman had already knelt on the prayer mat, her hands clasped together. She did not speak immediately, but kept her head bowed deeply, her shoulders trembling slightly. After a long while, a crystal tear fell onto the smooth, jade-like ground, spreading a small dark patch.
"I am Lin Wan," her voice choked with suppressed sobs, sounding particularly clear in the empty and silent hall, "I have not come today to seek wealth or a better future."
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength: "I've come here only to ask one question... Was it right or wrong for me to abandon him for wealth back then? Now he's destitute and frail, and I... I'm tormented, unable to rest day or night. If this is retribution, why doesn't it fall on me directly? I beg the God of Wealth... please show me the way..."
In the fragmented narrative, a long-forgotten story slowly unfolds. They were lovers who supported each other in their poverty, but the woman later coveted wealth and broke her vows, marrying a rich merchant. Now, having achieved wealth, she hears that her former lover is heartbroken, facing hardship and even serious illness because of her. Immense guilt and belated feelings gnaw at her heart day and night.
Qian Jin listened quietly, her eyes, which always shone with the light of spirit stones, now as calm as a deep pool. She watched as the woman wept uncontrollably, finally leaving behind a thick wad of gold notes as an offering, before staggering away.
The hall fell silent again, with only the faint crackling of burning incense and candles remaining.
"It seems... life is truly filled with partings." Qian Jin sighed softly, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy beyond her years. "When you gain something, you always lose something else; perfection is rare."
The God of Wealth from the North Road glanced at her, his eyes filled with knowing understanding: "Haha, you little girl, you see right through me. But aren't you the same? You just seem to have an extra fondness for money."
These words were like a key, gently unlocking the long-sealed door in Qian Jin's heart.
She paused for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice carried a sense of distant reminiscence: "Yes... but I really need the money."
“When I was little… my family was so poor.” Her gaze fell unfocused into the void, as if she saw herself from a long time ago. “I was probably three or four years old. My biological parents abandoned me at the gate of a small sect. They left me with nothing but tattered clothes, not even a letter.”
“The three men who found me were my later masters. Their sect…” Qian Jin said, a gentle smile curving his lips. “You might not believe it, but they weren’t much richer than me. My masters were three rough men, who never left that mountain village in their entire lives. But they gave me a home, and this name, Qian Jin.”
Her voice softened: "'Money' was the first master's idea. He said it was a bit vulgar, but it was sincere, and he hoped I would never lack money again. 'Brocade' was the idea that the second and third masters came up with after three days and three nights of thinking. They said that a girl should always have a good meaning, a bright future. This is probably the gentlest blessing that three rough old men could come up with."
"The sect was truly poor; even fasting pills were sometimes unavailable, and we often had to eat wild vegetables and cornbread. But my masters were extremely kind to me." Tiny glimmers of light flickered in her eyes. "My eldest master would secretly slip me the few spirit stones the sect had. My second master would clumsily weave a wreath for me with wildflowers from the mountain on my birthday. My third master had the worst temper, but every time I went down the mountain, he would secretly follow me a long way, afraid that the bad boys in town would bully me..."
“They taught me how to cultivate myself, but they never forced me to become an immortal. They always said, ‘Jin’er, find the way of life that you truly love, be happy and healthy, that’s better than anything else.’”
"Later, as I grew up, my appearance... became passable." Qian Jin touched his face, somewhat embarrassed. "There were indeed a few hotheads in the town at the foot of the mountain who would come to the sect to peek around, either stuffing wild fruits into my mouth or singing some off-key folk songs. My three masters were on high alert! My eldest master was furious, my second master was earnestly trying to persuade them, and my third master almost grabbed a broom and chased them away... They acted as if I were some rare treasure that anyone who looked at me for too long would have to snatch me away."
At this point, she and the God of Wealth from the North Road couldn't help but laugh. The laughter echoed in the empty hall, dispelling the sadness from before.
But the laughter quickly subsided. The smile on Qian Jin's face gradually faded, replaced by a deep sorrow.
"Later... in the mountains near our town, an extremely ferocious demon appeared out of nowhere and injured many people. The local gentry and wealthy families offered a large reward for someone to exorcise the demon. My three masters... took on this job."
Her voice became hoarse: "They weren't after the reward... they just couldn't bear to see their fellow villagers suffer. The wealthy man promised that he would not only give them the reward afterward, but also fund the repair of their sect and even build a shrine for them to enjoy the incense offerings."
"And then?" the God of Wealth of the North Road asked softly.
"And then... that was it." Qian Jin closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling. "The demon was gone, and my masters... were gone too. The wealthy man did pay the reward, but the repair of the sect and the construction of the shrine were delayed again and again. I guarded the memorial tablets of my masters, waiting and waiting, until I left that place in despair, and the temple, not a single brick or tile, was ever seen."
She suddenly opened her eyes, which were already brimming with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall: "At that time, I thought, why should I be a hero? Why don't good people get good rewards? The rich people are still living their comfortable lives as wealthy men, while I prayed in the temple for so long and kowtowed so many times, but the gods never responded to me! Not even once!"
"What did you ask for?" The voice of the God of Wealth of the North Road was calm and tolerant.
"What do I ask for?" Qian Jin's tears finally rolled down her cheeks, her voice trembling with sobs. "I don't want them to be heroes! I don't want any bounty! I just want my masters to come back to life! I just want them to return!"
The God of Wealth of the North Road sighed softly, a sigh that seemed to contain the power and compassion of a thousand years: "Alas... Heaven and earth have their rules, life and death are the cycle of the great Dao, even gods cannot easily reverse it. But how do you know that your masters have truly vanished completely?"
He gazed at the boundless sky outside the hall: "Their heroic act of sacrificing themselves to protect the people of that region is immeasurable. In my opinion, those three are probably already in some blessed land, serving as local deities to protect the community, or perhaps they have entered the cycle of reincarnation and received a better rebirth. Their 'existence' has never truly disappeared. They have simply changed their way of protecting the people and land they care about."
Qian Jin listened blankly, tears streaming down her face even more fiercely: "But...but what about the promised incense offerings? If they really become earth immortals, they'll still need incense offerings and prayers! I didn't see any when I left..."
"So that's why you're so desperate to get into the God of Wealth's Palace? You want to see how this place that controls the flow of wealth in the world actually works? You want to know why there is always injustice in the world? Why good deeds don't necessarily bring good rewards?" the God of Wealth of the North said knowingly.
Qian Jin nodded vigorously, then shook her head: "I used to. But now... I think I understand a little." She wiped away her tears, her eyes gradually becoming clear and firm. "God of Wealth, thank you. My knot in my heart... has finally been untied today."
She paused, a relieved yet resolute smile appearing on her face: "It seems I really won't be staying in the God of Wealth's Mansion for long."
"Oh? You've figured it out and you're leaving?"
"Yes!" Qian Jin nodded emphatically, his eyes sparkling with new ambition. "My wish has been fulfilled, and my heart's knot has been untied. I want to earn more money! Then, I'll go back to where I came from and build the most magnificent temple for my three masters! So they can rightfully enjoy the incense offerings and be worshipped by the local community!"
"Where can I find a better place to make money than our God of Wealth's mansion?" the God of Wealth of the North Road asked tentatively.
"Don't make fun of me. The money in our God of Wealth's Mansion can't be taken by just anyone." Qian Jin smiled slyly at the God of Wealth of the North Road.
"Good, good, good." The God of Wealth of the North Road said "good" three times, his eyes full of praise. "Your thoughts are clear, and your knowledge and actions are in harmony. The way of the God of Wealth is not to be confined to a palace or a temple. If you can break through the confusion in your heart and find your own path, that is the greatest enlightenment. Go, child, do what you want to do."
Just then, from behind the huge golden dragon pillar on one side of the hall, came a very faint inhale, which sounded like a sigh of relief, yet also carried a hint of inexplicable loss.
Qian Jinhe and the God of Wealth of North Road seemed to sense something and swept their gazes over.
Ao Ming awkwardly emerged from behind the pillar, his handsome face displaying a complex expression. His usually proud, azure eyes were now brimming with heartache, understanding, admiration, and a hint of... reluctance to see her leave.
Qian Jin raised an eyebrow at him.
Ao Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was speechless for a moment.
Just then, several heads began to peek out from behind the other pillars nearby.
Ban Ge scratched his messy hair, grinned, and revealed his sharp little tiger teeth; Da Qiangzi was wrapped around Lan Jie'er's wrist, tapping his chubby head; Tu Shan Lan smiled gently, her eyes filled with relief and encouragement.
Clearly, these guys eavesdropped on the whole thing.
Ao Ming and the others exchanged a glance and smiled somewhat embarrassedly, a warm and tacit atmosphere filling the air.
Just then, a celestial official secretary dressed in the robes of the Northern God of Wealth's Palace strode into the hall and bowed to the Northern God of Wealth, saying, "Reporting to the God of Wealth, the interrogation of the scribe celestial official named Lin Yuan has been completed."
Everyone's expressions turned serious, and their attention was drawn to it.
"According to his confession, he harbored resentment due to his lowly position and was tempted by the promise of great rewards and evil magic to enhance his power. This led him to secretly collude with the underworld, leaking information about the trade route and plotting the ambush at Black Wind Gorge. His aim was to disrupt the reopening of the trade route, create chaos, and facilitate the infiltration of underworld forces. The cunning demon accidentally stole his secret communication pouch with the underworld, which led to his murder. His immortal power has now been sealed, and he has been sent to the Heavenly Court's Judicial Hall for trial. The remaining bandits in Black Wind Gorge have also been eliminated, and the trade route is now unimpeded."
The God of Wealth of the North Road nodded: "That's very good, thank you for your hard work."
After the celestial official withdrew, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief; the crisis that had plagued the Northern Territory seemed to have been completely resolved.
However, Qian Jin frowned slightly. She stepped forward and said clearly to the God of Wealth of the North Road, "God of Wealth, I think there are still some people who haven't been dealt with yet."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
