Dust Devil

Qingping County, under the Izumo Mountain. The thatched eaves are low and the grass is green on the stream. “Hoo......” Slim Xu Yuan Chang, a mouthful of turbid air long and sheer spit out like a white mist, slowly opened his eyes, cheeks rosy, sickly face all faded away. He could not hide the joyful smile in his eyes, lifted his legs and got up out of bed, stretching his limbs can not speak of the use of comfort. Last night practicing the art of vomiting, surprised to find a sense of qi, this morning again vomiting, qi sense more and more obvious, on the mountain for ten years, finally to raise eyebrows, have the opportunity to become a formal disciple of the cloud view. Casually pick up the old wooden chair folded neatly on the short gray cloth Taoist robe, shake open to wear on the body. Half squatting down, incorporating the pants into the sock tube, using the cloth belt to tie the legs finely, changing into a pair of new cloth shoes with rounded mouths that he could not afford to wear, scooping up the water to wash up, and rearranging his hair to pull it back into a Taoist bun, the whole person was refreshed and rejuvenated. Pulling open the door of the room, he easily walked out. Early in the morning, Izumo Mountain is filled with mist, ancient trees are lush and green, and birds are singing. Rugged trail on the face of a green-robed Taoist priest, about thirty years old, white face, short beard, face is expressionless. The green-robed Taoist priest stops his footsteps, surveyed a glance to avoid the mountain road beside the salute of Xu Yuanchang, said: “Locke deacon asked me to notify you, you can no longer be competent to serve as a servant in the outer courtyard, go to the squatter's courtyard to settle the wages, today go down the mountain to go away.” The tone of voice is indifferent, finished that is to go. Halfway up the mountainside came a long copper bell ringing, Taoist temple morning class is over, will open breakfast. Xu Yuan Chang froze for a moment, called out, “Lu steward, I cultivate the sense of qi .......” Walked out a few steps away from the land steward, did not turn around, coldly said: “So what? Someone told you that you are afraid to work and lazy, light and heavy, you are already over eighteen years old, go down the mountain.” Said without any room for accommodation. Worthy of cultivation of Taoist children, as early as three years on the mountain will find the sense of qi to stand out, after the age of fifteen, even if you can cultivate the sense of qi, is classified as a poor material, it is difficult to lead qi into the body across the threshold of the “refinement of the essence of qi” to become a formal cultivator. It is not uncommon to see a servant with a sense of qi in a Taoist temple, except that his strength increases and he can eat a few more bowls of dry rice. It's nothing. Xu Yuan Chang stood up, put the account book into his arms, hands propped up on the table, leaned over and stared at the opposite side of the most money owed Yang Laowu, said: “Three years ago, you first borrowed fifty copper from me, to go to the town of ‘Golden Willow House’ gambling, you pressed the handprints on the ledger, as well as you guys, not to go to the town to drink wine, or gambling to listen to the opera, a pen has been written on the account book, really make a mess with the Qing Law Courts to settle the accounts with you, the errand do not want to do it? And you, you either went to town to drink or gamble at the opera, and you wrote it all down in the account book, so if you really get into trouble, the Qing Law Courts will settle the score with you, and you don't even want to do your job. Do you want to be punished?” He is no longer a weak and fossilized original owner, now even more barefoot not afraid to wear shoes, looking around the crowd, imposing and tough. It is these dirty goods, oppressing the original master the most. Of course, with the outer court turned a blind eye and let it go, not unrelated. On the side of the hemp old three eyeballs a turn, busy rise to smile: “Xu brother, please tolerate two days, we raise money to pay you back, good and good break up.” He also pressed the handprints on the account book once, I did not expect the slug like a soft guy, before leaving so hard, take it out as evidence. Yang Lao Wu also reacted, coaxed with good words and said to return the money, but have to give time. They do not want to lose their job as a servant in the outer courtyard of the Outer Cloud View, much less pay back the money. Xu Yuan Chang pushed away the palm on his shoulder, turned around and went out the door, and called out towards the table next door that was having a meal, “Steward Lu, someone owes money and won't pay it back, but please make a decision .......” He wasn't stupid, which would believe in the delaying tactics of Yang Laowu and the others. Anyway, he had already been fired, so he would pull his face down and make a scene. If the steward Lu is to make peace, he will go to the deacon Luo, go to the Taoist masters, this time do not make a mess more wait for what time? Yang Laowu, Ma Laosan a few people chased after, see the table steward are looking over, Lu steward eyes especially harsh, busy pulling even said: “pay back the money, immediately raise money to pay you back.” They almost shouted master, to make such a big fuss? Other people in the kitchen with rice bowls out, a farce to watch with great interest. When the sun rose three rods high, Xu Yuanchang carried a rough cloth bag, with an old mahogany sword slung around his waist, and descended the mountain along the babbling brook. Old accounts settled, his footsteps light and fast, straight to the mountain under the pagoda.