Azure Cloud Temple sat halfway up Green‑Screen Mountain outside town.
It was not large, yet incense‑offerings poured in non‑stop.
Dressed in silk scholar‑robes, Shen Xian pretended to be a wealthy young nobleman from the prefectural city and climbed the stone steps fanning himself.
Lai Fu followed behind carrying a food‑box: pastries on top, two taels of broken silver hidden underneath.
At the temple‑gate, an acolyte with sharp eyes hurried forward upon seeing Shen Xian’s fine clothing.
“Believer, please enter.
The priest is holding a preaching‑ritual today; there are seats in the back rows.”
“I can hear the preaching later.” Shen Xian closed his folding‑fan.
“I have long heard of the priest’s divine foresight.
I have travelled a great distance to draw a fortune‑stick and have my character analysed.”
The young Taoist led him into a quiet chamber.
Presently Master Green‑Pine arrived.
The Taoist was in his fifties, sporting three long goatee‑strands, clad in crane‑patterned priest‑robes and star‑shaped crown.
Sitting there, he truly looked half‑immortal.
Shen Xian bowed in greeting.
The priest merely nodded, looked Shen Xian up and down, then suddenly frowned.
“Believer, your brow is dark.” The priest opened straight‑away.
“Have you suffered misfortunes lately, tossing and turning at night?”
*What a generic opening line.
If everyone’s brow is dark in your eyes, you ought to cut the power in this room.*
Shen Xian put on an awestruck expression.
“Divine priest, your foresight is amazing!
I have indeed…”
“Write one character, and I shall analyse your fate.”
Shen Xian pretended to ponder, then wrote the character **fish**.
The priest stared at the written character for a moment and stroked his beard.
Believer, your troubles revolve around ‘money’.
Have your business dealings been suppressed, leaving you gasping for breath?”
“Divine priest!
You can even see that?!” Shen Xian nearly leaped to his feet, acting with Oscar‑worthy skill.
“Yu (fish) sounds the same as yu (surplus).
One seeking surplus lacks it.” Master Green‑Pine smiled, then shifted his tone.
“But take heart, believer.
In three days I shall hold a grand ritual to exorcise the county‑wide demon disaster.
If you donate incense‑money, I may light a special longevity‑lamp for you alone, guaranteeing your fortunes will turn within the year, bringing you abundant fish and treasure.”
“How much incense‑money is required?”
“Sincerity makes it efficacious.” The priest held up one finger.
“One lamp normally costs one hundred taels.
Seeing your sincere heart, I shall give you a discount: eighty taels.”
Shen Xian drew a sharp breath, then put on an expression of painful yet devout resolve.
He pulled out a bank‑note and presented it with both hands.
“Eighty taels!
That is almost my entire fortune!
I beg the priest for protection!”
The priest accepted the bank‑note, barely concealing the corners of his smile, yet maintaining solemn dignity.
“Your sincere heart is noted.
Attendant — bestow the pills.”
A young Taoist carried over a silk‑brocade box holding three Vital‑Nourishing Pills.
Shen Xian received it with deep gratitude and prepared to take his leave.
Half‑way to the door he turned back and asked seemingly casually:
“Divine priest.
When I entered the city I heard rumours of ‘green eyes’ on the river‑bed.
You are widely‑travelled — what kind of demon could that be?”
Master Green‑Pine picked up his teacup and blew across the foam.
“A river demon.
I have already divined its origin.
On the forty‑ninth day after the grand ritual commences, I shall capture and subdue it.”
“O‑oh.” Shen Xian drew out the syllable.
“That would be wonderful.
By‑the‑by priest, I have a strange hobby of collecting curiosities.
I heard those ‘green eyes’ on the river‑bed are actually bamboo‑tubes filled with glow‑moss‑powder.
I wonder if you happen to own any?
I would pay a high price.”
*Clink.*
The teacup lid knocked against the rim, giving a sharp small sound.
Master Green‑Pine lifted his gaze and properly studied this young man for the first time.
Shen Xian wore a harmless smile, standing in the doorway with sunlight streaming from behind him, hiding his features.
“Believer, you jest.” The priest spoke slowly.
“I have cultivated the Dao for forty years and have never heard of such bamboo‑tubes.”
“Quite right, it was rude of me to bring it up.” Shen Xian cupped his hands and backed toward the exit.
“I shall definitely attend your ritual in three days.
Perhaps then we shall see the ‘genuine remains’ of the river‑bed bamboo‑tubes.
After all, when you capture a demon you ought to display its relics, should you not?”
He turned and departed with light footsteps.
Inside the chamber, Master Green‑Pine stared fixedly at the doorway for a long time, then raised his voice: “Qing‑Feng!”
The young acolyte hurried in.
“Master?”
“The goods stored in the rear‑mountain cave.” The priest lowered his voice to a whisper.
“Transfer everything tonight at midnight.
Leave nothing behind.”