Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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In the next few days, the news that there were no mosquitoes in Baoyang Temple spread by word of mouth, spreading wider and wider around, shocking many visitors. They tried to find a mosquito in Baoyang Temple but failed without exception.
Zhang Daoting used every opportunity to promote other talismans because he was controlling the sales of mosquito repellent talismans. There were also other talismans that interested people would buy. It was said that they could cure minor ailments such as hiccups and children crying at night.
There were many people who bought this kind of miscellaneous talisman. They all had a mentality that if they bought home talismans or amulets, they were not only so expensive, but it was also difficult to know whether they had any effect, but that was not the same with these miscellaneous talismans.
Some people had also asked about other talismans, especially those for wealth and love, but unfortunately, there was no research on these in the Baoyang Temple lineage.
Their ancestor, Wang Lingguang, was good at exorcising evil spirits and curing diseases, and the skills collected by Baoyang Temple’s ancestors during their travels were all in this area. After all, no one was truly omniscient and omnipotent.
In Xie Lingya’s words: “If I knew how to do it, I would first put one on our Taoist temple. It’s too damn poor!”
After many people bought the talisman, the first thing they did was not use it according to the method but take a picture and send it on online social platforms. People who did this basically didn’t believe in it and posted it with a happy attitude.
Then they would add a sentence like this: “This small Taoist temple is very interesting. There is not a single mosquito here. It is said that it has a special mosquito repellent talisman… I bought one out of curiosity!”
But the effect of this talisman would not change because of their disbelief – as long as it was not left there to gather dust but was attached or worn according to the prescribed way.
As a result, scenes unfolded in the homes of people who were most densely distributed around Baoyang Temple: The husband who had been hiccupping stopped five minutes after applying the talisman: “Damn it, I really don’t hiccup anymore.”
He had a headache and a sore back, but the pain of the old man was relieved a lot after applying the talisman.
A child who had trouble sleeping, as soon as they put a talisman on it, it slept and dreamt till about dawn.
….
So, many people’s latest post in their circle of friends became:
“Oh my god, this talisman really works. Can anyone explain the principle to me??”
“I used to be a proponent of science and against superstition, until I bought this thing [Covering my face]”
“Kneel down! I just bought it because the person selling it looked so handsome. It really doesn’t hurt that much anymore! Tell me it’s not a psychological effect!”
Before, it was still passed down by word of mouth, but now because the base had become larger and since a few people spread the word to friends and online groups, the rate of spread increased exponentially.
If it were just a talisman, people who saw it would only feel it was a coincidence or a psychological suggestion and would not take it seriously. After all, it was just a minor problem. There was no way to explain this kind of thing. Many times, it may work if you believe it, but it won’t work if you don’t believe it.
But there was another important point this time, that was, the original intention of the person who bought the talisman was to visit a Taoist temple without mosquitoes!
There were no mosquitoes in this Taoist temple!
The absence of mosquitoes had nothing to do with whether you believed it or not. They were clearly there just for fun.
As a result, Baoyang Temple and its characteristics came into the view of some Qiyang citizens.
The address of Baoyang Temple was right next to Jingui Pedestrian Street and Liming Square. Many people may just be amazed after seeing it and guess what methods the Taoist temple used to get the land there, but they also remembered this place firmly and even thought about passing by it next time, to go in there and see if there were really no mosquitoes.
There were also some people who had had similar experiences themselves or had relatives and friends who were willing to believe that there were very few goddesses and gods in modern cities, but there were many in the past, especially in rural areas, where medical conditions were underdeveloped, so many people went to such strange people for treatment.
Even today, there were still such masters, but few people knew about them, so you may need to inquire about it. Maybe, this Taoist temple was like this.
Some people even thought after seeing such news: Isn’t this the same Taoist temple that we used to fetch water for free from? It’s just over the pedestrian street. I only knew that the water was delicious before. Why is there such a strange thing now?
In any case, the reputation of Baoyang temple grew rapidly in just half a month and was much higher than before.
According to statistics, the number of believers had increased to dozens. It was still a bit difficult for people without faith to become believers. Even among the dozens of people, only some had never had religious beliefs. Because the talisman had been efficacious, these people tried to believe in it.
Nowadays, most of the incense came from passers-by, but these believers would be the regular source of incense in the future.
….
Besides, after Xie Lingya had a night’s rest, the next day he made a paper bag with yellow paper and wrote Ding Aima’s birthday and name on it. This was to ensure that the incense paper money would reach Ding Aima. And it would not be intercepted by other lonely ghosts.
Xie Lingya filled the paper bag with paper money and lit it together with the incense candle.
A few days later, Xie Lingya passed by the construction site and stopped by to see Ding Aima.
It was said that the construction site that was short of funds had restarted work, and it was estimated that there was money again, and Ding Aima’s figure was floating there alone among his former co-workers.
Because of Xie Lingya’s incense, Ding Aima’s figure became more condensed than before, and he could still speak.
“Taoist Master, thank you for the incense and paper money. I promise that I will never harm anyone here. I was just immature and idle in the past.” Ding Aima was finally able to speak, and he started to make promises as soon as he saw him. He secretly saw it that day Xie Lingya could be so cruel.
“Okay, but I’m not a Taoist priest, you can call me teacher.” Xie Lingya asked, “Can you tell me what’s wrong with you and why you don’t want to leave? Is it because you have a grudge against a useless death?”
Ding Aima said weakly: “No, I’m just afraid of death now…”
Xie Lingya: “???”
Xie Lingya: “What, you’re already dead.”
“But if I go through it again, I won’t even be conscious!” Ding Aima was really authentically sad, “I know, I didn’t rest well at that time, and fell to death in a daze. Fortunately, I turned into a ghost. If you leave the human world after salvation, wouldn’t it be the same as dying again? Once you close your eyes, you won’t know anything. What is that? The feeling always feels very scary…”
Xie Lingya: “…”
Ding Aima turned into a ghost at first because of his resentment on dying in vain, but now it had not dissipated because… he was afraid of “death”?
Ding Aima asked: “By the way, teacher, if the soul of the dead achieves salvation, does it go directly to reincarnation, or do we have to wait in line at the bottom? Do other ghosts also need to be saved? What does it feel like when it is saved? Am I the only one who thinks like this?”
Xie Lingya: “…”
Teacher, the teacher can’t answer!
Don’t call me teacher, call me classmate!
Xie Lingya originally wanted to persuade Ding Aima again, but now he was put down by his questions. After thinking for a long time, he said sadly: “I really don’t know. I’d better do this first. We at the Taoist temple would perform a ritual during the Ghost Festival. When the time comes to do the ritual, I will observe more and collect other ghost’s intentions.”
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