Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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After Xie Lingya finished his report, he took out the scriptures.
According to the ancestors of Baoyang Temple, the docile dragon was a demon, unlike Liu Lingtong and the others, and therefore required enlightenment through Taoist scriptures to help it understand the Tao and its principles.
Xie Lingya rarely preached within the temple, or rather, he rarely did; instead he spent his limited time studying Taoist practices. He had however shared some insights when visiting other Taoist temples.
It was still early morning, not a significant day, and no believers had come. Although Baoyang Temple was open, those inside were mostly tea drinkers fetching water. Because Baoyang Temple limited the number of people fetching water, as its fame grew, those who wanted to continue fetching water from Baoyang Spring had to arrive early.
Xie Lingya said, “Since you’ve followed me, you’ve entered Baoyang Temple. Let me first tell you about Lingzu. Lingzu is the Taiyi Thunder God Yinghua Tianzun, who received the Dharma from Sa Shoujian, the ancestor of the Dao. He is the foremost protector of our Daoist sect…”
After praising Lingzu, he began to recite the *Heart Sutra* spoken by Laozi, “Laozi said: ‘From countless eons, I have observed the mind and attained the Dao, even to the point of nothingness. What have I gained? For the sake of all sentient beings, I forcibly call it attaining the Dao.'” The clever dragon, naturally possessing enlightenment, knew this was a great benefit. His head, no longer drooping, was now raised, listening intently.
The meaning of that sentence was that Laozi had experienced countless ages; countless eons was the time when a world returned to its origin. He attained the Dao through observing the mind, yet it seemed he gained nothing. This sutra teaches the foundation of Daoist cultivation; without understanding the mind, all cultivation is in vain.
Xie Lingya spoke freely, his thoughts flowing naturally.
Meanwhile, the tea drinkers in the temple noticed that Xiao Xie was giving a sermon this morning. Those who knew Xie Lingya well only knew that he was Zhang Daoting’s senior brother and the actual head of Baoyang Temple. Xie Lingya only showed up at Dharma assemblies; so him giving a sermon was a rare occurrence, leading many to believe he mostly managed worldly affairs. However, they later learned of the incident and heard that Xie Lingya had influence in the provincial Taoist Association and Longhu Mountain, perhaps a hidden talent!
Hearing the faint sound of sermons, and out of boredom, they went to investigate. Then when they learned it was Xie Lingya giving the sermon, the tea drinkers became curious. They might not care about other Taoist priests, but since it was Xie Lingya, they were genuinely interested.
Having frequented Taoist temples for a long time, the tea drinkers knew the proper etiquette and stood quietly outside the hall to watch.
Some wondered, since Xie Lingya was giving a sermon without anyone in front of him, yet he did recite the sutra once before beginning his explanation— who was he speaking to?
The snake remained motionless in its teacup, so it wasn’t until a while that a tea drinker noticed it. The snake, about the length of a finger, was upright, facing Xie Lingya, barely moving, seemingly listening to his lecture!
It even had a place to stay, not appearing to have slipped in from elsewhere. Could it be that Xie Lingya was lecturing for it?
The tea drinkers were shocked by their own thoughts, but then quickly dismissed them as unlikely— too bizarre.
The next moment, someone sighed. Everyone looked at him, but he shook his head. “Well said, the mind is the root of all evil, the mind is the source of all truth!”
With that, he stepped into the hall and knelt on the stool next to Xie Lingya, listening intently.
Those behind him gaped, some wanting to call out to him, but then fell silent. Those who weren’t believers could simply watch from the outside; this man’s entry to listen meant he had gained some insight and wanted to follow the Tao.
A sudden realization struck them: That’s it! Xiao Xie almost never preaches. He’s not preaching here today because he’s bored, nor is he preaching to that little snake; he’s preaching to someone with a predestined connection!
Look, isn’t this someone with a predestined connection? Perhaps Xiao Xie is waiting for him— it’s like Jiang Taigong fishing[1]— the willing take the bait. And judging from this, Xiao Xie’s skill is indeed very high.
They whispered among themselves, all marveling at their own guesses. What a mysterious and profound event! This morning was truly worthwhile.
Everyone felt they had witnessed a wondrous event in Taoism and decided not to leave too quickly after fetching water. They would share it with others, spread the word, and ask the tea drinker who went in what he thought.
….
The tea drinkers, feeling it inappropriate to discuss this at the entrance, went to the front yard, some even posting on their WeChat Moments.
Zhang Daoting, who overheard the conversation, was also filled with reverence. He went to the Lingzu Hall and, sure enough, saw Teacher Xie preaching to someone; it was already coming to an end.
Several tea drinkers were patiently waiting at the door to see the ending. When Xie Lingya finished speaking and stood up, the so-called destined tea drinker also stood up, bowed to Xie Lingya to thank him, and then left.
The tea drinkers surrounded the person with a predestined connection, while Zhang Daoting went inside to ask Xie Lingya, “Teacher Xie, are you really… waiting here for someone with a predestined connection?”
What person with a predestined connection? He’d only been in the hall for a few minutes, and already there were new stories he didn’t know about?
Xie Lingya said, “What connection?”
He was just giving the little dragon a lesson, guiding its nature. If that tea drinker wanted to come in, could he really turn him away?
Zhang Daoting weakly said, “I heard it from someone. If you weren’t waiting for someone with a predestined connection, you could just chant scriptures. Why are you still giving a lecture in the hall? Who are you lecturing to?”
Xie Lingya said with a forced smile, “Can’t I report my learning progress to the Spirit Ancestor?”
Zhang Daoting: “…………”
Zhang Daoting was speechless. He looked at the statue of the Spirit Official and then at Xie Lingya and suddenly felt that it made a lot of sense.
Oh right, who said he had to give a lecture to someone else? Maybe it was a report to the Spirit Ancestor.
Seeing Zhang Daoting’s expression, Xie Lingya flicked his forehead. “Who infected you with this idiot look? Of course I’m giving a sermon to the little dragon!”
Zhang Daoting rubbed his forehead: “…”
He had genuinely overlooked the little guy!
Turning his head, he saw that the little dragon was still wriggling in the horn cup. Given Xie Lingya’s protective nature, what was strange about him giving a sermon to his pet snake? He hadn’t even thought of such a simple thing. It was all because…
Zhang Daoting suddenly remembered and said with a black line, “Because the tea drinkers outside are discussing that you, Teacher Xie, are waiting for a destined person.”
Xie Lingya stepped out of the side hall and happened to see Shi Changxuan walking over. He grumbled, “Teacher’s destined person is over there.”
Zhang Daoting: “Huh?”
Xie Lingya: “Can’t you understand?”
Zhang Daoting thought dejectedly. He seemed to have heard Teacher Xie say that his destined person was Daoist Shi, but he just didn’t understand what that meant. Was it a brotherly bond?
….
The next day, news that Master Xie of Baoyang Temple had been preaching in the Lingguan Hall early in the morning to attract those with predestined affinity spread among the believers and even showed a tendency to spread outwards. Because Baoyang Temple’s standards had previously been recognized by professionals, the story was well-received.
As for the little snake in the story, after changing hands twice, it completely disappeared from its role as a minor character that caused misunderstandings, vanishing without a trace. The tea drinker’s name wasn’t publicized; he was simply referred to as “Tea Drinker So-and-So.” Some even added details, like the tea drinker suddenly feeling as if struck by a thunderbolt, entering a profound and mysterious state, and unknowingly walking into the main hall…
“What the hell? A thunderbolt is a Buddhist Zen story!” Xie Lingya exclaimed, seeing a follower who had added him on WeChat sharing this story on their Moments. “If he hadn’t written about a thunderbolt, I would have liked it.”
Hai Guanchao almost choked. “Master, are you really that supportive?”
“Why should I refuse free publicity?” Xie Lingya unconsciously pinched the snake’s tail.
Hai Guanchao, seeing him treating the dragon like a phone charm, and remembering how he’d been scared away without even touching it, awkwardly moved away. “By the way, you said the dragon could give you a buff? You still haven’t explained how?”
That night, everyone saw they were quite tired and didn’t want to disturb them too much.
Speaking of this, Xie Lingya was also a little puzzled. “I saw in the notes that it only says our ancestor uses thunder magic, and the little dragon will assist him, but it doesn’t describe it in detail. I’m also wondering what kind of assistance it is. Is it like summoning clouds and rain?”
Hai Guanchao said with great interest, “That powerful? Can we try it?”
Using a thunder talisman here would probably get the police uncle coming immediately. Xie Lingya thought for a moment, then pulled the little dragon off his wrist and held it in his palm. “I can’t use a thunder talisman right now. Little dragon, show me, and let Master Hai see what kind of cheat our ancestor has arranged.”
How could the guidance from the ancestor be wrong?
The little dragon seemed not to understand, staring at him with wide eyes in his palm.
Xie Lingya pinched its body. “Come on, let it rain!”
The little dragon arched its body, pretending to exert force, and suddenly opened its mouth towards the sky—
Xie Lingya held his breath and stared, his heart filled with excitement. Is this what it feels like to summon wind and rain? It’s pretty cool!
A moment later, the sky returned to its usual stillness, and a few drops of saliva sprayed from Xiao Guai’s mouth, one of which landed on Xie Lingya’s palm.
….
Xie Lingya: “???”
What just happened? He couldn’t believe it!
Xiao Guai shook its head, seemingly quite satisfied.
“Hmm,” Hai Guanchao adjusted his glasses, his tone subtle, “Even non-venomous snake saliva has bacteria. Mr. Xie, wash your hands before you cry.”
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[1] The story of Jiang Taigong fishing (also known as Jiang Ziya or Tai Gong Wang) is a famous Chinese legend about a wise strategist who waited patiently to be discovered, using an unusual straight, baitless hook three feet above the water, symbolizing that worthy talent will eventually find its rightful place, and his unique method became an idiom for those “willing to be caught,” leading to his pivotal role in founding the Zhou Dynasty by helping overthrow the tyrannical Shang