CHAPTER 406: CHAPTER 402: TOO PROUD OF WOMEN

Every winter marks the busiest time for Qin Liuxi, who is engaged in preserving winter snow for brewing wine and carrying out charitable deeds at the Daoist Temple. This year is no exception and has been even busier than before.

Teaching disciples, refining medicine, crafting talismans, and attending to the business matters of the shop, all day long she was so busy that she had no time for the genteel art of burying snow to brew wine.

On this day, Qin Liuxi administered acupuncture to the Song siblings and adjusted their prescriptions.

"For the General, sticking to this prescription for half a year should suffice. As for Lady Song, continue for ten more days before switching to this Peace Formula."

After a major upheaval, Song Liu’s whole person seemed thinner than before, her eyes deeply sunken and somewhat dim and lusterless.

Her look was that of one whose spirit had dried up.

Song Liu’s gaze at Qin Liuxi was indescribably complex—seeming sad and annoyed, and seemingly harboring grievance as well.

Qin Liuxi’s gaze in response was serene and unrippled, calm as a mirror’s surface.

Feeling the impact of that look, Song Liu lowered her head.

Song Ye thanked her with a bow and glanced at his sister, addressing Qin Liuxi, "Thanks to your guidance last time, the villain from the Evil Path has been brought to justice. We’ve decided to bury the children’s bones in the location you identified for us. My sister has resolved to recuperate for two years in our ancestral home. I’d like to ask, after the burial, what more can we do for our children?"

"Do good deeds," said Qin Liuxi calmly. "Accumulate merit through good deeds. This merit will reflect back on you and benefit the children. Even if the children are reincarnated, having the merit of their parents from a previous life will make their reincarnation smoother, and they will be reborn into a good family, living a peaceful and joyful life."

Song Liu’s body quivered slightly.

"Then, our deepest thanks to you," said Song Ye.

He then pulled out a red envelope from his person and handed it to Qin Liuxi, saying, "We would also like to request you to light a few long-burning lamps."

Qin Liuxi pushed the envelope back and smiled lightly, "If you wish to light lamps, you can do so at Qingping Temple. Qingping Temple will soon be starting its winter almsgiving and free clinic. You can show a bit of kind-heartedness there as well."

Hearing this, Song Ye took back the red envelope, promising to attend, and then stood up to leave.

As Song Liu turned to leave, she paused after a few steps and deeply bowed to Qin Liuxi before she departed.

"Master, it seems that Lady Song holds some resentment," Teng Zhao remarked with a frown. "Hasn’t the Master helped them? Why would she harbor resentment in her heart?"

Qin Liuxi smiled faintly and replied, "Some people prefer to live in illusions, relishing a lifetime in a splendid lie that feels beautiful and happy. But once someone shatters this illusion, even if with good intentions, for those of such a disposition, it is a devastating disaster. Some will overcome and rise again, while others might succumb to despair and hopelessness."

She looked out the door, "Lady Song’s resentment stems from me shattering this beautiful lie she cherished, disrupting her peaceful life to confront harsh realities."

Teng Zhao furrowed his brow even deeper, asking, "Aren’t you upset?"

"There’s nothing to be upset about. Zhaozhao, there are myriad people in the world; not everyone will agree with or endorse your actions. I don’t mind this lack of approval, for I don’t seek it. I simply do what I must."

Teng Zhao was silent.

"Master, we have come again," Zhou Wei and Zhou Ning arrived with a respectful salute.

Qin Liuxi nodded with a smile.

"Master, you were truly accurate. My elder brother has been granted an official position," Zhou Ning reported joyfully.

Qin Liuxi saluted Zhou Wei in response: "Good people with great fortune ahead must engage more in good deeds. Qingping Temple will soon begin its winter almsgiving. Good people can also come to help or perform charitable works – these are all good deeds that accumulate merit."

Zhou Wei expressed his surprise, "I thought you would ask for a fee for Divining, after all, this is a business, isn’t it?"

"Business is business, but contributing believers to Qingping Temple is also my unquestionable duty," Qin Liuxi said with a smile.

Zhou Wei raised an eyebrow.

Qin Liuxi looked at Zhou Ning and added, "Miss, your complexion looks much better. Let me administer acupuncture one more time, and with two more doses of medicine, good news will follow."

Zhou Ning’s heart soared with joy, she touched her face and said, "Then let’s rush to get the acupuncture?"

Zhou Wei saw his sister’s eagerness and frowned slightly, but he said nothing there, only telling Qin Liuxi that they should go to that elegant room for Enlightenment.

Qin Liuxi had Teng Zhao lead Zhou Wei to the Daoist Room, while she herself took Zhou Ning to the back hall’s elegant compartment for acupuncture.

Right after the session, Chen Pi reported that Yu Qiucai had arrived with his family.

Qin Liuxi suggested Zhou Ning too could go for quiet meditation in the elegant room and walked to the front of the store, indeed, there Yu Qiucai was with his wife and daughter, Yu Yun Die, admiring the carved decorations of the store.

When they entered moments ago, a shop assistant had announced: "This shop offers exorcism and ghost hunting, medical consultation and talismans, all ensuring safety," almost making them think they had taken the wrong path.

As expected of a master, even the business she runs is unlike ordinary people.

"Sister Qin." Yu Yun Die saw her and flew over like a little sparrow.

She knew from her parents that Qin Liuxi was a female Daoist; since they were both ladies, there was no need for much guardedness.

"Had it not been for father, I wouldn’t have known that you were a female Daoist," Yu Yun Die said, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she gazed at Qin Liuxi.

Qin Liuxi was young, skilled in medicine, good at Mystical Technique, and a lady too, truly a credit to women.

"Die’er, do not be rude," Mrs. Yu chided softly, apologizing to Qin Liuxi: "Master, my daughter is unladylike, please excuse her."

Qin Liuxi shook her head with a smile: "Miss Yu is just at an innocent and frank age, very pure and straightforward."

Yu Qiucai responded, "If she were half as composed as the master, we would literally wake from our dreams laughing."

"If I had grown up doted on by parents like Miss Yu, perhaps I’d have a similar disposition."

Yu Qiucai and his company thought of Qin Liuxi’s background and gave a light cough.

Yu Yun Die had already handed over a greaseproof paper bag to Qin Liuxi: "Sister Qin, this is a new snack I’ve developed, it’s a baked pastry made from cow’s milk, eggs, and flour. Please have a taste."

Qin Liuxi, taken aback, opened the greaseproof package and took out a small biscuit, her thoughts suddenly freezing.

"Do you not like it, sister?" Yu Yun Die asked cautiously.

"Not at all, I just think Miss Yu is very capable," Qin Liuxi explained with a smile. She just felt she had tasted better and more delicious biscuits before but had forgotten where.

Yu Yun Die looked wilted and said, "You can call me by my name, Miss Yu sounds too distant."

Mrs. Yu’s face hardened, and she said, "Die’er, you’re becoming more and more thoughtless."

"Mrs. Yu, no harm done, Yu... Yun Die just has a pure heart," Qin Liuxi corrected herself, honestly, she was a bit uncomfortable with such familiarity.

Yu Qiucai and his wife immediately perceived Qin Liuxi’s discomfort and struggle, and seeing their daughter’s carefree laughter only added to their headache.

"Master, I am also nearly five months along now, could you please check my Peace Pulse?" Mrs. Yu touched her slightly protruding belly and deliberately changed the topic.