Chapter 61

“He hasn’t been formally inducted with a Daoist cap and crown,” Master Qinghua explained.

“Ah, so that’s why,” Vice Mayor Xu said. “Then… should the Daoist Association arrange something for him, like a cap and crown ceremony?”

“He doesn’t want the initiation,” Qinghua said. “He wants to leave the mountain and enter society. Wild Hermits’ Temple is a privately held lineage temple, passed down from master to disciple, and is Nian Qi’s private property. Now, he’s transferring the Wild Hermits’ Temple to the Daoist Association, so it will become a communal temple under the Association’s management. All rights will belong to the Association.”

“From now on, the development of this site will be a collaborative effort between the Association and the government. Though Nian Qi is not an ordained disciple, he is still a member of the Daoist community. The Association will fully represent his rights.”

“Nothing strange about that,” Qinghua sighed, “He grew up isolated on the mountain, lacking basics like salt and clothing. Now that he has this chance to come down and live a more modern life, it’s perfectly understandable.”

From an outside perspective, it made sense. Zaojiao had guarded the temple for decades, waiting for his master and brothers to return. People naturally assumed that Nian Qi, Zaojiao’s adopted son, should continue this lifelong guardianship, to watch over the temple until he too became a white-bearded Daoist elder. Nian Qi would be responsible for devotion and solitude, while they watched, applauded, and felt moved.

But every living person has their own aspirations and interests and won’t live by others’ expectations. Nian Qi said, “I’m entrusting temple matters to the Daoist Association. For specific arrangements, Master Qinghua will take charge.”

Then he turned to Qinghua. “There should be a contract for this, right? Verbal agreements aren’t enough.”

As soon as he said “contract,” everyone’s eyes on him changed. They weren’t doubting his identity, but… based on what they’d “understood” about him, they assumed that while he knew some religious and cultural traditions, his isolated life meant he would be—naïve, out of touch with society. To put it bluntly, everyone assumed he was a simpleton, barely capable of handling things outside his mountain life. They had unconsciously written him off as incapable of making independent decisions.

But this person before them was not at all what they expected or, perhaps, hoped for. Though cut off from the world, he was neither foolish nor ignorant. He was, in fact, rather sharp. With just a few words, Nian Qi forced them to reassess their impressions and attitudes toward him.

Vice Mayor Xu even unconsciously sat up straighter before replying, “Of course. When the time comes, with the Tourism Bureau and the Daoist Association, we’ll have formal contracts in place. The Daoist Association will need full authorization and official agreements with you, so everything will be above board. Right now, we’re just discussing ideas, so we can address concerns before they go on paper.”

“Perfect. I have a few requirements I’ll write up for Master Qinghua. You can see if they’re feasible. If not, then we’ll call it off, and I’ll lock the temple doors before I leave,” Nian Qi said calmly. In a lawful society, protecting the rights of the innocent is paramount.

It felt as if the table had been flipped over, scattering all previous plans into chaos. If the first step couldn’t be taken—that is, if they couldn’t gain the current owner’s approval—then all their plans would remain just that: plans.

Even as a government entity, they couldn’t simply take what they wanted. Gone are the days of forced demolition and requisition. If they tried that, the property owner could easily raise a red flag, capture the whole ordeal, and post it online, setting off a media storm they wouldn’t be able to contain.

Nowadays, if the situation is truly difficult, they’d rather bend the road around the property than bulldoze it through. As for withholding a household registration as a tactic? Vice Mayor Xu dismissed the idea immediately. Such a move would be even worse. If it went viral, people would see that the descendants of a war hero who had secluded himself for two generations now couldn’t even get registered.

And why? Oh, just to take over his Daoist temple and develop a tourist zone. That would be career-ending, plain and simple. Plus, there was the religious issue. It was clear that Qinghua, representing the Daoist Association, was already firmly allied with Nian Qi. Religion is a sensitive topic; it’s best to avoid hardball tactics here. This required a lawful, reasonable, and respectful approach.

Vice Mayor Xu, sharp as ever, immediately grasped the dynamics. He could see that Nian Qi had something he wanted. And when someone wants something, they’ll want a contract to ensure it. If he had desires and goals, that meant he was open to negotiation. Now the game had shifted. What was once their plan to generously offer a “prize” to this “fortunate” mountain recluse had become a level playing field where everyone sat at the negotiation table as equals.

Those who had assumed they held all the power might feel uneasy about this, but what did it matter? They also had something to gain. The town needed development, the government needed revenue, and officials needed results. And it was evident from Nian Qi’s calm expression that he was the least anxious among them.

Qinghua, observing with amusement, couldn’t be more pleased. He wasn’t at all surprised by Nian Qi’s shrewdness. Only these people assumed that someone secluded on a mountain must be a simpleton. It was laughable, considering how many Daoist masters live in the mountains—far too many for even the Daoist Association to count. Did they think Daoists isolate themselves just to become ignorant fools? Only real fools would be naïve enough to think that.

After all, many who tire of the mundane world seek seclusion, and many who’ve been secluded long enough eventually want to roam again. This simple truth seemed beyond them, provoking a smile and an eye-roll from the Daoist observing the proceedings.

As for village official Ruan Xiangyun, he was a decent local leader, but he didn’t have the vision or finesse of Vice Mayor Xu. What Vice Mayor Xu quickly understood, Ruan Xiangyun hadn’t grasped. Hearing that Nian Qi intended to leave the mountain, Ruan Xiangyun grew visibly concerned. “Nian Qi, you’re leaving the mountain? To do what? And where are you going?” he asked, worried.

Last night, Nian Qi had slept in his house, eaten his food, and borrowed his clothes. He’d even respectfully called him “Uncle,” giving Ruan Xiangyun a misplaced sense of seniority over him, as if he really were his elder.

Nian Qi replied, “The world outside the mountain is vast. I’ve heard of trains that run fast and planes that soar in the sky. I’d like to see it for myself.”

“Hah! What’s so special about that? If you want to see it, I’ll take you sometime,” Ruan Xiangyun offered.

Ruan Xiangyun advised, “The world outside is chaotic. You don’t know anything about it, so don’t just wander around. The proper thing to do is to stay here and take care of our temple.”

It was time to unveil some truths. Some things needed to be faced sooner or later. Since everyone surnamed Ruan Xiangyun in this village was a relative of Ruan Qing, it was better to bring it up now, rather than let them stumble upon it later and cause misunderstandings.

“Uncle, don’t worry,” Nian Qi said with an awkward smile. “I have Ruan Qing.”

Ruan Xiangyun was dumbfounded. Ruan Qing? Why was she suddenly brought into his plans for revitalizing the village and leading the locals to prosperity?

A hint of bashfulness appeared on Nian Qi’s rugged face. The usual cool, distant look vanished, replaced by a shy expression of a young man exploring feelings for the first time. “I’ve talked it over with Ruan Qing,” he said. “She’s taking me to the city, and we’re going to live together from now on.”

Ruan Xiangyun was floored! Vice Mayor Xu, still wondering who this “Ruan Qing” was, suddenly heard a loud crash as something shattered. They all turned toward the noise—Grandpa Qi had been carrying a bowl of hot chicken soup, and upon hearing Nian Qi’s declaration, he dropped it, spilling the soup on the ground.

Grandpa Qi looked utterly thunderstruck, as if he’d just been struck by lightning. He suddenly realized why things had seemed off between Ruan Qing and Nian Qi. The way she spoke to him was unusual, and his attitude toward her was peculiar too. Thinking back, what had happened between them? She’d been in danger; he had heroically saved her. She was beautiful and captivating, and he was strong and capable. Alone, an unmarried man and woman spent the night in the secluded old temple deep in the mountains. The old saying goes, “Heroes can’t resist beauty,” right?

Grandpa Qi felt like he was about to pound his chest and wail—Master, look at the boy you raised! This was the first woman he’s ever met, and he’s already crumbling, ready to abandon the temple and plunge into the mundane world! Master, open your eyes and see! Heaven help us; the lineage of our Wild Hermits’ Temple is about to end!

Meanwhile, Ruan Qing was patiently waiting in Lao Mei Valley. She spent her days watching TV dramas, playing games, helping Aunt Xiangyun with corn husking, buying snacks from the village store for the kids, and receiving small, round stones as gifts in return—prizes they’d found by the river. She finally made it through the days, eagerly awaiting the return of the convoy from the mountain.

As the car doors opened, Nian Qi’s long legs appeared first as he stepped out, standing by the car with one hand on the door. He immediately spotted Ruan Qing and gave her a slight smile. Her worries melted away, and his expression reassured her that things must have gone smoothly. According to plan, he would hand over the temple to the Daoist Association, gain official status, and then the two of them could leave Lao Mei Valley behind.

Grandpa Qi climbed out of another car, rubbing his lower back as he straightened. Ruan Qing, feeling lighthearted, walked over to greet him. She wasn’t heading over for Nian Qi—elders always came first. With a bright smile, she sweetly greeted him, “Grandpa Qi~”

Grandpa Qi looked at her, wanting to let out his frustration. But she wasn’t his family; she was a guest, someone else’s daughter staying in their home. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t vent his anger on a guest. He could only hold it in, feeling stifled and bitter. In the end, all he managed was a heavy huff through his nose, a terse “Hmm,” and an old, gray expression that drooped like ash.