My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 980 - 953: She’s Back, and Even Stronger

Idle kindness goes hand in hand with trickery or thievery, a principle the City God understands. As for Qin Liuxi, they’ve just met, and what has she done for him?

Without a second thought, she offered sacrifices. Now, she claims that he guided her to save a sick woman and even carved a longevity tablet for him to be worshipped morning and night, all for his benefit. What’s her agenda?

The City God feels undeserving and uneasy.

Qin Liuxi snickered: "What’s my agenda? Of course, it’s the divine position. If you can’t maintain this position, then let me take over."

The City God was shocked: "..."

What’s this? A wolf with wild ambitions!

Qin Liuxi placed the tablet under his seat and said, "In your position, one should fulfill their duties. Since you are this area’s City God, protect the people well. The incense and faith will come."

The City God muttered to himself, seeing how confident she is.

Though he’s grumbling inside, why does his mouth curl up unconsciously?

He didn’t expect that Qin Liuxi’s words weren’t without basis. After visiting Lai San’s family, the news of Lai San’s wife’s revival quickly spread.

A new temple priest arrived at City God Temple, skilled in medical skills. This Temple Priest Qin is the same formidable master who performed the enlightenment of the deity statue at City God Temple three years ago. It’s said she was inspired by the City God himself to temporarily hold the position of temple priest.

As the news spread, the somewhat dwindling incense offerings at City God Temple suddenly blossomed, attracting many people to come to pay respects, seeking divination. Furthermore, Temple Priest Qin’s interpretations of the divination papers are even better than the previous Priest Song’s, she’s even adept at face reading and drawing talismans.

City God Temple’s incense offerings started to show signs of flourishing again. Although the offerings aren’t the best, at least there’s incense! And the City God smiles so wide you can’t see his eyes. Such a capable young lady, destined to be his divine servant indeed. Once his divine power grows, he must appoint her, even if just as a subordinate like Niu, that would be beneficial.

Then he could progress from being a county City God to a prefecture City God, getting bigger and bigger.

After spending three days at the City God Temple, watching the incense stabilize, Qin Liuxi walked the Yin Road back to Qingping Temple after nightfall.

Atop Immortal Ascension Tower, a boy in a Daoist robe was meditating cross-legged, his handsome face taut, with hands forming seals resting on his knees. The cold autumn frost coated his long eyelashes, forming water droplets, about to fall but not quite.

The boy before him is Teng Zhao, already named Junior Temple Master of Qingping Temple. Every day after sunset, he meditates here until midnight and sometimes through the night, something he hasn’t missed in three years, even in heavy snow.

The place is high enough and provides a good view, allowing him to notice anyone who comes at once.

Qin Liuxi silently appeared beside him.

Teng Zhao’s lashes trembled slightly, his breath a bit uneven, until a cool voice sounded beside his ear: "Let True Qi flow through every part and clear the nine orifices."

His heart quivered, his fingers adjusted the spell, moving the True Qi through every part, clearing the nine orifices.

After a while, he opened his eyes but dared not look over.

Qin Liuxi sat down beside him.

His eyes glanced sideways, nose a little sore, eyes feeling warm.

She’s back.

This irresponsible, undependable, troublesome master.

She finally returned.

Teng Zhao pressed his lips tightly, blinking once, his tears ungratefully fell; it’s good she’s back.

Qin Liuxi placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "Your master is back, not even looking at your master, are you being unfilial, or trying to cause trouble, or secretly thinking of usurping the position?"

Teng Zhao abruptly glared at her, eyes fierce, as if wanting to stab her.

Qin Liuxi laughed, pinching his cheek, saying, "My disciple has grown up."

Look at this prematurely matured and upright youth, how endearing.

Teng Zhao brushed her hand aside: "Stop touching, that’s improper."

"Your master has returned, but why do you seem so unexcited? After years apart, shouldn’t you be tearfully asking where I’ve been?" Qin Liuxi raised an eyebrow: "Seeing you this calm, it seems you haven’t missed your master one bit."

"You were always bound to return." Teng Zhao turned away, thinking what’s the use, she hadn’t appeared once.

Qin Liuxi ruffled his bun, deliberately sighed: "Truly grown, not even a trace of childishness left."

Teng Zhao opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, quietly scooting over a bit closer to her.

This night, under the moonlit sky, the master and disciple sat on the rooftop, gazing at the full moon, neither speaking again.

Until midnight, Qin Liuxi finally said: "I’ve found him."

Teng Zhao was startled, turning to look at her; is this "him" the Grandmaster?

"Is he well?"

"He’s become a City God." Qin Liuxi’s voice was light: "That’s his place now."

"In South County?" Teng Zhao immediately thought of the City God Temple from years ago.

"Yes." Qin Liuxi said: "His Divine Soul is unsteady, he doesn’t remember me, so I’ll serve as the temple priest there for a while, revitalizing the incense offerings."

Teng Zhao frowned: "The current situation isn’t favorable, incense offerings in temples are not what they were, some scholars often come to temples to pontificate, claiming that people like us mislead the state and the people."

"I’ve heard." Qin Liuxi coldly said, "It’s the same as always, uphold the Dao Heart, preach goodness through the Dao. In this world, ordinary people far outnumber the scholarly ones, as long as they see benefits, they’ll know who’s right."

Teng Zhao shook his head: "You’re not wrong. But now with a State Preceptor emerging, the Saint builds Immortal Palaces for him, exhausting resources, causing public resentment. And invisibly, they associate us with the likes of the State Preceptor."

"Every group has bad apples; the Taoist Sect has its Demons, the Buddhist Sect has its Evil Monks, the court has its pests, even among commoners, there are wrongdoers. To root them out, we have to eliminate them one by one. Additionally, even the Righteous Path has aspects criticized by some. We should only be true to ourselves. As for that so-called State Preceptor, I will have to meet that thing."

Teng Zhao felt reassured hearing this: "It’s good you’re back!"

She’s their pillar; as long as she’s here, nothing will stand in their way, any issue will be resolved, and he can sense she’s gotten stronger.

Qin Liuxi smiled: "Seems like I’m not entirely forgotten."

"Everyone missed you, and wanted to find you, but we all knew you’d return eventually." Teng Zhao’s voice was low.

Warmth filled Qin Liuxi’s heart, she wrapped an arm around his neck: "Blindly confident, huh."

Teng Zhao blushed deeply: "Let go, men and women shouldn’t touch."

"Bah, I’m your master, I’ve seen you stark naked while needling, talking about gender propriety with me?"

"Just shut up!"

The master and disciple laughed and joked.

Below, in the main hall, Qing Yuan finished offering incense, sensed something, and looked up to see the scene at Immortal Ascension Tower, paused momentarily, then wiped his eyes with his sleeve, she’s back, it’s good she’s returned.