Chapter 115: The Earth Temple! (Fourth Watch)

Xu Boqing pondered for a moment, then asked with some confusion, “You have harmed no one, and what you said at the Dragon King’s Temple made some sense. So why did you suddenly flee underground?”

“I…”

The old temple caretaker’s cheeks twitched as he stammered, “Immortals and demons differ. I am but a lowly minor demon with shallow cultivation and a timid heart. When the noble immortal approached, I intended only to delay him a little. But seeing that the immortal seemed distracted, I took the chance to escape…”

Both man and demon fell into silence, and the atmosphere grew cold.

Witnessing this, Wu Qin stepped forward with a conciliatory smile, “Young sir, I too am an enlightened old turtle from the river, skilled in calculations and a fellow demon cultivator. There is no murderous aura about this demon; he ought not be lying…”

With that, he produced the jade slip handed to him by the old caretaker and casually tossed it toward Xu Boqing without even glancing at it.

Within the Dragon Palace beneath the Tongtian River, a true dragon stood guard. Not only was Wu Qin the prime minister turtle of the palace, even the shrimp soldiers and crab generals below had their own methods of cultivation. Naturally, they looked down upon the opportunities snatched up by these wild mountain spirits…

Xu Boqing caught the jade slip, frowning slightly as he weighed it in his hand, though he too did not examine it closely.

Previously, he had obtained a Water God’s talisman from a toad demon, which also contained methods for divine cultivation. Thus, he lacked no such guidance.

Moreover, the Water God’s talisman came complete with legal authority and official edict — essentially a fully certified ‘credential.’ Should he choose to switch to divine cultivation, he would be a legitimate Water God with all proper documentation.

The difference between these two was like that between an outsider and a high-ranking official within the system — worlds apart.

Of course, the main reason was that he simply did not know how to use this jade slip.

Though the dragon and turtle before him were friendly in demeanor, it was their first meeting, and it was improper to inquire too much.

After some thought, he flicked his finger and casually sent the jade slip back to the old caretaker’s side, saying, “We have no intention of stealing your opportunity…”

The old caretaker was momentarily stunned.

Wu Qin inwardly sighed, “Just as I thought,” and became increasingly convinced that this man was no ordinary figure.

Indeed, a cultivator with proper lineage and inheritance would never covet the opportunities of a mere minor demon.

Ao Xing also nodded quietly. Though he had not considered much, he felt this man’s character was sound.

Xu Boqing, unaware of their thoughts, merely looked calmly at the old caretaker imprisoned in the water cell and said, “You have cultivated for centuries without wrongdoing or harming others. That commands my respect.”

---

The old temple caretaker trembled at these words, knowing his life was likely spared. He bowed low and said, “I, a minor demon, thank the noble immortal for sparing my life.”

“Tell me your story…”

Xu Boqing glanced at him, adding, “I have means to discern truth from lies, so do not think to deceive me.”

“I dare not deceive you, noble immortal…”

The caretaker wiped away tears as he recounted his tale.

He had been an ordinary gray mouse, surviving by stealing grain from nearby villages. One day, he inadvertently ate a red fruit from the mountain and gained sentience, stepping onto the path of cultivation.

Soon after awakening, due to his plump build, he accidentally stepped on a hunter’s trap and nearly died in agony. Luckily, an old herbalist gathering herbs in the mountains found him.

With tears streaming, he knelt and begged for help.

The old herbalist, a barefoot doctor from a nearby village, was kind-hearted. Seeing the mouse’s newfound intelligence, he saved him.

As the mouse cultivated in the mountains, he often carried herbs down to visit the herbalist. Over time, they developed a deep friendship.

The herbalist did not disdain him for being a demon; instead, he taught him to read, write, and to pursue kindness. He taught him many things.

Even after the herbalist’s death, the mouse remembered his teachings faithfully and never harmed others.

After assuming human form, he resembled the old herbalist and served as a barefoot doctor in the village for decades.

One day, he found an ancient jade slip recording the methods of cultivation through incense offerings in the path of the divine.

But as a mere mountain mouse demon, he lacked the qualifications to build a shrine or temple, so he could not use it.

As time passed and his lifespan waned, he revisited the method and devised a compromise: build another’s shrine and secretly transfer the incense offerings’ spiritual power to himself for cultivation.

This was the origin of the Dragon King’s Temple.

He had stayed there long, manifesting minor ‘divine miracles’ to attract many prayers from nearby villages.

Though his cultivation was shallow and his powers limited, he helped nearby villagers by driving off wild beasts that damaged crops and used mountain springs to alleviate drought during dry times.

Thus, though the Dragon King’s Temple was newly built, its incense offerings never lacked, and because they were inexpensive, the temple was well known in surrounding towns.

The old caretaker knelt in the watery prison, sorrowful, and said, “Noble immortal, elder, every word I speak is true. Should a single lie escape my lips, may thunder strike me down this very day, and my soul be scattered.”

---

Xu Boqing, Ao Xing, and Wu Qin fell into silence.

Wu Qin sighed, waving his hand to withdraw the prison’s spell. Then he cupped his hands toward Xu Boqing, implying, “Young sir, it is not easy for a wild mouse demon to achieve enlightenment. He has committed no faults all these years. I, Wu, shamelessly plead for leniency on his behalf…”

As a fellow demon cultivator, Wu Qin understood the hardships of wild demons. Hearing the mouse demon’s story stirred his compassion.

It was also a chance to test this young man with lineage—seeing how he treated demon cultivators, and if he was worthy of friendship.

“Master Wu, you are too kind. I am no old-fashioned man…” Xu Boqing replied, bowing in return.

After some reflection, he addressed the old caretaker, “Regardless, using the Dragon King’s Temple for cultivation is improper. I will order its demolition.”

“I am grateful for your mercy, noble immortal,” the old caretaker said, eyes closed as he kowtowed, saddened that his foundation for cultivation would be destroyed, tears tracing down his face.

“But…”

Xu Boqing accepted the kowtow calmly, then said, “Since you have done no evil, and now that your Dragon King’s Temple is to be dismantled, you must be compensated.”

He paused, then spoke solemnly, “I am Xu Boqing, chief of the Western Department of Daliang, bearing imperial command. I will instruct the local magistrate to build a Land God’s Temple outside the city, where a statue of you shall be enshrined to aid your cultivation.”

The surrounding area fell silent, as if even the wind had stopped midair. The old caretaker stood dumbfounded, unsure how to respond.

He did not know what a Land God’s Temple was, but he understood what it meant to have a statue of himself enshrined for cultivation.

“What are you waiting for?” Wu Qin’s eyes flickered. Seeing the old caretaker still stunned, he cleared his throat and scolded lightly, “Young master Xu is helping you because he knows your cultivation is hard-earned. Now he offers to legitimize your path and assist your cultivation. Should you not quickly accept and give thanks?”

The old caretaker remained silent.