This year, each temple's incense offerings exceeded fifty thousand.
Xu Qing rewarded based on achievements, and because Red-Tailed Monkey had been harboring resentment for the decline of Monkey Mountain, its performance points for protecting the temple were highest, acquiring as much as one hundred thousand in incense offerings.
When hefty amounts of incense offerings were scattered among the various temple immortals, the entire funeral shop turned into a scene filled with small animals appearing as if they had consumed mushrooms.
The sheer volume of those incense offerings was overwhelming; even immortals would be perplexed, not to mention the temple spirits.
When all the temple spirits returned to their positions, only Tao Sanmei remained in the funeral shop.
Sitting on the coffin board, Xu Qing said, "As you can see, everyone worked tirelessly for a year, and each temple division's incense offerings amount to just this much."
What does he mean by just this much? This is enough to buy her life!
"Previously, I gave you two hundred thousand incense offerings to fend off the thunder calamity. Today, I'm allotting you another hundred thousand, to ensure you have certainty in surviving the disaster."
"Of course, these incense offerings were painstakingly accumulated by Cat Immortal Hall, and cannot be given to you without something in return. Now that you are the temple sweeper, you must diligently contribute to the temple division and repay this debt as soon as possible."
"I do not seek your gratitude; once you repay the debt, whether you wish to stay in the temple or in the funeral shop to cultivate is your choice. But remember one thing."
"You must not speak of any matters concerning Cat Immortal Hall to outsiders, nor mention me, otherwise..."
At this moment, Tao Sanmei was giddy from receiving one hundred thousand incense offerings, as if drunk, with no other thoughts in mind. Her eyes were dreamy, her face flushed, and she giggled, "I thought the Sect Leader and Taoist Ge both coveted my body, aiming to manipulate favors and turn me into a peach wood Dharma Artifact, but now I realize I misunderstood. The Sect Leader is a true gentleman with teaching beyond discrimination, one who cherishes all forms of life."
"Rest assured, Sect Leader, like my sisters, I am definitely not an ungrateful wood sprite. As long as the Sect Leader wishes to employ my help, I will always remain an immortal of Cat Immortal Hall, and will never have a second thought."
With that, Tao Sanmei made a graceful bow, and her gaze towards Xu Qing was full of gratitude.
Xu Qing waved his hand, saying, "Let Liu Su'e from the shroud shop become your Galloping Immortal Disciple in the future. She has some affinity with wood sprites, and matches well with you; perhaps, you two might achieve greatness together..."
As he watched Tao Sanmei leave, Xuan Yu approached Xu Qing and asked, "Are you going into seclusion again?"
Xu Qing opened his mouth and then reluctantly said, "Yes, as long as the fox spirit in the White Cloud Cave remains, I cannot find peace."
"Cat Immortal Hall has developed quite well now. In Jin Sect, capable and knowledgeable immortals have mostly joined the temple, and even the White Immortal of Moonlight Mountain is on good terms with us. The only one I worry about now is Master Collier."
"It was said back then that at most six months, at least two or three months, it would traverse the sloping path. It has already been six or seven years, yet there is no sign."
Xuan Yu comforted, "Didn't the Xu Immortal Family divine for Master Collier, indicating it was unharmed, only delayed by rain and snow on its journey?"
Xu Qing did not tell Xuan Yu that the hexagram named 'Rains and Snow on the Mountain' actually referred to 'Water Over the Mountain,' the worst kind of hexagram.
Being abroad and away from home, Master Collier's distant predicament couldn't solve the immediate problem here, and telling Xuan Yu would only add to someone else's worry.
While the rigid and the cat were reminiscing about Master Collier, a visitor suddenly arrived outside the funeral shop.
"Shopkeeper, do you still do business with the deceased here?"
Xu Qing turned his head and saw the visitor wearing a divination robe, washed so often it had faded to white. Their face was ordinary, but within the eyes lay an inherent allure.
It created an uncanny feeling that the eyes did not belong on that face.
Xu Qing felt the posture and accent of the female Divination Master were vaguely familiar, and suddenly a flash of light crossed his mind.
This disguised female Divination Master was none other than the esteemed senior sister Xuan Yu had never met, the abandoned disciple of the Nameless Old Woman, the eight-tailed fox that had appeared in the running light lamps several times!
What was this fox doing here?
Xu Qing suppressed his inner doubts and calmly said, "This shop is open all year round, twenty-four hours a day. What service does the guest wish to arrange?"
The female Divination Master sighed with relief, saying:
"I want to establish a tomb for my master, with only clothes and a hat."