Daily Purchase

Tang Xiaoyu hurriedly said, "My bad, my bad."

"That's more like it," the elder said.

The elder seemed to think of something and continued, "In our Taoist doctrine, we say... Forget it. I know your little brain won't understand even if I explain it to you."

"How did you put it again? Let me think..." Drawing from the Taoist principles of subduing, expelling and eliminating evils, Tang Xiaoyu ventured, "Just get it done?"

The elder nodded. "Right, right, right. Get it done."

"We go easy on the obedient ones. As for the disobedient, we eliminate them directly. We're not like those bald donkeys from the West, always deceiving people."

Tang Xiaoyu was a little confused. "Why are cultivators in this world so afraid of karmic entanglements? Don't we act a bit improperly?"

"Because we follow the orthodox teachings and believe in taking responsibility. Karmic cause and effect is just the bald donkeys' terminology. It only applies on an individual level, whereas..."

As if a thought struck him, the elder continued, "Are you a pig? I'm talking about evil monsters and heartless people who harm others, not asking you to treat everyone like that. Got it?"

"You're going to anger me to death. Our predecessors worked hard to lay the foundations. We, the successors, get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. If our predecessors did evil, their successors would suffer the consequences. Surely you can understand that logic?"

Tang Xiaoyu nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"That's the gist of it. So when you're showing off your abilities, think twice. Don't get a kick out of it yourself then land your successors in deep trouble. That would be far worse than personal karmic cause and effect."

Tang Xiaoyu indicated his understanding. "So it means keeping simple desires and unaffected virtues, right?"

The impatient elder said, "Believe what you want. I'm leaving."

"Oh right. Memorize the Tao Te Ching. Don't just spout nonsense like 'the Infinite Heavenly Venerable' all day. You can't be throwing that phrase around casually, can you?" With that, he tossed over a copy of the Tao Te Ching.

"Also, I feel like your dog Blackie shows more promise than you in cultivation. It can cultivate that mystic art of yours too."

Having said thus, the elder vanished into thin air.

Dejected, Tang Xiaoyu looked towards Blackie. Its upturned face clearly conveyed a message.

The place had three rooms - a bedroom, a kitchen-cum-storage room, and a central hall housing the statue of the Immortal of the Heavenly Realm.

After peeling off his tattered clothes and taking a bath, Tang Xiaoyu tied up his hair in a Taoist topknot using a tree branch. Wearing the only decent outfit he had, he started familiarizing himself with the environment.

"Not bad, plenty of room to develop this place. I should go down the mountain tomorrow to get some daily necessities," Tang Xiaoyu muttered to himself.

"Blackie, the kitchen will be your quarters from now on. Keep it clean in there."

Blackie barked twice to show it understood.

The next morning at daybreak, Tang Xiaoyu paid obeisance in front of the statue. "Disciple Tang Xiaoyu and Blackie pay respect to the Taoist Ancestor." Then - thud, thud, thud - three kowtows.

Blackie imitated him to the best of its abilities, conveying a similar gesture. After having breakfast, they set off to buy supplies from town.

Two hours later, they arrived. Calling it a town was inaccurate - it was more of a county town.

Tang Xiaoyu first purchased some daily essentials, then some rice, flour and salt. Feeling the weight on his back, he decided to get axes, hammers and other tools as well.

With a bag on his back and another in his hand, Tang Xiaoyu's eyes drifted to Blackie beside him. "Junior martyr, it's time for you to contribute to our temple. You'll be the one carrying these things."

Without waiting for its consent, Tang Xiaoyu dumped both bags onto its back. "Let's go back!"

Passing by a tailor's shop, Tang Xiaoyu decided to have two sets of Taoist robes made, as expected of someone on the temple's payroll.

Naturally he also got Blackie a couple sets, for it too was a bona fide member of the temple, even if just a dog.

This left the tailor and his apprentices quite speechless. "What is the world coming to? Even dogs are wearing clothes nowadays!"

Oblivious, Tang Xiaoyu placed an express order to collect the outfits the next day.

As they walked by a restaurant, Tang Xiaoyu declared it was high time to improve their lifestyle.

Naturally, Blackie could not follow him into the fine establishment.

Twenty minutes later, Tang Xiaoyu emerged tipsily, carrying away packages of chicken and mutton for Blackie. "Let'sss...hic...go back. Time to improve...hic...our meals!"

Blackie: "Woof woof!" Urging him to hurry up and walk properly.

Back at the temple, Blackie shook the load off its back and fetched its food bowl, barking towards the well to signal Tang Xiaoyu.

Left with no choice, Tang Xiaoyu washed its bowl with water.

After getting Blackie settled, he began making his bed and organizing the space, even tidying up Blackie's quarters.

With everything done, Tang Xiaoyu suddenly recalled something. "Shoot, can't believe I forgot to buy incense and candles and stuff. Guess it'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Sitting on his bed, he started reading the Tao Te Ching. Mystic arts could wait.

"The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name."

"Isn't this just the Tao Te Ching? I thought there'd be something special about it!" Tang Xiaoyu mused in bewilderment.

"I could recite this with my eyes closed. No need for memorization at all."

In this world, the farthest distance is not between the Mariana Trench and Mount Everest, but between knowing and doing.

Tang Xiaoyu recited a couple lines. "Maybe I should read through it properly. Refreshing one's memory allows one to gain new knowledge!"

With that thought, he became engrossed in the Tao Te Ching, eventually calling Blackie over to study the classic together.

Twenty minutes later, one man and one dog had both dozed off. From then on, the Tao Te Ching became their sleep aid.

The next day at daybreak, Tang Xiaoyu roused Blackie. "Rise and shine, time to pay respects to the Taoist Ancestor."

Then, one man and one dog knelt before the statue. "Disciples Tang Xiaoyu and Blackie pay respects to the Taoist Ancestor." Three loud thuds as their heads knocked the floor.

Blackie followed his example to the best of its ability, conveying a similar sentiment.

After breakfast, they set off to buy incense and other items, picking up their tailored robes along the way.

"Boss, are our clothes ready?"

"Just a moment, young master, I'll fetch them right away."

Soon he brought out the outfits. Tang Xiaoyu tried them on - not bad at all!

After collecting the robes, they headed to the general store for incense and candles.

Glancing at the wares, Tang Xiaoyu decided to only buy incense for the time being. He didn't want to blunder into something unfamiliar.

The shop owner informed him that three days later would be an auspicious yellow calendar date, suitable for housewarmings, weddings and the like.

Bidding the owner farewell, Tang Xiaoyu sat scratching his head outside a signboard shop. "What should I name this place? Such a headache!"

Grabbing a street urchin, he pointed to the mountain where he resided and asked, "Kid, what's this mountain called?"

"Uncle, why do you care to know?"

"Speak politely or I'll smack you."

Intimidated, the boy answered, "Qingshan."

"Qingshan? Why not name it Qingshan Lushui? Who's the boor who came up with this boring name?"

"Here kid, go buy yourself some candied haws." Tang Xiaoyu tossed over some loose change.

"Thank you, uncle! If you ever have any other questions in the future, be sure to come to me!"

Tang Xiaoyu figured the brat could prove useful someday. "Sure, I'll come looking for you in this neighborhood if I need anything."

"Great!"

An hour later, Tang Xiaoyu emerged from the signboard shop carrying one that read "Qingshan Daoist Temple". He had replaced the Qing with his own name.

"As expected of myself! I bestowed some sophistication upon this name."

For a person, awareness of one's strengths is a virtue. Yet some who possess this self-awareness initially seem to forget all about it soon after. For them, thoughts and actions remain discordant bedfellows indeed.