Post-'80s Cultivation Journal Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – Daoist Priest Ma seeks the magic item

Ma Wulang had wanted to go to Zhang Jiaohua’s house to make money, but he didn’t expect that he himself would end up suffering at the hands of and lose to that beggar fellow. He touched his sleeves, those bad luck ghosts, even the sutra passed down by the Founder was lost. That magic item was also lost, but since it was just used to pay respects to his dead Founder who had passed down the bell so he also didn’t pay attention. This sutra nevertheless was actually an important object, although amongst the daoist magic inside the sutra, he had mastered not even one or two out of the ten.

Ma Wulang wasn’t the least bit assured in dealing with them. Especially recalling that last axe that flew towards him, a chill ran down his spine. His little life had all but ended, ah. However, he would still have to ask that Beggar fellow. Not only did he lose to that Beggar fellow, he even lost that sutra. Deceased Founder had earlier said, that losing the sutra is tantamount to losing dao ability. Every time Ma Wulang drew a talisman, each stroke would be made by copying from the sutra. Now after losing the sutra, he was left completely blind.

Zhang Jiaohua’s Grandparents lived in the old house. The Elderly feared the gods and spirits, and naturally would fear these “dressing up as god, playing the devil” people like Ma Wulang. Seeing Ma Wulang come to their house, they were indeed very respectful. [TLNote: “Dressing up as God, Playing the Devil”: Basically an idiom for fear-mongering scammers]

“No need, no need. We are fellow villagers sharing the same hometown, eating a simple home-made dish can be done whenever convenient. Uncle Manyin, Me coming to your house, you should know the reason right?” Ma Wulang pretended to be mysterious. Zhang Jiaohua’s Grandfather was named Zhang Manyin.

“Correct. When I walked past the gate of your family’s second son’s home, I felt a very heavy negative qi coming from his home. I also heard about your Grandson’s matter. We all are fellow villagers, and I am the one to fulfill this role. When ghosts and evil spirits begin making mischief, I have no option but to deal with them.” Ma Wulang said with a strong air of righteousness. If it were not for the magic staff being lost in Zhang Jiaohua’s home, at this time the magic staff would have been heavily pounded onto the clay flooring, and the effect would have been even greater. Ma Wulang was feeling somewhat regretful in his heart.

Sweat emerged on Daoist Priest Ma’s forehead. In Meizi’ao there were many people who were afraid of him, but those who said he was a good person were very few.

Daoist Priest Ma’s belly was already making gurgling sounds out of starvation. Smelling the fragrance of chicken, he couldn’t help but drool.

The table manners of Daoist Priest Ma didn’t have the makings of a person of high skill. In front of the fragrant chicken meat, all the temperament of an expert were kept to one side. Eating to one’s full, and drinking to one’s limit was the top priority.

“This depends on your family’s second child’s own decision.” Daoist Priest Ma spoke slowly with a stuffed mouth, in vague terms.

Daoist Priest Ma had earlier himself thrown his helmet and abandoned his armor, how could he have any good ideas. He wanted to reach an understanding with those little ghosts to forgive and forget. He was content with getting back at that beggar fellow. He didn’t think that he had the ability to deal with those few little ghosts.[TLNote: Throwing Helmet, and Abandoning Armor: Quite self explanatory idiom for running away in retreat mode]

Zhang Manyin simply couldn’t think that Ma Wulang could be helpless to that extent in front of the little demons, instead he thought that Daoist Priest Ma had made some preparations in second child’s house. He would naturally be very postive towards this request of Daoist Priest Ma. However, on that day Second child had made him lose face, se Zhang Manyin didn’t want to go over personally. Therefore, he made Ma Donghua carry out this task.

“Grandma, that chicken leg’s is not that tasty, I would rather eat chicken meat in……” Zhang Jiaohua immediately circled around Grandma only to discover that Ma Donghua’s both hands were empty.

“Grandma, don’t be biased, did you deliver the chicken meat to Uncle’s house?” Zhang Jiaohua was unhappy.

“This child, what are you saying? This time the chicken butchered by Grandma wasn’t enough to give you a share. This time, an important guest had come to the house, whose share couldn’t be taken away. Don’t make trouble, Grandma is looking for your parents for some urgent matter.” Ma Donghua was becoming flustered upon being entangled with her Grandson.

“No need, no need. I am not thirsty. I have come to my son’s house, not come as a guest. If I were thirsty, wouldn’t I just find the water jar. Jiaohua, you go out and play for a while. Grandma must have some adult talk with your mother.” Ma Donghua wanted Zhang Jiaohua to go away.
If it were normal day, then Ma Donghua definitely wouldn’t have been able to get Zhang Jiaohua to leave. Only, Zhang Jiaohua kept thinking about the chicken meat at Grandma’s house. He was willing to obey Grandma’s instructions, as he ran out of the gate vivaciously, directly going to Grandpa’s house.

Chapter end