Chapter 1

I'll give it all to the Taoist temple!"Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a touch of emotion in his heart. Sometimes, his little apprentice could be a bit mischievous towards his master, but he was still...Kowloon Peak, San Qing Guan.

The Taoist temple stood majestically, but both sides of the path were covered in withered yellow leaves. Silence prevailed all around, yet suddenly a milky cry echoed from within.

"Master, please don't drive me down the mountain. I can't bear to leave you. Please!"

Inside the main hall, Zhou Zhou sat on the ground, using both hands and feet to tightly grasp Li Yuanming's legs. The little girl's head was smooth, but she wore a tattered Daoist robe, washed white, with patches everywhere, looking just like a little beggar.

At this moment, she tilted her head up to look at Li Yuanming, letting out a dry, choked sob while trying hard to squeeze out a few tears. Her chubby face was filled with sadness, and she stared at him with a pitifully pouted mouth.

"Don't cry, I just want you to go down the mountain to gain some experience. I'm not sending you away." Seeing her little apprentice crying so pitifully, Li Yuanming also felt a twinge of sympathy. His gaze fell on her bald head and he patted it gently, then sighed with regret, wishing he hadn't done it in the first place.

If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have competed with the bald donkey next door for apprentices!

No wonder when he robbed them back then, they readily gave up their things. The abbot even asked him to swear, absolutely no returns allowed. He thought it was because their temple wasn't prosperous and couldn't afford to raise the children. At that time, he mocked them severely.

I just found out, to my surprise, that Zoomer is a natural born money-loser!

After the old monk picked up Zou Zou from the cradle, three years later, the once bustling temple had become deserted.

And their outlook, having taken her back, was already nearly bankrupt after only a year.

On the contrary, this year, the temple next door, after she left, gradually recovered its former prosperity.

Recalling past events, Li Yuanming shook his head with pain and grief. His gaze fell upon his younger brother's hands holding a chipped bowl. The rice soup inside contained only a few grains of rice, which made his resolve even stronger. He forced down the urge to hug his apprentice and comfort him, instead adopting a stern expression and saying, "No, you've grown up now, it's time for you to leave the mountain."

“I’m not big, I’m only four years old.” Zuo Zuo held up her chubby little hand, hiccupped in rebuttal, then quickly retracted it and clung tightly to his leg, gently swaying. “Master, please don’t drive me away, okay I promise I won’t steal any more food again.”

Li Yuanming was swayed by her, almost stumbling. He steadied himself and said firmly, "No!"

"You've said this countless times, next time you'll cheat again."

Hearing this, Zhuzhu felt a little ashamed. She patted her stomach and pouted pitifully, "But I'm hungry."

"We're hungry too!" Li Yuanming said sadly, "You eat five meals a day, eight bowls each! You're going to eat us out of house and home!"

"That's all right, we can earn more money if we run out. But you're still obsessed with money! No matter how much we earn, it won't be enough. Even the incense in our ancestral temple has dwindled!"

"Your elder brothers and younger nephews are all working down the mountain, but they still can't afford you. If you don't come down the mountain, tomorrow we will go begging together!"

Hearing these words, Zhouzhou felt even more guilty and asked in a low voice, "Master, is there no room for negotiation"

Li Yuanming shook his head.

Seeing this, Zuo Zuo pouted her lips and drooped her small head, listlessly leaning against his leg. Her ears also hung down, just like a discarded puppy.

"Alright, then let me go down the mountain. Whether I become a beggar begging for food or starve on the streets later, I won't implicate my master. Becoming a spirit would be even better; I could stay by my master's side forever and wouldn't need to eat."

Saying that, she wiped her eyes with her sleeve, looking both sad and resolute.

Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a pang of sadness. He sighed softly and patted her head, "Don't be afraid, Master has already contacted your Uncle Mingtong. He is doing well now. Follow him, you will never go hungry."

"Besides, haven't you always wanted Master's Universe Mirror Here, take this as a parting gift."

Saying that, he took out a copper mirror from his bosom and handed it to her.

Zhou Zhou's ears twitched quietly, and her eyeballs followed suit. She didn't raise her head and still looked sad and heartbroken, her shoulders shaking, her sobs growing louder.

Li Yuanming gritted his teeth. "I'm also giving you the Little Medicine Cauldron."

"Okay!" Zhūzhū's crying stopped abruptly, her hands and feet loosened, and she sprang to her feet with a clatter. A radiant smile spread across her face, leaving no trace of her previous tears. "Thank you, Master. I'll go pack my things now."

After finishing, he stomped off on his short little legs and ran to the room.

Li Yuanming looked at her back, nowhere expecting that he had just been tricked by this little girl. He was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged, angrily shouting: "Disciple!"

The junior brother beside him chuckled and said, "Alright then. You were always planning to give this to Zuo Zuo anyway. Besides, your alchemy and divination skills aren't as good as hers. Keeping it here won't do you any good, might as well put it to good use."

Li Yuanming snorted and stubbornly said, "Who says I'm not as good as her I am her master!"

The younger brother looked at him with a smile, without exposing him, smiling but not speaking.

Back then, all the capable brothers went down the mountain to make a fortune. He was simply not good enough, so he was left behind as the caretaker of the temple.

Li Yuanming also thought of this matter, embarrassedly touched his nose, mumbled a word, and walked to the back.

Originally, he wouldn't have gone after her if he hadn't seen that she had excellent natural aptitude and was a rare talent in metaphysics for a thousand years. He wouldn't have fallen to this state today.

Those monks didn't even tell him about this, bald heads just have too many tricks up their sleeves!

He muttered to himself.

In a short while, Zuo Zuo came out. Her shiny scalp was plastered with fortune-telling charms, and around her neck hung three copper coins. On one hip she wore a gourd, and on the other, a large Pixiu sculpture, carved by herself. It was ugly, to be sure, but its only redeeming quality was its size.

Everything she owned was supposed to attract wealth, yet she was born with a poverty destiny. Whenever luck gathered around her, it would dissipate completely the moment it touched her, rendering all her possessions useless.

Seeing her outfit, Li Yuanming twitched the corner of his mouth, “Chu Chu, you’re born unlucky with money, destined to be poor. Give up, don’t even think about it.”

Zuo Zuo shook her head, carrying a burden on her shoulder that was even bigger than her. "That's not true," she said. "Big brother said that my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens. As long as I work hard, I can definitely get rich. When I make money, I'll give it all to the Taoist temple!"

Hearing this, Li Yuanming felt a touch of emotion in his heart. Sometimes, his little apprentice could be a bit mischievous towards his master, but he was still kind-hearted.

He walked over and handed her a dusty statue, identical to the people in the main hall.

"Good disciple, since you are so eager, Master will now entrust the important task of restoring the Daoist temple to you. Come on, Master believes in you!"

"Zhou Zhou lowered her head and curiously looked at the statue in her hand. She asked, "Master, what are you making this ancestor statue for me And where did the golden glow on the ancestor statue go"

She saw the ancestral tablet in her master's room when she was little, it was gleaming with gold, so beautiful. How come it's now dusty and drab

"What do you think" Li Yuanming gave her a reproachful glance.

Zuo Zuo instantly reacted, it must be because of her poverty curse again.

Temples are falling into disrepair, the ancestors have no incense offerings, so this is what happens.

She gave a wry smile and quickly hugged the statue. "Master, don't worry, I will definitely make money and restore Grandmaster to his former glory!"

Li Yuanming glanced at her, knowing that a penniless person like her couldn't possibly fulfill this request. But he didn't discourage her either. “The incense business is not something the master forces upon you. As long as you can eat, it's enough. After you go down the mountain, if you encounter anyone who needs help, lend a hand. Do many good deeds to earn some merit for the ancestor god; that's enough. This also benefits you in improving your fortune.”

Hearing this, Zhouzhou's eyes lit up, and she nodded seriously. "Hmm hmm, Master, I remember!"

Looking at his little apprentice's teary eyes, Li Yuanming felt a pang of reluctance. In the end, he patted her shoulder and said, "Go down the mountain. Remember to find your Master Mingtong, he will take care of you."

"Good." Zhouzhou pulled his hand, looking at him with reluctance, "Master, you have to take care of yourself too. When I earn enough money, I'll come back and see you."

"Well, go ahead then. It'll get dark soon."

"Hmm." Zuozuo nodded and turned back every three steps, making Li Yuanming feel a pang of heartache.

If it weren't for the fact that the Daoist temple was truly struggling to stay afloat, he wouldn't have been willing to let his young disciple leave.

I just hope she has a smooth journey.

After they were out of sight, Zuo Zuo finally looked away. She turned her head and ran quickly, not long before she reached the foot of the mountain. She stood on her tiptoes, stretched her neck to look at the scenery outside, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips. Two little dimples appeared on her chubby cheeks, sweet and adorable.

It's great, I finally made it down the mountain.

I've heard from the 7th senior brother how many delicious and interesting things there are in the mountains. I'm already drooling about it.

She finally got the chance to experience it.

Thinking about this, she smiled even more brightly, and walked forward with light steps. After taking a few steps, she suddenly discovered that there was a crowd of people in front of her, buzzing and chattering.

Then someone shouted: "Doctor! Is there a doctor! Save our grandmother!"s little, it was gleaming with gold, so beautiful. How come it's now dusty and drab"What do you think" Li Yuanming gave her a reproachful glance.Zuo Zuo instantly reacted, it must be because of her po...