Chapter 150: Tear This Place Down

Leading several disciples to the Vegetarian Hall, they found some pilgrims already there. Since the pilgrims came from far away, they inevitably got hungry sometimes.

Only two appeared to be actual Taoists there; the rest were mostly hired laborers. The kitchen was already lit, and a single sniff confirmed the enticing aroma of real meat.

“You!” A thirty-year-old, plump Taoist spotted Tang Yin’s group and his eyes lit up. “Gentlemen hungry again? Quick, quick, please sit.”

Tang Yin gave the Taoist a look full of contempt, his face miserable and grim, staying silent.

This head cook, it seemed, was the one Wang Shouren had mentioned, who got into the argument with Tang Yin.

The cook gave Tang Yin a cold look then ignored him, turning instead to Fang Jifan’s group to count. “One, two, three, four, five, six. Six exactly. To eat, one tael of silver per person. Thank you for your sincerity.” He plastered a smile on his face, perhaps recalling his earlier conflict with Tang Yin, and deliberately shot Tang Yin another icy glance.

Was Fang Jifan short on money?

No, he wasn’t.

But one tael per person? The market economy at Longquan Taoist Temple was booming. This was blatantly fleecing pilgrims, and Fang Jifan found himself grudgingly impressed.

That said… Fang Jifan felt a small sting of being ripped off. It was slightly annoying…

Ripping people off was one thing. Being the one ripped off was quite another.

Fang Jifan chuckled. “Why so expensive? Even in the Inner City, a whole banquet might not cost this much.”

The head cook sneered coldly. “This is Longquan Taoist Temple. Of course it’s different. Eating and drinking here, you offer incense money to the Tao Gods. Eating is trivial; the offering is important. One tael is letting you off easy! When autumn comes and pilgrims crowd, two taels won’t even get you a meal here at Longquan.”

That was outrageously arrogant. It was basically daylight robbery.

Fang Jifan was fully convinced now. Such open banditry still attracted so many pilgrims? No wonder so many people skipped honest work to become monks or Taoists. And no wonder Emperor Taizu created those taoist registers/certificates and Household Registers, strictly controlling the number of genuine Taoists and monks.

Tang Yin’s face flamed crimson again. His temper flared against the head cook. Unable to hold back, he shouted, “Audacious! How dare you speak like that to my Mentor!”

The head cook, Wang Tianbao, clearly had a short fuse himself. Hearing Tang Yin yell, he immediately puffed up, crossing his arms and retorting mockingly, “He’s your Mentor, not Wang Tianbao’s. What’s it to me? Annoying scholar! Eat if you wish; leave if you won’t. If you’re broke, get lost and quit yapping.”

Tang Yin was practically choking. His face became redder, trapped in that classic scholar-versus-soldier frustration.

Historically, Tang Yin’s hard life stemmed precisely from this personality: overly romantic, unable to stomach injustice, proud, and far less adaptable than someone like Xu Jing. Hence his later destitution.

Honestly, Fang Jifan found Tang Yin’s emotional intelligence painful. If not for his talent, Fang Jifan would have happily buried him.

He constantly mocked Tang Yin for his low EQ, and criticism was routine. But an outsider daring to mock him? Putting on those contemptuous airs? That changed things.

You hit a dog? Consider its owner! Much less your own figurative half-son.

A trace of cold fury flickered in Fang Jifan’s eyes, unnoticed.

Tang Yin was infuriated by Wang Tianbao’s words. “You! How can you be so uncouth?”

Wang Tianbao laughed, colder still. “Uncouth? This is hallowed ground! Not down the mountain! At Longquan Taoist Temple, you dare run amok? Look at other pilgrims eating here! All come revering the Tao Gods! Only you fuss and complain! Know this—if the Gods learn of your disrespect, they’ll curse your sons born without hind-ends! Absurd! Pretentious scholars like you? This humble Taoist has seen plenty. Here at Longquan Taoist Temple, you amount to nothing! My Grandmaster holds a position granted by the imperial court! Even the Star of Literature descended! Here? You crawl!”

Wang Tianbao was genuinely furious. He oversaw the Vegetarian Hall because he enjoyed the deep trust of Zhang Chaoxian, the chief disciple of Puji Zhenren. Zhang Chaoxian managed almost everything in the temple. Wang Tianbao’s position spoke volumes.

Hundreds of Taoists and hired help in the temple obeyed his orders. The Vegetarian Hall was a lucrative post! Pilgrims mostly came seeking blessings from the Gods. They might be stingy in life, but never toward deities!

Though prices were high, most quietly accepted it as incense offering. Grudgingly, perhaps, but never complaining aloud.

But today, this fussy Tang Yin! Only hours before, he’d already provoked a near-fight! Now back, dragging along this flippant young lord? Trying to stir trouble at Longquan Taoist Temple?

Wang Tianbao gnashed his teeth impatiently. “Don’t eat? Get lost already! Endless drivel! You won’t eat? Others will fight for seats!”

He rolled up his sleeves. Used to bullying in the temple, he loudly threatened and started shoving the person closest to him—Fang Jifan.

Seeing Wang Tianbao disrespect their Mentor, Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Xu Jing leapt into action, blocking his hands. Instantly, they were tangled together.

“Oh ho!” Wang Tianbao loudly proclaimed. “Daring to cause trouble in this temple? Blinded? This! Is! Longquan! Taoist! Temple! My Grandmaster! Is an imperial-appointed Perfected Master of the second rank!” He wasn’t truly harmed but played the victim, accustomed to cunning and guile.

Mid-rant, while Jiang Chen and the others grappled with him, Fang Jifan seized the moment. Palm became fist. Swift, sharp, he punched straight at Wang Tianbao’s face.

No one flaunted insolence before Fang Jifan! No one bullied his disciples before the Young Lord!

Frustration had simmered within Fang Jifan for days. He’d grown into his role as the wastrel. Time to thrash this idiot! Save him for dinner?

Letting bullies go unchecked? Tarnished the wastrel title!

The punch was totally unexpected. Wang Tianbao’s vision blurred. Danger loomed. Dodging? Too late.

The Fang Family were military. Besides a notorious reputation, the original wastrel left Fang Jifan a robust physique. The fist smashed forward. The next moment—thud—it slammed into Wang Tianbao’s face. Immediately after—smack—a deep, dull impact resonated from the socket. Agony, marrow-deep, radiated through his body.

“Urgh… Ah!” He stumbled back, clutching his eye, bending double, tumbling to the floor, rolling and crying out.

Fang Jifan never wasted breath. He struck fast and hard, targeting weaknesses. This vital hit left Wang Tianbao howling wildly.

Pilgrims and kitchen staff in the hall stood dumbfounded. Staring at the ‘thug’, hearing Wang Tianbao’s wretched screams, they collectively shivered.

Daring violence inside the Taoist Temple? Who… possessed such audacity?

Fang Jifan took a step forward, radiating disdainful coldness, the perfect image of a young tyrant. “You dare provoke Fang Jifan? What trash are you?”

Fang… Ji… Fan…

Those three names struck like lightning!

Who was Fang Jifan? Longquan Taoist Temple bordered the Capital. Under Shuntian Prefecture. How could they not know?

The Capital housed the Nanhe Bo Mansion. Inside lived a wastrel. That wastrel was reckless beyond measure! What hadn’t he done?

Pilgrims were clearly terrified. They hastily retreated to corners, trembling, not one daring to slip out the door where Fang Jifan stood.

The other laborers exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to do.

Only Wang Tianbao lay howling on the floor, clutching his eye. Seemingly, at the name “Fang Jifan”, his trembling intensified.

Fang Jifan remained aloof, devoid of pity. “Since those eyes are blind and know not Father-in-law, might as well discard them. Good! This Young Lord dislikes this hall. Tear! It! Down!”

Places like this, using Longquan Taoist Temple’s reputation, weren’t collecting mere stupidity taxes. How many ordinary families lived in hardship, scrimping and saving, only to end up here? Eating under the guise of offering? Their year’s savings swallowed whole.

Fang Jifan’s expression deepened into a chilly fury. What he despised most were those making profit through ‘skill’! Such technical sophistication threatened his own way of earning a living!

His order to tear the place down hung in the air.

No one moved.

Fang Jifan automatically glanced back at his five disciples and Wang Shouren. A sudden… awkwardness hit him.

He’d forgotten something crucial. Deng Jian wasn’t there! Behind him were six scholars! Tear… this hall down?

With… them?

Fang Jifan instantly understood the absurdity. But the shout still carried force. More powerful, really, were the three words “Fang Jifan.”

The result, however, surprised him. Tang Yin, face flushing bright red, was the first to raise his arm and shout, “Why keep such a black den? Mentor commands! Tear it down!”

Though phrased scholarly, he was the first to charge. Swelling with unprecedented boldness, his first clumsy kick sent a table and chairs flying. His movements were rough, clumsy, but Tang Yin attacked with sincere fury.

Seeing this, Ouyang Zhi and the others finally shed their hesitation. Rolling up their sleeves, they joined the wrecking crew.