Chapter 72 – Merit

Upon hearing what the young Daoist priest said, one of the Daoists at the banquet abruptly stood up with a swish.

It was Daoist Wuwang.

Aside from Daoist Wutun, he was the other one among the seated Daoists who seemed to hold some reservations toward Qin Qing.

He was actually quite thorough and considerate—just not one to speak much.

But Qin Qing had a gut feeling that this Daoist didn’t particularly like her.

Daoist Wuwang served as the supervisor of the Taoist temple, managing all matters big and small inside and out.

While his senior brothers could focus solely on cultivating, meditating, and chanting scriptures, he couldn’t. On top of handling the temple’s chores and tending to his senior brothers’ food and other needs, he even ran a free clinic within the temple for public consultations.

The Daoist medical brother mentioned earlier by Wuyong was him.

Daoist Wuwang asked, “Where are they now?”

“They came up via the footpath. They’ve reached the bamboo forest halfway up the mountain. A senior brother followed them down, worried something might happen. Tried to dissuade them—said our Taoist tradition doesn’t support this kind of thing—but they wouldn’t listen. They’re set on kowtowing all the way to our temple,” the young Daoist said anxiously.

“Send more people to keep an eye on them and maintain order. A lot of people are coming down the mountain right now. We can’t have an accident just because someone wanted to watch the spectacle.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll go get more people right away.”

Daoist Wuwang offered his apologies to the table. “This could turn into something serious. I need to report the situation to the religious affairs bureau and the Ministry of Public Security. Please excuse me.”

“Go ahead,” the old Celestial Master sighed. “The heart of a parent is always pitiful. Speak gently—don’t get into an argument.”

Daoist Wuwang nodded slightly and left.

Qin Qing swiped through her phone for a bit and noticed that someone local had uploaded a video of the couple making the pilgrimage to Baiyun Temple.

The video quality was poor, but the intent and their movements were clear. With every step, they prostrated. No shortcuts. The two took turns holding their child.

Judging from the size of the child, he couldn’t have been older than five.

There was more than one video. Qin Qing was able to view their pilgrimage from different angles.

If a single pilgrimage could save someone fated to die, then the green stone steps in front of every temple would’ve long since been cracked from all the kneeling.

But how could life ever be that simple?

In the comments, someone mentioned they knew this couple. This wasn’t their first time—they’d visited more than one temple already.

Qin Qing ran a search outside the video app. She didn’t find any new footage, but a few images remained online. It was clearly the same couple.

In the comments, someone replied:

“Clearly, the act of pilgrimage itself doesn’t solve the problem—otherwise, they wouldn’t need to repeat it at multiple temples. It’s a paradox in itself.”

“Maybe they know that too. But when modern medicine fails, parents always want to do just a little more for their child.”

“Yes. Maybe it doesn’t help—but at least they’re doing everything they can. If the child were to pass one day, perhaps it would ease their conscience.”

“No, you’ve clearly never been a parent. If that day ever comes, nothing could ease that pain. They’d only feel more guilt for not being able to give their child a healthy life.”

“I know it’s pointless, but I still wish them well. I hope for a miracle.”

“+1 to that.”

—

Wuyong led Qin Qing to the monk’s quarters where she’d be staying that night.

“You can explore on your own. I have to lead evening chanting—it’s my turn tonight.”

Qin Qing didn’t really know what “chanting scriptures” meant, so she followed along to take a look. It turned out to be like a group study session where one Daoist led everyone else in reciting texts.

She lingered outside the hall for a bit. At first, the atmosphere felt solemn and dignified. But before long, the unified chanting of dozens of Daoists began to lull her to sleep.

Yawning, she wandered back to the monk’s quarters, ready for bed.

On the way, she passed a meditation room with its door open. Inside, someone was kneeling on the floor, weeping. The one being knelt to was Daoist Wuwang.

Qin Qing recognized them—it was the couple from the videos.

“Daoist, please, we beg you. Save him. Our child is only four.”

Daoist Wuwang said, “Get up first. If I could save him, I would. But given the situation, you two know better than anyone—it’s beyond the reach of man.”

The couple remained on their knees. “No! It’s not true! How could he not be saved? If man can’t, then the gods can! Please, Daoist, help us call upon the gods!”

What kind of talk was this?

Daoist Wuwang looked at them with pity in his eyes. Though they pleaded desperately, he firmly shook his head.

“You two don’t seem like ignorant people—why would you say such things?”

The couple slumped to the ground, taking turns speaking, their words tangled and irrational.

“It can’t be. The gods can heal our Baobao. I’ve seen miracles before.”

“Why is this happening? We’ve prayed at every religious site he’s ever been to. Why haven’t the gods appeared?”

“We must not be devout enough yet.”

Saying this, they rose again to kneel, begging, “Baiyun Temple is our last hope. Please, Daoist. We’re willing to kneel here forever, or do anything—just save him, save our child!”

It was a tragic farce.

If miracles truly existed…

That thought sparked something in Qin Qing.

She focused her mind and silently willed: Redeem merit to heal that child.

In front of her, the System Panel surfaced like a streak of ink.

> [Restore health to Zhang Haochen, a child near death. Cost: 50 Merit Points.]

[Payment Method: Others]

[Transaction Fee Rate: 50% (1 person), 75% (2 people), 100% (3 people)]

[Available Payers:]

– Mother: Chen Xiaoyuan (Merit: 48)

– Father: Zhang Songlin (Merit: 46)

– Maternal Grandmother: Feng Qiaoli (Merit: 35)

– …Relations with merit under 30 have been collapsed.

[Note: When an individual’s Merit falls below 10, their Luck will begin to drop dynamically until Merit is restored above 10.]

At first, Qin Qing didn’t understand what the “transaction fee” meant.

She tried selecting just the mother.

> [Selected: Chen Xiaoyuan. 50 Merit Points to be deducted. Transaction fee: 25.]

[Notice: Chen Xiaoyuan’s total merit [Selected: Chen Xiaoyuan. Deducting 25.53 merit. Fee: 19.15]

[Selected: Zhang Songlin. Deducting 24.47 merit. Fee: 18.35]

[Warning: Post-transaction, both individuals’ merit will fall below 10. Proceed?]

She then tried choosing all three—the total cost shot to 100 merit points.

Clearly, the system preferred single-person payments.

Now that she understood, Qin Qing didn’t act impulsively. Instead, she quietly returned to the monk’s quarters.

About an hour later, the couple and their child were temporarily settled in another building within the monk’s quarters courtyard.

By then, Wuyong had also finished the evening scripture reading and returned with a few others. The once-quiet courtyard began to liven up.

Qin Qing told him what had happened.

Wuyong sighed. “I saw Senior Brother Wuwang on the way back. The child has congenital heart disease—his lips are already turning purplish. There’s nothing Senior Brother can do. The couple was too distraught, so he wrote a prescription and drew a talisman to ease their pain. But it’s just to make the child suffer a bit less.”

“Don’t be fooled by Senior Brother Wuwang’s bad temper—he’s got the softest heart among us. He’s the most devoted, and he can’t stand to see anyone in pain.”

Yes, Qin Qing had noticed that too.

Which was why she had an idea.

She told Wuyong, “I happen to have a prescription. It might save him.”

Wuyong was stunned. “Boss, you know medicine?”

Then added, “Never mind, don’t explain—I wouldn’t get it anyway. Let’s just show it to Senior Brother and let you two discuss the treatment. If it works, that would truly be a great deed of merit.”

Saying that, she immediately dragged Qin Qing toward the clinic.

She followed behind, watching Wuyong’s hair tie flutter through the air—her pace was that fast.

When they reached the clinic, Wuyong relayed everything.

Daoist Wuwang shot up from his desk.

“Is that true?”

Qin Qing replied, “Yes.”

Daoist Wuwang stepped out from behind the desk. “May I take a look at the prescription?”

Qin Qing handed him her phone, with the notes app open.

Wuwang put on his glasses and examined it carefully. Within just ten seconds, he was already gripping the phone, eyes round with fury.

He glared at Qin Qing. “Life and death are no trivial matters. This is no time for jokes.”

“It’s not a joke.” She took back her phone.

Wuwang’s anger flared even more. “This is clearly just a peace-preserving remedy. It won’t cure anything.”

Qin Qing smiled. That wasn’t entirely wrong.

She’d asked a former client to help her draft the prescription. The person had told her clearly—it only served to calm the mind and settle the spirit.

“Don’t be angry, Daoist. Let me finish. This prescription on its own can’t cure anything—because it’s missing a key sovereign herb.”

Wuwang said, “Impossible. With a formula like this, no matter what you add, it won’t bring someone back from the brink of death.”

“Let’s not be so absolute.”

As he looked at her with growing suspicion, Qin Qing asked, “What if I said the sovereign herb is merit?”

“Merit?”

Wuwang and Wuyong spoke the word in unison.

“Yes, merit.” Qin Qing’s voice was steady and resolute. “Can you not sense that those two—husband and wife—carry merit?”

Wuwang stroked his beard. “They were both teachers, taught countless students. Because of their careers, they didn’t have children until nearly forty. It’s not strange that they’d have merit. But so what?”

Qin Qing looked him in the eye and said clearly, “If enough merit is accumulated—sometimes, it can be exchanged for a life.”

As soon as the words landed, both Daoists’ gazes locked on her.

“Enough… merit… to exchange for life…” Daoist Wuwang repeated her words, chewing over every syllable.

Then he quickly stepped up to her and grabbed her wrist, the grip so tight it hurt.

His eyes were sharp as light. “You mean to say—you can quantify someone’s merit, and extract it for use?”

He didn’t even wait for her reply before letting go of her wrist.

The little old man started rubbing his hands and pacing in circles around the room. He looked like he was about to wear a groove into the floor.

“How could this be… That’s a divine method only mentioned in ancient texts—used by the cultivators of old. You—even if you’re good at fortune-telling—you’re still a young woman not even thirty. How could you possess such an ability?”

But even as he paced, he started doubting himself.

“Then again… if the ancient texts record it, that means it must have once existed. Perhaps it simply vanished from public view over time. Maybe… a small lineage preserved it by sheer luck?”

Daoist Wuwang muttered to himself for a long while. Qin Qing didn’t interrupt, simply standing calmly and waiting.

After a moment, the little old man came back over to her.

“Young lady, don’t lie to this old Daoist. Before the Ancestors above, tell me—were you telling the truth?”

Qin Qing replied, “Words can be deceiving. Let actions speak instead. Daoist, you can see for yourself.”

“Fine. How do we test it? That child?”

Wuwang had calmed somewhat by now.

“If you can really save him, you’d just do it yourself. Why come find me?”

“Since you asked, I’ll speak plainly.” Qin Qing explained her intention. “I hope you will be the one to carry this out. If the child recovers, all the credit and praise go to you—to Baiyun Temple. Of course, if it fails, at worst it’s just a harmless peace remedy—won’t kill anyone.”

Wuwang frowned. “You don’t want people to know this is your doing?”

“That’s right.”

“If Baiyun Temple publicly acknowledges this, we’d gain fame—but also risk. Not every person who comes seeking help is kind-hearted.”

“True,” Qin Qing agreed.

“But,” she added, “I’m open to long-term cooperation with Baiyun Temple. Your reputation already draws many seeking aid. And I’m sure you can’t treat them all… There is some risk. But your fame will grow louder, your status among Daoist circles more exalted.”

In the end, she said, “To save or not to save—it’s your decision, Daoist.”

Wuwang looked at her. “You tell us all this, and you’re not afraid we’ll leak it?”

“You’re not that kind of person,” Qin Qing replied, then added, “You may not know this, but the things merit can do… go far beyond just this.”