1
Everyone who makes their living dealing with spirits knows that the Hungry Ghost Path once had a famous Guardian Daoist. He exorcised demons, subdued evil, and brought peace to the world like a god or Buddha. Now, he has vanished without a trace.
Some say he became an immortal and has had nothing to do with the mortal world for many years.
Others say he died centuries ago in that great formation.
But the truth is, this mighty "god" neither died nor became an immortal. Instead
he became a seller of dog-skin plasters.
2
After losing his spiritual powers, Zhou Xiao spent five hundred years diligently selling dog-skin plasters. What he missed most wasn't his glorious record of past deeds, nor his former life of luxury, but his poor little disciple.
As it happens, Zhou Xiao did have a disciple, though few people knew about him.
The little apprentice had followed him since the age of three, and Zhou Xiao had raised him one spoonful of porridge and one bite of vegetables at a time.
He'd finally raised him into a well-behaved boy, but hadn't even had a day to enjoy being waited on before he had to watch him leave with his own eyes.
3
After crawling out of his grave, Zhou Xiao walked a long, long way before finally building a clothes tomb for his little apprentice.
From then on, he returned to visit every hundred years or so.
Every time, he said he would go and join him, but each time, he died in some strange and inexplicable way.
4
The first thing Kong Ning ever heard his master say in this life was, "I'm nothing special. I sell dog-skin plasters, and I'm here to collect my consultation fee."
The first thing Kong Ning heard his master say in his previous life was, "I'm nothing special. I sell dog-skin plasters, and I'm here to collect my consultation fee."
The first thing Kong Ning heard his master say in the life before that was also, "I'm nothing special. I sell dog-skin plasters, and I'm here to collect my consultation fee."
And the first thing Kong Ning heard his master say in the life before that was still, "I'm nothing special. I sell dog-skin plasters, and I'm here to collect my consultation fee."
Every time he heard it, he couldn't help laughing.
Master, my dear master, in which life will you finally recognize me?
#A story about a down-on-his-luck fellow reuniting five hundred years later with the little disciple who loves him dearly
#Or you could call it a story about a devoted, wicked disciple finally winning his beloved five hundred years later
#Qin Yao/Kong Ning x Zhou Xiao
Reading Notes:
① Short-tempered rich disciple gong x gentle, poor master shou. Both are strong, younger disciple, master-disciple relationship, 1v1, happy ending.
② Set in a fictional world, fantasy and supernatural. The entire story is made up, so don't nitpick the details. If there are any plot holes, that's normal. Everything serves the couple's happy ending.
③ No angst, no angst, no angst. At least not in this life. There are some extended flashbacks.
④ Comments on individual paragraphs are enabled. Six days on, one day off. Updates at 11:50 p.m., with Sundays off.
⑤ Thank you, everyone!
Theme: May the world be peaceful and bright
