He Became a Taoist Leader in Seattle

Ignite in one sentence: How did a Chinese dishwasher living in a basement become the spiritual leader of Chinese Americans? Twenty-three-year-old Li Xuanji sneaked into the United States and lived in Seattle's Chinatown, living in a basement, working illegally, and being bullied. No one knew that this thin, silent young man was the last generation of orthodox Taoist family members. The Chinese are like ants here - they are robbed, beaten, and discriminated against. Calling the police is useless and they have no way to seek help. Li Xuanji watched patiently until he saw Mr. Chen, a sixty-year-old vegetable vendor, being beaten violently by gangsters in the street, with blood flowing all over the floor. He established his power: kill those who insult China, kill those who destroy the Tao, and kill those who rebel against our compatriots. But it unites people's hearts with the most orthodox scientific rituals: saving the souls of the dead, making homes safe and exorcising evil spirits, improving feng shui, and administering medicine for free. From a small altar in the basement to a officially registered Taoist temple, from being alone to forming a Taoist protection team, from being at the mercy of others to seizing the autonomy of Chinatown. It took him ten years to make the Chinese in an American city raise their heads and walk for the first time.