Tanki Liuli 528

"Modest fare, I hope you'll forgive the simplicity,"

"No need to be so formal, I think it's quite alright,"

Since the other party did not offer their name, Jiang Chen had no choice but to address them in this manner.

The old Daoist's words were indeed not mere courtesy; the small table before them was laid with only pickles and white porridge, extremely plain, much more humble than his previous meals at the Lan Family's.

Though it was in the countryside, the Lan Family's living conditions were quite good. Jiang Chen had stayed there for nearly a week, enjoying meat and fish at every meal, with Wu Guangjiang occasionally bringing back some game.

But here—

it was even inferior to some of the simple vegetarian meals at the temple.

Could it be that the so-called decline in incense offerings wasn't just politeness?

Even if the Daoist Sect pursued a life free of desires, wasn't this way too harsh on oneself?