Chapter 4 The Lazy Daoist

  It's now the time when the two armies are facing each other, the city gate is closed and strictly guarded, but as the saying goes "money can make a ghost grind a mill", Jia Bu spent several silver coins and those guarding soldiers also recognized this big merchant who was known for his wealth, and easily exited the Yu Huang City.

  All the way south, Mu Yuan rode a sorrel horse, kicking and kicking, feeling quite carefree. The broad iron sword he had stolen from the army was originally without a scabbard, but he wrapped it in coarse cloth and tied it to his back. He also changed into a tight-fitting outfit, looking like a true swordsman on the road.

  On the road, they traveled day and night, and after two days of hard work, they finally saw many travelers traveling together in groups. Most of them had escaped from the city before the great war at Giant Umbra Castle, either to reunite with their families or return to their hometowns. However, most of them did not have as much wealth as Jia Bu, and their entourage was far inferior to his five carriages, accompanied by guards, slaves, and maidservants. The men mostly rode horses, while the women sat steadily in the carriage, with a hint of grandeur.

  Jia Bu's vehicle was very spacious, one car could seat more than a dozen people. Except for the family members who occupied one car and the maidservants who used another, the remaining three cars were all loaded with goods, which was quite eye-catching and hard to avoid attracting envy. Originally, Jia Bu's household already had some martial artists guarding the courtyard, and adding more than a dozen male servants made for a considerable fighting force. To be on the safe side, Jia Bu still hired several escorts, and Mu Yuan happened to be one of them.

  The city of Ju Yong was in the midst of a great war, and some skilled warriors had taken to the battlefield. Jia Bu had also been forced to act out of desperation, as it was difficult to find anyone else, so he invited several well-known martial artists from within the city walls, and upon seeing Mu Yuan, who despite being young, had an air of elegance about him, holding an iron sword that seemed extraordinary, he invited him as well.

  Along the way, Mu Yuan carefully observed the martial artists in the procession. Most of them were not genuine masters. They didn't have much true energy, but they were agile and had likely practiced fist and footwork since childhood. Their legs were long and their arms were thick, making them seem strong and powerful. They might be able to handle ordinary people, but if they really encountered someone like Gai Tiancheng, it would be no different from sending themselves to death. However, Gai Tiancheng was a general of a country, not some beggar on the side of the road. Even in the army of the Tianlong Kingdom, there were few who could surpass him. Moreover, if they really had such abilities, they wouldn't come to covet Jia Bu's wealth.

  On this day, the team arrived at a forest and saw that it was getting late, while there were still over ten miles to the next city. Jia Bu immediately ordered them to stop and rest, set up tents, lit bonfires, and rested by the forest.

  Muyuan lightly shook his head, casually ate some dried beef and biscuits, accompanied the few martial artists to drink for a while. After getting drunk and full, feeling extremely bored, he jumped onto a big tree by the side of the road and started practicing his internal energy.

  The Longevity Palace's true energy, through absorbing the spirit of the wood element from the five elements, enhances its cultivation. And this place is just a short distance away from an endless forest, which is exactly where one should go. Mu Yuan has always been lazy and idle, with his daily meditation never exceeding two hours, so after more than ten years of cultivation, he has only reached the second level of meditation in the Longevity Palace, among people of similar age, he is just mediocre, it's just that there's really nothing to do on this road, but he has become quite diligent.

  Jia Baoyu's family members were riding in a spacious carriage, which was equipped with all the daily necessities. Except for stopping at inns to rest when they encountered them on the road, they rarely got out of the carriage. It was already quite chilly in late autumn, but it was warm and cozy inside the carriage, much better than being outside.

  After waiting for about half a short period of time on the tree, Mu Yuan felt that his internal energy was full, and he immediately jumped down. Two martial artists, who were about the same size as him, came up to strike up a conversation.

  After a few days, Mu Yuan also got to know these two men. One was called Feng Lie and the other was called Fang Sheng. They were both quite straightforward people who didn't like reading books since they were young, practiced martial arts by their side, and worked in the bodyguard industry. Seeing the two chatting, Mu Yuan was happy to chat and pass the time.

  "Wood brothers, look at this dense forest, there must be wild beasts coming and going in the middle. These days have been eating dried meat, which is not very appetizing. Why don't we go in and hunt some fresh meat, take it back to roast, it's always fun! How about it?" Feng Lie was a lively person, his martial arts were also passable, but he couldn't bear to be idle for more than ten days. At this moment, he had nothing to do and was very bored, so he persuaded Fang Sheng and came to persuade Mu Yuan as well.

  Mu Yuan's heart moved, and he also agreed with a smile. He greeted several older martial artists and the three of them slipped into the dense forest, lit torches, and left.

  Among the martial artists who followed, except for three people, the rest were over thirty years old. They were steady in their behavior and didn't seem like those three young people who had already passed their energetic youth, and no one came again.

  They walked about two miles into the forest, in the dead of night, but only heard the sound of beasts howling faintly and the light of fire shining brightly. It even attracted a spotted leopard to come forward. This leopard was very large in size, with spots all over its body like copper coins, like a newborn foal, its eyes gleaming with ferocity, and it pounced directly at Feng Lie who was walking in front!

  Feng Lie let out a loud roar, dodging the spotted leopard's pounce. He quickly moved to its side, raised his short staff and engaged in a fierce battle with the leopard.

  The leopard was extremely agile, and Feng Lie's several moves were dodged. Fang Sheng saw the situation and drew out his long knife to join the battle. Two men and one beast rolled around, stirring up dust and smoke, with flashes of firelight.

  Mu Yuan saw the two men struggling, and with a sigh, he drew his iron sword from behind his back. With a flash of light, he used the "Long Rainbow Piercing the Sun" technique, and the sword shot out like a meteor, pinning the ferocious leopard to the ground.

  Fang Sheng and Feng Lie were overjoyed, they pulled the leopard forward, it weighed at least 300 catties. They didn't go any deeper, but instead directly pulled the leopard back to the side of the vehicle team, tidied up a bit, and roasted it on a rack over an open flame.

  Changsheng Palace doesn't prohibit meat, but after all it's a place for cultivating Taoism, emphasizing a clear mind and few desires. Rarely do they display fresh meat dishes. Mu Yuan wasn't very familiar with these things either, so he let the two of them handle it. Before long, they had roasted the leopard's limbs to perfection, emitting a rich aroma. The golden oil dripped onto the bonfire, producing a sizzling sound that tempted people. Watching this, Mu Yuan's fingers began to move involuntarily.

  As soon as the food was served, some martial artists came forward and shared some. Jia Bu also came forward to ask for a front leg, Mu Yuan cut off a large piece of meat from the hind leg, and ate it with strong wine, feeling very satisfied.

  A group of people were enjoying themselves, when from the distant darkness, a singing voice was heard. Mu Yuan concentrated his ears to listen carefully, but what he heard was someone singing: "In the depths of white clouds, reciting the Huang Ting, at the cave entrance, clear wind is born underfoot. In the world without desires, the realm is pure and empty, casting off worldly attachments, all things are light. Sighing that the infinite heavens and earth have no name, sleeves unfold, the universe is vast... Ah, fragrant, ah, fragrant!"

  Then, a Taoist wearing a loose Daoist robe walked out of the night, as if he had appeared out of thin air. Mu Yuan took one look and saw that this person was quite old, with a head of silver hair and white whiskers under his chin. However, his face was rosy and his skin was like that of a newborn baby. Mu Yuan's heart stirred when he thought back to the song the Taoist had sung earlier.

  Those martial artists, however, mostly didn't understand the lyrics or their meaning, and just ignored them. Mu Yuan stood up and said with a bow, "Elder Daoist is polite, but traveling at night isn't very safe."

  The old Taoist burst out laughing, "The world is full of hardships, what's the difference between day and night? Hmm, that roasted meat smells great, can I have a share?"

  Feng Lie was already slightly drunk at this time, and he cursed with his mouth open, "Where did the wild Taoist come from? What's the noise on a good night? Don't disturb me here, hurry up and leave." The other martial artists also joined in, shouting and scolding loudly.

  The old Taoist priest, however, was all smiles and not angry at all. Mu Yuan cut off a large piece of cooked meat from the rack and handed it over, laughing and saying, "In this mountainous place, we happened to meet the Taoist master, what a great fortune! My friends here have had a bit too much to drink, I hope the master won't mind."

  The old Taoist took over the meat and said, "Young man, you have a good heart. How about giving me another calabash of wine?"

  Mu Yuan saw him hand over a green gourd, about a foot high, and immediately smiled, "Naturally very good." He then took out a jar of wine and poured it down, waiting until the strong wine in the jar was all poured out, but the gourd still hadn't been filled.

  Mu Yuan's heart was slightly startled, and he was about to take another jar when the slovenly Taoist had already snatched the gourd from him, tilted his head back and took a drink, and a flush of red appeared on his face.

  "Good wine! Good wine!" The Taoist priest drank down the strong liquor and ate up the roasted meat in a few mouthfuls, loudly praising it.

  Mu Yuan was even more astonished, that one jar of wine had at least three kilograms, ordinary people drinking slowly would still get drunk, but this old Taoist priest didn't stop, he drank it all in one gulp, yet not a single sign showed, his belly didn't change either, truly strange.

  "You're a decent young fellow, and judging by your appearance, you seem to be someone from my generation. Unfortunately, I'm so poor that I don't even have a disciple. If you treat me to wine and meat, I'll give you this gourd as payment for the food and drink."

  The old Taoist narrowed his eyes, handed the gourd to Mu Yuan, and burst into loud laughter. He floated away, and in a moment, a singing voice came from afar: "In the depths of smoke and mist, I cultivate my primordial energy. When I wake up in my thatched cottage, the sun is already red. I leap out of the dusty world, and all fame and fortune are left to the whirlwind..."

  Mu Yuan stood there in a daze, but felt that the Taoist priest came and went like the wind. If it weren't for the fact that he himself was holding the green gourd, he would have suspected that it was all just a dream.

  Looking for some recommendations, thanks!!