Chapter Sixteen: The Mysterious Footprints

  At midnight sharp, we will make a concerted effort to top the charts, and I invite everyone's support!

  Chen Jianchen was willing to follow Qingyun, of course, to broaden his horizons and witness the spectacle of a Taoist priest subduing demons and exorcising evil spirits. As for Qingyun's attitude, he himself was not entirely without opportunities for cultivation, but still needed some tempering or enlightenment.

  From another perspective, it's also good this way. If I really fell into the trap and was taken as a disciple by Qingyun, I would have to leave my hometown immediately and wander around with him, and at that time, whether I could bear to abandon my mother and leave is hard to say.

  Chen Jianchen values loyalty and righteousness.

  Qingyun was absolutely right on this point, the most taboo thing in cultivating the Tao is emotional attachment. If one cannot clear their mind and desires, calm their emotions and do nothing, how can they cultivate even a little bit of Taoist heart?

  Without a good heart, even if one has attained enlightenment, their moral conduct will still be hindered and they will find it difficult to make progress.

  Only to see Qingyun take out two yellow talismans from his bosom, each a foot long, with dragon and phoenix dancing on them, writing mysterious symbols that are hard to understand. Unlike the ordinary talismans sold in the market, the characters on the talisman were bright red and shining, flowing naturally, as if born from heaven, vivid and lifelike, it was clear at a glance that they were not ordinary goods, full of magical power, and not just decorative waste paper.

  Qingyun stuck a talisman on his own right leg and another one on Chen Jianchen's leg.

  Chen Jianchen asked: "Daozhang, what is this thing?"

  "Wind Escape Symbol, a thing for rushing on the road, just a minor skill!"

  Chen Jianchen felt depressed: "For you, it's just a trivial matter, but for me, isn't it a magnificent dragon?" Suddenly remembering something, he curiously asked: "The other day on the mountain, Daozhang appeared and disappeared mysteriously, what kind of magic was that?"

  Qingyun didn't hide it and smiled: "It's called 'shrinking the earth to an inch', but this technique consumes a lot of magic power, and besides, you can't bring anyone with you."

  Chen Jianchen nodded and stopped talking.

  The talisman was pasted on, Qingyun made a gesture, and muttered to himself: "East wind borrows the law, the Supreme Old Lord is urgent like a command, hurry!"

  With a flick of his finger, the talismans stuck to the legs of the two men burst into heat and light, radiating a brilliant glow. The next moment, Chen Jian felt his body involuntarily sprinting forward, as if riding on clouds and mist, his feet barely touching the ground as he rapidly moved forward.

  Cow!

  He sighed in amazement, the wind whistling past his ears, the trees on both sides rapidly receding into the distance. Chen Jianchen had wanted to open his eyes wide and take a good look, but unfortunately his body was running too fast, the wind whipping his face so that it stung, his eyelids almost unable to open...

  "We're here!"

  It was as if only for a moment, or just an instant, Chen Jianchen's body suddenly stopped, hearing Qingyun say that they had arrived, he hastily raised his eyes to look around, and saw that this place was the mountain pass where he had fought with Shan Xiao yesterday.

  Wind Escape Symbol, indeed lives up to its reputation.

  Chen Jianchen glanced down at his leg, only to see that the Wind Escape Symbol had fallen to the ground without any wind. At almost the same time, the entire talisman underwent a change, its color rapidly fading away. With just one gust of wind, it actually turned into powder and scattered in all directions, leaving no trace behind.

  It was originally a one-time consumable item, no wonder Qingyun said it was a small trick...

  Although this is the case, the function of this token is still out of Chen Jianchen's reach. Let's talk about it later, should we ask Daozhang for a few more to protect ourselves?

  Chen Jianchen was thinking to himself, while Qingyun on the other side was looking around vigilantly with piercing eyes, his nose twitching as if sniffing out something.

  After a while, Qingyun Daozhang said in a cold voice: "It turns out that it is a mountain goblin that has been cultivated for a hundred years. It has brute force, no wonder it can damage my magic weapon."

  Chen Jianchen had nothing to say about this matter and could only listen.

  "Sir, you wait here for a moment, I'll go catch the demon."

  Chen Jianchen nodded in agreement, and the Taoist had already disappeared from view, presumably to track down the mountain goblin.

  Today is cloudy and very cold, looking at the sky full of clouds, it seems like it's going to snow again.

  Chen Jianchen stood still, waiting, his eyes alert and watchful in all directions.

  About the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Qingyun returned empty-handed and said: "The cunning mountain goblin is not on that side, but has gone in this direction. Young master, please follow me."

  Qingyun walked in front and Chen Jianchen followed behind, one in front of the other, until they finally arrived at Shuyang Village and came to the gate of the Wang Mansion.

  Qingyun raised his head and said, "It's right here, a very heavy demonic aura."

  Chen Jianchen was taken aback: "No way! That demon is really a vengeful spirit who won't let go, clinging to Wang Fu even in death?"

  Dang Xia said: "Dao Zhang, I know the owner of this household, why don't I go and ask him clearly?"

  "Alright, young master be careful."

  Chen Jianchen walked forward, the housekeeper of the Wang's mansion recognized him and immediately went in to report. Soon, Master Wang came out to greet him - but compared to yesterday's smiling face, today he had a worried look on his face with furrowed brows.

  "Uncle, this is..."

  Chen Jianchen's doubts.

  Master Wang sighed: "It's all because of Fu'er, he suddenly fell ill last night, with cold and hot spells, his face turned pale and his lips white, he couldn't eat or drink, and in just one night, he became nothing but a skeleton... I've already asked several doctors to come and take a look, but none of them can diagnose the problem. As an old man, I only have this one son, if anything happens to him, how can I go on..."

  As she spoke, tears gushed down her face.

  Chen Jianchen immediately knew that something was amiss, and it seemed that the peach blossom truly remembered "a hundred days of love for a one-night husband", and wouldn't let go of Wang Fu. He casually said: "Uncle, isn't it that Brother Fu has encountered evil?"

  Wang Dacai heard this and suddenly had an epiphany: "What if it's really like that? What should I do now?" He jumped up immediately, anxious like an ant on a hot skillet, at his wit's end - if it was just an illness, there would still be hope for treatment, but if he'd been possessed by evil spirits, he'd be completely helpless.

  Chen Jianchen remained calm and said, "I just met a Taoist priest outside who seemed like a superior man. Why not invite him to take a look?"

  "Please! Come on in! I'll treat you to anything!"

  His heart and soul, his precious only son was in trouble, so Wang Dafu didn't care about anything else. He grabbed at every straw, thinking that it could save his life. Immediately, he went out with Chen Jianchen and invited Qingyun to come in.

  Qingyundao only made a courtesy bow and came to the courtyard where Wang Fushu's study was located. He sniffed his nose and said, "Indeed, it is here."

  Wang Dacai was so nervous that he was sweating profusely, and before he could ask more questions, Qingyun said: "I don't like people watching when I'm doing my rituals, all of you go outside and wait, but Chen Gongzi can stay behind to help."

  Upon hearing this, although he was worried and anxious, Master Wang still followed the instructions and had all the idle people called out to the outside, closing the courtyard gate and not allowing anyone to enter and disturb him. He then walked back and forth outside the gate, praying to the gods and Buddha for his son's safety...

  In the courtyard, to avoid being affected by the fish in the pond, Chen Jianchen stood at the back of the door and watched - only to see Qingyun put down the bamboo signboard, stepped on the Seven Stars, held a peach wood sword, pointed at the study room and shouted: "You dare to damage my magic weapon, come out quickly and accept your death!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, a strange noise suddenly appeared in the study, which was not like human...