Chapter Ten: The Taoist

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  Jingyang Village has a small population, but it covers a large area. The 58 households are scattered and stretch all the way to the foot of a mountain range.

  The mountain name "Maziling", is just a small hill, with sparse trees.

  Located at the foot of a mountain and beside water, from the perspective of Feng Shui, Jingyang Village's geographical location has some spiritual energy. This year, a young talent Chen Jianchen emerged in the village, who ranked first in the imperial examination for three consecutive years.

  The temple of the land god is located at the foot of Ma Zi Ridge, only a small building with an area of two square meters. In front of the temple, there are two large locust trees on both sides, and inside the temple, there is a statue of the land god. Every first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, villagers from Jingyang Village will come here to burn incense and worship. As for Abao's dwelling place, it was in the empty space behind the statue where he set up his bed.

  Ah Bao loves cleanliness. She has long regarded the Temple of the Land God as her own home, so it is always spotlessly clean inside.

  The twilight converges in all directions, with a hazy and dim feeling.

  Chen Jianchen and the other person arrived at the Land Temple, but found it empty inside. Where were the Taoist priests?

  "Unbelievable, another miss?"

  Chen Jianchen was greatly disappointed.

  "Luoxian Ge, where is he..."

  Suddenly Abao spoke up and pointed with his hand.

  Following her finger, Chen Jian saw a Taoist priest sitting cross-legged under a pine tree at the foot of Maziling Mountain not far away.

  It was the Taoist from Lao Mountain whom I had met earlier at the wine shop.

  How did he run there and sit down, looking so divine...

  Chen Jianchen muttered a sentence and said to Abao: "Abao, go to my house and tell my mother that I have something to do and will be back late, so she doesn't have to wait for me to eat dinner."

  "Ah Bao asked: 'Liu Xian Ge, what are you going to do?'"

  "You don't have to ask any more questions, just go quickly, or else my mother will worry."

  Ah Bao cleverly nodded and immediately ran back to the village.

  Chen Jianchen took a deep breath and strode forward with large steps.

  He walked quickly, but in a moment he ran to the place where the Taoist was sitting. Just as he was about to ask him something, suddenly his eyes blurred and the Taoist who had been sitting upright disappeared instantly, giving Chen Jianchen a big fright.

  "Hey, where's everyone?"

  He hastily looked around, but saw the Taoist who was just under the pine tree appearing on the half mountain waist of Maziling, sitting on a large stone millstone.

  From here to the middle of the mountain, there is at least 200-300 meters distance, how did they manage to do it?

  Chen Jianchen's pupils suddenly contracted - there was a way!

  As a traverser, his thinking is not as rigid and dull as that of ordinary scholars. He had already speculated that this world was not simple and might have "non-human" existences. So, the Taoist in front of him, was he the legendary hermit or the earthly immortal?

  Chen Jianchen's heart was racing with excitement and nervousness, mixed with some anxiety - the other party's identity was unknown, their stance was unclear, who knew what kind of person this Taoist was? If they were prone to sudden mood swings and he accidentally offended them, wouldn't that be courting disaster?

  Not everyone is so lucky, running into a superior person who is shocked by them as a heavenly talent, considered one in ten thousand, and rushes to take them on as an apprentice.

  This idea can exist, but it should never lead to a frenzied loss of sanity and affect necessary basic judgment.

  Chen Jianchen had some misgivings in his heart, but soon he made a decision - opportunities are hard to come by, and if missed, it's unknown when the next one will arrive. Moreover, this Taishan Daoist priest would not have any malicious intentions; otherwise, there would be no need for such trouble.

  Having made up his mind, he set off immediately and climbed up the mountain.

  Since eating that mysterious fruit, Chen Jianchen's body underwent a qualitative change, and he was full of energy, vigorous and powerful. When climbing the mountain, he was as agile as flying, and soon arrived at the middle of the mountain.

  Whoosh!

  At almost the same time, the Taoist who was sitting properly on the disc stone also disappeared.

  I'm fed up with your nonsense...

  Chen Jianchen hastily looked around and saw a Taoist priest on the winding mountain path several meters above, holding a bamboo pole with a signboard in one hand and shaking an ancient bronze bell in the other. The bell rang out. Accompanied by the sound of the bell, he sang: "Everyone says that immortals are good, but no one knows where to find them; White clouds and clear winds enter my dreams, and I am free from all worldly troubles..."

  "Wait, Master Dao, please wait!"

  Chen Jianchen hastily shouted loudly, but the Taoist priest ignored him and walked calmly towards the mountain top.

  Chen Jianchen's temper was also stirred up, and he clenched his fists, took a big stride, and chased after him tightly. However, no matter how hard he tried to run, the distance between him and the Taoist remained within a range of several feet, and he couldn't get any closer.

  How strange!

  Two men, one in front and one behind, soon arrived at the top of Maziling Mountain.

  At this time, the Taoist finally stopped in his tracks, turned around and bowed: "Young master, you have been chasing me relentlessly, I don't know what's going on?"

  After this round of rushing, Chen Jianchen's whole body was sweating profusely. Fortunately, he had a superhuman physique and wasn't panting heavily. He hastily bowed respectfully and said: "I am Chen Jianchen, a scholar, I have seen the Taoist master, but haven't asked for guidance yet?"

  The Taoist said calmly: "I am Qingshui of Congshan."

  "It's actually Qingyun Daozhang, I'm sorry for the disrespect."

  Chen Jianchen's mouth was chatting politely, but his heart was thinking quickly about how to bring up a topic.

  Qingyun glanced at him with a sharp gaze, as if he could see through his mind, and said: "Young master, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

  "Something's going on..."

  Chen Jianchen hastily called out: "I don't know if you still remember, the words you spoke in the tavern today?"

  Qingyun smiled slightly: "Of course I remember, but my words were directed at another young master..."

  "He is my old classmate... Dao Zhang, it's like this..."

  At this point, Chen Jianchen no longer dragged his feet or concealed anything. Starting from the halfway rescue of Peach Blossom, he poured out the whole story like a bamboo tube spilling beans.

  After listening, Qingyun thought for a moment and asked: "Do you suspect that woman has a problem?"

  "Not bad."

  Qingyun nodded, sizing up Chen Jianchen from head to toe, thinking: This young man is not only physically handsome, but also has a wise and discerning nature, truly exceptional. It's just a pity that he's a scholar with a promising future ahead of him, and will inevitably be entangled in worldly wealth and glory... This thought flashed through his mind, and he said: "Whether the woman has a problem is still hard to say, but I'm certain your friend must have encountered some issue. Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but from what I see today, his condition is listless and depressed, with a dark energy surrounding him that refuses to dissipate - clearly, he's suffering from a ghostly affliction... I speak the truth, sir, you won't think me mad or possessed by evil spirits, will you?"

  Chen Jianchen replied solemnly: "Don't worry, Master Dao. I am not that kind of person who is inflexible and unaccommodating."

  Qingyun smiled: "So that's it. So, you're chasing after me just to ask for my help in rescuing your friend?"

  Chen Jianchen cupped his hands and said: "That's right. I also hope that Daozhang will lend a helping hand and rescue one or two."

  After this performance-style toss, Qingyun's identity as a superior being is about to be revealed, what else can Chen Jianchen doubt? But I don't know what kind of thunderous means he will use to subdue the demon and open my eyes wide. Or maybe there's another opportunity that can't be fixed...