The fox spirit is urgent and swift like a law enforcement officer.

  The high-ranking monks from the Huayan Temple chanted sutras until the second half of the night without anything out of the ordinary happening. Later, some of them felt sleepy and sat down on their meditation cushions to take a short nap. They were used to sleeping while sitting when they were tired, and some could even chant sutras while sleeping; everything was normal. However, at dawn, they discovered that all the lights had gone out, and one of the old monks had strangled himself with his rosary beads, no longer breathing.

  When I saw the old monk's corpse with bulging eyes and his tongue hanging out, I immediately thought of the female ghost who hanged herself. I felt a chill run down my back. It's hard to imagine that someone could strangle themselves to death with prayer beads, and still not let go even when they couldn't breathe. Clearly it wasn't his own strength that killed him, or he had completely lost his mind at the time.

  Perhaps these monks didn't have the magical powers to subdue demons, but they were undoubtedly cultivated and virtuous monks. The fact that they didn't even have the strength to protect themselves shows just how formidable that hanged ghost was.

  This hanging ghost is even more ferocious than the monster I encountered, if it wasn't for that monster protecting me, I might have been taken away by the hanging ghost on the first night, so in a way, I should thank that monster, now that monster has become his matchmaker...

  Someone died, and the monks would not let it go, making a big fuss, soon everyone in the village knew about it. Rumors spread quickly, people were frightened, Old Chen's relatives and village officials came out to maintain order. Old Chen was so anxious that he almost vomited blood, his daughter was humiliated, a fierce ghost demanded revenge, two major incidents happened overnight, both extremely difficult to handle. With lives at stake, he didn't care about the impact anymore, reported the case to the town police station and called many people for help, including the old principal.

  My main concern is still Chen Xing, not marrying her might not be an option, but actually marrying her makes me feel somewhat reluctant. It's not that Chen Xing isn't pretty enough, in fact she's very beautiful and lovely, and her family background is also good, completely matching mine, it's just that I can't accept this sudden, forced marriage. Marriage doesn't represent love, but how can a marriage be without love? A modern intellectual like me, must I also get married first then fall in love?

  Around 10 am, Old Chen received a phone call and suddenly became cheerful. He mysteriously told me: "The savior has arrived, now it's all good!"

  "What savior?"

  "This is confidential!" Old Chen said very seriously, thought for a moment and felt that I was now one of his own people, so he put his hand on my shoulder and said, "It's okay to tell you, but don't tell anyone else! There's a high-ranking official from Beijing who happened to find out about our troubles here through the old principal at the Education Bureau. He promised to come over and take care of it. The old principal repeatedly warned that under no circumstances should we reveal that he is from Beijing!"

  I find it somewhat amusing that for the farmers in this remote mountainous area, Beijing is an existence that is sacred and shining with golden light. People from Beijing are equivalent to imperial envoys of ancient times, riding eight-man sedan chairs, holding the sword of justice, beheading evil spirits and ghosts, making gods and demons tremble. So Old Chen was very excited. But I am wide awake, Beijing is not Mount Dragon Tiger, it's unlikely that everyone can subdue monsters and catch ghosts. If we fail again, tonight will be even more terrifying, how can I escape the monster's claws?

  Lao Chen immediately began to prepare for the reception of distinguished guests, decorating the hall, slaughtering pigs and sheep, assigning a band, gathering children to dress up neatly, holding paper flowers in line to welcome.

  Although the police were called, the police car from the township police station did not arrive. The crowd waited left and right until almost four o'clock in the afternoon when a small sedan finally arrived, kicking up a cloud of yellow dust. The drum and cymbal team that had been waiting by the side of the road immediately began to play with great enthusiasm, the sound of the suona horn shaking heaven and earth. Children with their faces painted red waved paper flowers and shouted in unison: "Welcome! Warm welcome..."

  Old Chen hurried over, but the people in the car didn't get out. After rolling down the window and saying a few words, Old Chen returned with an embarrassed face, dispersing the crowd, not allowing anyone to gather around - apparently his flattery had hit the wrong spot.

  After the villagers had almost all left, the driver's side door of the sedan opened and a robust man in his thirties jumped out. His face was resolute, his eyes were sharp, and his entire body exuded an explosive sense of power. The person who got out of the passenger seat was an old man with white hair, looking simple and humble. I had seen this person's photo in the school office - it was Principal Chen.

  After the two got out of the car, they quickly opened the rear door and made a courteous gesture. The person who came out on the left was over 50 years old, with a moderate build, wearing a silk long shirt, short hair and long beard, with a warm smile on his face, and an extraordinary demeanor, but a pair of sword-like eyebrows seemed too thick, with a hint of domineering and murderous aura amidst his elegant appearance.

  A fifteen or sixteen year old girl emerged from the right, with a slender figure, wearing a light yellow polka-dot pleated long skirt, as agile as a flying butterfly. Her hair was neatly combed back, her forehead smooth and full, her eyebrows were painted, her eyes shone brightly, dazzling people, although her face still had a bit of childishness, it already showed the dazzling brilliance of a star and the noble elegance of a princess, making people dare not gaze at her directly.

  I didn't look at her much, not because I didn't dare to stare, but because I didn't like the way she held her head high. Does someone from Beijing have to be so arrogant?

  Principal Chen said with a hint of humility: "Old Lu, let's go to the village office first and have a cup of tea to rest for a while?"

  "No need, let's get down to business first." The old man with a long beard, known as Lao Lu, shook his head and glanced around in the distance before fixing his gaze on me, revealing a hint of surprise. He then quickly walked towards me, still sizing me up from head to toe.

  I felt a chill in my heart, why did "Zhenzai Daren" keep staring at me, was there something eerie about me?

  Everyone noticed the abnormality, but no one dared to speak out. Mr. Lu walked up to me and looked me up and down again, then went around to the back to take a look, muttering to himself: "What a pity, what a pity..."

  "What a pity?"

  "You have a spiritual foundation, but unfortunately, you've wasted your years. Your tendons and bones are already rigid, your meridians are blocked, and cultivating the Tao has no prospects for you anymore."

  I almost burst out laughing, I never thought of becoming a Taoist priest, what's there to regret? Isn't being a teacher better than being a charlatan? But I'm still a bit curious, so I asked him: "What is Linggen?"

  Lu Lao seemed to be hesitating about something, and casually said: "The so-called spiritual root is the ability to communicate with spirits, that is, the ability to communicate with the spiritual energy in the universe. It can be simply understood as the talent for learning mysterious skills. Your talent is quite good, unfortunately you are too old, if only I had met you earlier."

  I just smiled politely and didn't show any disgust at the old man's self-righteousness. Now I finally understand why I easily encounter supernatural things, because I have a "spirit root", which makes me more sensitive to the existence of other spirits, ghosts and monsters may also be interested in me, such as sucking my vital energy can get my spirit root.

  The girl asked: "Grandpa, is his qualifications really very high?"

  Lu Lao didn't answer her, but instead said: "You all withdraw for a moment, I have something to say to this young man."

  Principal Chen, Secretary Chen and the driver quickly walked away, but the girl stood still on the spot. Mr. Lu said: "Although I'm not wearing a Taoist robe, in fact I am an authentic Taoist priest who is currently working in a special department of the government to deal with supernatural affairs. Although you are a bit old, there is still a possibility for cultivation, are you willing to follow me?"

  I shook my head: "Thank you for your kindness, old man, I think being a teacher is pretty good."

  The girl frowned and said: "You really don't know what's good for you, my grandfather is the Tai Shan Bei Dou of the current cultivation world, he's willing to accept you is the blessing of your ten lifetimes of cultivation..."

  Lu Lao raised his hand to stop his granddaughter, smiling: "Everyone has their own aspirations, can't be forced, but I still hope you consider it. Although following me may not necessarily bring glory or success, in any case, even if only learning one move or technique is dozens of times better than being a teacher."

  I'm a bit disgusted by Lu Lao's contempt for teachers, which is similar to the logic of pointing at a monk and scolding him for being bald. Maybe he really has some skills and power, and following him can easily get me a official position, which is a shortcut to leave this poor place. But I feel that I have a great distance from Lu Lao, our views on life and living habits are very different, and it's not necessarily happy to be with them. Moreover, Lu Lao just said that I'm too old and no longer suitable for practicing Taoism, if I don't learn well and suffer from others' disdain, I'll be embarrassed all my life, why bother to pursue something unrealistic?

  Ten years of hard work without anyone asking, suddenly there's a job, an unmarried wife falls from the sky, a noble person from the capital looks at me with favor, it seems like my luck has turned. But the workplace is not ideal, the unmarried wife is someone I don't understand, the noble person's charity is too unexpected, is all this really good luck? I feel that none of these things are reliable.

  "This...this is too sudden for me, I need to think about it." I said vaguely.

  Lu Lao was the kind of person who immediately saw that I wasn't sincere, but didn't want to refuse me directly. He seemed somewhat displeased, but also didn't say anything else, probably thinking that after seeing his true abilities, I would change my mind.

  The girl looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and discontent because her grandfather valued me highly: "Hey, what's your name?"

  I just ignore this ill-mannered person and pretend I didn't hear. Mr. Lu glared at his granddaughter: "If you're so rude again, I won't take you out in the future!"

  Lu Lao had a very classical demeanor, so I gave him a salute with clasped fists: "My name is Zhang Xuanning."

  Lu nodded: "Good name, like someone of our generation. My name is Lu Chengshan, and she is my granddaughter Lu Qingwen."

  The girl pouted: "There's no need to tell others my name!"

  Lu Chengshan ignored him and asked me, "You're the one who encountered the evil thing, right? Tell me everything from start to finish."

  Sweat, how can I bear to speak in detail in front of Qingyun? Fortunately, my eloquence is not too bad, and my thoughts are quite agile. I elaborated on what needed to be detailed and omitted what needed to be omitted, and properly told the whole story from start to finish.

  Lu Chengshan nodded slightly after listening, beckoned to the crowd to come over, and walked towards the school together. Lu Chengshan asked: "There was a woman who killed herself in the school before, what's going on?"

  Principal Chen and Secretary Chen exchanged a glance, Principal Chen said: "I'm not very clear about the specific situation either, it was more than 20 years ago. There seemed to be a female educated youth named Xie Yongfang who fell in love with a male educated youth. Later, the male educated youth returned to the city, she didn't get the quota to go back, and her belly got bigger, feeling ashamed to see people, so she hanged herself."

  Lu Qingwen angrily said: "How hateful! This stinky man is too irresponsible, might as well bring Xie Yongfang's vengeful spirit to his home..."

  Lu Chengshan glared at his granddaughter and asked again: "Do you know where she's buried?"

  "This... should be able to find it."

  "Get a few people to dig it up, but don't disturb her remains. Once you've dug it up, call me." Lu Chengshan turned his head and saw Secretary Chen still standing there with a look of difficulty on his face, and couldn't help but smile, "It doesn't dare to show itself during the day, and besides, I'm here, what are you afraid of?"

  "Yes, yes, yes." Secretary Chen replied hastily and quickly walked away.

  Principal Chen led the way, and everyone arrived at a place near the school. But Lu Chengshan did not enter the school. Instead, he looked around to the left and right, then bypassed the school and walked to the rear hill of the tomb.