Chapter 111: If a Demon Enters Shushan, It Becomes Human; If a Demon Leaves Shushan, It Becomes a Demon

【In the third year of Shanghe of the Northern Wei, in the twelfth month, the reputation of the One Venerable Six Heroes began to spread throughout the Nine Provinces, and the name of Shushan thus became renowned.】

【However, the unchangeable problem is—the words of the people are light and carry little weight.】

【In a vat full of murky water, if you mix in a basin of clear water, the clear water may not be able to wash or cleanse the murky water.】

【But in a vat full of clear water, a single drop of murky water can cause the clear water to become chaotic.】

【And the real way to change the world is actually very simple: it is to completely smash the vat, and only then can everything be reborn.】

【However, you do not yet have the ability to raise your arms and shout, stirring up waves of thunderous response.】

【You must wait. You must wait for the moment when those millions of ordinary people truly awaken.】

【Everything you do now is a flame in the long night, and this flame will one day be able to burn this world to ashes!!!】

"Master, look, there is a village ahead." Xu Qingyun, riding a gray donkey with a black and white mane, pointed at the village with curling cooking smoke and said, "There are people living there."

Gu Jiangming held the rope and smiled, "Then today, we have a place to stay."

He did not quite believe that such a thing existed in his heart.

For this trip, Gu Jiangming carried very little luggage; apart from the clothes on his back, his bundle contained only some broken silver and a little ordinary dry food.

However, seeing that Gu Jiangming had a child with him, the people in the village did not bring out farm tools to put on a show of force; instead, an old man in the village, acting like the person in charge, asked, "Where are you from, sir?"

【You rested in Qingyuan Village for one night.】

The old man, who was an incarnation of a spirit monster, immediately became unnatural upon hearing that Gu Jiangming was a cultivator, but seeing that the other party did not expose his true form, he assumed Gu Jiangming's cultivation was shallow.

Choose between starving to death and not tasting good.

However, in the eyes of many people at present, anything edible is delicious; who would care about whether it tastes good or not?

Being able to gain the recognition of the villagers and be called 'Mountain God' clearly shows that this spirit monster before them is at least more reliable than those government officials of the Northern Wei.

【You asked the old man where the local Mountain God was, expressing your desire to meet it.】

"May I ask the Mountain God's honorable name?"

"A passing cultivator." Gu Jiangming pondered for a moment and introduced himself briefly, "Passing through here, I heard there is a Mountain God, so I wanted to meet him."

"Then many thanks, old man." Gu Jiangming stepped into the village and suddenly smiled lightly.

【This is a dilapidated temple in the village; the old man tells you that the Mountain God of Qingyuan Village lives here.】

It is not easy for monsters to take human form, and monsters like this one, who have just transformed, are equivalent to newborn humans; they are equally unable to distinguish between good and evil, knowing only to do whatever is beneficial to themselves.

However, seeing that the village's folk are simple and honest, and their lives are peaceful, if this spirit monster is just playing the god and acting like a ghost without any intention to harm people, Gu Jiangming would not hold onto it.

【You felt the spirit monster in Qingyuan Village staring at you for an entire night; although you did not intend to expose it, you thought it over and decided it was necessary to meet the other party.】

It was mainly because Gu Jiangming was dressed decently; although not exquisite, it was at least clean and tidy, like the robes often worn by scholars.

In terms of modern tastes, it is hard to swallow.

"Who are you? Why do you want to see me?"

The old man looked troubled upon hearing this, "This... this is not impossible, but we must ask the Mountain God."

【At least clarify its motives and thoughts.】

It is better to choose the one that doesn't taste good.

This point must be made clear.

Gu Jiangming came over with Xu Qingyun, and upon entering the village entrance, they saw an old farmer who had finished his farm work and was preparing to go home to rest.

He looked like he had no threat at all.

The world is not peaceful these days; the mobility of a village is very small, and basically, everyone in the same village is familiar with each other. People from other villages, or even other places, must be guarded against.

After he found the many former Shushan Disciples, he taught them all he had learned on Sanqing Mountain and explained his Dao and his views on worldly affairs.

Before long, the old man hurried back from the village and said, "The Mountain God said that if you are only staying for one night, that is fine."

It tastes dry and bland.

【Perhaps because it has been revered here for a long time, this 'Mountain God', who does not know what it transformed from, speaks with a somewhat mature and self-satisfied tone.】

Gu Jiangming naturally could not just talk without acting; he came down the mountain together with these disciples.

I was wondering where the Mountain God came from; it turns out to be a newborn spirit monster that has just attained Dao.

This was a white-haired old man, looking like a crane-haired youth with a celestial appearance; he really looked the part.

Of course, Gu Jiangming is not an ascetic; if there are delicacies in front of him, insisting on eating coarse tea and plain rice is being cheap and pretentious, not cultivation.

At least walking here, Gu Jiangming did not feel any pressure.

Now, it is not just about his disciples entering the mortal world to verify this Dao.

Has some god awakened again?

Not far from this village, there is a small earthen mound, looking like a mountain but not quite, but Gu Jiangming was mainly curious how he could encounter a 'Mountain God' in this place.

He steadied his mind and decided to use that set of mystification again.

"A passerby, coming down the mountain with my disciple to cultivate." Gu Jiangming said gently to the old man in front of him, "Tonight, it is getting late, I would like to enter the village to rest and stay for a while; I still have some broken silver on me, and I wonder if I could have a meal."

Gu Jiangming can now accept coarse tea and plain rice, and can also eat grand feasts; he is becoming less and less particular about these things.

"My surname is Chen; I am no Mountain God, just the undeserved praise of the people in this village. I am also a cultivator." His expression remained unchanged, chatting and laughing, his voice carrying a steady tone, having the flavor of a rustic immortal.

Before he could say anything more.

A light cough caused by the fluctuation of Demon Power was heard.

He, who was originally talking eloquently, immediately changed his expression, but seeing that others did not notice the movement, he continued to maintain his composure.

Gu Jiangming naturally noticed this Demon Power coming from Jiu Jiu.

"You don't have to be like this, do you?" Gu Jiangming hummed lightly.

The spirit monster in front of him thought Gu Jiangming was talking to him, but in the blink of an eye, a cold and aloof figure appeared.

In fact, Jiu Jiu's personality was never cold, nor was it ever arrogant; this was just her protective color against outsiders, and the iceberg formed by her experiences. In front of Gu Jiangming, she was more playful, and even gentle.

"He was disrespectful to you, so I spoke up just to let him know the bigger picture." Jiu Jiu had been following along the whole way.

If Gu Jiangming did not speak, she would not reveal herself.

This time, Gu Jiangming had made his point clear, so Jiu Jiu naturally did not intend to continue hiding.

Because this was Gu Jiangming asking her to come out.

"Just a little stone, yet you dare to put on airs before me." With one sentence, Jiu Jiu immediately exposed the other's true form.

This spirit creature dared not say more.

Only now did he clearly understand the situation; this man before him did not lack knowledge of his origins, but was merely playing dumb, unwilling to expose the truth.

After all, he had only vaguely sensed the existence of the woman before him, and could not even be certain that someone was watching; it was only when she used demonic Qi to speak that he noticed the strangeness.

Yet, the man before him had exposed this matter in a single sentence, and not only that, he had made the other party reveal herself.

Instead, it was he who had been self-righteous, thinking the other party's strength was shallow, and had even attempted to bluff his way through.

"Master... she... who is she? Do you know her?" Xu Qingyun was also somewhat confused, looking at the suddenly appearing Jiu Jiu, feeling a bit at a loss.

"Her?"

This time, Gu Jiangming did not let Jiu Jiu introduce herself, but answered honestly: "My wife in this life."

When Jiu Jiu was pointed out by Gu Jiangming and asked to reveal herself, she felt somewhat panicked and at a loss in her heart, fearing that Gu Jiangming would blame her.

And as Xu Qingyun asked his question, Jiu Jiu was also somewhat restless, not knowing how Gu Jiangming viewed her, nor what his attitude toward her was.

Because after meeting Gu Jiangming, although there had been some intimate contact, his attitude toward their relationship had always been somewhat vague... carrying a sense of indifference.

When playing or joking around, Jiu Jiu could clearly perceive a faint sense of distance that Gu Jiangming carried.

But now, that sense of distance, which had been near and far, had vanished.

Taking a deep breath and listening to Gu Jiangming's resonant words, Jiu Jiu's heart undoubtedly trembled several times.

Now that Gu Jiangming was so open, he had also realized one thing: no matter what, these things that happened in the past were real.

In his view, perhaps these were just a few words recorded by the 【Reincarnation Simulation】, but to Jiu Jiu, this was a real, tangible lifetime.

Escaping is shameful, and it is of no use at all.

The things I flirted with, the trouble I caused, I must take responsibility for.

This kind of matter also falls within the scope of the unity of knowledge and action; as long as it is something one has done, one cannot refuse to admit it or fail to bear the responsibility.

"I was just chatting with him," Gu Jiangming said softly, "and I see that he has indeed done well in this village."

"You don't need to scare him."

Realizing the true situation, the spirit creature no longer dared to maintain his previous laxity and immortal-like demeanor; he immediately stood up, bowed slightly toward Gu Jiangming, and said: "This little demon greets the senior. It was this little demon who previously had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai; I ask for the senior's forgiveness."

"A demon?" Xu Qingyun's expression changed slightly. "Is it a demon? I have heard people say that they all eat people."

The spirit creature's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly said: "This little demon is just a thousand-year-old stubborn stone that has just taken form. I do not eat people, nor have I ever brought disaster to the region. I hope the senior will see the truth."

He had wanted to say that this wife of yours is also a demon, but seeing Jiu Jiu's cold gaze, he dared not say more on the matter.

"Don't be nervous." Gu Jiangming returned the gesture as well.

If others respect me by a foot, I shall naturally respect them by an inch.

And after bowing slightly, Gu Jiangming added: "I just want to know why the people in this village call you the Mountain God."

"This little demon's surname is Chen, given name Shi. I took form several years ago. Most of the people in this village are surnamed Chen, so I acted according to the situation and also adopted the surname Chen." Chen Shi dared not hide anything and immediately confessed honestly.

"There was a family with an old farmer who fell gravely ill. He had a young grandson of ten or so who went up the mountain every day to pick herbs, wanting to cure his grandfather's illness."

"I saw that the herbs he gathered were mostly strange and bizarre; I feared they would be fatal if eaten. Seeing his filial piety, I could not bear it, so I picked some herbs that could actually cure the illness."

"And since I am a spirit creature formed from the stubborn stone of this mountain, I was born knowing which herbs treat which symptoms. The medicine I gave him would have no problems, and thus I cured his grandfather's illness."

"Later, the people in this village knew I could cure their illnesses, so they came to the mountain every day to seek medical help. Seeing that they were honest, and since they brought me food day and night, I simply stayed here."

"A few days ago, the village caught fire. Seeing this, I used some magic to drive the fire away, which was seen by the villagers, and thus I was called the 'Mountain God' and received the incense of the human world."

"I... I won't do it again."

"From now on, this little demon will retreat into the deep mountains to cultivate."

"I hope the senior will spare this junior."

Chen Shi's humorous and hurried admission of guilt, and the humbleness in his tone, made Gu Jiangming laugh.

"Good, good, good. You have been a good Mountain God." Gu Jiangming helped up Chen Shi, who seemed to want to perform a kowtow. "You have done well; why would I drive you away and make the villagers unhappy?"

"Merit is merit, and fault is fault. Qingyun, tell me, is what he has done a merit or a fault?" Gu Jiangming asked.

"Disciple observes that the faces of these villagers are mostly filled with reverence for him. Whether he is a demon or a god, it does not seem important to me now. As long as they do righteous things and perform good deeds, that is merit, that is good." Xu Qingyun pondered for a moment and said: "As long as he can keep doing this, what difference is there between him and a real Mountain God?"

"Indeed." Gu Jiangming nodded and said in an appreciative tone: "People are divided into good and evil, and demons are divided into good and evil. Not everyone is good. Look at the cultivators of this world; which one is not sanctimonious, doing one thing on the surface while performing other filthy deeds behind the scenes?"

"There are demons that bring disaster to the region, and there are also those with kind hearts like this."

"As long as one's heart is directed toward righteousness, being revered by others is a matter of course."

"Chen Shi, I want to give you an opportunity. Do you want it or not?" Gu Jiangming immediately said.

Chen Shi was stunned for a moment and knelt down again: "I am unworthy."

"If I give you this opportunity, it is naturally not for nothing," Gu Jiangming smiled.

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment and said: "Senior, please speak freely."

"If I bestow this opportunity upon you, are you willing to protect this place for hundreds of years?" Gu Jiangming fixed his gaze on Chen Shi.

"But... but I am a demon. You have recognized me, Senior, but others may not necessarily fail to recognize me." Chen Shi said timidly, but his eyes held an expectation that could not be ignored.

Perhaps in his eyes, he truly wanted to become the Mountain God of Qingyuan Village.

And not a demon playing god, a so-called 'Mountain God' in disguise.

Gu Jiangming walked out of the dilapidated temple, and the Sword Control Technique suddenly appeared; the plaque on the dilapidated temple was already brand new.

He entered the hall again, cupped his hands in a salute, and said loudly: "I am Gu Jiangming of Mount Shu. Are you willing to become my disciple?"

Chen Shi dared not be negligent and returned the salute, but he had already vaguely realized what the opportunity Gu Jiangming spoke of really was.

"I am Chen Shi, a stone from Qingyuan Village that has taken form. I am willing to take the Senior as my master."

Gu Jiangming said unhurriedly, "If a demon enters Shu Mountain, it becomes human; if a demon leaves Shu Mountain, it reverts to a demon."

"I take you as my disciple and appoint you as the Qingyuan Mountain God here, to receive the offerings of the common people, and you must also treat the people of this place well for a hundred years; what is your intent?"

Chen Shi smiled heartily, its face showing joy; it had originally lacked a formal title, and while it was called a mountain god, it was only acknowledged by the locals, but now, it had gained an official status.

Although it did not know what Shu Mountain actually was, it sounded like a prestigious brand.

"This disciple is willing—"

Chen Shi knelt on the ground and knocked its head heavily three times, forcefully smashing a hole into the floor to show the sincerity of its heart.

"Good."

Gu Jiangming nodded slightly and turned around, "Since you have entered Shu Mountain, you must also be clear that if one day you tarnish the name of Shu Mountain and dare to harm the people,"

"Even if I must ascend to the Azure Heavens or descend to the Yellow Springs, even to the ends of the earth, I will take your life."

As the words fell, Gu Jiangming walked out of the temple.

He saw that on the plaque above his head behind him were written five vigorous and powerful characters—【Qingyuan Mountain God Temple】.

(End of this chapter)