Chapter 49: Daoist

Chen Ci looked at the message in his hand, a feeling he could hardly describe inexplicably rising in his heart.

Life is cultivation everywhere, and the world truly does not revolve around oneself.

If not for Old Su—that is, the miscellaneous cultivator and Guaiyishou of the county, Su Kui—sending him a message, he would not have known that a high-merit Daoist from Longhu Mountain had arrived in Changping County yesterday, or rather, before yesterday.

What is the meaning of this?

Are they trying to harm me?

A thought, unclear whether it was prudence or persecution mania, floated up; Chen Ci slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, only then managing to force it down from his heart.

His influence is still too small.

Even some information within the county is not very clear or transparent, making it easy to be kept in the dark.

Yet, in this feudal society where communication relies on shouting and everyone is illiterate, wanting to build a reliable force is not necessarily easier than cultivation.

Although the three cheap Apprentices under his command are still quite handy, they manage the temple's property and business, and handle other miscellaneous tasks for him, so he cannot spare more energy to attend to everything.

"Theoretically speaking, that high-merit Daoist from Longhu Mountain came to Changping County to find me, a Deacon of the He Mountain Sect. In this backwater of Changping County, there aren't even many miscellaneous cultivators, so what could he be doing?"

Chen Ci put down the letter and pondered for a moment: "And this evil spirit harming people—could it be that they think I did it?"

Chen Ci shook his head; another day of his reputation being harmed.

"Someone, go and inquire about the situation regarding the evil spirit harming people in the county."

Chen Ci stood up, subconsciously gripping the Spirit Iron Short Sword in his sleeve; instantly, a chill traveled from his fingers, as if with a sword in hand, the world—

Wrong, he is not a sword cultivator.

Chen Ci hurriedly released the Spirit Iron Short Sword and pressed his hand against the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag at his waist, stroking it a few times. A chill came from his palm; at times like this, only the personal Dharma Artifact he had refined himself could give him some comfort.

Five Yin Evil Qi Bag:???

"I suspect... this high-merit Daoist from Longhu Mountain does not have such high cultivation."

Chen Ci rubbed the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag; not to mention one hundred or two hundred apertures, even a high cultivator with eighty or ninety apertures would not resort to such methods.

Except for those on the path of caution.

However, being sent to a remote place like Changping County, this person is probably just so-so at Quanshan Nine Springs Temple, and likely just an Outer Sect Deacon like himself; everyone knows who does the dirty work.

Thinking of this, Chen Ci's heart basically steadied.

This wave, this wave is a temp against a temp, the advantage is mine!

"Practice sword techniques, let everyone just drag it out; I have the home-field advantage, let's see who can't hold out first."

In this world of cultivation, what one fears most is actually a disaster from out of the blue, or getting caught up in the rolling tides of great forces, unable to control one's own fate.

Talking about sects, strength, and rules is actually less frightening.

Chen Ci practiced the Basic Sword Technique for a while, feeling refreshed and his whole body comfortable; although cultivating True Qi can make one clear-headed by consuming Qi, stretching the muscles and bones also has its own unique benefits.

Basic Sword Technique: Great Success / 35 / 100

Chen Ci stroked the sword edge, which felt faintly cold; these mundane sword moves, combined with the Spirit Iron Short Sword and the infusion of True Qi, would pierce through without a sound, pierce through without a sound.

"This kind of simple method, although the upper limit is low, is widely applicable and quick to pick up, and it doesn't affect other cultivation, it just makes one a bit more tired every day."

"It's just that 'man and sword as one,' the sword is the man's sword, the man is the sword... er, I can't feel it at all. If I could have that kind of mysterious connection like with the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag, I reckon this sword technique would be spiritually connected."

"Flying sword... one of my dreams."

"You mean, about a week ago, people started disappearing in the county, or their corpses had their internal organs hollowed out, leaving only a shell?"

Chen Ci touched his teacup, his expression somewhat grave.

Disappearance at least means neither hide nor hair is seen, dead or alive, so it could go either way.

But this hollowing out of the five internal organs, leaving only a shell—this method is not common, and one look tells him it was not done by him, Chen.

Five internal organs, Five Qi Peiyuan Mushroom?

It shouldn't be; there are plenty of mountain folk in the mountains, so why would they travel dozens of miles of mountain roads to cause trouble in Changping County?

Besides, it's not certain what kind of thing is in that Qingquan Village; planting medicine, he's overthinking it.

"Yes, this servant, holding the Master's calling card, went to ask the County Lieutenant; thirteen corpses with their five internal organs hollowed out were found, and it's hard to count the missing ones, but there should be a few."

Niu Ji replied cautiously.

A week ago, doesn't that mean this fellow started causing trouble just two days after he returned?

Chen Ci suddenly gave a cold laugh: "Did County Lieutenant Wang not say to invite me, the Master, to help him calculate things?"

If you invite me, I might not go.

If you don't even invite me, I will definitely write it down in my little notebook.

Chen Ci does not believe he cannot wait for the day when the Soul Fixing Talisman sells well.

Niu Ji gave a sheepish smile and did not respond.

"Go down; be sharp during this time, go out less when it gets dark, I don't have the ability to bring the dead back to life."

Waving for him to leave, Chen Ci understood; this Liang Kingdom is indeed dominated by Longhu Mountain. Although he hasn't managed things much in Changping County over these years, he still has some standing, but with the arrival of this high-merit Daoist from Longhu Mountain, he has suddenly become marginalized.

Happy to be left in peace.

"Go refine the Essence Refining; send two hundred drops like this every month. If one cannot view the items on the exchange gold book with a calm heart, one will eventually work oneself to death."

Chen Ci originally thought he could have two more days of leisure, but he did not expect to receive an invitation that very evening, asking him to attend a banquet at the government office tomorrow at noon.

The signature was Ge Zhou of Nine Springs Temple.

Don't know him.

But if there is any truth to the idea that the handwriting reflects the person, the strokes of these few characters in the signature are straight and direct; presumably, this Daoist Ge Zhou is a straightforward person.

Chen Ci had not yet figured out whether this person came to Changping County to investigate him, to investigate the evil spirit, or simply to give him a show of force.

"It doesn't matter; I'll know tomorrow."

The next day, at noon.

Government office.

Chen Ci wore a Jade-colored Wide-sleeved Dao Robe and a noon-midnight lotus crown, walking toward the inner hall led by an attendant; after only a few steps, several people came out to greet him: "Greetings, True Person Chen."

The County Venerable, the County Assistant, the County Lieutenant, plus several well-informed heads of powerful clans and wealthy merchants.

Chen Ci nodded slightly as a response and strode inside; there were actually several more people in the inner hall.

Sitting right in the center was an elderly Daoist with white hair combed meticulously, a ruddy complexion without a single wrinkle, wearing a crescent moon Dao crown and a water-patterned robe embroidered with Longhu Mountain patterns, his hands resting on a long sword placed before his knees, his eyes slightly narrowed as if resting his spirit.

Chen Ci's eyes revealed a hint of envy; the water-patterned robe on the old Daoist had Spirit Light flowing faintly, clearly not a mundane object, and it likely possessed extraordinary effects such as repelling dust and avoiding water and fire.

Although Chen Ci's attire and bearing were the most stunning in the room, the old Daoist's Dharma robe was also very eye-catching.

A Dharma robe is not cheap.

If one were to compare.

Chen Ci had the looks, he had the cultivation, and he had the background.

Winning three times!

"Is this Daoist Ge from Longhu Mountain?"

Chen Ci performed a Daoist salute in a clear voice.

"So it is a fellow from the He Shan Sect; I am the old Daoist Ge Zhou, greetings."

The old Daoist opened his eyes slightly and said leisurely: "Daoist Chen's appearance is like that of a god; it is a pity that you joined the He Mountain Sect."

(End of this chapter)