Chapter 10: The Immortal of the Horse-Mounting is also an Immortal

Inside the room, Niu Congcong was already lying by the bedside, his chin resting on his arms, which were propped against the edge of the bed: "Good brother, tell me about it."

Xu Jia deliberated and organized his words: "Well, Congcong, let's not talk about the matters of Yincao Difu for now. I ask you, do you believe there are Immortals and deities in this world?"

The little chubby boy said with a serious face: "I believe, how could I not? Even Master Kong Fuzi believed in Ghost Gods, and the imperial court performs sacrifices every year."

"There must certainly be Immortals, it's just that they are somewhat distant from us mortals."

Seeing that he firmly believed in Ghost Gods, Xu Jia put on a mysterious expression and asked again: "Then what do you think about me dying and coming back to life?"

As if Niu Congcong had thought of something, his small eyes instantly widened, and his nose breathed heavily: "You mean?"

Xu Jia smiled indifferently and put on an act: "An Immortal strokes my crown, I tie my hair and receive Longevity."

Having just pinched his fingers to calculate, this was precisely the moment to subdue his first underling.

In his previous life, Xu Jia had realized one principle: to cultivate immortality with peace of mind, one needs someone to provide for them, and one cannot exhaust their heart, Qi, form, or strength.

That nest of foxes, when it comes down to it, is hard to bring out into the open to become a source of help.

This Niu Congcong, judging by his physiognomy, has the fate of becoming wealthy; although his nature is a bit dull, he is completely obedient to the original body.

He only needs a little guidance from himself to turn his fortune into utility; not to mention official advancement, getting rich is certainly possible, and when the time comes, he can in turn nourish himself and assist in his cultivation.

As for why he chose him, he was the first to come see him, calling him "big brother" at every turn, calling him with such cloying affection, and even stealing a mountain ginseng treasured by his own father; this is a glimpse of his character.

Stunned by this sentence from Xu Jia, Niu Congcong almost lost his three souls and seven spirits; the next moment he knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times: "Master is above, please accept this disciple's bow!"

Uh~ he really is dull.

I say it and you just believe it! You don't even ask!

Xu Jia had originally intended to show off his divination skills, but it turned out to be completely unnecessary.

Thus, he was somewhat between laughter and tears: "Do you think I look like someone who cultivates immortality right now?"

"You do! Your temperament is different; you look exactly like those old Daoist priests on the mountain."

Xu Jia did not expect him to actually have some "root of wisdom," hitting the nail on the head.

He immediately said: "Although I possess Immortal arts, I have not yet refined them to a deep level, but I do have an opportunity for you that can lead you onto the path of the Dao."

"Listen to my instructions: prepare ten roasted chickens at home tomorrow night, place them outside in the courtyard, then hide in the house; you are not allowed to peek or listen, and you must sleep until dawn."

"If there are dogs kept at home, be sure to tie them up."

"When you get up the next day, if the roasted chickens are gone, it means the matter is done. Have you remembered?"

Although Xu Jia said it this way, he was silently saying in his heart: The Immortal of the Horse-Mounting is also an Immortal; this Immortal fate is not something an ordinary person can seek. Little chubby boy, I won't harm you.

Niu Congcong was puzzled: "Ten roasted chickens? In exchange for an Immortal fate, is it real or fake? Should I prepare wine and food? Is it really that simple? Do these Immortals eat roasted chicken too?"

"Just roasted chicken. Don't ask about anything else."

If you prepare wine and food, those foxes lack self-control and, greedy for the alcohol, will likely get drunk and pass out on the spot, revealing their fox tails; that would be one thing, but if you sleep until dawn, wouldn't that scare your family to death?

Hearing Xu Jia be so certain, Niu Congcong let go of his doubts and kept it in his heart.

Xu Jia then told him about his experiences in the underworld, mainly speaking of scenes of Hell, all of which were things about fearing evil and encouraging good, and the retribution of Cause and Effect.

Niu Congcong listened until cold sweat broke out, and his determination to follow Xu Jia to cultivate immortality and escape the judgment of reincarnation became even firmer.

His family was a merchant family, mainly doing business in medicinal herbs.

In order to squeeze into the upper class, Niu Dafu had spent Flower Money to purchase an official rank, all so that his descendants could study and take the imperial examinations in the future.

It was a similar path to Xu Jia's.

It's just that Niu Congcong was not at all material for studying; after studying for so many years, he couldn't recognize a few big characters, but instead went into the business of scholars, bringing in erotic books and miscellaneous talks that were not allowed in the classroom to rent out to others.

Xu Jia was still worried, so he spoke up: "If you don't believe me, I'll tell you one thing, and you can verify it."

"I believe! How could I not believe what big brother says? When we took exams, they all passed me the wrong answers, only big brother passed me the right ones! How could I not believe it?" Niu Congcong said with absolute certainty.

Xu Jia said: "I know you believe, but I want to make you believe even more. I just calculated that you will pick up a sum of money on your way back today, and this money will be just enough to buy ten chickens."

"It's just that the family who lost the money is a poor one; you must stand in place and wait for half an hour, and the owner will come looking for it."

"If you return the money to them, you can deposit this fortune into your treasury of virtue."

The little chubby boy Congcong nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice, and a sense of anticipation and excitement grew in his heart: "I certainly don't care about that little bit of money!"

Having said so much, Xu Jia was a bit tired and put on a weary look: "I need to rest. You go back first. Once this matter is verified, go home and prepare the full chicken feast, and tell me the result tomorrow."

"Good brother, I wouldn't listen to a single word from anyone else, but only what you say, I will definitely follow step by step. You rest well, and later I will go to Niu Dafu's place to get some good things!" Niu Congcong said with extreme sincerity and left the room obediently, no longer disturbing Xu Jia's rest.

When Niu Congcong came out, he encountered Lady Xu who had been eavesdropping. He saw through it but didn't expose it, acting politely: "Auntie, this student will head back first. When the time comes, I can tell the Master and my classmates the good news, letting them know that big brother is still fine, so that the rumors can be stopped."

Lady Xu was a bit embarrassed and pretended to be reserved as she nodded: "I should be the one thanking you. You always think of coming to see Jie Di when you have time, but that mountain ginseng is too precious; you should take it back."

"Is Auntie looking down on me?" Niu Congcong pretended to be angry: "Big brother and I have been classmates for ten years; don't we have even this bit of friendship?"

Xu Mu sighed: "That is not what I meant. Sigh, very well, this is your kind intention."

Seeing that she was absent-minded, Niu Congcong comforted her: "Auntie, don't worry. In my opinion, big brother is still the same big brother; it's just that after experiencing these things, it's inevitable that his temperament has changed somewhat. Take good care of him for a while, and perhaps he will recover."

Having received this hint, Lady Xu felt some of her knots and doubts ease slightly.

She personally saw him to the door.

Niu Congcong had a dedicated porter carrying him back. This man was burly with long arms and short legs, and he carried the little chubby boy firmly on his back: "Young Master, sit tight!"

Congcong shouted: "Giddy-up!"

This man carried the little chubby boy like an ox pulling a plow, walking steadily and quickly.

Once they were far from the Xu house, the little chubby boy asked: "Sha Erzhu, do you think a person can come back to life after death?"

"No."

Erzhu's large, fan-like feet stepped on the muddy ground, each step covering two or three feet.

"Then what if they just happened to come back to life?"

"Then that means they didn't die."

"Sha Erzhu!" The chubby boy was annoyed: "I said he died, died completely, and yet he came back to life."

"When a person dies, they are dead; they can't come back to life. When my father died, I also wondered if he would come back to life, but nothing happened. Later I knew, when a person dies, they are dead, and that's the end of everything."

The chubby boy sighed and said, "Sigh, talking about life and death is truly meaningless."

Sha Erzhu did not have any reaction.

The fate between people is predestined, and life and death are also predestined.

Just like how he carried the young master, and the young master was carried by him; ten years passed just like that, and he did not feel there was anything bad or wrong about it.

"Huh?"

"Sha Erzhu, put me down!"

Er Zhu stopped, moved his hands supporting the chubby boy's buttocks downward, and gently set Niu Congcong down.

Niu Congcong had sharp eyes and saw a pouch by the side of the road; it was sewn from printed blue cloth, and upon opening it, he saw it was indeed money.

"Amazing! Amazing!" Niu Congcong counted carefully; the copper coins plus the broken silver were truly enough to buy ten chickens.

"Young master, your luck is really good; you can even pick up money on the road, while I walk with my head down and see nothing."

"You don't know, your young master here has been guided by an expert!" Niu Congcong weighed the pouch, his mood quite good.

(End of this chapter)