Chapter 41: The Spirit Turtle of the Water Mansion

There were many people in the market who recognized Xu Jia, but few came forward to strike up a conversation. Instead, upon seeing him, they would point fingers behind his back and dodge away, not daring to get close.

Xu Jia was puzzled. If this were just after he had been resurrected and returned to life, it would be one thing, but he had already been out several times; why were these commoners still like this? However, he could understand it.

After all, the matter of returning from the dead was too bizarre. Even his own parents had previously believed he was a demon or evil spirit in disguise, so some rumors were only natural.

"However, the more one stands out to clarify, the more one falls into a cycle of having to prove oneself. It would be better to change the subject and let them shift their focus."

He immediately ignored them and simply walked up to stalls from time to time to inquire about current prices, speaking in a gentle and amiable tone, and buying in a gentle and amiable manner.

Seeing that Xu Jia was no different from before, those vendors dispelled some of their suspicions. Besides, one shouldn't hold a grudge against anyone, and certainly not against money.

In addition to selling fruits, vegetables, poultry, and pork, the market also had people selling herbs, blacksmithing, weaving wicker, making straw sandals, and selling coarse cloth (ramie cloth and linen).

Xu Jia looked around and finally came to a vendor selling aquatic products. This person had wooden basins containing carp, grass carp, and crucian carp, with turtles and soft-shelled turtles set to the side.

Xu Jia pointed at the turtle and asked, "How much for this one?"

The fishmonger smiled: "Young Master, this turtle weighs one jin and two liang; it sells for one hundred and twenty wen."

Xu Jia nodded: "Send it to the Xu Residence later. I didn't bring money with me. Also, send those colored carp, alive as well."

In the Four Waters Returning to the Hall formation, that "pond" was just right for raising these things.

This turtle was a common Reeves' turtle, nothing rare, but since Xu Jia was practicing the Turtle Breath Hibernation Method, it was perfect to keep as a pet and use as a reference.

As the saying goes, "Daoism follows nature."

Furthermore, Taoism also venerates turtles, snakes, cranes, and deer; they are all spirit beasts of longevity.

The vendor nodded repeatedly: "Alright, alright, alright! Once the market disperses, I'll go immediately."

The grand market was held once a day; if things didn't sell, they stayed here. This was mainly because attending the market nowadays relied entirely on foot power, and villagers from further away lived over ten li away; without a donkey cart, it was difficult to go out once.

Returning home, Xiao Hong had already bought some of the things Xu Jia wanted. The quantities varied, and she was waiting for Xu Jia to direct her.

The servants were not very literate, and the majority were clumsy. As for the processing of these items, Xu Jia did it himself to show them.

"Yams and kudzu roots must be washed clean, with the hairy roots and whiskers removed. After drying, slice them. You cannot use an iron knife; you must use a bamboo or wooden knife. Once sliced, go and dry them. They need to be sun-dried for three days and shade-dried for three days, then steamed. They must be steamed for a full three hours, then dried and aired again. Repeat this six times."

"Why steam them until cooked and then dry them, and dry them and then steam them until cooked?" Xiao Hong was puzzled.

Xu Jia didn't quite understand the logic behind it either: "Perhaps it is to stimulate the medicinal properties? To balance water, fire, yin, and yang?"

Time passed quickly, and the fishmonger delivered the colored carp and the turtle as agreed.

After Xu Jia had Xiao Hong pay, he put one small fish into the well water and placed the remaining few into the pond in the front hall.

These few fish were carefree, their tails stirring the living water in the pond.

Looking at that Condolence Guest Evil Qi, it was already much more docile by now. The Evil-Dissolving Formation had dissipated some of its Evil Qi, and it was already somewhat weak.

However, as long as the rope he used to hang himself was not found, and his obsession with hanging remained undispelled, he would not be completely resolved.

As for the turtle, Xu Jia wanted to keep it in his room.

The Reeves' turtle was easy to raise; it was omnivorous, eating fruits and vegetables, small fish and shrimp, insects, and offal.

Xu Jia specifically got a small ceramic jar to keep it in.

Xu Mu did not return that night, having stayed the night in the county; he did not know if he had been seeking pleasure. With him not there to preside over the feng shui of the main house, only Xu Mu was in the main house, so the Vitality of the residence gradually gathered toward the room in Xu Jia's "Qian Position."

Sensing the Vitality in the jar, the turtle stopped retracting its head and began to move about. Xu Jia lay on his side and began the Turtle Breath Hibernation.

Gradually, the turtle's Vitality, the residence's Vitality, and Xu Jia's "Turtle Breath Hibernation Method" interacted.

As Xu Jia was hibernating, he suddenly had a dream. A young child appeared: "I am the grandson of the Prefecture Assistant of the Jinsha Xi Shuifu, named Gui Linggao. Today, I am undergoing the tribulation of the aquatic tribes of the fishing port and face a life-threatening disaster. I thank you, benefactor, for your help. Tonight, watching you breathe, I found it somewhat similar to my clan's 'Inner Landscape Profound Sect', so I have come to pass it on to you."

Having said this, the child demonstrated it. Every movement relied on the "Spirit" and conformed to the "Intent," resembling a thousand-year-old mysterious turtle in human form, following the changes of yin and yang, following the order of the four seasons, nourishing the five viscera, and generating Essence Qi, with all sorts of profound mysteries.

Xu Jia watched and nodded repeatedly: "It truly has the meaning of 'doing nothing yet leaving nothing undone,' and is deeply imbued with the concept of Heaven and Human Unity."

When the sky turned bright, Xu Jia woke from his hibernation and immediately walked to the Reeves' turtle kept in the jar. Sure enough, it was already active, raising its head and looking around, as if it had spiritual intelligence.

It seemed that last night, this little fellow had used the interaction of Essence Qi to enter his dream.

Jinsha Creek was the parent water body of Yushan County, and the Prefecture Assistant of the Jinsha Xi Shuifu was presumably the "housekeeper" of the Water Deity's mansion, that is, the "Turtle Prime Minister."

It could be considered a "third-generation deity," probably, maybe.

Xu Jia asked: "Do you want me to release you back into Jinsha Creek? If yes, nod your head; if not, blink your eyes."

This Gui Linggao blinked his eyes.

Going back to Jinsha Creek was so boring. The old fellow had so many descendants, how could he remember him? The water was dangerous; how could it be as comfortable as here? My appearing in the dream was just to get a long-term meal ticket! If I wanted you to send me back, I would have said so last night.

Seeing him blink, Xu Jia couldn't help but confirm again: "This time, let's do it the other way around. If you want to be released, blink your eyes; if you want to stay, nod your head."

Gui Linggao nodded again.

Xu Jia couldn't help but laugh: "You have a good plan."

He then said: "Since you have spiritual intelligence, that is good. I originally saved you just to study and reference the Turtle Breathing Method."

He then picked him up and went out together, holding the Purple Qi of the Morning Sun in his eyes to bathe his soul, strengthening and nourishing his Yang Qi, and then practiced the Eight Brocades.

Gui Linggao also began to move, raising his head to look at the sun, basking his back and bathing in the sun. A turtle used as medicine was just this piece of back shell.

"Eh?" Xiao Hong was preparing breakfast for Xu Jia. Seeing this turtle, she hurried over and flipped him over: "Young Master, you really are raising such a big turtle!"

Gui Linggao rolled his eyes, his head pressing against the ground, limbs splayed, trying to flip himself back over.

Just as he flipped back, Xiao Hong flipped him over again.

Woman! You are playing with fire! Xu Jia laughed: "Why do you keep teasing it?"

Xiao Hong didn't understand at first, but the old woman nearby had already started laughing, clearly having made the association.

She immediately reacted, snorted in shame and anger, and went to the kitchen.

Xu Jia flipped Gui Linggao back over and instructed the old woman: "I am letting him roam in the courtyard; be careful not to step on him."

The old woman said: "Ah? You're raising him? I thought you were going to use him to nourish your body, Young Master."

Gui Linggao immediately retracted his neck.

(End of chapter)