Chapter 104: Returning to the Mountain (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The mountain road covered with gravel was pressed with deep ruts. The autumn was high and the air was crisp, and the road surface was dry, looking easy to walk.

By a large tree on the side of the road, with a thick and straight trunk, three Daoists sat casually under the tree, with three donkeys. Among them, two gray donkeys stood motionless, and one black donkey was leisurely eating grass, while eating grass, it used its peripheral vision to size up the two fake donkeys, and there was some movement on the ground beside it.

"Third Shixiong brother..."

The junior sister turned her head in confusion, looking at the side: "Fuyao seems to really like digging holes. It digs wherever it goes."

The fox's figure could not be seen at all on the side, only the broken soil constantly being turned up on the ground.

"What's so strange about this? There are even people who like to build roads in the mountains."

"?"

The junior sister turned her head to look at him instantly.

The fox had already dug a hole on the ground large enough to accommodate itself. Hearing the sound, it also poked its head out of the hole, looking at them in confusion.

"Stop digging, we are leaving. Isn't this all for nothing?"

"Ying?"

Several Daoists all stood up.

Seeing that they were really leaving, the fox had no choice but to come out of the hole, turning back to take a lingering look at the hole it had just dug, shaking its head and wagging its tail, and walking forward with small steps.

With a short run and a few leaps, it overtook the three Daoists and rushed toward a large tree in front.

Immediately, it was seen running up the straight trunk of the large tree, stepping on the vertical trunk as if walking on flat ground, and it actually ran directly to the middle of the large tree before stopping, with all four feet stepping on the vertical trunk, looking up at the distance where this mountain road led, as if it was scouting the road for everyone.

After scouting the road, it turned and came down.

It turned and ran down along the trunk. When it was close to the ground, it jumped lightly, its limbs slightly bent, landing lightly, its fluffy tail swaying with the wind.

The junior sister was stunned.

The third senior brother was also a bit surprised. Fortunately, he had always been an irreverent character, so he turned his head and said to Lin Jue with a smile: "This is good now, ascending to heaven and entering the earth, your fox can do it all."

"I still don't know where it came from."

"You followed the fourth senior brother to learn 'Gathering Beasts and Adjusting Birds', why don't you just ask it yourself."

After the third senior brother finished speaking, he only saw Lin Jue glance at him.

"Third senior brother, you are really smart."

"What? Oh!" The third senior brother slapped his forehead, "Forgot that when you picked it up, it had just been weaned. It probably doesn't know itself!"

"..."

"But why worry about so much? Even if it was born by a yaoguai, yaoguai are not all bad. Even if it is a bad yaoguai, it wasn't born bad. How it turns out still depends on you, junior brother, right?" The third senior brother shook his head as he said, "With Fuyao accompanying you, it will be much better to go down the mountain in the future, walk the world, or find other Daoist temples. At least it won't be so lonely."

Lin Jue and the junior sister could not help but look at him.

"Where did the previous uncles go after they went down the mountain?" Lin Jue asked.

"It depends on themselves—"

The third senior brother said to them while walking:

"Our Daoist temple can be considered to have a wide network of contacts. After all, there are so many uncles outside. Generally, they will try their best to find some newly built Daoist temples or temples that no one lives in or practices in for the disciples who go down the mountain. If these Daoist temples or temples were built by local governments or wealthy people, we have the 'Golden Ordination Certificate', and they are willing to let us go."

"However, they usually can't gather seven people."

"If you want to roam the world, then go roam the world. If you have a pursuit for fame and wealth, you can also go to the capital. Anyway, it's up to you."

"..."

Both of them could not help but be silent after hearing this, and looked at each other.

The three donkeys walked slowly forward, stepping and kicking the gravel on the road, crossing the small slope, and the three Daoists followed casually on the side.

"It won't be easy to see each other then!

"So I tell you to cultivate some hobbies on the mountain, so that when you are scattered in the world in the future, you can pass the time while practicing."

"I envy the fourth junior brother the most. If he leaves, there will definitely be good friends in the mountains to accompany him. I am also okay. After all, I have so many heroes to follow me. It will be dashing to roam the world together in the future. Other senior brothers and junior brothers are a bit lonely. I don't know if they feel that way."

The third senior brother's voice was dashing, but also a bit lonely.

The two junior brothers and sisters could not help but reveal contemplation.

Only the fox seemed carefree, running back and forth on the road. As long as it looked back and saw Lin Jue, it would not worry at all.

Gradually, they arrived at the foot of Qiyun Mountain.

As a famous Daoist mountain, Qiyun Mountain was far more famous than Yishan, but in terms of the mountain itself, Qiyun Mountain was neither as high nor as wide as Yishan. On a sunny day, one could see the Profound Heaven Temple on the mountain while standing at the foot of the mountain.

Crossing the Heng River, ascending the Dao Mountain.

There were many pilgrims on the mountain road, often stopping in the middle of the road to rest and talk. Seeing them wearing Daoist robes, they would also chat with them a few words.

Whenever this happened, even the third senior brother would respond politely.

Finally, they stood at the entrance of Qiyun Mountain.

Looking up, there were five large characters "Imperial Built Profound Heaven Temple", and couplets were carved on the left and right sides of the main entrance:

Wonderfully created by nature, gathering the great scenery, the mountains and rivers do not grow old;

Having gained something, grasping the clear day when the clouds open, incense is the fate.

Coincidentally, there was a young Daoist inside the door. Looking closely, he was even somewhat familiar.

It seemed to be the young Daoist brought by Daoist Qingxuan at Xiaochuan Village.

The young Daoist was just passing by. When he saw them, he recognized them immediately: "Aren't these... aren't these the Daoist friends from Fuqiu Peak? Daoist friends, please come in quickly!"

It had to be the Daoist who often received pilgrims who was more sensitive. If it were them who visited Fuqiu Temple suddenly, the junior sister would probably be stunned on the spot.

"Without notification, we have rashly visited." The third senior brother said first, "It is really that on the way back, we encountered some things. We felt there was something strange, and just happened to pass by Qiyun Mountain, so we came to inform the Daoist friends of Qiyun Mountain. I don't know if Daoist friend Qingxuan and Daoist friend Jiang have returned from Mingzhou Mountain?"

"Returned, they returned a few days ago."

"Please inform them."

"Then please wait a moment, Daoist brother."

The young Daoist then hurried away.

The three of them looked at each other.

"Look, they left a few days later and arrived a few days earlier than us."

"Isn't it because of the delay in reporting to the government."

"Is it reporting to the government? Is it because you, third senior brother, rowed the boat too slowly?"

"..."

The three of them whispered.

There were also several Daoists in the main hall, but they were all sitting on cushions, chanting scriptures and worshipping gods seriously, not daring to be distracted at all, forming a sharp contrast with their casualness.

Before long, the young Daoist returned, followed by that Daoist Jiang who was unbelievably white.

Daoist Jiang Ning held a whisk, her expression calm. She did not wear a crown or scarf in the temple, her hair was combed meticulously, and wind rose beneath her feet. She came to them, and they exchanged salutes.

"Daoist friend, compassion."

"Daoist friend, compassion."

The first time Lin Jue saw her, he thought of the letter sent to the mountain by the constable in the snow, that page of small regular script.

"Daoist brother Qingxuan has gone down the mountain to perform rituals. Someone has already gone to inform the headmaster. Please follow me."

"Good."

The three followed them forward. When they walked to the inner courtyard, the headmaster, True Person Lingqing, also came to welcome them personally, and invited them to the tea room in the inner courtyard, lit incense, and boiled tea, which was clearly the treatment for distinguished guests.

The third senior brother looked at Lin Jue.

Lin Jue then told the matter on the road in detail.

"This matter has several common points with our Yixian County matter, which is money, to be precise, silver, yaoguai, and death energy. Thinking about it makes people fearful."

"..."

This matter was so big that even True Person Lingqing became solemn.

Although the entire Jiangnan and its surrounding areas were the source of incense for Emperor Yu Jian, the core of his Daoist site was here. And if there was really a yaoguai force with a sphere of influence covering the entire Huizhou, it was clearly an extremely serious matter for Emperor Yu Jian.

"Do you mean that this might be the same thing behind the scenes?" Daoist Jiang asked.

"Just suspicion, but our skills are not enough. It just so happens that this place is the Daoist site of Emperor Yu Jian, so we came to inform the Daoist friends of Qiyun Mountain, hoping to inform the gods and investigate again."

"Daoist friend is too modest. If it were us who arrived there, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to see through it at all, and even if we saw through it, it would be difficult to see the death energy from the yaoguai." True Person Lingqing said, his tone very gentle, "As for the subsequent matters, please rest assured, Daoist friend. We will definitely inform the gods and thoroughly investigate the entire Huizhou."

"Then we are relieved."

"If it is really as you Daoist friends said, it is a great help to the Emperor, and there will definitely be a reward after clearing out the monsters."

"Good..."

Lin Jue was not polite.

"Several Daoist friends have come from afar, so please rest in the temple for one night first. I still have a distinguished guest waiting, so I will excuse myself for a moment. Jiang Ning is about the same age as the three of you, so please ask her to accompany the three of you."

"True Person, walk slowly."

The three of them stood up to see him off.

True Person Lingqing pushed the door and went out.

"What kind of distinguished guest can make True Person Lingqing treat him like this?" The third senior brother could not help but ask.

"Magistrate Lin."

Daoist Jiang Ning answered very directly.

"No wonder!"

Then only Daoist Jiang Ning was left to accompany the three to drink tea and chat, and take them to stroll around the Profound Heaven Temple. It was just that they were not familiar with each other, and this Daoist Jiang Ning did not talk much, and had no expression when speaking. She was not as approachable and talkative as Daoist Qingxuan, and it was quite boring for the three to follow her to play.

They stayed for another night and went down the mountain the next day.

Finally returned to Fuqiu Peak.

Several senior brothers were all listless, and even the divine light on Daoist Yunhe's face was much dimmer.

"Third Shixiong brothers and junior brothers, why are you so listless? Could it be that you miss me too much?" The third senior brother said with a big laugh, and threw a bag of money to the first senior brother, "The remaining travel expenses."

"Why did you come back so late? Calculating the Great Ritual, it should have ended long ago. You should have come back ten days ago. We were all preparing to go down the mountain to look for you." The first senior brother said and looked down, "Why is there so much more money than when you left? You didn't exchange the pills and heavenly materials and earthly treasures for money, did you?"

"How is that possible? Just encountered some miscellaneous things on the road, and the money was also given by others." The third senior brother said and paused, then smiled again, "I thought it was because you missed me too much, but it turns out you were worried about me."

"..."

Everyone ignored him and only looked at Lin Jue and the junior sister, as well as the two gray donkeys beside them.

"This donkey is..."

"Met the second uncle at the Great Ritual, and he gave it to us."

"Second uncle..."

Many Daoists nodded. Although they felt surprised, they were more concerned about the two junior brothers and sisters.

"Are the junior brother and junior sister tired?"

"It's okay."

"Not tired!"

"Not tired is good." The seventh senior brother said, "Rest first, and think about what to eat for dinner."

"..."

Lin Jue returned to his room.

The fox also followed him.

Once in his room, smelling that faint, cold smell of wood, and the familiar, unchanged display, he immediately felt a sense of stability.

"Hu..."

Lin Jue breathed a sigh of relief, walked to the bed and lay down.

The fox also headed straight for its cushion. ===== CHAPTER 105 =====