Chapter 160: Mountain Bandits Raise Travel Expenses

"Oh, heroes! Don't be impatient and angry!"

The third senior brother walked up with a smile, in a tone that was very easy to talk to:

"I know that all the heroes are daring to fight and kill. Look, there are still white bones of stubborn people buried on the ground. However, this poor Daoist is not deceiving you. We did not bring much silver when we went down the mountain this time. At most, it is only enough for the travel expenses of these few days, and we are worrying about money. If you heroes want money, we really don't have any."

Seeing that the thieves were about to get angry, his tone changed: "However, there is another thing that can be shown to you heroes."

"What?"

The third senior brother was the only one among the many Daoists who was empty-handed and didn't even take a stick. The many thieves were most wary of him. Hearing him say this, they all frowned and looked at him.

"It is this thing."

The third senior brother reached into his sleeve and took out a handful of beans when he spread it out, handing it to the leading mountain bandit.

The beans were yellowish as a whole. When the thieves who were far away saw it, they thought it was gold beans. When the thieves who were close

"What is this?"

"A treasure."

"What kind of treasure?"

"You'll know once I scatter it," the Third Third Third Shixiong said with a beaming smile. "But I must remind the brave men in the forest holding the bows not to be startled; if they accidentally release their bowstrings, we brothers won't be able to withstand the arrows."

After saying this, he grabbed a full handful of beans and scattered them into the sky.

The beans all flew up instantly, growing larger the moment they left his hand. Even while still in the air, they transformed into rows of armored soldiers, each one landing with a thunderous crash, creating dull thuds all around. The entire process was just like divine soldiers descending from the heavens.

In an instant, over thirty armored soldiers had appeared all around them.

"Hiss!"

One could see that these armored soldiers were all tall and sturdy, clad in armor and helmets. Some held long blades, some held spears and lances, some raised shields, and others held bows and arrows. Their faces were all painted with bright red oil paint, truly resembling the legendary celestial soldiers and generals. Upon seeing this, the many bandits were all struck with terror.

With a loud rustle, several blade-wielding bandits retreated repeatedly.

The archers in the forest were also trembling, nearly letting their arrows fly by mistake.

Only then did a leader step forward, immediately sheathing his blade and cupping his hands: "I did not know divine immortals had arrived, and I have offended you! We are just trying to make a living; I hope you divine immortals will forgive us!"

"Trying to make a living? You've killed quite a few people while trying to make this living," the Third Third Third Shixiong said with a smile.

"It is all the fault of the times, a helpless act."

"Haha, I know, I know." The Third Third Third Shixiong glanced at his fellow disciples, then glanced at the archers in the forest in the distance, and smiled as he cupped his hands. "A chance encounter, like smoke and clouds that vanish in an instant—it is all fate. So, we brothers won't delay you brave men from doing your business this time. Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again, until we meet again."

By this time, the two bandit leaders, whether playing the good cop or the bad cop, were both respectfully seeing them off.

The sound of the donkey's bell in the mountains rang out once more.

The group of Daoists slowly left the place.

The many bandits suddenly let out a sigh of relief.

They just didn't notice that there were falcons circling in the sky, and a pack of wolves following in the distance.

That fox also looked back every three steps.

The Third Third Third Shixiong didn't say anything, but Lin Jue already knew that he intended to go back and find them.

It was just that there were archers hiding in the forest at the time, and the Third Third Third Shixiong was wary of them, which is why he didn't immediately turn hostile.

The First Third Third Shixiong's words made sense—

Although they were practitioners of the Dao, since they had not yet achieved true enlightenment, they remained mere flesh and blood. Furthermore, the many brothers had not practiced body-refining techniques to defend against blades and swords or achieve an indestructible diamond body. They would still be injured if struck by an arrow, bleed if cut by a blade or sword, and die if their heads were severed. That is why, looking through history, there were so many experts who clearly had Daoist cultivation and magical arts, yet still feared the government and avoided the military.

Even Lin Jue, who had learned the Stone Transformation Technique, feared cold guns and hidden arrows if he couldn't cast his spells in a hurry.

When acting in the world of men, one must be cautious.

Sure enough, they hadn't gone far when the sky grew a bit dark. Because the weather was good today and they didn't fear rain, the senior brothers found a flat, wind-sheltered spot in the mountains, preparing to settle down for the night.

"Sigh, Old Second, Old Second, why do you bring so many things? I, your Daoist brother, didn't want to move things in the first place, and I didn't expect that after coming empty-handed, I'd still have to carry your chest for you."

The Third Third Third Shixiong put down the Second Third Third Shixiong's chest, shook his neck twice, and said to them:

"You all tidy up here first and get the food cooking. I'm going back to have a chat with them. This world is already hard enough to live in, yet these bandits are still occupying the mountains to rob people and kill for money. I, your Daoist brother, can be considered as ridding the people of a scourge today. Maybe I can even squeeze out some silver to repair the temple, and if there's any extra, I can buy a flatbed cart; it can be considered them doing a good deed."

"Third Shixiong brother, I'll go with you." Lin Jue picked up his sword and stood up.

"You don't go; killing people is different from subduing demons, and it's disgusting to watch," the Third Third Third Shixiong said to him casually. His considerations were more complex, but he only said, "After all, you still have to cook. If your hands are stained with blood, we won't be able to eat later."

"Then take care."

Lin Jue wasn't worried about him.

The Third Third Third Shixiong had dozens of bean soldiers. Not to mention the refined bean soldiers, even if he found dozens of brave, sturdy men at the foot of the mountain and put armor on them, it would be more than enough to wipe out a hundred or so bandits.

This was the Third Third Third Shixiong's ability.

"I'm too lazy to walk; I'll borrow your paper donkey," the Third Third Third Shixiong said. "Old Fourth, have the bird you raised point the way for me."

"Alright."

One person handed over the paper donkey, and the other summoned a falcon.

The Daoist with a wine gourd tied to his waist rode the donkey away, his figure gradually moving further away on the mountain road. The remaining few stayed where they were, picking up stones from the withered grass and fallen leaves, and laid out a large square frame.

Then they put down their luggage and took out the items for cooking.

The Second Third Third Shixiong went to pick some wild vegetables, the Seventh Third Third Shixiong took a fishing rod to fish by the river, the Little Xiao Xiao Shimei split stones on the spot to build a simple stove, and the other senior brothers went into the forest to pick up some firewood.

The Xiao Xiao Shimei took out various seasonings and placed them within Lin Jue's reach.

A fire was lit on the mountain road, and a small pot was set up.

Before long, there was a rustle in the mountain forest. Two wolves came out with a bamboo rat and a wild pheasant in their mouths, and a clouded leopard the size of a leopard dragged a muntjac over. The Seventh Third Third Shixiong also came back swaying from the riverbank, carrying a string of fish and a fishing rod.

Lin Jue worked skillfully, gutting and scaling the fish, finding mountain leaves to wrap them in before tossing them into the fire. The wild pheasant was boiled with rice into chicken porridge, and the bamboo rat was coated with spices and roasted slowly.

Although they were sleeping in the open, they didn't have to eat in the wind. With everyone working together, they had a delicious meal on the mountain road.

At the same time—

Only eight Daoists and a fox are rushing on the road with heavy loads. The endurance of the colorful civet in the temple is ultimately not as good as Fuyao, and it is tired of running, jumping back into the bamboo basket on the donkey's back.

Human shadows flickered in the mountains, with people fleeing and fighting. From time to time, there were shouts of killing, angry curses, the clashing of weapons and armor, and pleas for mercy.

The brothers in the Fuqiu Temple each had their own personality. Most of the other senior brothers couldn't do such things, but the Third Third Third Shixiong was different. As long as he was sure that these bandits were truly killing and robbing, and that they had offended him, he would do it without any psychological burden and without the slightest hesitation.

The people had to be killed completely, and the money had to be taken away.

This was truly not something everyone could do.

Because even for the most vicious and evil people, the look of pleading for mercy before death was equally sorrowful, the resentful curses were also very piercing, the excuses and reasons were hard to distinguish between true and false, and the blood was still hot and smelled just as foul.

Especially since among them were elderly people and youths not yet twenty.

Without a carefree heart, one naturally gives birth to clinging demons.

By the time the sky turned completely dark, a rich aroma had already drifted through the mountains. The Third Third Third Shixiong also came back swaying, covered in the scent of blood. He carried quite a few things on the donkey's back and had even led back a red horse.

"Clatter..."

The Third Third Third Shixiong dumped everything on the ground all at once, with nothing but the sound of clashing blades.

Immediately after, he tossed a money bag and several strings of copper coins into the Little Xiao Xiao Shimei's bamboo basket, shaking his head and sighing:

"These bandits are poorer than I thought. Most likely, they squandered the money as soon as they got it, or they hid it away. In such a large stronghold, I only found a few dozen taels of silver in total.

"I also saw some people they had captured on the mountain, so I distributed most of the silver and other valuables to them so they could go home.

"These bandits didn't have many decent blades or swords either; they were all whistles, firewood knives, and self-made bows and arrows. They might sell for some money in the city, so I brought them back to see if I can trade them for a flatbed cart. I don't want to carry the chest for you all anymore.

"And there's a horse."

Several senior brothers counted the blades and swords.

The best was a wide-bladed, thick-backed tiger-head saber. There were a few ordinary long blades and one long sword, and the rest were firewood knives. The bows and arrows were all very crude.

The Little Xiao Xiao Shimei also took out the money bag. Seeing that it was all white silver, she weighed it for the Second Third Third Shixiong, saying there were thirteen taels, six mace, three candareens, and two li. She and Lin Jue counted the copper coins, and there were four strings and over three hundred coins.

It was hard to say whether the origin of this blood-stained money was righteous in this day and age, but Lin Jue knew that it probably wasn't good to feed it to the Silver-Eating Ghost.

It would be fine to use it for travel expenses.

But if the government offered a reward, that would be another matter.

"It's enough for a while."

"It's certainly enough for a while if we don't repair the temple. If we repair the temple, it might not be enough," the Third Third Third Shixiong said, shaking his head and sighing.

"There's still me," the Seventh Third Third Shixiong said. "To have this much money is already much more comfortable."

"That's true," the Third Third Third Shixiong shook his head, then sniffed and leaned toward the stove and the small pot. "So fragrant. It's still a blessing to follow the Little Junior Third Shixiong."

"We were just waiting for you."

The many Daoists each ladled a bowl of chicken porridge, and with the help of the Second Third Third Shixiong's fire-proof alchemy hands, they took out the fish, untied the grass ropes and leaves, and added the roasted fish as a side dish, eating with great relish.

After eating, many senior brothers either lay down on the spot or sat cross-legged with their eyes closed to spend the night.

Only Lin Jue brought a bear-skin blanket. On this somewhat damp and cool spring night, after eating and drinking his fill, he called his fox over, covered himself with the soft and fluffy bear-skin blanket, and spent the night happily.

Many senior brothers were filled with envy.

Waking up the next day, they continued their journey.

Having money truly gave them a full sense of security. With an extra horse to share the burden, the many Daoists were no longer panicked and felt relaxed, walking slowly to Qiuru County to ask for directions to the Yangxin Temple.

The Third Third Third Shixiong even bought a pot of wine.

Finally, they arrived in front of the Yangxin Temple.

This temple was located in a bustling part of the city, very close to both the busy market and the county government office. Because it was in the city, it was smaller than the Fuqiu Temple on the mountain, but it was still a three-courtyard complex. Besides the front ceremonial gate, it had a larger outer courtyard and a very small inner courtyard, making it larger than the Three Aunties Temple or the Qingdi Temple.

At this time, both the main gate and the second gate of the temple were dilapidated. The guardian deity statue in the ceremonial gate was still imposing, but looking further inside, it was a field of deep, overgrown weeds. Clearly, since that incident, few people had dared to enter.

Today, another group of Daoists had come here, carrying large and small bags of things, which inevitably drew the side-glances of passersby.

"What are these Daoist priests doing..."

Some busybodies couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"We are Daoists from the Fuqiu Temple on Mount Yishan. At the invitation of the county magistrate, we have come to the Yangxin Temple to reside and practice."

"You can't easily enter this temple!"

"Haha, you will be able to from now on."

The many Daoists said this as they pushed open the door, walked inside with their luggage, used their swords to push aside the overgrown weeds, used firewood knives to chop down small trees, cleared out a place to stand, and looked around.