Chapter 164: Return Gift

In the following days, the temple was very lively.

In addition to the craftsmen who came to repair the Daoist temple, the County Magistrate also visited every day, and people from the city came one after another.

The greatest credit for this was the trick Seventh Third Third Shixiong performed on the street.

Most people heard through that trick that a real Daoist who knew magic had come to the city and was staying in the Yangxin Temple. Even the County Magistrate had respectfully called him a True Man, which is why they came by reputation.

Some people suffered from suspicious illnesses and came to seek medical treatment.

Some people had family members possessed by evil and came to seek exorcism.

Some people accidentally encountered demons or ghosts and came to ask the Daoists for help.

Many Daoists responded one after another.

This was both to earn some travel expenses for themselves and to do some more publicity for Sixth Third Third Shixiong, so as to offset the bad reputation of the original Yangxin Temple.

Lin Jue was just in need of money, so he had to appear exceptionally diligent, competing with Little Xiao Shimei for work. He grabbed every job of exorcising evil, eliminating demons, and catching ghosts, and finally saved a few taels of silver.

In addition, whenever he was free, he would ask Seventh Third Third Shixiong for advice on the method of taking objects from the air, making Seventh Third Third Shixiong have to find time even for seeking flowers and willows. At other times, he would cook in the temple and teach some basic skills to Sixth Third Third Shixiong.

Day by day, the originally dilapidated Yangxin Temple gradually changed, becoming brand new, lacking nothing.

No matter how long they stayed, they had to leave eventually.

So it was time to part again.

"The Biluo County that the Daoists are going to must be reached by heading northwest. There is a main road from here, and there are post stations and tea sheds along the way, where you can ask for directions. But this county has never heard of the Mount Shimen that the Daoists mentioned. You must ask in detail when you arrive in Biluo County." The County Magistrate said to them, "I heard that there are many strange things happening past here."

"Thank you for your trouble, County Magistrate."

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

The County Magistrate waved his hand with a smile.

"Thank you, senior brothers, for helping me settle down. This is the silver left over from the Daoist temple. Since I have settled down here, I am not in a hurry to use money. Instead, senior brothers can use it on the road." Sixth Third Third Shixiong took out all the silver left over from repairing the Daoist temple and buying items, handed it to Second Third Third Shixiong, and exhorted:

"Don't be too bitter on the road. Traveling is hard enough. Sometimes when you are tired or encounter wind and rain, go find an inn. Don't always let Little Junior Third Shixiong cook on the road. When you encounter tea stalls or restaurants, let Little Junior Third Shixiong rest."

Second Third Third Shixiong didn't say anything and didn't decline, just took it and put it away.

"Sixth Third Third Shixiong."

Lin Jue walked over again, holding a very heavy envelope in his hand: "I have something to give to Third Third Shixiong. I hope Third Third Shixiong will open it after we leave."

"What?" Sixth Third Third Shixiong asked subconsciously, and then realized that since Little Junior Third Shixiong told him to open it after he left, he naturally didn't want him to ask more, so he accepted it and said, "Okay."

"Take care, Third Third Shixiong."

"Take care, Junior Third Shixiong."

"Take care, Third Third Shixiong and Junior Third Shixiong."

Many Daoists bowed to each other, and even the fox learned their appearance, stood up, and put its two front paws together.

After bowing, they turned and left.

Third Third Third Shixiong really bought a flatbed cart and let the horse obtained from the mountain bandits pull it. Things that were not easy to carry, such as Second Third Third Shixiong's alchemy furnace and Seventh Third Third Shixiong's puppets, were all placed on it, and some luggage they didn't want to carry was also placed on it, making it much easier for everyone to walk.

The wheels creaked as they pressed against the street.

Just like that, the eight people became seven.

Everyone couldn't help but look back frequently. Sixth Third Third Shixiong and the County Magistrate also stood at the gate of the Daoist temple, watching them go.

They couldn't help but feel regret in their hearts.

The mountains and rivers in this era are so long, and it is even difficult for ordinary people to deliver letters. After such a parting, I don't know how many years it will be before we can meet again.

This way of seeing each other off and parting one by one may be a kind of tenderness and romance, but it also breaks a big parting sorrow into many fine pieces, breeding more emotions in the slowness.

Of course, it still has many advantages.

Little Xiao Shimei was still walking with Lin Jue. She also looked back frequently until she could no longer see Sixth Third Third Shixiong and the Daoist temple.

But not long after, her eyes flashed with strong curiosity, and she quietly asked Lin Jue:

"Third Third Shixiong, what did you put in the letter you left for Sixth Third Third Shixiong?"

"Cannot say."

"Why?"

"The time has not come."

"Do other senior brothers have it too?"

"Yes."

"Do I have it?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"..."

Lin Jue stopped talking.

Little Xiao Shimei immediately closed her mouth, and then looked serious.

It is true that she is very curious about this, but she is also very smart and can control the thoughts in her heart very well. If not, she would have died of curiosity in the few years on the mountain.

Naturally, it was not something else in the letter, but a magic.

And only one magic.

It was really because the time was too short—

Even if Lin Jue had started preparing long in advance, it was still not enough to write down every magic and copy it seven or eight times, so it was impossible to give each senior brother a copy.

But there was no need for that.

Each senior brother has different personalities, hobbies, and talents. It is not certain that they will like every magic or be able to learn it easily, so just choose the ones that suit them and give them to them.

And the rest of their lives are not short. If they have extra energy, they can also exchange and learn from each other.

What Lin Jue learned was that after the uncles went down the mountain, they mastered one skill in their hands and had more time. If they were willing and communication was convenient, they would often be each other's teachers.

Slowly, they left Qiuru County.

Walking at the front was Third Third Third Shixiong, who was leading the horse and pulling a flatbed cart loaded with a lot of luggage. Behind him was a group of Daoists, carrying some luggage, and two gray donkeys. It looked like they were moving.

The ruts on the main road ahead were very deep.

Third Third Third Shixiong asked for directions and then walked along the main road.

As they walked, Second Third Third Shixiong fell to the back again, walking with Lin Jue and Little Xiao Shimei, and asked, but not about the envelope:

"Junior brother, how much silver did you get from running around to exorcise evil, eliminate demons, and catch ghosts in the past few days?"

"Six taels and four qian in total."

"That's not much."

"There are not that many demons and ghosts in the city." Lin Jue asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just that it's been a few days since we went down the mountain, and Junior Third Shixiong has been cooking on the road, which is very hard work. When we encounter villages and markets, Junior Third Shixiong also goes to buy ingredients." Second Third Third Shixiong's expression and tone were as calm as ever, just like when he was teaching him alchemy in the alchemy room, but he took out some broken silver and handed it to Lin Jue:

"Third Third Shixiong sold a Xuangui Pill, a Menghuai Pill, and a few Liuniu Pills a few days ago, and exchanged them for some money. You take it first, and use it whenever you need it."

Lin Jue knew that Xuangui Pill was used to treat deafness, Menghuai Pill could resist evil when eaten, which was very useful in this era, and Liuniu Pill could resolve blood stasis and reduce swelling, and the medicinal effect was also very good. But they were not top-quality spiritual pills like Shenxing Pill, Huxin Pill, and Juling Pill, so they were often sold or given to others.

But he was very confused—

The money Third Third Third Shixiong got from Monkey Mountain was not put into his own pocket, but was thrown into Little Xiao Shimei's bamboo basket when he saw it was empty. Since then, when Lin Jue bought ingredients, he had always taken money from this purse.

Later, the money Seventh Third Third Shixiong got from performing tricks was placed in the Daoist temple for Sixth Third Third Shixiong to use. Then, adding the money Sixth Third Third Shixiong got from spirit-writing and divination, he didn't know how much there was in total, and he didn't know how much was used. In short, all the unused money was handed over to Second Third Third Shixiong. Second Third Third Shixiong also put it into Little Xiao Shimei's bamboo basket and let the donkey carry it, which was very convenient to use, and there was no need to give him any money for purchasing.

Only the money they got from treating illnesses, exorcising evil, eliminating demons, and catching ghosts for others in the past few days was what they put in their own pockets.

Why did Second Third Third Shixiong want to give him silver?

And specifically stated that it was from selling pills himself?

But as soon as Lin Jue turned his head and met Second Third Third Shixiong's eyes, seeing his calm eyes, he was stunned and immediately understood.

Second Third Third Shixiong is an alchemist.

And his alchemy attainments are very high. Just talking about alchemy attainments, not mentioning Dao practice, he might not be worse than Master. At that time, when everyone first heard about strange things like silver-eating ghosts, it was from his mouth.

How could he not guess where the Lingyuan Pill came from?

Before Lin Jue could say anything, Second Third Third Shixiong just smiled and walked to the front.

"Third Third Shixiong..."

Little Xiao Shimei was innocent and simple, and really thought Second Third Third Shixiong was giving him money for purchasing, so she also took out two qian of silver, a small lump that was pitifully small, handed it to him and said: "Mine is also for you to buy ingredients. Let's eat noodles on the road."

Lin Jue just looked at Second Third Third Shixiong's back.

In the Yangxin Temple, the Daoist walked back alone.

This Daoist temple is really not big. There are only two rooms for guests and two guest halls, and they are all very small. When the eight senior brothers lived here, it was naturally very crowded. But after the senior brothers left and the County Magistrate Gao was sent away, leaving him alone walking in this Daoist temple, it seemed empty.

"Sigh..."

Sixth Third Third Shixiong couldn't help but feel a little lonely.

Thinking that most of the rest of his life might be like this, all alone, and the time when he had many senior brothers to accompany him on Fuqiu Peak would never return, he felt lost again.

For a moment, he didn't know how to spend the long rest of his life.

He didn't even know what to do at the moment.

Fortunately, there was an envelope from Little Junior Third Shixiong.

Sixth Third Third Shixiong frowned, picked up the envelope, sat down in the main hall, and opened it.

Inside was a letter paper first.

Sixth Third Third Shixiong held it up to read, and seemed to be able to hear Little Junior Third Shixiong's voice:

"Third Third Shixiong, by the time you see this letter, we have already parted. For the next few decades, it may be much lonelier than on Fuqiu Peak. I don't know how Third Third Shixiong will spend his time?

"Third Third Shixiong once carefully taught me the method of spirit-writing, and I am very grateful. It just so happens that I also have a magic, which I think is very suitable for Third Third Shixiong's personality and the spirit-writing method he mainly practices. I have put it in the letter.

"If Third Third Shixiong likes it, you can practice it to pass the time. If you don't like it, just burn it. If you want to practice other things after learning this, you can wait until I settle down, send a letter to Third Third Shixiong, and Third Third Shixiong can reply to me after receiving the address, or ask other senior brothers for exchange."

Sixth Third Third Shixiong looked down.

Besides this letter paper, there was also a book that was not thin in the envelope. It could be seen that it was paper he cut himself and bound with needle and thread, so it was not cut neatly and was sewn a bit messily.

But this was all traces of his heart.

Looking through it—

"Dream Sending."

Below were all handwritten traces, detailed and careful.

Sixth Third Third Shixiong was stunned, and then filled with emotion.

Fuqiu Temple on Fuqiu Peak.

First Third Third Shixiong was also cleaning the rooms for them one by one. Every time he arrived at someone's room and looked at the bookshelves, desks, and furnishings that symbolized the different personalities and hobbies of the many junior brothers, he couldn't help but feel emotional for a long time, as if the junior brothers were still living here yesterday.

Junior brothers and sisters often left things for him.

Until he came to Lin Jue's room.

Opening the door and looking, the room was smaller than other senior brothers', with a bookshelf and a desk inside, both of which were made by Sixth Junior Third Shixiong for him. The desk was full of ink marks, almost blackened.

One could imagine the scene of Junior Third Shixiong writing at the desk here.

Those must be ink dots that accidentally soaked through the paper or dripped accidentally. I don't know how many times and how much time it took to dye such a large area of ink marks.

"Hmm?"

First Third Third Shixiong couldn't help feeling confused.

In his impression, Little Junior Third Shixiong is not a person who loves writing and painting.

Under confusion, he scanned around and saw a wooden box on the bed.

He went over and opened it to look—

There was still a letter paper inside. Besides this letter paper, there were seven or eight books cut and bound by hand. Each book was a magic that did not exist in the temple.

This box alone was worth hundreds of years of painstaking collection by the ancestors of Fuqiu Temple.

"This..."

First Third Third Shixiong couldn't help but be stunned.

He didn't know how Little Junior Third Shixiong got so many magics, but he didn't know how many nights he spent lying here writing, and how long it took to write so many books and leave them behind.

Lin Jue took the donkey and followed the senior brothers, swaying on the mountain road, and slowly walked to Biluo County.

This place is already relatively remote.

And that Mount Shimen is even harder to find. ===== CHAPTER 165 =====