Chapter 182

By the roadside in the mountains, bamboo shade blocked the sunlight.

The Second Shixiong and the Third Shixiong were each holding three documents to examine, while one was using a stick to draw on the ground a route map constructed purely from the descriptions and imaginations of merchants and travelers on the road. Lin Jue sat cross-legged beside them watching.

The little Xiao Shimei was further away, having started a fire, and was roasting the bamboo insects she and the colored cat Fuyao had caught in the bamboo forest.

Starting a fire on a hot day made her sweat profusely; she raised her hand to wipe the sweat while roasting.

The fox was nowhere to be seen, only a hole on the ground.

Soil kept emerging from the hole.

"Qinzhou is the place where the capital is located. Among the several Daoist temples left by Master, the furthest one is a hundred li outside the capital." The Third Shixiong pointed to a small dot at the very top of the ground. "This Daoist temple will definitely be visited last. Before going there, after entering Qinzhou, we can go to Qingyan County for a trip. Shidi definitely wants to go there to see that 'Lady Yao Hua'."

"Correct."

Lin Jue nodded beside him.

"We'll see when the time comes; I can also accompany you." The Third Shixiong said, "Then the two of us can accompany the last Shixiong and Shidi, detour all the way to the capital, and just happen to see the prosperity of the capital."

"Agreed."

"The closest one now is Mingxia County. I reckon we will be able to reach it tonight. They say that Mingxia County is also very prosperous." The Third Shixiong looked to the side. "Where was this Daoist temple in Mingxia County again?"

"Two li south of the city," the Second Shixiong replied.

"Then you three see who will stay." After the Third Shixiong finished speaking, he pointed to the last point on the ground, roughly in the middle position. "After that, we will ask for directions again and head toward this Daoist temple in Langfeng County. If we walk fast, maybe we can even spend the New Year in the capital."

The Second Shixiong and the Seventh Shixiong looked at each other.

The remaining person was focused on roasting bamboo insects.

In this day and age, as long as bamboo grew in the mountains, there was no shortage of bamboo insects. This kind of thing, when roasted with fire, was very fragrant to eat. In this day and age, except for a few members of the nobility, I reckon no one hadn't eaten them.

The Xiao Shimei quickly handed over a few skewers.

The colored cat walked out of the bamboo forest with its tail held high, holding two more bamboo insects in its mouth.

It was originally heading toward the little Xiao Shimei, but unfortunately, it passed by that hole. Soil kept flying out of the hole, hitting it in handful after handful. It instinctively shook itself again and again, but couldn't help but poke its head in to look.

Inside was a fox frantically digging a hole.

"Taking advantage of the fact that it's still early today, let's sit for a while, and then we'll make one final push to walk to Mingxia." Lin Jue said, "If we can directly find that Daoist temple, that would naturally be best. If we can't find it, we can just happen to stay in Mingxia city for a night, see how this city is, and the two Shixiong can also make a decision in their hearts as to who wants to stay."

"Makes sense."

"I heard there is a famine ahead. The rice and flour we brought are almost eaten, so it's also good to buy some more in Mingxia city."

Everyone ate bamboo insects and discussed.

Lin Jue called the fox out, saw its hands full of mud, and shook his head helplessly. He also handed it bamboo insects to eat; after all, it had also worked hard to catch them.

Not long after, they continued their journey.

In late summer and early autumn, the weather was still dry and hot, but walking in the mountains was still cool. When it was really stuffy, they could also invite some cool breezes to help.

Plus, with three Shixiong fewer, and the luggage of three Shixiong fewer, although the Second Shixiong and Seventh Shixiong, who carried the most luggage, were still in the team, quite a lot of space had opened up. At least Lin Jue had already placed his book chest on the flatbed cart pulled by the horse, and walking was much lighter.

Because it was not a small city, finding it was naturally much easier than that Mount Shimen. They were all big roads, and after asking a couple of times, they approached Mingxia County city at dusk.

However, they also had to ask for directions to that Daoist temple.

Everyone was coming from the south, looking around, but didn't see any Daoist temple. It just so happened that there was a passerby by the roadside.

It was a middle-aged man with a weathered face, leaning on a bamboo stick as a cane. His clothes were very old, and his shoes were also slightly broken. He didn't see any luggage on him, looking like a local.

"This good believer, may I ask for directions?"

"Hmm? Oh? Several Daoist masters?" The middle-aged man was a bit dazed, reacting for quite a while, and only then said, "What road do the Daoist masters want to ask about?"

"Does the good believer know if there is a Daoist temple outside Mingxia city called Qingyi Temple?"

"The Daoist masters want to go to Qingyi Temple?"

"Exactly."

Lin Jue and the others all looked at him, hearing this tone, he knew about this Daoist temple.

"Qingyi Temple is not far ahead, but you have to walk a small path for one li and climb a few steps." The middle-aged man said, "I reckon several Daoist masters also heard people say to go there to borrow lodging. It just so happens that I am too, so several Daoist masters can follow me and walk together."

"That would be even better."

Several people looked at each other again and followed him forward.

The middle-aged man didn't walk fast, which meant the Daoists also had to walk a bit slower. But hearing that it was not far ahead, they didn't urge him or ask him to point out the direction so they could go on their own.

"Do people often go to borrow lodging at that Qingyi Temple?" The Seventh Shixiong asked.

"That's natural, it doesn't cost money. But only the bold dare to go and borrow lodging."

The middle-aged man said while walking, sighing at the same time:

"In the past, the incense at that Daoist temple was quite prosperous, because Mingxia was not a small city either. During the New Year or temple fairs, many people would come to offer incense. When I was younger, I would also go there to offer incense. But later, some things happened, and the Daoist temple became empty. Now, only people like me, who have things to do in the city and really can't afford the money for even a thatched inn or a chicken-feather inn, will go to that Daoist temple to make do for a night, at least there is a place to shelter from the wind and rain."

"So that's how it is." The Seventh Shixiong asked with concern, "It is said that an evil god once caused trouble there?"

"The Daoist masters have also heard of it?"

"Heard of it."

"It was that Green Seedling God."

"Green Seedling God?"

This Daoist temple was also found with the help of a Shishu.

This kind of thing wasn't strange either.

Like the Fifth Shixiong who studied medical skills, he had just descended the mountain. He hadn't even gone to stay in the temple in Liuyun County, and Cuiwei County had given him a new Daoist temple. How could one person live in all of them? After a few decades, perhaps he would also select one or even several Daoist temples, make an appointment with the county magistrate in the city, and send a letter back to Mount Fuqiu.

After the disciples of the First Shixiong descended the mountain, they would have a place to settle down, and also protect the people of one side.

It was just that the Shishu's letter only said that this Daoist temple had an evil god, and that he had driven it away and left the Daoist temple, but didn't describe it in detail. It was probably just an ordinary minor god.

Then they heard the middle-aged man say:

"It was a Field God that we ourselves worshipped here in the past. It managed the growth of green seedlings in the fields. Later, because the incense was very prosperous, it was moved into the Daoist temple and lived together with the Earth God.

"However, after a long time, this Green Seedling God became wrong. Not only did it demand more incense and sacrifices, but it also made the green seedlings that many people had worked hard to plant wither before they could grow big. At that time, a famine also broke out here.

"I heard that an immortal passed by, and I don't know if he drove it away or killed it, but anyway, he left this Daoist temple. The original Daoist in it also starved to death during the famine, and no one dared to come here again. Only some bold people who weren't afraid of death would go to the temple to stay when passing by."

While speaking, they happened to arrive at a fork in the road.

Beside it was a small path, not very long, stretching toward a small mountain covered with bamboo forests and big trees. At the foot of the mountain, a Daoist temple could be vaguely seen.

"Are several Daoist masters not afraid?"

"Of course not afraid."

Several people parked the flatbed cart here.

Although the middle-aged man was physically weak, he was enthusiastic, even helping them unload the things on the flatbed cart, and stood by waiting for them. Waiting for them to carry all their luggage, he then led them forward.

It was indeed a small path, and they climbed a few small slopes, a little distance from the official road and the city, but not far. By the time the sun set and the sky was full of red clouds, everyone had already climbed the small slope, and with their luggage, arrived in front of this Daoist temple at the foot of the mountain.

The middle-aged man was panting, but couldn't help but turn his head. Seeing that several Daoists were neither red-faced nor out of breath, he couldn't help but be surprised.

Seeing that white fox again, he had some guesses in his heart.

This group of Daoists probably had Daoist practice.

However, this had nothing to do with him. He only stepped on a pile of stones piled up beside the courtyard wall, climbed onto the courtyard wall, and turned back to look at them: "Although this Daoist temple is empty, it is locked. The Daoist masters must climb over the wall to enter. However, the predecessors who came and went have already built stone piles for entering and exiting, which are easy to climb."

Several Daoists looked around.

This Daoist temple was slightly old, but it didn't look dilapidated from the outside. Situated in the bamboo forest, paired with the faint sound of gurgling spring water, it could be considered quiet.

They originally wanted to walk through the main gate, but saw two sealing strips on the door that had weathered many storms.

Although the sealing strips were broken, they were not completely damaged. Everyone looked at each other and felt that it was best to take the land deed documents to the city tomorrow to ask the government to remove them, which would also serve as a report.

So several Daoists, either carrying book chests, carrying luggage, or holding wooden puppets, or holding heavy alchemy furnaces, all just stepped on the stone pile and easily climbed onto the courtyard wall.

This left the middle-aged man stunned.

Before he could be amazed by this group of Daoists, he looked down and saw that the fox surprised him even more, actually walking on the wall as if it were a demon, which gave him a fright.

With several light sounds, several people landed one after another.

Lin Jue looked around and pondered carefully.

After all, located outside the city, this Daoist temple was slightly larger than the Yangxin Temple of the Sixth Shixiong. It was also a three-section courtyard, with an entrance gate, a main hall courtyard inside, side halls on the left and right, and two or three rooms for Daoists in the back.

There were also two or three guest halls.

Inside, it was a bit messy, piled with withered branches and fallen leaves.

This place was quiet, and not far from the market, but compared to the Second Shixiong, it was more suitable for the Seventh Shixiong.

The Second Shixiong liked quiet; alchemy required quiet. This place was too close to the official road. If they opened the door, there would be many incense pilgrims and merchants and travelers seeking lodging, and he would practice a furnace of alchemy for at least a few days, or ten days to half a month at most. During this time, although he didn't necessarily have to watch the alchemy furnace at all times, he wouldn't go out either.

The quietness of this place wasn't enough.

And for the Seventh Shixiong, there was no choice. There were two more Daoist temples in the back, but they were more remote and quiet, and even less suitable for him.

At the same time, they had already started discussing.

"What does the Second Shixiong think?"

"It doesn't matter to me, Shidi, you ask the little Xiao Shimei."

"What about Xiao Shimei? Do you want to stay here?"

"I don't want to!"

"Then I have no choice but to stay. It just so happens that this place is only two li from the city, a short walk." The Seventh Shixiong said, "It's also convenient to go into the city to be carefree, drink wine and get drunk at night, and still be able to walk back to sleep in the morning."

The middle-aged man behind him listened in a daze:

"Daoist master, this is... this is... could it be that the Daoist masters are the successors of the original Qingyi Temple?"

"Not at all, not at all. We are from the Fuqiu Temple on Mount Yishan. The one who drove away the evil god here back then was our Shishu. Because this Daoist temple was empty, he let us come here to live and cultivate."

"So that's how it is. Then in the future..." The middle-aged man aimed at him quietly, "I'm afraid it won't be convenient to come here to borrow lodging anymore."

"Where would it be inconvenient? This Daoist just likes it to be a bit lively!" The Seventh Shixiong said, "From now on, if the good believer passes by this place, feel free to come and borrow lodging. I won't charge a single cent. If you can chat and laugh with this Daoist for a few words, then not only will I not charge the good believer money, but when my purse is full, I can also treat the good believer to a meal of wine and food."

"How, how dare I disturb you!"

"How is that a disturbance! Anyway, this Daoist is all alone, bored here. Even if I choose a guest hall, build a communal bed, and specifically let passing merchants and travelers borrow lodging, five people a day, it's not impossible."

The Seventh Shixiong said casually.

Several Shixiong and Shidi had already started cleaning up.