Chapter 199: A Noble Guest Comes

A cold night in the world, meeting an old friend by chance, is truly rare.

Lin Jue saw that he was alone, and it just so happened that he also asked about that Jun Niangniang Jun Niangniang Yao Hua, so he invited him: "Luo Gong, why don't you come to the same table?"

Luo Seng looked at the food on their table, feeling that it was not cheap, and looked at the Junior Xiao Shimei beside Lin Jue, so he decisively refused: "Luo is vulgar, I'm afraid I will scare your Xiao Shimei! Let's talk after we eat!"

"Good!"

Lin Jue didn't force it.

It was just that although he ordered two good dishes, at this time he had already eaten nearly half, and there was a fox and a cat. Inviting people to eat together didn't necessarily conform to etiquette.

Not to mention that this kind of polite refusal was not what he wanted.

The Shixiong and Xiao Shimei continued to eat.

The inn waiter closed the shop door.

There was only one oil lamp in the lobby.

The Junior Xiao Shimei was still sensitive, looked up and glanced, and saw a martial artist with a long sword at his waist, dressed in black, with shallow whiskers, and a slightly vicissitudes face.

Perhaps it was because she also practiced martial arts and spent more effort on swordsmanship, when she saw this person, she suddenly had a feeling—

This person's ability was very high and very dangerous.

Perhaps it was the kind of person Shixiongs had mentioned, the kind who could take the head of a high-ranking Daoist practitioner within three steps before the person could react.

This was not a hunch like a premonition, but seeing the steps he took, the hands he swung, the firmness and calmness in his eyes, and even the wind brought up by the hem of his clothes, the malevolent aura on the scabbard, and the traces of bumps, etc., all combined in her brain at once. Based on experience, under more blurred circumstances, she made a judgment one step ahead of rational analysis.

People are often like this.

It was just that she didn't know this martial artist, and this was in the city. The martial artist didn't approach them, so she didn't touch her sword, but continued to eat.

However, Lin Jue still noticed her abnormality.

Looking back, he also saw this martial artist.

But he frowned.

Then a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Shixiong! What's wrong?"

When the Junior Xiao Shimei asked this, her hand had already touched the sword.

The fox and the colored civet also raised their heads from the rice bowl and turned to stare straight at the martial artist.

The martial artist sat down on the other side of the lobby.

Obviously, he also noticed the two Daoists sitting here and their gazes, turned his head and glanced here, paused on the white fox and the long sword in the Junior Xiao Shimei's hand, and then withdrew his gaze.

"Clang!"

The saber was placed on the table.

"Waiter! Bring a basin of mutton! By the way, ask a question, it is said that there is a Jun Niangniang Jun Niangniang Yao Hua here, how to go to her cave?"

"Okay! Basin of mutton!" The waiter shouted inside first, and then said with a smile, "This guest is also here to ask about Jun Niangniang Jun Niangniang Yao Hua..."

Before he could finish, Lin Jue had already stood up.

The Junior Xiao Shimei followed and stood up.

The fox left the rice bowl at the same time.

"Don't be nervous, I know him." Lin Jue comforted them first, then walked forward two steps, seeing that the martial artist was also looking at him, so he bowed and said to him, "Dare to ask if you are surnamed Luo and named Seng?"

"Hmm? What is the Daoist's surname?"

"Surname Lin."

"Lin?"

The martial artist still stared at him in confusion, only feeling it was the first meeting, but his gaze kept aiming at the Junior Xiao Shimei behind him and the fox at his feet.

"You forgot me." Lin Jue smiled, "I am Lin Jue. Five years ago, outside Danxun City, there was a group of strange monkeys. We met at that time."

"Hmm?"

The martial artist's eyes condensed, sizing him up carefully for a few times, and then remembered: "Are you that scholar at that time?"

"You remembered."

"You..."

The martial artist sized him up again: "You really found a place to practice Dao!"

"Exactly."

Lin Jue was also sizing him up.

But he couldn't help but feel confused and sigh.

When they first met outside Danxun City, he saw a young man, looking about twenty years old, high-spirited, and his martial arts and spirit left a deep impression on him, so much so that every time he saw a martial artist or his own martial arts became more refined, he couldn't help but think of him at that time, and compared him with him at that time.

It can be considered that he has missed him for several years.

Didn't expect to meet him again today.

Didn't expect that when they met today, that young martial artist at that time made him almost unable to recognize him.

Five years have passed. If he was twenty years old at that time, he should be around thirty now. It's just that people down the mountain in this era are old-looking, and they love to grow whiskers. This man looks like he is already in his thirties.

Added to the vicissitudes in his eyes, he looks even more mature.

Lin Jue remembered that when they parted, he said he wanted to seek immortals and ask about the Dao, and he said he wanted to join the army, rely on his martial arts to make a name for himself in the world, and between life and death, win a name for his Luo family again. He still remembers the freedom and spirit at that time.

But what did he experience later?

Thinking slightly, he also felt it was normal.

Five years is not short.

Not to mention others, he is no longer the young scholar with only courage at that time.

Maybe he would also be surprised by him. ===== CHAPTER 200 =====

The room was not large, with one bed, one table, and two stools; there was no extra space to move around.

It was enough for a night's sleep, though.

"Hoo..."

Lin Jue lit the night-watch lamp and placed it in the center of the room, then sat cross-legged back on the bed, took the mother-of-pearl box from his book satchel, and retrieved two Spirit Origin Pills from it.

When they were kept in the box, there was nothing, but as soon as the drawer was pulled open, the fragrant spiritual aura of the Spirit Origin Pills wafted out.

It smelled quite enticing as well.

This was what the Silver-Eating Ghost had spat out after consuming twenty taels of silver while they were at the Second Senior Brother's Daoist temple a few days ago. Because it had been less than a month since he had last taken a Spirit Origin Pill, Lin Jue had saved them up.

At this moment, one pill for himself, and one for the fox.

"Eat in peace."

After Lin Jue finished saying this to it, he tilted his head back and swallowed the pill.

Cultivation still requires Spirit Origin Pills to be effective.

This is a good thing.

The reason his fox grew its third tail so quickly must be inseparable from this.

He then sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.

Concentrating on cultivation, sensing the spiritual aura.

The night-watch lamp quietly held up a bean-sized flame, casting just the right amount of light in the windless room.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, the group had already set out.

Luo Seng even brought a tall, sturdy horse—in a daze, it seemed to be the same one as before—along with a set of bow and arrows and a long staff taller than a man; Lin Jue guessed that there must be a spearhead in his luggage.

Under Luo Seng's gaze, the two Daoist priests also took out paper slips, chanted "Donkey, manifest," and threw them, turning them into paper donkeys.

Luo Seng's eyes narrowed, somewhat surprised.

However, he did not make a fuss; he simply led the horse and walked in front. After some inquiries and purchasing incense candles and offerings, the three of them left the city.

Fog rose in the early morning, and the mountain path was damp.

One horse and two donkeys, one martial artist and two Daoist priests—the bells of the donkeys jingled, piercing the thick fog and carrying into the mountains.

Walking deep into the mountain forest, the roadside and the mountains were covered with goldenrain trees. In this season, the fruits of the goldenrain trees were either golden-yellow or pink; from afar, they looked like blooming flowers, and up close, they looked like leaves. Only when walking near to look closely did one realize they were flat, diamond-shaped lanterns, decorating this rarely visited mountain forest with colorful hues.

Frost had formed on the road surface again.

There were footprints on the frost; after the group passed by, the footprints became more numerous and cluttered.

Just as the inn waiter had said, when they entered the small path, red ribbons of torn cloth were tied along the roadside, as if guiding the passersby forward.

However, the distance was not short either.

Slowly, the fog all around dissipated, and it was almost noon.

Lin Jue had a feeling—

They were almost there.

At the same time, they heard footsteps ahead, as well as the disappointed discussions of others.

After turning a corner in the mountain forest, a tall, greenish-blue rocky mountain appeared ahead, with a steep cliff face, nearly vertical.

Below the cliff was a pile of rubble, also covered with goldenrain trees bearing yellow, red, or pink fruits, like flowers and leaves, which had also fallen in a layer upon the rubble ahead; amidst this colorful scene was a deep, secluded cave.

A group of people were walking toward them with their backs to the cave; judging by their attire, they were all either wealthy or noble, and their expressions were disappointed.

Evidently, they were also there to seek guidance from "Jun Niangniang Yao Hua."

Don't say you started early; there are always those who started earlier.

Lin Jue wanted to ask them, but Luo Seng had already taken a step ahead, standing in the middle of the road, and gave a crisp and clean cupped-fist salute: "May I ask you gentlemen, is this the cave of Jun Niangniang Yao Hua?"

"Isn't it written on that stele? Are you also here to ask 'Jun Niangniang Yao Hua' to resolve your doubts?"

"Indeed." Luo Seng glanced at the stone stele and asked again, "Have you all obtained what you wanted?"

"No. Several gentlemen pleaded for a long time today, but the Jun Niangniang never paid any heed. Later, I pleaded for a long time, and only then did she blow a gust of wind, rolling the paper inside, but she said that a noble person is coming today and must be welcomed, so she will not answer questions for anyone else today." As this person spoke, he carefully sized up Luo Seng, "I wonder where this noble person is."

"Many thanks!"

Luo Seng's expression was calm, his voice crisp.

After saying this, he walked forward.

Lin Jue and the Xiao Xiao Shimei exchanged a glance, and naturally, they also led the donkeys and followed him forward.

The few people behind them, seeing this, stopped in their tracks instead.

Although this man looked like a martial artist from the jianghu and was only wearing ordinary cloth clothes, the tall horse he was leading was a fine steed that even high-ranking officials would find hard to buy. He also carried a spear shaft and a long saber, and his demeanor was crisp and natural when he walked and spoke; the few of them also vaguely felt that he was somewhat extraordinary.

And it was only for this short while at noon.

They figured it wouldn't be easy for anyone else to come later, so they also wanted to see what this person, who could be called a noble person by the "Jun Niangniang," actually looked like—whether he was right before them or still behind, and what he looked like.

By this time, the three of them had already arrived before the cave dwelling.

They saw that the entrance to the cave dwelling was covered with goldenrain fruits, and vines grew over the cave, lush and green, very deep and secluded. Looking into the distance, one could only see a shallow section and could not see how deep it was.

A cool breeze constantly blew from the cave; at this time of year, it was not cold, but as pleasant as a spring breeze.

Lin Jue and the Xiao Xiao Shimei exchanged another glance.

This place is full of spiritual aura.

At the same time, there was a stone stele at the cave entrance with the two characters 'Yao Hua' written on it.

Lin Jue glanced at his fox.

The fox was still puzzled, turning its head to look at him.

"We arrived just in time; it is exactly noon." Luo Seng did not say anything else, simply taking down the offerings and incense candles, "Since we are here, no matter what, we must try."

"Reasonable."

Lin Jue withdrew his gaze and responded to him.

"Only one person can ask at a time here, so let me go first." Luo Seng did not stand on ceremony with them, "It is said that only one person can stand at the entrance at a time, so I ask the two Daoist priests to step back a few paces for now."

"Very well."

Lin Jue and the Xiao Xiao Shimei both stepped back.

The fox also jumped back, its posture light and graceful, then opened its pair of clear and curious eyes, looking into the cave ahead.

The cave was pitch black.

I wonder if one can catch mice inside?

This was the only thought in its mind.