Chapter 27: Mountain Lord

"It is said that most ghosts in the world have weak strength and survive in the world, often suffering from hunger. Wild ghosts are even more so. If they cause disaster for no reason, they can't pass the test of conscience, and they are also afraid of encountering high-ranking people who are not afraid of them, or being blamed and punished by divine beings. Therefore, once they encounter something, they hurriedly seize the opportunity, or even fabricate people's faults, either asking people to sacrifice and reward them, or asking people for help.

"I don't know if this kind of story is true or false."

Lin Jue paused as he spoke, showing contemplation: "If I remember correctly, when I was looking for a place to spend the night last night, I even stepped on his head. If the story and legend are true, he didn't use this as an excuse to force me to help like in the rumors, which is more gentlemanly than those wild ghosts in the rumors."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Heard from the village elders, I feel it might make some sense."

"I did see some ghost qi on the little lay Buddhist." The old Daoist smiled, not saying whether the rumor was right or wrong, but continued to ask, "What does the little lay Buddhist intend to do now?"

The sky was getting brighter and brighter, so they could see each other's faces.

The old Daoist was relatively thin, with wrinkles all over his face. He didn't know his age, but his appearance had quite a bit of immortal spirit and kindness. He carried a bundle, looking like someone going on a long journey.

The young girl beside him was very young, looking only fourteen or fifteen, with a white face and a pointed chin, delicate features, and an exquisite appearance. She also carried a satchel, only standing silently beside the old Daoist, not speaking.

"Sigh..."

Lin Jue sighed: "Although I didn't agree in the dream, for this kind of thing, what reason is there not to do it? If the Daoist priest is in a hurry to rush on the road, go first. I will walk faster later. If there is a connection, I can catch up with you before taking different paths."

"For this kind of thing, what if I stay and help? Besides, I don't have many years to live. Who knows if I will end up like this many years later?"

The old Daoist didn't leave, but looked to the side.

The young girl obviously felt his gaze. At first, she didn't understand what he meant, sometimes turning her head to look at him, sometimes turning her head to look at Lin Jue, and sometimes looking at the coffin board by the road in the distance. A small face obviously showed confusion and contemplation. After thinking for a long time, she finally understood.

However, once she understood, she was not slow at all. She put down her satchel and wooden stick, rolled up her sleeves, and walked quickly to help.

So Lin Jue removed the park knife and turned it into a firewood knife, spent some energy, found a tree that had withered and dried out, and started chopping with a grunt.

The young girl came with great momentum, but when she truly reached his front, she found there was nothing she could help with, so she had to stand by the side, pretending to hold the tree for him, lowering her head and watching him chop without saying a word.

Before long, a piece of wood was chopped off.

Lin Jue carried the wood to the coffin, compared it back and forth a few times, and repaired it a few times. Finally, he repaired it to a shape that almost matched the hole in the coffin, pushed it in hard, knocked it a few times, and then turned his head back. The girl behind him just happened to hold a handful of wood chips, handing them to him silently.

"Thank you."

Lin Jue chose a few pieces to fill the gaps.

After feeling it was almost done, he also sought some thick withered leaves, covered them on top, and used the firewood knife to dig up the soil beside it to cover it. After stepping on it firmly, he was satisfied.

"Little lay Buddhist, is it repaired?"

"Repaired."

"Where to go after this?"

"After this..."

Lin Jue paused, frowning in thought.

That old man and young girl both looked at him, one smiling, the other full of curiosity.

At this time, the sky was completely bright.

In the distance, there were even early merchants and travelers walking over. The sound of horse bells and wheels pressing on the hard ground could be heard, echoing in the mountains in the early morning, which was very quiet.

"To tell you the truth, last night, in order to let me help, that one told me a 'good thing'. I don't know if it is true or false, and I don't know if I should go." Lin Jue frowned and recalled, "But looking at it now, I am willing to believe that what he said is true, but even so, I don't know if I should go."

"What?"

"He said that today, in the mountain behind, there is a mountain like a hammer. The Mountain Lord in the mountain is holding a banquet there and inviting people to participate, saying that I can also go..."

Lin Jue roughly told the story.

"What a coincidence!"

The old Daoist smiled and said to him: "I have also heard recently that the Mountain Lord on this mountain is holding a banquet, widely inviting spirits and monsters from all directions who have not caused trouble to participate. In the past, at the Mountain Lord's meeting, there was a fine wine called "Thousand-Day Wine". My disciple likes brewing and drinking wine the most, so I also plan to go and join in the fun to see if I can bring some back."

"Hmm?"

Lin Jue couldn't help but stare at them.

The ghost in the dream seemed to have mentioned "Thousand-Day Wine" too.

If this old Daoist hadn't said it, the name of the wine would have already blurred with the fading of the dream. Hearing the old Daoist say it now, he remembered it.

At the same time, Lin Jue also remembered something else, so he carefully looked at this old Daoist.

Old Daoist...

"May I ask where the True Man came from?" Lin Jue deliberated on the words and asked.

"Going out to visit a friend, but it's too far."

"Did you pass through Qiru County?"

"Passed through."

"When I was in Dangxun County, I heard that a high-ranking person came to Qiru County and eliminated monsters and ghosts in Qiru County. Is that you, True Man?"

"I did eliminate an evil yaoguai in Qiru County, but it was just a casual act, not worth mentioning."

"This..."

Lin Jue truly felt it was very coincidental.

At the beginning of the meeting, he only felt that this old Daoist had an extraordinary bearing. Coupled with the good impression of the monk in the Zhushan Temple before, he felt that even if it was just an ordinary Daoist priest, traveling together for a journey might not be an interesting thing. Three people walking must have my teacher, maybe there would be some gains. Later, he told this old Daoist about seeing a ghost in a dream, and his expression was as usual, and he said he did see some ghost qi on him, so Lin Jue felt he might have some skills.

He didn't expect it to be the one in the Wei family's mouth.

At this time, how could he not know that the immortal high-ranking person beside him was the one he was looking for.

It was just that on one side was this immortal high-ranking person he met by chance, and on the other side was Qiyun Mountain and Yishan he had already decided to go to. For a short time, he couldn't help but be in a dilemma.

"Does the True Man also want to attend the banquet?"

"Can the little lay Buddhist go together?"

"I couldn't ask for more."

Now where were there any doubts?

"However, even if that Mountain Lord is hospitable, there is no reason to go empty-handed. Does the little lay Buddhist have any preparations to bring as a gift?"

"Is this possible?"

Lin Jue took out the peach gum from his body.

"Essence of peach yaoguai!"

The old Daoist only took a look and knew, still kindly saying: "This can be considered a good thing. You don't need so much, three or two pieces are enough, it's better to keep the rest."

This one was indeed not an ordinary Daoist priest.

Lin Jue took the peach gum back.

"Then let's go." The old Daoist said loudly, quite free and easy, "We have to walk on mountain roads. At this time of year, plants and trees grow lushly, and the firewood knife the little lay Buddhist carries just happens to be useful."

"..."

Lin Jue didn't say anything; this was originally a matter of course.

So he walked a section with this old Daoist and young girl, discussing identifying the road. After leaving the official road and walking on the small road, it was Lin Jue walking in front. The spider webs in the early morning were broken by him, and the thorns and weeds blocking the road were also cleared by him.

"Why doesn't the little lay Buddhist chop with the firewood knife?"

"To tell you the truth, when I was in Dangxun County before, I met a monster by chance. It was transformed from a peach tree. I chatted well with it, and it gave me peach gum, so I feel that plants and trees also have spirits. If it is not necessary, I will not chop if I can."

"If you don't chop, when autumn and winter come this year, the woodcutters on the mountain will also chop them down, tie them into firewood, and sell them to families in the city."

"I think they will be good firewood then."

"Haha! Answered wonderfully!"

"Overpraised..."

"Then what are you seeking?"

"Peace of mind is enough."

"What a good 'peace of mind is enough'!"

The old Daoist nodded repeatedly, smiling.

In the season of May, not only do thorns grow wildly and forests are deep, but it is also the time when snakes and insects are most active. A group of people climbed the mountain for most of the day, and they saw snakes several times. The most dangerous one was a mountain-crossing peak lying in front, as thick as a person's arm. This is a rare snake with extremely strong territoriality. Seeing someone trespassing, it even stood up, staring straight at the group, wanting to scare them away and not allowing them to pass.

This old Daoist really had Daoist cultivation.

He saw him walk up, smiling, and saluted the snake first, then informed: "We are just passing by, with no malice. Please allow us to pass."

The snake stared at him and actually avoided it.

The old Dao only said: Just gathering beasts and adjusting birds.

Lin Jue had more respect for him.

Until near dusk, Lin Jue stopped, wiped his sweat, and when he looked back, he only saw layers of mountain forests below, and he could no longer see the official road and the place he walked in the morning.

Walking all the way, he didn't know how high he had climbed. He only knew that it was like this several times. Looking back, it was deep mountain forests, and looking up, he saw that there was still so high in front, layer by layer, as if he couldn't finish walking, and at this time he finally saw that mountain like a hammer.

It turned out to be a hammer, not a wolf head.

The mountain was made of stone, like a hammer laid down. There were some pine trees on it, and the bottom was all chaotic stones and green grass like silk.

However, it seemed that the hammer itself was named because it looked like a wolf head, which was not much different.

Lin Jue turned his head and looked at the old Daoist behind him. The old Daoist was still calm, not even sweating, and his hair was not messy. The young girl's physical strength was much better than he thought. Walking all the way, she was in the same state as him, only her face was red and her clothes were soaked with sweat, but she kept her head down and followed them climbing the mountain, not shouting tired at all.

This little girl was not delicate.

When Lin Jue took back his gaze, he was suddenly startled.

A huge wild boar appeared in the grass in front of him.

The wild boar was probably as heavy as two or three adults, fat and strong, with sharp tusks, bristling mane, staring straight at them.

The old Daoist laughed and stepped forward.

Just when Lin Jue thought he was going to use that "method of gathering beasts and adjusting birds" to persuade this huge wild boar to leave, he saw him reach into his sleeve, take out a small porcelain pot, salute, and say:

"My name is He Xianyu, Daoist name Yunhe. I heard by chance on the road that the Mountain Lord is holding a banquet, and I just happened to bring the spiritual spring from the mountain, so I came to attend."

The wild boar stared at him, its eyes flashing, and walked over, sniffing at the old Daoist and the porcelain bottle in his hand, then turned its head to look at the two people behind him.

"This little girl is my future disciple."

"Oh, my name is Lin Jue. I also heard by chance that the Mountain Lord is holding a banquet on the mountain, and I have always admired yaoguai, ghosts, and divine beings from all over the world, so I brought a gift to visit."

Lin Jue said with full curiosity and nervousness, his heartbeat very fast, but he still said it sincerely.

What he offered was three pieces of peach gum.

Visiting and attending the banquet for no reason, it didn't feel right if the gift was too light, but this peach gum was given by the peach yaoguai. Besides its own value, there was also a bit of friendship from an acquaintance. Although Lin Jue and that tree yaoguai only had a short acquaintance, it couldn't be called friendship, but this friendship couldn't be ignored at will.

Before, this old Daoist said that three or two pieces were enough. Hesitating, Lin Jue chose to follow, but also took a larger number, giving three pieces and keeping two.

Then he saw the wild boar come up, and also in front of him and the girl, sniffing carefully, also sniffing the peach gum in his hand, its eyes flashing several times, before it stepped back, then turned and walked up the mountain.

The old Daoist stepped forward to follow.

Lin Jue also followed.

He understood in his heart—this was probably the Mountain Lord's residence. ===== CHAPTER 28 =====