Chapter 270: Jingcheng is Still Generous

"I said that even if those two stone horses became immortals, they wouldn't dare to offend the Master!"

"But it seems it wasn't the magic performed by Master Fan, but another Daoist beside him..."

"That must also be a Master!"

"I don't know which Master it is..."

"Master Fan is leaving! Hurry to see him off! My neighbor's child was touched on the head by Master Fan once, and this year he already got the nod from the Red-Clothed Man!"

A row of white egrets flew over the ancient city, taking away the last bit of dusk light. Only then did the two and the fox get rid of the enthusiasm of the capital's people and slowly walk towards the residence.

"What is going on with that Red-Clothed Man?"

"Red-Clothed Man? Oh! The capital is too lively. Besides scholars liking it, yaoguai and ghosts also like it. Many yaoguai and ghosts live in the capital!" Master Fan said to him, "Legend has it that there is a yaoguai spirit who usually wears red clothes and likes poetry and articles. Whenever there is an exam, he likes to go to the exam hall to peek at the candidates' answers. If he sees a satisfactory article, he will nod secretly, and then this candidate will often pass the exam. As time goes on, the people in the capital slowly use 'Red-Clothed Man's nod' to refer to passing the exam."

"So that's how it is."

Lin Jue found it quite interesting.

The fox beside him also listened curiously.

"Friend Fan is truly knowledgeable." Lin Jue asked curiously again, "Then what about this Red-Clothed Man's nod, does it have anything to do with you, Friend?"

"Naturally not!" Master Fan answered sternly, "Although I am acquainted with that Red-Clothed Man and have had a few dealings, I know that he only purely likes poetry and articles, and going to the exam hall is just purely to watch. Except for occasionally seeing exquisite articles and really being unable to help nodding, he doesn't make any other indications or reminders, and he absolutely wouldn't dare to interfere with the imperial examination. So he won't nod at people because of my actions, and his nodding at people has no effect on helping people pass the exam."

Master Fan said this, but in his heart, he felt somewhat relaxed.

In his life, he had spent more than half of it pretending.

Even when he sometimes told the truth, it was actually to pretend. Later, sometimes when he simply told the truth, others would misunderstand or misread it. Now, he couldn't stop. But in front of this Friend Lin, it was rare that he could be honest and speak the truth, and it wouldn't make Friend Lin misunderstand or misread it.

For a moment, he actually felt quite comfortable.

"Friend Fan truly has extensive friendships." Lin Jue smiled, then asked for advice, "Then what about these two stone horses, in your opinion, Friend, what is going on?"

"In my opinion..."

"How?"

"Nothing..."

Master Fan was also used to being flattered, but today, being affirmed by this Friend Lin who knew the root and the bottom, he was a bit unaccustomed to it.

After thinking for a while, he said:

"They all say these two stone horses became spirits in the last two years, but I heard that more than a hundred years ago, someone had seen the stone horses blink and change legs outside the Star Gazing Palace, which once became a rumor in the capital."

"I asked yaoguai who had lived in the capital for a long time, and they also said it was true. At that time, every household in the capital knew about it, and many people had gone to the Star Gazing Palace to see it with their own eyes."

"Therefore, according to my guess, these two stone horses didn't become spirits just two years ago, but had long since become spirits. It was just that they could only move two years ago, or they ran away from outside the Star Gazing Palace gate two years ago."

"That is indeed possible." Lin Jue paused, "Then, Friend Fan, why do you think they wanted to leave the Star Gazing Palace gate, and why did they want to gallop through the city?"

"How would I know these things..."

"How could you not know, Friend?"

"..."

Master Fan was silent for a while before answering:

"There is a rumor in the city that this is because the atmosphere in the capital is getting worse and worse, and the stone horses sensed the end of the dynasty, so they came out to remind the world that the world is about to change."

He paused as he spoke.

This pause was longer, and combined with being far away from the bustle of the market, it was getting quieter and quieter, with only the footsteps of the two Daoists left.

"I have heard that for all the yaoguai in the world, the more dull they are, the harder it is to become a spirit. So foxes become spirits the most, and there are many rats, cats, and dogs. Trees and flowers are even harder to become spirits. But trees and flowers are at least living things. Stone sculptures becoming spirits is even rarer."

"You have heard quite a lot, Friend." Lin Jue nodded, "But it is indeed so. It is truly not easy for these two stone horses to become spirits."

"But look, Friend, these two stone horses are not ordinary. Since they are in the capital and at the gate of the Star Gazing Palace, it may not be that they became spirits by receiving the prosperous human aura of the capital and the spiritual aura of the Star Gazing Palace." Master Fan still said such bold words in a calm tone, so even if someone heard it, they would feel that with Master Fan's status, saying such things was not strange, "However, by now, whether it is the atmosphere of the nobles in the capital or the integrity of the scholars, it is far inferior to the past, and the Star Gazing Palace and the Tianweng they worship seem to be not as..."

"In your opinion, Friend!" Although Lin Jue usually said such things himself, at this time he opened his mouth and interrupted Master Fan, "Is it because of this reason that they left the capital and the Star Gazing Palace?"

"A humble opinion, a personal humble opinion."

"Hmm..."

Lin Jue thought carefully and felt it made a lot of sense.

The two continued to walk forward and continued to chat idly.

Just like chatting idly with Daoist Tao this afternoon, Lin Jue didn't care what kind of person that Daoist Tao was, what his personality was, what his preferences were, or whether he was compatible with him. He didn't talk about those, but only talked about the Object-Control Art that both had considerable attainments and interest in. Just taking pleasure in this narrow direction, it would be pure and happy.

It was the same at this time.

Lin Jue didn't care about Master Fan's character and didn't think about other rights and wrongs, but only through his knowledge, chatted about the atmosphere of the capital at this time and the Star Gazing Palace and the gods.

In the capital at this time, nobles often let their hair down, were naked, gathered together to drink, and toyed with maids and concubines. If you were also a noble but didn't do this, it would hurt the harmony. If you spoke out to criticize such practices, because it was so widespread, you would be ridiculed instead. Some people who catered to the world even felt ashamed for not participating in it.

Therefore, knowledgeable people all said that this dynasty had come to an end.

The Star Gazing Palace at this time also mainly focused on gathering wealth. Ordinary people only felt that worshiping gods was not effective, but Master Fan was not only respected by the people but also respected by the yaoguai and ghosts in the capital—

Sometimes there were small yaoguai and ghosts causing trouble around the capital, and the Gathering of Immortals Mansion couldn't find anyone else. There was no other way, so they had to ask Master Fan. Master Fan simply "disdained" to take action, only issuing a dharma decree, asking them to bring how many offerings and sacrifices, go to where, follow what process to burn them, and call who to ask for help. Then there would naturally be spirits who would accept the offerings and go to eliminate the yaoguai.

Both sides were very grateful to Master Fan.

So yaoguai and ghosts often complained to him that the divine way in Qinzhou and the surrounding provinces had long been abnormal.

That was why there were so many big yaoguai entrenched there.

If the stone horses truly had spirituality, it was not strange for them to leave.

"By the way—"

Until walking back to the gate of the residence, Lin Jue remembered that he had something to say before meeting the stone horses, but it was interrupted by those two stone horses.

"Besides the Five Elements Spiritual Method, I am also very interested in collecting various spells. Since there are so many strange people and talented scholars in the Gathering of Immortals Mansion, and Friend Fan has extensive friendships, I would like to ask you, Friend, to help me ask if there is anyone who possesses the Five Elements Spiritual Method and is willing to exchange one or two spells with me. I will naturally not be stingy, nor will I deceive."

Lin Jue said, pausing:

"If any strange person or talented scholar has skills that suit my heart, I would also like to ask Friend Fan to continue to help me build a bridge. Just like Friend Tao today."

"A small effort."

"As a reward, if you have any matters, Friend, that need my help, I will definitely not easily refuse."

"..."

Hearing this, Master Fan's expression froze.

But it was only for a moment. He gave up, his face habitually light and breezy, but also sincere: "You have already given me the reward early, Friend."

With a creak, the old servant behind closed the door.

The two and the fox walked into the courtyard.

The next morning.

Sure enough, it was already deep winter. Breathing turned into white smoke, and upon waking up, a thin layer of snow had spread in the courtyard.

The door of the quiet room was not closed. A small fire stove was placed on the ground, burning the charcoal sent by Master Fan. A pot of hot tea and a few chestnuts were placed on it, and a sweet fragrance wafted in the air.

Lord Luo was practicing his saber outside, while Lin Jue sat cross-legged on the cushion beside the fire stove, holding spiritual wood in one hand and a carving knife in the other, lowering his head and carving attentively.

There was a rustling sound in the courtyard, and the ground was full of wood shavings.

The fox lay beside him, having nothing to do.

Suddenly, Lin Jue's voice came from beside him: "Did you spit cold air in the room again last night?"

"Ying?" The fox was surprised, "I didn't spit cold air in the room again last night!"

"Then why was it so cold?"

"The sky was spitting cold air into the room!"

"I'll believe you for now..."

"Foxes don't lie!"

"?"

"Don't lie to Daoists!"

"?"

"Don't lie to Lin Jue!"

"..."

Lin Jue continued to carve attentively.

Unknowingly, the courtyard was already full of messy footprints.

Luo Seng sheathed his saber, still threw it to the side, and the hanging rope on the scabbard hung steadily on the branch of the crabapple tree, then strode towards Lin Jue.

He took chestnuts from the fire, not afraid of being burned, pinched them open with two fingers, threw them into his mouth, and poured himself a cup of tea.

Lin Jue still didn't lift his head.

Suddenly, the fox turned its head to look outside.

"People are coming!"

"Hmm? I'll go take a look!"

Luo Seng drank the cup of tea, put on his bamboo hat, and walked out.

Not long after going out, there were footsteps coming in again.

Luo Seng led Clerk Wu and two small clerks in.

"True Person Lin!" Clerk Wu couldn't help but change the title back, "Many thanks, True Person. Your subordinate thanks you on behalf of the people of the capital!"

"How so?"

"Those two stone horses breaking into the capital from time to time and running amok on the street has not been a day or two. No one has been willing and able to subdue them. I didn't expect True Person Lin to subdue those two stone horses so obediently with a small move." Clerk Wu said, walking up respectfully, and a small clerk behind him brought a plate of silver, "This is the reward money set for the stone horses two years ago. Please take it as tea money, True Person."

That's right—

The Gathering of Immortals Mansion two years ago had also thought about subduing those two stone horses, but they had never succeeded, but the reward money was still there.

It was just when he was short of money.

Another pillow had been sent.

Lin Jue had just finished carving this section, so he put down the wood carving and the carving knife and got up to check.

It was a wooden tray covered with a red cloth.

Uncovering the red cloth, there were a hundred taels of silver.

Lin Jue said in his heart, the capital is indeed different.

"I accept it." Lin Jue said to him, "It is freezing cold. If Clerk Wu is free, you can come to roast by the fire. If you have things to do, you don't need to be polite with a Daoist."

"I dare not, and I am not busy."

Clerk Wu bowed, very polite.

This morning, he had heard in detail about what happened on the streets of the capital last night. This person had almost done nothing, just blew a breath, and made those two stone horses fall to the ground. Since then, they had been obedient, and even when they left, they didn't dare to gallop as wantonly as before.

This was simply the handiwork of a god.

No matter where it spread, it could be heard as a story of a god.

Clerk Wu felt surprised and felt that an immortal expert who could eliminate a yaoguai king should be just like this.

No matter what, his attitude was much more respectful.

"Originally there were no other matters, but the Daoists of the Star Gazing Palace heard about this and wanted to ask the True Person for a small favor, to bring those two stone horses back and put them back at the gate of the Star Gazing Palace." Clerk Wu looked at him quietly, "The Daoists of the Star Gazing Palace said that if the True Person agrees, they will definitely have a heavy reward."

But he saw the Daoist's expression was very calm:

"Is there a reason for asking someone for help without coming in person? Moreover, those two stone horses left the Star Gazing Palace voluntarily. If you want them to come back, naturally you should let them come back voluntarily."

It seemed he didn't directly refuse, but Clerk Wu had already heard that this True Person was unwilling.

So he didn't dare to say more and had to leave.

Lin Jue sat down again.

Only at this time, there were a hundred taels of silver beside him, which he placed casually on the floor beside him.

Lin Jue felt relieved in his heart.

In this capital, without money, it really won't work.

He looked up at the sky, and another row of white egrets flew past.

And there was also money to send letters to the senior brothers. ===== CHAPTER 271 =====