Chapter 274: Jingcheng is Still Generous

A stone pot on a small fire stove, the three sat around the stove, with a fox and a colorful civet cat beside them.

What was boiled in the pot was old duck soup with pickled radish. The color of the pickled radish had already darkened, and the duck was two whole ducks, with a little dried mushrooms added, and golden-yellow to fiery-red grease floating on the edge. Beside it were vegetables, small scallion fresh meat balls, and prepared dough sheets, which were used for boiling in the second half.

Under the steaming heat, each person pulled a duck leg.

Junior sister stood up again, holding a spoon, first filling a full bowl of soup for herself, and then filling for senior brother and Luo Seng.

"Where has Lord Luo been for the past few days?"

"Also in the city, mixed with a few jianghu people, I can hear some news from their mouths." Luo Seng raised his bowl forward, "Many thanks, Daoist Liu."

"What news?"

"There is news from the capital, and news from outside, such as the yaoguai and ghosts in the north, the wars on the border, and the descendants of the King of Yue and the Huizhou Magistrate in the south who are restless. I don't know how much is true and how much is false." Luo Seng said, holding a bowl of soup and saying to Lin Jue, sighing and shaking his head, "To put it bluntly, it's nothing more than discussing how many more years this dynasty can last."

"What does Lord Luo think?"

"Me..."

Luo Seng hesitated for a long time, but still shook his head: "Freezing three feet is not a day's cold, and the collapse of a big building is not a day's decay. This dynasty has already rotted completely."

Lin Jue saw deep regret in his eyes.

Suddenly thinking of the year—

This Lord Luo was from a family of generals. When he first came to the capital, he was full of ambition and wanted to serve the country.

Now he was making such a sigh.

Junior sister's expression was calm, holding the bowl and lowering her head, blowing a breath, which was a cloud of white smoke, and taking a light sip with her mouth against the edge of the bowl, which was a slurping sound.

The old duck and the old altar pickled radish were boiled for a long time. The soup base was both thick and fresh and sour. After entering the mouth, it was very palatable and boiling hot. Even when swallowing, he felt warm in his throat, all the way to his heart.

Luo Seng sighed and said: "My capital dream in my youth is afraid it is about to end."

"Is Lord Luo going back?"

Junior sister heard this and looked up at them.

"If the capital cannot display my ambitions, naturally I can only go back, but not now." Luo Seng still shook his head and said, stopping several times, and finally blurted out a sentence, "Reluctant."

"Hmm..."

Lin Jue knew that people in this era, many had capital dreams, and those scholars were the most serious.

Because this was once the most prosperous dynasty, this was the largest and most prosperous city in the world, the center of heaven and earth. All political orders were issued from here, and all folk customs and silver money flowed here. Throughout the ages, how many literary and martial celebrities had left their names in history here.

Many people dreamed of coming here, wanted to stay here, and even wanted to die here.

But for people like Lord Luo, and in such an era, Lin Jue thought, he either served the imperial court and left a good name for a lifetime, or he had to leave a name in history elsewhere.

Anyway, he had already revealed his name, and the people in the jianghu all knew the two words Luo Seng. He could no longer be unknown.

"Today is New Year's Eve, keep these for next year to talk about." Luo Seng said, "It's just that for the past few days, I often hear about you among the jianghu people in the capital."

"Those two stone horses, right?"

"There are those two stone horses, and the events in the Gathering of Immortals Mansion office courtyard that day, and your returning the gift to that Daoist Tao who played with flying knives, which has vaguely become a beautiful story." Luo Seng said, pausing, "And some people say that during this period of time, white cranes often fly to Master Fan's residence, saying that Master Fan not only lives with yaoguai but also interacts with immortal cranes, hahaha..."

Speaking to the back, he already had a smile.

Lin Jue also showed a smile.

These people couldn't even distinguish between white egrets and white cranes.

So the three ate meat and drank soup, and even the two old ducks were eaten clean. Then they added vegetables to scald, and even pulled dough sheets to boil.

For a moment, Luo Seng could only sigh again, it was still these Daoists on the mountain who knew how to eat.

While eating, a sharp whistle came from outside.

Junior sister and the fox and the colorful civet stopped their mouths at the same time and turned to look.

Outside the residence was the main street. They couldn't see where the sharp whistle came from, only seeing a winding smoke trace in the sky that hadn't completely darkened, and then heard a rumble.

A group of colorful light stars exploded in the sky.

This was human magic.

"Fireworks are set off." Luo Seng said, "After eating, go out and see, watch and then come back to get drunk. The capital, if nothing else, the fireworks are better-looking than anywhere else."

"Exactly my intention."

The three exerted their strength together, cleaned up the mess in two or three times, and even drank the soup clean. For a moment, Luo Seng only felt that his belly was shaking when walking. By the time they walked to the door, the sky was completely dark, and the fireworks were blooming one after another.

The Daoist in Daoist robes, the martial artist with a long saber at his waist, and the white fox and the colorful civet, crossed the threshold one after another. The colorful light above their heads cast their figures on the ground. The three and two beasts, even if they were used to magic and had experienced many fights and killings with yaoguai, couldn't help but stop and look up.

"Is this the prosperity that third senior brother said, watching one is one less?" Junior sister turned to Lin Jue and said.

"It's not necessarily watching one is one less, it's just that this dynasty is watching one is one less." Lin Jue said to her, "Thanks to Master Fan, I have already obtained news of the Five Elements Spiritual Method. With your talent, junior sister, plus the pills refined by me and the second senior brother, as long as you don't abandon the idea of achieving the Dao, you will eventually be able to cultivate longevity. If this dynasty is gone, there will be the next dynasty, and there will be a prosperous age."

Junior sister couldn't imagine such a long time, so she had to look up and watch the sky seriously.

Until senior brother stepped forward, she followed.

Ahead was the night of fire trees and silver flowers.

Some people were shirtless beating iron flowers, the iron hammer clapped, the sky was full of flying stars, broken fire and flowing fireflies, and where was it weaker than the Daoist's magic?

There were people guessing lantern riddles, selling snacks, and dragon and lion dances, and acrobatics.

Scholars, young ladies, all came to the street at this time.

Lin Jue bought three lanterns and held them in his hands. Although he was full, he still bought some snacks and stopped at different lively places.

They even saw people from the Gathering of Immortals Mansion.

Some turned into fierce tigers, shuttling on the street, some painted on the wall, painting bright moons and fairies, then flicked their brushes, the bright moon really sprinkled moonlight, and the fairies with halos flew out with the guidance of the brushes, flying for a while in the sky before turning into light spots and disappearing.

Some poured water on the ground and fished with hooks.

Some spat fire, turning into fire dragons swimming in the night sky.

People around kept cheering and yearning.

Some people were dazed, thinking of a few years ago in Yixian, Huizhou, seeing Daoists rubbing grass into fireflies, scattering wheat ears into butterflies, which was also full of immortal aura.

In a daze, they seemed to see two of the three Daoists, but they had changed a bit.

They wanted to chase, but the crowd was surging, and the light was dark, and they couldn't see them in a daze.

The three continued to stroll on the street.

Lin Jue also saw the one that the seventh senior brother had mentioned, selling palace lanterns and dangling hairpins on the street.

It was a copper hairpin, but what was hanging was not a phoenix or butterfly, but a small palace lantern the size of a thumb. It looked hollow, but it was sealed with extremely thin bamboo slices. The jianghu people pinched a little light and cast a spell into it, and the palace lantern naturally shone with luster, as if a small lamp was suspended.

This was probably the most prosperous and lively New Year's Eve the senior brother and junior sister had ever spent in their lives.

Even when walking, looking at the pink walls and blue tiles on the side of the road, the classical eaves, every household was full of lanterns, and the night that was brightly lit all night, Lin Jue actually felt a bit reluctant to leave.

They stayed from the lively noise until it was quiet and deserted, stopped on the street, and couldn't help but think of the past.

But prosperity could only wait until next year.

Had to shake his head and return to the courtyard.

After several drinks and conversations, it was about midnight, and then they returned to their rooms.

Lin Jue tossed and turned and couldn't sleep, so he lit the night-watch lamp, covered himself with a bear skin blanket, and took out the ancient book, turning to the latest page at will.

"Whoosh..."

Object-Control Method, using intent to control objects.

There are many methods to summon and wave in the world, such as moving cups and changing lamps, and pushing objects. Besides taking objects from the air and changing objects from the air, most are simple applications of the Object-Control Method. There are also many Object-Control Methods in the world, such as Spell Control, Blood Control, and Sword Control, which are also simplified versions of the Object-Control Method. Only the true Object-Control Method, using intent to control objects, is as one wishes.

Beginners need to attach magical power, use intent to control objects, the power depends on the depth of magical power, then the strength of intent, the number of objects controlled depends on the power of distraction, and whether it is flexible or not requires a lot of practice.

Practice to a high level, control objects at will.

This method is not easy to practice. If one can learn Spell Control, Blood Control, and Sacrifice Control first, it is the best.

Lin Jue pinched the page.

This was the first harvest of coming to the capital, and it was also the result of his realization throughout the twelfth lunar month—

From now on, controlling objects no longer needs chanting, just moving with the heart's intent. Losing the restriction of spells, it is not only much more flexible than before, but the number of objects controlled is also more, and the power is also greater.

What is most worthy of Lin Jue's attention is that the true Object-Control Method is not only dismantled into two simplified versions of Spell Control and Blood Control, but there is also a Sacrifice Control.

People who practice Sacrifice Control cannot control objects at will, but can only control one item that they often sacrifice and refine according to specific methods. However, they can both use intent to control objects like Blood Control, and like Spell Control, they don't need to draw blood talismans and won't be interfered with by heavy rain and forests. The only disadvantage is that all their skills are on that one item. If it is lost or damaged, they have to start from

Those who practice the sacrificial control method must not control objects casually; they may only control an item they have personally refined over time according to specific methods. However, this method can be used like blood control to manipulate objects with one's mind, yet it also functions like spell control, requiring no blood talismans and remaining unaffected by heavy rain or forests. The only drawback is that one's entire skill set rests on that single item; if it is lost or damaged, one must start over from the beginning.

Since Lin Jue had activated the object-control method from the ancient book, he naturally obtained this secret technique as well.

If one uses the object-control method to manipulate refined blades and swords, their power is naturally stronger, and their control becomes more effortless and intuitive.

Furthermore, if an artifact is refined for a long time and develops a spiritual aura, or if the user possesses outstanding virtue, or if the master's magical power is profound, the artifact may absorb the master's spiritual aura. Alternatively, if it has slain too many yaoguai and demons, the treasure may develop its own spiritual aura, potentially even acting against enemies on its own, with the master needing only to provide simple commands.

In this way, the impact of distraction is reduced to a minimum.

And this should be the true subtlety of the object-control method.

Lin Jue had already made his plans—

After the start of spring, he would go to Mount Fengshan to recast twelve flying swords and three long swords, incorporating golden essence, which would be the perfect opportunity to use this refining method.

Before he knew it, he was already sleepy.

Outside, the long street was still brightly lit, yet it was completely silent.

"A thousand joys in the human world tonight, none compare to drinking until drunk and sleeping by the stove."

Lin Jue sighed and lay down to sleep.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, as soon as he stepped out, he saw his junior sister standing at the doorway, looking up and staring at his door.

"What are you looking at?"

Lin Jue turned his head to look at his own door as well.

He saw that, he knew not when, a pair of spring couplets had appeared on the left and right of his door frame, with a horizontal scroll above.

"Did you put these up?"

Lin Jue looked at his junior sister with curiosity.

"No."

The junior sister shook her head blankly.

"Did Lord Luo put them up?"

"I asked Lord Luo, and he said it wasn't him either. He said it was likely the foxes living in the courtyard who put them up—not Fuyao, but the other two foxes," the junior sister said. "Lord Luo said that foxes celebrate the Spring Festival too."

"This..."

Hearing this, Lin Jue couldn't help but be amused.

He then continued to look—

First line: Diligent farming and careful cultivation bring a bountiful year

Second line: Frugal household management leads to a surplus year

"Eh?"

It actually fit quite well with the life he had been living in the capital for the past month or so.

Had he not been carving bean soldiers every day and studying magical arts every day? Though it seemed he hadn't left the capital, hadn't he gained quite a lot? During that initial period when there was no extra money in the household, wasn't he managing the home frugally every day?

There was also a horizontal scroll: Abundant wealth flows in

Lin Jue didn't know if this was a heartfelt blessing from the "foxes" in the courtyard for him, or if they also wanted to get rich; in any case, he found it rather interesting.