Chapter 352: Asking the Immortal by the Roadside

Chen Niu has arrived, which means someone from Jingcheng is looking for him.

It's either Luo Luo Gongceng or Jiang Jiang Daozhang.

"Is it urgent?"

"…"

Chen Niu's face showed a flicker of confusion, then immediately returned to solemnity, rigid and precise, still pointing toward Jingcheng: "Go this way!"

"Sigh…"

Though he hadn't realized it, Lin Jue had already stayed on Fuqiu Peak for quite some time, yet he truly hadn't had enough.

If he ignored everything else—the food of the Food Ghosts, the materials for the Golden Core, immortality on the Immortal Path, the fate of all living beings—Lin Jue would truly be happy to remain on the mountain and cultivate forever.

"Ah~"

}! First % one # release) one & a / novel %. & read -

"Alright, please stay on the mountain, brothers, and deeply contemplate the Great Yin-Yang Method—master it thoroughly before your sister teaches you the Divine Step Technique. Once you've learned it, our gatherings will be much more convenient." Lin Jue smiled gently at them, "If nothing happens in Jingcheng, I'll return quickly."

The wind made the Chinese lantern trees tremble, dropping lantern-like fruits that rolled across the ground; blades of grass swirled in the breeze, and papers on the ground lifted and were sucked into the cave.

Beneath the cliff lay a pile of scattered rocks, overgrown with Chinese lantern trees bearing fruits in yellow, red, or pink, resembling flowers and leaves, layered before the broken stones—amid this mosaic lay a deep, dark cave.

A faint line of fish-belly white began to appear on the horizon.

"Third Shixiong, what's for breakfast today?"

"Stolen by the wind!"

"We must be in Qinzhou by now, right?"

This one book one p>

At the time, Lin Jue had thought: if I don't ask the "Yao Hua Jun Niangniang" about Yanluanxiang, then I'll ask her about Dilingdan.

What a pity… what a pity…

The fox beside them glanced sideways, eyes filled with confusion, but lowered its head to drink more water—then saw the Daoist place the small bag on its back.

"Ah~"

Occasionally, farmers heading out at dawn heard the noise, squinted upward, then quickly lowered their heads again and continued toward their fields.

"Eighth Uncle, shall I help you cook? I'll tend the fire!"

Only the ripples on the lake's surface continued undisturbed.

"Squeak…"

After a dozen breaths, a fresh breeze emerged from the cave, sweeping the previous paper and brush back out.

Bai Lu was dozing on the tree.

Though the cloth sack had divine properties and remained light even when full, it was still too burdensome for Bai Lu's size.

"Then be careful in all things," said the eldest brother.

"The bedding noodles are so good…"

Just then, footsteps sounded behind him.

Lin Jue sat atop Bai Lu, calm and serene, viewing this land from an angle he'd never seen before.

The fox, which had been leaning near the lake to drink, turned its head and kept shifting its gaze, following the two men's footsteps.

It was still that tall, greenish rock mountain, one sheer cliff nearly vertical.

"Small bag! On the fox's back!"

But it didn't matter—

As the sun rose slightly, its light shifted from crimson dawn to pale gold. The autumn lands of Huizhou often boasted colorful forests, streaked with yellow and red, and with morning mist swirling through the woods, all bathed in the sun's glow, transformed into a dreamlike golden landscape, like a fairyland.

"Third Shixiong, be careful in all things."

The paper was divided into upper and lower sections, each bearing a short passage.

Lin Jue glanced at it—and held his breath.

"Thank you, Elder."

The two young Daoist acolytes hadn't yet reacted, still unaware of what would happen to Fuqiu Pavilion without Eighth Uncle, when they saw Bai Lu swoop down from the tree, and Eighth Uncle and the fox mounted it, soaring into the sky.

Look!

"I hope that Lady can provide an answer…"

"I don't walk fast, and Bai Lu is tired too—I'll have to ask you to carry me."

Lin Jue muttered to himself, then suddenly heard voices on the road behind him.

The lake reflected the green mountains and white clouds, as well as the seated Daoist's figure; the Daoist gazed at Bai Lu, clearly seeing signs of fatigue on its body.

Even if I don't fully believe it, it's still worth considering.

After a moment's thought, he felt it was fate—a good opportunity.

Originally, on his way back to Yishan while searching for his brothers, he'd planned to seek out this "Yao Hua Jun Niangniang," but it wasn't on the way, and he'd gotten too caught up chatting with his brothers, forgetting entirely.

The Daoist's cheeks were bathed in the morning sun, feeling its warmth and the shifting yin-yang spiritual essence.

All Lin Jue could discern was one thing—

Yet Lin Jue turned to them and said: "Brothers, a friend of mine in Jingcheng needs me—likely something has happened there; I must go see."

Lin Jue said nothing more, didn't place undue weight on it—only took it as a reference.

A cry of Bai Lu, wings flapping, feet gripping the sack, skimmed over the treetops, stirring the branches, crossed the lake, its form and the rising sun mirrored in the water, traveling westward with the morning light.

Only after the two had gone far did it lower its head again to sip from the lake, and only then did Lin Jue speak aloud: "So we've reached Qingyan County."

Red light painted the rock mountain and cloud sea, casting many shadows.

"Jingcheng?"

The fox stood beside, gazing into the cave.

The two young Daoist acolytes were stunned. Lin Jue wondered whether this "Yao Hua Jun Niangniang" truly knew everything—even what he'd come to ask—and bent his head to study the paper closely.

The paper fell, landing right before Lin Jue.

Lin Jue knew his brothers' talents were excellent; now that they had the Great Yin-Yang Method, even if not all could achieve true enlightenment, the likelihood had greatly increased. Moreover, each brother possessed unique skills—not all centered on "saving the world," and even those who did weren't necessarily reliant on brute force—so he simply asked them to focus quietly on their cultivation.

It was the two scholars who had spoken earlier.

As before, no offering had been placed, yet a fresh breeze stirred within the cave.

"I too wish for the Vermilion Robe Man's approval."

Bai Lu stood by the lake, tilting its head, watching as the fox finally drank its last sip, stood upright, shook its head, leapt forward ten zhang, lightly touched the lake's surface, sending out a few ripples, then continued forward as if weightless, two steps across the water, leapt over the opposite shore's treetops, and vanished.

Dew stained the ancient pines in the courtyard; the Daoist's temples were damp. Faint dawn light revealed the rolling sea of clouds over Yishan, where strange peaks and rocks floated like islands. A red sun rose from within, first peering out from the clouds, then slowly climbing, suspended amid mist, like a vermilion dot in an ancient painting.

This journey would span two thousand li.

"Whir…"

Clearly, though this one possessed astonishing abilities, they still followed the habits of a spirit medium—never revealing anything fully.

"Hmm…"

"Need help?"

Figures appeared at the door—as if they'd woken before dawn, or perhaps sat in meditation all night; hearing someone step out, they rose, yawning or rubbing their eyes, greeting the first rays of morning light over Yishan.

"Good!"

This phrase now…

Lin Jue shrank quickly and leapt onto the fox's back.

Bai Lu perched by the lake, lowering its head to drink.

The script was archaic, writing one line: "Dong Wang Mu, Dilingdan."

Such an ability—wasted as a spirit medium.

The morning mist over Yishan was at its most exquisite: strange peaks and rocks hidden in mist, fog heavy among the trees.

And this one was reminding him: choice matters.

He looked at the lower half of the paper—a short line: "Intent determines fortune or misfortune; choice determines safety or peril."

Last time, this one's answer had been vague, but it had told him that Third Third Shixiong was unharmed, even possibly entangled in some clever circumstance—whether clever or not remained unknown, but Qi Yunshan's disciples had confirmed to Lin Jue that Third Third Shixiong was in no danger.

"Sent back again!"

"Third Shixiong, leave me a Chen Niu talisman—if you don't come back, I'll come find you," said the youngest sister.

"I haven't had bedding noodles in so long…"

A full moon hung behind it, making its feathers gleam whiter than snow.

Lin Jue stared at those words, pondering them deeply, and recalled the last time he'd come to ask about Third Third Shixiong.

"What's the matter?"

Unless this world truly possessed unerring foreknowledge unbased on inference, this one must be closely connected to Yao Hua Jun Niangniang—at least aware that Lin Jue possessed the Golden Core formula gifted by Yao Hua Jun Niangniang.

In truth, Bai Lu had consumed so many medicinal dregs, even spirit plants and herbs, that it was far stronger than an ordinary white heron; carrying Lin Jue and Good Fuyao alone wouldn't tire it—it was mainly burdened by the sack.

Lin Jue stopped, raised his head, and looked.

Previously, when Lin Jue had asked about Yanluanxiang, he'd intended to come seek this "Yao Hua Jun Niangniang," but at the time he'd challenged the Elder, and it wasn't convenient to travel so far.

This one truly knew what he wanted to ask.

"What will you ask, Third Shixiong Zhao?"

Bai Lu lifted its head in response.

Now was precisely the right moment.

The fox still gazed upward, fixed on the sky.

Even so, it was extraordinary.

Behind the courtyard, the wooden door of the shrine room opened.

With both armies engaged in battle, intelligence comes first; since I've come this far, I ought to ask about matters in Jingcheng ahead of time.

"Please, White Egret, rest here a while longer. We'll go ask a few questions of a 'Lady,' and return soon."

"Alas, at my age, I have a wife and children—I only lack the vermilion-clad official's nod in the examination hall. Naturally, I'm asking about my scholarly fortune and future."

Occasionally, a mountain demon looked up and met the Daoist's gaze.

"This is my destiny. Brothers, rest assured—I can handle it. If I truly cannot, I'll come back to you." Lin Jue paused. "Besides, this place is three thousand li from Jingcheng. Even if you wished to go, you couldn't arrive in an instant."

"Wait, also the fox's back!"

"No need to worry."

The senior brothers and sisters all froze in surprise.

The senior brothers nodded, as if a decision had been settled.

Lin Jue arrived before the cave, opened his small cloth sack, took out paper and ink, then retrieved the offerings.

This journey may be dangerous.

Calculating the time, dawn was not far off; the senior brothers were either asleep or practicing in the shrine room or on the mountain, so Lin Jue did not leave immediately.

Lin Jue sat still, yet caught every sound within earshot.

"Your humble disciple takes leave."

Lin Jue bowed, packed his belongings, slung them onto his back, called to the fox, and turned into the path heavy with autumn's chill.

The two scholars watched him, both puzzled.

It seemed they had seen him on the road already.

(End of Chapter)