Chapter 376: Another Major Advance at Fuqiu Peak

One bowl of chilled dairy custard each, sitting by the roadside to savor it.

Passersby often glanced at the Daoist and the white fox, walked past, then turned back to stare again, or simply stopped to whisper in astonishment to their companions.

"It's different from what I ate before…"

The junior sister tasted it while lifting her eyes to meet the gazes of those around her, speaking as she did.

"This snack has no fixed recipe—every household makes it differently; as long as it tastes good, that's enough."

"It's delicious. Even better in summer." The junior sister scooped up a spoonful of chilled custard with her bamboo spoon, "But for some reason, I still think the one in Yixian tastes better."

"Memory is also a flavor."

"I haven't had it in so many years!"

"In Jingcheng, they sell it year-round, from winter to summer. If you want it, you can come down the mountain and buy some."

"I till the land up here—how would I have that kind of money?" The junior sister said casually, her tone unlike the senior brother's, yet her fondness for it matched his exactly, "Every bit of coin must be saved—just in case income dries up later, I'll have something to use."

"Do you have pilgrims now?"

"Yes, always. Before, it was only spring and autumn—scholars came to admire the mountain views, stopped by the temple to pay respects and burn incense, and left offerings. After the villagers below learned the temple had reopened, they came during festivals and deity birthdays too. But they don't give money; they bring their own incense and candles, yet leave offerings behind. When they leave, I take the offerings and eat them, sharing half with Xiao Hua."

She spoke a few sentences, then took a bite, or fed a spoonful to the fox beside her with the other end of her bamboo spoon, then continued:

Later, there were ghost troubles beneath the mountain—people possessed, demonic outbreaks—I went to exorcise them. After that, more people came up the mountain and started offering money too.

"So you've become famous below the mountain…"

"Fame isn't all good," the junior sister said. "For the past two months, children keep coming up to play. They chase my chickens, burn incense using the grass incense I roll, and still won't give offering money."

"Hah…"

Listening to her chatter about mountain life was oddly entertaining.

This junior sister had actually become the temple's abbess.

And her life as abbess wasn't just livable—it seemed to carry quiet, deep satisfaction.

The junior sister paid no mind and asked again: "Third Shixiong brother, do you have any magic tricks to amuse children?"

Lin Jue was dividing the chilled custard among Good Fuyao when he heard this. The Daoist turned his head toward her; the fox turned its head toward her; they looked at each other.

"You've asked the right person."

Though the fox stared at him, Lin Jue still spoke.

From She Gong Shu, to Ding Shen Shu, to Shan Ya Ding, to Hua Long Xi—all are excellent tricks to tease children, many of which the fox had personally experienced.

The morning market grew livelier; the streets filled with more people.

More and more townsfolk turned to gaze at the two Daoists.

"The Daoist and the white fox? Could that be Lin Lingqing Zhenren?"

"Exactly!"

"Why did Lin Lingqing Zhenren's fox spirit bite him out of nowhere?"

"Who knows!"

"Who is that beside Lin Lingqing Zhenren?"

"Seems to be Lin Lingqing Zhenren's junior sister—either way, she must be a Yuanyun Immortal."

"What's this they're selling? Chilled custard? Even Lin Lingqing Zhenren comes to eat it—I, Liu Mou, must try a bowl!"

"… "

The junior sister listened to these remarks, her eyes darting as she covertly studied them, then covertly studied the senior brother before her.

Only after finishing the last bite of custard did she rise to pay—only to see the vendor waving his hands, refusing payment, while someone beside the stall called out, offering to pay for Lin Lingqing Zhenren's meal, leaving her thoroughly flustered.

"What should we buy?"

"Buy some incense."

Though Huizhou's trade was thriving and Yixian prosperous, Jingcheng still had many things Yixian couldn't offer—like the Western Market, where foreign merchants sold exotic spices.

The junior sister's eyes lit up at the word "spice."

Because she knew the spices the senior brother bought were never for burning incense.

Yet just as before, wherever Lin Jue went, people recognized him—even if they didn't recognize him, they recognized Good Fuyao, or heard of him from others, and then either the vendor, startled and fearful, refused payment, or begged for a single character or talisman, or offered to pay his bill just to earn a good fortune.

This was the custom of the capital in this dynasty.

The junior sister stared at him in amazement: "Third Shixiong brother, in Jingcheng you can eat and drink for free!"

"… "

Lin Jue merely shook his head.

After buying incense, they bought toys and snacks—gifts from the two senior uncles to the three junior nephews.

Passing the Guanxing Palace, they placed two scriptures before the statue of Husheng Husheng Zhenjun—he had already read them through, two pages of the ancient text had activated, and they were now useless to him.

…

Outside Yishan, the hot spring steamed with white vapor.

Bai Lu perched on a treetop, preening its feathers.

Lin Jue sat in the hot spring, sprawled on the bank, holding a dried dogtail grass to play with a fox no bigger than a thumbnail.

When the fox moved left, he nudged it right with the grass's tuft; when it moved right, he nudged it left; when it leapt to bite the grass, he yanked it up swiftly—often lifting the fox into the air along with it, like fishing, and it was quite fun. After soaking and playing for a long while, a shadow stepped lightly upon treetops and mountain grass, gliding as if a mountain immortal.

"Arrived."

Lin Jue finally dropped the dogtail grass and stepped out of the hot spring.

"Splash…"

Water dripped from his Daoist robe, falling back into the spring, then rising as white vapor around him—but this vapor thickened rapidly, far beyond the natural winter evaporation of the spring, resembling steam from a freshly lifted pot. In mere moments, his robes were dry.

The junior sister landed on reeds.

"Your Shen Xing Shu has improved greatly, junior sister—I fear you've far outstripped me," Lin Jue said, looking at her.

"Your Huo Xing Fa has improved too, senior brother—I doubt you're far behind me," the junior sister replied.

"You've learned the principle of reciprocity?" Lin Jue said. "Too bad this is water control—purely in fire arts, I'm still far behind you."

"Oh…"

Not a single word, not a single syllable, not a single detail was missed!

"?" Lin Jue shook his head. "Junior sister, want to soak?"

"I'll sneak down to soak at night!"

"Then let's go."

The two entered Yishan, heading toward Fuqiu Peak.

Still, they respected the mountain spirit and walked the whole way.

No one challenged their seniority.

Only when they reached the mountain, saw the temple, and crossed the mountain gate did that familiar feeling rush over them.

Lin Jue's heart relaxed.

"Ninth Uncle!"

"Eighth Uncle!"

Two young Daoist novices, aged seven or eight, spotted them—especially Lin Jue—and cried out in surprise.

Lin Jue also saw a smaller novice, perhaps four or five years old, face washed clean, wearing a tiny Daoist robe, clearly a miniature version of a Daoist.

The junior sister handed the cloth bag to Lin Jue, who took out candied haws, caramel swirls, and jasmine-flavored lotus seed cakes, distributing them one by one.

Children's hearts are simple; a kind elder bringing them treats leaves a lasting impression through childhood, even into adulthood. Lin Jue guessed that even when they grew up, he and the junior sister would remain their two favorite uncles.

Then the other senior brothers emerged one by one to greet him.

"Little brother, you've truly mastered your craft—we've heard of you slaying the Leopard King in Jingcheng," the fourth senior brother chuckled. "Fighting an Yaowang alone—remarkable."

"Third Shixiong brother, don't tease me," Lin Jue said, noticing Ji Yin and Ji Yang gazing at him with admiration, yet still humbly added, "That Leopard King may be called an Yaowang, but he's far weaker than the Corpse Tiger King who once secretly ruled Huizhou."

"Still, it's impressive," the fourth senior brother said. "Next time something like this happens, you must call me along."

"Fourth senior brother is right!" the seventh senior brother said. "I was just saying I'd go see Jingcheng's splendor before the world falls into chaos—I've already learned Shen Xing Shu! But if I go after slaying an Yaowang, won't my name ring loud in the capital? That'd make the fun even better."

"Huh? Seventh senior brother is also at the temple?"

"Wh-what do you mean?" the seventh senior brother looked bewildered. "I'm not like Third Third Third Shixiong! I didn't return with them—I stayed until after the New Year!"

"I thought you were still in the city below."

"This…"

"He?" The second senior brother suddenly spoke up. "Just got back."

"Ah, I see."

The mountain was unusually lively today.

Especially with three new young novices.

Lin Jue quickly realized that during the two months the junior sister had taught the senior brothers Shen Xing Shu and left Yishan to find him, none of them had idled—they'd been exchanging and refining their cultivation techniques.

Previously, each had focused on one art; now that their core techniques were perfected, they naturally expanded into branches.

This was a good thing.

With chaos approaching, perfecting oneself would yield greater gains than the previous generation's uncles and ancestors had enjoyed in times of peace.

He then heard the senior brother and others discussing making Shen Xing Shu a mandatory technique for every future disciple of Fuqiu Temple. As soon as he said it, all agreed.

They had suffered enough from the hardship of difficult travel.

Suddenly, the junior sister added: "Third Shixiong brother also said he'd write a cookbook to leave at the temple!"

Whoosh!

All eyes turned to Lin Jue.

"I'll write it, I'll write it," Lin Jue said, resigned yet at ease. "There's plenty of time—I'll write slowly."

Only after enduring hardship does one learn wisdom—

The "Third Third Shixiong" and "Second Third Shixiong Xiao Shimei" that Third Third Shixiong One had taken in both stepped forward, looking up at Eighth Third Shixiong Uncle with wide, hopeful eyes, their faces innocent and pitiful: "Eighth Third Shixiong Uncle, this time I'll learn properly from your cooking…"

Third Third Shixiong Two said nothing, only pushed the young disciple forward.

The five-year-old Daoist acolyte looked utterly bewildered.

Yet the Master had placed great hopes upon him.

(End of Chapter)