Chapter 391

The down-and-out, dejected middle-aged man and the five-tailed white fox, which looked like it had leaped off an ancient totem pole and walked out of a story about immortals, locked eyes.

Discovered? Recognized?

Third Third Third Shixiong mimicked it by tilting his head.

The fox's eyes flashed, and it tilted its head to the other side.

It seems it really is him.

Third Third Third Shixiong looked at the city gate in the distance, seeing that the group of rioters had already gone far away, and he couldn't follow them even if he wanted to.

Withdrawing his gaze, the fox was still staring at him.

This little thing has a good memory; it wasn't in vain that he... he didn't do anything back then.

"..."

Actually, he had come here at the end of last year, constantly exploring intelligence here, and had been thinking about finding an opportunity to mix into Lady Wang Mu's subordinates to seek the Great Yin-Yang Method and the art of longevity. Just now, he wanted to mix into the rioters and follow them to Mount Modu to see.

Anyway, he also had a way to escape.

And he had originally thought of two methods:

One was just like this, observing in secret and acting according to circumstances. If these rioters could successfully leave the city, he would mix into them and go out together. If they were unsuccessful in leaving the city and these rioters and divine messengers clashed head-on with the local garrison, he would choose to take action and kill these yaoguai. Anyway, no matter what he was plotting, he couldn't stand by and watch yaoguai kill people.

The other was much simpler: pretending to be a commoner in the city, being tied up by these rioters—preferably tied to a cart—and forcibly taken to Mount Modu.

The former was meticulous and thorough; the latter didn't require him to walk.

Each had its own advantages, and it was very difficult to choose.

Third Third Third Shixiong could only rejoice at this moment—

"It's a good thing I didn't choose the other one."

Otherwise, meeting Junior Third Shixiong and Xiao Xiao Shimei here—one Daoist Lin, one Daoist Liu, both looking like immortals, being treated respectfully by the city-guarding general and officials, while he was tied up with hemp ropes like a pig on a cart, and then recognized on the spot by Junior Third Shixiong's cat-fox...

When their eyes met, even someone with a heart as big as his wouldn't dare to imagine that scene.

Third Third Third Shixiong rejoiced endlessly and walked out of the alley.

Beside him, government soldiers were untying the commoners, who were escaping from the bamboo poles and getting off the carts. The sound of chaotic footsteps, words of thanks, and cries of wailing made for a mess.

"Is the gentleman the county official of Ziyun County?"

"I am indeed the magistrate of Ziyun County. I only took office last autumn. The original magistrate of Ziyun County converted... believed in the Longevity Sect and was dismissed by the imperial court."

"Since that is the case, we two have one thing we would like to ask the magistrate."

"Please speak, two Daoists!"

"We have a senior brother, surnamed Li, given name Miaolin, Daoist name Li Fanglin. His appearance is quite heroic, his temperament is dashing and unrestrained, and he loves to drink alcohol in his life. He came to Ziyun County last year. I wonder if the magistrate knows..."

Amidst such chaotic sounds, Third Third Third Shixiong also heard this sentence.

Third Third Third Shixiong couldn't help but stop, looking down at himself at this moment, feeling ashamed to come forward for a moment, almost turning around and leaving.

And at this moment, the fox finally let out a cry to Lin Jue.

"Ying!"

"What is it?"

The senior brother and junior sister turned around at the same time.

It was a man with a stubbly beard wearing coarse cloth clothes, born tall, but with a dejected and down-and-out air, even his clothes looking like they hadn't been washed for a long time.

They almost didn't recognize him.

The two were shocked immediately.

"Third Third Third Shixiong?"

Even the colored fox in Xiao Xiao Shimei's bag poked its head out when it heard, first looking at where Xiao Xiao Shimei was looking, then following her gaze.

"Meow?"

The magistrate also turned around, sizing up the newcomer, lowering his head and not daring to look or speak more.

He saw Third Third Third Shixiong leading a horse over, grinning, saluting the two of them, and opening his mouth with: "Daoist Lin, Daoist Liu, greetings."

"..."

Lin Jue and Xiao Xiao Shimei looked at each other.

"It really is Third Third Third Shixiong."

"That's right!"

The two turned their heads again, looking at Third Third Third Shixiong.

"Third Third Third Shixiong, where have you been these past few years? You didn't even send us a letter." Lin Jue spoke first.

"Thank you for your concern, Daoist Lin. This Daoist has been drifting in the jianghu for a few years. Perhaps my immortal fate is insufficient; I went to the capital twice but didn't get to see the two Daoists." Although Third Third Third Shixiong said this, there was no respect on his face, only teasing toward them, and he immediately asked back: "What are you doing here?"

"Naturally, to eliminate yaoguai and protect the people." Lin Jue said.

"That's also true!" Third Third Third Shixiong nodded, "Now you are the famous Daoist Lin of the capital!"

"We also came to find you, Third Third Shixiong." Xiao Xiao Shimei said.

"Hmm? It was the eldest who told you I was here, right?" Third Third Third Shixiong didn't know that the letter he had entrusted someone to send back to Fuqiu Peak at the end of last year had already been read by them together, and he turned to ask the two, "Since you have been in contact with each other, what about the others? How are they?"

"..."

Lin Jue looked at Xiao Xiao Shimei again, exchanging opinions, seemingly discovering this point.

Lin Jue pursed his lips and didn't say anything.

Xiao Xiao Shimei understood instantly and also fell silent.

"Everything is well."

Lin Jue answered his question.

Their eye contact was seen by Third Third Third Shixiong. He only nodded secretly in his heart, feeling that what he wrote in the letter to the eldest was indeed correct: these two were still wearing the same pair of pants.

"Predicting things like a god."

Third Third Third Shixiong felt a little proud in his heart again.

"This is not a place to talk. Let's change to another place!" Lin Jue turned to the magistrate and the general again, "Magistrate, General, the affairs of the commoners in the city will be left to you. If there are yaoguai and ghosts invading Ziyun County later, our senior brother and junior sister will handle it. Apart from the affairs of yaoguai and ghosts, we will not care about anything else. Even if Lady Wang Mu's believers come to the door, as long as they are human, we will not care. The General and the Magistrate must know this to make responses, so as not to be lax."

"Yes, yes, yes!" The magistrate nodded repeatedly and immediately said, "Walk along this street, the county government office is in the middle, and next to the county government office is the official post station, which is uninhabited. The Daoists can rest and catch up there first."

"Thank you."

Lin Jue turned around: "Let's go."

Xiao Xiao Shimei and the white fox followed immediately.

Third Third Third Shixiong smiled and followed. "Daoist Lin has a good style." Third Third Third Shixiong said with a smile, "You even arranged for me, this Daoist. I said it long ago: the position of the temple master should have been passed to you."

"Third Third Shixiong really hasn't changed at all."

"Junior Third Shixiong is different; Junior Third Shixiong has changed a lot, becoming a Daoist." Third Third Third Shixiong paused, glancing at Xiao Xiao Shimei, who had been quiet and thought she wouldn't be affected, and added, "Xiao Xiao Shimei is the same, becoming Daoist Liu."

"..."

Lin Jue was a bit helpless.

Xiao Xiao Shimei had a serious face, looking extremely innocent.

This Third Third Third Shixiong, his free-spirited personality is a good thing, but he is too free-spirited.

There was a yaoguai king causing trouble here, confronting the True Lord, and just now there were yaoguai bewitching believers, trying to turn Ziyun County into a ghost town, yet he seemed completely unaffected.

Until they stood in front of the commoners who had just been untied.

"Thank you, Daoist!"

Read every line carefully, without missing a single word!

"Daoist, accept my bow!"

"Can the Daoist eliminate that yaoguai?"

"May I ask the Daoist's honorable name..."

Walking all the way, there were commoners who had just been rescued saluting and thanking them, some crying, some looking respectful.

Lin Jue either returned the salute or answered.

Third Third Third Shixiong also became serious, remaining silent.

Until they walked past this section and entered the empty city.

The street was empty and quiet, with only the sound of the footsteps of the three people and one fox. The fox didn't know when it had become smaller.

"Junior Third Shixiong, Xiao Xiao Shimei..."

Third Third Third Shixiong then spoke: "You have ruined my grand plan! Now I have to think of another way!"

"What grand plan?"

"Since the eldest told you I was here, did he tell you why I came here?" Third Third Third Shixiong said, "Do you know why Master had a short life? Do you know why no one on our Fuqiu Peak has achieved the Dao for so many years?"

"Great Yin-Yang Method."

"You know that too? As expected, intelligent; no wonder you can become Daoists!" Third Third Third Shixiong smiled, "This Lady Wang Mu is very evil. Clearly a spirit creature of grass and wood, yet she cultivates the Yin-Yang Spirit Method, and it is very likely the Great Yin-Yang Method, which is rarely seen in the world today. It should have been more common when she was cultivating the Dao. I came here to seek this Yin-Yang Great Dao from her. If I can succeed, then with the talent of our Fuqiu Peak disciples, plus the spiritual charm of Mount Yishan, we can definitely achieve the Dao..."

As Third Third Third Shixiong said this, he saw Xiao Xiao Shimei lower her head and reach into her bosom, as if fumbling for something.

Before he could finish his words, Xiao Xiao Shimei took out a book from her bosom and handed it to him.

"What?"

Third Third Third Shixiong took it and looked.

Blue book cover, no title, handmade binding, but neat, with a profound spiritual charm permeating it, and it was still warm.

"What is this?"

"Yin-Yang Annotation Method, also called the Great Yin-Yang Method. Junior Third Third Shixiong has already obtained it and brought it back to Fuqiu Peak last year, letting the senior brothers cultivate it." Xiao Xiao Shimei said to him seriously, "Third Third Third Shixiong doesn't need to risk stealing it from Lady Wang Mu anymore."

"This..."

Third Third Third Shixiong couldn't help but be stunned.

This was truly being stunned.

Opening the book pages, they were full of profound characters.

Without looking closely, the spiritual charm had already been perceived by him.

"Junior Third Third Shixiong has been cultivating it for almost two years, and the other senior brothers have also cultivated it." Xiao Xiao Shimei said, "It is the real Great Yin-Yang Method."

"This..."

"What's wrong?"

"This, this..."

"Third Third Third Shixiong? Did you become Seventh Third Third Shixiong?"

"This thing..."

"Hmm?"

Xiao Xiao Shimei tilted her head and looked at him.

The fox also walked up quickly, tilting its head to look at him.

"This saves me some effort. Junior Third Third Shixiong is indeed powerful; I said it should have been you as the eldest senior brother, and then passed the temple master position to you." Third Third Third Shixiong smiled bitterly, "I even said this matter could only be accomplished by me."

"Third Third Shixiong has gone to great trouble." Lin Jue said.

"However, that Lady Wang Mu is very remarkable. Besides the Great Yin-Yang Method, she likely has many magical spells and supernatural powers, which I originally intended to seek."

"Speaking of which, just right, Third Third Shixiong—"

Lin Jue took out another book and said to him: "When I went down the mountain and we parted, didn't I take a letter for every senior brother? I didn't expect Third Third Third Shixiong to leave without saying goodbye, so there was no opportunity. Actually, in this letter, there are several spells that I think are suitable for Third Third Shixiong to cultivate."

"..."

Third Third Third Shixiong was shocked again.

Taking it and looking—

This book had already become a bit soft. It could be seen that it was paper he had cut himself, and he had bound it with needle and thread himself, so it was cut unevenly and bound a bit messily.

Opening it, it was all dense handwriting.

He didn't know how many days and nights it had been written in.

"Junior Third Shixiong, you..."

"What?"

"Nothing, thank you, Junior Third Shixiong."

"Lady Wang Mu is too powerful; Third Third Shixiong doesn't need to take risks. Just stay here and guard this city with us, and you can also contemplate the Great Yin-Yang Method."

"That works too."

Third Third Third Shixiong accepted it, and after a long time, he sighed: "You really should have been the temple master."

This sentence was sincere.

(End of chapter)