Chapter 441: Personal experience also becomes an immortal tale

"Doesn't snow lotus only grow for one year?" the merchant asked. "Is there really such a thing as a thousand-year snow lotus in this world?"

"Who says snow lotus only grows for one year? You must be misinformed, noble guest." The scholar immediately turned his head and explained sincerely, "There is a saying that the roots of snow lotus only grow for one year, but it is not entirely the same. Take the Western Regions beyond the pass in the northwest, for example; the snow lotus on Mount Tianshan often takes several years to mature."

"Haha, I have also heard that the higher the mountain terrain where the snow lotus grows, and the colder the place, the slower it grows. It is even said that at the very peak of Mount Tianshan, where there are only rocks and snow and no soil, snow lotus may also grow. That snow lotus becomes a divine object, absorbing the essence and spiritual energy of heaven and earth, as well as the chill of the snow mountain, and it takes a thousand years to mature and bloom."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The scholar nodded repeatedly, as if he had found a kindred spirit:

"That is exactly it! I heard from people over there that at the highest point of the southern Mount Tianshan, immortals live. The immortals plant thousand-year snow lotuses, planting a batch every fifty years, and they bloom once every fifty years. Every time the snow lotus blooms, she holds a Snow Lotus Gathering, inviting all the surrounding immortals and yaoguai to attend. Oh my, just smelling the fragrance of that snow lotus is said to help immortals extend their lives and help yaoguai in their cultivation."

The scholar spoke vividly.

The crowd listened with great interest.

"There used to be a person where we are from, surnamed Zhao, let's call him Zhao Gong. It was fifty years ago. He was also out traveling for business, and as it happened, when he was at the foot of Mount Tianshan, it was also night. It seems he also encountered wind and rain or something, and he stayed in a hostel by the side of the road. Another person was also staying in that hostel. They couldn't sleep at night, so they chatted with each other.

"Zhao Gong was very good at talking, and it turned out that the other person was also very talkative.

"They chatted for a long time and felt they got along very well. Before going to sleep, that person told Zhao Gong that he was actually not a human, but a yaoguai from a nearby river. Because his cultivation had succeeded, he had been invited by the divine beings on Mount Tianshan to attend the Snow Lotus Gathering. He even told him that if they had the chance in the future, he could go to that river to drink with him.

"Zhao Gong heard this and didn't sleep all night.

"He also wanted to go to the Snow Lotus Gathering.

"The next morning, he quietly followed that yaoguai, all the way to the foot of Mount Tianshan, and followed him up the mountain. Along the way, he was stopped by some 'people' wearing snow-white armor, and he just said that he was also invited to attend the Snow Lotus Gathering.

"As it turned out, he really did go to the Snow Lotus Gathering.

"It is said that when he arrived at the gathering, everyone looked at him, feeling he was strange or unfamiliar. But that person really had some ability; he was extremely respectful to the divine beings on Mount Tianshan, and he used the Central Plains treasures he had brought for the princess of a small country in the west as a gift, offering them to the divine beings on Mount Tianshan. The divine beings said his respect was the most precious gift, so they let him sit down and drink. When he left, they even gave him a piece of snow lotus.

"That person lived until last year before passing away, living to nearly a hundred years old. And until the moment he died, he was still the same as when he was young. I even went to his house to play when I was a child. Later, when I grew up a bit, I don't know why I felt a little scared, so I didn't dare to go anymore."

As the scholar spoke, he sighed and said sorrowfully:

"Thinking about it now, it really shouldn't have been that way. Although Zhao Gong looked like a middle-aged man, he already had the heart of an old man, kind and amiable, and was quite good to me. And I stopped going when I grew up; how is that not hurting the old man's heart?"

"Oh, that is human nature; there is nothing to blame yourself for." The only old man among them shook his head and said to him, "Some things are just like that. Everyone yearns for them, but when they don't fall upon oneself, one always feels they are strange, and then estrangement arises. Moreover, when people get old, they naturally make children afraid, let alone someone who is a hundred years old and not yet old."

"That makes sense." Lin Jue also spoke up, comforting the scholar, "That you can have such thoughts at this time already shows that your character and virtue are not bad. It was just a matter from when you were a child; there is really no need to blame yourself."

The others also nodded repeatedly.

But immediately after, Lin Jue asked: "I wonder how one should attend this Snow Lotus Gathering? If one offers a treasure, can one receive a snow lotus in return?"

"Haha! I am just repeating hearsay; how would I know so clearly?" The scholar said with a smile. "For a Daoist to ask so clearly, could it be that you heard the story and felt a yearning, and also want to go to the Snow Lotus Gathering to see that scene and beg for a piece of snow lotus? Hahaha..."

The scholar seemed to have completely relaxed and laughed loudly.

But as he laughed, his expression stiffened again.

Think carefully about this place: a mountain post station, near the border.

Think carefully about this time: a deep night of thunder and rain.

Think carefully about this scene: on a road with few people during the day, he actually encountered such an unusual-looking and unusual-sounding Daoist.

Isn't this exactly the same as in the story?

Calculate the time! It happens to be another fifty years!

"D-Daoist, could it be that you are also a yaoguai or ghost spirit invited to take human form and attend the Snow Lotus Gathering?" the scholar asked stammeringly.

As soon as the words fell, the others were also greatly shocked and turned to look at this Daoist and the fox.

"Naturally not."

Lin Jue smiled and nodded at them.

"L-legend has it that the divine beings on Mount Tianshan are as holy as the ice and snow on Mount Tianshan. Anyone who receives her invitation m-must also be a virtuous yaoguai or ghost. If one lacks virtue, even if one goes up Mount Tianshan, I fear one would be driven down by the divine beings." The scholar stammered, extremely frightened. "If you, Daoist, have virtue, p-please do not deceive us..."

"It is indeed not the case."

"That's good then..."

The scholar finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hehehe, I also heard rumors of the 'Snow Lotus Gathering' when I was a child, but it wasn't this detailed, and I've almost forgotten it. However, I have also heard that Mount Tianshan is cold and lonely, and the divine beings who can live at the top of the mountain are certainly not bad people. The people at the foot of Mount Tianshan are hospitable, and the divine beings are likely the same. As long as you go with a sincere heart, even if you are just an ordinary person, there is no reason for them to stop you." The old man said, "It's a pity that I can't remember those stories from when I was a child."

That official also nodded and said: "Fifty years is too long. If the Snow Lotus Gathering really happens once every fifty years, the rumors about it should arise once every fifty years, because that's when people go to attend the gathering, and others encounter yaoguai, ghosts, or spirits on the road, and some even inadvertently enter the Snow Lotus Gathering at this time, and then it spreads. But as time passes, it is slowly forgotten, until the next fifty years."

"That is exactly it..."

Lin Jue listened carefully and also vaguely gained some insight.

It was indeed as he had originally thought; the thousand-year snow lotus is likely not that hard to obtain.

"Since several noble guests and officials have told stories, I will also tell one. It's just that I am clumsy with words, so please forgive me if I don't tell it well."

That servant who followed the official also spoke up.

"There are no noble guests here, only travelers taking shelter from the rain." The official beside him said. "Everyone is sitting together, not talking about status, just telling some amusing things to get through this night."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

That servant named Zhou Liu then said:

"When I was following my master in Zhangshan County, I also encountered a ghost. At that time, my master was a judge in Zhangshan County.

"Once, my master had a case in his hands that he couldn't judge accurately, so he had me go early in the morning to the criminal's village outside the city to ask about some things. To avoid the eyes and ears of some noble guests in the city, he had me leave the city before dawn. I was young at the time and had a lot of courage, so I left the city.

"Unexpectedly, halfway there, I encountered someone traveling with me.

"That person talked to me, and I replied to him.

"At first, he pretended to be a human, but it was quickly exposed by me. I told him straight out that he was a ghost, and I also said that my master was the most impartial judge in the city, so if he harmed me, he should come over.

"When that ghost heard this, he immediately confessed. He said he was a person from a nearby village who had died just last month, but his wife was nine months pregnant, and he regretted not being able to see his son. When he arrived at the underworld, his mind was not at peace.

"I still remember what he said to this day—

"He said that he hadn't done anything bad in his life, nor had he done many good deeds. However, when he was interrogated at the City God Temple, the City God said that although he hadn't done many good deeds, he had a kind heart. Whenever he saw weak and helpless people, he often felt compassion and wanted to help them. Whenever he encountered unfair things, he often felt indignant and wanted to stand up for justice and seek fairness, but sometimes he lacked the ability himself, and most of the time it was because he was too embarrassed, so he didn't go to help."

Hearing this, the merchant asked strangely: "Too embarrassed? Is there such a thing as being too embarrassed to help people?"

"That really does happen." The scholar said.

"I was also puzzled and asked, but that person said it was just like that—too embarrassed to talk to people, too embarrassed to open his mouth to ask if others needed help." The servant said. "It was just like that. When he arrived at the City God's place, he received some preferential treatment, and the City God specifically granted him one month to come back and see his son born."

The servant paused for a moment:

"Later, I even chatted with him about the criminal in the village next to theirs. After I came back, I told my master. Later, when we went to look, there really was a man in that village who had died not long ago, and his family really had a new wife, ten months pregnant, about to give birth, and it really was a son.

"What that person said even helped my master solve the case.

"My master even gave his wife half a string of coins for the delivery and to nourish her body."

That official listened and nodded repeatedly to prove that what his servant said was true, and at the same time said with emotion:

!

"A one-month reprieve, although not long, was just enough to fulfill his wish and see his son. Sigh, this matter tells us that if one has a heart that wants to do good, it is best to just do it. That way, no matter what, there will be benefits."

Everyone who heard this felt it was deeply true.

Immediately, all eyes turned to Lin Jue.

"Ying?"

The fox was listening with great interest when it suddenly froze. Realizing, it immediately shrank behind the Daoist.

"As a person who cultivates the Dao, in this world today, you must have encountered many divine, ghostly, and strange things, right?"

"I have indeed seen quite a few." Lin Jue said. "Since several of you have told stories, and we have listened, it would really be bad not to tell one in return for everyone. Then I will tell one as well."

Everyone became interested.

The fox also walked out from behind him, sat upright, raised its paw to lick it, and quietly peeked at the few people.

"Previously, you mentioned the yaoguai matters in Qinzhou, and it just so happens that I also have some understanding, so I will pick an interesting one to tell." Lin Jue first said to the middle-aged merchant, and then continued:

"Previously, several great yaoguai in Qinzhou did not cause chaos one after another, but emerged simultaneously in the northwest and northeast, harming the human world.

"At that time, there was a Daoist in the capital who had some cultivation; let's call him Daoist Wuzhi.

"Daoist Wuzhi wanted to eliminate the yaoguai, but he was in a dilemma.

"If he went to the northwest, the yaoguai in the northwest were fierce and violent, and there would inevitably be a life-and-death struggle. If he was not careful, he might die. If he went to the northeast, the yaoguai in the northeast were peaceful and didn't hurt people much; they only preached, and the yaoguai in the northeast had the art of longevity.

"That Daoist couldn't distinguish for a moment."

Hearing the word longevity, everyone became interested.

Who in the world doesn't want longevity?

"That Daoist went north and also encountered a thunderstorm, taking shelter in a village temple. As it was getting late, someone suddenly came in to stay with him, and during that time, there was inevitably some conversation.

"That person claimed to be surnamed Chen, called Chen Xiangli.

"Only after talking did he discover that this Lord Chen was very knowledgeable and had his own unique insights on everything. After discussing with him, the Daoist's heart became much clearer, so he decided to follow his original heart and go to the fierce and violent northwest, because at that time the people there were being harmed by the yaoguai.

"The two chatted all night. The next morning, as soon as the rooster crowed, the Daoist discovered that Lord Chen was motionless. When he walked over to look, he realized that Lord Chen was actually a judge statue in the temple.

"Perhaps he sensed that he had concerns, so he specifically manifested to talk to him and resolve his doubts."

Lin Jue paused as he spoke and said to the official:

"It's just like you were before, official."

"I cannot be compared to him." The official waved his hands repeatedly.

"I once heard that although divine beings are like the human officialdom, with ranks and sizes of divine power, there is no distinction between high and low. At that time, I was puzzled, but hearing this story from the Daoist, I finally understood why." The middle-aged merchant said with emotion. "Such divine beings, regardless of their position, are worthy of being respected by the world just like Lord Tianweng."

"Who says they aren't?"

Just when several people thought Lin Jue's story was finished, he spoke again, his expression solemn and peaceful:

"The most wonderful thing is that when that Daoist arrived in the northwest and fought fiercely with the yaoguai, although he could have died if he wasn't careful, in the end, with everyone working together, he eliminated them.

"But when he later returned to the capital and heard the news from the northeast, he discovered that the northeast, which he had originally thought was relatively safe, was the true perilous situation. If he had been greedy for ease at that time and gone to the northeast, he would likely have been dead by then. It was precisely because he was willing to take risks for the people and go fight the seemingly fierce and violent northwest yaoguai that he went to a safer place and luckily survived.

"He thought he was taking risks for the people, but it was precisely this heart that led him to a safer place and helped him avoid danger.

"He thought he was protecting the people, but it was precisely the people he protected, and this heart of protecting the people, that protected him once in the dark."

After listening, the middle-aged merchant felt it was familiar and immediately asked: "What the Daoist is talking about, could it be the Qinzhou land subsidence?"

"Exactly."

"There was actually such a story in it!" The middle-aged merchant couldn't help but exclaim.

"Wonderful!" The official also clapped his hands. "To have such a high-level person living in the human world is truly the blessing of the people!"

"Perhaps."

"Presumably, this high-level Daoist also 'realized' this principle this time." The official said again. "Such a story should really be passed down to warn future generations."

The fox sat on the side, looking serious.

Lin Jue just smiled and said nothing.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 442 =====