Chapter 45

The wind stopped again.

When Lin Jue turned around, he saw the Fourth Third Third Shixiong holding a flute, surrounded by a group of wild wolves, coming down from the mountain. Seeing him standing there motionless, he couldn't help but stop and look at him.

"Junior brother, aren't you going to the Immortal Source Temple to listen to Daoist Master Wangji Zi's lecture? Why are you here?"

"I've already returned. This is for chopping firewood on the mountain, and by the way, looking for you, Fourth Third Third Shixiong."

"Looking for me? What are you looking for me for?"

"It's nothing now."

"Don't be so diligent; be lazier. According to your Third Third Third Shixiong, if you are so diligent, you might as well go to the temple to be a monk; why be a Daoist?"

The Fourth Third Third Shixiong smiled and stepped down.

A group of wolves followed him like a stream.

Lin Jue looked down at the little fox beside him, seeing it sitting right by his feet, sitting upright, a small lump, aiming at the wolf pack. It seemed it could also perceive the gaze from above, so it looked up at him again. Seeing its clear eyes, there was only curiosity in its eyes, no fear of the wolf pack.

"Let's go."

Lin Jue chopped some dead branches at random, which was considered freeing up more space for the mountain forest, and then walked back.

Tonight, the temple actually had a good meal.

Now it was the Seventh Third Third Shixiong's turn to cook.

Originally, he thought the Seventh Third Third Shixiong's cooking skills couldn't compare to the Sixth Third Third Shixiong's, and perhaps that was indeed the case—the Seventh Third Third Shixiong couldn't stir-fry, and everything he made was boiled in clear water, which was also a common practice at the foot of the mountain. He especially liked to boil a large pot of rice, vegetables, and meat, and when eating, everyone scooped a bowl. It looked crude, and eating it was also crude, but as for the taste, it was really hard to say it was worse than the Sixth Third Third Shixiong's.

Anyway, it was edible, chewable, and filling.

However, today he rarely boiled a pot of chicken—chickens raised on the mountain, stewed in clear water, with ginger slices added to remove the fishy smell, and the saltiness was just right; it was actually very hard for it not to be delicious.

Seeing this, the Third Third Third Shixiong was also very happy and brought the homemade wine.

The people in the Daoist temple moved the table outside. It happened that the summer daylight didn't fade for a long time, and the mountain evening was very cool, the clouds and glow still remained, and the swallows played. Before they even sat at the table, they already felt a bit comfortable.

Lin Jue sat at the table first.

The junior sister returned as if she had slept, and when she walked out, she was also surprised.

Upon asking, she learned that it was not a special season, nor was it anyone's birthday; it was just that the Daoist in the mountain was in the mood, and they had hit a wild chicken on the mountain, feeling it was a very happy thing. After a little thought, he went to the chicken coop and caught two old hens, stewing a large pot full, which was considered a treat.

There was no sense of ritual, all spontaneous.

The senior brothers were moving the chicken meat into several basins to take outside, but Daoist Yunhe asked Lin Jue and the junior sister:

"You went to the Immortal Source Temple today; what did you learn again?"

"Replying to Master, today Daoist Master Wangji Zi taught a spell called 'Calling the Wind.' My senior brother and I happened to catch up, so we listened in."

"Calling the Wind? That is also a common spell! What did you gain?"

"I understood half of it and was just about to ask Master for advice."

"What about the young Daoists of the Immortal Source Temple?"

"They should be about the same as us at most."

"Then you must work hard."

"This disciple will," the junior sister sat still, her face earnest. "Daoist Master Wangji Zi said that he would examine us in a month. If I still can't learn it by then, I will lose face for Master."

"What about Lin Jue?"

The old Daoist tilted his body and looked at Lin Jue again.

"Replying to Master, I also listened and understood half of it," Lin Jue said truthfully, pausing. "But when I came back this afternoon to chop firewood on the mountain, I wanted to ask the senior brother for his experience in 'Calling the Wind.' Unexpectedly, a mountain wind blew, feeling comfortable, and I suddenly had an epiphany and learned it."

The old Daoist's expression immediately froze.

The junior sister was startled and hurriedly turned her head, staring at Lin Jue in surprise.

"?"

Besides shock, there was sluggishness, confusion, and disbelief, as if Lin Jue had done something behind her back.

Just at this time, several senior brothers were moving meat, moving rice, and distributing bowls and chopsticks, interrupting their conversation. Several senior brothers looked quite happy, and after distributing the bowls and chopsticks, there was an extra cup in front of everyone.

The cups were all made crookedly, but upon closer inspection, they had a bit of charm.

The Third Third Third Shixiong held the wine jar and poured it one by one.

The dark, turbid wine, like the Thousand-Day Wine in the mountain, had some ant-like fragments inside, and it still smelled of fruit.

"This is the new wine. I brewed it according to the Thousand-Day Wine on Langtou Mountain. Naturally, there are not so many strange plants and herbs, nor the essence of the sun and moon. You have drunk it before; taste if there is any difference in the taste?"

The Third Third Third Shixiong sat down, took a bite of meat first, and then raised his glass.

"Drink a cup with me."

The old Daoist and many Daoists all raised their glasses to drink together, leaving only the two little ones—one holding the cup and looking down, the other still lingering in surprise, not having come back to his senses.

This wine looked quite different from the Thousand-Day Wine.

However, seeing that everyone drank it without caring, for a moment there was a feeling of being quite free and easy, so Lin Jue didn't hesitate and drank it in one gulp.

The junior sister followed suit in a daze.

This wine really didn't taste like the Thousand-Day Wine at all, but it was also not strong, and the fruit fragrance was rich. The sweetness was even greater, and it was unexpectedly delicious.

"Did you really learn that Calling the Wind?"

After the old Daoist put down the wine glass, he also seemed a bit unable to believe it, so he continued to turn his head and ask him.

"If I haven't forgotten it."

"Try to perform it."

Lin Jue first picked up a piece of chicken neck, bent down and put it in the little fox's tile bowl, then changed the chopsticks to his left hand and waved his right sleeve.

"Hoo..."

A breeze suddenly rose in the courtyard.

This wind was actually not weak—

It was already cool, and there was only a little heat brought by the soup steam. At this time, when blown by the wind, this little bit of heat also vanished, and he only felt extremely comfortable.

The junior sister became even more sluggish.

"Good! Good!"

Daoist Yunhe laughed and clapped his hands, and a touch of memory appeared in the smile at the corners of his eyes: "If those young Daoists of the Immortal Source Temple knew, they would be even more anxious than they were back then!"

When Lin Jue heard this, he seemed to know something.

"Did Master also listen to lectures at the Immortal Source Temple before?"

"Naturally. Our two families are on good terms, and we mostly go out to accept disciples during the Great Offering. Originally, if one family only accepted one, we often interacted and listened to lectures together, gathering the strengths of both families. However, later, when their Immortal Source Temple accepted disciples, there were more than a dozen, so we mostly went to them to listen," the old Daoist said with a smile. "Originally, that Master Wangji Zi and I were admitted to Yishan together. When I went to the Immortal Source Temple, I suppressed him everywhere. It's just that this old boy is not a broad-minded person. I was young and vigorous, and loved to show off. At that time, I almost angered his master and him to death."

Even though it was decades ago, thinking of it now, Daoist Yunhe laughed quite happily.

"So that's how it is."

Lin Jue understood.

No wonder, even though the two families were on good terms, Master Wangji Zi of the Immortal Source Temple didn't have a good attitude toward Daoist Yunhe.

It's estimated that they often compared themselves secretly when they were young.

"I didn't see it wrong; your talent is indeed extraordinary, but there should also be the reason for the opportunity of sudden enlightenment. Regardless, being able to have such a gain from chopping firewood on the mountain is really a good thing," Daoist Yunhe said, turning to look at the junior sister again. "Why didn't you go to the mountain to chop firewood with your senior brother?"

"Replying to Master, I felt very sleepy when I came back, so I slept," the junior sister answered with a sluggish expression.

"Did you gain anything?"

"I don't know about gains; anyway, I dreamed that I learned spells and could fly."

"That might be because your hair fell in the mountain and was picked up by birds to make a nest," the old Daoist shook his head. "Ancient books say, birds pick up human hair, dream of flying."

After a few cups of wine, he was already floating.

Having been in Fuqiu Temple for so long, he had been eating life-sustaining food; this was the first time for such a gathering. Homemade wine and self-raised chicken, and no one cared how much you ate or drank, so they talked and laughed to their heart's content. When the wine intent came, the Fourth Third Third Shixiong took out his flute and invited everyone to listen to a new tune he had created. The Second Third Third Shixiong ate fast, and when he was full, he went to play the zither. No matter where the picture was frozen, it was incomparably harmonious and natural.

Even Lin Jue felt great.

After eating and drinking his fill, they just went back to their rooms, and even the table was left to be collected tomorrow.

The next morning.

Lin Jue originally intended to go out to practice spells, but saw incense guests coming to the outer courtyard—they were a few farmers.

The First Third Third Shixiong was receiving them.

Lin Jue paused slightly and heard something about ghost Qi and ghost shadows...

They should have come to the mountain to ask the Daoist for help.

Originally, the world was relatively peaceful, so Fuqiu Temple hid its fame and practiced the Dao with peace of mind. Occasionally going down the mountain to buy things, most people at the foot of the mountain didn't know the name of Fuqiu. Now that the world is in chaos, Daoists walk down the mountain and see disasters, so they naturally can't help but help catch ghosts and drive away evil. As time goes on, more and more people know about this Daoist temple located in the remote deep mountains.

Looking at these few farmers, they seemed to have come from afar.

Lin Jue couldn't help but stand here and listen for a few more sentences, seeing the First Third Third Shixiong taking them to the Tianweng Hall to offer incense, and then he left.

The little fox was still running behind him.

Suddenly, Daoist Yunhe's voice came from behind—

"Lin Jue."

Lin Jue stopped immediately.

"Master."

He felt his heel soften again, as if he had been bumped by something. Looking back, the little fox cub was already lying on the ground with its four legs in the air, frantically moving its four feet to turn over.

"I remember that before you went up the mountain, you had learned the trick of spitting fire and had dealt with monsters, right?"

Daoist Yunhe looked at Lin Jue. He was incomparably satisfied with this disciple's talent and comprehension. The only thing was that he felt he was too attached to immortality, which was a very difficult thing.

Difficult is difficult, but if the heart only has this path, it might not be a good thing.

"Yes."

"There is some Yin Qi in the village at the foot of the mountain; I'm afraid it has bred some lonely ghosts, scattering and gathering," Daoist Yunhe said to him. "Yin Qi and ghost Qi are most afraid of fire Qi and Yang Qi. Although your practice is still shallow, you happen to practice the Yin-Yang Spiritual Method. Even if you don't use any spells, Yang Qi is also a great weapon against evil. Now that the world is getting more and more chaotic, our place is not peaceful either. The Ji immortals are very worried, and it's hard to say if there is anything else that needs your senior brothers. Today's matter is simple, so you follow the villagers back and clear away those Yin Qi."

"Okay, Master."

"As for the residual souls in the village, if they have spiritual wisdom, persuade them if you should, and report them if you should. Forget it, I'll let your Third Third Third Shixiong go with you, but he is unreliable, so you make the decisions in everything."

"I understand."

Lin Jue agreed.

"Since you brought your Third Third Third Shixiong, take your junior sister with you too. She doesn't know anything, but I don't have many years left. In the future, when you go down the mountain, you will always have to deal with these things. Contacting them more in advance might be a good thing for you."

"Good."

"Your Daoist robes are ready, in the city at the foot of the mountain. Remember to remind your Third Third Third Shixiong to pick them up on the way back; he knows where it is," Daoist Yunhe said. "Remember, although we are Daoists, driving away evil is not free. Remember to collect money when you leave."

"How much should I collect?"

"It depends on you," Daoist Yunhe said, then waved his sleeves and left, leaving only one sentence, "Drive away monsters well. If you do a good job, when you come back, I will teach you another spell that is both easy to learn and easy to use."

Lin Jue stood in place, not knowing why.

Turning his head, he happened to see the Third Third Third Shixiong opening the door, rubbing his eyes, coming out sleepily, and looking at him.