[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-67":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317347,4532,"Chapter 67: The Daoist Friend on Jian Dao Peak","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-67",67,"\u003Cp>“Someone else lost money again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue stepped forward and asked with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It hasn’t stopped at all!” the lead middle-aged merchant said anxiously, “Before, we’d just put the money in an iron box, and the demons couldn’t steal it—but now, even inside an iron box, a hole is drilled through by morning! Meanwhile, merchants who run cloth shops and can move the money out have made a fortune!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not just stealing money either,” another merchant said. “A few days ago, someone didn’t believe it and stayed up all night drinking strong tea, setting traps—but the next morning, he was found dead in his own house!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still the same rat demon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t know either—we’re all confused,” the merchant said, anxious yet respectful. “We heard there are immortals on Yishan, and the masters of Fuqiu Temple are especially powerful. That’s why we’ve come here specifically—we beg the true ones to descend and rid us of the demons and recover our silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, gentlemen!” Third Senior Brother stepped forward and said to them, “If it truly is a rat demon causing trouble, then you’ve come to the right place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have a solution?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t promise we’ll recover all the silver—it may already have been moved—and I can’t promise we’ll eliminate every rat demon, but we can certainly kill some.” Third Senior Brother had heard of the events in Yixian outside the city. “That day, it was my seventh junior brother and my youngest junior brother who went. The reason my seventh junior brother dared say ‘if this happens again, come find us’ was because he had good reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s wonderful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchants exchanged glances, all visibly relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the thought of Third Senior Brother’s words—“I can’t promise we’ll recover all the silver”—cast a shadow over their joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though recovering the silver as soon as possible is best, it’s already very late, and no one walks the mountains at night. Besides, you’ve traveled far and are tired. We need to prepare, so please stay overnight in the temple’s guest hall. My youngest junior brother’s rice is quite delicious—we’ll descend early tomorrow morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s perfect! Thank you, true one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, gentlemen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Senior Brother glanced at Lin Jue and grinned, his expression clearly saying: Your knife-carving money is coming now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, you go cook. I’ll take these good patrons to Tianweng Hall to light incense, then we must go to Jian Dao Peak to ask the Daoist friend there for help. I’ll go down with you—just the two of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist friend on Jian Dao Peak?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue couldn’t recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yishan was full of recluses and immortals, as well as spirits and demons, and nearly every one of its thirty-six major peaks and seventy-six minor peaks was occupied by a spirit, ordinary people rarely encountered them. But Jian Dao Peak was right next to Fuqiu Peak—he’d often chopped wood there. How could he not know of any recluses?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d occasionally heard wild cats meowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he thought, he went to cook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was fine—he preferred acting alone over dealing with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This morning, Seventh Senior Brother had gone out playing and returned with a basket full of assorted fish—perfect for boiling. Normally, without guests, one pot of mixed fish cooked with thick oil and dark sauce would be enough: even just dipping a chopstick in the broth would make a mouthful of rice delicious, and extra seasonings would make it even better. But with guests, he’d need to make more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably the last batch of chicken mushrooms this year—boil a pot of egg soup, slice some salted pork, and cook it with mountain bamboo shoots for mountain bamboo shoot with salted pork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue’s rice was cooked differently from his senior brothers’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brothers simply boiled rice with water—simple and convenient. Lin Jue boiled the rice halfway, then drained it in a bamboo steamer, poked a few holes, and steamed it again—when done, the grains were loose and distinct, delicious even on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meals were served at two tables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple’s Daoists sat at one, the patrons at the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchants were astonished—deep in the mountains, the temple served such fine food! Their surprise turned to gratitude. But their thoughts were mostly on the Daoists’ conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take my youngest junior brother down this time,” Third Senior Brother, the most skilled in combat, volunteered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? My youngest junior brother is going down too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already agreed with him—I’m taking him,” Third Senior Brother said. “I’ve already consulted Fourth Auntie on Jian Dao Peak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my youngest junior brother hasn’t finished cooking this month’s meals—why go down again?” Fourth Senior Brother frowned. “Let him stay up here to cook. Let Seventh Senior Brother go with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better to let my youngest junior brother stay and cook. Fourth Senior Brother, you go with him,” Seventh Senior Brother said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Both of you,” Third Senior Brother sighed, “I’m taking my youngest junior brother to pick out a set of carving knives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, brothers—I recently pickled some vegetables. I’ll make you a dish of pickled greens with minced meat, store it in a cool place—it’ll last days, tastes great, and just boil a pot of rice these two days,” Lin Jue said. He turned to Third Senior Brother. “What Fourth Auntie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, a spirit of the mountain—she cultivates on Jian Dao Peak, very close to Fuqiu Peak. We’ve had close ties for generations—almost family.” Third Senior Brother said. “You said the holes in the walls were bowl-sized, and the rats are as big as cats—perfect. We’ll ask Fourth Auntie to help catch them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Close ties?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very close indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue was puzzled—he’d never known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, they cleared the dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he cooked, he washed the dishes—it was temple custom. But Younger Sister was always diligent and thoughtful, and she’d always helped him collect and wash them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One washed first, the other rinsed second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the clinking of bowls and the splash of water filled the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a quiet, unspoken harmony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he washed, a sound suddenly came from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue turned—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange cat had crossed the threshold. It had brushed against a broom’s protruding bristles and reacted violently, spinning around and swatting the broom several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it looked up, it met Lin Jue’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was dark. The hearth lamp glowed. The cat’s eyes reflected light. It studied him for a moment, then spoke to Lin Jue:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the new male disciple of Fuqiu Temple? The one who often comes to Jian Dao Peak to chop wood? Tomorrow you’re going down to catch rats with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was soft and delicate—like a cat’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, two more cats entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two cats, hearing the first, glanced at Lin Jue, stepped closer, sniffed the air, then exchanged opinions as if judging him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one’s not bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, he has some cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad he doesn’t have a cat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A wild man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two cats acted as if no one else was there, their voices clear and fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he seems to have a fox.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Foxes smell bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know nothing! Foxes only stink when they’re nervous or afraid. The Daoists here must use magic to keep this fox calm—so it smells nice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he has a fox, is he still a wild man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue was startled again as he listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly set down his chopsticks, turned to Younger Sister—and saw her eyes wide with shock, staring at him. They exchanged glances, both seeing the same unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Funny—they’d eaten mushrooms tonight too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue said nothing, remained calm, washed his hands, shook off the water, and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Younger Sister followed silently behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple’s inner courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three cats sat in a row, neatly on the steps. Third Senior Brother led Lin Jue and bowed to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I apologize for my rudeness,” Lin Jue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I apologize for my rudeness,” Younger Sister said too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not your fault—we were just too curious to see what the new disciple of Fuqiu Temple looked like,” the lead speckled cat said. “After all, we’re family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re glad you understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll help you catch the rats tomorrow. But remember—our ancestral rule is: we don’t eat rats that have become spirits. So for each one we catch, you must give us one eel as payment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then that’s settled.” The speckled cat lifted a paw to lick it. “No one is better at catching rats than we are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A curious orange cat wandered over. The speckled cat glanced at it, then struck like lightning—swatted it hard, flipping it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orange cat dashed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They agreed to depart tomorrow morning. Third Senior Brother returned with Lin Jue to their room, telling him on the way: these cats cultivated on Jian Dao Peak—they’d been there since before Fuqiu Temple moved here. Since the temple’s founding master, Daoist Mountain-Mover, they’d maintained good relations—until now. He must treat them with respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the cats in Fuqiu Temple now were descendants of these Jian Dao Peak cats—though none had yet attained Dao. When they did, they’d most likely return to Jian Dao Peak to reclaim their ancestral roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll teach you the incantation to activate the Bean Soldiers!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Senior Brother stopped at the door and pulled out a bean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though we carve beans into soldiers, our method traces back to the legendary ‘Scatter Beans, Summon Soldiers.’ So the incantation is the same: ‘Bean falls, wind rises, soldiers appear.’ I usually whisper it silently. But if you want to activate a Bean Soldier, you must speak it aloud, then channel a thread of spiritual power into the bean before throwing it—it becomes a soldier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bean falls, wind rises, soldiers appear…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue murmured it again, taking the bean from his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To recall them: ‘Return to spirit bean, soldiers back to the Great Wall.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can anyone use it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not,” Third Senior Brother replied. “This is only the incantation to activate the Bean Soldiers. Whom they obey depends on the lingering soul within. But this warrior is the one from that night—he already knows you and recognizes you as my junior brother. If you activate him, he’ll obey you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try it once—don’t keep testing. It’s disrespectful to my old friend.” Third Senior Brother continued. “From what you said about the rat demons, if this is just about catching rats, the Jian Dao Peak Daoists will make it easy. But I fear something else might happen. Even in the city, we must be fully prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t Second Senior Brother go to Qiyun Mountain to inform the Xuantian Temple Daoists? Was there no reply?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Senior Brother shook his head and turned back: “They don’t have the leisure we do—they’re far too busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time he spoke, he was already back inside the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue didn’t know whether he meant the Daoists of Qiyun Mountain or the deities enshrined there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head and let the thought go, instead turning his mind to the earlier phrase: “That was disrespectful to my old friend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he held these bean soldiers in high regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking thus, Lin Jue carefully examined the bean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bean was somewhat rounded, but whether inspected closely or rubbed between the fingers, one could detect faint carvings on its surface—not perfectly smooth or uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the bean falls, the wind stirs; soldiers manifest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue murmured these words, infused a trace of magical energy into the bean, and tossed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bean grew at once with the wind, landing as a full-sized human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, it was a sturdy archer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue’s eyes brightened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had seen and commanded these “bean soldiers” before, summoning one from a tiny bean using his own magical energy and incantation felt entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sensation was equally wondrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue bowed to him, explained his purpose, then recited the incantation again to dismiss him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The archer shrank rapidly downward, vanishing in an instant into a round bean on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>",2023,"2026-06-20T14:45:35.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f1ea0848cd3824ae5377b74af1970a63e891534119b1f1fd6a6396fe01d32a7d","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-68","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-66",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]