Chapter 98

"Splash..."

The covered boat swayed slightly, creating ripples on the mirror-like river surface. On the covered boat, the little girl was lying down, carefully cleaning the bloodstains.

Behind her, Junior Third Third Shixiong picked up the fish porridge again and ate.

"Clang!"

The covered boat trembled, as if it had collided with something.

Xiao Xiao Shimei turned her head to look, but quickly withdrew her gaze.

Third Third Third Shixiong held a pile of things, crossed over from the covered boat of the group of jianghu people next door, looked at Xiao Xiao Shimei cleaning the bloodstains, then looked at Junior Third Third Shixiong who was eating, and threw everything on the deck.

Three long knives, two long swords, five long bows, many arrows, several long spears, some bottles, silver, jewelry, and jade.

There were even a Bagua mirror and a copper coin sword.

"This world is really becoming less and less peaceful! How many monsters can be more unpredictable than the human heart?" Third Third Third Shixiong couldn't help but sigh. "On this river, I don't know how many people have been harmed by them. If it weren't for meeting the three of us, I don't know how many more people they would have harmed. I'm afraid many Daoists who have practiced wouldn't be able to withstand it."

Hearing him say "the three of us," Xiao Xiao Shimei couldn't help but look up at him.

"Yeah..."

Lin Jue agreed while holding his bowl.

Xiao Xiao Shimei looked at him again.

"These knives and swords are also okay. I guess they can be sold for a few taels of silver in the city," Lin Jue lowered his head and picked with his feet. "I just threw the long sword from the Daoist temple into the river. Just leave me one long sword."

"I'll pick a good one too. This is better than the ones in our Daoist temple," Third Third Third Shixiong said. "Do you want the bows and arrows? We can go into the mountains to shoot rabbits."

"Okay."

"What about the others?"

"I don't want them."

"Alright!"

Third Third Third Shixiong threw away all the long spears, threw those bottles and jars into the river, and then picked up the jewelry and jade, feeling troubled in his eyes, and finally sighed.

"I think your owners are all in the river now, so let's return them to their original owners, consider it a burial object."

Several splashes sounded, creating ripples in the river again.

A fishing lamp illuminated the inside of the cabin.

Xiao Xiao Shimei also finished washing the floor and returned to the cabin to sit down. The two of them and the fox stayed quietly, watching Lin Jue eat alone.

"This poison is quite strong. If it weren't for the fact that yin-yang spiritual methods can detect it in advance, I guess even with Third Third Third Shixiong's cultivation, it's possible to capsize," Lin Jue continued to eat, savoring the poison in the meal. Eating more made his tongue feel a bit hot and spicy. I didn't expect to have a chance to practice the ingestion method when I came out once.

"..."

"What should we do tomorrow?"

"What else can we do?" Third Third Third Shixiong sighed, fell backward, and stopped looking at him. "We can only row the boat ourselves."

"Can you?"

"I know a little."

"Then rowing is up to you, and I'll be responsible for cooking."

"What about tonight?"

"I checked, there's no rice left."

"..."

The fishing light went out, and the boat gradually became quiet.

It was the end of the month again, and the sky was full of stars.

When they woke up, the wind was calm and the waves were still. The boats that had been parked in the distance had long since left, so the three of them set off.

As Third Third Third Shixiong said, he knew how to row, but only a little. The boat bumped and stumbled on the great river, hitting the shore several times and almost hitting other people's boats several times. For the three of them, it was just fun on the journey. For the fox, it was just human confusing behavior. For Donkey Third Third Shixiong, it was too thrilling.

Fortunately, they were going downstream, with both the water and the wind.

Along the way, there were piers of all sizes, some very lively, where they could buy rice, flour, oil, salt, salted meat, and pickled fish. If it were an ordinary boatman, most piers wouldn't stop, but Third Third Third Shixiong would go over to take a look.

In late autumn, the scenery on both sides was excellent.

Third Third Third Shixiong rocked the boat and controlled the sail for several days, gradually becoming proficient, and it seemed he took some pleasure in it. In short, the boat became more and more stable.

Junior Third Third Shixiong cooked in the cabin.

Only Xiao Xiao Shimei sat cross-legged on the deck, closing her eyes and concentrating.

Suddenly, she stretched out her hand and rolled up her sleeve.

A section of white and tender arm.

Xiao Xiao Shimei exerted force, and a fine tendon appeared on her wrist.

"Still not working..."

Xiao Xiao Shimei let go of her hand and muttered in a low voice.

This was practicing the "Mountain God Body Protection Method."

This spell was very suitable for her, at least it was almost of the same origin as the method of crushing stones, just with the opposite effect.

And she had always been very talented in the five elements.

That Third Shixiong Shao said that when this spell is practiced to a deep level, not only can one turn into a stone statue, but one can also turn oneself into a stone in the mountains. Not only is it indistinguishable from the real thing, but it also hides one's aura, becoming one with the mountain. Not to mention whether the enemy fighting the spell can break it, they might not even be able to find it.

Third Third Shixiong said that if one could reach the realm of great power, one could even use this method to turn into a mountain.

Turning into a stone statue is just a very simple application.

However, in the ten or so days on Mingzhou Mountain, it was only enough for Third Shixiong Shao to explain the principles of the spell to them and let them remember it. The two of them only had some feeling when using their magical power at most.

I don't know if this counts as learning it, but anyway, it can't be used for the time being, and it still needs a period of realization and practice.

It's a pity that this is a water route.

This spell should be realized among the mountains and stones.

Xiao Xiao Shimei thought so, but she didn't relax at all.

The reason is also very simple—

She and Third Third Shixiong entered the sect at the same time. Unknowingly, Third Third Shixiong has already learned so many spells, while she only knows one spell for spitting fire, one for calling the wind, and one for crushing stones. And except for the crushing stone method, her attainments in other spells are not as good as Third Third Shixiong's. If she doesn't work hard again, wouldn't it seem that she is not diligent at all?

She must work twice as hard!

The sound of hot oil sizzling and the aroma came from behind.

Xiao Xiao Shimei turned her head to look—

Third Third Shixiong was also cooking porridge, fish and shrimp porridge from the water, but he had fried the shrimp meat first, and carefully picked the bones out of the fish meat. At the same time, he filled an iron pot with charcoal, padded it with wood underneath for fear of burning the bottom of the boat, and put several skewers of small fish and river shrimp from the river on top, all skewered with small bamboo sticks and sprinkled with spices.

Charcoal fire and river fresh, the aroma is tempting.

"..."

Today's hard work ends here.

Xiao Xiao Shimei got up and walked over.

The fox guarded the stove.

"Third Third Shixiong."

Xiao Xiao Shimei looked at the fox and asked in confusion: "Have you noticed that Fuyao has been shedding its fur recently?"

"Of course I noticed."

"Then have you noticed that it seems to have turned into a white fox after shedding its fur?"

"Indeed a little."

Lin Jue turned the skewers and turned his head to look at the fox.

The fox also raised its head to look at him.

It was indeed as Xiao Xiao Shimei said—

The originally fire-red fox became mottled after shedding its fur, and the fire-red on its body gradually faded. This was a change bit by bit. Now, there wasn't much red fur left on it, and its whole body looked more like a slightly mottled white, and it wasn't dazzlingly white either.

However, the tip of its tail was still red. But the newly grown fur was no longer the fox-red of the past, but more like the autumn leaf red on both sides of the river at this moment, looking quite miraculous.

I don't know what's going on.

"Eat."

Lin Jue handed the skewers to her.

Unknowingly, the covered boat sailed past the fishing village and past the red leaves on both sides.

The carefree young Daoist often rocked the oars and sang and recited poems loudly, the sound echoing in the mountains on both sides. The little girl in the Daoist robe often sat in meditation and practiced on the bow or stern of the boat, or went to serve the donkey, or walked and danced with a long sword on the narrow gunwale, practicing her body movements and sword skills.

Lin Jue often went in and out of the cabin, or sat on the deck stroking the fox, enjoying the autumn light and the river scenery.

Often asking for directions loudly from people on the boats nearby.

"We're about to reach Bird-Rat Mountain."

Third Third Third Shixiong said to them uncertainly.

"Really?"

Lin Jue lifted the curtain and walked out.

"Really," Third Third Third Shixiong pointed to the pier in front and said, "Look, doesn't that look like the pier where we boarded the boat in early August?"

"It really is."

"I told you, didn't I?"

"Third Third Shixiong, you are actually reliable for once."

"What do you mean by 'actually'?"

Third Third Third Shixiong was a bit dissatisfied, but didn't care. Finally, they could go ashore. He laughed and threw away the oars.

Lin Jue also went back to pack his luggage.

Soon, the few of them arrived on the shore.

Traveling far by boat these days is indeed more comfortable than by land, but after drifting on the river for a long time, it is inevitable that there will be a sense of instability, so when they encounter a pier, they often moor, not only to buy things and join in the fun to see the customs of both sides, but also to get some ground energy.

Now that they were ashore, they were naturally happy.

As for this boat, it was given to someone destined on the river.

"Hahaha..."

A donkey, three Daoists, and a fox, accompanied by a few laughs, walked back along the road they came from, using their memories.

Finding a place without human habitation, there was one more donkey.

Lin Jue carried the empty book box, and his footsteps were also light.

This was already within the territory of Huizhou, and everywhere were villages near the water, with white walls and green tiles reflected in the water, which was already somewhat familiar.

"Something is not right."

Lin Jue said while walking.

"What's wrong?"

"When we came, we stayed at a place thirty miles away from the pier and arrived at the pier the next morning. Today we also arrived at the pier in the morning and are about to walk to the place where we stayed, but it's just past noon now. You say, should we continue walking forward?"

"Of course forward."

"Then it's different from the nodes we walked when we came."

"What of it? Just find another place to spend the night," Third Third Third Shixiong said with a smile. "Besides, Junior Third Shixiong, you are overthinking. With our memory, it's not certain that we can walk on the same road as when we came."

"That is true."

Sure enough, it was almost dusk again.

Now it's different from when they came—

When they came, it wasn't yet Mid-Autumn Festival, and the night was cool but not cold. Now it is late autumn, and the chill at night is already deep, especially in the mountains.

Third Third Third Shixiong saw someone swinging a hoe by the road, so he walked up to ask:

"Old man, greetings. We are Daoists from Mount Yishan, traveling here. Where is there a place to stay nearby?"

"Stay? Inn?"

The old man stopped his hoe and looked at them.

"An inn is fine too."

"Ten miles back, that village is called Rabbit Shop, and there is a thatched shop in the village."

"Back?"

Third Third Third Shixiong turned his head and looked in the direction he came from, frowning: "We don't want to go back the way we came. Is there a place to stay ahead?"

"Ahead? There is one ahead too," the old farmer leaned on his hoe and pointed to the mountains ahead. "You are Daoists. There is a temple in the mountains ahead. It is very efficacious, often with Bodhisattvas manifesting, and the monks are also kind. You can go and ask to see if there are any remaining rooms or beds in the temple."

"Hmm? Often with Bodhisattvas manifesting?" Third Third Third Shixiong became interested and couldn't help but ask, "Which Bodhisattva?"

"How would I know that? The monks themselves don't know, anyway it's a Bodhisattva, often seen by people," the old farmer said. "Many people go to the temple, so if you want to go, go early."

"Can female guests stay overnight?"

"Why not? There are always female relatives of high-ranking officials from the city staying in that temple."

"Many thanks!"

Third Third Third Shixiong thanked him with a smile and turned to look at Lin Jue.

"Let's go there."

When Lin Jue first left Shu Village, he had stayed in a temple in the mountains, so he had a good impression of temples.

"Okay!"

The three of them made a decision, looking up, they didn't see the temple, but saw blue smoke rising in the mountains, which was probably the temple.

So they headed in that direction, looking for a path.

By dusk, they had arrived at the entrance of the temple.

The three of them stopped and looked up at the same time.

This temple is called Songyin Temple.

Below were written couplets:

In the sandalwood hall, worshiping Buddha forgets the worldly dust;

In the pine and cypress forest, Zen guests realize the heavenly mystery.

This temple seems not small, and the smell of incense and candles drifted from inside. Faintly, they heard voices inside, and it seemed really quite lively.

Xiao Xiao Shimei stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Dong dong dong..."

Soon, a monk came to open the door.

Seeing that there were Daoists outside the door, the monk couldn't help but be stunned.