Beside the mountain road, bamboo shade blocks the sky.
The second senior brother and the third senior brother each took three documents and looked at them, while the other used a stick to draw a route map on the ground that was purely based on the descriptions and imagination of business travelers on the road. Lin Jue sat cross-legged and watched.
The junior sister stayed far away, built a fire, and was roasting the bamboo insects that she and Caili Fuyao had caught from the bamboo forest.
It was so hot that I started sweating. I raised my hand to wipe the sweat while it was burning.
There was no sign of the fox, only a hole in the ground.
Earth kept coming out of the hole.
"Qinzhou is where the capital is. Among the several Taoist temples left by Master, the farthest one is a hundred miles outside the capital." The third brother pointed to a small dot on the top of the ground, "This Taoist temple
I must have gone there last. Before going there, after entering Qinzhou, I can go to Qingyan County. Junior Brother definitely wants to go there and meet the 'Empress of Yaohua'."
"That's right."
Lin Jue nodded beside him.
"Let's see when the time comes. I can also accompany you." The third senior brother said, "Then we will accompany the last senior brother and go all the way to the capital, just in time to see the prosperity of the capital."
"agree."
"The closest one now is Mingxia County. I think we can walk there tonight. Mingxia County is also very prosperous." The third senior brother looked to the side, "Where is this Taoist temple in Mingxia County?"
"Two miles south of the city." The second senior brother replied.
"Then you three, let's see who stays." After the third brother finished speaking, he pointed to the last point on the ground, which was probably in the middle. "Then we will ask for directions to the Taoist temple in Langfeng County. It's a short walk.
If we hurry up, we might be able to celebrate the New Year in the capital."
The second senior brother and the seventh senior brother looked at each other.
The only person left was concentrating on roasting bamboo worms.
These days, as long as bamboo grows in the mountains, there is no shortage of bamboo insects. This kind of thing is very delicious when roasted over a fire. Except for a few princes and nobles, it is estimated that no one has not eaten it these days.
Junior sister sent me a few skewers very quickly.
The colorful raccoon walked out of the bamboo forest with its tail raised, holding two more bamboo insects in its mouth.
He was originally heading towards the junior sister, but when he passed by the hole, dirt kept flying out of the hole, hitting it with handfuls after handfuls. It instinctively shook and shook, but couldn't help but peek its head in.
Inside is a fox digging holes frantically.
"While it's still early today, let's sit down for a while and let's walk to Mingxia in one go." Lin Jue said, "It would be best if we could find the Taoist temple directly. If we can't find it, we will be there too.
Let's stay in Mingxia City for one night and see how the city is like. The two senior brothers will have made a decision in their minds. Let's see who wants to stay."
"rational."
"I heard that there is a famine in the land ahead. We have almost eaten the rice and noodles we brought, so we might as well buy some more in Mingxia City."
Everyone ate bamboo insects and discussed.
Lin Jue called the fox out and looked at its hands full of mud, shaking his head helplessly. Then he gave the bamboo insect to it to eat, after all, it had worked hard to catch it.
It didn't take long before we continued on our way.
In late summer and early autumn, the weather is still hot and dry, but walking in the mountains is still cool. When it is really hot, you can also ask for some breeze to help.
In addition, there are three senior brothers missing, and the luggage of three senior brothers is missing. Although the second senior brother and the seventh senior brother who brought the most luggage are still in the team, there are still a lot of vacancies. At least Lin Jue has already packed his books.
Put it on a cart pulled by horses, and it will move much more easily.
Because it is a large city, it is naturally much easier to find than Shimen Mountain. It is also on a major road. After asking a few questions along the way, we approached Mingxia County at dusk.
But you have to ask for directions to the Taoist temple.
Everyone was coming from the south. They looked around and didn't see any Taoist temples. There happened to be pedestrians on the roadside.
He was a middle-aged man with a vicissitudes of life, leaning on a piece of bamboo as a walking stick. His clothes were very old, his shoes were slightly torn, and he had no luggage on him. He looked like a local.
"This good believer, can I ask for directions?"
"Huh? Oh? How many Taoist priests are there?" The middle-aged man was in a daze, reacted several times, and then said, "What way do the Taoist priests want to ask?"
"Do you know that there is a Taoist temple outside Mingxia City called Qingyi Temple?"
"Taoist priests are going to Qingyi Temple?"
"Exactly."
Lin Jue and others looked at him. From this tone, he knew about this Taoist temple.
"Qingyi Temple is not far ahead, but you have to walk a mile of path and climb a few steps uphill." The middle-aged man said, "I think a few Taoist priests have heard from others that they went to stay there, and it just so happened that the villain did the same.
The Taoist priests will follow the villain."
"That would be perfect."
Several people looked at each other again and followed him forward.
The middle-aged man didn't walk fast, and even the Taoist people had to walk slower. But they heard that it was not far ahead, so they didn't urge him or ask him to point out the direction and go ahead.
"Does anyone often stay at Qingyi Temple?" Senior Brother Seven asked.
"That's natural. It doesn't cost any money, but only the brave ones dare to stay overnight."
The middle-aged man walked and talked, sighing at the same time:
"The incense in that Taoist temple was still very popular in the past, because Mingxia is not a small town. Many people come during the New Year or temple fairs. When I was younger, I would go there to offer incense. But later it became more troublesome.
There are no people in the Taoist temple. Nowadays, only people like Xiao Ren, who have something to do in the city but can’t even afford the money at the Maodian Chicken Feather Shop, will go to the Taoist temple for a night.
At least there is a shelter from the wind and rain.”
"So that's it." Senior Brother Seventh asked with concern, "It is said that there was an evil god there once?"
"Have the Taoist priests heard of it?"
"I've heard of it."
"That's the green seedling god."
"The Green Miao God?"
This Taoist temple was also found with the help of an uncle.
This kind of thing is not surprising.
For example, the fifth senior brother who studies medicine has just come down from the mountain. Before he can live in the temple in Liuyun County, Cuiwei County has built a new Taoist temple for him. How can he live there alone? After a few decades, say
Maybe he would choose a Taoist temple or even several Taoist temples, make an appointment with the county magistrate in the city, and send a letter back to Fuqiu Peak.
After the senior brother's disciples come down from the mountain, they will have a temporary place to stay and protect the people.
It's just that the uncle's letter only said that there was an evil god in this Taoist temple, and he drove him away, leaving the Taoist temple behind, but he didn't go into details. He was probably just an ordinary little god.
Then I heard the middle-aged man say:
"We used to worship a field god here, who was responsible for the growth of green seedlings in the fields. Later, because the incense was very popular, he moved it to a Taoist temple and lived with Grandpa Tu.
"However, as time went by, the green seedling god became misbehaving. Not only did he demand more incense for sacrifice, but he also caused the green seedlings that many people had worked so hard to plant to dry up before they could grow up. At that time, there was also a famine here.
"I heard that a god passed by. I don't know if he beat him away or killed him. Anyway, he left this Taoist temple. The original Taoist priests inside also starved to death in the famine. No one dared to come here anymore. Only some brave people
People who are not afraid of death will stay in Guanli when passing by."
While he was talking, he happened to come to a fork in the road.
There is a short path next to it, which stretches towards a hill covered with bamboo groves and big trees. A Taoist temple can be vaguely seen at the bottom of the hill.
"How many Taoist priests are not afraid?"
"Of course I'm not afraid."
Several people parked their carts here.
Although the middle-aged man was frail, he was also enthusiastic. He even helped them unload the things on the cart and stood by waiting for them. After they loaded up their luggage, he led them forward.
Sure enough, it was a small road. After climbing a few steps up a small slope, it was a little far away from the official road and the city, but not far away. When the sun set and the sky was filled with red clouds, everyone had already climbed up the small slope, leading
Carrying my luggage, I came to this Taoist temple at the foot of the mountain.
The middle-aged man was panting, but he couldn't help turning his head. He was surprised to see that several Taoists were not blushing or out of breath.
Seeing the white fox again, I had some suspicions in my mind.
I'm afraid these Taoists have some practice.
But this had nothing to do with him. He just stepped on a pile of stones piled up next to the courtyard wall, climbed up the courtyard wall, and looked back at them: "Although this Taoist temple is empty, the door is locked. The Taoist priests have to climb over the wall to enter.
However, the people who came and went in and out had built piles of rocks, making it easier to climb."
Several Taoists looked around.
This Taoist temple is a bit old, but it doesn't look dilapidated from the outside. It's located in a bamboo forest, and with the faint sound of gurgling spring water, it's quite quiet.
They wanted to go in through the front door, but they saw two weather-beaten seals on the door.
Although the seal was worn out, it was not completely damaged. Everyone looked at each other and thought it would be best to go to the city tomorrow with the land deed document and ask the government to remove it, which happened to be reported.
So several Taoists were either carrying books or luggage, some were holding puppets, and some were carrying heavy alchemy furnaces, but they all just stepped on the pile of rocks and climbed up the courtyard wall easily.
The middle-aged man was stunned.
Before he could be surprised by the group of Taoists, he lowered his head and saw that the fox was even more surprising. He was actually walking up the wall, like a monster, which frightened him.
After several soft sounds, several people fell to the ground one after another.
Lin Jue looked around and thought carefully.
After all, it is located outside the city. This Taoist temple is slightly larger than Sixth Brother's Yangxin Temple. It is also a three-entry courtyard. When you enter through the ritual gate, there is a main hall courtyard inside, side halls on the left and right, and two or three small rooms at the back.
.
There are also two or three living rooms.
It was a bit messy inside, filled with dead branches and leaves.
This place is clean and not far from the market, but it is more suitable for the Seventh Senior Brother than the Second Senior Brother.
The second senior brother likes peace and quiet, and refining elixirs requires quietness. This place is too close to the official road. If the door is open, there will be many pilgrims and business travelers seeking accommodation. However, he can practice a furnace of elixirs for as little as a few days, or as long as ten and a half months.
During this period, although I didn't necessarily have to keep an eye on the alchemy furnace all the time, I didn't go out either.
The quietness of this place is not enough.
As for the Seventh Senior Brother, he had no choice. There were two Taoist temples in the back, but they were both more remote and purer, and not suitable for him.
At the same time, they were already discussing.
"What do you think, Second Senior Brother?"
"I don't care. Junior brother, you can ask my junior sister."
"Where is junior sister? Do you want to stay here?"
"I don't want it!"
"Then I have no choice but to stay. It just so happens that this place is only two miles away from the city, which is a short journey." Brother Seventh said, "It's also convenient to go to the city in style. You can drink and get drunk at night, and you can walk back to sleep in the morning."
The middle-aged man behind him was dumbfounded when he heard:
"Taoist priest, this is... this is... are the Taoist priests the descendants of the original Qingyi Temple?"
"No, no, we came from the Fuqiu Temple in Yishan Mountain. It was my uncle who drove away the evil spirits here. Because this Taoist temple was empty, we were allowed to live and practice here."
"So that's it. From now on, that little guy..." the middle-aged man glanced at him quietly, "I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for me to stay here again."
"What's the inconvenience? I just like to be more lively!" Brother Seventh said, "From now on, if a good believer passes by this place, he can come to stay for a night without paying a penny. If he can chat and laugh with me a little, then I'll be happy
Not only does he not accept money from devotees, but when his wallet is rich, he can also provide food and drinks for the devotees."
"How dare you disturb me!"
"What a bother! Anyway, I am alone and bored here. It is not impossible to choose a living room and build a bunkhouse specifically for the business travelers who come and go, and stay five people a day."
The seventh senior brother said casually.
Several senior brothers have already started to pack up.
…
On the last day, double the monthly ticket during Advent!
Chapter completed!