Volume 1: Zhao Shanhe Chapter 35: Demons in the City
At the dining table in the kitchen, Ji Yuan, two boys, and a girl stared at each other, and the three people's eyes were full of curiosity.
Zhao Yuansong lowered his head and concentrated on drinking the porridge. From time to time, he picked up a few pickled vegetables with chopsticks. Although it was a simple meal, it looked very sweet when he ate it.
Under the eaves, a young man and woman squatted on the ground holding porcelain bowls. Together with the fifth senior brother Guo Tao, they silently ate the porridge in the bowls. On the long wooden bench in front of them, there was also a small bowl of pickled vegetables.
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Guo Tao looked at the two people around him curiously, as if he couldn't figure out why they, who came from the Jiuxuan Sect, could squat on the ground so naturally and eat such simple meals.
"thanks for treatment!"
At the dinner table, Zhao Yuansong put down the bowls and chopsticks in his hands and thanked him very seriously.
His expression didn't look like he was showing off, his eyes were clear and sincere. A bowl of porridge and some pickles didn't seem to be much worse than a table full of delicacies from the mountains and seas.
Ji Yuan took a sip of rice porridge and became a little interested in the man in front of him.
Not to mention coming from the Jiuxuan Sect, even ordinary people with a rich family would not think highly of such a breakfast for a sect that has reached the top of a county.
Or maybe the other party has actually figured out that this breakfast uses spiritual rice, and even the pickles are made from mountain herbs?
But this thing may be very precious to ordinary people, but for a famous sect like Jiuxuanmen, it should only be regarded as an ordinary injury.
"I have been poor since I was a child. After I joined the Jiuxuan Sect, my life became a little bit easier. What ordinary people think of as simple food was already a rare delicacy to me when I was a child."
Zhao Yuansong saw the thoughts in the little Taoist priest's mind, so Zhao Yuansong smiled slightly to explain his confusion.
This young man does not look like he comes from a poor family, but he has the aura of a scholarly family, and his conversation gives people a feeling of spring breeze.
Like a spring breeze...
The smile on Ji Yuan's face suddenly froze, and then slowly converged. When he looked at the other party again, there was a hint of vigilance in his eyes.
My teacher and father at home are right, people who are like a spring breeze to others and feel close to are usually not easy people. If you are not careful, you will encounter a very hidden bad person.
So in response to Zhao Yuansong's explanation, he just nodded pretending to be indifferent, did not answer the question, and concentrated on eating today's breakfast.
After a long time, there were only four empty bowls and an empty plate left on the dining table.
The four people sat opposite each other, looking at each other, but no one spoke for a while.
In this strange atmosphere, Ji Yuan also developed some other curiosity about the two boys and girls. If Zhao Yuansong was born in poverty, so he could eat porridge and pickles, but at first glance, the boy and the girl looked like they had been dressed in fine clothes since they were young.
Food, being taken good care of by elders, why do you feel so accustomed to it?
"I came here this time for two main things. One is to ask how the little Taoist Master is thinking about that matter."
Zhao Yuansong spoke slowly and informed him of the purpose of his trip.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan raised his brows, thinking that he understood that it was probably his master who had a deep conversation with the other party yesterday, so this person would ask him directly.
He pondered for a moment and then said: "I haven't thought about it clearly yet. It may take a few days."
Zhao Yuansong nodded and did not rush the little Taoist priest. He just said that he might stay in Qianyu City for about six or seven days and that he would just inform him of his decision before leaving.
After a pause, his face became slightly solemn, and then he asked in a deep voice: "The second thing I want to do is to ask the little Taoist priest, can I ask for a bowl of merit water from Guanzhong?"
The little Taoist priest was slightly stunned and looked at the young man in front of him suspiciously, not understanding what the other person meant by this.
He naturally knows what merit water is. It is something found in every Taoist temple. It is a bowl of pure water enshrined in front of the main statue.
Due to the influence of incense and aspiration, as well as a ray of spiritual light from the statues enshrined in Taoist temples, it has a natural restraint effect on evil spirits and ghosts.
However, the size of this effect is affected by the size of the Taoist temple and the amount of incense. The more people who offer incense and the number of prayers, the divinity contained in the statue will increase.
In this way, the effect of this bowl of merit water will continue to increase.
It is said that in the capital of the Dayu Dynasty, in a Taoist temple renowned for its incense and wish power, just a bowl of merit water was enough to make evil ghosts comparable to great monks disappear on the spot and completely disappear from the world.
Although the incense in Xuantian Temple has faded, and there is often no pilgrim coming to pray for ten and a half months, this may be because the statues enshrined are all Taoist immortal figures from the state, as well as the Taoist master who is powerful in the state.
Therefore, the effectiveness of this bowl of merit water is not weaker than that of the ordinary Taoist temple with strong incense in a first-class county town.
It's just that apart from being used to restrain evil spirits and ghosts, merit water has no other effect on practitioners. Only ordinary people who are seriously ill will come to the Taoist temple to buy a bowl and give it to those who are seriously ill.
Take it for peace of mind.
"I visited Qianyu City yesterday and discovered several unusual places where evil spirits may exist."
Zhao Yuansong told the truth.
He didn't describe it too much, but these two sentences made Ji Yuan frown.
As a local, although he usually meditates in Taoist temples and makes elixirs, he also often walks around the city. Logically speaking, if there are evil ghosts, they should not be able to escape his perception.
What's more, he is not the only monk in Qianyu City. In addition to Baiyun Temple in the west of the city, there are also large and small casual cultivators, as well as guest ministers worshiped by Jianghu sects.
To put it bluntly, even these monks took a wrong look and did not realize that there was an evil spirit lurking under their noses.
However, there is no reason why the county government in charge of a city, as well as the City God, Land God, etc. appointed by the imperial court cannot discover the evil things in their own courtyards.
Of course, nothing is absolute. For example, the evil thing that secretly plotted against the young master of the Zhao family was not discovered by the county government and the city god.
"It's not that I'm reluctant to part with it, it's just that the merit water in the temple was used by a few poor fellow disciples a few days ago."
Ji Yuan said helplessly: "The merit water now enshrined in front of the statue has insufficient incense, aspiration, and spirituality. It cannot even get rid of a wisp of evil spirits."
Hearing this, Zhao Yuansong couldn't help but look regretful. There was only one Taoist temple, Xuantian Temple, in Qianyu City. If he wanted to find the Merit Water, he would have to travel at least a hundred miles.
The preservation of merit water is very demanding. It must be a vessel that has been enshrined in front of a statue for several years and has been stained with countless incense. Moreover, after leaving the enshrined statue, it will often lose its original magical effect after a day or so.
"If there is really an evil spirit hiding in the city, the poor Taoist will naturally bear the responsibility. Although there is no merit water, he can still invite one or two helpers."
Ji Yuan smiled and said: "One is a practicing monk from Baiyun Temple, and the other is a Confucian scholar."
Whether it is the Buddhist Bible or the Confucian sages' books, they are all innately restrained by ghosts and evil spirits. With the help of his Taoist disciples and the use of talismans, the effect is no weaker than that of merit water.
Not to mention the outstanding disciples from the Jiuxuan Sect in front of us, not to mention the ghosts in the Enlightenment Realm. Even if they encounter evil creatures who have cultivated magic power, they can still be forcibly saved.
Zhao Yuansong's eyes flashed with joy, he was really happy from the bottom of his heart. With disciples from the three schools of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism assisting him, the trip could basically be said to be safe.
Facing such a lineup, I am afraid that after seeing ordinary ghosts, they would curse and reincarnate themselves, without any chance of fighting against them.
"That's very good. I wonder when the little Taoist priest can leave?"
He asked aloud, and the context couldn't help but have a hint of urgency.
Ji Yuan smiled, without any delay, saying that it was enough at this time.
He got up and returned to the room, put the three treasures of money in his sleeves, brought twelve taels of gold and some broken silver, held a bronze oil lamp in his hand, and led Zhao Yuansong and the other five people out of the Taoist temple.
As for the elixirs and talismans, he naturally kept these two things with him, and he definitely made sure to keep them in abundance.
"Junior brother! Wait for me!"
When a group of six people just walked out of the alley in front of the Taoist temple, a shout came from behind them.
Ji Yuan looked back and saw the fifth senior brother who had just put away the dishes and chopsticks, with some water stains on his Taoist robes, closing the door of the Taoist temple in a hurry and running towards them.
"Senior brother, I don't have any skills, and I know you are here to do business, but you still feel uneasy and want to follow you over to have a look."
Guo Tao laughed innocently, not daring to look into his junior brother's eyes for fear of being rejected.
In fact, Ji Yuan really wanted to reject the kindness of his senior brother, even though their profession not only has masters in charge, but also disciples of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism who can restrain evil spirits and ghosts.
But no matter what, what you are facing are evil ghosts, and the opponent's methods are often sinister and difficult to guard against. If you don't have some cultivation, you will easily fall prey to them.
"Since this Taoist priest wants to follow, just come with us to slay the demons."
At this time, Zhao Yuansong said with a smile: "We, the immortal monks, still have some means to protect ourselves, and we will protect ourselves no matter what."
As he said this, he also blinked at the little Taoist priest, hoping that he would not let down his senior brother's kindness.
After hearing this, Ji Yuan nodded and agreed to the fifth senior brother's request, but naturally he gave a few words of advice, telling him never to leave his and Zhao Yuansong's side, and it is best to always stay within half a foot of distance.
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At such a distance, he was still somewhat sure of ensuring the safety of his senior brother. As for those ruthless means that were difficult to guard against, he expected that the master next to him in the late stage of enlightenment should be able to face them calmly.
The Immortal School is different from the Taoist School. The latter, in the realm of enlightenment, pays attention to the nourishment of the soul and aura, and mostly relies on martial arts and talismans to fight against enemies. Only after cultivating mana can they be able to use Taoist magic.
As for the former, after enlightenment, there is no need to read Taoist canon scriptures. Immortal cultivation only depends on spiritual root qualifications. In the enlightenment state, you can perform some magic, but the power is definitely not performed with magic power, and it is more powerful.