I have Taoism and can understand other worlds

Chapter 605 Inner Demon
The magical power surged and flowed into Liang Yuan's brow.

Unexpectedly, the more magical power he poured in, the faster the woman's life flame faded. Seeing that the raging life flame was gradually drying up, Jiang Wen knew that this was a very dangerous situation.

"If I can't dispel the inner demons, I'm afraid all my magical power will be wasted." Jiang Wen felt a surge of anxiety; he knew his actions were somewhat futile. Inner demons are a great calamity, arising from the heart and striking directly at the soul. If one is afflicted by inner demons, even an immortal would find it difficult to save them.

Therefore, since ancient times, cultivators have always feared inner demons.

Now Liang Yuan has developed inner demons because of his words. If he can't get over this hurdle, he will either become a demon or die. This is not the result he wants.

After reading the instructions, Jiang Wen placed Liang Yuan on the stone bed. He then used an illusion array to shield the house, preventing outsiders from disturbing it.

He sat opposite him, his eyes closed.

"The only option now is to use this kind of soul magic."

He silently recited a mantra and sent his consciousness into the sea. Instantly, golden light radiated from all around Liang Yuan.

The next moment, his consciousness connected with the woman's and gradually entered her mind.

Vast and boundless. Enveloped in mist and clouds, it vanished without a trace.

After an unknown amount of time, when Jiang Wen opened his eyes again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

It was a rural mountain village, and the scenery was truly beautiful.

Dusk is falling and the distant mountains are dark blue.

The muddy path winds its way into the valley, with gnarled old branches on both sides, intertwined with withered vines and new green shoots.

A few wisps of smoke rose from the mountain valley, dispersing into the misty air and dampening the coarse cloth clothes of the travelers.

The stream gushes forth from between the rocks, trickling down to form a shallow pool. The water is crystal clear, reflecting the sky and clouds, and occasionally a plump bluefin bream darts by.

The bluestone by the pool was worn smooth by the traces left by village women washing clothes, and half a rotten wooden mallet was still stuck in the crack of the stone.

Several small plots of land have been cleared on the hillside, where crops grow sparsely, competing with tenacious weeds for soil fertility.

A crudely made straw statue stands crookedly by the edge of the field, draped in a raincoat, its face mostly obscured by wind and rain beneath a straw hat—it is the local earth god worshipped by the villagers, where incense is scarce and only birds perch.

Further away, in the deeper old forest, the branches and leaves blocked out the sun, making it difficult for light to penetrate.

The fallen leaves were piled up a foot thick, making no sound when stepped on. The forest air was filled with the earthy smell of soil, the exotic fragrance of fungi, and a certain indescribable sense of antiquity.

The village nestled at the foot of the mountain, housing several dozen households with mud walls and thatched roofs. The sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard, but people spoke softly, as if afraid to disturb the slumbering mountains around them.

What a serene and contented scene! It's a sight to behold and a delight to behold.

This is deep in Liang Yuan's memory, and also the place she is most obsessed with.

"So this is where she was born?" Jiang Wen wondered, then slowly walked towards the village.

It was dusk, and smoke curled from the village chimneys.

The babbling water turns and makes a tinkling sound.

Jiang Wen walked along the country path, his feet sinking into the mud.

The village scene can be seen in the distance, and children can be seen riding oxen home.

Crossing the wooden bridge over the stream, you enter the village, where the aroma of food wafts through the air.

Jiang Wen glanced at the few houses; although there were men, women, and children inside, she couldn't make out their faces. In Liang Yuan's memory, these villagers were merely a part of her recollections. She might not remember exactly what each villager looked like, but she could remember that this village had villagers.

As I walked further in, I encountered several people.

They passed by without disturbing each other.

This is Liang Yuan's memory, and he is just an outsider.

After passing several thatched-roof houses, Jiang Wen stood in front of one of them.

This house is different from the others; it's built entirely of bluestone. Chickens are kept in the yard, and fruits and vegetables are grown around it. It's strikingly different from the simplicity of this mountain village, clearly holding an important place in Liang Yuan's heart.

"Could this be her home?" Jiang Wen looked at the courtyard gate and knocked. Soon, light footsteps came, and the gate was gently pulled open.

A cute little girl opened the courtyard gate, her eyes wide with curiosity as she looked at Jiang Wen.

"Who are you?" the little girl asked in her childish voice.

Jiang smiled upon seeing her. He bent down and patted the little girl's head, which she didn't pull away from. He pointed outside the village and said gently, "I'm just passing through. Seeing that it's getting late, I'd like to ask for lodging. I wonder if your family would be willing?"

"Oh, I see. Big brother, wait for me!" the little girl said, and ran into the house. Her cheerful voice came from inside, as if she was talking to someone.

A middle-aged man dressed in blue robes soon emerged. He had a refined appearance and a scholarly humility in his eyes. He bowed to Jiang Wen and then smiled, "Young master, you don't seem to be a local. Are you here for sightseeing?"

"Yes, seeing the beautiful scenery here, I couldn't help but feel a longing to stay. So I stayed a little longer, not expecting that it would be so late when I woke up," Jiang Wenqian said with a smile.

"Judging from your demeanor, young master, you are a scholar. Please come in." The middle-aged man warmly invited Jiang Wen into his home.

Upon entering the house, Jiang Wen discovered its refined elegance.

The walls are adorned with calligraphy and paintings, and a long zither sits by the window.

A table was set up in the living room, and on it were laid out wine and dishes. The food was plentiful, including chicken, duck, and fish. It was hard to imagine that this was the kind of food one would expect in a mountain village; even wealthy gentry and landlords wouldn't eat this much.

A pretty woman was pouring wine and warmly greeted Jiang Wen when he came in.

The middle-aged man invited Jiang Wen to sit down, and Jiang Wen accepted without hesitation.

The two raised a glass together and then had a long chat.

"My name is Liang Jin, courtesy name Mingzheng."

“Jiang Wen, the name of the Jiang family is Wen.” Jiang Wen bowed and said.

"It's fate that Brother Jiang came here. Don't be shy, have a good meal and drink well."

Just as they were chatting and laughing, the little girl ran up to them.

The middle-aged man put his arm around the little girl, stroked her head, and smiled at Jiang Wen, saying, "This is my little girl, Yuanyuan, who is only four years old."

"Brother Mingzheng's daughter is lively and clever; she will surely become a great talent in the future," Jiang Wen said, taking a sip of wine and praising the middle-aged man.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man became even happier. He kept offering toasts, which Jiang Wen found difficult to refuse.

He chatted amiably with the middle-aged man and played and joked with the little girl. The woman sat to the side, watching everything with a smile.

This scene truly embodies harmony and unity. People treat each other with kindness and laughter.

After the drinking session, Jiang Wen, claiming he couldn't hold his liquor, went outside for some fresh air.

It was already dark outside, but there was no moonlight.

It was pitch black; not even the surrounding houses could be seen.

The only thing visible was the brightly lit house behind them, dispelling the darkness of the world. Amidst the bursts of cheerful laughter coming from behind, the little girl's laughter was particularly clear and melodious.

As night deepened, Jiang Wen was moved to a guest room.

He lay in bed, gazing at the darkness outside the window, quietly waiting for something.

When the night is deep and quiet, everything returns to nothingness.

Even the chirping of insects had ceased, which made one feel somewhat eery.

The previous excitement seemed to have vanished.

I heard intermittent sobbing; it was the soft, mournful whimper of a little girl.

Jiang Wen got up, lit the candle beside him, and walked out of the room.

By the dim candlelight, he saw a figure huddled in the hall.

(End of this chapter)