Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 103 Encounter on a narrow road

In the early morning, the sky was hazy and there was a drizzle as fine as cow hair.

Lu Zheng was walking in the woods. With just a little effort, he became as light as a swallow and moved quickly through the rain and fog. Even the drizzle did not stain his clothes.

Heading south, we walked through the mountains where few people have ever been.

A swampy area appeared in Lu Zheng's sight.

Above the swamp, there was a thick gray miasma, emitting a fishy and corrupted smell.

Some low-lying plants are inhabited by poisonous insects, snakes and ants. They are colorful and you can tell at a glance that they are highly poisonous.

Lu Zheng passed by quickly, and wherever he passed, the residual aura made the poisonous creatures avoid him.

Soon, Lu Zheng came to a small hill. A cave was vaguely visible under the cover of thorny bushes.

Outside the cave, there are some bottles and jars that emit a bad smell.

It is said that there is an insect demon here who is good at making various poisons. Even the mandrill monsters are in awe of it.

Just then, a noise was heard in the cave.

Lu Zheng's eyes were calm as he quietly and silently drew out his sword, a sense of vigilance rising in his heart.

Soon, a figure walked out slowly from inside.

When Lu Zheng saw the person, there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Because what he saw was not some insect demon, but the Taoist Qingxuan whom he had met in the deserted temple before.

This Taoist priest was a kind-hearted person and had taught him a set of swordsmanship.

Lu Zheng didn't think that the other party had anything to do with the monsters here. He just thought that he was traveling like him and slaying monsters everywhere.

Qingxuan wanted to leave this place quickly, but suddenly he noticed prying eyes.

He couldn't help but glance sideways at the bushes not far away.

Lu Zheng walked out boldly, bowed and said, "Master!"

Qing Xuan was not surprised to see Lu Zheng. He smiled and said, "So it's you, my friend Lu Zheng. I've already killed the monster here. You must have come here for nothing."

He saw that An Jing was not with Lu Zheng, and guessed that the eldest princess must be busy with her own affairs.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng said, "Master, you are so chivalrous! It is truly fate that I can meet you here."

Qing Xuan laughed heartily and said leisurely, "It's not really fate. I was actually asked by someone to help you investigate the matter of the Juyang Pearl."

"Huh?" Lu Zheng showed a hint of surprise.

Qing Xuan explained with a smile, "Xiao Beishan is an old friend of mine. I just visited his home when I received your letter. Xiao Beishan and County Magistrate Li were unable to leave, so they asked me to come out and investigate."

"I see..." Lu Zheng suddenly realized, "I wonder if the chief has found any clues?"

Qing Xuan said slowly, "I have asked some demons and ghosts, but unfortunately I still don't know the specific location of the mastermind behind the scenes. What about you?"

Lu Zhengdao: "Almost the same as the Taoist priest..."

Lu Zheng then told everyone the information he had collected.

After some discussion, the two of them still had no clue.

If they want to find the mastermind behind the scenes, they must capture the other party's confidants, and perhaps they can find out something.

Qing Xuan looked at Lu Zheng and said, "There must be a fourth-level demon involved in this matter. Do you still want to follow the investigation, little friend Lu?"

Lu Zheng couldn't help but say, "As scholars, we should eliminate harm for the people. How can we retreat when faced with something like this?"

Qing Xuan smiled and said, "Then you and I will go together?"

Since they have already met, Qingxuan couldn't protect her secretly, so he thought of acting together.

If he really encountered a third or fourth level demon, he would be able to protect Lu Zheng. Hearing this, Lu Zheng said, "As long as the Taoist priest doesn't mind me being a drag, that's all that matters."

Qing Xuan laughed and said, "My dear Lu, you are joking. You are a capable scholar!"

It's not the case that a favored child of heaven who can open up the strange vision of Wen Palace at the level of a scholar will be a drag.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but say, "Dean Xiao is my senior, and Taoist Priest is also a senior. Taoist Priest can just call me Lu Zheng. I don't deserve the title of young friend."

Qing Xuan disagreed and said, "We are cultivators, why should we be bound by ordinary etiquette? Everyone has their own opinions!"

Lu Zheng thought that this Taoist priest was really a free and easy person.

Qing Xuan said, "Since you have already made some inferences, shall we head south?"

Lu Zheng took out a map and said, "I'm thinking of checking out two nearby places. Maybe I'll run into some demons and ghosts out to trade. I just wonder if the Taoist has been there before?"

Lu Zheng pointed out two places on the map.

Qingxuan quickly understood the map and said, "I haven't been there yet, let's go there now!"

"Okay." Lu Zheng nodded.

So, the two of them chose the nearest target and quickly left the swamp.

On the way, Qingxuan was bored and asked curiously, "Beishan said you are very talented, but you don't want to go to school. Why is that?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng explained, "The path of the imperial examination is not suitable for me. Confucianism is a broad path, and without the imperial examination, there is no way to advance. I want to learn from the sages of the past and follow a path that suits me."

Qing Xuan stroked his beard and smiled, "That's good! Why would a truly talented Confucian scholar need the imperial examination? I've seen some literati who disliked officialdom and sought to cultivate themselves in seclusion, and they were no less capable than those who took the imperial examination..."

Lu Zheng's expression shifted slightly, and he asked curiously, "Master, you are very knowledgeable. Are there many Confucian and Taoist scholars like you in this world?"

Qing Xuan smiled and said, "A lot, but not much either. After all, those people don't like fame. If they don't show their true talents in front of outsiders, how many people will know about them?"

"That's true." Lu Zheng nodded slightly. "As the sage said, a gentleman hides his abilities and waits for the right time to act..."

Qingxuan smiled and said, "That's right!"

Lu Zheng asked curiously again: "Master, have you traveled to many places?"

Qing Xuan said leisurely, "I've been to four of the nine kingdoms, but not all of them. I've only visited some famous places, discussed Taoism with people, or visited old friends... To be honest, I'm not as good as you. I only thought about my own freedom and never thought about doing anything for the people."

Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask, "Why do you say that, Taoist Priest? You are kind and benevolent, so I think you have done a lot of good deeds..."

Lu Zheng felt that with Qingxuan's helpful nature, he would definitely not stand idly by if he saw the people in distress.

It’s just that people who practice cultivation have different aspirations and don’t pay attention to such things.

Qingxuan smiled and shook his head without saying anything.

Suddenly, Qingxuan stopped and raised his hand to signal.

Lu Zheng reacted quickly and stopped immediately.

The two of them stopped where they were and held their breath.

After a while, I heard a sound and someone was coming towards this side.

Lu Zheng's eyes moved slightly, and he saw two figures appear, and they were two people dressed as peasant girls.

However, in this remote and desolate place, there are no villages nearby.

Lu Zheng would not believe that these two women were ordinary women.

The two women soon discovered Lu Zheng and Qing Xuan.