The world is like a prison, my body is holy

Chapter 20 Thunder in the Palm

After some bargaining and exchanging of promises, the meeting quickly ended.

Zhao Zhiling received a promise from Wang Wencao that the gang could provide 100 capable men "at any time".

Wang Wen also received Zhao Zhiling's promise to promote him to the sixth rank Shaoqiu official "soon".

Both parties are very satisfied and everyone has a bright future.

Coming out of the lobby, Wang Wen greeted Cheng Xian and then followed Taoist Ji Liang with a playful smile: "Master Ji, are you free?"

Taoist Ji Liang stopped, leaned over, stroked his beard, and said slowly, "Wang Lingtai, what do you have to say?"

The old Taoist priest squinted his eyes and chuckled, exuding a calm and nonchalant temperament unique to people outside the world. He was completely different from the angry look on his face when he angrily confronted the monk Shou'an in the hall last night.

"Please don't embarrass me, I don't dare to ask you any advice."

Wang Wen jokingly joked and smiled, closing the distance between the two of them: "Also, from now on, you should just call me Erhu. "Wang Lingtai" and other names just make me feel itchy all over. It makes me uncomfortable!"

The smile on Ji Liang's face grew more intense. He turned slightly and gestured "please" to Wang Wen: "Why don't we talk while we walk?"

Wang Wen held out his hand: "Please go first."

Ji Liang stroked his beard and smiled, then turned around and deliberately slowed down his pace, walking leisurely along the corridor towards his residence as the young deputy supervisor.

Wang Wen followed behind him, hunched over like a bodyguard: "Master, I have something I want to ask you..."

Ji Liang said: "Just say it."

Wang Wen: "You are also aware of the incident last night when I was attacked by gangsters. I was wondering if we Taoists have any magical methods to sharpen our weapons so that they can kill evil spirits."

"The kung fu of that criminal last night was just average. If we were to fight openly, even if he had helpers, I wouldn't be afraid of him."

"It's really because those two evil spirits are too elusive and have no fear of ordinary soldiers."

"The boy has a gun, which can protect him from the gangster, but not from the evil spirit."

"The boy gave up his gun. He can protect himself from evil spirits, but not from the gangster."

"I'm caught in a dilemma, and I'm being beaten no matter how far I advance..."

Taoist Ji Liang stopped walking at some point, the gentle smile on his face gradually fading. When he finished his story, he bowed to Wang Wen with a look of shame on his face, "This is my fault. As the Junior Deputy Director of the Metropolitan Astronomical Observatory, I enjoy the tributes of the imperial court and the rice subsidies of hundreds of families. I should have provided the various astronomical guards with all the talismans and magical instruments they need to slay demons and monsters and protect themselves."

"Because our Astronomical Observatory was newly established and lacked officers and soldiers, and they hadn't yet taken up their duties, I became negligent and failed to deliver all the talismans and magical instruments to the officers and soldiers in time. As a result, Erhu, you encountered this dangerous situation and were seriously injured... I am ashamed!"

"Luckily, Erhu, you are a lucky person and have escaped the disaster. Otherwise, I would have made a big mistake!"

Wang Wen bent down and supported the old Taoist priest with both hands. After listening to him, his mind suddenly became clear. "You're embarrassing me, please stand up quickly. We can talk things out. Besides, this thing can't be blamed entirely on you. Even I didn't expect that someone would come to mess with me so soon... I can only say that every failure makes you wiser!"

He had wondered before, too. If he couldn't withstand an enemy that was both human and demonic, how could the other Astronomical Guards in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau withstand it? They couldn't just fight and half of them would die, right?
It turns out there is a special attack weapon against demons and monsters!
This matter is indeed the fault of Taoist Ji Liang. If he had talismans and magical tools that could kill evil spirits last night, even if he couldn't stop the thief, he would not have been in such a miserable state.

However, this old Taoist priest was a rare and frank person. He admitted his mistakes and apologized to his subordinate as a superior...

He couldn't get angry.

"Well said." Taoist Ji Liang stood up and bowed again: "Every failure is a learning experience. Erhu is truly a man of great wisdom!"

"Hahaha……"

Wang Wen gave a thumbs up: "You are really good at judging people!"

Taoist Ji Liang also stroked his beard and laughed.

After this incident, the atmosphere between the two became more harmonious.

"Erhu, I know a lot about the methods you mentioned for sharpening weapons. Whether it's the Exorcism Talisman, the Three Yang Talisman, or the simpler ones like cockscomb blood or black dog blood, they can all give ordinary iron weapons the power to kill evil spirits temporarily."

As they walked, they said, "But I think, Erhu, you should look down on these methods!"

Wang Wenxin said, "I think so," but verbally he continued, echoing Ji Liang's words, "Master, please teach me!"

Taoist Ji Liang glanced at him and said seriously, "Erhu, are you willing to join my Maoshan Dao?"

"A monk?"

After hesitating for a few breaths, Wang Wen finally said honestly, "Master, you think highly of me, Wang Erhu, so I shouldn't offend you no matter what. But I'm a free-spirited person. I've been doing things without restraint and have been doing all kinds of evil things these years. If I become your disciple, I'm afraid that I might behave improperly in the future and ruin your reputation. I'm also afraid that I'll break the rules and you'll have to purge me... Forget it!"

Taoist Ji Liang heard the firmness in his tone and sighed softly, "Don't say that about yourself. I can see clearly that although you may be a little careless in your actions, your heart is brighter than many respectable people in well-dressed clothes!"

"really?"

Wang Wen laughed heartily and said, "I think so too!"

Taoist Ji Liang ignored his banter and shook his head regretfully, saying, "If you don't want to join my Maoshan Dao, I won't be able to pass on my various profound and profound Daoist techniques to you... Well, in my early years, when I was traveling around the world, I accidentally came across a secret manual called 'Palm Thunder.' While this manual is also part of my Shangqing lineage, it has evolved over the years and is now very different from my Maoshan Dao. It's also widely circulated outside, so passing it on to you to slay demons and monsters wouldn't be against the sect's rules!"

"This method can cultivate a masculine and thunderous aura. Once it is mastered, one can unleash the power of lightning with one's bare hands, damaging enemies from a distance. Ordinary evil spirits and demons will never be able to match it!"

"This method is also very beneficial for physical training. Mastering this method will greatly enhance your martial arts foundation!"

Wang Wen was overjoyed when he heard this. He immediately lifted up the hem of his robe and knelt on the ground with a "thump". He kowtowed to the old Taoist priest with a "dong" sound: "Master, your kindness in teaching me the Dharma is great. I will remember it in my heart and will never forget it!"

Taoist Ji Liang bent down with satisfaction and helped him up: "This young man is teachable!"

Wang Wen stood up and grabbed the old Taoist priest's sleeve: "Master, you must let me do something for you for such a great favor, otherwise I will feel guilty!"

Taoist Ji Liang smiled and shook his head, saying, "I have no other request, just to establish a good relationship between you and me!"

"It is a great favor that you are willing to pass on this mysterious secret method to me!"

Wang Wen shook his head like a rattle: "How can I ignore the value of this method and deceive you with such a mysterious secret method? You must let me do something for you to show your gratitude, otherwise, I would rather not accept it!"

Taoist Ji Liang was more pleased to see his resolute look, which refused to be rejected. "In that case, please find a place for me to stay in Yangzhou, Erhu."

Wang Wen clasped his fists and said, "It's a small matter. Taoist priest, please wait for good news from me!"

(End of this chapter)