I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 96 People on the Mountain, People at the Foot of the Mountain (+1)

On Yunmeng Mountain.

Master Jiwei and Qingyunzi walked down the mountain, still somewhat dazed.

"Did Master dream about it too?"

"Judging from what the other two are saying, they must have both dreamed about it."

Master Jiwei had some thoughts in his mind.

Unlike Yuan Danqiu, they had lived in Yunmeng Mountain for many years and witnessed countless seasons. They knew best the mountain's climate, which was unusually cold.

"That was a good sleep..."

It's probably not short.

When they reached the mountainside, the other disciples saw them and were startled. A flurry of activity erupted on the mountain, and Sanshui and Chuyi, hearing the commotion, rushed over.

"Master!"

"Master!"

"The sect leader is back!"

Master Jiwei glanced at the two children's height with a vague look and saw that they hadn't grown much taller. He then looked at the surrounding trees; most of the vegetation had withered, only the pines and cypresses remained green.

He asked, "What time is it now?"

Today is the Minor Snow solar term!

Sanshui, with a lot to say but no words in sight, rushed to ask, "Grandmaster, Master, why did you sleep for so long?"

A barrage of questions followed: "Has the senior awakened? And the mountain god, Layman Li, and Daoist Yuan, are they all awake? My uncle even called a doctor, but the doctor doesn't know what's wrong either..."

Several months have passed...

The palaces, armor, rituals, songs, dances, and music I saw in my dream seemed so real.

The two gained a great deal of insight.

Seeing that the young boy was waiting for their reply, and that his fellow disciples were showing him great concern, Master Jiwei felt comforted.

He smiled and said:
"I've received a karmic connection!"

"My fellow Daoists have also awakened. For the next two days, please do not go up and disturb them... Haha, even I should go back and carefully study and deduce..."

Sanshui and Chuyi didn't understand.

Master Jiwei patted the child's head, feeling an irresistible urge to help. He asked his junior brother to continue looking after the mountain gate, while he and Qingyun would take advantage of their still-sharp minds to go into seclusion and meditate.

He entered a meditative state, breathing in and out the energy of heaven and earth.

Qingyun was taken aback.

If their cultivation before was like digging a well to draw water, now it's as if a mountain spring is gushing forth. It may be temporary, but it's astonishing enough.

The middle-aged man, Qingyunzi, couldn't help but ask:
"Master, what exactly is that senior's identity?"

Master Jiwei, observing his own inner self, naturally sensed the difference and closed his eyes, saying, "Haven't you already found the answer to what you're thinking?"

The immortals gathered six books and faced off at the corner of Mount Tai.

He drank heavily and fell into a deep sleep, a dream that lasted for years.

If such a person is not a deity, then who can be called a deity?

……

……

Jiang She walked through the market at the foot of the mountain.

I saw it from the mountain, but it's a remote place, and seeing it from afar is not as good as going out and experiencing the excitement in person.

The day of the grass market is not fixed, it is held every three to five days, and it is organized spontaneously by the villagers from the nearby villages. Today is Minor Snow, and the ancients valued the solar terms, so there must be a gathering.

Simple stalls were set up on both sides of the road.

The vendors shouted loudly, and the cold wind howled, causing their breath to exhale white mist.

The air was filled with the aroma of toasted sesame cakes, the sweetness of fruits, the pungent smell of livestock, and the unique scent of spices. The cool breeze blended all of this together, making it all the more delightful.

A large pot of mutton was simmering, priced at ten coins per piece. The aroma could be smelled from afar. Jiang She bought a piece, and the vendor wrapped it in lotus and banana leaves that he had prepared beforehand, making it steaming hot.

It felt warm in my hands, making the wind and snow seem less cold.

There were also vendors selling sunflower seeds and pickles. Vegetables were hard to come by in winter, so every household would start making pickles to save for the colder months.

Jiang She found a seat and sat down.

Put the wooden bucket aside.

Some people mistook him for a fishmonger and asked the price twice. Jiang She noticed dried dates in his basket, and the two exchanged one, each finding their own pleasure in the exchange.

The cat climbed up the robe. Jiang She handed over the mutton, letting the cat try some too.

Now that the cat could speak, Jiang She didn't hold back with his words. The market was bustling, filled with the constant calls of vendors. Jiang She spoke to it in a low voice, gently coaxing it:

"This is mutton, marinated with scallions, salt, fermented black beans, Sichuan peppercorns, and dogwood. It may be a bit spicy."

"Meow……"

"sheep."

"Meow..."

Jiang She repeated it again.

The cat's voice was soft, and its mouth was open.

"king……"

"Wang... Yang..."

With a very small and faint sound, Jiang She rubbed its head.

"awesome."

The cat lowered its head to eat the meat, which was still steaming hot. It slurped as it ate, both afraid of burning itself and finding it incredibly delicious.

Halfway through the meal, the cat, with its small appetite, couldn't eat anymore and looked at the mutton with some worry.

Jiang She then wrapped it up and spoke to the cat.

"Eat it tonight."

Farmers, dressed in several layers of hemp clothing, carried loads on shoulder poles and led their livestock. Not far away, in a shed hung many hides, belonging to a hunter's family in the mountains. It was snowing and cold, and many people were asking about them.

Jiang She looked around for a while and found only one person willing to spend money to buy it.

Children wander through the market, led around by older teenagers.

Holding a warm steamed bun with meat filling, the child ate it slowly and carefully. When a peddler sold straw toys, the child couldn't tear themselves away. Eyes fixed on the straw tigers and grasshoppers, the more they looked, the happier they became, refusing to budge even when tugged at, and bursting into loud sobs.

Until the young man traveling with them found a withered branch and held it in his hand to compare the two.

She left, sobbing and reluctantly.

After a while, the child walked a little further and saw the various performances at the market. His eyes widened, and he burst into laughter through his tears.

Jiang She also got up and strolled around the market. There were many wine vendors along the roadside, and wine yeast was also available. Some of the yeast was shaped like bricks, while others looked like flatbreads.

There was also a basket of loose powdery particles next to him, but he didn't know what they were.

Ask the shop owner.

The shopkeeper was patient and, seeing that the customer probably didn't know anything, pointed and said, "This is for brewing yellow wine. This is loose yeast, which is cheaper, but the taste is not as good as block yeast."

"This one has ginger added, and this one has ephedra added; they're good for your health..."

The shopkeeper looked at this young man who, relying on his youth, seemed oblivious to the cold.

"What would you like to brew, my lord?"

Jiang She was counting the money, but he didn't understand these things, so he asked for advice.

"Could I have some of everything?"

The shopkeeper looked at him, and after a while, nodded.

Weigh a few on a small scale, wrap them in paper, and let him take them back—I made sure to weigh out extra of the yeast that contains ginger to ward off the cold.

We walked for a while longer, carrying our things.

The market at the foot of the mountain was short; it soon came to an end, and the crowds thinned out.

He bought radishes, dogwood, and mutton.

He traded a handful of dried dates with someone.

Wonderful! We can cook a pot of fish soup on the mountain.

Thinking this, Jiang She's steps became much lighter, and before long, he was back on the mountainside, where he could see the long stone steps in the distance. Jiang She walked quickly, and the cat looked back ahead, seeing the rising steam below.

On the way, Jiang She passed by the two mountain villagers.

Yamato called out:
"My lord, you've returned from shopping!"

Jiang She nodded with a smile.

The two men were carrying wild rabbits and slung a roe deer over their shoulders, their breath steaming in the air. It turned out the snow had stopped sometime earlier.

People from the mountains, people from the mountains.

They all reaped considerable rewards.

(End of this chapter)