Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 9 Guiding the Way from the Underworld
The man saw that Qi Yun had short hair and thought he was a monk.

"I already rescued you in the Ghost Market. You can leave now. Why are you still following me?"

After saying that, he turned and left again.

"Taoist Master, please wait!" Qi Yun dared not hesitate. He suppressed his pain and exhaustion, staggered a few steps and chased after the man, grabbing the hem of his cloak.

"Master, please calm down! I am not a monk! Look at my hair, it was cut short haphazardly after I suffered some misfortune!"
I am Qi Yun, an orphan. My hometown was struck by a plague, and I am the only one left in the whole village!

With no relatives or friends around, I wandered aimlessly and stumbled into this godforsaken place!

"If it weren't for your chivalrous intervention, I'd probably be stuffed like dumpling filling by now!"

"The young man is all alone in this world, like a rootless duckweed."

To meet the Taoist master today is truly an incredible stroke of luck!

The Taoist priest possesses great supernatural powers, able to come and go freely in that place; he must be a highly accomplished Taoist!

I humbly beg you, sir, to have your mercy and take me in!
If you would not deign to accept me as your disciple, I would gladly become your apprentice, serving you tea and water, leading your horse and setting your stirrups—I would do so without hesitation!

After saying that, he knelt down on the ground and banged his forehead heavily on the ground.

Qi Yun was new to this place and knew nothing about it. In addition, the existence of a ghost market in this world meant that it must be a dangerous place.

Now that he has encountered this straw-hatted man who can move freely in the ghost market, he naturally will not miss the opportunity and immediately becomes his disciple!
Upon hearing this, the man in the straw hat raised his white eyebrows sharply, his anger subsided, and was replaced by deep surprise and doubt.

He scrutinized Qi Yun, who was kneeling on the ground, his gaze sharp as if trying to see through him: "Oh? A vagrant without a teacher or mentor? He hasn't even opened his eyes or meridians, yet he managed to stumble into the Ghost Market and still remain conscious for a moment in such a dangerous place... How strange! How bizarre!"

He pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing the truth of Qi Yun's words and his strangeness.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, his tone much gentler: "I see... It seems I misunderstood you before."

Well then, it's fate that we met. Our meeting in the Ghost Market can be considered a bit of destiny.

But the process of taking on a master and accepting a disciple is not child's play; how can it be done so hastily?

He paused, watching the light of hope quickly dim in Qi Yun's eyes, then changed the subject, "Since you have nowhere to go and the road ahead is fraught with danger, then come with me for now. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, we'll see what fate has in store for you!"

"Thank you so much, sir! Thank you so much for taking me in!"

Qi Yun was overjoyed and kowtowed several times before getting up.

"Keep up! Remember, from now on, keep your mouth shut! No matter what you see or hear, don't utter a sound! Don't fall behind even for a moment!"

The man in the straw hat suddenly became extremely stern.

He lowered his straw hat again and picked up the lantern.

Qi Yun nodded quickly, held his breath, and followed closely behind the man in the straw hat, two steps behind.

His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the lantern.

The dim yellow light struggled to create a small area of ​​visibility in the thick fog. Even more peculiar was a dark yellow talisman with slightly worn edges pasted on the lantern wall. The cinnabar runes were faintly visible in the firelight, exuding an indescribable spiritual charm.

What surprised Qi Yun the most was that the tiny flame inside the lantern was not constant.

Whenever they reached a crossroads or went deeper into the fog, the flame would be drawn by an invisible wind and tilt slightly in a certain direction! The man in the straw hat would then follow the direction the flame had tilted without hesitation, as if that faint flame was the only lighthouse in the darkness.

"This...this is the Taoist secret technique of guiding the way? Using talismans as a guide and flames to show the way?"

Qi Yun was deeply shocked, filled with awe and curiosity about the mysterious man in the bamboo hat and the unknown road ahead.

He bit his lip hard, suppressing his many questions, and focused even more intently on the lantern, following it step by step.

The fog was as thick as ink, and there was a deathly silence.

The road beneath my feet seemed endless, with only the thick, impenetrable darkness beyond the glow of the lanterns.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the fog ahead seemed to thin out a bit, and the outline of a huge mansion suddenly appeared beside the road!

The fact that this house was located in the middle of nowhere was itself extremely eerie.

The tall, blue-brick walls appeared sinister and heavy in the mist. The two huge black lacquered wooden doors were tightly closed, with two ferocious beast heads on the door knockers. The copper rings were covered with rust, like congealed blood scabs.

Above the lintel, two large white paper lanterns also hung, their pale light illuminating the stone steps in front of the door. The cracks in the stones were covered with dark green moss, damp and as if they had never dried.

The entire house exuded a musty, cold atmosphere.

The man in the straw hat ignored him and walked straight past the eerie gate of the mansion without pausing.

Qi Yun suppressed the chill surging in his heart, lowered his head, and followed closely.

Just as the two of them reached the front of the huge black door.

"Squeak, creak!"

A sickeningly loud creaking sound of a door hinge turning rang out without warning!
The two incredibly heavy black lacquered doors slowly opened a crack inwards on their own!
A chilling, dusty, and decaying smell wafted out from the crack in the door, even colder than outside.

Immediately afterwards, an extremely gentle and enchanting female voice drifted from the darkness behind the crack in the door:
"The night dew is heavy, and the journey is not easy... Your two distinguished guests... Why don't you come in and rest for a while? Hot soup will warm you up... and a soft couch will help you sleep!"

The voice, as if hooked, pierced straight into the depths of Qi Yun's mind.

An indescribable weariness and longing instantly enveloped him, as if the darkness behind the door was a warm and comfortable haven, and all his exhaustion was calling him to go inside.

However, the moment this thought arose, he felt a sudden burning sensation in his lower abdomen!
A scorching stream of air surged upwards instantly, reaching straight to the top of the head!
"Hiss!" Qi Yun gasped, instantly snapping back to reality! It was the Crimson Hunting Fire!
Having learned from the experience of the Ghost Market, how could Qi Yun dare to hesitate even for a moment?

He bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain mixed with a burning warmth, completely dispelling the alluring voice in his mind.

He stared intently at the man in the straw hat's heel, not daring to move an inch, and even lowered his head further.

The man in the straw hat ahead did not hesitate at all, as if he had not heard the sound at all.

But beneath his bamboo hat, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly upwards, unnoticed by anyone, and a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes: "Indeed! His innate primordial spirit is so powerful that it can actually resist such bewitching ghostly sounds... This child... may truly be a rough gem."

The two continued walking, quickly leaving the gloomy mansion behind.

The fog seemed even thicker.

(End of this chapter)