Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 182 Leaving the Town to Search for the Dragon
It was dawn the next day.

Fang Shu, unusually, did not spend the whole night cultivating, but instead lay on his own bed and rested quietly for half the night.

As he stretched and leisurely got up, he heard noises outside the yard, as if several people were talking.

Pushing open the door, he saw his second uncle, the talisman master Li Yuan, the old lady Jiao from next door, and Li Hou'er squatting to the side.

The four of them ate their breakfast while glancing at the back room where Dou Sufu was, whispering and discussing among themselves:
"It's strange today. It's almost noon, and Dou Meizi still hasn't opened her door. When I went out to buy food earlier, many neighbors asked me about it."

Talisman Master Li Yuan muttered to himself as he slurped down a bowl of soy milk, then frowned and smacked his lips: "It's too bland. Compared to Sister Dou, it's far inferior."

"Oh, Brother Fang is awake."

Upon seeing this, Li Hou'er immediately greeted him warmly and casually tossed him a fried dough cake.

Fang Shu didn't stand on ceremony, took the food, and squatted down by the door, basking in the sun while slowly munching on it.

He had actually met with several people in the courtyard before, and last night he even invited everyone from the tenement to join him for a banquet, so they weren't exactly strangers.

After paying a brief greeting to Fang Shu, the group continued eating their breakfast and chatting idly.

Second Uncle Yu Le smacked his lips and said, "That is indeed strange. During the banquet last night, Dou Meizi was the first to leave. She said she had to come back to prepare for the business the next day. No matter what I said, she was unwilling to stay any longer."

Just then, a clanging sound rang out, coming from the back room.

The group looked in the direction of the sound and saw the door open, revealing Dou Sufu's figure.

There were still red marks around her eyes, probably from crying too much last night. But what surprised them even more was Dou Sufu's attire today.

The woman was dressed in plain clothes, without any makeup, and her hair was adorned with no hairpins or other ornaments, replaced by a white ribbon.

This outfit, no matter how you look at it, looks like someone wearing mourning clothes.

The people in the courtyard looked at each other, wanting to ask something, but worried about touching on Dou Sufu's painful memories.

Finally, it was Old Lady Jiao who took the initiative to call out, "Little Dou, since you're not doing business today, come and have a few bites."

It's rare for Li Yuan to actually buy breakfast.

To Fang Shu and the others' surprise, Dou Sufu, upon hearing the greeting, showed no hesitation or shyness whatsoever, and readily replied, "Coming!"

The woman quickly washed her hands, walked into the courtyard, greeted the group, took the fried dough cakes, and began to devour them.

The people in the courtyard stared blankly at her movements, vaguely sensing that Dou Sufu seemed to have undergone a major change compared to yesterday.

Finally, the talisman master Li Yuan couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Sister, what's going on...?"

Dou Sufu smiled and said directly, "Wearing mourning clothes."

Apart from Fang Shu, the others felt even more strange seeing her admit it so readily, because they didn't see any trace of sorrow in her. Instead, she seemed relieved, as if she had been freed from something.

To Fang Shu's surprise, Dou Sufu glanced at the neighbors and immediately recounted what had happened the previous night.

That's all for now.

"Pah!" Li Hou'er, who was half-squatting, immediately spat the pancake in his mouth onto the ground and stomped on it with his foot: "What a heartless man, why bother with him! Hey... Father, why did you hit me?"

Talisman Master Li Yuan glared at Li Hou'er and snorted, "Knock you? You're wasting my food. I want you to pick it up and eat it."

Li Hou'er glanced at the ground and remained silent. He was earning more than his father now, but there was nothing he could do; his father's tyranny had been established for so long that he couldn't be bothered to say anything more.

The others in the courtyard then began to persuade Dou Sufu:

“Since he is such a heartless man, why bother to wear mourning clothes for him, Sister Dou? Just pretend he’s already dead.”

"Yes! That makes sense."

Fang Shu, who was among them, nodded repeatedly.

Upon hearing this, Dou Sufu, who knew Dou Sufu well, sighed and said:

"To be honest, I'm thinking back on last night. The more I think about it, the more I feel that person is both like my dead husband and not like him. Perhaps it was someone else returning something." Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other again, and Fang Shu's heart skipped a beat.

But the next moment.

Dou Sufu then said with relief:

"But whether it's him or not, whether he's a human or a ghost, I know the truth now. This matter ends here. He's truly dead to me."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, clearly indicating that she believed the latter was more likely.

Having learned the inside story, the people in the courtyard could no longer say anything more, only sighing softly. One said, "Fate plays tricks on people," while another said, "Living a good life is better than anything else."

Dou Sufu, comforted by everyone, said, "Please don't just comfort me. These past few days have been a good time for Brother Fang. I hope he won't feel unlucky because of what happened to me."

My mother will simply wear mourning clothes for him today, and that will be the end of it all. I hope Brother Fang will forgive me.”

Fang Shu stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Sister Dou, you're overthinking it."

He paused, then smiled and said, "Congratulations, sister, on breaking free from your shackles. You still have a long life ahead of you."

"That's right, that's right. How old are you? We're all from families that cultivate immortality. Don't overthink it."

Old Mrs. Jiao even said, "Gaiming, this old woman will find you another good family."

After a few words, the courtyard was filled with laughter and conversation, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Dou Sufu simply took a complete break from work today and didn't bother with her business anymore. She even started asking Old Lady Jiao for advice, subtly inquiring about whether the feng shui trade was profitable.

Fang Shu mingled among them and immediately felt the lively atmosphere, experiencing a unique ambiance different from that within the mountain gate.

During their conversation, he also learned where his neighbor, Jiao Lulu, whom he had never seen, had gone.

It turns out that this woman had already ascended to the immortal mountain.

However, the immortal sect that Jiao Lulu went to was not the Five Internal Organs Temple, so Fang Shu did not receive any letters in the mountains asking him to help take care of her.

This woman didn't seem to have gone to the Skin and Flesh Nunnery like Senior Sister Yu'er and the others; instead, she actually became a disciple of Rongyan Palace, the head of the Five Sects of Mount Lu.

Upon hearing this news, Fang Shu couldn't help but take a few more glances at Old Lady Jiao.

He always felt that this old lady must be quite accomplished and no ordinary old woman. Perhaps she was once a master of a martial arts school, but she came to Guling Town to spend her old age in peace.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Shu decided not to test the person out of excessive curiosity.

Anyway, the two of them, uncle and nephew, have been neighbors with the other party for almost ten years. Since their relationship is still good, there is no need to ask too much, lest it damage the relationship between the two families.

for the rest of the time.

Fang Shu would only return to the dojo occasionally, either to offer tea to his master or to give pointers to the disciples.

He spent most of his time in the courtyard, eating tofu when he was free, sweeping the yard when he was busy, and lying down to bask in the sun after eating and drinking his fill, living a very leisurely life.

But a few days later, it was time for him to go up the mountain.

Without disturbing too many people, he simply greeted his second uncle, Yu Le, and the owner of the inn, and then left Guling Town on his own.

After this parting, it will be many years before Fang Shu comes down the mountain to reunite with Fang Shu.

But neither his second uncle, Yu Le, nor the master of the pavilion showed any sadness. Instead, they smiled and wished him success in his cultivation soon.

However, it doesn't matter if you don't succeed; just remember to go back to town.

Leaving Guling Town.

Fang Shu had traveled halfway when he did not continue towards the mountain gate. Instead, he enthusiastically revisited the old place and came to the lead mine again.

He came here to search for the dragon vein and find the place where the Hu family ancestor passed away, and to explore the dragon vein in the mountain!
(End of this chapter)