Calabash Fairy

Chapter 105 The Donkey Taoist

Fang Yan was deep in thought when, just then, a green leaf fluttered in the wind and drifted past his eyes. Fang Yan felt something and the Eight Trigrams of the Primordial Chaos slowly appeared in his eyes.

The next moment, Fang Yan's gaze passed over the mountains and arrived at the road outside the ancient ferry city.

Several men were seen fast asleep beside a pile of firewood, their bundles serving as pillows.

A thin, somewhat dirty child, who looked no more than a thousand years old, was kneeling and praying to a gourd made of mud a short distance away, muttering something under his breath.

"Greatly compassionate and benevolent mountain god of Qingfeng Mountain, please help me..."

But soon, after the boy had been kneeling for a long time, when he raised his head again, the cold moonlight still shone on the grass swaying in the breeze around him, and everything was quiet, so nothing had happened.

The boy rose in disappointment, his face filled with dejection, and murmured, "Could it be that there are no mountain gods in the mountains...? But that old man clearly said that there really is a Qingfeng Mountain god who protects this area..."

After a moment, the boy seemed to have thought of something, his eyes lit up, and he became somewhat excited.

"That's right, it's incense! Dad once said that you have to offer incense when you worship the gods!"

"But...

The boy looked around, his expression turning dejected again. In this desolate wilderness, where could he find any fragrance...?

Soon, the innate Bagua in Fang Yan's eyes slowly disappeared, and he also learned all the information about the child.

"After my father went up the mountain to chop firewood, he fell ill for some unknown reason. This time, he came with several uncles from the village to fetch a doctor, but they returned empty-handed because they couldn't afford it..."

For him, calculating the affairs of mortals was extremely easy; he could know the ins and outs at a glance.

He also knew in his heart that the child's father hadn't contracted any disease, but rather had come into contact with a wandering spirit and had some of his yang energy drained away...

"This incident in the underworld is indeed more troublesome than I imagined..."

The people of Qingfeng Mountain live under his protection. With his incense and talismans and the statues of gods worshipped in every household, they have no need to worry about the existence of these wandering spirits, whether they are out or in the village.

However, not every region has the protection of local deities, so it's not surprising that such things happen.

Fang Yan recalled the child's tired face and innocent pleading voice, and sighed slightly in his heart.

Since they've come to him for help, how could he just stand by and watch?

Before long, Hei Yan, with a black snakeskin bag hanging around his neck, transformed into a streak of black light and swiftly left the Qingfeng Mountain area, disappearing into the night.

Outside the boundaries of Qingfeng Mountain.

The Kitchen God, dressed in a bright red robe, stroked his beard and smiled as he watched this scene. He heard the Taoist priest beside him praise, "Senior Kitchen God, you have keen eyes. This mountain god is truly benevolent. Only a deity with such virtue and ability can be worshipped by humankind for generations and enjoy incense offerings forever."

The Taoist priest, leading his donkey, stood outside the boundaries of Qingfeng Mountain, yet his eyes clearly reflected the mountain god temple on Qingfeng Mountain, where golden light was constantly rising.

The Kitchen God nodded with a smile, but in his heart he thought, "This person beside me doesn't possess Wen Yu's unique and mysterious 'Eyes of Heaven and Earth,' otherwise, if he knew that this person also possesses a Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams diagram within him..."

"Master Xu, did you come to the Ten Thousand Mountains this time for the sake of this Mountain God of Qingfeng Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, the image in the Taoist's eyes faded, and his vision cleared again. He looked at the Kitchen God and said with a carefree smile, "This humble Taoist did not come to the Ten Thousand Mountains for this mountain god. I only learned of his existence by chance in the ancient ferry city and became curious, which is why I came here."

"As you know, I've always enjoyed traveling around without a destination, going wherever I end up. But this time is a little different."

"I came to the Ten Thousand Mountains because I had a feeling in my heart. I came to find someone with whom I have a connection and ask if they are willing to travel with me to cultivate themselves."

As the Taoist priest spoke, his gaze drifted towards the direction of Mount Wuyou.

A few days later, as the mountain god festival ended, the village returned to its usual tranquility, and on Qingfeng Mountain, Fang Yan once again welcomed his old friend.

But this time, things are a little different...

"Fellow Daoist, are you preparing to leave the Ten Thousand Mountains and travel far with this senior?"

Behind Qingfeng Mountain, in a stone pavilion, Fang Yan looked at Shu Yu with surprise, then at the seemingly ordinary gray-robed Taoist priest leading a donkey not far away.

Of course, this person just looks ordinary...

Upon hearing this, Shu Yu on the opposite side nodded with a somewhat complicated expression and transmitted his voice, "Indeed, this is the senior Taoist who enlightened me more than eight hundred years ago."

Fang Yan nodded in realization, and then saw a slight sigh on Shu Yu's aged face. He said, "To be honest, Fellow Daoist, I was amazed by the speed of the Mountain Lord's cultivation in my early years. Fellow Daoist's cultivation speed is even faster than the Mountain Lord's. As I see you two going further and further ahead, I know that my talent is far inferior to yours. But at first, I couldn't help but feel impatient."

"Over the years, I've gradually come to realize that the Great Dao is not something I can pursue. If I can smoothly break through to the Great Demon realm in the future, that would already be excellent. My state of mind has gradually become more peaceful, but now..."

"For me, there was no chance before, but now that I have a chance, even if there is only a sliver of hope to hear the Great Dao, I still want to fight for it."

Seeing Shu Yu's resolute expression, Fang Yan understood that his old friend had made up his mind and had come to say goodbye.

"I see."

Fang Yan nodded solemnly, and with a wave of his hand, a spirit jade tea canister and a spirit jade wine pot floated in front of Shu Yu. He said solemnly, "Since you are about to embark on a long journey today, please take these with you as my farewell gift."

"This parting may be the last time we meet. The mountains are high and the rivers are far, so please take good care of yourself, fellow Daoist."

Shu Yu bowed respectfully to Fang Yan and said, "Shu Yu also wishes that your great path will last forever."

Seeing that the two had finished saying goodbye, the Taoist priest who was not far away chuckled and said, "Little Tree, you should take Ling'er down the mountain. I have some things to say to this young friend Fang."

Upon hearing this, Shu Yu nodded slightly to Fang Yan before going to the donkey and leading it down the mountain. In an instant, only Fang Yan and the Taoist remained around the stone pavilion.

"senior."

Fang Yan bowed to the Taoist priest, who smiled and waved his hand, then came to Fang Yan and said, "Young friend, there is no need for such formality. A virtuous deity like you who protects this region deserves to be treated with respect in any immortal sect, not to mention that I have some kind of fate with you."

As he spoke, the Taoist priest took out a jade tablet from his sleeve and placed it on the stone table.

"Young friend, don't be fooled by Xiaoshu's resolute tone. He's just overcomplicating things and lost his composure because of my appearance. I will guide him along the way, and you two will meet again in the future."

"I observe that you possess the pure Yang sword intent, yet you are quite different from those disciples of the Pure Yang Sect who are solely focused on learning from their ancestor's cultivation methods. Clearly, you have forged your own path, which is excellent."

"This jade tablet contains some of my insights into the way of the sword. I am giving it to you today in the hope that it will inspire you in your own sword practice."