Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

While waiting for their food, Gao Dazhuang asked, "You guys haven't been to Harbin before, have you?"

The two shook their heads.

Gao Dazhuang sighed, "It's actually a bit late now. There was the Ice and Snow Festival half a month earlier. The Ice and Snow World is really fun. My family spent the Spring Festival here last year. There's also a lantern festival and stuff. If you haven't been there, it's definitely worth experiencing."

Xia He listened, turned to look at Cheng Mo, and tugged at his sleeve: "Little Taoist, how about we bring Duoduo along to play next time?"

Cheng Mo smiled and said, "Okay."

The waiter brought over a large iron pot, in which sauerkraut, pork belly, and blood sausage were bubbling away. On the tray that followed were braised pork slices, stir-fried eggplant, potatoes, and green peppers, braised pork ribs, and a plate of golden-brown sweet and sour pork.

Cheng Mo picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork, took a bite—the outer shell was crispy, the sweet and sour sauce was evenly coated, and the meat inside was just the right amount of tender.

Xia He picked up a piece of blood sausage, dipped it in minced garlic, and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up: "This is delicious!"

She picked up another piece of stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers, chewed it, and nodded, "This is delicious too."

She ate one mouthful after another without interrupting her speech.

Cheng Mo picked up a piece of braised pork ribs; the meat fell off the bone with a single bite, and the sauce was incredibly flavorful. He couldn't help but comment: "The sweet and sour pork is perfectly balanced, with a crispy exterior. The stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers are cooked to perfection; the potatoes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the eggplant…"

Xia He interrupted him: "Little Taoist, why are you talking about all that? Eating is the most important thing."

Gao Dazhuang looked at Cheng Mo with some surprise: "I didn't expect you to know so much about food."

Xia He swallowed a mouthful of food and said proudly, "His cooking skills are amazing."

Gao Dazhuang became interested: "Then I must try it if I have the chance."

Cheng Mo picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth: "There will be a chance."

The group continued eating, their chopsticks never stopping.

A plate of sweet and sour pork was quickly emptied...

Before long, the table was empty.

Xia He leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach and letting out a satisfied sigh.

Gao Dazhuang waved to pay the bill, and the three of them left the store.

The snow was still falling on the street, a bit heavier than before.

Gao Dazhuang stamped his foot and stretched: "Let's go, we have nowhere to go anyway, I'll show you around Harbin."

Cheng Mo shook his head: "There's a place I'd like to visit first."

Gao Dazhuang was taken aback: "Where?"

Cheng Mo didn't explain much, hailed a taxi, and gave the driver an address.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of an old residential area.

The six-story red brick building has mottled walls, security bars on the windows, and some miscellaneous items piled up downstairs, with several bicycles parked crookedly against the wall.

Gao Dazhuang asked curiously, "Are your friends here?"

Cheng Mo shook his head: "We're not friends, but you can watch along later."

After saying that, he led the two into the apartment building.

The hallway was dimly lit, and the walls were covered with little GG stickers. The stair railings were rusty and creaked when stepped on.

Upon reaching the fourth floor, Cheng Mo stopped in front of a door.

dong dong dong.

There was no movement inside.

dong dong dong.

A young male voice came from inside, asking warily, "Who is it?"

Cheng Mo remained expressionless: "Check the water and gas meters, for fire safety inspection."

Xia He: "..."

Gao Dazhuang: "???"

There was silence for a few seconds, then nothing more.

dong dong dong.

The door creaked open a crack, revealing a face that looked to be in his early twenties.

The man, wearing a gray sweater, saw three people standing at the door. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he quickly stepped aside, saying, "I don't know where those things you're talking about are. You'll have to find them yourselves."

Cheng Mo glanced at him and asked, "You're not a resident here?"

The young man shook his head: "It's rented."

Cheng Mo held out his hand: "Could you please show me your ID card and the rental agreement?"

Xia He and Gao Dazhuang couldn't hold back any longer and both looked at Cheng Mo.

A flicker of doubt crossed the young man's face, but he said nothing and turned to go inside. A moment later, he returned with an ID card.

Cheng Mo took it, held the ID card up to his eyes, looked at it against the light, and then flipped it over to look at the back.

The ID card is an old-fashioned one, with worn edges and scratched lamination; the photo is black and white. The name on it is: He Yunchong.

The young man was about to turn around to find the lease agreement when Cheng Mo called out to him, "Wait a minute."

He Yunchong turned around.

Cheng Mo handed his ID card to him: "I'm sorry, there's something wrong with your ID card. Please come with us to the government office."

Xia He and Gao Dazhuang leaned over to take a look. Neither of them had ever seen that ID card before—how many years ago was this one?

Xia He was beginning to understand what Cheng Mo meant—this man had a problem.

But Gao Dazhuang still looked completely bewildered.

He Yunchong was stunned for two seconds, then became anxious: "Impossible! The elder personally gave it to me when I came out, there can't be a problem!"

Cheng Mo seized on the key words: "What the heck... Elder? You're not Chinese? You're from Japan?"

He Yunchong's face flushed red, and his voice rose eight octaves: "What makes you think I'm a Japanese devil? What about me looks like a Japanese devil?!"

Cheng Mo was speechless.

He stared at He Yunchong for three seconds.

This kid has a perfect accent and a standard appearance; he really doesn't have any of the characteristics of a Japanese person.

But what about that knife?

Cheng Mo glanced at the living room. In the corner, against the wall, was a knife rack with a Tang sword lying horizontally on it. The scabbard was black and had an antique style.

Which martial arts sect in China still uses the Tang sword?

Uh... wait a minute.

There is a reclusive sect that seems to use the Tang sword – the Penglai Night Blade.

Could this guy be from this sect?

He had initially calculated that the kid wouldn't want to come without the demon sword Hirumaru, but then he thought, this guy is a Japanese, so it's a good opportunity to tease him. But now it seems that's not the case at all.

Cheng Mo waved his hand: "Alright, alright, you're not a Japanese devil."

He pointed to the knife: "It's okay for you to keep the knife at home, but if you need to carry it when you go out, it can't be sharpened."

He Yunchong didn't say anything.

Cheng Mo walked towards the knife.

He Yunchong stepped forward and blocked his way.

Cheng Mo looked directly into his eyes: "That knife can't be sharpened, understand?"

He Yunchong stared at him for three seconds and nodded.

Cheng Mo patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction: "Very good. Now, go get your lease certificate. I'll find where the gas meter is in your house."

He Yunchong stared at him for three more seconds, then turned and went into the inner room.

Cheng Mo walked around the room, pretending to look at the gas meter and then the water meter, and noted down the numbers.

He Yun rushed out and handed the lease agreement to Cheng Mo.

Cheng Mo took it and looked at it. The contract was legitimate, the landlord was a local, and the lease term was three months.

He returned the ID card and contract to He Yunchong, reminding him, "This thing has expired. Go and renew it when you have time."

He Yunchong remained silent with a dark expression.

Cheng Mo waved to Xia He and Gao Dazhuang: "Let's go."

The three of them walked out of the residential building, and Xia He asked, "Is that the demon sword?"

Gao Dazhuang's eyes widened—she hadn't even considered that aspect.

Cheng Mo shook his head: "No. My martial uncle said he saw a man with a Tang sword at his waist passing by Changbai Mountain, so I followed that line and asked him in the inner world. I found out that the guy wasn't the one carrying the demon sword."

Gao Dazhuang: "??"

She couldn't understand Cheng Mo's line of thinking at all.

Xia He couldn't help but ask, "So, what are we here for?"

Cheng Mo sighed: "I originally thought he was a Japanese soldier looking for the Demon Sword, and I wanted to tease him, but when I found out he wasn't, I decided not to bother him."

Xia He was speechless: "Couldn't you have asked first before coming?"

Cheng Mo shrugged: "I stopped asking after I found out that the guy didn't have the demon sword. I just suddenly remembered it when I got here."

Xia He: "..."

Gao Dazhuang didn't understand and pressed further, "Cheng Mo, do you have other sources of information?"