Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

"I was puzzled at first too," Gao Lian explained. "I said, Master Cheng came on his master's orders, so of course we should thank him. But since Chairman Zhao came all this way in person, there's no need for that."

Cheng Mo nodded: "That's right, thanking my master is enough. Just ask the company to help contact the telecom operator and get the Liangyi Temple connected to the internet for us."

Gao Lian waved his hand: "I'll handle this with Hua Feng."

He changed the subject: "But as Chairman Zhao mentioned earlier about Master Xie Xiaocheng, it was Master Cheng who asked you to come and help."

Cheng Mo suddenly realized, "Oh, is that so? I was wondering why Master had no connection with that knife, so why was I sent here?"

He took a piece of pastry, popped it into his mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed it. "But thanks to this, I've found a good disciple for my master. No need for thanks."

"That's what I think too." Gao Lian smiled. "Erzhuang is now Master Cheng's disciple, so we and Master Cheng are like family."

He took a card out of his pocket, placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it in front of Cheng Mo.

"So, I helped Master Cheng retrieve the thank-you gift the company gave him. Since other things were inconvenient to carry, I exchanged them all for profit sharing."

He pointed to the card: "One ten-thousandth of our Northeast division's annual revenue will be deposited into this card. Just don't think it's too little, Master Cheng."

Cheng Mo put the card away and tucked it into his pocket.

He certainly wouldn't mind having too little.

The express delivery business has a long way to go. Considering the scale of companies like STO Express, YTO Express, ZTO Express, and Yunda Express, their annual revenue is in the hundreds of billions. Even one ten-thousandth of that is several million.

We can first replace some equipment in the temple, and then gradually repair the roads in the old villages around Liangyi Temple.

Remembering what Gao Lian had said about needing to confirm, he asked curiously, "Old Gao, do you know what happened with the person who killed the Tang Clan member? Was he originally one of Zhou's men, or was he controlled as a puppet?"

In the world of supernatural beings, there are all sorts of strange and bizarre abilities. A knife can control and brainwash the person wielding it, and it's not uncommon for someone to be controlled by another person.

Gao Lian sighed, but before he could speak, he did.

Liu Yun, standing nearby, blurted out, "Hey, that guy is still an unpaid employee at our company."

She lowered her voice, her face full of gossip: "I heard that he was adopted by that sorcerer surnamed Zhou when he was young and was arranged to join the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect. Then, after this whole thing, the entire Northeast branch's performance was dragged down by that guy."

Gao Lian quickly interrupted Liu Yun, glaring at her: "Stop rambling on about those unfounded things!"

Turning to Cheng Mo, he explained, "Lin Rufeng and the company only have a cooperative relationship, and it's just a case of revenge between supernatural beings; it doesn't involve ordinary people. It's just that the people killed this time are a bit special, involving several Japanese people who entered the country, which is why it's so troublesome."

Gao Lian certainly couldn't tell Cheng Mo everything.

Even his reports to the board of directors required him to polish them several times.

This way of saying it satisfies Cheng Mo's curiosity and also allows the company to spread the word through Cheng Mo's mouth—to minimize the company's impact on this matter and distance itself from it.

If the Tang Clan ever wants to bring this up again, they should go to the prison themselves and seek revenge on Lin Rufeng.

As for the diplomatic impact on Japan, the company will just leave it at that. At worst, they'll hold a friendly exchange conference between Chinese and Japanese people, put Lin Rufeng on the stage, and let everyone settle their scores.

Cheng Mo asked casually, not expecting Gao Lian to give a serious answer.

Now it's time to get down to business.

"I'll take Erzhuang back to Liangyi Temple tomorrow." He looked at Gao Lian, "Old Gao, if you have any instructions, just say them."

Gao Lian looked at Er Zhuang and cleared his throat: "Er Zhuang, when you get to the mountain, be obedient, practice your skills diligently, and don't cause trouble for your senior brother. Also, don't forget to call your mother."

Liu Yun chimed in from the side, "Also, don't be picky about food, and learn to wash your own clothes. Don't rely on your senior brother for everything."

Erzhuang puffed out his little chest proudly: "I know, I know! I'm a grown man now!"

Liu Yun rolled her eyes at her: "How old are you? Seven!"

"Seven and a half years old!" Erzhuang corrected.

"Seven and a half years old is still seven years old!"

The mother and daughter exchanged a few words, and Liu Yun suddenly remembered: "By the way, did you bring enough clothes? Spring is cold in Northeast China, and it's not much warmer in Shaanxi either."

Erzhuang clapped his hands proudly: "I've got everything ready!"

I have both spring and autumn clothes; they're all in my senior's car.

The little girl was reliable enough not to expose her phlegm.

Liu Yun wanted to say something, but Gao Lian pulled her aside: "Alright, the child is all packed, so don't worry about it."

After chatting for a while, the group went out to eat.

We found a Northeastern Chinese restaurant near the neighborhood and ordered a table full of dishes. Erzhuang ate with grease on his face, his chopsticks never stopping.

After dinner, Gao Lian took Cheng Mo and Xia He to the Na Du Tong guesthouse.

Although it's called a guesthouse, its facilities are better than most hotel standard rooms—air conditioning, hot water, private bathroom, and the sheets and blankets are all newly changed, clean and tidy.

Gao Lian and Liu Yun, holding Er Zhuang's hand, stood at the door and said goodbye to Cheng Mo and the other two.

Gao Lian and Liu Yun, holding Er Zhuang's hand, stood at the door and said goodbye to Cheng Mo and the other two.

Erzhuang waved his little hand: "Goodbye, senior brothers and sisters! See you tomorrow!"

After the family of three left, Xia He glanced at the time—it wasn't even eight o'clock yet.

She tugged at Cheng Mo's sleeve: "Little Taoist priest, want to go for a stroll?"

"OK."

The two left the guesthouse and walked slowly along the street.

In March, the night wind in Fengtian was still cool, but it wasn't biting when it blew on your face.

The willow trees along the street have sprouted new buds, which look tender yellow when the streetlights shine on them.

Across the street, the neon lights at the mall entrance were on, red, yellow, and blue, reflecting on the faces of pedestrians.

The food cart selling kebabs was emitting white smoke, and the aroma of cumin wafted over.

The couple walked hand in hand, the girl's laughter ringing out.

Taxis arrived one after another, their headlights leaving long streaks of light on the asphalt road.

As you turn the corner, the shadows of the old buildings loom overhead, while warm yellow light shines from their windows.

The sound of a train whistle drifted from afar, a long, drawn-out whine.

Xia He linked arms with Cheng Mo, rested her head on his shoulder, and walked slowly.

After walking around for a while, we bought two skewers of candied hawthorn, one for each of us, and ate them as we walked back.

Back at the guesthouse, they practiced the Longevity Exercise twice, calmed themselves down, and went to sleep.

……

The next morning.

Cheng Mo and Xia He drove to the entrance of Cuihu Garden Community, where Gao Lian and Liu Yun were already waiting with Er Zhuang.

Several bulging bags were piled up at my feet.

Gao Lian was wearing a jacket, his hair was neatly combed, but his eyes were a little red.

Liu Yun looked quite energetic, wearing a gray sweater, her hair tied up, and a scarf around her neck.

Cheng Mo got out of the car, took the bag, and put it in the trunk.

Erzhuang stood by the car, and Gaolian squatted down to straighten her collar: "When we arrive at Liangyi Temple, listen to your master's words carefully."

Erzhuang nodded.

"Don't be lazy when practicing your skills."

Erzhuang nodded again.

"Call your dad if you miss home."

Erzhuang nodded again, then added, "Dad, you've said it three times already."

Gao Lian choked for a moment, then stood up.

Liu Yun bent down and hugged Erzhuang, kissing her on the forehead: "Eat well and practice your skills well."

Erzhuang snuggled into her arms and said, "Okay, Mom."

Xia He opened the back door, and Er Zhuang climbed in and fastened his seatbelt.

The car window rolled down, and she leaned out, shouting, "Goodbye, Mom! Goodbye, Dad!"

Liu Yun waved, and Gao Lian waved back.

Cheng Mo started the car and slowly drove out of the residential area.

In the rearview mirror, Gao Lian was still standing in the same spot, his hand raised and not lowered.

The car turned the corner, got onto the main road, and disappeared from sight.

Liu Yun let out a long sigh of relief, her tone relaxed: "Finally, I feel relieved."

Gao Lian wiped away tears beside him, saying, "They're all gone, I'm all alone now, sob sob."

Liu Yun turned to look at him, rolling her eyes: "What, am I not a person?"

Gao Lian was stunned for a moment, then quickly wiped away his tears, put his arm around Liu Yun's shoulder, and chuckled twice: "My dear wife, my dear wife, it's good to have a companion in old age."

Liu Yun slapped his hand away: "Dexing."

Gao Lian put his arm around her and walked back, but in his heart he was lamenting—

Without two daughters to share the workload, things will get tough in the future...