Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Chapter 87 Ups and Downs, Mysterious and Wonderful

Team leader Zheng shook his head, took out his walkie-talkie, and began to call for reinforcements.

The villagers were led out by the men in hats. Some cried and wailed, some were dejected, and some kept looking back at their own doors as they walked.

The man selling counterfeit liquor was particularly reluctant to part with his empty jars, turning back every few steps until Uncle Hat gently nudged him into submission.

After two hours of commotion, the village noise finally quieted down.

Liao Zhong breathed a sigh of relief. By the time he strolled back to the ravine where the children had gathered, it was already getting dark.

Old Meng had just stood up from beside the last child, taken off his glasses to wipe them, and put them back on. His forehead was covered in sweat, and the back of his work clothes was soaked.

Wang Zhenqiu immediately leaned in, his eyes sparkling: "Brother Meng, can you teach me that technique? The one where you just stick it to the back and suck out the Gu poison, it's so cool!"

Old Meng took a half step back: "This requires the ability to communicate with microorganisms, and it's not something that can be learned so easily."

"Then just consider it taking me on as an apprentice," Wang Zhenqiu persisted. "I learn things very quickly. Look at my face, how sincere it is!"

Old Meng took another half step back.

Wang Zhenqiu moved forward again.

Liao Zhong was walking back from the village when Old Meng saw him, as if he were a savior. He rushed over, shouting, "Old Liao! We've treated all the ones we could. There are four left!"

He pointed to four children sitting alone at the edge of the valley, with a large space around them.

Liao Zhong nodded; he had already arranged for people to allocate supplies.

Four small isolation tents were quickly set up, each equipped with a simple vital signs monitor.

The four children were carefully carried inside, one in each tent.

Two large tents were also set up around the perimeter of the main tent for staff to rest.

Liao Zhong glanced at his watch and said to Lao Meng, "Go to sleep first, I'll wake you up in the middle of the night."

Old Meng shook his head: "I'll keep watch. The others don't understand the Gu, and they won't be able to deal with any changes."

.

"That's precisely why I can't let you stay up all night," Liao Zhong said firmly. "If you collapse from exhaustion, who will provide for the children's follow-up treatment? Go to sleep, I'll take over for the second half of the night."

Old Meng pushed up his glasses and stopped arguing. He crawled into the tent, not even taking off his shoes, and within two minutes of lying down, his breathing became heavy.

Xia He yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Little Taoist priest, where are we sleeping tonight?"

Cheng Mo looked around.

Cheng Mo looked at the remaining two tents, both of which were occupied by people from Na Du Tong, so there were clearly no empty seats.

"Go back to the village and find an empty house."

Xia He immediately perked up and grabbed Cheng Mo, heading back.

Wang Zhenqiu immediately followed, saying, "I'm going back too. The wind in this mountain valley is too strong; it's making my scalp tingle."

The three men sneaked into the village in the dark.

The village was quiet, with only the occasional patrolman passing by, his flashlight casting a cold white arc in the night.

Cheng Mo pushed open the door to an empty room.

The room was fairly clean, with a bed, table, chairs, and a water tank—everything you could need.

He stepped aside to let Xia He in, then crossed the threshold and pulled her back with his hand.

The door slammed shut against Wang Zhenqiu's nose with a dull thud.

Wang Zhenqiu covered his nose and took two steps back: "You two traitors!"

The door creaked open from the inside.

Cheng Mo stood through the crack in the door, looking down at him.

Wang Zhenqiu immediately put on a bright smile and took a step back: "You've chosen a very good place to stay. You two should get some rest. I won't disturb you any longer."

The door closed again.

Wang Zhenqiu made a face at the door panel, stood on the empty village road, and looked up at the sky.

The stars are so bright, I turn around and wander off to find my own cozy nest.

Inside the room, Xia He took out her toiletries one by one from her pouch: toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, face wash, and moisturizer, and arranged them in a row on the table.

Looking at the results in front of her, Xia He clapped her hands in satisfaction, and then pulled Cheng Mo to start practicing.

After several days of travel, this was the first time the two had practiced martial arts. They instantly entered a state of deep concentration, experiencing an unprecedented level of comfort. Amidst the rises and falls, the two seemed to be completely in sync, entering a state of profound tranquility.

After a long while, they finished their work.

Xia He let out a long breath, which had a slightly fishy smell.

Xia He covered her nose in disgust: "Huh?! What is this?"

Cheng Mo took a half step back: "It's probably because the remnants of the poison weren't cleaned up properly after I was poisoned during the day."

Xia He turned her head and glared at him: "Why are you hiding so far away?"

Cheng Mo casually picked up his toothbrush, squeezed on the toothpaste, and began brushing his teeth.

Xia He sullenly squeezed next to him, picked up her own toothbrush, and the two stood side by side in front of the sink, brushing their teeth in front of the same mirror.

Xia He mumbled, "Ask the greedy dog?"

Cheng Mo spat out a mouthful of white foam, rinsed his mouth, and wiped his mouth with a towel: "I want to go with those kids."

Xia He nearly shoved her toothbrush down her throat: "Huh? Kariwao?"

Cheng Mo blew out bubbles: "What did you say?"

Xia He forcefully spat out the foam from her mouth, rinsed her toothbrush with water, and glared at him: "I mean, are you really that responsible?"

Cheng Mo hung up the towel: "It's not just a matter of responsibility. I've discovered that Gu is very magical. I originally thought it should be like Qi, something I couldn't sense, but actually I can sense it and am affected by it—"

Xia He was startled: "You were affected? You were perfectly fine, weren't you?"

"My detoxification function is stronger than yours," Cheng Mo said. "Look, I was quite close to those kids today, and apart from feeling uncomfortable as if I had oil on my skin, I didn't feel dizzy."

Xia He stopped brushing her teeth, washed the brush, and put it away. She leaned closer, her eyes sparkling, and asked, "How did you sense it?"

Cheng Mo thought for a moment: "It's like being covered in oil, very uncomfortable, but not to the point of making you dizzy."

Xia He frowned, trying hard to imagine what it would feel like to be covered in oil.

I can't think of anything.

She gave up: "I can't understand. Little Taoist, you are indeed extraordinary. I think you should be categorized into your own category. 'Extraordinary' is not enough to describe you."

Cheng Mo looked at her with droopy eyelids: "————I'm being serious with you."

Xia He straightened her back: "I'm being serious with you too."

Cheng Mo kept his eyelids drooping.

Xia He gave in: "Okay, I'll ask you something serious—are you planning to plant a Gu worm inside yourself?"

"I'm not that crazy," Cheng Mo said. "I just want to use Lao Meng's scientific theories to interpret this unique creature, Gu, and see if it can be connected with Qi."

Xia He tilted her head and thought for a moment.

"Okay, you've made up your mind." She stretched. "Then let's stay here for now. I also want to wait and see if the children can all find their way home."

"What do you plan to do if you can't find a home?" Cheng Mo asked. "Adopt one?"

Xia He waved her hands repeatedly: "Then there's no need. My parents have already gone through a lot to raise me, so I don't want to cause them any more trouble."

After she finished speaking, she stood up, placed their toothbrushes side by side, and went to wash her feet.

After washing their faces and feet, the two went to bed separately, each in their own room.

This is someone else's house; it's not appropriate to move the bed into another room.

The sound of footsteps from the night watchmen could be heard outside the window, along with the occasional crackling of a walkie-talkie.

Xia He suddenly called out, "Little Taoist priest."

"Um."

The soundproofing in this room is so-so; you can hear it even if you don't speak very loudly.

She asked softly, "Do you think those children will be able to find their way home?"

Cheng Mo stared at the ceiling: "————Let's find as much as we can."

Xia He didn't say anything more.

After a while, his breathing became even and long.