I'm Ximen Qing, living in a ghost story!

"Hiss, my son! This is the talisman personally written by that Daoist Guyun!?"

Simon carefully wrapped the stack of talismans tightly in a brocade box and silk, and asked in a trembling voice.

Although he had a superficial relationship with several female elders of the Naked Sect, he couldn't access any resources when it came to matters of the cultivation world.

Even the "method of fierce battle" was given to Simonda because the other party wanted the toy to last longer.

Those high and mighty outsiders look at ordinary mortals as if they were ants.

Didn't you hear what Gu Yunzi said? Even the county government doesn't have any talisman reserves. Only prefectures and counties are qualified to have Gu Yunzi supply them.

Moreover, Gu Yunzi was merely a discarded disciple of Laoshan at the mid-stage of the acquired realm!

Although Qing Songzi boasted about his master, given Ximen Qing's experience and understanding over two lifetimes, this acquired realm sounded like cannon fodder among cannon fodder.

However, jokes aside, these talismans are indeed his only means of dealing with ghosts and demons so far.

Well, if it's a female ghost, then there are only two.

"With these talismans, we are much more confident in dealing with the Naked Cult's retaliation."

Ximen Qing said firmly.

At that moment, the afternoon sun shone on his face, making it glow.

"My son, now that you've caught the eye of that Daoist Guyun, our family can seek protection from Laoshan Temple, so we don't need to run away anymore, right?"

Simon looked at the talisman and hesitated. After all, he had a large family and business, and it was hard to give it up.

"Father! How could you think like that? Putting aside why Gu Yunzi would protect our family, just tell me, if Daoist Gu Yunzi knew our background, wouldn't he turn around and treat our family as remnants of an evil sect, eliminating us all?"

Ximen Qing shook his head and explained to his father.

"That's true, Father misunderstood."

Simon suddenly realized.

"Oh, by the way, that kid Zhu Xiaolian came by. He brought three cartloads of the finest satin, which can be considered..."

"Master! Young master! Yet another messenger has arrived! It's Clerk Bai from the county government, saying the county magistrate requests your presence!"

"Would you like to invite just the two of us, father and son?"

"yes!"

ha?

It never stops, day after day!

Ximen Qing inwardly grumbled.

However, he knew in his heart that this was bound to happen sooner or later. Putting aside his engagement with Nie Xiaoqian, he had also genuinely eliminated a potential threat to the county last night. It would be really unreasonable not to be named one of the "Top Ten Outstanding Youths of Guobei County".

Sigh! Perhaps this is the price of showing off.

If he had a choice, he would still prefer to be just Ximen Qing, playing with the ladies of the brothel under the grape trellis.

Half an hour later, Ximen Qing, who had just arrived home and hadn't even had a chance to sit down properly, reappeared in the backyard of the county government office.

County Magistrate Nie Yunhai, dressed in casual clothes, had been waiting for a long time.

"Oh, Master Ximen has arrived?"

Nie Yunhai looked at Simon Da across from him with a smile on his face, showing no trace of the perfunctory attitude he had shown yesterday.

Simonda, with a sincere expression, began exchanging pleasantries.

After exchanging greetings, Ximen Qing stepped aside, refusing to participate in the adults' tedious small talk, and listlessly looked around.

Guobei County was a prosperous commercial county with a lot of tax revenue, so the backyard behind the county government office was quite bustling and even bigger than his own house.

They even built a garden and brought in a tributary of the Zhanghe River outside the city, creating a unique landscape.

Among them, the artificial mountains and jade stones, pavilions and towers, and bamboo forests are extremely elegant.

But why is there a head on that artificial hill? No, there are two!

Ximen Qing rubbed his eyes and looked again.

But they have vanished without a trace.

"Young Master Ximen, you truly turned the tide last night, even managing to summon ghosts! I heard you just visited Laoshan Temple? Indeed, seeing is believing; now I realize the rumors about Young Master Ximen in the city were wrong!"

At that moment, Nie Yunhai spoke to Ximen Qing.

"Not at all, Your Excellency is too kind."

Ximen Qing cupped his hands in response, saying, "It was my predecessor who had a bad reputation, what does that have to do with me? I'm a fine young man!"

"Hehe, look at you, Master Ximen, your son is still too modest, hiding everything. If it weren't for Abbot Yuantong of Lanruo Temple coming to plead for him this morning, I wouldn't have known that Young Master Ximen actually has a close relationship with Abbot Yuantong!"

Nie Yunhai's impression of the "humble" Ximen Qing improved even more, and he stroked his beard while praising him.

"Abbot Yuantong?" Ximen Da stared wide-eyed at his son, looking at him with a puzzled expression, asking with his eyes, "When did you get involved with Lanruo Temple?"

Ximen Qing was taken aback. What? Lanruo Temple? Abbot Yuantong? Is there an abbot named Yunda?

I don't recognize you!

In his meager memory, the only connection the original owner had with Abbot Yuantong of Lanruo Temple was when he went to Yihong Courtyard for drinks. A young lady there said she had been blessed by Abbot Yuantong and needed to pay extra, so the original owner chased her away.

This is such an unrelated thing!

His intuition told him that there was definitely something wrong here!

Ximen Qing looked at Nie Yunhai and said, "This... this junior truly does not know..."

"Ah! I understand! Reclusive masters don't like to get involved in worldly affairs. Young Master Ximen is able to attract the favor of Buddhist and Taoist masters, so he must be a person of high moral character. I will definitely not pry into his background, and you don't need to say anything more!"

Nie Yunhai immediately stopped Ximen Qing's "explanation," winked at him, and said in a very considerate manner, as if to say, "I understand."

Ximen Qing opened his mouth weakly, unable to utter a single question he had prepared, so he could only ask, "May I ask what business Your Excellency has with my father and me?"

"Well... to be honest, I was new here and didn't know the local customs. I believed the rumors and had a prejudice against Young Master Ximen. So, the matter between our two families remained unresolved. But when I met him yesterday, I found that Young Master Ximen has a righteous air between his brows, a dignified appearance, and is also brave and decisive. He is truly a good match for my daughter..."

Before Nie Yunhai could finish speaking, Simon Da, his face beaming with joy, leaped up like a bear, rubbing his hands excitedly: "What does Your Excellency mean?"

"Indeed, I think we should choose a date to finalize the marriage..."

As Nie Yunhai spoke, he looked at Ximen Qing in front of him.

What prompted him to make this decision was certainly not being charmed by Ximen Qing yesterday.

It was because of the endorsement of Monk Yuantong and Guyunzi.

Abbot Yuantong's Lanruo Temple is a subordinate temple of the Wutai School, which is known as the foremost unorthodox school and the leader of Buddhism.

Master Guyunzi is a legitimate member of the immortal family with official backing, rarely seen by ordinary people, yet everyone favors this young man.

This potential stock is worth seizing.

Besides, he knew his daughter well. If he really found Xiaoqian a bookish nerd with a promising future, she wouldn't be happy. Now it seems that Ximen Qing is just right.

Just when Nie Yunhai thought he had a sure profit—

From behind the artificial hill in the distance, a girl in white rushed out, grabbed Ximen Qing at top speed, and ran away.

Only Ximen Qing's voice, fading into the distance, remained: "Miss Xiaoqian! Please have some self-respect!"