The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

After leaving the shop, Wang Zhenhuan carried the two fish and headed out of town. According to what Widow Zhang had said earlier, the place where Old Sun lived was exactly opposite to Puji Temple.

Located in the woods south of Xiayi Town, it was a piece of wasteland he had cleared himself. Wang Zhenhuan walked south along the street, and soon the number of pedestrians around him gradually decreased.

After he left Xiayi, only people heading north remained on the road. Most of these people were emaciated and sallow-faced, and since it was winter, they huddled together and slowly made their way along the road.

Wang Zhenhuan stood by the roadside, sighed as he looked at the refugees, and was about to leave when he suddenly noticed a little girl, about half a year old, standing across the road, staring at the carp in his hand.

He stopped, thought for a moment, and then waved to the girl. The girl looked up at the woman behind her. The woman didn't speak, but simply gave her a gentle push.

She then smiled and quickly walked over. Upon reaching Wang Zhenhuan, she gave a proper curtsy and asked, "Daoist Master, are you selling this fish?"

Wang Zhenhuan noticed that although she looked tired, her quirky and clever personality was undeniable, and he immediately took a liking to the girl. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "This was a gift from someone."

Upon hearing Wang Zhenhuan's words, the girl's face immediately showed disappointment, and she whispered, "Oh, then I'll have to bother you, Daoist Master." With that, she turned around and prepared to go back.

"Wait, although it was a gift from someone, I can't finish both of these, so I'll give you one." Wang Zhenhuan gestured for her to stop. Although the girl was young, judging from her appearance, she must have not eaten for a long time.

However, she did not forget etiquette and bowed upon meeting. This alone shows that the young woman was of extraordinary status, at the very least the daughter of a wealthy family.

Since she was willing to speak, Wang Zhenhuan naturally had no reason to refuse. So he untied the straw rope and took off the smaller fish. Then he handed the remaining fish, along with the straw rope, to the girl.

The girl took the fish from Wang Zhenhuan and held it in her arms. Her eyes smiled like crescent moons, and she turned and ran towards the woman. Wang Zhenhuan stood up and watched her retreating figure, giving her some instructions.

"Be careful, the road is slippery, walk slowly!"

"Oh! Thank you, Taoist priest!" the girl called out as she walked. After returning to the woman's side, she happily held the fish in both hands and handed it to her.

The woman did not take the fish, but instead bowed deeply to Wang Zhenhuan and nodded. Only then did she take the fish, take the girl's hand, and bow again. Although she did not speak, her gratitude was evident.

Wang Huanzhen returned the greeting with a cupped hand and then said, "May you have boundless blessings. If you encounter any difficulties, Madam, you may come to the yamen in Xiayi Town to find me. I know Magistrate Sun."

"Master, you are merciful! I thank you!"

"Thank you for the fish, Taoist priest!" the girl called out cheerfully. Wang Zhenhuan smiled and waved, watching the two figures disappear around the corner before turning and walking along the path into the forest.

As soon as he entered the woods, a sense of familiarity welled up within him. Looking at the mountains, the trees, the grass, and the trees, he recalled the past. Once upon a time, he too had lived in seclusion in the mountains, eating wild fruits and drinking from mountain springs.

Those days were tough, but they were also the most carefree time of his life. If it weren't for the food running out and the lack of food on the mountain after winter, he probably wouldn't have left the mountain until after winter.

Wang Zhenhuan shook his head. Although only half a year had passed, his heart felt as if he had aged several years. Perhaps it was because he had experienced too much, or perhaps it was the improvement in his state of mind after entering the Dao.

In short, he rarely thinks about the past now, but today, the sight of the scene stirred up his emotions. First, he saw the mother and daughter fleeing from disaster, and then he entered the forest where Old Sun lived in seclusion, which reminded him of the past.

A person's state of mind always changes with their environment; few people can achieve a state of perfect tranquility. When life is peaceful, one's mood naturally becomes pleasant, and one focuses on living in the present moment each day.

If life is full of hardships and difficulties, people will inevitably reminisce about the past when they have free time. This is a common human failing. They are not reminiscing about the past, but about the carefree self they were in those days.

Wang Huanzhen trudged through the falling snow, following the footprints little by little. His shoes crunched and creaked underfoot, as if announcing a visitor's arrival.

Sure enough, just as he turned the corner, he saw an old man standing in a small wooden courtyard, holding a broom, looking in the direction he had come from. Upon seeing the old man, Wang Zhenhuan was momentarily stunned.

The reason was that this old man was none other than the same old man who had sat at the same table with him earlier at the widow's shop. Upon seeing his appearance, Wang Huanzhen immediately remembered him.

"Young Taoist priest, are you lost? I am the only one living in this forest," the old man asked Wang Huanzhen.

"No, I have come specifically to seek out a virtuous man. May I ask if you are Master Sun, the brewer?" Wang Zhenhuan smiled as he walked to the courtyard gate and looked at the old man through the low bamboo fence.

"There's no Master Sun who brews wine, but there is an old man named Sun who lives a retirement home. I just don't know if he's the person the young Taoist priest is looking for," the old man laughed and then spoke.

"I heard from the shopkeeper, Madam Zhang, that Old Sun really loves the carp from the Huai River. I brought one with me today to pay him a visit," Wang Zhenhuan said, raising the fish in his hand.

The fish had followed Wang Zhen for so long, and the weather was so cold, its vitality was already low. After flicking its tail, it didn't move again. Upon hearing this, the old man smiled and replied.

"In that case, please come in, Daoist!" With that, he put down the broom he was holding against the fence and opened the courtyard gate. Wang Zhenhuan nodded to him and then entered the courtyard.

After handing the fish to the old man, he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "To be honest, I came here on the recommendation of Madam Zhang. I specifically came to ask you for a pot of good wine. I hope you won't be stingy."

"Since it was Widow Zhang who introduced us, then it's easy to discuss. Although there isn't much good wine, it's more than enough to give the Taoist priest a pot." The old man laughed heartily, and then led Wang Zhenhuan into the house.

Wang Zhenhuan watched his retreating figure, narrowing his eyes. Earlier, in that shop, he hadn't been entirely sure. Now, at such close range, he saw him clearly.

There was indeed a faint aura of yin energy clinging to this old man. If Wang Zhen hadn't made a prior discovery and been more observant now, he might not have noticed this at all.

This gloomy aura doesn't seem like something someone in the family would unconsciously carry with them after death.

According to Wang Zhenhuan, there must be some kind of evil spirit causing trouble!