Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

After Elder Wudao's figure completely disappeared into the sea of ​​clouds over Laoshan Mountain, Lin Yan and Yun Xi took a short break to adjust their breathing. Once their spiritual energy had fully recovered, they bid farewell to the crystal-clear sea and followed the mountain path towards the fishing village of Qingdao Bay.

As noon approached, the outlines of the distant mountains became increasingly clear, and the entire panorama of the ancient fishing village of Qingdao Bay slowly unfolded before their eyes.

Qingdao Bay Fishing Village, nestled against the gently rolling hills of the Laoshan Mountains, is built in tiers along the mountainside. Houses are scattered along the slopes, their gray stone walls and brown seaweed roofs creating a rustic charm. Behind the village, tea plantations stretch across the hillsides, terraced fields winding their way up. Rows of tea bushes are lush and green, their tender buds rippling in the breeze, creating waves that seem to flow towards the horizon. The crisp aroma of tea mingles with the scent of mountain vegetation, carried for miles, mingling with the salty sea breeze to create a unique flavor. In front of the village lies the boundless Qingdao Bay, its narrow mouth gently lapping at the shore. The clear blue sea merges with the sky, shimmering in the sunlight. The wide mudflats are dotted with jagged rocks, and fishing boats of all sizes are moored along the shore, their sails half-furled, exuding the leisurely life of the fishermen. Palm trees stand gracefully at the entrances and exits of the village, along the corners of courtyards and the beach. Their broad palm leaves sway gently in the sea breeze, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone paths, adding a touch of gentle warmth to this fishing village.

The two walked along the stone path at the foot of the mountain into the village, finally glimpsing the bustling activity and tranquility of the fishing village. Under their feet lay the smooth, weathered cobblestone path, the narrow streets winding along the mountainside, no more than three or four feet wide. On both sides were granite houses built from locally sourced materials, the walls, constructed of stacked stones two or three feet thick, mortared with white lime, sturdy and heavy, blocking both the cold sea winds and dampness. The roofs were thickly covered with dried seaweed, a dark brown tinged with light gray, layered like fish scales, the ridges high and the eaves slightly upturned. Many houses also reinforced their roofs with old fishing nets. These seaweed houses, resistant to decay and insects for centuries, were the foundation of generations of fishermen's peaceful lives. The stone walls on both sides of the street are covered with ivy and morning glories. Occasionally, an old palm tree leans out of the courtyard wall, its shadow hanging down and covering half of a small wooden lattice window. The window is covered with hemp paper, and the corners are slightly curled up by the sea breeze, exuding a sense of ancient solitude.

"Why is the village unusually quiet today?" Lin Yan, who was walking ahead, muttered to himself.

"Yeah. It feels weird." Yunxi behind him also felt puzzled.

In the past, this time of year would have been for trading the catch, chatting while weaving nets, but now every household's wooden doors are tightly shut. Occasionally, a few suppressed coughs can be heard from inside the houses, and timid eyes peek through the cracks in the doors, sweeping across the street before quickly retreating. There is no longer the hustle and bustle of fishing boats returning to port, nor the sounds of children playing. The sounds of women washing fishing nets have all disappeared, leaving only the rustling of the sea breeze through the palm leaves and the soft lapping of the waves against the shore, weaving together a depressing stillness that envelops the entire village.

Over hundreds of years, the villagers of Qingdao Bay have multiplied and formed four major clans: Wang, Jiang, Qu, and Chen. For generations, they have made their living from the sea and supplemented it with tea. The men go out to sea to fish all year round, wearing coarse cloth shirts and dark blue trousers with wide sleeves and a wide waist, which is convenient for rowing and weaving nets. They wear straw hats, fishing net headscarves around their waists, and straw sandals. They wear this attire year-round. The women wear indigo coarse cloth short shirts with narrow cuffs and blue headscarves. During the day, they either stay at home mending nets and pickling fish, or go to the back mountain to pick tea and do housework. Only during festivals do they change into light-colored clothes and insert a wild chrysanthemum or sea dianthus in their hair. In terms of diet, corn cakes and dried sweet potatoes with shrimp paste and salted fish are the daily staples. Only during festivals can they eat mackerel dumplings and steamed crabs. Every household has earthenware jars for pickling fish behind their houses, and dried seafood hangs in the corners of the walls. The Laoshan green tea from the back mountain is the livelihood of the villagers and is also a good choice for entertaining guests and drinking at home. Brewing a pot of it results in a rich bean aroma, a sweet and refreshing aftertaste, and can wash away the fishy smell.

More than twenty years ago, this simple, rustic fishing village life was shattered by the tyranny of the Jiang family. As the most powerful clan in the village, the Jiang family monopolized the best fishing grounds in the bay in front of the village and also seized a large portion of the fertile tea plantations behind the village. Clan leader Jiang Hu, relying on the clan's power, employed more than a dozen young and strong thugs from the clan, colluded with town officials, and monopolized the export channels for fish and tea, holding the entire Qingdao Bay in his hands, becoming a tyrant whom no one dared to provoke. If ordinary villagers dared to go out to sea or sell tea privately, they would at least have their fishing gear confiscated and their tea baskets smashed, or at worst beatings with sticks. Over the years, Jiang Hu had run rampant in the village, exploiting his neighbors. The villagers dared not speak out against him and could only swallow their anger and barely survive.

Lin Yan suddenly felt that this familiar village had become strange, and his heart grew heavier. He had grown up eating food from many families and knew the villagers' simplicity and hardship. In just half a day, it had become so desolate. He knew that something big must have happened in the village.

The two had walked silently to the west side of the village street when a piercing cry reached their ears, mixed with a woman's scolding and a man's harsh shouts. The commotion came from a low stone house ahead; the cries were heart-wrenching and filled with despair, shattering the deathly silence of the fishing village.

"Let me go! I won't go! My father died unjustly, I will never marry into the Jiang family!"

The girl's cries were sharp and fragile. Lin Yan's heart tightened, and he quickly followed the sound. In front of a dilapidated seaweed-thatched house, two burly women were holding a disheveled girl tightly. The girl's hair was messy, her face was covered with tears and dust, her coarse cloth clothes were torn in several places, and her wrists were clenched until they were red. She was struggling desperately, and there were still dried dark red bloodstains on the bluestone slabs under her feet, a shocking sight. The door of the house was open, and the interior was sparsely furnished. A tattered quilt was piled on the earthen bed, and an old fishing net sat in the corner. On the wooden planks of the main room, a tattered hemp cloth was covered, and a human figure was vaguely visible underneath, clearly the body of the deceased.

"Miss Yi, stop struggling. Tiger has spoken. Your father defied the rules and went to sea without permission. He deserves to be beaten to death. You are lucky to have married his dog. Do you want to die with your father?" The leading old woman had a face full of scars and spoke in a fierce tone. She tightened her grip and dragged the girl towards the door.

This girl was named Yi Azhu. Her father, Gu Laoshuan, was a fisherman of mixed surnames in the village. He had no clan to rely on and lived an honest and law-abiding life. However, because he refused to sell his catch to Jiang Hu at a low price, he secretly took his small fishing boat to fish in the open sea. He was discovered by Jiang Hu's men and was beaten to death. Before his body was even cold, Jiang Hu forced her to marry into the Jiang family and become the wife of the stupid and ruthless Jiang Gouzi. He called it paying off a debt, but in reality, he was disregarding human life and taking his daughter for himself.

A few cracks appeared in the tightly closed doors and windows, and the villagers peeked out, their eyes filled with sympathy and indignation as they watched the scene. Yet no one dared to step forward to stop them; they could only sigh silently. Some clenched their fists, but ultimately let them clench helplessly. They were afraid of Jiang Hu's retaliation and of ending up like the Gu family.

"stop!"

A clear, righteous shout suddenly rang out. Lin Yan strode forward, shoving aside two burly old women, and shielded Gu Azhu behind him. A faint blue sea aura rippled around him as he coldly stared at the two women. Yun Xi followed closely behind, her long sword lightly gripped in her hand, a shimmering white sword aura swirling around her. The spirit turtle poked its head out of the cloth bag, its small eyes glaring at the two women, emitting soft, low growls, as if it too were angrily condemning their evil deeds.

The two old women were startled by the sudden rebuke. They turned to look at Lin Yan and Yun Xi, their faces immediately darkening as they shouted sternly, "You brat, how dare you interfere in the affairs of the Jiang family? If you don't want to stay in Qingdao Bay, get out of here and don't bring trouble upon yourself!"

"Qingdao Bay belongs to everyone, not the Jiang family's private property. In broad daylight, you forced innocent people to their deaths and forcibly abducted women. Aren't you afraid of the law?" Lin Yan's voice was calm, yet every word was forceful. His gaze swept over the surrounding villagers and then fell upon the body of Gu Laoshuan inside the house, his heart burning with rage.

"The law? In Qingdao Bay, Tiger is the law!" A rough, hoarse voice came from the street, accompanied by heavy footsteps. Jiang Hu strode in with seven or eight henchmen wielding fishing spears and clubs. Jiang Hu was burly, with a face full of scars, wearing a black silk short jacket and a brass pipe hanging from his waist. His eyes were sinister, and when he swept over Lin Yan, he showed undisguised ferocity. Behind him, Jiang Gouzi was also burly and had a dull and fierce look on his face. He rubbed his fists together, staring at Gu Azhu, his mouth almost watering.

Upon seeing this, the villagers who were watching all shrank back, tightly closed their doors, and dared not even breathe loudly, for fear of incurring Jiang Hu's wrath.

"I wondered who dared to meddle, turns out it's just a stray brat I picked up." Jiang Hu sized up Lin Yan, noticing the peach wood sword in his hand and the faint blue sea mist surrounding him. A disdainful sneer curled at the corner of his mouth. "This Qingdao Bay matter is none of the business of outsiders. If you know what's good for you, get out of here, or I'll take care of you too!"

"I grew up in this fishing village; Qingdao Bay is my home. You have treated human life with contempt and oppressed your neighbors. I cannot stand idly by." Lin Yan straightened his back, protecting Gu Azhu even more tightly, his peach wood sword hovering in front of him. "Old Gu was an honest fisherman, just trying to make a living. You beat him to death and forced his daughter to marry someone else. Such evil deeds are intolerable. Today, I will seek justice for the people of this fishing village!"

"Fairness? Before me, Jiang Hu, the weak should accept their fate!" Jiang Hu roared fiercely, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. It was said that in his younger days, in order to expand his power, he had made a deal with a sea monster and learned a trace of rudimentary evil power. A faint black aura emanated from his palm. He raised his hand and shouted to his men, "Cripple this brat! Take that girl away! Anyone who dares to stop us, kill them!"

Upon hearing this, several henchmen immediately brandished harpoons and clubs, charging menacingly towards Lin Yan. The alley was narrow, and the clubs, carrying a strong wind, were aimed directly at Lin Yan's body.

Lin Yan's eyes narrowed, and with a light step, he unleashed the movement technique of the "Laoshan Sea-Watching Technique." His figure moved like a fish swimming in the sea, nimbly dodging the incoming clubs. At the same time, pale blue sea energy condensed in his palm, and with a gentle pat, he sent the foremost thug staggering backward and falling to the ground. Yun Xi moved swiftly, her shimmering white sword energy flashing lightly. It didn't kill, but it precisely knocked the weapons from everyone's hands. The sword energy was so sharp that the thugs dared not step forward.

Seeing that his subordinates were no match for him, Jiang Hu flew into a rage and stepped forward himself. Black energy surged from his palm, carrying a chilling aura, and rushed straight at Lin Yan's face. Although this evil power was not as strong as that of the black-robed old man before, it was still insidious and poisonous. If an ordinary person encountered it, they would be corroded and their bones would be eaten away.

Lin Yan was prepared. With a wave of his peach wood sword, pale blue sea energy formed a barrier, blocking the black energy. At the same time, he silently chanted an incantation, using his spirit to control the energy and the energy to manipulate objects. The blue light on the peach wood sword gradually intensified, carrying the pure energy of the Laoshan Daoist arts, and directly approached Jiang Hu. Jiang Hu's evil power was originally from an unorthodox path. When it encountered the orthodox Laoshan spiritual energy, it was instantly suppressed. The black energy retreated step by step, and his expression changed drastically. He did not expect that this seemingly shallow young man would have such pure spiritual energy.

"You...you've really changed a lot in just three days..." Jiang Hu's voice trembled, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. Having lived in the fishing village for a long time, he was not only domineering but also incredibly meticulous. He knew the movements and circumstances of the hundred or so men, women, and children in the village perfectly well. He knew Lin Yan's background, he knew Guan Hai Dao Ren, and he had heard of the reputation of the Laoshan Immortal Sect. He even knew about how Elder Wu Dao had helped Lin Yan and Yun Xi out of their predicament at the seaside. His previous arrogance vanished almost instantly.

"Elder Wudao of Laoshan has granted me permission to participate in the academy's recruitment of disciples and to uphold the righteous path. You have been running rampant in Qingdao Bay for many years, exploiting the villagers and disregarding human life. The evidence of your crimes is irrefutable. Today, I will take you down and hand you over to the government for punishment, restoring peace to the fishing village!" Lin Yan's tone was firm, his peach wood sword pointing directly at Jiang Hu. His body was surrounded by a vast sea aura, which suppressed Jiang Hu, rendering him unable to move. His subordinates behind him were so frightened that they scattered and fled, but Yun Xi blocked their way, leaving them nowhere to escape.

Looking at Lin Yan who had stepped forward for her, Yi Azhu's tears fell again. She knelt deeply before him, choking back sobs, and said, "Thank you, Brother Lin Yan..."

The tightly closed doors and windows were opened again, and the villagers, seeing that Jiang Hu and his gang had been subdued, came out of their homes. Looking at Jiang Hu, who had been subdued by Lin Yan, their eyes were filled with relief and gratitude.

Palm trees swayed gently in the sea breeze, the aroma of tea wafted from the hillside behind the village, and the azure sea in front of the village shimmered with golden light. The long-silent fishing village finally resounded with cheers once more. Lin Yan looked at the revitalized fishing village before him, then turned to look at Yun Xi beside him, his eyes filled with determination.