Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Chen Jiao left the quiet room and stepped into the outer room.

The fire in the Bagua furnace was blazing, casting a bright red glow on the little face of the Golden Horned Boy.

He sat on the futon, fanning himself intermittently, his eyelids already drooping.

Hearing footsteps, Jinjiao jumped and looked up.

It wasn't the master who came out, but Chen Jiao, and all sleepiness vanished instantly.

He dropped his fan, scrambled to his feet, and ran to Chen Jiao.

"Is Senior Brother leaving?" Jin Jiao asked.

Her little hands fumbled in her bosom, pulling out a palm-sized vermilion lacquered gourd, which she presented with both hands.

"Senior brother, these are the spare pills that the master usually gives me. I'm saving some."

"Take it back and try it, senior brother."

The gourd is small and delicate, with a warm and lustrous lacquer finish, and is tied with a colorful silk ribbon.

Seeing this, the silver-horned boy exclaimed "Oh dear!" and stomped his foot in frustration.

He frantically rummaged through the pockets on his body, but found nothing, and his face immediately fell.

He always couldn't resist eating the whole thing as soon as he received a reward.

"I should have kept some! But I was too greedy and ate them all like candy..."

As Yinjiao spoke, he stared longingly at Chen Jiao, his hands empty, looking rather helpless.

The two children were pure of heart. Although their cultivation was still shallow, they knew that their senior brother Zhenjun was kind-hearted despite his cold appearance, and was not as unapproachable as he seemed.

Chen Jiao stopped and looked at the small gourd in Jin Jiao's hand, then glanced at Yin Jiao, who was so frustrated he was about to cry.

A warm feeling flashed through my heart.

He reached out and took the gourd from Jinjiao, its warmth returning to his hand before he tucked it into his sleeve, and said in a broad voice:

"That's very thoughtful. This is a very good item."

Then, he looked at Silver Horn, who looked dejected, without blaming him in the slightest.

After a moment's thought, Chen Jiao reached into his sleeve and took out several ordinary, even slightly yellowed, thread-bound books.

It was neither a jade slip nor a gold seal; it was clearly an ordinary object.

"These are some casual books I bought while traveling through the four continents when I first entered the Daoist path."

Chen Jiao's voice was calm, as if tinged with reminiscence:

"It records the mountains, rivers, landforms, strange tales and events of the lower realm, which is quite interesting."

It's of no benefit to your cultivation; it's just for novelty and to relieve boredom. You two usually find guarding the alchemy furnace tedious; if you don't mind, you can use this to pass the time."

These were all books Chen Jiao had casually bought at markets in various places during his travels in the mortal world to pass the time. He had kept them in his sleeve for who knows how many years.

The content is half true and half false, and the writing is crude, but it is full of vivid human life and wild imagination.

The writing on the book cover is somewhat blurred, but the title is still faintly discernible:

[A Detailed Account of the Three Immortals' Encounter with the Demonic Tide in the South China Sea]

[Insights into Feng Shui Anecdotes of Mountains and Rivers]

[Essential for Wandering Cultivators: A Guide to Picking and Tasting Hundreds of Spiritual Fruits]

……

【Records of the True Forms and Appearances of Female Cultivators from Four Continents】(Complete set with personal analysis and commentary on the fairy-like Taoist makeup)

Just as Chen Jiao was about to hand over the books, his gaze suddenly fell on the cover of the last one.

The pages gleamed with a pale pink luster, and the cover was embroidered with nine delicate characters in fine silk: "Record of the Forms and Appearances of Female Cultivators from the Four Continents".

A few dried peach petals still adorned the edges, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air.

His hand paused slightly.

Although the book contains nothing outrageous, it records comments on the appearance, temperament, clothing and accessories of outstanding female cultivators in the four continents.

Or it may contain some anecdotes and interesting stories circulating among the people.

It was something he prepared when he was still young, to know himself and his enemy, and indeed... he read it frequently.

Later, one of the top fairies fell to his fist.

However, it seems... not quite appropriate to let these two pure-hearted children see this.

In a flash, Chen Jiao secretly slipped the book of beauties back into his sleeve.

Unexpectedly, the Golden Horned Boy, with his sharp eyes, had already spotted the graceful fairy figure and delicate words drawn on the book cover.

Besides Taoist scriptures and alchemical texts, had he ever seen such "wonderful things of the mortal world" in his usual Tushita Palace?

Suddenly overcome with desire, she disregarded all manners and swiftly reached out to gently tug at the corner of Chen Jiao's sleeve as he was about to retract it.

"Senior brother, die-hard fans of Hengyang Yanqu, the latest chapter of 'Journey to the West: Starting from Jingfa Zhenjun' has been released! Senior brother!"

Golden Horn tilted its little face up, its big eyes sparkling with curiosity and pleading:

"This book...this book with fairies drawn on it looks so unique!"

Why hide it away? Let my junior brother see something new too!

Chen Jiao paused, looking down at Jin Jiao's expectant little face.

Then he noticed that Silver Horn was also standing on tiptoe, trying to see the book in his hand, his eyes also sparkling with curiosity.

His usually cold and hard lips tightened almost imperceptibly.

Forcibly putting it away would seem deliberate.

Moreover, what is described in the book is ultimately nothing more than superficial appearances.

The two children, innocent and carefree, might not understand the meaning behind it; perhaps they are just enjoying the spectacle.

His thoughts raced for only a moment, but Chen Jiao's face remained calm as he simply said:

"They're just old news and trivial comments, not very useful."

Even so, he stopped withdrawing his hand, allowing Jinjiao to carefully take the book "Record of Female Cultivators' True Forms and Appearances from Four Continents" from his hand.

Well, since they've already taken it out, let them be.

The Tushita Palace is quiet and secluded; having some leisurely books to relieve boredom is perfectly acceptable.

The two boys, Golden Horn and Silver Horn, cheered.

They practically pounced on them, each grabbing several books and holding them in their arms as if they were precious treasures.

Her face flushed with excitement, and the gloom and despair she had felt moments before were long gone.

"Thank you so much, senior brother!" "You're so kind, senior brother!"

The two of them eagerly flipped through the pages.

The book features elegant small regular script characters on the pages, interspersed with simple yet vivid illustrations.

Or it could be the silhouette of a female cultivator playing the zither under the moon, with detailed annotations beside it.

"Look here."

"The Fairy of Wonderful Sounds at Yuzhen Temple in Yuhua Continent is beautiful and serene. Her song 'Pure Heart and Universal Benevolence' can cleanse away demonic influences, yet she has a particular fondness for collecting all sorts of rare stones..."

Wait, it also says, "Once, on the shores of the South China Sea, he exchanged three pieces of Five-Colored Coral Jade for the fairy's help"?

As Jinjiao recited, his little face lit up:

"So fairies like stones!"

The comments vary in detail and are numerous. There are also comments such as "skilled in playing the zither and sword, living in Liubo Mountain in the East Sea, with a thousand-year-old peach forest in front of his cave" and "having a cold and aloof temperament, but being extremely loyal to his promises."

The two children chattered excitedly, watching with great interest.

I found this book much more interesting than those serious Taoist classics, as if it had opened a wonderful window for them to glimpse the vast world.

"Senior brother! Why isn't that [Fairy Daoist Makeup]...?"

Silver Horn was eager to ask Chen Jiao for everything, but when he saw his senior brother raising an eyebrow at him, he immediately fell silent and dared not say another word.

Chen Jiao shook his head slightly, trying to comfort himself.

The Taoist scriptures are meant to guide one to enlightenment, and giving away these miscellaneous books may also be another way of seeing the world.

He quickened his pace as he left.

Just as they were leaving the palace gates, Jinjiao suddenly shouted:

"Senior brother!"

When Chen Jiao turned around, he didn't know what to say, and only managed to stammer out:

"You...you come again next time, and tell us about the interesting things happening outside, okay?"

Of course...books are excellent too, and if there were more, that would be even better!

Silver Horn nodded eagerly, watching with longing eyes.

Chen Jiao paused, glanced into the depths of the palace gates, then looked at the two pairs of clear, expectant eyes before him, and nodded slightly:

"If I have the time, I will come often."

Having said that, he dared not linger any longer, turned around and strode off, still needing to visit the Water Official Emperor at Dongyin Palace.

The figure in black robes brushed past the threshold of the palace gate and stepped outside.

Golden Horn and Silver Horn, carrying books, leaned against the door, half their bodies sticking out.

The shadowy figure faded into the distance, leaving only the sound of the pine trees and a childish, still-childish admonition:

"Come again soon!"

Chen Jiao had his back to them, his black sleeves fluttering slightly. He didn't turn around, but simply raised his hand and waved it lightly as a response.

The Barefoot Immortal and River God Feng Yi were already waiting, and the three figures merged into the sea of ​​clouds and disappeared.

Outside the palace gate, only two little boys remained, still standing on tiptoe, gazing into the depths of the sea of ​​clouds for a long time.