First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

After returning to her family mansion, Miss Lin told her parents about the strange things she had encountered on the way, including Xu Mu's ability to hide things in his sleeves.

The Lin family patriarch and his wife listened with astonishment.

"This Taoist priest says he only knows medicine? Since he has such extraordinary skills, his medical skills must be extraordinary as well. Why not ask him to cure your brother's stubborn illness?" said Master Lin.

"Oh, right!" Miss Lin and her maid suddenly realized.

The two were immediately embarrassed.

"Because you all said that my brother's illness was caused by evil spirits, and he said he didn't know how to draw talismans to exorcise evil spirits, so we forgot about it..." Miss Lin explained hesitantly.

"Yes, yes, young master's illness is no ordinary one. I wonder if he can be cured." The maid nodded repeatedly to make amends.

Master Lin snorted coldly, "It's clear that you two were only concerned with having fun. You didn't even bother to make friends with this expert you met. At least bringing him back to your residence to entertain him would have been a good thing."

You guys are great; when you encounter a master, you just watch the show. So many people would love to meet someone but never have the chance.

The master and servant could only lower their heads guiltily.

Madam Lin also scolded, "Your brother's illness is no ordinary one. Doctors who know medicine can't cure it, and Taoist priests who know exorcisms can't cure it either. But maybe a Taoist priest who knows medicine can cure it."

"Oh dear, Father, Mother, they just arrived in the city. We can send someone to look for them tomorrow. We're sure we'll find them," Miss Lin said quickly.

"Yes, yes, he said he might stay here for a while, so there's no need for you to worry, sir and madam," the maid reassured them.

Master Lin snorted coldly, waved his hand, too lazy to say anything more, and told them to go and rest first.

"This girl is so immature. That boy is immature too. Neither of them is easy to deal with." Master Lin sighed helplessly.

This young master Lin didn't study properly; he went hunting in the mountains every few days. Finally, one day, he was possessed by an evil spirit and lay in bed, his condition deteriorating.

"Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry. As long as there is a chance to cure Feng'er, we must try." Madam Lin said, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Master Lin nodded and decided to send someone to look for it tomorrow.

The next day, Xu Mu left the inn and was considering finding a place to rent, the cheapest one possible, or he would try to make money to rent a bigger house.

At this point, he only had eight taels of silver and some copper coins on him.

According to local prices, one tael of silver can last for about a month and a half.

If you stay at an inn, one or two taels of silver will only last for more than half a month, so it's cheaper to rent a house.

He plans to stay here for two years and learn the two magical techniques he has.

One technique was a sword formation he bought from the sect before leaving, to enhance his combat power; the other was an earth-遁 (earth-escaping) technique given to him by Yan Qing, which allowed him to escape when in danger.

Both techniques are crucial. After learning them, we'll proceed as planned and first find that treasure land to see if we can grow spiritual herbs. Later, when we have time, we can go to the capital to take a look.

Although Yan Qing entrusted him with the task, the capital city is a place of great public attention, and the situation is bound to be complicated. Going there might lead to trouble, so it's better to improve himself first.

In any case, the struggle between sects cannot be quelled in a short time, and there is no rush to save Yan Qing's incense offerings, so naturally, one must prioritize one's own interests.

Just then, he saw Miss Lin's maid and several servants looking around anxiously, as if searching for something.

He thought for a moment; he had done them a favor yesterday, so he should help them out this time. He went over and asked, "Qing'er, who are you looking for? Is your young lady missing?"

Upon hearing this, the maid's eyes widened, and when she saw it was him, she clapped her hands in delight and exclaimed, "Taoist priest! I've been looking for you!"

"Looking for me? What do you want? Your young lady is missing, that has nothing to do with me."

"Who said my young lady is lost?" The maid immediately put her hands on her hips in dissatisfaction.

"I'm afraid you'll get lost! Hurry up and come with me to the Lin residence, the master and madam are looking for you." She quickly grabbed Xu Mu's arm.

Xu Mu gently dodged, and said warily, "You're not here to question me, are you? Your young lady's innocence has nothing to do with me."

"..." The maid's face darkened.

"Hey you on the street, stop mentioning my young lady, it's my young master!"

"Your young master's innocence has even less to do with me."

The maid gritted her teeth in anger and shouted, "Master is asking for your help. There's a reward, at least one hundred taels!"

"I see. Young Master Lin is in trouble, how could I refuse?" Xu Mu said earnestly.

"What a stinky Taoist priest." The maid shook her head helplessly.

Xu Mu ignored her, happily thinking about how to spend the money after he got it.

Soon, they arrived at the Lin residence with several servants.

The Lin family's mansion is grand and imposing; the owner looks like an official, and a wealthy one at that.

When Master Lin saw him, he first sized him up, then respectfully bowed and explained his request.

Xu Mu readily agreed to such a simple request.

……

Upon arriving at Young Master Lin's room, Madam Lin and Miss Lin followed to see him.

There lay a person on the bed, pale-faced and sickly, looking like he was about to die.

Xu Mu first stepped forward to take the pulse, examine the eyes and tongue, and then asked about the situation.

Young Master Lin was breathless and unable to speak with the slightest movement.

"Your qi is weak and your body is frail; this is because your vital energy has been drained," Xu Mu said.

"Oh my! Sir, you are truly a miraculous doctor!" Mrs. Lin exclaimed with delight.

Master Lin hurriedly said, "We invited the Taoist priest from the temple to take a look. He also said that her vital energy had been drained, but he was helpless and could only tell her to replenish her body. Do you have any way to resolve this, sir?"

Xu Mu stood up from his chair and said slowly, "When spirits cultivate, they can directly absorb people's vital energy. In his case, he was being absorbed all the time, and it was being absorbed from a distance."

"That silly child must have been tricked by the demon and willingly allowed himself to be cursed."

"Willingly?" Everyone present was stunned, their eyes turning to Young Master Lin on the bed.

Young Master Lin hurriedly tried to say something, but then he started coughing violently.

Xu Mu smiled faintly: "Many people who go to the mountains may have their life essence sucked by monsters. It's usually a one-time thing. As long as they don't die on the spot, they can go home, replenish their energy, and come back."

This child probably wants to help someone cultivate; she's likely a young and beautiful demon.

Upon hearing this, Young Master Lin coughed even more violently.

Master Lin was shocked and shouted sternly, "Tell me the truth! Is what the master said true?!"

Madam Lin, however, stepped forward to support her son with heartache, saying, "Take it slow, take it slow, don't force him."

After catching his breath, Young Master Lin lowered his head and said weakly, "She...she will soon succeed in her cultivation, and then she will marry me..."

Master Lin's face turned ashen with anger: "Foolish! Stupid! You actually believed what a demon said?! Look at yourself now, being ripped out of your bones and drained of your marrow, and you still think of her."

Madam Lin also cried and said, "My son, how can you believe the words of a demon? Once you recover, your mother will find you a virtuous woman to be your wife."

"She's different..." Young Master Lin said in a low voice.

Master Lin hurriedly bowed to Xu Mu and earnestly pleaded, "Sir, he must have been bewitched by a demon. Please save this rebellious son."

Xu Mu laughed and said, "Silly child, you are quite devoted, but what you met is not even a demon, nor a ghost."

If it is a demon, it may be able to learn some human emotions; if it is a ghost, it may retain the intelligence it had before it died.

But what you've encountered is a spirit, something that is neither ghost nor demon, but rather a spirit born from the gathering of spiritual energy. It knows how to bewitch people, but it doesn't understand human nature.

She only said she'd marry you because it would make sense.

"The gentleman is right! Listen to him!" Master Lin reprimanded sternly.

Young Master Lin was breathing weakly and couldn't speak, but disbelief was clearly in his eyes.

Xu Mu said, "This demon's methods are so skillful that you are probably not the only one who has fallen for her tricks. Of course, she doesn't just raise one fish; there must be many men like you who are willingly providing her with their vital essence."

"I don't believe it!" Young Master Lin immediately became agitated.

"It's simple for you to verify this. Just stop supplying her and see if she comes looking for you or even shows you any concern. To a vixen, you're just one of her pipes; once it's cut off, it's gone. She'll just find a new one."

"Yes! Please, sir, cut it off for him and make this brat give up." Master Lin sneered.

Young Master Lin was speechless.

"What? Don't you want to give it a try? If she's truly loyal, then you can marry her," Xu Mu said.

Master Lin glanced at him and, seeing his confidence, nodded and said, "What you say is absolutely right. If she is truly affectionate, what harm is there in marrying her again?"

Madam Lin also advised, "Son, let's just listen to what the teacher says. You've only been bewitched by that demon, so I don't blame you."

After much persuasion, Young Master Lin finally nodded with difficulty.

Xu Mu took the opportunity to flick his finger on his forehead, leaving a red mark. He cried out in pain, but his breathing improved noticeably.

"The saying goes that only the one who tied the knot can untie it. The brilliance of this technique lies in the fact that as long as he is willing, no one else can untie it. Only when he lets go can the knot be untied," Xu Mu explained.

"Thank you very much, sir. You are so learned and knowledgeable that you can cure illnesses without a prescription. It is truly admirable." Master Lin repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Xu Mu smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, offering a few words of modesty.

Having spent so many years living on the immortal mountain and reading countless books, I naturally have a great deal of knowledge about these demons, monsters, and evil spirits.