With virtue

The cold wind blowing through the mountains could not dispel the joy. A procession swept through the mountains, with bridal sedan chairs, lanterns, torches, and servants in front and behind, creating a lively scene.

Zhao Yunshu sat in the sedan chair, pinched the large golden crown on his head, looked at his robes, and then looked at the other sedan chairs around him.

Alas, misfortunes never come singly, and a broken boat is hit by a headwind.

The golden crown on its head is made of gold wire in the shape of a flying crane, and is decorated with colorful beads, which are exquisite and continuous.

The robe was red, like fire, with fine, dense threads, and adorned with a bushel of Yue pearls and four or five Dong pearls. The flowers were embroidered with gold and silver threads, creating a dazzling and incomparably magnificent effect.

Looking at the sedan chair, it was made of cypress wood and had sandalwood walls. The entire sedan chair was estimated to be about five steps in length and width, like a small house. It was covered with brocade, painted with cinnabar, decorated with gold and silver, and sparkled with pearls and jade. When the door was opened, a fragrant aroma wafted out. It was also decorated with jade phoenixes holding bells, golden dragons spitting out banners, unicorns and phoenixes, and white cranes flying like immortals.

The sedan chair curtains were made of colorful thread and decorated with various flowers, golden monkeys, jade lions, and other patterns, making them sparkle with precious light.

Even if he didn't know their value, he would still know that these things were worth a lot.

Inside the sedan chair were several maids, all with white teeth and red lips, extremely beautiful. Each one was graceful and charming, exuding a captivating allure. Those who knew them said they were maids, but those who didn't could not compare to even the most beautiful young ladies from wealthy families.

Several maids, their eyes sparkling with delight, said to Zhao Yunshu, "Young master, the robe you're wearing is made of Lianyun satin. This satin loom uses 36 threads and takes 60 days to make one bolt. This one garment alone is worth a million coins."

"My young lady is incredibly beautiful, a perfect match for my son-in-law!"

"Exactly!"

"Even we're drooling over the son-in-law's face!"

Zhao Yunshu, who was being praised, forced a smile, but inwardly she was filled with bitterness.

Oh dear, Master! You just left, and I've already been captured by these demons!

I don't know what kind of demon it is, but its demonic aura is undeniably real.

The reason they were able to tell was because... Zhao Yunshu's current identity was that of a Taoist priest, which could be considered a professional skill.

As for his earlier identity, that's quite a strange story. In fact, he wasn't from this world.

No, that's not quite right. In fact, he was indeed born from his mother's womb after ten months of pregnancy, but he came with the wisdom he had accumulated in his previous life.

Time travel is an experience many people dream of.

However, the problem was that—perhaps something went wrong during his journey—his consciousness seemed to be wrapped in a membrane, his clear mind was compressed into dust, sunk to the deepest part of his mind, unable to move or make a sound, for a full five years.

His parents thought he had given birth to a fool. They raised him for a few years, but the world was tough, so they had no choice but to send him away.

They say they're sending him away, but to whom? What family has enough extra food to feed an orphan?

So they were sent up the mountain to serve as a page to the mountain god.

This is a local custom. If there are elderly people or disabled people in the family who cannot be raised, they will be sent to the mountain to serve as attendants to the mountain god. After that, they will go to the mountain to enjoy blessings. Some are given to Buddha, and some are given to the mountain god. They are called divine children or divine daughters, or Buddha's children and grandchildren.

However, Zhao Yunshu was lucky. He only served as a page for a few hours before being picked up by an old Taoist priest who was passing by.

The old Taoist priest picked him up, and for reasons unknown, took care of him for half a year.

Until the day I turned five, when the ice shattered, a thousand thoughts surged forth like water.

Only then did he learn that his name was Zhao Yunshu.

When the old Taoist priest saw that he had regained consciousness, he muttered incantations and said that Zhao Yunshu was destined to be with him. Then he took Zhao Yunshu as his disciple and raised him like a father from the age of five.

The old Taoist looked like a hermit, a reclusive master, but in reality, he wasn't a proper Taoist priest. He was just a wandering sorcerer who knew a few methods of exorcising evil spirits and delivering souls. He could deal with some monsters, but he had traveled all over the country and had a lot of experience. He could talk about all kinds of monsters and wandering spirits and find ways to exorcise them if he could, and if he couldn't, he would run away. He never fell into a trap, so he lived a peaceful life until he was sixty years old, when he met Zhao Yunshu.

With Zhao Yunshu by his side, life didn't change much. They just kept going, half exorcising ghosts and half begging for alms, raising him until he was twelve or thirteen years old.

He treated Zhao Yunshu very well, always saying that the old Taoist monks ate vegetarian food, and then gave him meat to eat, so Zhao Yunshu did not show any signs of being pale and thin.

When asked why he did this, he would always laugh and change the subject. But occasionally, when he had drunk too much cheap liquor and was tipsy, he would say things like, "What the world owes you, this old Taoist priest will repay on behalf of the world."

Later, as he grew older, Zhao Yunshu grew up and surprisingly developed a handsome appearance, becoming dashing and extremely good-looking.

A talented scholar who frequented pleasure boats once looked at him and exclaimed, "Zhao Yunshu, Zhao Yunshu, eyes like bright stars, eyebrows like wisps of smoke, his gaze is like clouds rolling and unrolling." Thus, Zhao Yunshu, who was only a teenager, already had a good reputation, and the old Taoist priest became famous along with him. More and more people came to his door to exorcise demons and ghosts.

However, the old Taoist priest refused all offers, never going to wealthy and powerful families to exorcise ghosts. He continued to exorcise wandering spirits in the countryside, living a hand-to-mouth existence, saying things like, "You can't exorcise the ghosts of the rich. Ordinary people might offend a neighbor, but who knows which deity those high-ranking families have offended? Even if they haven't offended any deities, they'll still have a few concubines and servants who have died in their backyards, all filled with resentment. I won't go, I won't go!"

After four or five years, having traveled to several states, Zhao Yunshu turned seventeen this year. The old Taoist priest found a propitious place and died suddenly.

In reality, he knew nothing about feng shui, but before he died, he laughed and said, "This old Taoist priest may not know feng shui, but I'm not stupid! So many wealthy families around here are buried here; it can't be too bad!"

After speaking, he kicked his feet and went to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

He left Zhao Yunshu only an iron sword, five talismans, a secret manual, five taels of loose change, two catties of dry food, and a bundle.

Zhao Yunshu was thinking of burying his master and then wandering the world on his own. After all, he had learned eighty percent of the old Taoist's skills, so he would definitely be able to make a living.

Unexpectedly, less than two hours after being buried, he was already sitting in the sedan chair of these women.

Just then, a pretty young girl walked up to Zhao Yunshu, her eyes blinking as she stared at him. She said softly, "Young master, young master, we're about to cross a mountain ridge. The wind is strong and the road is narrow, so it'll be bumpy. Hold on tight and don't fall."

The girl looked to be no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. She had an adorable appearance, but also possessed the beauty of a woman. She wasn't tall, but her legs were long and her torso was short, giving her a charming look. At this moment, her eager gaze was fixed on Zhao Yunshu, making one feel intoxicated.

I've lived two lifetimes, and I've never received this kind of treatment before.

However, Zhao Yunshu also noticed that the other party seemed somewhat suspicious.

A voluptuous, red-haired woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six approached and said, "Little sister, why are you treating the young master like that? You have no idea, he's truly capable!"

"Really skilled?" The girl's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she blinked.

"From the beginning of chaos, the three religions were established: Laozi founded Taoism, Shakyamuni founded Buddhism, and Confucius founded Confucianism. Sages emerged from Confucianism, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from Buddhism, and immortals from Taoism. Of the three religions, Confucianism is too ordinary, Buddhism is too austere, and only Taoism, which teaches immortality and endless transformations, is the most unrestrained." The woman glanced at Zhao Yunshu as she spoke.

Zhao Yunshu pretended not to hear.

The old Taoist was nothing more than a rogue Taoist priest. In the end, he was nothing more than a rogue Taoist priest. He was more of a fraud than a true Taoist. At this moment, in front of these demons, he naturally closed his ears and pretended to be deaf.

"Such people can command ghosts and gods, know people's fortunes and misfortunes, and make people avoid them. They are quite effective. Therefore, high-ranking officials and nobles have believed in them since ancient times, and they have even been summoned to the imperial court. The reason for this is that they all have a real teaching and can do it. They are not just bluffing or talking nonsense."

"However, in this world, where there is truth, there is falsehood. Ignorant men and women falsely claim to be gods and ghosts, and fabricate theories of yin and yang. They have no real ability, but they stir up trouble among the villagers and put on a show. Even now, it is still the villagers and old women who talk nonsense and fabricate stories of summoning gods and ghosts to deceive fools. There are very few people with real ability."

"But our son-in-law is different, isn't he!" The red-haired woman twisted and swayed, her eyes darting towards Zhao Yunshu.

The other women also came closer, all staring intently at Zhao Yunshu, and the air became quiet.

The atmosphere suddenly became chilling.

Zhao Yunshu could only spread his hands, just about to say something.

But just then, his stomach started growling.

I haven't eaten all day...

The atmosphere eased for a moment, but then another white-haired maid, about eighteen or nineteen years old, laughed and said, "The young master must be hungry. It's really our fault for not being attentive enough. We deserve a beating!"

After speaking, she lightly slapped herself twice, then clapped her hands, and several food boxes were brought out around her, the food inside still hot, as if it had just come out of the pot.

As they served, they introduced the dish: "Young master, look! This plate of perch sashimi is made when the frost falls in August or September. The perch are harvested when they are less than three feet long. They are chopped into sashimi, soaked, and drained thoroughly. They are then scattered on a plate, interspersed with fragrant and tender flower leaves, finely chopped, and mixed with the sashimi. The perch meat is as white as snow and has no fishy smell. This dish is called Golden Stew with Jade Sashimi."

"This bowl is made from a 20-pound plump and tender fragrant pig, using only the foreleg. The fat is removed, the bone is taken, and a piece of meat is taken. Raw shrimp and soy sauce are pounded into a juice, and fine seasonings are added to the meat. Then red yeast rice powder is added. It is brought to a boil over a low and high heat until the meat and seasonings are completely red. Only then is this piece made!"

"If the son-in-law is hungry, let's eat noodles first! This bowl of noodles was made the day before. First, mushrooms and bamboo shoots were simmered to make a broth. Today, a large eel was steamed until tender, the meat and bones were removed, and the meat was mixed into the dough. Chicken broth was added, the dough was kneaded, rolled into thin sheets, and then cut into thin strips. It was then rolled in chicken broth and ham broth. It's incredibly delicious."

Below that, there was a table laden with golden tripe soup, kumquats, pork and mutton fritters, roasted dried pork, pickled oysters, a hundred-flavor soup, jujubes with meat filling, ginger shrimp, wine crab, venison, deer jerky, and various seasonal vegetables.

Even more so, there were beautiful women holding chopsticks and serving soup with delicate hands, attending to every need with utmost care.

Zhao Yunshu wanted to say something, but what could she say? Let it be, no matter what, she still had to eat.

After a satisfying meal, the maids withdrew from the tent without further ado.

They just came outside—

The woman who had been the "younger sister" earlier frowned and said, "Sisters, this young master doesn't seem to have any class. He doesn't seem to have any manners when he eats or drinks. What real skills does he have?"

"That's what Miss said. We're just following orders. We'll serve her well," another maid said.

"Sigh, it's not that I'm being rude to my son-in-law, it's just... I'm afraid he's a conman, just feeding him to spout nonsense for a while, eating some food and swindling some money!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" the older maid scolded, but offered no further explanation.

The sedan chair continued to travel through the mountains and forests.

Flowers, streams, rocks, moonlight—in the dark mountains and forests, the wedding procession continued its journey.

only--

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared, with a long white silk ribbon hanging down. Its body was bluish-gray and stiff, its tongue protruding more than a foot long, and its eyes bulging. This was the ghost of someone who had hanged themselves.

A gust of cold wind swept from the corner, and a charred, ghostly figure emerged, its skin cracked and charred, its hair burnt to ashes, its hands and feet withered, and wisps of smoke rising from its body. This was a ghost that had been burned to death.

Then came the sound of dripping water, and something poked its head out. Its face was white and swollen, and its hair hung down like algae. The filthy water gushed down, and the stench was overwhelming. It was a drowned water ghost.

Another type is characterized by its head and body shaking, its mouth as wide as a basin, its belly as swollen as a drum, and its neck as thin as a bamboo branch; these are hungry ghosts.

There are also hundreds of kinds of evil spirits, each with a thousand different appearances. Some have disheveled hair covering their faces and long, hook-like claws; others have bellies swollen like drums, breathing out black gas; still others murmur curses and venomous incantations from their throats.

Strange noises rose from all directions, and mournful cries echoed endlessly. Under the pale moonlight, all sorts of ferocious ghosts and demons appeared one after another.

The wedding procession did not slow down, but the maids had already stood beside the sedan chair, covering the edges tightly to prevent any candlelight from leaking out.

Their expressions turned serious, and they stopped joking.

From the eerie wind emerged a burly man with a ghostly face, his body as thick as a bronze pillar, his beard and hair bristling like a lion's halberd, standing a full fifteen feet tall. He held a large ghost-headed sword in his hand, exuding divine might and imposing power. A hundred ghosts followed him obediently.

The burly man spoke up: "Your young lady is truly unchaste. She's already betrothed to my master, yet she wants to find a gigolo outside? If someone hadn't informed us, would she really have wanted to defile the gigolo in the sedan chair so my master could annul the engagement?"

"If that's really the case, we might as well find a hidden gem from the bottom of our chests, drill through it, and see what happens!"

"Insolence!" The burly man uttered foul language, provoking the maids to shout angrily.

But they couldn't say anything in return, and with the hundred ghosts surrounding them, the sedan chair was moving slower and slower, making them all anxious.

The burly man, however, paid no heed to the women. He strode forward, and any maids who tried to stop him were slapped away by the back of his knife and sent flying. Though unharmed, they were no longer able to get close.

The first one to rush forward was the young girl. She was slapped and fell flat on her face, unable to move. She could only raise her neck, grit her teeth, and watch the big man walk forward.

As he walked, a hundred ghosts clung to him, and the sedan chair was instantly covered with all sorts of monsters, each one impatient, trying to squeeze through the sedan chair curtains and windows.

The burly man stood in front of the sedan chair, reaching out to lift the curtain.

But at that moment, a golden light appeared from the screen, violently sending the big man flying!

The moment the curtain was lifted by the golden light, the younger sister saw Zhao Yunshu's face inside.

She was overjoyed!

Okay!

Our son-in-law is indeed a man of real talent!