With virtue

The "Road Impassable Symbol" only obscures the eyes of ghosts, not human eyes. In other words, Chen Wanchuan could see everything at the cave entrance from beginning to end.

During the time Zhao Yunshu hid in the cave, he carefully observed the peddler—when he saw Chen Wanchuan being dragged in, although he looked fearful, his eyes kept darting around, and his hand quietly slipped into his robes. This was a man who wouldn't sit idly by and wait for his fate.

That's why the whole thing just happened.

As the ghost general abandoned Chen Wanchuan and turned to look at the cave entrance, the peddler, carrying the child, had already run more than ten steps. He dared not stop, but his heart was in turmoil—

He had already given up hope when he was dragged to the cave entrance.

However, having traveled extensively throughout the country, his eyesight far surpassed that of ordinary people, and he immediately spotted a young Taoist priest gesturing at him from beside the stone wall at the cave entrance.

The Taoist priest hid half of his body behind the stone, only revealing his right hand. His five fingers flew, first pointing to his own eyes, then to the back of the ghost general, then two fingers made a walking motion, pointing to a spot on the ground below, and finally clenching his five fingers as if to "grab".

Chen Wanchuan read it once, but didn't understand.

The Taoist priest remained calm and measured the gestures again, this time slowing down his movements: first, he pointed to his own eyes—"I can see you, and you can see me"; then he pointed to the ghost general—"It can't see me"; then he pointed to a spot on the ground with bluestone—"Hide there"; finally, he clenched his fist and pulled it up—grabbing the person and running away.

Chen Wanchuan immediately understood.

He pretended to be so frightened that his legs went weak and he staggered back two steps, just enough to reach the ground where a half-person-high blue stone lay, blocking him and the ghost general.

However, he had no time to think it through. The moment the ghost general came with his knife, Chen Wanchuan made up his mind and followed the plan—first, splash black dog blood.

He wasn't unaware that these things couldn't harm the ghost general, but what could he do now?

Sure enough, the ghost general lowered his head and flicked his fingers, seemingly to mock him, before slashing down with his sword.

It was during this meal that Chen Wanchuan discovered the trickery.

He wasn't cutting himself, but the stone the Taoist priest had just pointed to!

The ghost's perception was misled; it managed to miss its target!

"Let's go!" he shouted, his heart filled with sincere admiration for the young Taoist priest, and he blurted out, "Thank you, Taoist Master!"

This shout was both a cheer for the Taoist priest and a deliberate act to draw the ghost general's attention to the cave entrance.

He ran several dozen steps and disappeared into a grove of low bushes before daring to look back.

The young Taoist priest leaped out of the cave entrance, his robes billowing in the wind, and stood between the ghost general and the captured people.

Chen Wanchuan felt a chill run down his spine, thinking to himself: This person is no ordinary Taoist.

He had seen many so-called masters and Taoist priests, even those who knew a few spells and talismans. If they saw a fierce ghost that wasn't even afraid of black dog blood, they would probably have run away long ago. How could anyone be like him, deliberately jumping out for everyone to see? He's really something!

As for Zhao Yunshu...

Actually, just a few minutes earlier, while he was inside the cave, his face already showed nothing but bitterness.

Everything was arranged perfectly; all we had to do was hide where the road was impassable and wait peacefully until dawn.

But... there's nothing I can do.

Zhao Yunshu silently prayed in his heart, "Master, please don't blame your disciple. You taught me to be prudent and protect myself when navigating the martial world, and I remember it all."

The old Taoist priest had been traveling the world for over sixty years, and was cautious throughout his life. This allowed him to enjoy his later years peacefully, passing away at the age of seventy. He often advised Zhao Yunshu to remember to keep a low profile, prioritize safety, and remain calm and composed, rather than acting impulsively.

According to his master's teachings, he should have obediently squatted in the cave, plugged his ears, closed his eyes, and not heard or saw anything.

As soon as it was light, the ghosts and monsters retreated. He dusted himself off and left, saying, "This disciple has saved another life today." That was enough to repay the old Taoist's sixty years of timid and earnest teachings. He, Zhao Yunshu, was no great hero. He was just a novice Taoist priest taken in by the old Taoist, a wild one at that, without even a certificate of ordination. Moreover, his master had disappeared two hours earlier.

Why bother... with a few complete strangers?

He didn't know the names of the peddler, the village woman, and the three children, nor would he ever know them.

But... there's really no way to pretend to be deaf and dumb.

So when he walked out of the cave, he already had that calm and serene smile on his face.

On the other side, the beauty covered her mouth and chuckled, her gaze sweeping over Zhao Yunshu from head to toe, and said, "What a bold Taoist priest, daring to scheme against my general."

Zhao Yunshu said, "No, no, I was just testing it out for the general to see if the sound of this knife cutting through the stone is pleasant."

The ghost general's eyes blazed red, and he took a step forward.

However, the beautiful woman spoke first, stopping the ghost general: "Very well, since the Taoist priest is here, you must have heard what we just said, right?"

"Yes, you're here because you're after my master's things?"

"Now that you know, there's no need for us to bother you, right? Just hand it over honestly."

Zhao Yunshu stood with his hands behind his back, his smile unchanged, but his mind was racing.

He had overheard the conversation between the ghost general and the beauty in the cave. The words "prefect," "White Bone Temple," and "Miss" were all pieced together, and although he didn't fully understand them, it was enough for him to understand one thing—these ghosts weren't here to take lives, but to find something.

Since there is a demand, there is room for negotiation.

"Hand it over?" Zhao Yunshu feigned sudden realization. "General, are you perhaps referring to that jade box?"

The ghost general's red light sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, "Does such a thing really exist?"

Zhao Yunshu thought to himself: I don't know.

But a hint of difficulty appeared on his face as he sighed, "I know, but there are some difficulties."

"What's the problem?" The ghost general slightly turned his blade, the cold light reflecting on Zhao Yunshu's brow. In the darkness, a white mark split his face in two.

Zhao Yunshu did not answer, but instead turned to look at the prisoners who were slumped on the ground—the merchant had already run away with a child, leaving two children and a woman who was chanting the name of Buddha.

They didn't even dare to cry at that moment.

Zhao Yunshu glanced at them, paused, and then turned her head away.

He withdrew his gaze and asked the ghost general, "General, are you here for a meal, or to look for something?"

The ghost general said, "Naturally, we're looking for something."

"That's it." Zhao Yunshu spread his hands. "General, you're here to find something, not to have a feast. If you can't find it, the flesh of these people won't taste good anyway. It's better to release them; it'll be a good deed. As for the item, let's sit down and talk about it."

Before the ghost general could answer, the beautiful woman beside him burst out laughing, saying, "You Taoist priest are quite amusing. My general is a ruthless killer, and you're telling him to accumulate good karma?"

Zhao Yunshu said seriously, "That's not true. Little by little, it adds up. Who says people in debt can't make money? Maybe they'll even be reborn into a better family in the future!"

His words were spoken with such seriousness that they surprised the ghosts and monsters.

Huh? Are you saying our general was born into a good family?

Are they talking about us?

The ghost general couldn't help but chuckle: "You're saying I was born into a good family? Haha, but... according to your logic, if you release them, you'll hand over the goods?"

Zhao Yunshu shook his head and said, "No, if you release them, I will admit that the item is indeed with me."

The ghost general's eyes suddenly blazed red, and his murderous aura stirred up a whirlwind, forcing Zhao Yunshu to take a half step back.

However, he paused for a moment, then stood up again.

But the ghost general looked at him again!

Zhao Yunshu stood still, and when his eyes met the red light in the ghost general's eyes, his soul almost left his body and flew away. He felt as if hundreds of dead souls were crying and screaming in his ears at the same time, mixed with the clash of clashing weapons and the long neighing of warhorses. All kinds of sounds poured into his brain, and his head was splitting with pain!

However, he managed to hold back, without making a sound, and appeared calm and composed.

However, this was not the end. Soon, Zhao Yunshu felt his body begin to rot—

He immediately understood that this was the power of the White Bone Contemplation!

The White Bone Contemplation is a practice that involves visualizing the human body as white bones, with the skin and flesh decaying and gradually the bones becoming clean.

Next, visualize your entire body as a skeleton, then extend this to other bodies. Gradually expand to a family, a village, and eventually the whole world filled with skeletons, before finally focusing your own body back on yourself.

When the White Bone Observer examined his body, his skin and flesh actually began to rot and decay!

Zhao Yunshu endured the tingling, soreness, and itching caused by the decaying flesh, remaining motionless and waiting for the other party's reaction.

The beautiful woman gently stopped the ghost general, saying, "Taoist, you're willing to risk your own life, so I believe you're not afraid of death. But you just ran away, so why are you suddenly showing such a chivalrous heart?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunshu stretched and said, "They were just passing by, and they've been dragged into this mess because of me. If I don't take care of them, what kind of logic is that? I cultivate the Dao, this is called cause and effect, understand?"

But even with this movement, a piece of skin was scraped off his hands and the soles of his feet!

Upon closer inspection, there were patches of blood and pus under the skin, and it appeared somewhat swollen.

His body had already begun to rot from the surface.

I don't know how this White Bone Contemplation is practiced. It's clearly a Buddhist practice, yet it's been turned into such an evil method.

But when it comes to methods of contemplation and visualization diagrams, it's like the same mountain: viewed from different angles, it appears as a range or a peak. The same methods of contemplation and visualization diagrams can be perceived differently by different people. The benevolent can see benevolence in them, and the wise can see wisdom in them. There are many distinctions that can be made.

That's why the concept of "authentic" exists in the world.

"So, according to your logic... you'll only negotiate with me after I release them? Otherwise, you'd rather die? Aren't you afraid of death?"

"Since you know that my master comes from Yuntai Temple, then you should also know that I am a disciple of the orthodox Xuanmen sect," Zhao Yunshu said, sticking out his neck.

When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was stunned, and the others were naturally intimidated by the boldness of the statement.

Only Zhao Yunshu himself knew—

Yuntai Temple?

I don't know, I've never heard of it.

The orthodox lineage of Taoism.

Is that right...?

Who cares? When you're out in the world, you get your own identity.

"The orthodox lineage of the Xuanmen... As far as I know, Taoist priest, you have never cultivated in a famous mountain or grand temple, have you?" The beauty looked at Zhao Yunshu with a half-smile.

Zhao Yunshu gently shook his head: "In this world, there is nothing that is not Heaven, nothing that is not fate, nothing that is not God, nothing that is not the Mysterious. If things are like this, how can people not be? People can all be called Heaven, people can all be called God, people can all be called God and understand the Mysterious. Therefore, those who are good at the Way know Heaven, understand God, understand the Mysterious, and create the Mysterious within a single thing. Hence the name Mysterious Gate. Since I am good at the Way, how can I not be called a member of the Mysterious Gate?"

These words made the beautiful woman's expression turn serious.

This Taoist priest... is he real or fake, or is he a true immortal playing in the mortal world, or has received the true teachings of Yuntai Temple?

If it truly is the true teaching of Yuntai Temple...

The beauty felt a faint, stabbing pain in her back, and her calm and composed demeanor began to dissipate.

"Playing tricks." The ghost general frowned slightly. "However, now that we've found the real culprit, there's no need to indulge in our appetites. Release them."

The surrounding imps quickly made way for them.

Upon seeing this, the woman quickly chanted "May the Bodhisattva protect us! Thank you so much, Bodhisattva!" to Zhao Yunshu and then ran away.

The child remained rooted to the spot, seemingly bewildered.

But then they saw Chen Wanchuan, who had already run away, grit his teeth, stomp his foot, and rush back. He scooped up the child and ran off again.

Without delay or saying a word, he simply gave Zhao Yunshu a look.

Zhao Yunshu nodded and watched them leave.

With this buffer, the beauty finally regained her composure and chuckled, "In this world, what good would going down there do? Those children were abandoned by their parents anyway. If you let them go, wouldn't they still die anyway?"

"Well, I can't control that. Everyone has their own fortune. You two, would you like to come with me to see what my master left behind?" Zhao Yunshu reached out and invited the two ghosts.

The ghost general sheathed his sword, slung it at his waist, and remained silent, clearly somewhat wary of Zhao Yunshu.

The beautiful woman followed with a smile.

Each of the hundred ghosts followed behind, but... seemingly following, they were actually guarding against Zhao Yunshu.

At first glance, the scene seemed to have stabilized.

But only Zhao Yunshu himself knew that at this moment, the soles of his feet were covered in blood.

The skin on the soles of their feet had gradually rotted away due to the ghost general's previous observation of their bones, making these two steps on the mountain path particularly difficult.

However, Zhao Yunshu had been traveling the world for four or five years and did not rely entirely on the old Taoist priest.

If he was said to have 80% of the old Taoist's skill, then he really did have 80%, so even though he was in unbearable pain, he didn't change his expression.

Following the mountain path, they arrived at the Taoist temple where Zhao Yunshu and the old Taoist priest had previously lived.

"So there's a Taoist temple here. It makes sense that the treasures were hidden here. But... we didn't find this place when we searched the mountain before. It seems to be protected by magic." The beauty looked around, already seventy percent convinced.

The fact that they couldn't find it during the previous search of the mountain is enough to prove that there is something mysterious about this place!

I never expected to have this outcome!

This Taoist priest is truly righteous; he's even risked everything for a few mortals!

That's wonderful! If only everyone in the world were this honest, simple, and upright.

Upon seeing this place, the ghost general laughed and said, "If I had known this place existed, I wouldn't have needed to dig up the old Taoist's grave! I could have just come here directly."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunshu suddenly looked at the ghost general.

"What did you dig up?"