Born Saints: Starting from Liaozhai

Time slowly passed.

They traveled for nearly half an hour.

The old woman, Lin Fang, arrived outside Guobei County and gazed at the county town from afar.

The town of Guobei has low city walls made of old, bluish-gray bricks. Over the years, the walls have fallen into disrepair, leaving them mottled and covered in moss in several places.

The wooden plaque on the city gate was faded in color and the paint was peeling off, but the characters were still barely legible, worn smooth by the passage of time.

Outside the city, the official roads and fields are crisscrossed, the soil hardened by the footsteps of passersby. In the early morning, a thin mist often shrouds the area, making the county town appear to float in the fog, its outline hazy.

Shops were sparse, and people hurried by, with the sounds of dogs barking and people talking coming from afar.

After some careful questioning, she arrived at Nanliu Lane.

Looking at the grand mansion of the Zhang family, the grain merchants, and the two gatekeepers, the old woman Lin Fang hesitated.

After a long pause, she still walked towards the door.

Seeing this, the old man guarding the gate was slightly surprised and said, "Old woman, if you want to beg for food, go to the street ahead. We won't take you here."

Upon hearing this, the old woman, Lin Fang, hesitated even more. She gritted her teeth and explained in a low voice, "I came here to find a job. The person there said that if anyone stops me, I should say that Young Master Zhang Xuan sent me."

Old Wang, who had initially seemed impatient, looked surprised upon hearing the words "Young Master Zhang Xuan." "You know the eldest young master?"

"The eldest young master?" Lin Fang wondered to herself, thinking, "Is the young master Zhang Xuan that the immortal sage spoke of the eldest young master that the gatekeeper mentioned?"

While she was puzzled and confused, she learned that the old woman in front of her knew the young master, so Old Man Wang dared not be careless.

A moment later, the old woman Lin Fang entered the Zhang family's house and learned about the young master's situation from the gatekeeper, Old Man Wang.

Guobei County has a great reputation. He was called a child prodigy from a young age, so dazzling that he overshadowed those around him.

But that was before. Now, this young master is obsessed with seeking immortality and enlightenment. Relatives and neighbors all think he's gone mad, and the master and mistress's pleas are useless.

"Alas, if you ask me, it would be better to pass the imperial examinations and obtain official rank..." Old Wang sighed.

Hearing the doorman's words, the old woman Lin Fang nodded in agreement, thinking he was right.

However, when she subconsciously asked about the appearance of the eldest son of the Zhang family, her mind went blank.

He wore a moon-white robe, had fair skin and handsome features, and exuded an air of refined nobility...

"Isn't this the appearance of that immortal lord?"

Could it be...?

The old woman, Lin Fang, was surprised and suspicious.

Looking at Old Man Wang, who was rambling on and on, she opened her mouth, but then hesitated and stopped herself from speaking.

However, after hesitating for a while, she still didn't voice her question.

"Let's first see what this young master of the Zhang family looks like. If we mistake him for some kind of deity, that would be a real sin..."

The old woman, Lin Fang, murmured.

After all, even if this young master of the Zhang family is a child prodigy, he is still just an ordinary person, while that person is a divine being. How could the two be the same?

"What are you muttering about?" Old Wang turned his head in puzzlement.

The old woman, Lin Fang, quickly said it was nothing.

Just as they were talking.

……

Outside the west gate of Guobei County, right next to the official road, is an old inn.

"Is this Guobei County?"

An old Taoist priest, with white hair and beard but not showing signs of old age, a gaunt face, and calm eyes, was squinting as he looked at the seemingly ordinary Guobei County.

His Taoist robe was clean and tidy, with the cuffs hanging down slightly. He walked without the slightest hint of restlessness. Just by standing there, he exuded an aura that commanded respect, as if he had lived outside the mortal world for a long time.

Looking at the county residents on the street, dressed in tattered clothes and covered in dirt, he sighed with compassion.

next to.

Xu Zhen was a burly man with a scar on his face.

Tall and thin, with a shrewd look in his eyes, Zhao Liuzi was a man of great intelligence.

Wearing casual clothes, with a sturdy build, broad shoulders and back, and thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes, Officer Feng was prominently featured among them.

Hearing Master Xuanqingzi's sigh, Zhao Liuzi quickly flattered him, saying, "Master Xuanqingzi, our Guobei County is naturally not as good as your Qingping County. I'm sorry to have troubled you these past few days."

"If you, Daoist Xuanqingzi, could help us assess the situation of that eldest son of the Zhang family, we would certainly offer you incense money!"

Xuan Qingzi smoothed his beard and hair and nodded slightly.

Then, with some doubt, he said, "I came to you in a bit of a hurry. Tell me more about this young master of the Zhang family."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liuzi quickly recounted the situation of the eldest son of the Zhang family in detail.

He was a famous child prodigy in Guobei County, but he went insane recently. Some people said he was possessed by a ghost or something.

Most importantly, when they came to the Zhang family to collect their share of the money a while ago, he was about to reach out and grab the eldest son of the Zhang family when they suddenly fainted!

"Daoist Xuanqingzi, you have no idea how wicked that eldest son of the Zhang family is!"

Zhao Liuzi, still somewhat shaken, said sternly, "I bet the eldest son of the Zhang family is possessed by a ghost or demon!"

"Otherwise, how could we all suddenly faint out of the blue?"

"We must have been bewitched by that ghost on him, or it cast some kind of spell on us!"

Xu Zhen, standing beside him, also showed a look of apprehension.

"Oh?" Daoist Xuanqingzi was somewhat surprised, his expression turning slightly grave. "So eerie?"

"I suspect it is not a ghost or monster, as there is no reason for it to appear in broad daylight."

After thinking for a moment, he slowly began to speak, "However, I have heard that there are evil spirits with blue faces and fangs, disheveled hair, and who eat hearts, who are extremely skilled at disguising themselves as humans in human skin. This young master of the Zhang family could very well be that painted-skin ghost, or he could be some other demon..."

He flicked his whisk with his right hand and said calmly, "However, in any case, once I go and take a look, everything will become clear."

"If there's a problem, this humble Taoist priest will not spare him and will make him submit to the law in an instant!"

Having cultivated Taoism for many years and believing himself to possess some skill, Master Xuanqingzi, who thought he could easily deal with such a minor demon, couldn't help but smile.

Besides, it's broad daylight now. No matter how fierce that brat is, he'll have to submit to the law in the face of his methods!

The words were spoken.

Zhao Liuzi and the others' eyes lit up, and they couldn't help but feel curious and expectant.

Soon, they will know just how strange and monstrous the eldest son of the Zhang family really is!

Once these ghosts and demons are driven away and no longer in the way, the eldest son of the Zhang family and the Zhang family will be at their mercy!

Master Xuanqingzi stroked his white beard and said calmly, "Let's go, take me to the Zhang family."

Zhao Liuzi, in high spirits, said excitedly, "Daoist Xuanqingzi, this way please..."

He led the way, with Officer Feng and the others following behind.