Encountering a Beguiler or a Daoist

You didn't come.

So I had to come find you.

The words fell into the Daoist's ears like thunder from a clear sky. The color drained from his face bit by bit, and his body trembled slightly. He recognized the equality implied in the statement. Not only he, a descendant relying on the lingering favor of his elders, but even the sect master from three hundred years ago hadn't managed such a good relationship with the Mountain God!

Damn it... why would someone like that appear here...

If it weren't for him, I would have succeeded today!

The Daoist seethed inwardly.

Li Puyü froze, wanting to look up at Qi WuHuo beside him, but afraid of angering the Mountain God.

But he still wanted to look!

But he didn't dare!

His body went rigid.

Everyone's minds here went blank, lost in a daze, as if in a dream. It felt as if the entire hall had been suppressed.

Until the young man's voice rang out: "Thank you."

"It was I who was a bit late... for you to have to come find me."

There had been no prior agreement to drink, it was merely a casual remark from the Mountain God.

Yet Qi WuHuo still responded like this.

The Fierce Tiger let out a great laugh.

An invisible gale rose, lifting the people in the room. Li YueLin quickly regained his composure and said respectfully:

"Today, a demon has harmed people. Fortunately, the Mountain God has protected us, displaying divine might. In the future, this devout man will build a golden statue and temple for you at the foot of the mountain, to offer sacrifices year after year."

The Mountain God said, "No need."

"I am not one of those so-called gods who rely on your incense offerings."

"I am the mountain itself."

"When you enter the mountain, you do not bow, and you should treat me as such."

With that, he took Qi WuHuo's arm and walked out. His gaze lowered as he glanced at the cowering Daoist. The Daoist tried his best to suppress his aura and feign death, hoping to avoid detection. But of course, that was impossible. The Mountain God asked, "What should we do with this person?"

Qi WuHuo saw the wooden token tied to the Daoist's belt.

Faint memories from the past resurfaced. He paused and said, "I have something I want to ask him."

The Mountain God nodded and said calmly, "Then we won't kill him for now."

Five plain words, yet filled with murderous intent!

The Daoist's face turned ashen in an instant.

He wanted to beg for mercy, but then he heard a roar like a fierce tiger shaking heaven and earth, which instantly froze his very soul. Even though his lineage had methods for cultivating the Primordial Spirit and resisting many forms of sorcery and bewitchment, they were utterly useless at this moment. His Primordial Spirit was directly shattered, crippling his cultivation.

"He's an evil cultivator who kills living people to extend his own lifespan using their vitality."

"He cannot be allowed to live in this world."

The Mountain God murmured. The Fierce Tiger manifestation simply opened its mouth, and a gust of wind swept up, engulfing the Daoist. He grew smaller and smaller, shrinking until he was swallowed whole. The man who was the Mountain God swept his sleeve, and the Fierce Tiger manifestation behind him dispersed like the wind. He turned back to the crowd and said, "Then I will borrow my guest. I apologize for disturbing your pleasant gathering."

Li YueLin said with utmost respect, "It is as it should be, as it should be."

Qi WuHuo cupped his hands in a salute to everyone.

Only then did he step forward with the Mountain God.

They had walked no more than three to five steps when the clouds began to rise, and the wind howled. They were lifted by a vast expanse of clouds and began to ascend, moving further away. Looking back, the Li family's mansion grew smaller and smaller, until even the town, with its tens of thousands of households, looked like a painting. People bustled along the main road, their steps hurried. Qi WuHuo suddenly thought of his childhood.

He used to squat under the large willow tree outside the door, watching the ants laboriously moving back and forth in the daylight.

Thinking about it now, weren't everyone like that? Wasn't he himself like that?

He fell into a momentary trance.

Riding the wind through the air, they arrived at the mountain in the blink of an eye. The clouds dispersed, and the wind calmed.

Qi WuHuo recognized this as the place where the Fierce Tiger had debated the Dao earlier.

However, today there were no spiritual beasts with sentience, but rather several elders.

The one in the lead wore a loose official's robe, his hair was entirely silver, and he leaned on a cane taller than himself. He had kind eyes and a gentle smile.

Qi WuHuo asked in confusion, "This is..."

The Mountain God said, "I was originally here to chat with some friends today when I sensed a malevolent aura from the Li family's residence, so I decided to stop by."

The Earth Deity of Xunhe Town looked up in confusion, a question in his heart.

Strange, didn't the Mountain God just hear the location of the malevolent aura and immediately rush over on the wind?

How could this be considered 'stopping by'?

Why not just say he was going to rescue someone himself?

If he had directly said he was going to save people and resolve disasters, wouldn't that have been another huge favor?

He's just letting a favor come to him, and he's not taking it?

Truly strange and peculiar.

The Mountain God then said to the Earth Deities, "I've come today to introduce you to a good friend."

The Fierce Tiger pointed to the elder dressed most meticulously in a scholar's robe and said, "This is the Fortunate Earth Deity of Xunhe Town, named Tao Chen. He's an Earth Deity of this region, and once a cultivator himself. He followed the orthodox path of the Mystic Gate, and his mastery of wind and lightning is no less than that of a True Person from the Daoist sects."

The old man smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "I'm just a minor Earth Deity. How can I compare to True Persons?"

"You flatter me."

While speaking courteously, he opened his eyes, a spiritual light flowing within them as he looked around.

However, he didn't see anyone who would warrant such high regard and introduction from the extremely powerful Mountain God, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

The Mountain God then pointed to another elder with a large forehead, dressed in a brown cloth robe, and said, "This is the Earth Deity for the region from Xin Da Township to this area of Cang Lin Mountain, named Shen Hongxue. His jurisdiction is vast. Within this territory, whether it be beasts or demons, or even human cultivators, they must offer three sticks of incense. If there are any disputes, they must seek him for arbitration. He is highly respected."

Finally, he pointed to the only elder who was quite tall, with white hair and a white beard, looking like a Daoist priest:

"This is the Fortunate Earth Deity for the area below Cang Lin Mountain, named Luo Yizhen. He was once a cultivator, but when his lifespan was nearing its end, he chose not to pursue the path of a ghost immortal or yin spirit. Instead, he merged with the earth's ley lines, and his methods for regulating the earth's ley lines are profound. I've learned a lot from him."

The white-haired elder shook his head, "Your skills are clearly superior to mine, so don't belittle yourself."

Only then did the Mountain God look at Qi WuHuo, who was dressed in a blue robe, and say:

"This is the good friend I want to introduce to you all."

?!!!

The three Fortunate Earth Deities were stunned simultaneously, their gazes meeting.

With their eyesight and experience, they could tell at a glance that the young man before them hadn't even condensed Primordial Prenatal Qi. He couldn't even bear the title of Daoist master; at best, he was a scholar of the Dao. Looking closer, his lifespan hadn't even reached a hundred years, at most seventy-something years of natural life.

The Mountain God said slowly, "This friend's name is Qi WuHuo. On the path of the Dao, he has considerable insight and understanding."

"And in the cultivation of Primordial Spirit methods, he is truly exceptional!"

"We all cultivate within this land. Now that we've met, let's interact more."

The Fierce Tiger spoke with a serious tone, showing great care for the young man. Old Master Tao was the first to react, smiling as he stood up and cupped his hands:

"So that's how it is. This humble old man greets the Daoist master."

The other two Earth Deities also stood up and proactively paid their respects, calling him Daoist master.

Qi WuHuo cupped his hands in return, as the Fierce Tiger Mountain God had personally introduced him to the Mountain Gods and Earth Deities of this region.

He addressed them as Fortunate Earth Deities.

The Fierce Tiger Mountain God laughed heartily, "Indeed, indeed! We are all friends, and we can interact often in the future!"

"Come, come, sit, sit!"

He knew Qi WuHuo recognized the old man, but he had also traveled the world in his life and knew that such figures wouldn't stay in one place for long. At the time of parting, they might offer some karmic affinity, but not anything truly significant. Since Qi WuHuo had no backing, he introduced him to the Earth Deities and Mountain Gods he knew, inviting them to sit at a round table and pouring wine from a flask. Old Master Tao smiled and asked:

"However, what is the cause of such great malevolent energy in this town?"

The Fierce Tiger replied, "An evil cultivator who refines yin lifespan."

With a sweep of his sleeve, the Daoist fell to the ground like a tumbling gourd.

As the Daoist landed, he still wanted to escape, but upon looking up, he froze.

He saw that the Earth Deities and Mountain Gods of this place were all present.

Beside the stone table, plum blossoms bloomed, immortals were drinking, and the young man was among them.

He lowered his head and watched the names on his spiritual lineage jade slip light up one by one.

The Daoist felt nothing but bitterness in his mouth. He lifted his foot, but found he couldn't move it any further.

Bitterness, oh, bitterness.

What kind of stone had he kicked...

He stumbled and cupped his hands.

He bowed deeply.

The Fierce Tiger poured wine, looking at Qi WuHuo and saying, "WuHuo, ask whatever you wish to ask."

Qi WuHuo looked at the Daoist whose face was contorted into a fawning smile.

The scenes of human tragedy from that difficult journey flashed in his mind. The fluttering banners in the 'marketplace,' the teacher who walked into the marketplace willingly, saying the young ones should live, sacrificing one life for another. All these images flickered past, leaving only characters like lightning bolts of talismans.

After a long pause, he said:

"That waist token you're wearing."

"Where did you get it?"