The Old Taoist and the Young Girl

There were five peach resin lumps in total, translucent and amber-colored.

Lin Jue took them out to examine them as he walked.

There was no other way—

Since they were given to him, he could only accept them as a parting gift from an elder and old friend.

But what was the use of them? How could he use them?

Should he boil them and eat them too?

But what did this even mean?

Lin Jue knew that peach trees produced peach resin, and he had eaten it before. But if a peach tree that had become sentient and spoken with him for days gifted him a few pieces of its own resin, what would that be considered if it were a gift from a human?

Lin Jue always felt something was strange about it.

Strange as it was, his mood was still good, filled with a sense of wonder and a touch of leisurely bliss.

His book basket, now almost as good as new, was on his back. He used his staff as a walking stick, and with only two days left until Mount Qi Yun, his steps naturally felt lighter.

However, as he walked, Lin Jue was more thoughtful than before.

He often paid attention to the flowers, grass, and trees by the roadside.

To cultivate Wood Escape, one must first harmonize with plants and trees.

Lin Jue didn't know how to harmonize with plants and trees, so he had to stop frequently to observe the plants he had never noticed or paid attention to before, reaching out to stroke the texture of their leaves, and looking at their blossoms.

In his past life, he knew many people who loved flowers and trees, a love that was beyond ordinary people, mostly women with delicate minds. At that time, Lin Jue only thought that these flowers and trees were common things; where could they not be found, or where could they not be seen? Was there any reason to look at them individually and record them? But now, the facts had almost effortlessly proven that he simply lacked the state of mind and time to carefully observe them back then.

Because at this moment, Lin Jue had no cultivation or enlightenment; he had merely spent a little more time and effort observing them, and he had already discovered their unusual nature.

Almost every tree was different, with its own unique characteristics. Almost every flower was different too. Every newly opened flower was so delicate and pure. Even the smallest flower, when examined closely, had petals and stamens that were so intricate and complex, far beyond the few lines and a splash of color in a painting.

Moreover, it was summer, a season of lush foliage and rampant plant growth. Besides wildflowers in full bloom by the roadside, there were also vines bearing fruit. These plants were wantonly displaying their vitality and temperament.

As Lin Jue observed them carefully, he was unexpectedly amazed, as if he had discovered their charm.

Of course, it was purely charm.

As for enlightenment, there was none at all.

But even so, it made him feel content and even surprised.

Because charm itself was a precious thing.

Thus, his walking speed was significantly delayed.

If he saw an ancient tree thicker than himself, even if it was by the roadside and not too difficult to reach, he would put down his book basket and go to pay his respects. Sometimes, as described in books and told by the Tree Demon, he would place his hand on the trunk to feel the texture of the bark, concentrate his mind, and try to sense the tree's Essence, to deeply experience the Wood's Spiritual Charm, and imagine himself as one with it, striving to become one with it.

Feeling his mind clear, and with a playful spirit, he chanted an incantation, trying to pass his hand through the tree.

"Haha..."

Naturally, he couldn't do it at all.

Lin Jue wasn't discouraged at all. He was just a beginner, and he was in a playful mood. He shook his head, chuckled, then returned to pick up his book basket and continued on his way.

In the middle of the afternoon, the young scholar stopped by the roadside and struck up a conversation with an old man working in the fields below.

"Excuse me, old sir, do you know of Mount Qi Yun?"

"Mount Qi Yun? Yes, I know it!"

"Which way is it?"

"Go this way."

The old man pointed in a direction.

"This way?"

Lin Jue bent over and looked in the direction he pointed.

"Ah..."

"I just came from this way."

"Then you're going the wrong way!"

"..."

Lin Jue shook his head and chuckled. He thanked the old man and turned back.

When one's mood is cheerful, even mistakes don't cast a shadow; instead, one finds their own foolishness amusing. He patted his head, almost laughing out loud, and his steps remained light.

Even though it was getting late.

For those who don't know the route, traveling at night is a perfectly normal thing—

Lin Jue had been delayed that morning by seeing off the Tree Demon, he walked slowly, got lost halfway, and was delayed again when he turned back. The sun naturally set halfway through his journey.

This was the second time he had traveled at night in the half-month since leaving home.

However, this time his heart was much more at peace.

The Tree Demon mentioned that this place was close to Mount Qi Yun, so even though it was the wilderness, there were rarely any rampant and ferocious monsters. Secondly, the weather was great today, clear skies for miles, so it likely wouldn't rain at night. After entering June, the weather would only get hotter, so camping in the wilderness at night wouldn't be cold.

Lastly, Lin Jue wasn't as afraid of Demonic Ghosts anymore.

As expected, it got dark halfway there.

While there was still some light left, Lin Jue found a dry, flat spot by the roadside, tidied the ground a bit, and sat down, preparing to spend the night there.

He'd heard that other travelers on long journeys couldn't avoid sleeping in the wilderness. If you haven't done anything wrong, ghosts won't come knocking. It's just that most people travel in groups, while Lin Jue was alone.

He wasn't too scared to begin with, and placing his cleaver and whistle-stick combination beside him gave him a sense of security.

So Lin Jue sat on the ground, eating his dry rations, watching the sunset paint the mountains and rivers in the distance, listening to the wind wail like weeping and the trees rustle. When it was time, he closed his eyes and slept.

But for some reason, he couldn't sleep soundly tonight.

Perhaps it was because he had encountered too many monsters and ghosts recently, and now sleeping in the mountains, he couldn't help but have related dreams.

In his dream, a young ghost bowed to him and told him that his coffin was buried not far away. Over time, the soil had been exposed. Recently, a troop of heavily armed soldiers had passed by, and their warhorse had accidentally rushed out of the road, trampling a corner of his coffin. Now it was exposed to wind and rain, and he was helpless, so he begged Lin Jue to help repair it.

"..."

When he woke up, Lin Jue came to.

The dream's intensity hadn't faded yet, and he felt as if what happened in the dream was real. However, as the wind blew, the dream gradually dissipated.

When he opened his eyes, it was pitch black all around, with only the brilliant, numerous stars overhead. A river of stars, countless worlds of stardust, constructed a uniquely magnificent and dreamlike scene. Lin Jue couldn't tell the exact time, but he guessed it was around the fifth watch.

Back in Shu Village, he would usually be waking up around this time. He had gone to bed early last night, so he should be waking up now.

This was also probably the coldest time of the night, so he might have been woken up by the cold.

As for what happened in the dream, there was no need to dwell on it.

"..."

Lin Jue didn't want to travel at this hour but had nothing to do. Coupled with his grogginess, he lay down and fell asleep again.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he fell asleep, the dream returned.

It was still the same ghost in the dream.

"This isn't a dream, no, it is a dream, but it's not your dream! I am truly a ghost. My shelter was indeed trampled by a horse. I want to ask for your help to repair it. Please don't take it lightly! It's not easy for me to encounter someone like you. If you can't help me, who knows how long I'll have to wait!"

The ghost explained and pleaded again.

Lin Jue in the dream couldn't help but feel confused.

"Someone like me? What kind of person? And why are you looking for me?"

"Few people pass through this road at night. In this period, it's only happened a few times. Some people have strong Qi and Blood, so I don't dare approach them. Others have impure Five Qi, and I don't trust them. Also, although I was lucky enough to become a ghost after death without going to the underworld, my magic power is weak. You gentlemen must often interact with monsters and ghosts, and your aura doesn't repel me. That's why I decided I could approach you."

"..."

Lin Jue in the dream was silent for a moment, feeling both real and unreal.

Things in dreams are often like this, difficult to distinguish.

"You gentlemen carry something strange. I smell a fragrant Spiritual Charm. If you agree to help me repair my shelter, I have a good piece of news to tell you."

"What good news?"

"You agree!" the ghost in the dream said. Without waiting for Lin Jue to answer, he hurriedly continued, "Today, in the mountains behind us, there is a mountain that looks like a hammer. The Mountain Lord is holding a banquet in the mountains, inviting spirits from all directions who cultivate peacefully and do not cause trouble, to discuss the newly acquired Yin Yang Scripture. If you go to visit with this item, do not lose your sincerity and etiquette, and the Mountain Lord will surely treat you as a guest. I heard there is always Thousand Day Wine at the Mountain Lord's banquets, and you will surely have a cup. It is said to have great benefits. Years ago, a spirit went to the banquet, and after drinking, stayed near my home for the night. Just smelling the residual wine fragrance and the Spiritual Charm within made me feel comfortable for a long time. A woodcutter also accidentally drank some while chopping wood on the mountain; not only did he live to a ripe old age, but he was also free from illness and pain in his old age."

"What Yin Yang Scripture and Thousand Day Wine?"

"It's almost dawn, I can't talk much longer. Anyway, if you help me, how could I deceive or harm you? Even a ghost wouldn't do such a thing..."

"How can I fix your shelter?"

"Stuff some wood and cloth in it; as long as it doesn't leak wind or rain."

As soon as he finished speaking, the dream abruptly scattered in a panic, becoming blurry with time like any ordinary dream.

Lin Jue was groggy for a while longer before finally waking up.

He couldn't help but recall the events of the dream, contemplating whether they were true or false, and trying hard to grasp the vague details, striving to prevent the words from completely vanishing the moment he woke up.

But when he opened his eyes and sat up, he heard footsteps ahead.

Lin Jue immediately became alert, turning his head to look—

Not far from his resting place was the official road. In the dim light, the grass and trees cast shadows, and smoke seemed to rise from the road. An old Daoist priest was walking slowly.

Not only the old Daoist priest, but a smaller figure followed behind him.

"!"

Lin Jue quietly gripped the saber beside him.

Almost simultaneously, the old Daoist priest saw him.

"Heh heh..."

The old Daoist priest seemed startled by his reaction, stopped, looked at him, and chuckled kindly, "Little benefactor isn't afraid of sleeping by the roadside in the wilderness at night, so why are you so tense upon seeing a Daoist priest?"

The person behind him also stopped, first looking up at him, then following his gaze to Lin Jue.

It was a young girl, holding a wooden stick and carrying a satchel.

The sky was dim, and halfway along the road, they inexplicably encountered a person. The old Taoist priest wasn't afraid, but she was, so she widened her eyes and quietly looked toward Lin Jue.

"Are you a man or a ghost, Daoist priest?"

Lin Jue's thoughts raced, and he asked in return.

"Naturally, I am a man."

"Why are you traveling in the dead of night?"

"The dead of night?"

The old Taoist priest couldn't help but smile again, turning around and pointing to the east. "Young benefactor, please take a look. It's almost dawn."

"Hmm?"

Lin Jue looked, and sure enough.

"The weather has been hot recently. Once noon passes, I'm fine, but my newly found disciple has had a hard time walking. There's no other way, so I had to learn from the benefactors who often travel this way and set out at the fifth watch."

"Where are you coming from?" Lin Jue's mind was sharp, knowing there was nowhere ahead to buy lodging or seek shelter.

"Of course, like you, young benefactor, we spent the night by the roadside."

"That makes sense, but if you're just traveling, you can just go straight ahead on the road. Why stop and talk to me so much?"

"Naturally, we feel we have a connection with you, young benefactor," the old Taoist priest said with a smile. "Don't you feel the same? You were afraid we might be night-walking Demonic Ghosts, but then you saw my Taoist robe and thought perhaps we had a connection, wanting to speak with me more, yet hesitant and not wanting to miss this fate."

"..."

"Do you have any other worries, young benefactor?"

"No more worries."

Lin Jue said decisively.

"Oh?"

This surprised the old Taoist priest.

The young girl behind him also clearly froze.

"I am He Xianyu, my Taoist name is Cloud Crane Taoist. I cultivate on a nearby mountain and am returning from visiting a friend, passing through here," the old Taoist priest bowed to him. "This is a young girl I found in a village a few days ago. Because I felt a connection with her, I plan to take her back and accept her as a disciple."

He turned and looked at the young girl.

"My name is Qing Yao."

The young girl understood his gaze and quickly said.

"My surname is Lin, given name Jue."

"Meeting is fate. The sky is about to brighten. Why don't you, young benefactor, pack up, and we travel together? How about it?"

"I couldn't ask for more."

Lin Jue flipped over and got up, casually picked up his things, slung his book basket over his shoulder, and prepared to leave.

As soon as he took a step, he suddenly thought of something.

"Wait!"

Lin Jue's steps suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

The old Taoist priest looked at him strangely.

"..."

Lin Jue found it difficult to speak for a moment.

He wasn't sure if what happened last night was a dream or if there really were ghosts. How could he explain it to someone?

He quickly put down his book basket again, tried hard to recall, and ran a few steps to the location the ghost had mentioned in his dream last night to check—

There was indeed a gap on the ground, revealing a section of a coffin board, and it had been stepped on and broken.

The hollow inside was faintly visible.

It was real...

"What's wrong?"

It was a crisp female voice. The young girl, mimicking the old Taoist priest's tone, was curiously staring at him and asking.

"It's a long story..."

Lin Jue then told them about what happened last night.