The Storyteller

Three years later.

"... The mountain demon, now a demon incarnate, had a ferocious face and fangs. It opened its blood-red maw and was about to bite Big Head Xu. Xu Da was dizzy from the strong, pungent smell emanating from the demon's mouth. He was about to be swallowed whole by that abyss-like maw, but he was so terrified that he collapsed to the ground, unable to move an inch!"

"Xu Da thought he was going to die today, and had already closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, waiting for death. But who knew that at this critical moment, a shocking shout suddenly came from a hundred miles away! 'You beast, how dare you!' The voice was like jade, clear and melodious, and full of righteous indignation!"

At the same time, a sharp sword, wreathed in dazzling light, appeared from a hundred miles away and pierced through the air in the blink of an eye. With a 'thud,' the sword pierced through the mountain demon's head!

"Xu Da, who had miraculously survived, opened his eyes and saw a figure in a silver-powdered Daoist robe walking through the air from the distant horizon, gracefully landing in front of him..."

Inside the Liaoju Prefecture, a teahouse on the main street was packed with people.

The middle-aged storyteller was surrounded by layers of customers, and he was telling his new story, which he had recently prepared, with great enthusiasm and animated expression.

He stopped there, paused, and slowly took a sip of tea while touching his beautifully grown beard.

Seeing this, the surrounding tea drinkers all pulled out their wallets and threw coins in front of him, the coins clattering down as they urged him on.

"And then? And then?"

"What does this person look like?"

"A Daoist robe with subtle silver patterns... Could he be an immortal from the Lingxian Sect?"

The storyteller, having had his fill of the clinking of coins, finally put down his teacup, opened his fan with a "whoosh," shook his head, and said:

Xu Da looked at the newcomer and found that the person was surrounded by a layer of light, like a banished immortal, making it impossible to see their true face. However, although Xu Da had never seen the silver-powdered Daoist robe before, he recognized it immediately. He then realized what was happening and exclaimed with great joy, "Are you an immortal from the Lingxian Sect?"

This is something the storyteller recently heard while collecting folk songs in nearby towns.

He adapted and polished it.

In the past three years, the Lingxian Sect has not often appeared in front of ordinary people, but whenever people encounter any major difficulties, they can explain the situation to the government and the Lingxian Sect will lend a helping hand.

Even last year, when many parts of Hufang Province suffered from drought and locust plagues, it was the Lingxian Sect that sent people to various places to resolve the issues.

Thus, in just three years, the name of the Lingxian Sect became known to everyone in Hufang Province, and even three-year-old children who were still ignorant knew the name ' Lingxian '.

Although few people travel far these days except for merchants who run goods, word of mouth has made the Lingxian Sect a well-known name throughout the entire Pusi Kingdom.

This is completely different from the previous three major sects.

Previously, the names of the three major sects were only known among the top echelons of the Pusi Kingdom, and were rarely heard of by ordinary people.

Unlike the Lingxian Sect, Lingxian Sect stories of helping the people have become the mainstream in teahouses of all sizes throughout Hufang Province.

As dusk fell, the streets of Liaoju Prefecture began to empty, and many shops had lanterns that had been lit hanging outside their doors.

"Smack!"

To find out what happens next, please stay tuned for the next episode.

As the gavel fell, the storyteller finished his third story of the day. But instead of packing up to leave as usual, he looked at everyone with a slightly mysterious expression and said:

"During my recent field research trip, I heard some news about the Lingxian Sect..."

The guests, who were originally planning to go home for dinner, immediately sat back down upon hearing this, and many even gathered around the storyteller.

"What news? What news? Old brother, you always keep us in suspense when you're telling stories, but when it comes to real matters, stop being so mysterious and tell us quickly!"

Upon hearing this, the storyteller, somewhat displeased, said to the person who spoke:

"Yang Da, who are you calling 'older brother'? I was born a day after you! You're so old and you don't even have a beard, always trying to look young."

A burst of laughter erupted around him, making Yang Da until his old face turned red. Fortunately, he was used to bantering with storytellers, and after a moment of blushing, he waved his hand and said with a grin:

"Isn't this just flattering you to get you to talk?"

The storyteller then stroked his long beard and, without further suspense, began to speak:

"I heard that the Lingxian Sect is going to start recruiting disciples soon!"

These words caused a great stir. Upon hearing them, the tea drinkers gasped, some even exclaiming in surprise.

Is this really true?!

Is this news credible?

Anticipating this reaction from the crowd, the storyteller nodded steadily:

"It can't be faked; this news came directly from the Xiushui Village. You know Xiushui Village, right?"

That's something you absolutely need to know.

As the Lingxian Sect's reputation grew, Xiushui Village, a previously little-known and impoverished village at the foot of the Lingxian Sect mountain, naturally became known to more and more people.

Nowadays, the people of Xiushui Village are seen as a symbol of luck and happiness by all the people of Hufang Province.

After all, although everyone talks about the Lingxian Sect, very few people have actually seen or come into contact with the immortals of the Lingxian Sect. However, the villagers of Xiushui Village live at the foot of the immortals, and they can see the immortals coming and going every day.

Moreover, I've heard that there are children in that village who study under the guidance of a celestial being.

Upon hearing that the news came from Xiushui Village, although not everyone necessarily believed it completely, most people were inclined to believe it to some extent, and they all started discussing it with those around them.

As the tea drinkers chattered amongst themselves, a boy of about eight or nine years old squeezed out of the crowd, his face beaming with excitement. He darted out of the teahouse, ran off the main street, turned into an alley, and after several twists and turns, arrived at a residential alley.

As he passed by a house, he heard a familiar cursing voice coming from inside and his steps involuntarily faltered.

"That little rascal has run off somewhere again, and there's not a trace of him even at mealtime! Husband, husband! Go and bring that little rascal back!"

The boy's body trembled almost imperceptibly, then he gritted his teeth, turned his head, and continued to slip deeper into the alley.

He imitated the croaking of frogs a few times outside the doors of several houses, then ran to a corner near a haystack at the end of the alley and squatted down to wait.

A moment later, two boys, about his age, came running out amidst the cursing of their families, one of them with a strand of sweet potato shred still stuck to the corner of his mouth.

When the two saw the boy in the corner, they ran over and squatted down around him. One of them asked the boy:

"What's wrong, Brother Rong? You called me out while we were eating."

Another boy also said:

My mom gave me another good scolding.

The boy called ' Brother Rong ' ignored them, looked around to make sure no one else came out, and then spoke:

"It seems that Sister Little Four won't be able to get out."

The boy with sweet potato shreds hanging from the corner of his mouth nodded and said:

"Sister Little Four's father came back today. He heard the deal went wrong and he's furious at home. Sister Little Four definitely won't be getting out."

Brother Rong then beckoned to the two of them with his finger, signaling them to come closer.

"I have some great news to tell you!"

So the three boys sat in the corner, heads in their hands, whispering amongst themselves.