If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 787 Guangchuan Xun Family

There are many guests visiting from prominent families, wealthy and powerful households.

Some guests are of distinguished status, some are of ordinary status, or some are just distinguished guests.

The door is only open for distinguished guests.

When Lin Daiyu entered the Jia Mansion, the Jia family did not open the main gate to welcome her, so she was just carried in through the corner door.

There is a narrow alley inside the corner gate. Most ordinary guests, such as those who come to ask for money, sit on long benches in the alley.

Ordinary guests who came to visit on behalf of the nobles could enter the front door wing, which was sheltered from the wind and rain, with a stove to warm themselves up. Tea, pastries and snacks were also provided.

After Xiaoyu and Gou Jiao were led into the corner gate by the servants, they sat down on a long bench in the narrow alley, waiting to be summoned by Master Xun.

Although they arrived very early and there were obviously no other guests at the time, the servant still had something to say: "Who is our master? How can we just meet him whenever we want?
At least wait until the master does two sets of boxing to loosen up his muscles, eats breakfast, takes a nap to rest, and finishes his morning work, then maybe he will be in the mood to see you two.

If you ask me, you should take this string of copper coins and go to the next house to beg for alms.

Don't always think about biting off a big piece of fat meat in one bite, our Master Xun is not stupid."

"If Master Xun doesn't want to see me, I won't take a penny; if Master Xun wants to use money to get rid of me, I'll have to pay a huge sum of money." Xiao Yu said with a smile.

"You crazy Taoist priest, you are crazy about money. How can you say a thousand gold coins?"

The servant yelled in shock and went out with the broom to continue sweeping the floor.

Xiaoyu sat on a long bench and entered into meditation.

Gou Jiao waited at the door for two quarters of an hour, being quite patient. When he saw that they had come in and Mr. Xun refused to meet them, he became a little angry.

"Mr. Xun is so unreasonable! No matter what, we have made it clear that we want to help his family exorcise the evil spirits.

Even if he doesn't believe that there is evil spirit in his house, we always mean well and it is basic courtesy for him to meet us.

The Xun family is a thousand-year-old county, this is too outrageous."

Xiaoyu smiled and said, "The more rude he is, the happier I am."

Gou Jiaoqi asked, "He is rude, why is the Taoist so happy?"

“If he treats me like a distinguished guest, and I accept his gifts and appreciate his kindness, should I return the favor?

Now, let's handle the matter impartially and don't worry about the fate of the Xun family. "Xiao Yu said.

Gou Jiao asked in surprise: "Master, what are we here for?"

Xiao Yu said unhappily: "Didn't you say that you wanted to understand Shinto?"

Gou Jiao was puzzled and asked, "The Taoist priest just asked his servant to report to Master Xun that there was an evil spirit in his house and he might be targeted by ghosts. Is he lying?"

“To understand Shinto is not to focus on a particular ghost or god and study it in detail.

When this case is over, you may be able to understand the nature of Shinto a little bit." Xiao Yu smiled faintly.

Gou Jiao was curious and expectant, but he calmed down and did not continue to investigate the "Xun Mansion Case".

He thought of Zhao Yan from before and said, "Are we really going to visit County Magistrate Zhao in a few days?"

Xiao Yu asked: "What do you think of Zhao Yan?"

Gou Jiao thought for a moment and said, "Although he is polite to us, his heart may not be sincere.

He scolded me when we met before, but when he heard my arrogant words and was informed by his subordinates that I was a "disciple of the Taoist Palace", his attitude changed immediately.

Is this how a sincere person should behave?

If the Taoist priest is an ordinary wandering Taoist priest, and I am really a street beggar, County Magistrate Zhao would probably force us to do corvée labor."

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "You know what, he really had this idea at first. The number of places assigned to them by the court was indeed beyond the capacity of Guangchuan County.

Inside the government office, from the county magistrate and lieutenant to the generals and the captains, everyone was anxious.

Gou Jiao raised his chin towards the door and sneered, "The Xun family has enough servants, including a 20-year-old strong man, who has been sweeping the tiny space at the door with a broom for half an hour, while the housekeeper and the master in the mansion have been neither hurried nor slow."

Xiao Yu sighed, "The Xun family must have spent a lot of money."

Gou Jiao said: "The money may not have entered the imperial treasury."

"I haven't met the county magistrate yet, so I can't make a conclusion. But I can be sure that Zhao Yan is a great hero and a great man." Xiao Yu said.

Gou Jiao asked curiously, "How big is it?"

Xiao Yu thought for a moment and said, "He has comprehended the martial arts and has the strength of a top-level human immortal, but his strength is slightly weaker than Zhong Limai.

But he also has the appearance of a duke, and his face is better than Zhongli Meng's."

Taking into account Zhongli Meng's current whereabouts, his personality and ideological inclinations, Xiaoyu judged that he would achieve nothing in the chaotic Qin and Han dynasties and would not have a good ending in the end.

With this kind of "foresight", she indeed found some significant flaws in Zhongli Mei's face.

But the strange thing was that after she saw those flaws, she vaguely felt that the flaws were disappearing, or being repaired by something.

Probably has something to do with herself.

When it comes to herself, it is difficult for her to be accurate in her observation of Zhongli Mei.

Because her heart is changing, and her change of heart can affect Zhongli Mei's fate.

When she can grasp her true nature and keep her heart still, she can accurately calculate the cause and effect. But when she can really control her heart to be still, she has already become a Buddha.

Zhao Yan had a very definite perfect and blessed appearance.

If it weren't for the burden of Gou Jiao following him around, Xiao Yu would have gone over and activated the "Big Dad Destroyer".

Or, tonight, quietly become the Zhao family's servant and call him "Dad"?
Well, Xiaoyu always has a good appetite and never thinks that the godfather is too much.

She couldn't stand the "Purple Mansion" running idle.

It was like if she had bought a good graphics card in her previous life, but if she didn't also buy a few 3A masterpieces to squeeze out its performance, she would feel that she had wasted the money she spent on the graphics card.

"Zhao Yan also has the appearance of a duke."

Gou Jiao's expression changed several times, and he said in a hoarse voice: "So many grassroots heroes have the potential to become dukes and marquises. Is it true that the Qin Dynasty is hopeless?"

"Zhao Yan is a county lieutenant, and his status is not low." Xiao Yu said.

Gou Jiao said: "But he is over fifty years old. If he really wanted to make a fortune under the rule of the Qin Dynasty, he would have done it long ago. Compared with the dukes and marquises, the county lieutenant has a very low status."

Xiao Yu asked curiously, "After you return to Pingxiang, are you really going to write a letter to the court, asking Queen Mother Zhao to return power to Fusu?"

Gou Jiao sighed and said, "I am from Julu County, so theoretically I am a native of the 'former Zhao State'.

But since I was born under the rule of the Human Emperor in this life, and have experienced the cruelty of turmoil and seen the suffering of the common people, it would be unreasonable if I didn't do something.

The ideal of building a thirty-three-story tower for Zhengqitang has become a pipe dream."

Xiao Yu said: "You are practicing the Righteous Qi Jue, not the Great Righteous Qi.

There is no need to escape from or even resist the timidity and cowardice in our nature.

Instead, you should take the initiative to admit and face your character weaknesses calmly.

When you truly reach the state of original clarity of nature, even those weaknesses can cast a ray of light in your heart.

In essence, they are no different from the Tao and principles represented by the "Righteousness Talisman", and are all part of the true nature. "Gou Jiao said: "What if timidity and cowardice are not my nature, but the root dust delusion woven by the world?

Just like what the Taoist priest said at this moment, it made me believe that I really have character flaws.

Aren't you interfering with my efforts to break through the root dust and delusions and find my true nature?"

Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "Gou Sheng, you are right. You just need to feel and reflect on your own, and don't take anyone else's teachings as your guide."

She agreed with what he said and once again acknowledged that he had a deep and profound wisdom.

But Xiaoyu also discovered a problem that surprised her and made her a little worried: Gou Jiao had developed an obsession in his heart.

In Buddhist practice, the easiest thing to encounter and the hardest to overcome is obsession.

If it was the authentic "Haoran Zhengqi" or pure Taoist mentality, he would not have developed an obsession so quickly.

——The Buddhist teachings are so fucking weird. It’s clearly “Wukong” (sudden enlightenment of emptiness), but it’s so easy to become paranoid.

Xiaoyu fell silent and began to reflect on the discordances in his "Zhengqi Jue".

It was almost evening when Xiaoyu and Gou Jiao met Mr. Xun.

A middle-aged man who looks very kind and capable.

He has a round face, thick beard, and a smile like Amitabha.

His shoulders and arms were knotted and muscular beneath the brocade robe, his steps were heavy and powerful but they landed silently, he was a master of internal martial arts.

"Little Taoist priest, you are quite perseverant. You have waited for four or five hours without getting impatient or shouting."

"Alas, it's too hard to sleep in the open and go hungry for three meals a day." Xiao Yu shook his head and said, "The master takes care of our lunch but doesn't let us work.

We are still waiting to have dinner and sleep in a house with blue bricks and black tiles that is sheltered from the wind and rain! How can we be anxious and how dare we shout? "

The smile on Xun Yuanwai's face faded, and he said calmly, "You said that there is an evil aura in my Xun Mansion like a pillar rising to the sky, and that something big is going to happen to the Xun family? This is not auspicious talk, and I don't like to hear it.

If you can't tell me one, two, three, you have to spit out not only dinner but also lunch."

Xiao Yu said, "The courtyard to the south should be at the bottom of the lake. Someone died there and there is a lot of resentment."

Xun Yuanwai's expression changed slightly, "Master, did you just enter Guangchuan County today?"

Xiao Yu did not answer but asked, "Sir, do you know who is sinking at the bottom of the lake?"

Xun Yuanwai was silent for a while, then said, "I don't know, and I don't care who she is. Taoist priest, don't ask too many questions. If you exorcise the evil spirit, I will give you a hundred taels of silver as a reward."

"I will try my best. If it fails, I won't charge you a penny." Xiao Yu said.

"Old Qing!" Xun called over an old butler who was over fifty years old, pointed at Xiao Yu and said, "Take the Taoist priest to the South Courtyard, drive out everyone in the yard, and guard the door.

No one is allowed to enter until the Taoist priest confirms that it is over.

Whatever the Taoist priest needs, please try your best to satisfy him."

Lao Qing looked embarrassed and said, "The eldest young master is entertaining Master Cui and Master Zhang in the courtyard, and has also invited several courtesans from Jixilou to accompany them."

Xun hesitated for a moment and said, "Let's wait until the banquet is over and Masters Cui and Zhang return home satisfied. If it's too late, we can wait until tomorrow."

Xiaoyu and Gou Jiao were led to a row of small rooms and allowed to choose two adjacent rooms.

The eaves are low and a long row of houses are built together.

The width of the single room is no more than 1.3 meters, the depth is 2.2 meters, and the area is less than three square meters.

At least it's a single room that can shelter from the wind and rain.

Dinner was the same as lunch, with two corn dumplings, a bowl of oatmeal porridge, and a small dish of pickles per person.

Xiaoyu and Goujiao are both very quiet and don't pursue any nightlife.

Before and after meals, they would sit in the small room to meditate and cultivate their mind and energy.

Before three o'clock in the morning, the Xun Mansion was very quiet.

Nearing three o'clock in the morning, a shrill howl sounded from the south and lingered above the Xun Mansion for half a minute.

Xiaoyu muttered silently in her heart: This maid is so tolerant!
"Master, are you asleep?" Gou Jiao's voice came from the door, "It seems something happened in the South Courtyard."

"It has nothing to do with us, just go to sleep." Xiaoyu said calmly.

"I don't feel right. Okay, I'll go to bed." Gou Jiao went back to the next room honestly.

A full quarter of an hour later, hurried footsteps approached their small room.

"Master, Master Luobo, Master Muxian, something's happened!!"

It was Lao Qing, shouting in panic and anxiety.

After Xiaoyu and Gou were handed over, he took them directly to the South Courtyard.

The South Courtyard is very luxurious.

The residence of Young Master Xun alone is a three-story "show building" covering an area of ​​200 square meters.

Outside the building is a flower garden, as well as rockery and a lake. A vermilion lacquered corridor forms an "8" shape in the garden.

You can directly pass through the corridor to reach the five pavilions in the garden, where you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

After entering the courtyard, the first thing I saw was the twelve maids and four servants serving Master Xun.

Of the sixteen people, except for four "first-class personal maids", the rest knelt obediently on the ground.

There were two corpses placed not far away, and next to the corpses were three slim and pretty girls in silk dresses, sobbing.

Mr. Xun and Young Master Xun were both in the lobby, and there were only the two of them and an old butler in the room.

Xiaoyu and Gou Jiao were first taken by Lao Qing to look at the corpse and the lake before they entered the candle-lit main hall.

The two entered the door, which was immediately closed by the housekeeper.

"Master, please take a seat. Ah Fu, serve tea to the master."

Mr. Xun left the table with his son to greet them, smiling on his round face. He even gave up the main seat, and his attitude was so attentive that it seemed like he was a different person.

Xiaoyu came to Xun's house this time to teach Gou Jiao the "Shinto" lesson.

He had no intention of letting Mr. Xun get what he wanted, so he was unwilling to accept any favor from him.

She returned the greeting modestly, letting him sit in the main seat, while she and Gou Jiao only accompanied him.

“The two young masters outside apparently fell into the lake drunk, but Master Xun and the eldest young master are both knowledgeable warriors, and they can definitely sense the faint evil aura from them.”

"A faint yin energy?" The young master, who looked very much like Xun Yuanwai, widened his eyes in suspicion and shouted, "Little Taoist priest, can you do this? Such a thick and obvious yin energy and resentment, and you actually feel that it is just a faint one?"

"Peng'er, don't be rude!" Xun Yuanwai said in a low voice, "Although the Taoist priest is young, his Taoism is unfathomable. As early as this morning, he saw that there was an evil spirit like a pillar above our Xun family.

It’s a pity that I am so ignorant that I can’t recognize a wise man.

I just let you do whatever you want and failed to ask the Taoist priest to exorcise the evil spirits in time."

Xiao Yu deliberately showed curiosity and asked, "Master, the target of the resentful ghost should be you, right? Why are you fine, but your two companions are in the ghost realm?"

(End of this chapter)