She is devoted to cultivating immortality
Chapter 92: The reward of good and evil, following like a shadow, the sea of desire, the monster i
Chapter 92: The reward of good and evil, following like a shadow, the sea of desire, the monster in human skin
About an hour and a half passed.
The bonfire in the temple was already lacking in firewood due to a lack of dry firewood. Several scholars stopped reading, and some of them shrank their necks, shivering in the cold wind and complaining.
"Lu Liangping is really unreliable. He volunteered to go find firewood more than two hours ago, but he hasn't come back in such a long time. We are left here freezing."
Another scholar agreed.
"This guy has been acting strangely all along the way. After a serious illness, he suddenly became enthusiastic and took the initiative to look for firewood. But where did he find the firewood? Could it be that he found someone to stay with and forgot about us, his fellow villagers?"
Zhong Haoyuan couldn't help but speak after hearing this.
"Brother Lu means well, how can you assume that about him? It's raining heavily outside, maybe he got lost. I think we are from the same hometown after all, how can we just leave him alone? Why don't we go out and look for him separately?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the four scholars immediately objected.
"You must be crazy!"
“It’s raining so hard!”
"Lu Liangping and I don't have any friendship..."
"We didn't ask him to go out to look for firewood, but he insisted on taking the job. Even if something goes wrong, what does it have to do with us?"
Several people didn't want to move at all. They would not leave the dilapidated temple until the rain stopped. At least there was a tile to shelter them from the wind and rain.
Zhong Haoyuan was a little angry at their words and was about to say something.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps outside.
Then, someone pushed open the temple door, and the cold wind mixed with rain rushed in, causing everyone to curl up subconsciously.
"Everyone, I'm back!"
A young man with a slightly pale face came in, holding an umbrella that was dripping with water. With him were a young girl and a middle-aged man.
"Lu Liangping, you are finally back? Who are these two people beside you?"
The scholars were a little surprised.
It would have been fine if Lu Liangping came back alone, but why did he bring two people with him?
Especially this girl, who looked to be in her twenties, wearing a blue silk skirt, a jade pendant, an oval face, and a willow-shaped face.
Mei, although she was dressed as a maid, her temperament was like that of a lady from a noble family.
They had only studied hard for many years and had never seen such an outstanding girl before. They could not take their eyes away.
Although Xie Lian was much more handsome than this girl, they simply did not have any related concepts.
As for the reason, it has been mentioned before.
Therefore, this girl's influence on them is still very great.
The middle-aged man behind the girl was dressed like a servant. He was wearing a tight suit and looked quite martial.
"Didn't I go out to look for firewood? But the rain was getting heavier, where could I find dry firewood outside? I had no choice but to walk further and further away. Unexpectedly, I found a manor halfway up the mountain, called Xiaoyun Manor. There was a young lady in the manor, the only daughter of Mr. Zhang from Lukou County at the foot of the mountain. Because of her weak health, she was recuperating in the mountains. Miss Zhang was a kind-hearted person. Seeing me traveling on a rainy night, she felt sorry for me, so she arranged for me to have a meal, take a bath, and even gave me a guest room."
"But we are from the same hometown. How can I enjoy it alone and forget about you all? So I mentioned this to Miss Zhang, and she agreed."
"One of them is Miss Zhang's personal maid, named Luluo, and the other is the manor guard, named Zhou Shao. They are here with me to pick you up on Miss Zhang's orders."
Lu Liangping recounted his experience.
The four scholars immediately became happy, with excitement in their eyes.
"I didn't expect that you would encounter such a good thing when you went to look for firewood!"
"As expected of you, Brother Lu. I've long known that you are kind and righteous. You won't forget us when something good happens."
"What are you waiting for? Go now!"
The four of them didn't think much about it. Lu Liangping was from the same hometown, Miss Luluo looked outstanding and beautiful, and Guardian Zhou Shao was honest and simple, which made people feel safe.
As soon as they thought about being able to bathe, eat, read and sleep in a bright and clean room, they couldn't help themselves.
Only Zhong Haoyuan spoke hesitantly.
"Isn't this inappropriate? Miss Zhang is a lady from a wealthy family. If a group of men like us go to the village to stay overnight in the middle of the night, it might damage her reputation if it gets out."
Hearing this, Lu Liangping's eyes flashed and he immediately spoke.
"Brother Zhong, you think too much. Who would gossip in this remote place?"
The green ivy girl next to her also said with a smile.
"Don't worry, sir. My young lady is not such a vulgar person. She won't be troubled by this. Besides, if you can really pass the imperial examination, then you and my young lady will be a perfect match. Staying here tonight may help us get married."
After hearing this, the four scholars became even more interested.
He was just about to say something like "If he doesn't go, I will go."
Seeing that Zhong Haoyuan was still hesitating, the security guard Zhou Shao looked at the environment of the dilapidated temple and said.
"The main reason is that this temple has been abandoned for too long. You all live here, and it's drafty everywhere. You might catch a cold when you wake up from a good sleep, but that's actually a small matter. What if there's a strong wind and heavy rain while you're sleeping, and the temple collapses? Wouldn't that be an unjust death?"
Coincidentally, just as he said this, a wooden beam collapsed.
This immediately confused everyone.
"Xiaoyuan, what are you still hesitating about?"
A familiar fellow villager said anxiously.
"OK then."
Zhong Haoyuan could only agree and turned to look at Xie Lian.
"Thank you, Miss. Do you want to join us?"
Ok?
Why is there one more?
Lu Liangping, Luoluo and Zhou Shao exchanged glances and were all a little surprised.
Why is this woman's presence so low?
Sitting in the corner without saying a word, she was almost missed.
Luoluo looked Xie Lian up and down, seeing her long black hair fluttering in the wind, her delicate face beautiful, and her whole body exuding an ethereal and fairy-like charm that was hard to describe, like an unreal creature, perfect without a single flaw.
Her appearance was so much better than everyone else present. As a woman herself, she was inexplicably moved and asked.
"Who is this girl?"
Zhong Haoyuan briefly introduced Xie Lian’s origins.
"So you are also a young lady in distress. The rain tonight will not stop easily. It is too dangerous for you to be here alone. Why don't you stay with us?"
Green Radish said enthusiastically.
She didn't know why, but she felt that Xie Lian was more to her liking. She felt that as long as she could trick this man tonight, the others wouldn't matter.
"Oh? I actually have such good luck?"
Xie Lian looked at the three of them with a half-smile and said.
"Have you thought it over? Are you serious about inviting me?"
"Of course. My young lady is kindhearted. She would be sad even if she stepped on an ant. If she knew that you were suffering alone in this wilderness and we didn't take you back, she would definitely scold us."
Speaking of this, Green Ivy looked aggrieved and blinked her big watery eyes.
"Girl, please come with us."
The guard Zhou Shao had a dazed look on his face, but that also made him look more honest.
"It's really not safe outside. There are many wolves, insects, tigers and leopards in this mountain."
Upon hearing this, several scholars felt an inexplicable chill.
"Girl, what are you still hesitating about?"
"Let's go, it's getting late. Go to bed early because we have to travel tomorrow."
"Let's go, don't waste time."
Xie Lian heard this and slowly stood up and said.
"Since it is hard to refuse your kindness, I will shamelessly go to your house to bother you. However, I have a peculiar temperament and sometimes I always cause trouble. Please be aware of this."
Getting into trouble?
That has to be your destiny.
Luoluo sneered in her heart, but her face showed a gentle and lovely look.
"It's just a one-night stay, what's the problem? Besides, my young lady is kind and tolerant, so you don't have to worry."
Xie Lian nodded.
"Now that things have come to this, if I still don't appreciate your kindness, it would be a mistake on my part."
As he spoke, he put on his already small luggage, but he still held the "Golden Crow Picture" in his arms.
Seeing this, curiosity showed in Luoluo's eyes.
"What is this, girl?"
Xie Lian smiled faintly.
"It's just a painting I made in my spare time."
"I didn't expect that the young lady has such elegance. My young lady has always loved painting. Maybe she will discuss painting techniques with the young lady, and maybe we can become close friends."
"I have only been learning painting for a few months. My work is not up to par with other artists. I am afraid it will disappoint you, young lady."
"The girl is too modest. You can tell her level at a glance."
Luoluo set her sights on the "Golden Crow Picture".
But Xie Lian had no intention of opening it, and instead shook his head.
"It's just my humble work, so I'd better not read it."
Green Radish's eyes flashed, but she did not insist.
"let it go."
I was just secretly annoyed.
This girl is really ungrateful. Well, I'll take care of you myself when the time comes.
I'll burn your crappy paintings and see what you say!
The group packed their luggage, held umbrellas, and followed the security guard Zhou Shao into the darkness.
There was a hairy moon hanging in the sky. Perhaps because of the rainy weather, the moon appeared and disappeared from time to time, and the moonlight that came down seemed very cold.
However, Green Ivy is a talkative person. She would chat with the scholars from time to time on the road, completely relieving her tension of walking at night.
They are all poor scholars, and they have no treatment of having beautiful women to take care of them. Before they became successful, how could there be such beautiful and elegant girls to care about them?
After just a few words, I was completely captivated.
There were two people who even had feelings of love for each other.
Xie Lian understood the young Mu Ai’s thoughts very well. They had all been through that age before. Wouldn’t it be easy for a young and immature man to fall into the trap of a beautiful woman who was good at teasing?
She was not in a hurry at all and walked silently at the end of the team.
With her was Zhong Haoyuan.
"Miss Xie, do you feel something is wrong?"
Zhong Haoyuan said in a low voice.
"What's wrong?"
Xie Lian frowned slightly, somewhat surprised. All four scholars were bewitched, but only Zhong Haoyuan had come to his senses.
"I've heard of Mr. Zhang from Lukou County. He is indeed a wealthy man who loves to do good and is kind. He likes quietness and has several manors. But even if that's the case, he wouldn't build a manor in this desolate mountain, right? This place is quite far from Lukou County, not to mention that he left his daughter here. Isn't he afraid of any accidents?"
"Why don't you tell this to others?"
"These idiots, you have learned nothing. After hearing a few nice words from Miss Green Rose, they are so weak that they can't listen to me."
"It's not entirely their fault. After all, these two were brought here by your fellow countrymen, so they are naturally trustworthy."
"Speaking of this, I feel something is wrong. I have seen Lu Liangping many times before, and he doesn't seem to be a loyal person. How could he still be thinking about us when such a good thing happened?"
"Has his personality changed drastically?" "Yes, I'm not the only one who feels that way. He used to be very quiet, but after a serious illness, he suddenly became very enthusiastic."
"Maybe you're overthinking it? Robbers only want money, but we don't look like rich people."
"Miss Xie, what you said is true. This is why I hesitated. I wonder if I am overthinking. It would be embarrassing if I wrongly accuse others. But this matter still feels a bit strange. It is hard to predict what will happen in this remote place. I will go to Xiaoyun Manor later. Miss Xie, please follow me closely. Although I am a scholar, I have been poor since I was a child and have to do farm work. I think I still have some courage. If something really goes wrong, I will protect you and take care of you."
"What about your fellow countrymen?"
"If we really sense something is wrong, we will definitely help them. But seeing how they are in such a state, I'm afraid it will be difficult. If we can save them, we will. If we can't, there is nothing we can do."
Zhong Haoyuan shook his head and sighed.
Xie Lian nodded secretly. Although this person was enthusiastic and kind, he was not blindly enthusiastic or foolishly kind.
I have a rough idea in my mind.
Such people may not achieve anything great, but generally speaking, living a peaceful life should not be a problem for them.
But in general
Nowadays, this is obviously not the normal situation.
"Master Zhong, Master Zhong, things are much worse than you think."
Xie Lian murmured in his heart, but his eyes were slightly cold.
This green ivy, how can it be a human?
It was clearly a vixen who came to seduce the scholar, but she was just covered with a layer of painted skin. Inside, she was actually an old grey fox, with bloodshot eyes and drooling.
The guard Zhou Shao and the scholar Lu Liangping were both its puppets, with the flesh and blood hollowed out from their skins and filled with straw.
Everything they say and do is actually manipulated by the vixen.
A goblin, with two servants, bewitched the scholars.
But it is not the scholars' fault for being stupid. The fox demon's methods are simple and effective. It is normal for these scholars with little experience to fall into the trap.
Zhong Haoyuan, the only one who was on guard, had doubts in his heart but was not completely sure.
By the time he discovered the truth, it was too late.
"It's common to see fox spirits seducing scholars. Perhaps only scholars with little social experience are easily deceived. Of course, it's not ruled out that scholars are more delicious because they have delicate skin and tender flesh."
Xie Lian thought casually in his heart.
Just then, Green Radish turned around and smiled at her.
Xie Lian also gave it a gentle smile in return.
When the scholar next to him saw this, he actually felt a little jealous, even though Xie Lian was a woman, and said something disdainful.
"That girl has no official title, and she has never participated in the imperial examinations. She cannot become a female scholar, so she is relegated to the lower class. Although she is probably a lady from a wealthy family, that's all. Even if she has some painting skills, that's only natural. A lady from a noble family must be good at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Painting is not one of the six arts for a gentleman."
Green Radish said with a sweet laugh.
"Of course she can't compare to you candidates. You all have to take part in the Spring Examination. Once you pass, you will be completely different."
But she looks pretty and delicious.
Luoluo added in her heart.
Most of the drooling was because of Xie Lian.
"If I win, I will definitely not forget Miss Luluo. I, Liu, am not an unfaithful man..."
The scholar was very happy to hear this and patted his chest to make the promise.
After walking for about an hour, the road became more and more remote. There were still some traces of mountain roads, indicating that someone had walked on it.
Now it is overgrown with weeds and there is no trace of the road at all.
Zhong Haoyuan became even more wary of this.
But Green Radish said.
“This is a shortcut.”
The scholar Lu Liangping also joined in at the right time.
"It would take more than half an hour to take the main road. I came back so late because I took the long way around."
The scholars did not doubt and continued walking forward.
Zhong Haoyuan wanted to say something to Xie Lian, but Lu Liangping followed and stood beside them.
So the words that were on the tip of my tongue couldn't be said.
After a while, a farm appeared in front of us.
It looked like it covered several dozen acres, which was not too large. But considering that it was built in the wilderness, the scholars had a new understanding of Mr. Zhang's financial resources, and their eyes became more eager.
"There really is a Zhuangzi. It seems that Zhong has been worrying too much."
Zhong Haoyuan scratched his head in shame.
I thought that our group would be tricked into a bandit’s den or something like that.
I didn't expect it was really Zhuangzi, and there were already four or five maids welcoming me at the door. They all looked pretty and had graceful figures.
These adorable girls crushed Zhong Haoyuan's last bit of doubt.
If there really was a trap, a group of scholars like them would not be defeated by a woman.
But Xie Lian stopped and paused, his expression stern, and he said in his heart, "No wonder."
When I was climbing the mountain before, I could see a strong evil aura from afar.
But we didn't encounter any monsters along the way.
Only when I saw this place did I realize that all the monsters had gathered together.
These girls who came out to greet us were all monsters, just covered in beautiful human skins.
Beneath the beautiful appearance, they are all dirty and smelly, including fox spirits, deer spirits, rat spirits, hedgehog spirits, etc.
"Hey, a guest is coming!"
"There are quite a few guests."
"You must be tired from the journey. I will wait for you to rest."
A group of girls came over, but their level was far inferior to Green Ivy's.
Being too enthusiastic and worldly can sometimes make people feel disgusted.
But this does not include this group of scholars. They were surrounded by the beautiful bodies of the girls and their faces turned red all of a sudden. How could they know anything else?
I walked into Zhuangzi in a daze.
"I've taught you so many techniques to seduce people, and this is all you've learned? If someone doesn't know you, they'd think you were prostitutes in a brothel!"
Luoluo glanced at the girls with a look of disappointment, then turned around and looked at Xie Lian who had stopped there.
"Miss Xie, please come in."
Xie Lian gave a cold smile.
"Okay."
It is true that if you don’t go out, you don’t know what is happening in the world.
No wonder everyone in the world is afraid of monsters and has no good feelings when they are mentioned.
Along the way, I didn't see any good demons like Bai Su.
I have seen quite a few evil monsters like the Five Ghosts of Sui Bojiang.
And the Xiaoyunzhuang before us is also a place where filth and dirt are hidden. Let’s not talk about anything else, just wonder where the human skins these monsters are wearing come from?
If they hadn't harmed people, how could they have such a good skin to wear?
It’s strange to say, with such a group of monsters harming people here, why doesn’t the mountain god of this mountain do anything?
Is there no mountain god?
Or is it that you can't afford to offend these monsters, so you just pretend to be deaf and dumb?
Xie Lian followed Luluo into the manor, but he was thinking in his heart.
Compared with the City God, the Mountain God is definitely weaker in terms of the strength of his subordinates.
After all, the City God is responsible for guarding human cities, and he has a large number of underworld officials, subordinate gods, and assistant officials at his disposal.
The mountain gods mostly fight alone and have few subordinates to use.
But one thing that makes the mountain god more advantageous than the city god is that he can practice in the mountains. If it is a sacred mountain, the benefits he can get will be even greater.
The reason why many spirits seek to become mountain gods is to practice better.
"Sure enough, if Shinto is incomplete, these mistakes will appear."
Xie Lian entered Xiaoyun Manor. Luluo beside him introduced it to her incessantly, but she didn't listen. Instead, she observed with her own eyes.
Clear pond.
It was actually a pool of blood.
The scenery of stone sculptures on both sides.
It's nothing more than piles of human bones.
Servants, gardeners, cooks, and grooms came and went in the farm.
They are all puppets stuffed with straw under human skin.
What a filthy place!
Perhaps sensing Xie Lian’s intention, the little fellow in the “Golden Crow Picture” also became angry, and seemed to want to rush out.
But Xie Lian temporarily held him down.
She followed Luluo into the main hall.
The first thing I saw was a portrait hanging right in front of me.
Under the portrait, there are incense tables, incense burners, and offerings.
"The Celestial Fairy, the Jade Maiden Cang Yun, the Protector of the World."
Xie Lian recited the god’s name written on the edge of the portrait.
"This Holy Mother is very effective. She is the patron saint that my young lady has always believed in."
"You are all going to take part in the Spring Examination soon, which is a big deal."
"Why not worship the Virgin Mary and pray for good luck."
Luoluo pointed at the portrait with a look of respect.
Upon hearing this, the scholars immediately agreed.
"That's how it should be."
But they all burned incense.
Although they had never heard of the name of the celestial fairy Cang Yun, the guardian goddess of the world, there were many strange gods and fairies in this world.
There is no harm in paying homage.
If you are really lucky, you will make a lot of money.
Even Zhong Haoyuan seemed to be devout as he lit a stick of incense.
"Miss Xie, aren't you going to bow?"
Luoluo looked at Xie Lian, the only one who didn't move, and said with a smile.
Everyone looked over in surprise.
"Then worship it."
Xie Lian had no objection, and he looked at the statue carefully, then took out a stick of incense.
After a gentle bow, he inserted the incense into the incense burner.
But just at the moment of insertion, a man who was practicing in seclusion in Cangyun Ridge, 1,700 miles away from here, suddenly spit out blood.
boom!
She opened the quiet room and rushed into the air, with shock and anger in her eyes.
"Who is plotting against me!?"
(End of this chapter)
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