Day and night tour

Chapter 419 Seeking the Dragon Medicine God
Zhou Xuan got out of the car and asked Sister Cui how she was doing in the Zhou family troupe, whether she was adapting well, and whether she was getting used to the food and drink in Pingshui Prefecture.
These questions are just like those from an ordinary reunion of old neighbors—there's nothing important to talk about, or they deliberately hide those important things so as not to spoil the mood of the conversation.

Therefore, Zhou Xuan deliberately avoided mentioning Hua Zi.

Sister Cui hurriedly said, "I'm used to it. Although the Zhou family troupe has become wealthy, they haven't lost their business in the ghost opera. Every day, many apprentices and masters practice their skills and vocal exercises. When I have free time, I move a chair over and sit down to listen. If it's Hua..."

This is a habit she's recently developed. When she eats something delicious that she's never had before, she says, "If Hua Zi were here, I would eat like a little pig." When she plays with something unusual, she says, "If Hua Zi were here, I would definitely not want to leave."

"If Hua Zi were here," became Sister Cui's catchphrase, which she would say dozens of times a day. She couldn't help but bring it up when chatting with Zhou Xuan.

As soon as she brought him out, she sensed something was wrong—Zhou Xuan was wearing a brand-new Taoist robe, so he must be going to perform on stage to tell stories. Talking about such a sad topic, she didn't want to sway the emotions of this most skilled storyteller in Mingjiang Prefecture.

Thinking of this, Sister Cui quickly changed the subject and took the initiative to talk about the scenery of Pingshui Prefecture.

"When we had nothing to do, Master Yuan and Master Zhou would take me to stroll around Pingshui Mansion. Pingshui Mansion has many theaters, and there are even mime performances where no sound is made. It was hilarious."

As Sister Cui spoke, Zhou Xuan listened attentively while smoking. After she finished her long, rambling conversation, he stubbed out his cigarette and said, "Hua Zi, although I don't often mention him, I often think about him."

“Brother Zhou…” Sister Cui immediately choked up.

"Without Sister Cui and Hua Zi, Dongshi Street is very lonely."

"Why say all this..."

Cui Jie's tears started to fall, and she reached for her handkerchief to wipe them away, but she couldn't find it.

Zhou Xuan pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to Sister Cui, saying, "Sister Cui, I've heard people say that this person died twice. The first time was the death we usually talk about, and the second time was when everyone forgot his name."

"The name Hua Zi will not be forgotten by Mingjiang Prefecture. Now that you've come to Mingjiang, why don't you come and listen to one of my storytelling sessions?"

"Yes, yes, we're going! Lord Jiu and Lord Jian are going too!" Sister Cui said, wiping away her tears.

When Sister Cui mentioned Lord Arrow and Lord Wine, the two men looked over. Observing their expressions, they felt that Zhou Xuan and Sister Cui had finished their conversation, so they came over.

The man took a swig of strong liquor and said, his eyes still blurry with drunkenness, "Master, it's been a long time."

"My lord, have a peanut. Look how drunk you are."

Zhou Xuan said with a smile.

The "Bi Fang" who was just beheaded in Jingchuan Prefecture yesterday, the moment Lord Jiu opened his mouth today, he was in the style of "a day apart feels like three autumns," it's easy to forget things when you're drunk.

Lord Arrow was much more serious than Lord Wine, and said, "Master, Ping Shui Prefecture and Ming Jiang Prefecture have been honored because of you this time."

"That's not right, Lord Jian. I can understand that Mingjiang Prefecture is honored because of me, but why is Pingshui Prefecture honored because of me?"

Zhou Xuan asked.

Lord Jian smiled kindly and said, "The reconstruction of Mingjiang Prefecture has made all nine prefectures of Jing Kingdom aware of you, the great master with extraordinary abilities. The other prefectures also know that you were born and raised in Pingshui Prefecture, and that you are the young master of the Zhou Family Troupe."

Therefore, the other prefectures have all been intentionally or unintentionally befriending us, and many large conglomerates are considering investing and setting up factories in Pingshui Prefecture.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan thought it was a good thing. The more factories they set up, the more job opportunities they would have, and Huili's reach would be extremely wide.

"Very good, very good."

“These past few days, investment applications have been pouring in, one after another, like snowflakes. I don’t really understand the ins and outs of business, and looking at all those documents is giving me a huge headache.”

Lord Jian laughed heartily, a rare occurrence for him, and said, "I can consider this escorting Hu Yuncui to Mingjiang Prefecture a vacation. As long as I don't have to look at those dense documents, I feel completely relaxed."

At this moment, Master Jiu, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore. He turned his head and winked at Zhou Xuan, saying, "Master, I'm not trying to be mean, but Master Jian has never been a good student since he was a child. When the private tutor asks him to recite, he's like he's been given a drug, a complete lazybones."
If the private tutor were to teach him archery, then he would…

"Like you haven't smoked at all?" Zhou Xuan asked.

"Like he's had a seizure."

"..." Zhou Xuan, Lord Arrow.

The one who has to squeeze out the liquor industry is still the liquor tycoon.

When old friends meet, they chat intimately, and time flies by. But the four of them show no sign of stopping. The painter glances at his watch, worried about being late for the performance, but also embarrassed to spoil Zhou Xuan's fun. So he asks Xiao Fuzi to hurry them up.

Xiao Fuzi went to find Zhou Xuan and said, "Young Master, you still have to go on stage today."

"Oh, right, right, right, we got so into it that we almost forgot the time was up."

Zhou Xuan then said to Sister Cui, "Sister Cui, get in my car, I'll take you to the storytelling venue."

"Sister Cui wants to go to the shop to take a look. I'll go with her later."

Lord Jian had no intention of letting Sister Cui get on the carriage with Zhou Xuan, and politely declined.

Sister Cui wanted to go, but since Master Jian had said so, she couldn't say anything and just smiled and nodded.

"That's fine, I'll arrange for someone to reserve a few seats for you in the front row."

After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, he waved his hand and got into the painter's car.

The Master of Wine followed and said, "Perfect timing, sir, I'll go with you."

"Where are you going?" Lord Arrow shouted.

"I got into the car to sober up. The alcohol I drank at noon was too strong and I couldn't even stand up."

Despite what Mr. Jiu said, he got into the car with remarkable speed.

The car slowly drove off, and once it left Dongshi Street, Master Jiu seemed to have changed completely, his eyes becoming much clearer.

Because the conversations between the painter and Zhou Xuan usually involved too many secrets, the painter drove the car himself to pick up Zhou Xuan this time, without a driver.

Old Hua caught a glimpse of Master Jiu's wise eyes in the rearview mirror and immediately teased, "Master Jiu, did you drink or not? You sobered up way too quickly. Did you take drugs before getting in the car?"

"It would be quite a laughing stock if word got out that an adult who uses alcohol as a pretext had to take hangover medicine."

"Show me some respect when you speak. Do you know who I am? I am... Old Wine... the mortal walker of the Witch God."

"I'm wondering the same thing. There are so many good people in the world, why did the Witch God choose you out of all of them?"

The painter continued his mockery.

Zhou Xuan scolded, "Old Hua, look at the ridiculous question you asked. Can't you ask something serious? Master Jiu, actually I have a question in my mind, but I don't know if I should say it."

“Speak,” Master Jiu replied.

"You said the sorcerer god treated you like a human being, does that count as drunk driving?"

"..." Master Jiu, painter.

The painter laughed so hard he almost dropped the steering wheel.

The Master of Wine roared, "Master, you're the most serious one!"

Everyone burst into laughter again. After the laughter subsided, Zhou Xuan straightened his expression and said, "Master Jiu, you deliberately sent me and Sister Cui away because you have something to say to me, right? Let me guess, what you want to talk about is probably Hua Zi's matter."

Only when Hua Zi is mentioned will Master Jiu and Master Jian specifically send Sister Cui away.

"It's true what they say, Master Da is insightful about the ways of the world."

Lord Jiu said, "Ever since the fire in Mingjiang Prefecture, Lord Jian and I have always wanted to do something for you."
Lord Jian knows that you want to rebuild Mingjiang Prefecture, and that you want to bring back to life all those who died in the disaster, especially Mu Hua.

"Yes. But the chances of Mu Hua surviving are very slim."

Zhou Xuan said this.

When he had plans to rebuild Mingjiang Prefecture, the Taoist priests said that because Mu Hua died after breaking through Zhou Xuan's cultivation level, he left too many traces in the game of celestial chess.
Therefore, even if everyone in Mingjiang Prefecture came back to life, Mu Hua would not.

After the reconstruction plan was launched, the "City in the Clouds" appeared in the sky.

This Cloud Palace is actually the blueprint for the Heavenly Book to rebuild Mingjiang Palace. Any people or scenes that exist in the picture can be brought back to life and rebuilt.

However, Mu Hua did not appear in Yunzhongfu City, which is also evidence that he could not be resurrected.

"It's not entirely hopeless."

The wine master took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan opened the seal and took out three yellowed pages. The edges of the pages were rough, indicating that they had been torn from an ancient book.

He held the book and began to read quickly.

The content on the page is written in classical Chinese. These ancient books are mostly written in the style of the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the records are not detailed. You can know the general outline of an event, but it is difficult to deduce the ins and outs of the event from the content.

However, this one is different; the details of the events recorded are extremely thorough.

Three pages tell a story—

At the foot of Yunlu Mountain, there lived a virtuous monk named Master Luxue.

This monk was originally a farmer. One day, he dreamed of "nine deer covered in snow running towards the Maha Temple on Yunlu Mountain." Upon waking, he felt that the dream was extremely auspicious and a sign of great affinity with Buddhism.
The next day, he went to the Maha Temple to become a monk, taking the Dharma name "Lu Xue." From then on, he devoted himself to the ancient Buddha and the lamp, reciting fragments of scriptures at night.

Several years later, an epidemic broke out at the foot of the mountain, and everyone died from the disease, including Master Lu Xue's family.

After he went down the mountain, he witnessed the tragic deaths of his family members. Overwhelmed with grief, he devoted himself even more diligently to studying Buddhist scriptures.

Twenty years later, one morning, Master Lu Xue's family members all came back to life, looking and aging exactly as they had before they died.

Then Master Lu Xue would tell everyone he met that it was because he had studied Buddhism so diligently that the ancient Buddha saw his piety and thus granted his family a second chance at life.

Many people witnessed this event, which in turn enhanced the reputation of Buddhism. From then on, the Yunlu Mountain area became a place where Buddhism flourished.

After reading the story recorded on this page, Zhou Xuan fell into deep thought.

The wine master interjected, "Master, many people have witnessed the resurrection of Master Lu Xue's family members after twenty years. There is no mistake. However, the resurrection of the family members should not be due to the blessing of the ancient Buddha. There may be other reasons."

Zhou Xuan agreed with Master Jiu's statement. Pointing to the page, he said, "The person who compiled this story also didn't believe that Master Lu Xue's family was bestowed upon them by the ancient Buddha because of their piety." The last sentence of the page contained the author's judgment: "People use the ancient Buddha as an obstacle and a pretext. How can people know how much deception and deception is involved?"

The meaning of this judgment is that the author believes that Master Lu Xue's family members regained their lives not through Buddhism, but through evil practices.

He even used emotionally charged words such as "obstacles" and "deception".

Zhou Xuan asked the wine master, "Why didn't you give me this manuscript sooner?"

“We just received it yesterday,” said Mr. Jiu.

"Where did you get it?" Zhou Xuan asked.

"Mr. Ye's headquarters was found by Di Tong after he heard about Mu Hua's story. He remembered that there were records of similar events in the headquarters' ancient books."

The Master of Wine spoke truthfully.

Zhou Xuan then asked, "These pages must have been torn from an ancient book. What is the name of that book?"

"Call...call..."

Master Jiu sent a secret message directly, asking, "Boss, from which book did you tear that page?"

Zhou Xuan was speechless—was this a question asked out of the blue?
Before long, a pattern of a blood-red infant appeared inside the carriage. After deciphering the secret letter from the Earth Child, Master Jiu said to Zhou Xuan, "The Shangqing Cantong Qi."

"What type of book is this?"

Zhou Xuan asked again.

"The Danjing is a book about the ancient alchemists. This book is extremely difficult to understand and is also an incomplete copy. It is hard to read and difficult to understand. People cannot grasp its true meaning. Therefore, when Mr. Ye got his hands on this book, he just left it alone."

Before the master of wine could finish speaking, the painter could no longer contain himself and complained to Zhou Xuan.

"Master, these common alchemy books are all nonsense. In two thousand years, with countless Taoist temples in the world, has anyone ever concocted a single useful elixir? Only a fool would believe that..."

He was very disdainful of "alchemy" and became more and more agitated as he complained. But as he talked, he seemed to remember something - Zhou Xuan had once been to the library of the Bone Elder Society and had borrowed a "canon of alchemy".

This seems to suggest that Zhou Xuan was interested in "alchemy". His painter said, "Only a fool would believe in the fallacy of alchemy", which is to say that he also insulted Zhou Xuan.
But he didn't know that Zhou Xuan borrowed the book not because he liked its contents, but because Zhou Xuan's "Record of Cleansing the Wrongs," now the "Book of Will," could sense the talismans and scriptures of the world.

There are many "true scriptures and precious scrolls" in this world, which are spiritual in themselves and are hidden in many books in the world.

Ordinary people cannot see these talismans and scriptures. They need rare items such as "the Book of Cleansing the Wrongs" and "the Book of Will" to resonate with those true scriptures and precious scrolls in order to find them.

Zhou Xuan wasn't particularly angry after hearing the painter's complaints, since he didn't have much of a stance on alchemy.
However, he had a question at this moment: "Old Hua, how many alchemical texts are circulating in the country of Jing?"

"That's certainly a lot; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's as numerous as the sands of the Ganges."

"That's strange. If alchemy really has no effect as you say, then why are there so many alchemical texts circulating?"

Zhou Xuan asked in confusion.

The painter frowned, tapping the steering wheel idly, and said, "People in this world are easily misled, and those alchemists are extremely good at exaggerating. When many people exaggerate, they start to believe it."

"I think...this matter is not that simple."

Zhou Xuan leaned back in the car seat and said to the painter, "Old painting, turn around."

"Master, the time for the lecture is almost up..."

“I won’t go into the book today,” Zhou Xuan said. “Take me back to Jingyipu. I need to think carefully about how Master Lu Xue managed to resurrect his family twenty years later.”

"Those are all tales of immortality and nonsense from the martial arts world, they're not very credible." The painter looked down on alchemy, and by extension, he looked down on the "Master Lu Xue."

He believed that the mysterious matter was too mysterious to be worth investigating in depth.

"That's Hua Zi's hope for resurrection; we have to try our best."

Zhou Xuan added, "Now everyone in Mingjiang Prefecture knows that the Heavenly Book can indeed rebuild Mingjiang Prefecture and bring back the dead. If I were to tell the story tonight, my prayers would be overflowing, and Mingjiang Prefecture could be restored overnight."

But once Mingjiang Prefecture is repaired, I fear—Hua Zi's resurrection portal will be completely closed.

Although the book records that Master Lu Xue was resurrected as a family member twenty years later, Zhou Xuan dared not gamble now; the fewer variables, the better.

The completion of the reconstruction of Mingjiang Prefecture was a major turning point.

“Since you say so, then I support you.”

The painter despised alchemy, but he absolutely trusted Zhou Xuan. Since Zhou Xuan said he wouldn't be teaching today's lesson, then he wouldn't.

“After I take you back to Jingyipu, I will go to the storytelling stage and tell the people that the Master is too tired to give a lecture today.”

"So good."

After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, he asked Lord Jiu, "Lord Jiu, when are you going back to Pingshui Prefecture?"

"Lord Jian and I plan to stay with Sister Cui for a few more days."

"That's fine then. These next few days, you two accompany Sister Cui around and I'll think of something. These three pages of the book might really save Hua Zi."

……

After Zhou Xuan returned to the purification shop, Yun Ziliang went out to play cards, Li Changxun listened to the record player, and Lü Mingkun went to work at the Bone Elders' Association.
Zhao Wuya was feeding the black donkey at the door.

"Yazi, lower your head."

"Why are you looking down?" Zhao Wuya asked, stuffing a handful of straw into the donkey's hand.

"I'll look for Wuya Chan and ask him some questions."

“Then you won’t be able to find it.” Zhao Wuya shook his head.

"Why?" Zhou Xuan asked.

Zhao Wuyai stood up, shook his Taoist robe, pointed at the cloud pattern on Zhou Xuan's body, and said, "Isn't it because of the cloud pattern on your body? Yesterday, Wuyai Chan took over my body, grabbed your Taoist robe and sucked on it fiercely, which shocked me. I thought that the ancient Buddha clone was about to become abnormal."

"And then?" Zhou Xuan asked again.

"Then...then he fell into a deep sleep, a sleep so sound it was almost like he was really dead."

"I don't care, bow your head." Zhou Xuan insisted on seeing Wuya Chan.

Zhao Wuyai's stubbornness flared up, and he refused to back down. Zhou Xuan had no choice but to personally take action and press Zhao Wuyai's head down.

"You're forcing a cow to drink water if it won't? Brother Xuan, have some decency."

Zhao Wuyai yelled and shouted. Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan knew that he really couldn't summon Wuyai Chan today, so he simply let go and walked into the shop.

"Hey, Xuan-ge'er, what exactly do you want from Wuya Chan?"

"I have some questions to ask."

“Then ask me. I, Zhao Wuya, am also well-read,” Zhao Wuya said.

Zhou Xuan asked irritably, "Then let me ask you, does the alchemy technique in this mortal world have any real substance?"

"The real thing? Pshaw!"

Zhao Wuyai immediately jumped up and cursed like a shrew: "The art of alchemy is the most useless and deceptive thing in this world."

“Trash, utter trash, Brother Xuan, just hearing the words ‘alchemy’ from your mouth makes my ears feel dirty and unclean.”

Seeing Zhao Wuyai becoming increasingly agitated, Zhou Xuan immediately let out a "whoosh," then pressed his hand down and said, "This fellow Daoist seems to have a deep prejudice against the way of alchemy."

"Prejudice? If those lousy alchemy writers appeared in front of me, I'd stab them to death."

Zhao Wuyai immediately said, "To tell you the truth, Brother Xuan, when I first entered the Daoist sect, I was extremely fond of books like alchemy texts. I read them every day, flipped through them every day, and studied them every day. I spent countless amounts of money on alchemy over three years."

"Ah, you have this side to you too?" Zhou Xuan asked curiously.

"My family owns a steel mill. I refine pills every day, and I've burned half the steel mill to the ground. Not a single pill I refine is real; they're all fake, worthless elixirs... Do you know what my nickname is in the Dragon Seeking Hall?"

"What?" Zhou Xuan asked.

"Medicine God! This is ostensibly praise but actually criticism, a sarcastic jab at me, a shameful label I can't shake off."

But you know what, some ordinary people actually believed it and came to me asking for elixirs and medicines—damn it, do you think I don't know whether those lousy elixirs I concocted have any effect or not?

Zhao Wuyai was so angry he could have teeth itched.

“That’s half a steel mill! How many steel mills does my family own? Only sixteen, and I just squandered them like that.”

"..." Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan felt that Zhao Wuyai was showing off his wealth. He had felt a little pity for him just now, but that feeling was gone.

“Capitalists like you surnamed Zhao deserve to be cheated even more badly.”

"Trash, trash, a waste of money and time in alchemy..."

Zhao Wuyai's hatred for alchemy was much stronger than that for the painter, after all, he had actually practiced it!

Zhou Xuan said, "Are you going to bite someone or what? Stop it. You didn't come away empty-handed from your half of the steel mill. At least... you learned a lesson."

"..." Zhao Wuya.

Zhou Xuan had no interest in comforting a "fallen capitalist." He turned and strode into the house.
Just as he crossed the threshold, Li Changxun's leisurely voice drifted over.

"Alchemy is the most mysterious science in the world. You, Xiao Zhao, think that all the pills you're making are fake because you're not at a high enough level..."

(End of this chapter)