Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 142: Ghost Fisherman

"Sir, this does sound very strange."

Bai Ershisan gestured with his hands to estimate the thickness of the iron chain they had mentioned.

“Such thick iron chains, if used to build a bridge, would probably weigh several thousand kilograms. It would take me a while to move them. How could they have disappeared without a trace?”

Those around him listened to Bai Ershisan speak, looked over, and saw that it was a strong and muscular man speaking, and they laughed as well.

"You're joking. How can you move something weighing several thousand pounds in a short time? Only a god could do that."

"It doesn't have to be a deity; a fox can too."

Bai Ershisan shook his head, then casually grabbed a boulder from the side and held it above his head.

"That way it can be moved. If it were made of iron chains, it would be easier to move, so it shouldn't be difficult either."

"hiss!"

The villagers who came to pray to the mountain god gasped, staring blankly as Bai Ershisan put down the stone and clapped his hands nonchalantly, his voice trembling.

"You are... a fox?"

"How come it still looks like a human?"

"Naturally, it's for spiritual practice."

Bai Ershisan glanced at them and casually offered an explanation, then looked at Chen Ji with a hint of embarrassment.

"Sir, should I not be demonstrating and explaining these things?"

"It doesn't matter."

Chen Ji shook his head.

I also discussed this matter with Miss Bai yesterday.

The deity of Sendai Mountain needs incense offerings, but its power is greatly diminished outside of Sendai Mountain. The fox needs to accumulate merit, but since no one comes to Sendai Mountain, it is difficult to accumulate it.

Only by working together, both sides contributing their efforts and reputation to solve the problems in the vicinity, can they spread the incense and accumulate merit.

That's why he used the title of the Mountain God's messenger to do his job.

Bai Ershisan's skill in lifting the stone was enough to gain their trust, saving them the trouble of further explanation.

"It really is a fox spirit in person! We're saved!"

"Please, Fox Spirit, help me capture this demon!"

Sure enough, the villagers immediately knelt down and kowtowed, begging Bai Twenty-Three for help.

"Sir, what do I need to do?"

Bai Ershisan swallowed hard, unsure of what to do.

Previously, he had acted based on his own strengths, but now, in this situation, he felt somewhat restrained.

Chen Ji knew that he was inexperienced, so he raised his hand and used the wind to help the villager up.

"The little foxes are still cultivating and are not yet very good at communicating with people. I am their teacher, so they can just tell me if they have anything to say."

"I already promised to go and take a look today, so there's no need to be polite, let's go."

Chen Ji looked at the villagers and beckoned them to leave together. He noticed that they didn't have any mules or donkeys; it seemed as if they had walked all the way here.

"Well... to be honest, after the flood, the livestock in the village didn't dare to come out."

“These creatures are such cowards. They were treated to every meal before, but now they won’t even move an inch when they encounter water. I’ve whipped them until they’re worn out.”

"You made us travel such a long way..."

The villagers were about to say something more, cursing, when they suddenly noticed Chen Ji's strange expression and quickly changed their tune.

"Please spare us, we were just talking about the livestock in the village, nothing more."

"Ok?"

Chen Ji snapped out of his thoughts and realized that the villagers were worried he was hearing the livestock cursing the fox.

He sighed and said slowly.

"Words can be dangerous, and too much talk can lead to mistakes. You should all be more careful next time."

"As he spoke, he looked at the people behind him who were already preparing to kneel down."

"Don't be nervous. Although I am a fox spirit, I am still a human."

"people?"

The villagers stared wide-eyed, trying to understand how a person could teach a group of foxes.

However, they didn't have time to think about it at that moment.

Chen Ji was already thinking about what they had just said.

"Afraid to wade through the water?"

Chen Ji vaguely grasped something, but couldn't figure it out. He could only suppress his guesses and continue to ask the villagers if anything was different from before.

"I really don't know, I haven't paid attention to these things before."

"Indeed, we were just happy to be able to walk, and we didn't pay much attention to it. Now that the immortal has asked such a question, we can't answer it either."

"..."

Several people gave the same explanation, and Chen Ji knew he couldn't tell the difference by smell.

The aura-gazing technique confirmed that no one was lying; we'll have to go to the scene to find out.

The leader looked at Chen Ji with an apologetic expression.

"I originally intended to use a mule-drawn carriage to pick up the immortal, but unfortunately, mules and horses dare not leave the city now, so I can only find a sedan chair. Please do not find it offensive, immortal."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone came out carrying several poles.

Chen Ji recognized it as a set of commonly used carrying poles used by porters in the mountains. Before he could say anything, he heard the villagers calling out to him.

"It's just that without oxen and horses to pull the cart, the immortals are no longer able to work."

"It doesn't matter."

Chen Ji waved his hand, then casually took out a talisman, folded it into a boat shape, and tossed it into the air.

The talisman swelled in the wind and actually transformed into a large ship, with its sides appearing to be over ten feet long.

"Since none of us are riding horses, let's go together."

Chen Ji called the villagers to board the boat together.

The villagers were completely dumbfounded, staring up at the ship without being able to utter a single word.

Previously, Bai Ershisan demonstrated his strength, and now Chen Ji has personally conjured up the enormous talisman ship before us.

These supernatural events were happening right before their eyes, and many villagers were so terrified that they dared not move.

They only felt at ease after Chen Ji and the others boarded the ship first.

After boarding the boat, he just sat quietly and dared not move.

Chen Ji ignored them, asked for directions, and then set sail.

In less than fifteen minutes, it had already stopped above the village.

"This is it, Immortal Master!"

The chosen guide shouted from the bow of the boat.

"I am not yet an immortal master, so there is no need for such a title."

"Since you are able to be a teacher to a fox demon, you are naturally called an immortal. If you address me by any other title, I'm afraid you will be offended."

"Well... fine, whatever."

The villagers had their own principles, and Chen Ji couldn't change them.

He decided to ignore the matter of address and sighed as he looked down.

Sure enough, the original roads in the village disappeared.

The bluestone was overturned, the ancient steps were broken, and the bridge surface was split in the middle, as if something had forcefully broken it.

But nothing happened on either side of the road.

It seems that only the former road has been turned into a waterway.

Chen Ji watched the river's course from the air, somewhat puzzled.

He used his Qi-gazing technique to see that the water was indeed filled with demonic energy, but it wasn't the kind of dirty and chaotic demonic energy; it was more like the demonic energy of a deity offering incense.

That's what puzzled him.

If it were demons or ghosts causing trouble and wanting to destroy the village, occupy its territory, and devour its flesh, there would be no need for such trouble.

However, if the goal is to cultivate followers, this approach is completely wrong. It turns people into enemies from the start, making it even more difficult to develop the faith.

"Let's go down and take another look."

Chen Ji was undecided, so he steered the talisman boat to the ground to collect water and then decide what to do.

As soon as they landed, a wave of moisture hit them, and Bai Ba called out to Chen Ji.

"Sir, there's something wrong with this water."

"what is the problem?"

Chen Ji looked at Bai Ba, waiting for him to explain in detail.

"This water isn't from the Hutuo River; it doesn't taste good."

Bai Ba smiled slightly, took a porcelain bottle out of his mouth, and poured out water.

"This is the water of the Hutuo River, and it's different from this water."

"..."

Chen Ji stared at the two bottles of water and fell silent for a moment.

Although he was no ordinary person, he hadn't reached the point where he could tell the difference between different types of water, so he could only ask Bai Ba how he could tell.

"It's not about seeing, it's about smelling."

Bai Ba points to the water in the bottle.

"A dragon lives in this water, so there is a faint dragon scent in it, which smells much better than the mudfish well."

Then he looked at the river in the village and shook his head.

"This water is very mixed. I can smell the pure scent of water, the scent of incense, and the scent of vengeful ghosts..."

"Achoo!" Bai Ba sniffled and quickly covered his mouth.

"No, this tastes really strange. It's a mixture of many things, like swill."

"..."

Chen Ji leaned forward and sniffed lightly.

I felt that the two kinds of water tasted the same. Under the Qi Observation Technique, there was indeed a difference between the turbid and clear water, but it was not as precise as Bai Ba had described.

I can't help but think that Bai Ba's talent is quite good, but he just didn't use it for cultivation.

Then continue to look at the clues you have obtained.

The strange way the water flowed down the village road suggests that the monster who did this must have another purpose, but the clues at the moment are not enough to uncover the demon.

As Chen Ji was thinking, he suddenly heard a commotion coming from inside the village.

Looking up, I saw that the people who had stayed in the village earlier had also come out to check after hearing the commotion.

Upon seeing Chen Ji and the people who had left the village return, they happily inquired about the current situation.

The villagers then told them who Chen Ji and his companions were.

Mountain God, Fox, Talisman Boat, Mr. Fox...

When these stories were told, even the villagers who remained in the village were astonished.

They never expected to be able to invite such a capable person, and they all thanked Chen Ji.

They started talking all at once about what had happened earlier.

"The large iron chain used to tie the bridge has been found."

"They had the wooden planks removed, tied to the iron tortoise and iron ox, and sank them downstream from the village."

"Ok?"

Chen Ji's eyes lit up, and he asked what was going on.

It's likely that those who set off earlier left early and were unaware of this matter, so they didn't mention it.

How was it discovered?

"It appeared suddenly..."

“A fisherman went out this morning and came back to find this on the shore, all wet. He wanted to take it back to make ironware, but found that he couldn’t cut it, so he reported it to us.”

The villagers responded in a cacophony of voices, and Chen Ji caught the key point.

So they asked where the iron chain was now.

“It was still there, and we couldn’t pull it away. We were worried it would be washed away, so we found a stick and stuck it on the riverbank.”

"Okay, let's go take a look."

Chen Ji nodded, refusing the villagers' offer to accompany him, and went with the four foxes.

"Sir, this must have been made by a demon or ghost, right?"

Bai Ba asked curiously.

"nature."

Chen Ji nodded.

"A heavy iron chain can disappear overnight, be tied to a heavy object and sink into the water, and then reappear on the shore. It doesn't seem like something was done without anyone's planning."

"Is that demon powerful?"

"Hmm? Bai Ba, are you scared?"

As Chen Ji spoke, he looked at Bai Ba, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.

"This……"

Bai Ba scratched his face sheepishly.

"Sir, you noticed?"

He sighed as he spoke.

"I really don't have any other skills, and the magic I know isn't very powerful. If I see demons or ghosts, I'm afraid I can only run away, which would be a disgrace to the fox spirits."

Chen Ji thought about it.

"Is it because of the fox-related exam in your dream?"

"It is."

Bai Ba bit her lip and nodded.

"The instructor said that foxes should ideally know two or three kinds of magic, but I only know one right now, and I haven't mastered it yet."

"It's alright, you'll learn it eventually."

To make it easier to observe the situation along the river, Chen Ji did not use the wind this time, but simply walked along the river on the ground.

There's enough time; it's just the right amount of time to comfort Bai Ba.

"But that would mean missing out on the study of foxes, sir..."

Bai Ba hesitated for a few moments, then sighed.

"Bai Ba still wants to go to Fox Academy to study."

Chen Ji was taken aback upon hearing this, then shook his head with a smile.

"Haven't you noticed that your sense of smell is even more powerful than magic?"

"I just used my Qi Observation Technique and couldn't detect the difference in the water, so how did you discover it?"

"Really?"

Bai Ba's eyes lit up, showing a hint of excitement.

"nature."

Chen Ji nodded.

"So-called magic is nothing more than ability. Your ability is enough to solve this problem, so it doesn't matter whether it's magic or not."

"Besides, your skills are not bad even if they are considered magic."

Bai Ba was stunned for a moment, then his eyes suddenly curved into a smile.

“What you say makes sense, sir. I understand now.”

He stopped and bowed respectfully before telling Chen Ji the key to how he detected the water's scent.

"I guess it's just a habit of smelling food before eating; it just came out naturally over time. I never thought I'd have this skill now."

Chen Ji thought about it and understood what Bai Ba meant.

This is roughly the nose version of the art of observing qi.

Because he was so focused, even Bai Ba himself didn't realize that this had already become a technique.

However, there's no need to tell him now; we'll talk about it after this is over.

Chen Ji pondered, gazing into the distance and squinting.

After walking along the river for half a day, we were finally almost at the place the villagers had mentioned.

The iron chain and the things that hold it in place are still there, and an old man in a straw raincoat is fishing by the river.

A gentle breeze blows, and the fishing float bobbes on the water's surface.

The old man hurriedly reeled in his line, only to find the hook empty, so he continued casting.

The four foxes watched for a moment, then approached and whispered to Chen Ji.

"Sir, this is a ghost."

"Of course I know."

"I forgot, sir, you are also a wandering god of the underworld."

The four foxes suddenly remembered something.

Chen Ji nodded.

Indeed, the sign of the day-roaming god reminded him that he knew this fisherman was a ghost when he saw him.

As for fishing...

It's only something that people and demons with cultivation see.

To the average person, it's nothing more than a willow catkin occasionally falling onto the water's surface, causing ripples to spread.

However, after looking at it for a moment longer, Chen Ji knew who he should ask.

The riverbanks are marked with traces left by the old fisherman, suggesting he has been fishing here for many days. It would be a good opportunity to inquire about the river.

However, even though he doesn't fish, he knows that there are certain rules for anglers.

I didn't ask immediately.

Instead, they quietly observed the old man's movements, waiting for about half an incense stick's time before the old man put away his rod again.

While he was changing the bait, Chen Ji clasped his hands beside him and sighed.

"Old man, you have quite the refined taste. Even with demons and ghosts causing trouble, you still don't forget to fish."

The old fisherman glanced back at Chen Ji and spoke slowly.

"You jest, sir. You are a ghost yourself, and you have demons by your side. Does that mean your presence here is also due to the presence of demons and ghosts?"

"If you don't count the adults, I'm just an old ghost, I'm already dead, what's there to be afraid of?"

"Anyway, it's just a day trip, so there's no need for the adults to come and take me back."

Chen Ji was taken aback upon hearing this, then burst into laughter.

This old ghost is just as sentimental as the stone mill demon.

I simply handed it over.

"Look again, old man, I'm not a ghost."

"Not a ghost?"

The old fisherman looked closely, his cloudy eyes brightening slightly. After a while, he looked away and frowned.

"Strange! If you're not a ghost, how can you have a position in the underworld? Did you steal it from someone else?"

(End of this chapter)