Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 431 The City God of Linjiang

As evening falls in Linjiang City, wisps of smoke rise from the city.

The dim sunlight shone on the pedestrians hurrying along the street, and the guards who had been waiting in the alley opposite the Niu family's pharmacy finally saw their master emerge from the pharmacy.

"My lord, you've finally come out."

Zhong Wen glanced at the guards who breathed a sigh of relief, shook his head, and said:

"What are you nervous about? I told you I'd be fine."

Having only met a few times, Zhong Wen would not easily and completely trust Niu Guangyi, who clearly had some secrets.

He was grateful to the young man, who had shown him kindness on several occasions. However, as the eldest son of the Duke's mansion, how could he easily trust others? What he trusted was his own intelligence network.

Regardless of who Niu Guangyi is or what secrets he may have, the fact that this young man has lived in the Niu family for sixteen years since childhood cannot be faked, nor can the fact that his parents and younger brother are all here be faked.

Putting aside the fact that the boy had already helped him, even if Niu Guangyi had any intentions that were detrimental to him, regardless of whether the sixteen-year-old boy had the ability to do so, as long as he still cared about his family, he would not have done such a thing at the Niu family's pharmacy.

"Let's go back. Li, go back to the Duke of Xin's mansion. I still have some things to investigate in Linjiang City. Once I have the results, I will return as soon as possible."

He was still somewhat unwilling to give up on the old man's cultivation method, after all, it was a cultivation technique for immortality. However, after what Niu Guangyi said back then, he no longer dared to cultivate it.

But a month or so ago, he found an old map covered in scales among the old man's hidden belongings. The map pointed to Yunyan River in Linjiang City, which was obviously the reason the old man came to Linjiang City.

He planned to search again; if he could find it, that would be best; if not, he would leave the place.

As for the terrifying demons that the monk Fahai mentioned, he was half-believing and half-doubting. After all, Linjiang City was peaceful and prosperous, a famous land of fish and rice, and there were no strange legends about it. Where would any demons come from?

However, Zhong Wen was unaware that he had already met the demons that Fahai spoke of several times.
"My lord, if we don't return soon, the Duke might be angry."

Zhong Wen pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded and said:

"Alright, I'll write the letter later. I'll explain it to Grandpa in the letter, don't worry."

"Yes!"

Inside the Niu family's pharmacy, Niu Yi glanced at the ten thousand taels of silver notes in his hand and casually put them into the white jade gourd at his waist.

Worldly money was of little use to him; it was meant for the Niu family. Money could make the world go round, and that was the most vivid illustration of worldly wealth.

On a moonlit night with few stars, Niu Yi, who was meditating cross-legged with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes and looked at the door with some surprise.

Soon, Niu Yi's figure transformed into a gentle breeze and emerged from the crack in the door, arriving in the courtyard and looking at the person sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard.

The man appeared to be no more than forty years old, with a ruddy complexion. He wore a bright red official robe and a black gauze hat, and had a serious expression, exuding an aura of authority and righteousness.

Upon seeing Niu Yi appear, this man was the first to stand up, bow respectfully, and say in a loud voice:
"Lü Hong, City God of Linjiang City, greets the Immortal!"

Even in the still of the night, the other party's loud voice went unnoticed, and Niu Yi, sensing the divine aura emanating from the other party, smiled and returned the greeting:

"I am Guangyi, a humble Taoist priest. I have met City God Lü Hong. May I ask, City God, what important matter brings you here tonight?"

Lü Hong then respectfully said:

“It is truly inappropriate for me to visit so late at night and disturb your cultivation, but today I received a message from Guanyin Bodhisattva, instructing me to come and pay my respects. If you have any matters to attend to in Linjiang City, please feel free to give me your instructions.”

"But Guanyin Bodhisattva also had something for me to pass on to the immortal."

Lu Hong looked up at Niu Yi opposite him and saw that the other man was also smiling and looking at him. He nodded slightly. "The Great Master asked me to tell the Immortal that we immortals, having entered the path of immortality, should not interfere too much in mortal affairs and get involved in karma."

"If you have any problems, please feel free to come to me. As long as you do not violate the righteous path or the heavenly rules, I can help you with anything."

Upon hearing this, Niu Yi looked at Lü Hong with a smile.

"This last condition was probably added by the City God himself."

"Exactly."

Lu Hong looked directly at Niu Yi across from him, his face serious.

Throughout his life, Lü Hong never did anything against his conscience, both in life and in death!

Even though the person opposite him was Guanyin Bodhisattva who had instructed him to obey orders, and that the other person's name had recently disappeared from the register of Linjiang City under his jurisdiction, he still did so.

This is the noble spirit in his heart, and it is also the reason why he was appointed as the City God of Linjiang City.

Lu Hong had no idea which celestial being had been reincarnated to be so highly regarded by the Great Master, but there were some things that needed to be made clear beforehand.

Niu Yi also admired this person quite a bit. The other party's behavior was not disrespectful to him, but rather a direct statement of his position.

He had heard Niu Sanjin say that this City God Lü Hong was a highly respected local official from the previous dynasty. He was upright and incorruptible throughout his life, and he dared to contradict the emperor's decrees. In the end, he was beheaded by that tyrannical ruler.

The current emperor, moved by his life of integrity and dedication to the people, respects the will of the people and commissioned the erection of his statue, which was then sent back to Linjiang City.

Today, he has become the City God of Linjiang City, and the incense offerings have never ceased.

Furthermore, since the person's superior is the Heavenly Court, and now, out of respect for Guanyin Bodhisattva's orders, he has come to see him and is willing to help him, he cannot possibly offend the person.

Niu Yi said seriously:
"Please rest assured, City God, I am a Taoist practitioner. I am still in Linjiang City because my parents are still alive and I need to repay their kindness in raising me. I have no other intentions."

Seeing this, Lü Hong's expression softened, and he cupped his hands and said:
"In that case, if you have any urgent matters, please send a message to the City God Temple, and I will come as soon as possible. I will take my leave now."

"Please come, City God."

Lu Hong nodded, and his figure vanished into thin air in an instant, leaving the Niu family compound empty once again, as if he had never been there.

Niu Yi looked thoughtfully toward the Yunyan Restaurant.

Clearly, the reason Guanyin Bodhisattva sent the City God to deliver the message was because of Zhong Wen.

Niu Yi knew that Guanyin Bodhisattva had asked the local city god to help him in order to put his mind at ease, and that what she had just said was mostly a reminder.

If this bell is truly that important, the Bodhisattva would have come long ago.

In other words, one can interfere in matters of the mortal world, but there must be a limit. Guanyin is reminding him not to cross this limit recognized by the gods of this world.

"This person meant well."

However, his purpose in coming to this world was to cultivate, which was the most important thing. He had no interest in interfering in too many things in this world.

Niu Yi shook his head, and his figure transformed back into a gentle breeze as he flew into the house to continue his cultivation.

(End of this chapter)