Young master, why not become a corpse immortal?

Chapter 190 The Path of the Dao, the Path of the Dao!
Lin Jiang stared intently at Gong Xuan, whose lips trembled almost imperceptibly.

A long, drawn-out sigh escaped his throat.

But this sigh ended with a cough.

"Ahem, sorry," Gong Xuan said.

"What is there to apologize for?"

"He approached the young master with ulterior motives."

“Didn’t we agree on this at the beginning?” Lin Jiang was clearly puzzled. “You take the money, and I take the convenience. How can that be considered having ulterior motives? At most, it means you’ve got your eye on something else outside the contract. But you’ve also given me many benefits that weren’t mentioned before.”

“That’s true…” Gong Xuan’s lips moved slightly.

“Besides, you haven’t affected me at all,” Lin Jiang said. “You’re hurting your own body.”

Regardless of what the geomancer said or Liang Huashan calculated, there is no reason for Gongxuan's birth chart to clash with Lin Jiang.

Even in the capital, despite spending half of his cash on buying a house, his total assets were still several times higher than before he came to Beijing.

Where is there any loss?

"In the end, there was some deception."

Lin Jiang thought for a moment, and a rare serious expression appeared on his face: "I must apologize for this. If you suffer from this injury, I won't even know what happened."

Upon hearing this, Gong Xuan gave a wry smile, but his expression was much more relaxed than when he first arrived.

Lin Jiang sat down directly opposite him:

"If that's the case, then speak frankly. There's always something we can discuss."

Gong Xuan nodded solemnly and slowly began to recount the whole story:

"When I first met you, I was only after your money. If I, a jinx, didn't work hard, I would starve to death. But after following you for more than a month, I found that the money I earned had not mysteriously disappeared. That's when I realized that you have an extraordinary destiny."

"Until the town changed and we parted ways, that bone-chilling bad luck clung to me again. Strangely enough, during my slump, my cultivation progressed in reverse, and I actually touched the Illusory Realm of the Three Realms of Star Pointing. Only then did I realize that if I stayed by your side, young master, I might truly be able to change my fate and advance in rank."

"So after meeting you again at Feng'ao Mountain, I, who had been wandering the martial world, decided to go with you and come to the capital to try my luck."

Lin Jiang nodded slightly, harboring no resentment.

It's only natural for people to meet in the martial arts world and each take what they need, especially since Gong Xuan had indeed helped him a great deal.

Without Gongxuan, Lin Jiang might not even have entered the path of cultivation yet.

Moreover, as they traveled the martial arts world together and helped the Six Doors solve some cases, the friendship they forged during that time far surpassed their initial interests.

only……

"If you use my destiny to suppress your own destiny for a long time, you may damage your foundation."

"That's fine!"

Gong Xuan's voice suddenly rose in pitch:

"Young Master! I have been trapped in the Sixth Heaven for nearly twenty years! I have exhausted all my cultivation in the first half of my life, but now I have finally glimpsed the Dao of Star Path. If I hear the Dao in the morning, I can die content in the evening!"

“More than twenty years…” Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinyue’s expression changed slightly: “According to the records of the Six Doors, the Daoist is only about forty years old…”

Wouldn't one reach the sixth level of heaven at the tender age of twenty?

Jiang Jinyue was already considered a rare genius in the capital, having already reached the fifth level of cultivation, but this twenty-year-old was at the sixth level...

It still sounds a bit outrageous.

"However, I took an unorthodox approach when I was young, which is why I achieved such rapid progress in my cultivation." Gong Xuan sighed, "But my foundation is unstable and my future is uncertain. I can clearly see the opportunity to break through to the next realm as close as the morning star, but I just can't seem to break through that barrier."

At this point, Gong Xuan became excited, and he couldn't stop coughing, covering his lips with his hand again:
"Now that we've seen it, how can we possibly back down?"

"It's right in front of us! It's right in front of us! How can we back down!"

Lin Jiang stared at Gong Xuan.

At that moment, he felt as if he were seeing General Zhou, who had previously served under him.

A star.

Even someone with Gong Xuan's talent was stuck for a long time, so long that it became a mental demon.

"But if you continue like this, can your body take it?"

"Cough cough cough! It's alright, I can handle it! I must handle it!" Gong Xuanqiang managed to calm his breathing. "How many sixth-level cultivators in the cultivation world go into seclusion before breaking through to the next realm? I am no exception."

Lin Jiang's throat bobbed several times before he finally swallowed the words he hadn't finished saying.

His cultivation level was all acquired by chance, and he has no right to advise others against arduous cultivation.

If Gongxuan were truly forced to sever his reliance on the method of destiny, based on Lin Jiang's understanding of this Taoist priest, although he would certainly follow his words, he would also inevitably part ways with him, and they would be separated by the ends of the earth from then on.

After Gong Xuan sat down, he covered his mouth and coughed twice.

Realizing he had overreacted, he took a deep breath to calm himself and smiled wryly at Lin Jiang:
"Young master, this humble Taoist priest... has lost his composure."

"It's alright." Lin Jiang sighed, "I have never experienced this situation, so I cannot know the suffering. Since I have not suffered it myself, how dare I speak presumptuously?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Xuan felt a jolt in his heart, and his eyes even stung a little.

People in the world love to talk about lofty ideals or impose arbitrary controls, so such understanding and compassion are truly rare.

"Talking in the room makes my mouth dry." Lin Jiang stood up. "Tonight we must find a good tavern and drink until we're drunk."

……

Lin Jiang entrusted the small ginseng to Liang Huashan and went to the town alone to search for it.

This town is close to Qingniwa, so there must be some decent taverns in the town.

He searched around for a long time before finally finding one.

The waiter said that their chef had once worked in the capital and cooked for the emperor.

Although it's hard to tell the truth, the private rooms inside are indeed secluded, and once the door is closed, no one will disturb you.

When Lin Jiang browsed the menu, he deliberately ordered several more meat dishes and two jars of thirty-year-old aged wine.

Just as he was about to pay out of his own pocket, Jiang Jinyue transferred the bill to the public account, as this was reasonable during the Dali Temple's investigation.

Inside the private room, Gong Xuan unconsciously rubbed the rim of his glass with his fingertips. His usual composed demeanor was now replaced by extreme restraint, and he would occasionally cover his mouth with his sleeve and cough.

Lin Jiang suddenly gestured, and before the Taoist could hesitate to extend his wrist, two fingers were already on Gong Xuan's Mingmen point. A moment later, Lin Jiang infused his Qi into Gong Xuan's body, and Gong Xuan's complexion immediately became rosy.

Gong Xuan clearly felt his illness lessen considerably and was about to express his gratitude when he suddenly heard the waiter outside the door loudly announce:
"The honored guest's wine has arrived—"

The waiter strode in carrying a clay-sealed wine jar, his eyes and brows brimming with eagerness:

"This is a 20-year-old vintage wine that the owner buried for the birth of his daughter. If it weren't for the presence of distinguished guests, he would not have been willing to open it."

Lin Jiang pondered for a moment:

"Every time a customer orders this wine, you have to dig out a whole jar fresh?"

"Yes."

"So how many jars of wine did your boss put under the tree?"

"Please don't ask that."

Although Xiao Er still had a smile on his face, Lin Jiang could clearly see that the remaining smile on his lips had become somewhat stiff.

Lin Jiang immediately lost interest:

"I thought you had seventy or eighty jars buried under your yard."

The waiter's lips twitched slightly, but he quickly composed himself and said:

"Please try to drink less of this wine. Our wine has a nickname, 'Three Bowls and You'll Collapse,' because an ordinary person will collapse after drinking three bowls."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiang's expression turned somewhat strange again:
"There isn't a place called Jingyanggang near your town, is there?"

"Wha...what?"

"It's alright." Lin Jiang waved his hand. "Just bring it all! Six jars! People who don't know better will think we can't afford it!"

Lin Jiang waved his hand!
Anyway, it's all being paid for with public funds!
"If you get drunk, we are not responsible for helping you back home."

"We can get drunk? Who do you think you are?"

Seeing Lin Jiang's insistence, the waiter had no choice but to shake his head and leave.

When he returned, he was already carrying three jars.

Who would complain about money burning their hands?
Lin Jiang didn't take it seriously, casually picked up a few bowls and placed them on the wooden table, then broke the mud seal and poured the contents into the bowls.

The three of them drank and chatted over their snacks, as if all their previous thoughts had been drowned in the wine.

After a few drinks, Lin Jiang didn't deliberately activate his cultivation technique.

He didn't know if the drink was just too strong, but he actually felt dizzy.

Suddenly, I remembered Gong Xuan from the past. Back then, Gong Xuan also got drunk after drinking just a little wine.

Lin Jiang then understood why Gong Xuan was acting this way.

Sometimes, the feeling of being drunk doesn't really come from the alcohol itself; if you feel drunk in your heart, then you are truly drunk.

When all three jars were empty, Lin Jiang looked up at the moon and carefully examined them, discovering that there were two moons in the sky.

Jiang Jinyue remained seated, a silly grin on her face.

Finally, it was Gong Xuan's turn. He was slumped over the table, his words somewhat indistinct:
"Young Master Lin, I really didn't mean any harm."

"I know, but you should have said so sooner."

I was afraid you would be unhappy.

"How do you know if I'm angry or not if you don't tell me?"

“It seems so…” Gong Xuan stroked his chin and thought for a long time: “But I can’t seem to get my thoughts straight, probably because I’m terrified.”

Why be afraid?

Who can say for sure?

Jiang Jinyue also kept downing her drinks, one glass after another. She pondered for a moment, sensing something was amiss, and finally slammed her hand on the table, glaring angrily at Lin Jiang:

"Your surname is Lin?!"

Lin Jiang glared back very seriously:

"Don't most people in the martial arts world use aliases? You've never used a pseudonym while traveling the martial arts world?"

"I've done nothing wrong!" Jiang Jinyue slammed her hand on the table, then started counting on her fingers: "Let me think, some people call me the Drunken Swordsman, some call me Ali, some call me Moon in the Water, and what was that again, I think it was Jiang Lili."

Lin Jiang pondered for a long time, and then flew into a rage:
"Aren't these all fake names?!"

"I didn't lie to you! My name is Jiang Jinyue, I am Jiang Jinyue." Jiang Jinyue started baring her teeth, like a cat: "Then what's your real name?"

"Linjiang, Lin in Linjiang, Jiang in Linjiang."

"You're not lying to me this time?"

"I can't lie to you this time."

"That's good." Jiang Jinyue chuckled twice. "Lin Jiang, Lin Jiang."

He immediately turned to look at Gong Xuan:
"Taoist priest, what's your name?"

“Gongxuan”.

"I'll tell you your name."

"My name is..."

Gong Xuan thought for a long time, and he seemed to recall something from a long time ago. Finally, a helpless bitter smile appeared on his face:

"Me? I remember, my surname is Chen. What's my name again... I think it's..."

"Three dogs?"

Lin Jiang and Jiang Jinyue exchanged a glance.

This name...

They really didn't expect that.

P.S.: I've been sleeping at 4 AM for two months in a row, and when I looked in the mirror today, I had huge dark circles under my eyes.

(End of this chapter)