Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 27: Slow Traffic

The green bus chugged along, twisting and turning on the mountain road.

The mountains, trees, and farmhouses outside the window all seemed to be pushed backward, like an old roll of film being forcibly torn away.

The carriage was stuffy, filled with the smells of sweat, cheap cigarettes, children crying, and adults scolding, all mixed together in a hazy, hot mist that hit my face.

Qi Yun leaned against the window, the hard plastic seat digging into his back, but he felt strangely at ease.

This noise, this smell, this bumpy ride—it's the earthy atmosphere of a place where living people gather.

It was more comforting than the gloom of the Five Viscera Temple, the deathly silence of the Ghost Realm, and the eeriness of Qingyang City.

He closed his eyes, and the crimson fire pulsed gently in his heart and spleen, while a warm current flowed silently through his bones.

His strength has truly increased; when he clenched his fist, his knuckles cracked softly, revealing a power capable of overturning a bull.

This feeling is very surreal.

The original owner's memories also surfaced: He graduated from the Chinese Department of Gongji University. His family was from Qingshi County in a neighboring province. After graduation, he never looked for a job and just lived a shabby life in a rented house in the provincial capital, spending almost all his money.

In Qi Yun's view, the original owner was a typical patient with depression.

When the news of Zhao Xinmin's marriage arrived, he only had eight hundred yuan left in his pocket.

In 2025, that's roughly the purchasing power of four or five thousand, which is a lot, but not much either!
But the original owner of this body also came on a whim.

Since I'm idle anyway, I might as well watch some fun.

"The road ahead?" Qi Yun's lips twitched, a silent smile playing on his lips.

Qi Yun was initially somewhat confused, but now everything is very clear!

Money! Eight hundred yuan is nothing but a pittance to live off. This college degree is still a decent asset for now; finding a job to make ends meet shouldn't be difficult. As for what to do? We'll figure that out when we get back to the provincial capital!
Once the thought came to him, it was like a stone had been lifted from his shoulders. Amidst the cacophony, he actually fell into a deep sleep, his head repeatedly bumping against the cold glass window.

"Hey! Comrade, we've arrived! Wake up!" The ticket seller's voice was like an awl, piercing his drowsiness.

Qi Yun suddenly opened his eyes. The carriage was mostly empty, with only the ticket seller staring at him in surprise.

He stared at the huge, bulging, mud-splattered snakeskin bag at his feet.

The villagers had forced them to eat it: cured meat, dried mushrooms, and walnuts—it was incredibly heavy.

He responded, bent down, and with a burst of strength from his waist and legs, lifted the bag as if it were floating, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

The ticket seller's astonishment deepened.

As I jumped off the bus, the wind from the county bus station, carrying dust and the smell of diesel fuel, blew right up to my head.

The loudspeaker was blaring a hoarse message, crackling and popping; the lyrics were familiar, but the melody was off.

"The rising sun illuminates our motherland! The working class is full of energy, and the road of reform and opening up is wide!..."

Qi Yun took a breath, carrying the bag like a mobile mountain of local specialties, and squeezed out of the chaotic exit.

My stomach was growling, and I glanced up and saw a "People's Restaurant" on the side of the street, with a faded menu pasted on the greasy glass door.

I went in and ordered the most hearty bowl of shredded pork noodles, which cost two yuan and fifty cents.

The noodles were hard, oily, and salty; he ate until his forehead was sweating, but his stomach felt at ease.

"Master, how do I get to the provincial capital's train station?" he asked the shopkeeper, wiping his mouth.

"It's far! Taking the bus requires two transfers, and the wait is unbearable! How about a taxi?" The waiter gestured with his chin, and a few yellow minibuses were scattered outside the door.

"Expensive! They're ripping people off!"

Qi Yun weighed the money in his pocket, then waved his hand: "Let's go!"

Relying on the strength and resilience honed by his internal organs and the nourishment from the immortal fire, he truly set off carrying the heavy bag.

The provincial capital is not only the provincial capital but also a transportation hub, and its streets are wider than those in the mountain valleys of Guizhou.

The scene was a unique mix of things from the 1990s: newly built tiled buildings covered in mosaic tiles stood next to old brick and tile houses; loudspeakers blared at the entrance of video arcades, playing Hong Kong and Taiwan martial arts films.

The rotating lampposts of the hair salon cast ambiguous red and blue lights; by the roadside bicycle repair stalls, old men gathered to watch chess, puffing away on their pipes; occasionally, a Santana or Xiali would drive by, kicking up dust and drawing stares.

The utility poles were covered with faded advertisements: "Veteran doctor treats STDs," "Seeking a son for a large sum of money," and "Job postings." Walking and looking around, by the time I reached the train station square, the sun was already setting, its golden-red afterglow framing the massive concrete buildings with a hazy edge.

The crowds surged, carrying large and small bags, speaking in various accents.

Qi Yun squeezed to the ticket window, where the long queue was agonizing.

After finally getting close, I asked around and found out that the only train to Hangzhou that day was a slow train running at 10 p.m.

Clutching the hardboard train ticket, I glanced at the clock; it was only a little past six.

Qi Yun cursed under his breath.

Those pretentious people who used to be so obsessed with "slow travel" on the internet should really come back and try it themselves!
When you're out and about, a lot of time is spent waiting, squeezing in, and enduring.

He carried his bag and searched through the noisy, smelly waiting hall, finally squeezing half his buttocks onto a plastic bench in a corner.

There were no cell phones in this day and age, it was truly a time of utter boredom.

Not far away, three young people, two men and a woman, also seemed to be getting bored while waiting.

The woman had her hair tied in a ponytail, had delicate features, and was wearing a trendy denim jacket.

One man wore glasses and looked refined; the other had a square face and was more robust.

They spread out a deck of cards and played it casually.

The girl looked up, her gaze sweeping over Qi Yun, who sat alone, before landing on the conspicuous large snakeskin bag at his feet. After hesitating for a moment, she called out, "Hey, comrade! Feeling bored all alone? Come over and play a couple of rounds of cards to pass the time!"

Qi Yun was idly counting the sunflower seed shells on the ground when he heard this. He looked up, met the girl's bright eyes and kind smile, nodded, picked up his bag, and moved over. "Sure, let's kill some time."

Joining the card game livened up the atmosphere a bit.

They exchanged names and confirmed that they were both students of "Yunling Normal College" in the same province.

The man with glasses is named Liu Wen, the man with the square face is named Zhang Qiang, and the girl is named Li Juan.

They went to Tongjiang, a neighboring city, together, after hearing that several new factories there were hiring clerks.

"And you, Brother Qi, where did all these bags and packages come from?"

Zhang Qiang tossed out a pair of Kings and casually asked.

"A classmate is getting married in Hangzhou, and I'm here for the banquet."

Qi Yun, while arranging the cards, said calmly.

"Wow! That's quite a distance!" Liu Wen pushed up his glasses. "These days, traveling that far for a banquet really shows how deep the friendship is between classmates!"

While they were playing, Li Juan seemed to remember something and said while touching the cards, "Hey, have you guys read the Nanjiang Daily these past few days?"

I posted a missing person ad; it's pretty risky.

In Yangcun, there was a college student, what was his name? He went to attend a college classmate's wedding, but ended up climbing some mountain and disappeared!

We've been searching for days, but there's no sign of him, neither alive nor dead!
His student ID photo was even published in the newspaper.

Zhang Qiang scoffed and threw out Zhang Dawang's straight, which was pressing down on Liu Wen: "Hey! These out-of-towners can't control themselves when they see some beautiful scenery!"

Isn't this the same every year? Driving into ravines, falling into caves, flooding—aren't there plenty of news reports about these things?
It was only because he was a college student that he was featured in the newspaper.

If it's just an ordinary person, who would bother with them?
So what if they're from prestigious universities? Aren't they also out of their minds?
I think they're no different from us, maybe even more bookish!

Liu Wen nodded in agreement, with a hint of schadenfreude: "Even the pride of heaven can act foolishly."

Qi Yun paused, her fingers holding the cards. Her face remained expressionless, but she felt as embarrassed as if she had been stripped naked in public.

He coughed and said, "Cough, it is pretty silly..."

Li Juan was displeased. She raised her eyebrows and said to Zhang Qiang and Liu Wen, "What are you two so sour about? Someone got into trouble and you're still making sarcastic remarks!"

Do you even understand the spirit of exploration? Besides, treating people differently based on their status—doesn't that just show there's something wrong with society? What we should be calling for is fairness, not laughing at them!

As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept towards Qi Yun again, and the more she looked, the more familiar he seemed.

(End of this chapter)