This Taoist priest is so unprofessional!

Li Xuanqing took a deep breath, his expression becoming more serious than ever before.

He walked up to Wang Xiaoer and gave him instructions, word by word.

"Wang Shi... waiter, listen up."

"Never, ever mention to anyone what happened here today!"

"If anyone inquires, tell them that the three of us, working together, managed to subdue this evil dragon by sheer luck. Those three evil cultivators were stunned into a daze by the dragon's demonic aura, understand?"

Zhang Chen also walked over and said in a deep voice, "That's right! Especially about this inexplicable growth of the immortal herb, you can't say a word about it! Understand?"

They were well aware of the uproar that would ensue if word got out about what had happened today.

A cat's gaze can turn three highly skilled but evil cultivators into idiots.

A person's luck can conjure up legendary elixirs out of thin air even in dire straits.

Either of these two events would be enough to drive the entire Xuanmen sect mad.

At that time, Wang Xiaoer will no longer be Wang Xiaoer; he will become a piece of Tang Monk's flesh coveted by countless people, and will never have a peaceful day.

Seeing the serious expressions on their faces, Wang Xiaoer understood the gravity of the situation.

He nodded vigorously.

"I understand."

Wang Xiaoer couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Is my luck... a bit too unfair?"

"It's more than just being unreasonable."

Zhang Chen's lips twitched, and he muttered a complaint under his breath.

"That's practically cheating! I'm so envious!"

"Alright, that's enough! Someone's coming down!"

Li Xuanqing gave a low shout, interrupting their conversation.

Several ropes were lowered from the wellhead, and figures slid down the ropes quickly.

Soon, seven or eight disciples of Longhu Mountain, each carrying a magical artifact and looking wary, landed in the cave.

When they saw the scene before them, everyone gasped and froze on the spot.

The first thing they saw was Li Xuanqing and his two companions, who, despite their tattered clothes, stood tall and straight.

Beside him lay three black-clad evil cultivators, bleeding from all seven orifices, looking dazed and confused.

The entire cave was in a mess. The tremors and the lingering heat of the magical clash in the air all indicated how fierce the battle had been.

As for the evil dragon, it has been trapped by the formation. Although it still exudes ferocity, it has reduced it by 90%. If you are not careful, ordinary people may not even be able to sense its presence.

"Li...Senior Brother Li..."

A young disciple stammered, his eyes filled with fervent worship as he looked at Li Xuanqing.

"This...you guys did all of this?"

Li Xuanqing calmly withdrew his hand seal and feigned exhaustion as he took a breath.

"Just lucky."

"My fellow disciple and I, together with this young brother Wang Xiaoer, risked our lives to suppress this wicked beast and several demons."

Upon hearing this, the disciples looked at the three with immediate admiration.

The way he looked at Li Xuanqing and Zhang Chen was especially like he was looking at gods.

In their view, this was undoubtedly an earth-shattering battle, and the two senior brothers, with the strength of the three of them, not only subdued the legendary evil dragon, but also took care of three evil cultivators who looked like they were not to be trifled with.

What a level of cultivation! What a spirit!

……

The provincial capital, Longhushan.

This is not some kind of paradise, but an antique-style courtyard house hidden in the bustling city. With its blue bricks and gray tiles, and two weathered stone lions at the entrance, ordinary passersby would just mistake it for the private residence of some wealthy merchant.

As soon as Zhang Chen and his two companions entered, a young Taoist priest led them through a corridor to a quiet and elegant room.

An elderly Taoist priest with white hair and beard, dressed in a simple gray robe, sat cross-legged on a futon, meditating with his eyes closed. His face was thin and his breathing was long and deep. He was like a piece of warm and smooth ancient jade, not showing off his sharpness, but possessing a profound and dignified air.

This person was none other than Zhang Chen's martial uncle, Yunhe Zhenren, one of the contemporary elders of Longhu Mountain.

"Uncle-Master." Li Xuanqing and Zhang Chen bowed respectfully.

Master Yunhe slowly opened his eyes. At first glance, his eyes seemed cloudy, but upon closer inspection, they appeared to hold stars and were so sharp that they could pierce through people's hearts.

His gaze swept over Li Xuanqing and Zhang Chen, finally settling on Wang Xiaoer.

Wang Xiaoer stiffened under his gaze, feeling as if he had been seen through from head to toe, as if all his secrets had been exposed.

"Sit." Master Yunhe's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

The three sat down as instructed.

"Tell me about what happened down in the mine."

Li Xuanqing and Zhang Chen exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves that it was good that they had agreed on their story beforehand.

Li Xuanqing spoke first, his voice steady: "Uncle-Master, we went down to investigate and found that the well was a natural cave. We originally intended to repair the seal first, but unexpectedly we encountered three evil cultivators from the Five Ghosts Sect."

His narration was neither fast nor slow, but it vividly depicted the battle.

"Those demons from the Five Ghosts Sect are vicious and ruthless. They laid a spirit-binding net, intending to seize the evil dragon and wreak havoc on the region. My junior brother Zhang Chen and I fought valiantly to stop them, and a fierce battle was inevitable."

Zhang Chen chimed in at the opportune moment, a hint of lingering fear still on his face.

"That evil dragon was exceptionally fierce, and with the interference of the demon, we were quickly overwhelmed and both of us were seriously injured. I am incompetent and almost failed the important trust placed in me by my sect."

As he spoke, he coughed twice as if to reinforce his old injury.

Master Yunhe listened quietly, tapping his fingers lightly on his knees, remaining noncommittal.

Li Xuanqing continued, "Just when we were about to be defeated, we were fortunate enough to receive help from this Brother Wang Xiaoer. Although he is not a member of the Taoist sect, he is a friend with great fortune. At the crucial moment, he..."

Li Xuanqing paused, seemingly considering his words.

"...He attracted the evil dragon's attention in a peculiar way, giving the two of us a chance to catch our breath. In the end, the three of us worked together, risking our lives, and barely managed to suppress the evil dragon again and capture the three evil cultivators."

After he finished speaking, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Wang Xiaoer clenched his fists nervously, somewhat confused.

This explanation didn't sound very plausible, and now, under the all-knowing gaze of the old Taoist priest, it seemed even more riddled with holes.

You might be able to fool outsiders, but you're even lying to your own martial uncle! How embarrassing would it be if people found out?

After a long while, a slight smile finally appeared on Master Yunhe's face, which had been as calm as an ancient well.

He stroked his snow-white beard and nodded.

"Heroes emerge from among the young."

He looked at Wang Xiaoer again, his gaze sharp as lightning, making Wang Xiaoer's heart tremble.

But that sharp gaze only flashed by for a moment, and Master Yunhe praised, "Zhang Chen, you've made a good friend this time you came down the mountain."

"Uncle-Master, you flatter me," Zhang Chen quickly replied modestly.

Master Yunhe stopped asking about the details of the battle. He took out a token made entirely of warm jade from his sleeve. The front of the token was engraved with the gate of Longhu Mountain, and the back had an ancient character "客" (guest).

"Wang Xiaoer".

"Huh? Yes!" Wang Xiaoer jumped up and quickly replied.

"Thank you for your help this time. Longhu Mountain will always repay kindness." Master Yunhe handed over the token. "This is the token of a guest elder of Longhu Mountain. With this token, you can ask Longhu Mountain for help once in the future, no matter what kind of danger you encounter. No matter what it is, as long as it does not violate the principles of heaven and human ethics, Longhu Mountain will do its best to help."

A look of surprise flashed in Li Xuanqing's eyes.

No more than five guest tokens from Longhu Mountain have been given out in the past hundred years! Each one represents a promise from Longhu Mountain, and its weight is enough to make the entire Xuanmen (Taoist sect) take notice.

Although Wang Xiaoer didn't understand the value of the token, he knew it was an extremely precious item, and quickly waved his hand.

"Daoist Master, this is unacceptable! Zhang Chen and I are buddies, and... I didn't do anything."

"Take it." Master Yunhe's tone left no room for refusal. "This is what you deserve."

Wang Xiaoer had no choice but to accept it with both hands.