Journey to the West: Deer Power Immortal, Starting from Becoming a Disciple of the Supreme Lord Tais

The clerk nodded in agreement, then asked, "Master, what about the selection of the young boy and girl..."

"Whoever is drawn will be the one. Doesn't the Zhou family have a son and a daughter? Let Long Da speak to them. If they refuse, then let Zhou Mingyuan die again," said Magistrate Qian.

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingxuan felt a chill in his heart, but he also came up with a plan. Since the River God wanted to eat young boys and girls, he would go along with it and disguise himself as a young boy to personally eliminate this scourge.

Having made up his mind, Lu Qingxuan didn't linger any longer. His spirit returned to his body, and he headed towards the Zhou family.

It was already past midnight when they returned to the Zhou family home.

Lu Qingxuan did not disturb him, but instead sat cross-legged in the courtyard, meditating and regulating his breathing. After circulating his magical power for two cycles, Lu Qingxuan felt refreshed and invigorated.

Before we knew it, the east was bright.

The next morning, Zhou Mingyuan went out and saw Lu Qingxuan sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, so he quickly went over to her.

After a day of rest, although his face was still a little pale, his spirits had improved a lot.

Seeing that Zhou Mingyuan was about to bow again, Lu Qingxuan helped him up and said with a smile, "Mr. Zhou, there's no need to be so polite. I have something to discuss with you."

Lu Qingxuan then recounted in detail the news he had heard at the county government office the previous night.

Zhou Mingyuan gritted his teeth as he listened, "That corrupt official! He still won't let my family go."

Madam Zhou was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she said in a trembling voice, "Daoist Master, what should we do?"

"You two need not worry. I already have a plan. Since the River God wants young boys and girls, I will disguise myself as a young boy and have them deliver them. Once we arrive at the destination, I will eliminate that demon myself," said Lu Qingxuan.

As for the maiden, Lu Qingxuan planned to use illusion techniques to create one.

Upon hearing Lu Qingxuan's idea, Zhou Mingyuan was shocked: "Daoist Master, how can this be allowed? That demon's magic power is extremely high, and you are all alone..."

Lu Qingxuan waved his hand to interrupt him and said with a smile, "Don't worry, gentlemen, I know what I'm doing."

Based on his understanding, since the so-called River God was still cultivating with young boys and girls, his magical power wouldn't be too strong.

"However, there is one more thing that requires your cooperation."

Lu Qingxuan then explained the plan in detail, including how to hand himself over without arousing suspicion.

Zhou Mingyuan was still worried after hearing this, but seeing that Lu Qingxuan was confident, he stopped trying to dissuade him and nodded in agreement.

Just as they were discussing this, they suddenly heard a knock on the door, followed by a gruff voice shouting, "Hey, you surnamed Zhou, open the door! The River God has ordered that the boys and girls to be sacrificed this time must come from your house. Quickly hand over the two girls!"

Madam Zhou trembled in fright, but Lu Qingxuan smiled slightly. With a sway of his body, he transformed into a boy who looked to be seven or eight years old. He was fair-skinned, with two little braids, and looked just like a clever little boy.

Zhou Mingyuan and his wife were dumbfounded. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they certainly wouldn't have been able to tell which one was their child.

Then Lu Qingxuan threw out another pill, exhaled a breath of immortal energy, and transformed it into Zhou Mingyuan's daughter.

"Go open the door," Lu Qingxuan said in a childish voice, his clear voice showing no trace of a Taoist priest.

Zhou Mingyuan snapped out of his daze, took a deep breath, and went to open the courtyard gate.

There were three people standing outside the door. The one in the lead was the short, fat man, followed by two burly thugs.

When the short, fat man saw Zhou Mingyuan open the door, he was taken aback at first, then said with a forced smile, "Zhou, you know the rules of the River God. Today it's your family's turn to send someone. Where are your two children? Hand them over, so that none of us can have an easy time."

Although Zhou Mingyuan was furious, he still followed Lu Qingxuan's instructions and gritted his teeth to make way.

The short, fat man peeked inside and, sure enough, saw the Zhou family's two children standing in the courtyard, looking at them timidly.

The short, fat man chuckled, took out a red rope from his sleeve, and stepped forward to tie Lu Qingxuan and the girl's wrists together.

This is the local custom: the chosen boys and girls must be tied with red ropes as a mark offered to the river god.

Lu Qingxuan let him tie her up, and even deliberately shrank back, looking like a frightened child.

Seeing this, the short, fat man became even more smug. So what if someone helped him? He still obediently handed over his children.

Having given up, the short, fat man looked at Zhou Mingyuan and said, "You're smart to know what's good for you. Don't worry, the River God is very efficacious. It's his blessing that your children have become his attendants."

After saying that, he pulled Lu Qingxuan and the girl outside.

Inside the house, Madam Zhou covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Although it was all an act, she was genuinely worried.

Zhou Mingyuan helped her up and comforted her, "Don't cry, that Taoist priest is very capable, you'll be alright..."

Led by the short, stout man, the group soon arrived at the Qingshui River outside the city.

A river god temple stands by the river, inside which is enshrined a clay statue of a god with a blue face and fangs, looking ferocious and terrifying. It is the river god that people are talking about.

A large crowd had already gathered in front of the temple. Some were neighbors who had been forced to come and watch the excitement, while others were hooligans hired by Long Da.

Seeing the short, fat man leading two children over, Long grinned and came to Lu Qingxuan. "You two little ones, wait here in the temple tonight. The River God will come to pick you up when it gets dark. Don't cry or make a fuss. If you anger the River God, not only will you be in trouble, but everyone will be in trouble."

After saying this, Long Da ordered his men to lay out two tattered straw mats in the temple, along with a bowl of cold rice and a dish of pickled vegetables, as a final supper.

Then they closed the temple door and barricaded it from the outside with wooden pegs.

The temple suddenly darkened, with only the two eternal lamps in front of the statue emitting a dim yellow light, making the clay statue look hideous and quite frightening.

Lu Qingxuan ignored him, sat down on the straw mat, closed his eyes to rest, and waited for nightfall.

Time passed by, and the light outside the temple gradually dimmed. A few barks of dogs came from afar, but were then dispersed by the night wind.

Lu Qingxuan opened his eyes and looked out through the window of the dilapidated temple. He saw that it was already late, and a crescent moon hung in the sky, casting a pale moonlight.

The surface of the Qingshui River was shrouded in mist, a vast expanse of white, so thick that even the shadows of the trees on the opposite bank were indistinct.

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the temple. It was the voice of the short, fat man: "Brother Long, everything is arranged. We've burned paper money and made offerings to the River God. We're just waiting for the hour of Hai (9-11 PM)."

Long Da grunted in agreement and said, "Brothers, stay back. No one is allowed near the River God while he's enjoying himself. Anyone who dares to peek will have their eyes gouged out!"

After saying that, the sound of the group's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Lu Qingxuan walked to the temple gate and looked out through the crack in the door. He saw that the fog on the river was getting thicker and thicker, as if something was rising from the bottom of the water.

In just a moment, the mist condensed into a cloud and drifted toward the River God Temple, bringing with it a strong, fishy stench.

Lu Qingxuan sneered, took a few steps back, and sat down on the straw mat.

Before long, a rustling sound came from outside the temple, followed by a gust of black wind that slipped in through the crack in the door and blew out the two ever-burning lamps.

The black wind swirled inside the temple, gradually coalescing into a figure...