Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

Just like with Yunling, this should be a test from the Taoist priest.

After all, how can you know what level a business is at if you don't see it for yourself and only listen to what others say?

"Disciple understands." Zhuang Xing bowed respectfully.

"Good." The old Taoist nodded in satisfaction. "This journey is a bit far, and you may have to stay in Yidu for a while before returning. Go back today to pack your things and say goodbye to your teachers and friends."

"Is it just me and the Taoist priest on this trip?" Zhuang Xing asked.

"I'm going to Yidu simply to visit an old friend; there's no need for such a big fuss," the old Taoist priest said.

"Isn't Yunling going?" Zhuang Xing asked again.

“She will be taught by Master Yuanyan,” the old Taoist said.

"I understand," Zhuang Xing nodded.

It looks like I'll be separated from Yunling for a while.

Master Qingxuzi said he would stay in Yidu for a while longer, but no one knows exactly how long.

But at least this year, we'll be spending the Lunar New Year in Yidu.

When the Taoist priest was young, he must have wandered around the mountains. Now that he is old, it is normal for him to want to spend more time getting together with old friends, since he doesn't know how many more times he will be able to get together in the future.

However, Yidu...

He remembered that when they parted in the spring, the female knight-errant also said that she would stay in Yidu for a while. He wondered if she had left by now.

He was eight years old and had never been to such a big city. He had heard that Yidu was a city of ten thousand households, and because it was next to the canal, it was very lively and had many merchants coming and going.

I found myself looking forward to seeing that kind of scenery.

While we were talking, the dumplings were all cooked.

He scooped the dumplings out, prepared a fresh dipping sauce, and handed it to the Taoist priest: "Taoist priest, these should be eaten with vinegar."

The old Taoist priest didn't care about etiquette and ate dumplings with Zhuang Xing and Xiao Moli in the woodshed.

The old Taoist priest praised it repeatedly, saying that he would let his old friend try it next time.

The dumplings that had been cooked were all eaten clean, which was a testament to the effort Zhuang Xing had put in.

Chapter 121 Two Hundred Miles to Yidu (Part 2)

I'm going to Yidu...

After finishing the dumplings, Zhuang Xing went back to his room to pack his things.

Since I didn't know how long I would be staying, I packed all my spare clothes.

They didn't have many clothes, and they were all the same Taoist robes.

Water pouches and toiletries, bowls, chopsticks, ladles, pens, ink, paper, and inkstones, the books he bought for leisure, including the leftover salt, vinegar, soy sauce, flour, honey, and half of the "Demon-Slaying Chronicles" he had written over half a year, were all packed into the bamboo shed box.

This is a new box he bought in the city. The old wooden box was too old and too small. He hadn't taken it out since spring this year and just kept it in the corner of the room as a storage box.

This new box has a lot of space, and there's a tarpaulin canopy overhead that provides shade and protection from the rain. It's also very well sealed, so even if it rains, the contents of the box won't get wet.

He tested the weight on his back; it only contained a small pot and no other ironware. The weight on his shoulders felt only about 20 or 30 pounds, which was practically nothing to him.

After packing up, he went out, told his teachers and friends that he was going out, and said a simple goodbye.

As dusk fell, Yunling finally managed to escape from Master Yuanyan's place and went out to find Zhuang Xing.

Zhuang Xing told her about his trip to Yidu. She was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand."

“With Master Qingxuzi here, nothing will happen on the way,” Zhuang Xing said. “It’s just that we won’t see each other for a while, and I’ll miss you over there.”

"I'll miss you too," Yunling said.

"Your hair is a bit messy, it's all split."

"I've been too busy these past few days and haven't had time to comb my hair. Before dawn, my master woke me up to prepare the medicine."

Did you bring a comb?

"I brought it with me." Yunling took out the ram's horn comb that Zhuang Xing had given her last year, and placed it against her heart.

"Let me comb your hair," Zhuang Xing said, taking the comb from him. "Turn around."

"Ah."

Under the wooden pavilion, Yunling sat obediently. Zhuang Xing untied her hair tie and slowly combed her messy hair. She had a pleasant fragrance about her.

"There must be a lot of things in Yidu that I've never seen before. When I come back, I'll bring you a gift."

"Ah."

"I'll cook dumplings for you later; I made them this morning."

"Ah."

"I've already spoken to Senior Sister Qiaoxia. She said she'll come pick you up for dinner at the end of the month. You can also visit her anytime."

"Ah."

"You're so stupid, all you can do is 'hmm'."

"Ah."

"No more 'uh-huh's."

"..."

"Give me a hug."

"..."

"Um"

...

On the morning of the sixteenth day of the eleventh lunar month, Zhuang Xing packed his bags, with his sword hanging on his left side, and put all twelve taels of silver he had earned that year into his pocket.

One tael of silver is roughly equivalent to half a string of cash. These twelve taels of silver are all uncut official silver, so their purchasing power would be even higher, roughly equivalent to eight strings of cash, which is about 60,000 yuan.

Actually, he only went down the mountain to exorcise demons three times. He spent most of his time cultivating on the mountain. If you include the extra money and tickets from the temple, as well as the materials after exorcising demons, he could really earn a lot of money by going down the mountain to exorcise a demon once.

If you're skilled enough, being a monster hunter is indeed a very lucrative profession.

However, exorcising demons is not a low-risk business. Even in a place like Xuanqing Temple where seniors guide juniors, accidents sometimes happen, not to mention those martial arts practitioners who risk their lives fighting monsters with knives just to make money.

The disciples of Xuanqing Temple exorcise demons not for the money, but simply to protect the peace of the region.

Just as demons divide their territories, Xuanqing Temple often exorcises demons in the surrounding area and leaves protective talismans in the villages. In the eyes of those demons, it is as if they have designated a territory that cannot be invaded. Demons with higher cultivation and intelligence are unwilling to trespass unless absolutely necessary.

It is only those demons that are no different from wild beasts, and the tiger spirit seven years ago that was almost a tyrannical demon, that can run rampant. The former can't cause any major trouble, and the latter can always be subdued by a master. Over the years, although there have been some misfortunes, they have never caused much trouble.

"Dachun, I'm going out now. I'll leave the house to you."

"understood."

This conversation has happened many times.

Da Chun looked at Zhuang Xing's retreating figure with a hint of envy, and after Zhuang Xing had gone far away, his gaze became even more serious.

Not far away, Zhuang Xing saw Yunling.

She walked over and stood beside Zhuang Xing; her hair was styled beautifully today.

Master Qingxuzi, holding Little Jasmine's hand, waited at the entrance of the temple.

He wore a monk's robe and straw sandals, carried a whisk, and had only a light bag on his back.

"Let's go," the old Taoist priest said.

Zhuang Xing stepped forward and followed.

"I'm leaving, Yunling." Zhuang Xing waved goodbye.

"Goodbye," Yunling said. "Goodbye, Little Jasmine too."

"Goodbye, sister." Little Jasmine waved her little hand.

The three of them walked together down the mountain, stepping on the bluestone steps.

A light mist rose this morning. Winter is here, and the weather is getting colder. Although it hasn't snowed, a thin layer of frost has formed on the bare treetops.

Little Jasmine's face was red from the cold. Seeing this, the old Taoist waved his whisk.

The surrounding fog dissipated, and golden sunlight shone through, bringing a gentle warmth.

The frost on the treetops and wild grass glistened in the sunlight. The old Taoist priest smiled and took out a piece of maltose, placing it in Little Jasmine's hand.

Zhuang Xing also got a piece of candy. He unwrapped it, put it in his mouth, and chewed it. He found the sweetness refreshing and delightful.

Little Jasmine was young and a girl, so the path down the mountain was a little difficult for her.

But she persevered without complaining of being tired. When she reached the bottom of the mountain, she was panting and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Down the mountain, someone was waiting for her.

It was a young man dressed in plain clothes. When he saw Xiao Moli, he was stunned for a moment, and then two lines of tears streamed down his face.

Little Jasmine seemed to recognize him too. She looked up at Zhuang Xing and Daoist Qingxuzi, and pursed her lips.

"Go on, child," the old Taoist priest nudged her back.

Little Jasmine then ran up to the young man and called out, "Second Brother?"

The young man was speechless. He simply knelt down and hugged Xiao Moli tightly, tears streaming down his face.

...

The old Taoist priest said to the young man, "It's two hundred li to Yidu, and I'll be troubling you for a while."

"You flatter me, Master." The young man picked up Little Jasmine and said respectfully, "It is our blessing to travel with you on this journey. When we arrive in Yidu, I will give you and this little Master a proper welcome."

"Please get into the carriage!"

At the entrance to the town, a caravan had already been set up, accompanied by guards carrying bows and arrows and with swords at their waists. The young man had brought his entourage here.

"There's no need for a carriage; it's too bumpy. I prefer to walk," the old Taoist said.

“I’ll go with the Taoist priest,” Zhuang Xing said.