Chapter 32: Journey to Jinyi

The friend the old man mentioned was called Old Zhou, a wandering cultivator. A wandering cultivator meant someone with no sect or school, who relied solely on self-study and exploration of the arcane path. He was skilled in divination and physiognomy. The two had met once while exorcising evil. According to the old man, that time had been quite dangerous, and it was only through their joint effort that they succeeded. From then on, whenever Old Zhou encountered a particularly difficult commission, he would call on Bai Yu, and over time the two became friends.

The more Yun Jiao listened, the more she felt the two of them sounded like a conman alliance. Considering the old man’s meager skills, the fact he hadn’t yet been beaten to death was probably thanks to the kindness of the people in this world.

Their destination was Jinyi County, three days’ journey from Kui Mountain where they lived. Originally, the old man had planned to walk, since they had plenty of time. A round trip would take six or seven days, and as long as he could avoid the monthly exam, delaying a day was a day earned.

But now that the Patriarch was joining them, that plan shattered instantly, and even the road felt longer. He thought perhaps they could first go down the mountain and see if there happened to be an ox cart heading for the provincial capital to carry them part of the way.

The Patriarch, however, rejected the idea outright, giving him a look as though he were an idiot. With a wave of his hand, he drew a talisman in the air. Before they realized it, the three of them, who had just been standing at the temple gate, were suddenly on a small remote path. In the distance, they could see the shadow of a city gate.

“This… this is the Thousand-Mile Talisman?” Bai Yu’s face was full of shock. So such a talisman really did exist, one that allowed travel a thousand miles in a day. It was far too convenient. “Thank you, Patriarch.”

Yun Jiao also found it amazing. Was transportation in this world really this advanced?

“Old Zhou lives in the southern part of the city. Let’s hurry in,” Bai Yu said, pointing toward the end of the path. He turned and started walking, but soon realized the others weren’t following.

The Patriarch stood still, not moving a step. Behind him, Yun Jiao was blocked and unable to move forward.

“Patriarch?” Bai Yu asked. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not going!” Ye Yuan looked toward the city gate and the crowd bustling in and out. His brows immediately knitted into the shape of the character “川.”

“Why not?” Bai Yu was confused. “Weren’t you the one who insisted on coming?”

Ye Yuan’s frown deepened. He cast a cold glance at Bai Yu before replying, “Too many people.” What if he encountered women again?

“Ah?” Bai Yu was dumbfounded. Of course there were many people—it was a county seat! Then he thought carefully. The Patriarch was a celestial being. Although he didn’t seem in a hurry to return to the heavens, there was still a difference between the immortal and mortal realms. It was reasonable for him not to want too many eyes on him. But they had to enter the city somehow. “So what should we do?”

“It’s inconvenient for me to appear in person. Find something with spiritual energy—I’ll possess it, and then follow you into the city.” Ye Yuan offered a solution.

“Alright!” Bai Yu nodded quickly, glad he was willing to go. He fumbled in his robe and finally pulled out a talisman. “Patriarch, this is the most spiritual of the talismans I’ve prepared. Why don’t you enter this one first?”

Ye Yuan glanced at the talisman, and his face immediately darkened, filled with disdain. Enter that foul-smelling low-level talisman? He shot Bai Yu a glare, then turned toward Yun Jiao.

In the next instant, his figure flickered into a streak of white light and flew directly into the bamboo tube in Yun Jiao’s hands—the very one holding the chicken soup he had packed earlier. From inside came a satisfied burp: “Hic~ That’ll do. Let’s go.”

Yun Jiao: “…”

Bai Yu: “…”

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He said he needed something with spiritual energy, but wasn’t that bamboo tube just freshly cut before they left? This was clearly just because it was more convenient to drink soup! Definitely!

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The old man led Yun Jiao into the city, winding through several alleys before stopping in front of a shabby thatched hut. “We’re here!” he announced.

Yun Jiao looked the place up and down. It was practically a condemned building. Clearly, the old man’s friend wasn’t doing very well either. More and more, she felt they really were a conman alliance.

Bai Yu raised his hand and knocked. Soon a strong male voice called from inside, “Coming! Coming!” With a creak, the door opened to reveal a burly man with a full beard. Though dressed in Daoist robes, he looked nothing like a cultivator and more like a warrior.

“Daoist Zhou, it’s been a long time. How have you been?” Bai Yu greeted him with a smile.

“Brother Bai!” The man’s eyes lit up. With some surprise, he looked Bai Yu up and down. “How did you get here so fast? I thought I’d have to wait two or three more days! Hahaha, wonderful!” He laughed heartily, his thick beard trembling as he clapped Bai Yu on the shoulder.

Bai Yu staggered under the blow, nearly losing his balance, but he seemed used to it. The two exchanged greetings warmly.

Old Zhou looked to be in his forties. Yun Jiao couldn’t imagine how he and the old man had ever become friends.

“Come, come, quickly inside.” Old Zhou stepped aside, about to usher them in, when he noticed Yun Jiao standing nearby. He paused. “And this young lady is…?”

“This is Yun Jiao, a new disciple of Qingyang,” Bai Yu explained casually.

Old Zhou was startled, his eyes wide with amazement as he looked at Yun Jiao. Then he turned back and patted Bai Yu again. “Well done, Old Bai! You actually found yourself a disciple. Not bad at all!” Considering how remote his temple was, it was surprising he’d found a successor.

“No, she’s not my disciple,” Bai Yu corrected instinctively.

“What?” Old Zhou froze. “If she’s not your disciple, then what is she?” Didn’t Qingyang always pass on from one generation to the next?

“Uh…” Bai Yu hesitated, glancing at Yun Jiao. Right—what exactly was her status? He had never considered the question. At the time, he had just hurried to drag her into Qingyang. He had never formally accepted her as a disciple. And later, it was the Patriarch who taught her spiritual medicine, not him.

He had never thought about it before, but now…

He suddenly thought of the bookshelf full of texts. Forget taking her as his disciple—he felt more like he should be calling her his master!

Old Zhou didn’t notice his dilemma and invited them both in. Once seated, he poured them tea and began explaining the situation.

“Old Bai, thank goodness you came. I was afraid you wouldn’t make it in time!” He handed them cups of tea and then gave the details.

It turned out the one needing exorcism was the wealthiest family in the city—the Shao family. Master Shao was a grain merchant, owning half the farmland in Jinyi County. Though wealthy and influential, he had only one son, who from childhood had been exceptionally gifted. He was well-known not only in Jinyi but also in Junye City.

But not long ago, after attending a poetry gathering, the son had returned stricken with a strange illness. Every doctor in the city had examined him without finding the cause, and his condition only worsened. Later, they learned he had been possessed. Master Shao had therefore posted a reward of one hundred taels of gold, seeking cultivators to exorcise the evil.

Remembering that Bai Yu was skilled at exorcisms, Old Zhou had sent him the message.

At the mention of another family’s son falling ill, Bai Yu trembled, reflexively recalling the Li family and the vengeful ghost Sunü. Could it really be another case of a ghost seeking revenge?

(End of Chapter)