The people throughout the border region are currently experiencing food shortages. You must hide your food and drink well, and make sure no one sees you while you eat; be discreet and avoid being seen.

As the Taoist priest spoke, he carefully took out two more yellowed talisman papers.

"This is a storage talisman I forgot to give you earlier. You can use it for now."

Ningbao reached out her chubby little hand and took the talisman. She held it in her hand and examined it carefully, then looked at the Three Pure Ones Daoist with surprise.

"Master, this talisman is of a very high level. It's obviously not drawn by you. Did you go and dig up the ancestral graves again?"

Master Sanqing shook his head repeatedly.

"No, absolutely not. This was left to me by your uncle, who is the highest-ranking and most talented talisman master in our Sanqing Taoist Temple."

If you work harder in the future, try to catch up with your senior apprentice as soon as possible.

"Your uncle didn't leave me many talismans left. These two are my most treasured possessions. Keep them safe and don't use them to exchange for steamed buns..."

Ning Bao sighed softly. "Alas! Her master has an exceptionally good memory for some things. She still remembers the time two years ago when she went down the mountain to exchange a peace charm for steamed buns with Granny Wang."

It seems that people shouldn't do things that adults think are wrong, or they'll be lectured forever.

Master Sanqing paused for a moment before continuing.

"Remember, the fifth group that passes by here is the one you're waiting for. Don't go to the earlier groups, or you'll become someone else's meat in the pot."

Ning Bao couldn't help but shiver, clutching her own fleshy body.

"Master, what you said is quite frightening, but don't worry, Ningbao's meat is rotten and doesn't taste good."

...

Master Sanqing gave many more earnest instructions, and seeing that it was almost time, he could only reluctantly leave with tears in his eyes.

He couldn't help it; the child was only three and a half years old, and he couldn't bear to send her away.

Ningbao was picked up by him.

He remembered that when he first found her, she was barely breathing. She must have been born not long ago and still had her umbilical cord attached. She was small and thin, and her body was covered in blood. He took off his Taoist robe, wrapped her up, and took her back to Sanqing Mountain.

On Mount Sanqing, Ningbao is simply called Ningbao; he has no surname.

Ningbao was strong and had a big appetite from a young age. When Ningbao was first taken in, he needed to drink milk, so his fellow disciples went down the mountain to buy sheep.

Who knew that one ewe's milk wouldn't be enough for Ningbao? So, to ensure Ningbao could drink milk freely, they simply raised a large flock of sheep on Sanqing Mountain, with each senior student buying one...

In the past, the Taoist temple could earn some income, so everyone could have enough to eat.

But since the year before last, there has been little rain, and last year there was no rain at all.

With a severe drought and constant warfare on the border, the lives of the people are becoming increasingly difficult. Ningbao has a particularly large appetite, and the Taoist temple simply cannot afford to feed her anymore.

Just when the Taoist priest was in a dilemma, he performed a divination for Ning Bao and unexpectedly discovered that Ning Bao's kinship had arrived.

That's why the scene of sending Ningbao down the mountain happened.

…………

Seeing her master fly away, Ningbao walked with her short legs to a big rock by the roadside and sat down.

Ningbao remembered her master's words and looked around warily. Then she carefully put all her goat milk, dry food, and water bottle into the storage talisman.

She had nothing on her except a peach wood sword and a tattered, patched-up rag bag.

After hiding the things, Ningbao sat on a rock, propped her little face up, and dozed off.

The Three Pure Ones, who had flown away and then returned, was now hiding in a large tree behind Ning Bao.

It's a famine year now, and he's worried about leaving his three-year-old child, Ningbao, in this desolate wilderness.

Some people are so hungry that they would even eat their own flesh and blood, let alone Ningbao, this chubby little dumpling.

Therefore, Master Sanqing was worried about Ningbao being alone here, and he insisted on seeing the family arrive before he could leave with peace of mind.

Ningbao slept more and more soundly, so she simply climbed up a rock that wasn't too high while still half asleep. The little girl curled up on the rock, drooling all over the ground and even snoring softly.

Suddenly, two ragged men walked over from the side path.

When they saw Ningbao sleeping soundly on the rock, their greedy expressions instantly surfaced.

"Big brother, look at how fair and clean it is, and how cute it looks. It looks so delicious."