"You've been here a few times, but you haven't walked around the area, right? I'll take you to the mountain today. The funeral home was left to me by my master. It used to be a charity cemetery, and later it was converted into a crematorium. But anyway, they're all used to store bodies after death, so they're all the same."

It’s far from it, okay?

Speaking of Yizhuang, He Ruixue thought of Uncle Jiu and casually fiddled with the Bagua mirror-shaped collar hanging around his waist, and the bells hanging underneath made a tinkling sound.

"Little Taoist priest, have you ever seen a zombie? The kind that rises and needs to be suppressed with an inkstone and talisman paper."

Jiang Yanxu glanced at him with an indescribable look, then took off the jade pendant and placed it in her hand. "When I couldn't see, I relied on it to locate you by sound. Now it's no longer useful, so I'll give it to you as a souvenir.

As for zombies, don't overthink it. They're just normal reactions to rigor mortis. I've seen them several times. If you don't believe me, go ask around in Xiangxi. It's better to believe in poisonous insects than to believe in them."

"So are there really poisonous insects in this world?" He Ruixue actually asked.

Jiang Yanxu held his chin and thought for a moment, "From a pathological perspective, the so-called Gu worm is what we know today as schistosomiasis. From a superstitious perspective, it's more like a mixed toxin made by extracting the venom of various poisonous insects than a Miaojiang Gu worm.

Because the ingredients were so complex, it was difficult for the ancients to create an antidote, which is why all sorts of legends evolved.”

"In my opinion, this is more like a witch hunt in the West." He Ruixue's eyes showed disgust.

Jiang Yanxu was a little surprised. "You've learned a lot of different things, even dabbling in Western history."

"Don't you agree with what I say?"

"You're right. My master has lived in Yunnan Province. When people there get sick, they drink herbal soup and then see a doctor. It's not much different from other places. However, some of them believe in ghost masters and occasionally seek help from others to exorcise evil spirits. Let me tell you a few stories..."

His master had also worked as a ghost master in the past and had witnessed many strange stories. In his eyes, the reason these people were so devout in their beliefs was just to benefit themselves.

He had seen some people who had troubles in life blame their mothers, wives, and daughters, saying they had cast a curse on the family, and then expelled them as a matter of course.

However, these "poison masters" were stronger than they imagined. After realizing they were homeless, they would automatically gather together to farm and weave, occasionally doing small jobs to support themselves and live a stable and peaceful life.

Seeing that they did not receive the lessons they deserved and refused to admit that they had lost all conscience, those people would only become more convinced that the witches were vicious and must have gathered together to secretly discuss how to use insects to harm people.

Some people become ill and lose their minds, shouting that their mother and daughter have cast a spell on them and that they want to tie them to a fire and burn them alive to atone for their sins to heaven and earth;

Some people cheat on their wives and have affairs, but they turn the tables and say that the Miao women are amorous and have poisoned them with love. They put themselves in the position of the victim and even pretend to find someone to detoxify them.

But the poison in their hearts can never be cured.

He Ruixue's frown relaxed. It was rare to find someone who agreed with her in this era. Moreover, this person would subconsciously analyze problems from the perspectives of science and folklore, which really gave her a sense of division when paired with a Taoist robe.

She couldn't help but feel curious, "How did you get into this business?"

"I'm plagued by bad luck and have nowhere else to turn. I can only seek the protection of the ancestors."

Jiang Yanxu shrugged, his mood suddenly becoming a little depressed. Not wanting to say more, he took her to the back mountain.

The evening clouds rolled away, and the lower end of the setting sun met the tops of the pines and cypresses. A jackdaw was perched on the treetop, croaking hoarsely, as if it wanted to have a good sleep in the setting sun tonight.

The mountains and forests are secluded and the roads are winding.

Instead of passing the cemetery, they went up the mountain from the other side. There was a stream on the mountainside. The bottom and sides were round and smooth pebbles, and water plants and willows grew by the stream.

Downstream, a man-made canal was dug, leading to a field surrounded by a fence.

Well, if this field is used specifically for growing weeds, it does have a good yield.

Jiang Yanxu stretched out his hand and showed it to her, "Look, how are the soybeans I planted earlier growing?"

"Soybeans?" He Ruixue looked for a long time, "Where are they?"

Jiang Yanxu squatted down, pulled out the foxtail grass that was taller than his knees, and picked off the vigorously growing cowgrass and prickly grass. Finally, a small seedling with only three leaves, the length of a finger, appeared. It looked particularly huddled and pitiful, and it tried hard to stretch its leaves to absorb the hard-earned sunlight.

Feeling the questioning gazes from the people behind him, he quickly defended himself, "Ahem, as the saying goes, when you plant beans at the foot of a southern mountain, the grass grows thick but the bean sprouts are sparse. I can be considered a hermit for a while."

"That person says 'Get up early to clean up the wasteland, and return home in the moonlight carrying a hoe.' Why don't you learn from them?"

"It was inconvenient the past few days. Come, you can weed with me. I'll give you half of the harvest."

"I can just walk with you, but you still want me to work for you? Dream on!"

She has never twisted grass leaves at home. She must be crazy to work for others.

Jiang Yanxu was just trying to make conversation, and seeing that he had caused her dissatisfaction, he said angrily, "Okay, let's go up. The scenery ahead is better."

Going up the stream, the source was a clear mountain spring. Jiang Yanxu scooped the water in his hands and took a big sip.

He Ruixue picked a leaf from the side and drank the water. It had a really sweet taste, much better than the mineral water of later generations.

Walking along the mountain path, one could often see pheasants and rabbits darting through the bushes. Unfortunately, they were too fast to catch. He Ruixue touched her stomach and felt even hungrier. "It's almost dark. How about we come back next time?"

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