Chapter 23: Don't show off your wealth and live a carefree life
On Guyang South Street, two women were strolling leisurely, each holding a snack in their left and right hands. From time to time, they looked at the street stalls, looking leisurely and contented. Behind them, a man in a white gauze Taoist robe looked like a banished immortal with fluttering sleeves at first glance. However, he was holding many brocade boxes in front of him, even covering his face, and carrying an ancient sword on his back.
Despite this, the man was still able to follow the two of them closely with a steady pace, as if the brocade box in front of him had eyes, and passers-by all looked at him sideways when they saw him.
But the woman in front seemed to be used to it, laughing and chatting, completely unaware.
"Isn't this Xiao Lingxiang and Xiao Maidong? How did you pick up someone again? Come on, come on, try the sweet-scented osmanthus pastries that grandma just made!" A white-haired old woman at a street stall greeted the two of them when she saw them.
"Yes, Grandma Shen, this is the boy I just picked up. He's very strong." Lingxiang hurried to the stall, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and took a bite. "Hmm~ Grandma's osmanthus cake is still the best. It's fragrant but not greasy, and it's very crispy."
Mai Dong laughed inwardly when he heard this: The Yuanqing sect hasn't been seen for a long time, and their uniforms have been reformed. If everyone knew that the man was their own master, wouldn't they be shocked?
Upon hearing this, Master Fuyin couldn't help but feel angry, but he also laughed softly: Lingxiang has relied on the love and care of several senior brothers and has become unscrupulous. He speaks without restraint and does whatever he wants without any respect for his elders.
The so-called Lingxiang's misbehavior does not mean that she does evil things outside. On the contrary, although Lingxiang's actions seem willful, she knows her limits. She is kind-hearted and often helps the weak. The senior brothers in the sect naturally understand her character, so they indulge her.
Just like the Granny Shen in front of us, she lost her husband early in life, and her son went to the army. There were only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and a hungry child at home. She was previously ill and had no means of making a living. All the work in the fields depended on her daughter-in-law, who was often bullied by bullies. Fortunately, Lingxiang took action, taught a lesson to a group of local tyrants, cured her illness, and bought a stall for her.
The people of South Street are simple and honest. They have all benefited from Lingxiang to varying degrees. Because she is easy-going and kind, they all like her very much and always praise her whenever they mention her.
Granny Chen wrapped two solid packets of osmanthus cakes in oil paper and gave them to Lingxiang. After Lingxiang accepted them and thanked her, she quietly put some copper coins in them and went to Youranju with Master Maidong and his apprentice.
"Master, why don't you tell the truth to City Lord Zhao?" Mai Dong asked without thinking.
"What? Tell the truth?" Lingxiang asked vaguely while chewing a big piece of osmanthus cake, and the crumbs stuck in her mouth.
"It's fate, why bother adding unnecessary troubles to others..." Master Fuyin sighed softly, the brocade box covering his face, making it hard to understand.
"But Mrs. Qiao..." Maidong wanted to say something but was interrupted by Lingxiang.
"City Lord Zhao is so infatuated and obsessed. I guess the City Lord's wife also understands her husband's character, so she keeps silent about it... Besides, with Ah Jin here, I'm sure it won't be a big deal."
"Ajin? Isn't Ajin just a messenger of God? Why does Master respect him so much?" Maidong was puzzled.
"Although he is only a divine messenger now, I believe this is his doom. If the opportunity comes one day, he will surely be able to attain enlightenment and ascend to the rank of a true god."
"You don't read much, and you always think about food or money. Now you know that you are ignorant." Lingxiang teased.
Maidong refused, and the two started fighting. Fuyin laughed out loud, and Maidong felt even more embarrassed.
"Master! Even you make fun of me!"
Master Fuyin smiled but didn't answer. He then thought of Ah Jin. Since ancient times, foxes with tails have been common, but cats with tails are rare. Perhaps the name "Ah Jin" is his calamity...
"I remember reading a book about strange stories when I was a child that mentioned an eight-tailed cat. Since ancient times, spiritual creatures have practiced to become demons, monsters, or immortals. However, Ajin practiced the ancient way of God, which is a realm that you and I can never reach. Only he himself knows the hardships involved. Countless cat spirits have given up their original intentions and fallen into the devil's way because of this. But Ajin's eyes are still clear. If he can really become a god one day, maybe he can give me some advice." Lingxiang smiled.
"No wonder you suddenly got close to Ajin. It turns out you've been planning this for a long time!" Maidong exhaled and tickled Lingxiang, "You didn't even bring me along for such a good opportunity."
Upon hearing this, Fu Yin couldn't help but feel sad: only her master and a few fellow disciples knew about the matter of Lingxiang, and her master had also ordered that she must not be told about it.
Although Ling usually laughs and says nothing, everyone actually understands how much she has sacrificed for her cultivation. If he knew everything one day, then...
Fu Yin moved the brocade box a little, revealing half of his face and looking at Lingxiang: It is definitely not the indulgence of the senior brothers, this girl is really pitiful.
"Lingxiang," Master Fuyin said hesitantly, "It's been so long. Isn't it time to return to the sect?"
Maidong looked at her with a worried look on his face. Lingxiang was stunned at first, and then she screamed like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"Why are you replying? That old man from Shangqing refused to give me the position of Master of Treasures. Instead, he gave me the position of Master of the Furnace. Master of the furnace, master of the furnace, and master of the cooking! Isn't it just a job to watch the furnace? Why? I don't light the fire or cook, so why should I be in charge of the furnace?"
"Master Brother also has his own difficulties." Fu Yin was helpless and didn't know whether to laugh or cry - it turned out that this girl cared about this
Mai Dong seemed to be thinking: She knew Lingxiang best. Although she said so, the real reason was definitely not this, although she didn't know what happened in the hall that day.
"Forget it. Even if I tell someone with such advanced cultivation like you, you won't understand."
Lingxiang suddenly changed the subject. It turned out that they had arrived at the door of Youran Residence. Looking at the small wooden door under the plaque, Fuyin suddenly felt uneasy.
Maidong looked at his master with sympathy: Lingxiang didn't continue to care about this matter, he must have been cursing and mocking the master.
"Oh my! Everyone looked down on my You Ran Ju back then, but now even the dignified Elder Yuan Qing is visiting my humble abode! This truly brings honor to my humble home!"
As expected, this damn girl just likes to take advantage of opportunities to ridicule others.
Maidong hurriedly opened the door, wanting to rescue his master, but was shocked by the scene inside: the medicine cabinet containing the herbs was completely turned upside down, the table and chairs were no longer in their original positions, and the floor was littered with broken pieces of tea sets and porcelain pill containers...
Seeing this, Lingxiang rushed to the backyard and was relieved to see that the medicine field was safe and sound.
I finally got this precious spiritual plant, so I absolutely cannot let anything go wrong...
When Master Fuyin saw Lingxiang rushing in regardless of anything, he was afraid that the thief would do something bad to her before he left, so he hurriedly put down the brocade box, asked Maidong to wait for him outside, and followed him in a hurry.
"It's okay, it's okay, you're all okay."
"The house has been ruined like this, but you only care about your spiritual plants?" Seeing that she only cared about her own medicinal field and ignored other things, he couldn't help but laugh and cry.
"Of course, these are rare items that I got with great difficulty, especially this Nine-Leaf Fritillaria. It cost me a Life-Extending Pill and two Marrow Cleansing Pills." Lingxiang said as she picked up the Fritillaria beside her.
Only then did Master Fuyin notice that it was indeed Chonglou, but if it was Jiuye Chonglou...
"You went to the Supreme Sect?"
"Yes." Lingxiang looked down at the Chonglou in her arms. It had actually grown nine leaves. It was worth it for her to water it with the water from the spiritual vein.
When Fu Yin heard her say she had been to the Supreme Sect, he lowered his head in thought for a moment and then asked, "You just said you used a life-extending pill? What happened?"
Lingxiang thought about it and then told Fuyin the whole story.
It's rare to see a monk who wields two swords!
It's true that some monks have their own weapons, but most of them are swords, whisks, sticks, etc. Fierce weapons like knives are mostly not used by monks, unless...
Fu Yin and Ling Xiang had been silent for a long time, so Mai Dong cautiously entered the house. He heard their conversation and saw that his master had a serious expression, so he felt that something was amiss.
"The Life-Extending Pill is a rare treasure. You used it openly. I guess you've been targeted by bad guys. Now they've found your residence. Youran Residence is not safe anymore. Why don't you follow Master and me up the mountain?"
Lingxiang pondered for a moment, realizing Maidong's words made sense. Her cultivation wasn't high, and if she were to encounter a villain like the one she'd encountered last time, she'd be hard-pressed to escape. While that stubborn old man, Shangqing, was a bit annoying, he could at least protect her. That brat, Long Qi, had already entered the mountain gates, so she could see the fruits of his recent cultivation.
After thinking about it, he nodded and agreed.
When Master Fuyin saw Lingxiang agreed, he felt relieved, but he still felt a little uneasy. He had to go back and discuss this matter with the headmaster and his fellow brothers.
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