Chapter 740: Sending Letters
The old man lit incense and candles and worshipped the old Bodhisattva in the temple.
The statue of the old Bodhisattva had a gloomy face, which made the old man feel scared.
"Old Bodhisattva, where did that evil spirit come from?"
"It's a fox."
There was no sound in the temple, but the old man heard the words of the old Bodhisattva.
He muttered to himself, "No wonder he's so cunning, he even knew to hide in the old scholar's house, making us come here for nothing."
"Old Bodhisattva, don't worry. I've already asked San'er to stake out his home. If the fox escapes, that will be his death."
The old Bodhisattva had no other response, and the old man didn't dare to say too much. He could only bow and leave the temple.
The eldest and second sons were waiting outside. They took two steps to support the old man and asked, "Dad, what did the old Bodhisattva say?"
The old man shook his head.
"The old Bodhisattva said it was a fox demon. Although we didn't catch the demon, we can't just let it go. Since they trust the old scholar so much, let's wait for him to exorcise the evil spirit for them."
"But will that evil spirit attack again?"
The old man's eyes flashed with a sinister light, and he lowered his voice and said, "Why do you care whether that evil spirit takes action or not? As long as something happens, what does it matter whether it's that evil spirit or not?"
"That's right." The two sons figured it out, looked at each other, and smiled strangely.
The old man waved his hand and said, "Control your expression. If you have nothing else to do, go and help San'er. Once that fox demon leaves the old scholar's house, kill him right there!"
The two sons agreed. When the old man went into the room to sleep, the second son grumbled, "Let us go help the third son? The third son is more capable than us. What's the point of us going?"
The eldest brother pushed him and said, "Stop being lazy. Dad is more capable. He still needs the three of us to help him."
Taking advantage of the night, the two returned to the old scholar's home and met up with the third brother.
The three brothers each guarded a direction, waiting for the fox demon to appear.
Neither the three brothers, the old father, nor even the old Bodhisattva, had ever thought that the fox demon had originally lived in the old scholar's house.
This old stubborn man looked down upon such matters of gods and ghosts, and always dismissed them as nonsense. Because he was a scholar who had devoted his whole life to studying the classics, his heart was strong and extraordinary. He had cultivated a bit of the righteousness of a scholar, and he was well-respected, so the old Bodhisattva could not do anything to him.
The fox demon hid in his house. Although it escaped the old Bodhisattva's pursuit, it was asking for trouble and could not stay there for long.
"This old man, he's not sleeping at this hour, isn't he afraid of dying of exhaustion?"
The old scholar is not afraid of dying of exhaustion. When he is old, he sleeps less and has nothing to do. He devotes himself to reading and enjoys himself.
After just a moment's observation, the old scholar let out a long breath and sighed, "To use a compass as a guide is a waste of words."
Sun Wenyuan had been carefully licking his wound when his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb, so he emerged from the shadows, bowed, and thanked him, "Thank you, sir, for saving my life."
The old scholar glanced at him and asked, "Why don't you listen to my advice?"
Sun Wenyuan said, "Little Fox has received instruction from the Master and teachings from the Celestial Fox. He has been cultivating at the Fox Court, following the instructions of the Fox Immortal, determined to exorcise evil spirits with righteousness. He was only trying to test the waters, but he was unexpectedly so powerful that he was chased all the way back. If it weren't for the Master's rescue, he would have died outside now."
The old scholar asked curiously, "Who is Tianhu, and where is the Fox Courtyard?"
Sun Wenyuan explained his origins to him, told him the story of Fox Courtyard, and promoted the grace of the Goddess of Mount Tai and the righteousness of Master Gong.
"So, Gong Mingfu's contribution is also in education."
"Master Gong has educated the wild fox, enlightening the ignorant with wisdom and reason. He truly deserves the credit for his education."
Sun Wenyuan said this curiously, "Sir, you have always been very rude to ghosts and gods. I thought you were going to kick me out."
The old scholar said, "I saw you when you were digging a hole in my wall. Since you came here, besides secretly learning Chinese characters, you have also been keeping my shabby house free of vermin and dust. I don't like ghosts and gods, but there are too many people who use the names of ghosts and gods to play tricks. You are half a student of mine, and you haven't harmed anyone, so why should I kick you out?"
Sun Wenyuan hadn't expected the old scholar to be so insightful. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he immediately fell before him and said, "Thank you, sir. Since you saved my life, please do me another favor."
"What's the matter?"
"Send me a letter."
The three sons of the sorcerer's family waited until dawn but still did not see the fox. After dawn, they had nowhere to hide and had to go back.
Not long after, the man who brought food to the old scholar went out with a basket and came back with the basket again, and went to the home of a brother in the clan.
The brother quickly drove the ox cart to the market.
After many twists and turns, Kang Wen received a letter asking for help at night. When he opened it, he found that it was from his former classmate Sun Wenyuan. He then took the letter to report to Gong Mengbi.
Gong Mengbi smiled and said, "It's a little later than I thought, but it's not bad."
He looked at Kang Wen and asked, "Do you think we can help?"
Kang Wen said, "From my perspective, I should help, but I can't go first. Otherwise, if word gets out, I'm afraid everyone will do the same thing."
Gong Mengbi nodded and said, "Being too eager for success is not advisable. I can save people once, but not twice. However, when I gathered the foxes together last time, I said that although I can't help them open up the grasslands and wilderness, I can give them some advice."
Gong Mengbi dipped his hand in ink and wrote a reply letter to Sun Wenyuan himself, giving him some tips on how to deal with evil spirits and monsters.
Kang Wen said, "I'll have someone deliver it to him right away."
Gong Mengbi shook his head: "It will be too late if you send him there. He is seriously injured. I'd better trouble Mr. Qing to do it for him."
Mr. Qing walked out from the shadows, and Kang Wen didn't see how he appeared.
After taking the envelope, Mr. Qing bowed. His tall shadow, carrying the fragrance of wood, disappeared in front of the door somehow.
Kang Wen looked at the direction where Mr. Qing left, with a look of envy on his face. He looked at Gong Mengbi and said, "Sir, Mr. Qing's cultivation level is so high that I can't even understand it."
The tone of her voice had some of the daughter's coquettishness and complaints. Gong Mengbi laughed and said, "You are cultivating your way, and he is cultivating my way. What is there to envy?"
"I taught you these skills. Don't rush. Take your time. You'll eventually make it."
Kang Wen was satisfied and left with a smile and a bow.
When she walked out, Gong Mengbi was tuning the zither in the fox house. It was the plum blossom zither of Old Man Qixiu.
Gong Mengbi plucked the strings of the zither. Although this zither, soaked in time and love, had briefly left its owner, it could now sing again.
Compared with the zither newly made by Gong Mengbi using golden spider silk, the plum blossom zither has a more vicissitudes and free and easy aura.
Kang Wen walked slowly and stood at the door listening for a while. He could tell that Gong Mengbi was in a very good mood.
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