"Master, I think we might not make it to the next town where we can stay today."
Lu Qing and the others had no idea that a tyrant who had caused chaos and terror throughout Jeju was chasing after them.
At this moment, they were looking at the gloomy clouds above their heads, feeling somewhat worried.
Judging from the sky, it looked like a downpour was about to begin, but they were currently in the middle of nowhere, dozens of miles away from the next town, and it seemed unlikely they would be able to reach it anytime soon.
"Since we can't make it in time, let's find a place to take shelter from the rain. I remember there used to be a semi-abandoned Taoist temple nearby. I wonder if it's still habitable now."
The old doctor looked at the heavy, dark clouds in the sky and knew that if he didn't find shelter from the rain soon, it might be too late.
They were alright, as the carriage provided shelter from the rain, so they didn't have to worry too much about getting wet.
But the real worry is that if the rain gets too heavy, the carriage will get stuck in the mud, which would be a real problem.
Guided by the old doctor, Magu drove to the abandoned Taoist temple.
After inspecting the place inside and out, I found that although the Taoist temple was a bit dilapidated, many parts of it had collapsed and the roof was letting in light.
Fortunately, the main hall is still quite well preserved and can provide shelter from the wind and rain.
There wasn't even a signboard in front, so they had no idea what kind of Taoist temple it was.
"Alright, let's stay here tonight. I think this rain is going to be heavy. We'll set off again tomorrow."
After looking around for a while, the old doctor made a decision.
Lu Qing and the others naturally had no objections.
They are all ordinary people, just staying overnight in the wild. Apart from being a little inconvenient, it won't have any major impact.
Even Xiaoyan has become very brave now and is not afraid at all.
"Master, I'll go outside and get some firewood so we can start a fire and cook later."
Seeing that Ma Gu was taking care of the carriage, Lu Qing said.
"Yes, go ahead." The old doctor nodded.
As for Wei Zian, even if he wanted to go out and help, Lu Qing and the others wouldn't feel at ease.
Not long after, Lu Qing returned carrying a pile of firewood.
Just as he lit the fire, the dark clouds that had been gathering in the sky for so long finally began to rain.
At first, it was just a few scattered raindrops, but soon it turned into a torrential downpour, so powerful that it startled Lu Qing and the others.
"Fortunately, Master, you know there is a Taoist temple here. Otherwise, if we were still on the road, we would probably be soaked to the bone."
Looking at the thick curtain of rain outside, which almost obscured the view ten meters away, Lu Qing felt somewhat relieved.
Ma Gu and Wei Zi'an both nodded repeatedly.
Although the carriage they were riding in was specially made by the Wei family and could shield them from the wind and rain, it was hard to guarantee that it could withstand such heavy rain.
As for Xiao Li, she shrank even closer into Xiao Yan's arms.
It hates rain the most.
"This rain is indeed quite heavy; it's the heaviest I've seen in years. As for this Taoist temple, I used to have some connections with the abbot here, but after he passed away, the temple was left unattended and gradually fell into disrepair."
The old doctor looked at the torrential rain outside and sighed, his tone tinged with melancholy.
Upon hearing this, Lu Qing's heart stirred slightly.
To be honest, he knew very little about his master's past, and his master rarely mentioned it.
This time, it was rare for Master to bring up things from the past.
"Master, does this abbot have no disciples?" Lu Qing asked.
"No," the old doctor shook his head. "He lives alone and has not taken on any apprentices."
"How skilled is this abbot in martial arts? Is he very powerful?" Wei Zian asked, also becoming curious.
The old doctor smiled and said, "My friend only knows some self-cultivation techniques and has not made any achievements in martial arts. However, he has a noble character, which I have always admired."
Wei Zian and Ma Gu were immediately filled with respect.
In their view, the old doctor's medical ethics were so high that they were rare in the world. A person who could earn their admiration must be a person of high character and worthy of respect.
Only Lu Qing had some doubts about his master's words.
He knew that he could only believe half of what his master said about martial arts.
He always said that he was not good at fighting and that he lacked talent.
As it turns out, while he was indeed not good at fighting, his talent was exceptionally good.
Otherwise, how could one create a health-preserving boxing style and comprehend the concepts of the harmony of water and fire and the innate realm?
Therefore, his statement that the abbot had not made any achievements in martial arts was probably just a humble remark.
How could someone who can survive alone in this remote Taoist temple be an ordinary person?
Unfortunately, that person has passed away, and I was never able to meet him.
While the group chatted, Lu Qing quickly cooked a pot of meat porridge and shared it with everyone.
As for Xiao Li, it doesn't like drinking porridge, but it eats a big bowl of dried fish instead.
For this trip, the Wei family naturally prepared ample supplies.
But Lu Qing's preparations were even more extravagant, after all, he had a magical artifact like the Qiankun Qi Bag.
Putting aside everything else, he put dozens of kilograms of dried fish into Xiao Li's food alone.
This was because there wasn't enough time to prepare and he couldn't buy that many fish at once; otherwise, he would have liked to prepare over a hundred kilograms.
Of course, Lu Qing would not use the contents of the Qiankun Qi Bag unless absolutely necessary.
In the past few days, their supplies have been consumed from what they carried in the wagons and what they replenished from towns along the way.
On this slightly chilly rainy day, a few mouthfuls of hot porridge brought a sense of comfort to everyone.
"Brother Lu Qing, your cooking skills are truly amazing. You've made such a delicious dish of this simple salted meat porridge."
After drinking a large bowl of porridge, Magu couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
Wei Zian, who was also drinking heavily nearby, nodded in agreement.
"It's not that exaggerated. It's just that I added some homemade seasoning to these cured meats, which is why they taste a bit special," Lu Qing said with a smile.
When traveling, it's not advisable to bring fresh meat with you.
So Lu Qing brought all the cured meat he had stored at home with him this time.
These cured pork pieces were dried and smoked by him over the past two years when he had nothing else to do, and he never expected to come in handy on this trip.
Lu Qing and the others were enjoying hot porridge in the Taoist temple, but the rain outside was getting heavier and heavier.
Later on, it was as if the sky had burst open, and the rain poured down, becoming increasingly torrential.
Looking at the pillar-like flow of water from the eaves outside, Lu Qing and the others were somewhat alarmed.
They were afraid that the roof of the main hall might collapse if it couldn't hold up.
Or perhaps the water from outside is flowing in.
Fortunately, although the main hall is a bit old, the quality is indeed very good, and the location chosen for its construction is excellent, situated on high ground.
So when the rain subsided a bit, it didn't collapse and the floodwater didn't backflow, which relieved Lu Qing and the others.
But the old doctor was still somewhat worried: "This rain is falling rather unusually."
Lu Qing's heart stirred slightly.
This is the first rain after that strange event. Does such a fierce downpour signify anything?
The old doctor had obviously thought of this problem as well. After exchanging a glance with Lu Qing, his worry deepened.
A silence fell over the main hall.
However, this silence did not last long.
Just as Lu Qing was pondering the omens of this heavy rain, his expression suddenly changed.
At the same time, Xiao Li's ears perked up.
After a few breaths, the old doctor also raised his head.
Only Magu and Wei Zian remained completely unaware.
But not long after, they also heard a commotion outside.
