Chapter 1030: Chapter 1029: Tu Mountain and Tushan
"I break a pine branch to make a mountain staff, shaking it as I step high into the sky, entering the clouds dreaming of the mortal world, not knowing what the immortals are in this world."
A clear voice came from behind the crowd, Lu Zheng and the others turned around, and saw a tall, upright Daoist striding forward, with a backpack slung over his back, holding a broad sword in his hand, his face square and his eyes like stars, looking at Lu Zheng and the others with curiosity and scrutiny.
"Infinite Celestial Venerable!" The Daoist bowed, "You all seem not to be townsfolk?"
Lu Zheng cupped his hands, "Traveling for leisure and sightseeing, just arrived here, seeing it is late, I’m looking for a place to stay for the night."
The Daoist saw the four were not locals, yet carried no luggage, their faces healthy, clothes clean, as if just strolling in the city, he knew the four were not ordinary people, and moreover...
"Traveling for leisure?" The Daoist squinted, glanced at Liu Qingquan imperceptibly, then chuckled, "What a coincidence, the Daoist too is unoccupied, here to watch the mountains and waters, why not join me?"
"Of course, I see this town is small, probably has few guesthouses, please!" Lu Zheng gestured invitingly.
"Please!" The Daoist did not stand on ceremony, gestured, and walked ahead, alongside Lu Zheng, "My Dao name is Ruyi, may I know how to address you, sir?"
"Lu Zheng, a mere fallen scholar." Lu Zheng laughed, "Failed the imperial examinations, find solace in mountains and rivers, making the Daoist laugh."
They were just chance acquaintances, as the Daoist did not reveal his background, Lu Zheng naturally did not reveal his background either, passed over lightly with a laugh.
Hearing Lu Zheng speak this way, Ruyi laughed again, shook his head and said, "Young Master Lu is charming and handsome, probably only disdainful of the entanglements in officialdom, now finding solace in the mountains and waters, showing true character."
"The Daoist praises me too much." Lu Zheng modestly replied.
Ruyi shook his head, his eyes flashed, and they reached the town gate together, just a few feet from the entrance, "Sir, what do you make of this town?"
"Surrounded by mountains, thousands of acres of fertile land, living in peace and happiness, a pure land on earth." Lu Zheng replied.
"Really?" Ruyi raised an eyebrow.
"Really." Lu Zheng nodded, then looked at Ruyi somewhat curious.
Liu Qingyan hadn’t noticed anything off with the town, Ruyi’s cultivation seemed even lesser than hers, could he perceive the deeply hidden ghostly presence?
Ruyi heard, shifted the broad sword slightly, the hilt in front of him, "Please, sir!"
"The Daoist is courteous, please!"
The group then walked into the town, the townsfolk seemed normal, but frail and weak, looking fatigued, though they noticed the Daoist, the scholar, and the beautiful girls, they did not disturb.
They soon arrived at the town center’s guesthouse.
Lu Zheng ordered two top rooms, Ruyi got a middle room, moments later, they met again in the guesthouse hall.
"Shopkeeper, what good food does the guesthouse offer?" Liu Qingquan asked charmingly.
"Yes, yes." The innkeeper hurried forward, seeing these four clearly were affluent patrons, not to be missed, "The shop recently acquired a wild goat from the hunters, made goat meat buns, saved big cuts of meat, we also raise chickens, ducks, and dogs, what would you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you!"
"Surprising that your guesthouse, though small, is quite stocked." Liu Qingquan remarked in surprise, then gestured grandly, "Then serve a basket of buns, stir-fry goat meat, cook a roast chicken, if the taste is good, price is no issue."
Ruyi heard Liu Qingquan’s words, looked up at Lu Zheng and the other two women, then said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, give me a bowl..."
"Meeting by chance is fate." Lu Zheng interrupted Ruyi, "Daoist, if you don’t mind, join us."
Ruyi thought for a moment, nodded, "Then I’ll intrude."
Ruyi picked up the broad sword at his side, then sat with Lu Zheng and the four at a table.
Lu Zheng looked at Ruyi who kept his sword close, smiled and asked, "Daoist, do you cultivate martial arts or Dao practice?"
Ruyi replied, "I practice both Dao and martial arts, Dao slays demons, martial arts remove villains."
Lu Zheng praised, "The Daoist is fiercely just."
Ruyi shook his head, "Only regret my Dao practice is insufficient, unable to slay all evil ghosts in the world."
"One look and you’re inexperienced, how can one person slay all evil ghosts? Must use methods!"
Liu Qingquan saw the innkeeper and staff brought buns, goat meat, and roast chicken, gave Lu Zheng and Shen Ying a serving of goat meat, ripped a drumstick for herself and sister, said while eating, "You must learn to rally!"
"Rally?" Ruyi was somewhat confused.
"It’s calling known people to help, can’t beat them then call for help, quite normal, right?" Liu Qingquan said, "Brother-in-law often rallies!"
Lu Zheng, "..."
Liu Qingyan gently tapped Liu Qingquan’s head with chopsticks, "Eat your meal!"
"Oh!"
Liu Qingquan tore off a piece of chicken, ate, chewed, pouted, "Much worse than brother-in-law’s cooking, we’d be better off camping in the wild, have brother-in-law cook himself!"
"The maiden has insight!" Ruyi laughed heartily, eyes flashing, "Yet not knowing who taught you?"
Liu Qingquan pouted, said nothing, disdainfully ate the drumstick, then chatted with Liu Qingyan about lessons.
On the other side, Lu Zheng pushed the goat meat buns and stir-fried goat meat towards Ruyi, "Daoist, please."
"Thank you, sir." Ruyi did not stand on ceremony, picked up chopsticks to eat, as he ate he asked, "Where is Young Master Lu’s party from, going where, how came to this Jingshan Collection town in such a remote area?"
"Jingshan Collection?" Shen Ying curiously asked, "The surrounding mountains stretch on, where is the scenery mountain?"
"There’s no scenery mountain, just mountain scenery." The nearby shop attendant interjected to explain, "Our town always looking around is mountain scenery, just named directly sounds bad, so called Jingshan Collection."
"I see." Lu Zheng nodded, couldn’t help but ask Shen Ying, "We have Tu Mountain Collection over there, why is it named that?"
Shen Ying shrugged, "Because north of Tu Mountain Collection is a mountain named Tu Mountain."
Ruyi’s eyes flashed, glanced at Liu Qingquan again.
Lu Zheng speechless, then remembered Ruyi’s earlier question, said, "Our hometown, indeed quite far from here, not in Huo Mountain Dao."
Ruyi nodded, "Certainly, Tushan far in the Northern Domain, naturally not in Huo Mountain Dao."
"Huh?" Lu Zheng looked puzzled.
Next moment, Ruyi’s right hand was on the sword hilt, "So, dare I ask, what brings you here, and what is your connection to this place’s ghostly presence?"
