EFB Chapter 159 How did you seven end up in this state today?
Chapter 159 How did you seven end up in this state today?
Chapter 159 How did you seven end up in this state? (Second update, 5200 words)
The words fell.
Lu Yuan paused in his steps.
It wasn't his idea to stop.
The body reacted before the mind could react; it felt as if the soles of the feet were welded to the bluestone slab by something, and the hairs on the back of the body stood on end.
The mountain wind is still blowing.
The morning light is still the same morning light.
But something has changed.
It's unclear which direction it came from.
It has everything: east, west, south, north, up, down, left, and right.
Those things have always been there.
always there.
Like the mist on the hillside, like the layers of shadows in the pine forest.
Like those pebbles under your feet that you could step on a hundred times without ever glancing down at.
Previously, they "didn't move".
But now, they have "moved".
It only lasted for a moment.
It was just a tiny leak of energy.
But Lu Yuan sensed it.
That feeling is hard to describe.
It's like walking in the middle of nowhere at night and suddenly finding that all the chirping of insects around you has stopped.
It's like pushing open the door to an empty room and smelling the scent that only strangers have.
Like————
Something is watching you.
From very far away, from very near, from every corner you can't see.
Lu Yuan's [Slaying Demons and Eliminating Evil] system did not issue any warnings.
But that doesn't mean there's nothing around here.
Because the range of the [Slay Demons and Exterminate Evil] system is only 500 meters.
Lu Yuan's gaze never left Hu Tutu's face.
But out of the corner of his eye, he clearly saw—
The shadow of an old pine tree in the distance had somehow become a few shades darker than before.
Something was swaying slightly in the shadows of the trees.
It wasn't the swaying of the tree branches.
It's another kind.
It was as if something was slowly opening its eyes from within the shadow.
Zhou Shouzhou stood half a step behind Lu Yuan, motionless.
His expression remained unchanged, but his hand, hanging at his side, had already secretly formed a hand seal.
Lu Yuan, however, showed no sign of nervousness.
Instead, he showed an expression of sudden realization.
Oh~~
I knew it! It's impossible for such a tiny little thing to travel all over the country all by itself; that would be too odd.
Now it's working right.
These things ————
The family of Xu Denghu is a family that extends the lives of deities.
Those following behind her must be the "gods" —
Unlike the seven weak, almost "dead" deities beside the mountain path of Zhenlong Temple.
Rather, they are truly powerful "gods"!
Lu Yuan grinned.
He looked away and turned to Tiger Rabbit, his tone exactly the same as before, as if he hadn't felt anything at all.
"Yeah?"
"That's quite impressive."
Tiger Rabbit was completely unaware of the sudden change in its surroundings.
She nodded smugly, her two little tufts of hair bobbing up and down.
"Of course!"
"My father said that in the Xu Denghu family, we never do things by one person alone."
After saying that, she skipped a few steps forward and turned back to urge him on.
"Master, hurry, hurry! You just said the dining hall is open for meals, you can't lie to us!"
Lu Yuan smiled and shook his head, then followed.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
The mountain path was deserted.
The shadow of that crooked old pine tree has thinned back to its normal shape.
Only the mountain breeze continues to blow gently.
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and continued walking up the mountain with Zhou Shouzhuo.
As soon as the door to the dining hall was pushed open, a wave of heat hit us.
The rising steam, carrying the aromas of porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables, all wafted into people's noses.
The hall was packed with people.
The Luotian Grand Ceremony and the Heavenly Venerable Grand Ceremony had just ended when various Taoist sects from outside the pass dispersed from Fengtian City.
Those who pass by Zhenlong Temple will more or less want to come in and sit for a while.
It wouldn't be right not to come and make a name for myself at the newly appointed Taoist temple of the Celestial Venerable.
-
The dormitories at Zhenlong Temple are already overcrowded.
Originally, a room was meant for four or five people, but now it's been turned into a large dormitory.
A dozen or so people would live in one of the huts.
Speaking of which, now that the temple is thriving, it's time to consider expanding the Zhenlong Temple.
But I can't think about that right now.
He led Tiger and Rabbit inside, and all eyes in the room seemed to grow legs, turning towards them in unison.
Wearing a pale yellow short jacket, dark green trousers, and two small red ribbons on her head, she stood out like a little sparrow that had wandered in from among a group of gray Taoist robes.
However, with the little girl beside Lu Yuan, no one dared to disturb her, only occasionally turning their heads to look at her.
"Brother Lu! Here! We've saved seats for you!"
In a corner of the dining hall, Wang Chengan was shouting at the top of his lungs, while Xu Erxiao was waving beside him.
Just as Lu Yuan was about to respond, a gasp came from behind him.
"Oh dear, where did this little girl come from?"
It was Aunt Qiao'er's voice.
Lu Yuan turned his head and saw Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin walking side by side, followed by the Goddess of Beauty.
Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er had obviously just gotten up and were still sleepy, their eyes still looking a bit drowsy.
But as soon as she saw Tiger Rabbit, Zhao Qiao'er's peach blossom eyes lit up. She took three steps forward and bent down to examine the little one.
"Whose child is this? They're so cute and pretty!"
Tiger Rabbit was a little bewildered by this sudden enthusiasm.
Looking up at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, he blinked, then glanced at the gentle and dignified woman beside him.
Finally, our gaze fell upon the last goddess of beauty.
Those round eyes widened even more instantly.
She stared intently at the goddess of beauty, her small mouth slightly open, as if she had seen something rare.
The goddess was biting into half a frozen pear when she was stared at like that, so she tilted her head and looked back at her.
One big and one small, they just stared at each other like that.
Tiger Rabbit suddenly took a step forward, sniffed lightly, and then clapped its hands, causing the two little tufts on its head to jump.
"You're that goddess!"
Her voice was clear and bright, drawing everyone's attention.
The goddess paused for a moment, her action of biting into the frozen pear stopping in mid-air.
How did you know?
Tiger Rabbit proudly puffed out its little chest, its eyes sparkling, looking smug.
"I could smell it!"
"The people of Xu Denghu's family can smell the divine!"
"You smell so good!"
She paused, then added.
"It smells even better than all the other food that's following behind my house combined!"
Tiger Rabbit's words made the people around them even more curious.
For a moment, some people tried to come closer, but Lu Yuan quickly came to his senses and immediately said, "Get your food first."
Zhao Qiao'er covered her mouth and smiled, then put her arm around Hu Tutu's shoulder, her voice sweet and soft.
"Come on, Auntie will get you your food!"
Tiger Rabbit was obediently led along, its two short little legs moving swiftly.
Song Meiqin followed on the other side, her gaze falling on the two little tufts of hair on Tiger Rabbit's head, and she couldn't help but smile.
"These two little chicks are so cute~"
"Who tied you up?"
Tiger Rabbit turned its head and answered crisply.
"I tied it myself!"
Aunt Qin laughed out loud, reached out and pinched Tiger Rabbit's round, chubby cheeks. They felt great; each pinch left a dent, and they bounced back when released.
Soon, the group of people took their meals and sat down.
Wang Chengan and Xu Erxiao sat opposite each other, their bowls almost empty.
After Lu Yuan sat down, he glanced at the two of them.
"Are you leaving after you've eaten?"
Lu Yuan had just looked at the job schedule from Zhenlong Temple; today was the day the two of them would go out to find work.
This was also the first time since they met that they had worked separately, each leading their own team.
Lu Yuan wasn't worried about this at all; he had seen the jobs the two men were doing, and they were all simple ones.
It's nothing more than being possessed by an evil spirit or being terrified.
The two of them had been following Lu Yuan for several months, so they were more than capable of handling this matter properly.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan nodded in unison, their excitement barely contained.
It was clear that the two were only excited about leading the team to do the work; they showed no fear whatsoever.
Lu Yuan picked up his chopsticks, his tone casual yet clear.
"If you can do it, do it; if you can't, then quit."
"Don't be a show-off."
It was the same tone the old man had used when he gave him those instructions.
The two boys, barely out of school, readily agreed, their eyes shining as if it were New Year's Day.
Aunt Qiao'er and the others also brought their food and sat down.
Tiger Rabbit sat opposite Lu Yuan.
He was so short that when he sat on the bench, only his head and shoulders, which were tied in a small bun, were visible.
The bowl of white porridge in front of me was steaming, with steamed buns and pickled vegetables placed next to it.
Tiger Rabbit swallowed hard.
But she didn't touch her chopsticks.
She raised her head and stared intently at Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan was taken aback by her stare, and raised an eyebrow as he picked up his chopsticks.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Eat."
Tiger Rabbit said with a serious face, "My dad said that when you're traveling, you have to thank the host before you can start eating."
Eek~
That little nose is so cute and polite.
Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er, who were standing nearby, were deeply moved.
Lu Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then grinned and said, "Alright, alright, eat up, I'll let you eat."
Tiger Rabbit then picked up his chopsticks and buried his head in eating.
He stuffed a mouthful of steamed bun into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out like two balls, and before he had even finished chewing, his chopsticks reached for the pickled vegetables.
He takes a sip of congee, a bite of steamed bun, and a chopstickful of pickled vegetables, alternating between the three in a rhythm even more steady than a night watchman.
Zhao Qiao'er found it hilarious.
She picked up a boiled egg from the plate and tapped it gently on the edge of the table, causing the shell to crack with fine lines.
Peel it off piece by piece, revealing the tender, round white egg white.
She put the peeled eggs into the tiger and rabbit's dish.
"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
Tiger Rabbit raised its head.
With half a steamed bun stuffed in his mouth, his cheeks were bulging, and his speech was slurred.
"Thank you, Aunt Qiao'er."
The way they called it was so natural.
It's like we've known each other for eight hundred years.
Song Meiqin also picked up an egg.
She peeled the egg much slower than Zhao Qiao'er, gently twisting the edge of the shell with her fingertips, peeling it open little by little.
The peeled shell fragments, strung together in a long, winding strip, really did look like a flower when placed on the table.
She placed the egg into the tiger and rabbit dish, her voice gentle and soft.
"Eat slowly, don't choke."
Two plump white eggs appeared on Tiger Rabbit's plate, which matched her round face quite well.
After dinner, Lu Yuan should have taken a nap.
Aunt Qiao'er, Aunt Qin, and the Goddess of Beauty were going to play mahjong again.
However, Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin did not go today, but instead planned to take a stroll around Zhenlong Temple.
What are you doing?
Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin were thinking about donating money to expand Zhenlong Temple.
Just now in the dining hall, while Hu Tu Tu was engrossed in eating, Zhao Qiao'er overheard several Taoist priests at the next table whispering among themselves.
"This dormitory is so cramped, with more than a dozen people sleeping in one room. It's hard to even turn over."
"That's right, last night when I was sleeping, my toes were sticking out under the neighbor's pillow."
"The Zhenlong Temple is currently very popular, so naturally there are many people there."
The words weren't finished, but the meaning was clear.
Zhao Qiao'er didn't say anything at the time, but exchanged a glance with Song Meiqin across from her.
That's how the feelings between the two of them were stirred up.
Just as Lu Yuan finished eating and was about to leave, Zhao Qiao'er grabbed his sleeve.
"Hey~ don't go to sleep yet, we have something to tell you."
Lu Yuan paused and turned to look at her.
"What's up?"
Zhao Qiao'er didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.
"Now that Zhenlong Temple is so popular, not to mention the Taoist priests who come to stay for a while, the number of people coming to Zhenlong Temple to learn the arts will definitely increase in the future."
"The True Dragon Temple is a bit small now."
Aunt Qin, who was standing to the side, immediately nodded and tugged at Lu Yuan's other sleeve.
"Exactly~"
"The people next to me just said that there are more than a dozen people crammed into one room, and the floor is covered with makeshift beds."
"If we let people go back like this, not to mention anything else, it won't sound good if word gets out."
Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.
He waved his hand.
"I know about this. We can add a few more rooms later. There's no rush."
Zhao Qiao'er raised her pretty eyebrows.
"You mean by 'adding it slowly'? Are you planning to add it for ages?"
"What's the state of Zhenlong Temple now?"
"The number of pilgrims is increasing day by day, and more and more people are coming to learn from masters. We can't keep adding them all at once."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan immediately understood what Aunt Qiao'er meant.
These two people wanted to contribute money to build houses for Zhenlong Temple.
Lu Yuan was about to speak, but Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin both knew what their man was about to say.
Before Lu Yuan could speak, Zhao Qiao'er stood directly in front of him, hands on her hips.
"We're your wives, it's only natural for wives to worry about their own family matters."
Lu Yuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Zhao Qiao'er beat him to it.
"Even setting aside our relationship, and without that connection, Auntie still had to donate a large sum of money to Zhenlong Temple back then when the Wang family was involved in the tragedy!"
"Besides, why doesn't the White Deer Chamber of Commerce spend all the money it earns on its own people, instead of saving it for procreation?"
"What's there to be embarrassed about with us!"
Lu Yuan was amused by her blunt words.
"Aunt Qiao'er, you—"
Before she could finish speaking, Aunt Qiao'er glared with her almond-shaped eyes, her voice both seductive and fierce.
"Don't call me Aunt Qiao'er, Aunt Qiao'er."
"Now we're talking about serious matters!"
"That's settled then. You don't need to worry about anything anymore, not the money or the people!"
"When I return to Fengtian City this time, I'll prepare everything for you!"
Aunt Qiao'er's words were both charming and domineering.
Lu Yuan initially wanted to refuse, but after thinking it over...
Aunt Qiao'er is right.
We're all family. If we're too clear-cut, it loses the feeling of being family.
Moreover, Zhenlong Temple is indeed about to be expanded.
The temple's incense offerings grew increasingly popular, not just because people came to burn incense, but also because many business owners came to the Taoist priests of Zhenlong Temple to do business.
The Zhenlong Temple will need many Taoist priests in the future.
Whether they came from Baiyun Temple or other places, or came to learn from a master.
With so many people here, we can't just let them sleep on the street, can we?
If Zhenlong Temple were still such a tiny place, how could it support this family business?
After thinking it over, Lu Yuan agreed.
"Then we'll have to find a good craftsman, a famous one, a skilled one!"
"Let's give this Zhenlong Temple a good makeover!"
Lu Yuan stood with his hands on his hips, speaking with righteous indignation.
Since we've decided to do it, let's do it properly, so that Uncle Hexun won't find fault next time he comes.
Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin were overjoyed to see that their husbands were finally no longer being so polite with them.
Immediately, Aunt Qiao'er nodded to Aunt Qin and sweetly promised, "You can rest assured~"
"I guarantee our Zhenlong Temple will be the best and largest Taoist temple outside the pass!"
The expansion was decided.
After Tiger Rabbit had eaten and drunk its fill, Aunt Qiao'er took it for a walk around the Zhenlong Temple.
Aunt Qin re-tied her hair into two little pigtails, which looked much more energetic than the previous two pigtails.
Lu Yuan went back to his room and took a nap for half a day.
When I woke up again, it was already completely dark.
The third quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM).
The night was as thick as ink, completely enveloping the entire Qixia Mountain.
The door to the Zhenlong Temple's reception hall was ajar, and a dim candlelight shone through.
Lu Yuan sat in the main seat in the hall, holding a cup of tea, his eyelids drooping.
I took a nap during the day, but I stayed up all night yesterday, so I can't make up for that little bit of sleep.
Tiger Rabbit was sitting next to him.
The little girl was quite energetic, her two short legs dangling over the edge of the stool, swinging back and forth.
Holding a teacup in his hand, he imitated Lu Yuan, taking sips every now and then and smacking his lips.
His expression was very serious, as if he were saying, "I'm an adult now."
Zhou Shouzhou stood at the door, his eyes lowered, waiting quietly.
The candlelight flickered.
The temperature in the living room dropped a few degrees.
It wasn't a bone-chilling cold, but rather a subtle coolness.
It's like opening a window in early autumn, with the night breeze carrying the dampness of dew gently drifting into the room.
Tiger Rabbit's swaying legs stopped.
She looked up, sniffed lightly, and then her eyes lit up.
"Here it comes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the living room opened automatically without any wind, creaking open a crack.
Outside the door was a thick, impenetrable night.
But in the darkness of the night, something gradually began to emerge.
First came the fog.
A very faint, grayish-white mist seeped in through the cracks in the door, wisps and strands.
The mist clung to the ground, spreading slowly, as if it were alive.
In the mist, tiny lights appeared.
Pale green, dark yellow, grayish white.
There are seven pairs in total.
The points of light flickered in the mist, like lights in the night, but they were clearly much brighter than before.
They drifted in and stopped in the center of the living room.
Then, those points of light began to slowly gather, stretch, and change.
They wanted to coalesce into human form.
The hunched figure of the Sleeping Ox Stone was the first to take shape.
It was still that tattered robe, and those same pale green eyes.
It bowed slightly, and a hoarse, aged voice rang out: "The Reclining Ox Stone Lord greets—Taoist Master—"
The spring mother has also taken shape.
A dry, arid air filled the air, and the greyish-white dress fluttered gently in the mist.
She bowed in return, saying, "Mother Quan greets Daoist Master."
The others also managed to solidify their respective forms.
Some are clearer, while others are so blurry that only an outline remains, and the facial features are indistinct.
But without exception, they were all trembling.
It's like standing naked in the wind in winter; even if you clench your teeth, you can't stop shivering.
Seven figures.
Seven lamps that are about to go out.
The living room was quiet for a while.
Lu Yuan placed the teacup he was holding on the table.
The teacup clattered on the table with a crisp "thud" that sounded particularly clear in the quiet living room.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the seven swaying figures in front of him.
"How did you seven end up in this state?"