Chapter 2: Seeking the Way

  The villagers suddenly cursed and ran towards the direction where the Taoist priest had left.

  Xu Xian turned his head and saw that the whole cart of pears was gone, not a single one left. The big cart was also missing a handle, with fresh chisel marks on it, and he suddenly felt a bit bewildered. The peasant had just followed the crowd to watch the Taoist perform his magic, and had forgotten all about selling pears. It wasn't until afterwards that he discovered all the pears were gone, and even the cart handle was missing.

  Before long, the peasant carried a cart and walked back, scolding all the way. The people in the market laughed loudly, and the peasant was angry and scolded, crying and crying, and suddenly burst into loud sobs. This sturdy man sat on the ground like a child, crying loudly. It was very comical, and the crowd's laughter became even more intense.

  Xu Xian's heart skipped a beat, and he turned to see the Taoist priest smiling as he stood in the distance, but in the opposite direction of where he had just left. The Taoist priest bowed to Xu Xian and then turned to leave with big strides. Although there were many people in the market, no one else seemed to have noticed him, and they only laughed at the country bumpkin.

  Xu Xian gritted his teeth and hurriedly carried the soy sauce jar, but the Taoist's figure seemed to be moving quickly yet slowly, and in the crowded throng of people, he was like a fish swimming in water, not showing any signs of slowing down. No matter how hard Xu Xian chased after him, he couldn't get close.

  The Taoist's figure suddenly turned around a corner, and Xu Xian was greatly alarmed, quickening his pace even more. But when he turned around the corner, he saw that there was not a single person in the dead alley, and Xu Xian leaned against the wall to rest, panting, with a heart full of despair.

  His shoulder was suddenly tapped, making Xu Xian's heart jump in surprise. The Taoist priest's voice came from behind: "Little abode, what else is there?" The smile in the voice made Xu Xian put his mind at ease.

  "Daoist grandfather, give them the money!" Xu Xian said with a slight gasp.

  The Taoist was taken aback, originally thinking it was just a curious child wanting to learn his skills. But he didn't expect that Xuxian had come after him for this matter. He couldn't help but reevaluate the unremarkable-looking child in front of him, who was wearing patched clothes.

  The Taoist laughed and said: "I don't have any money. That man is despicable and will reap what he sows. Why bother with him?"

  "You know magic, you must be very rich. And the pear is someone else's property, not wanting to invite you to eat is also someone else's business. Those pears were also planted with great effort by someone else's family, and they're gone just like that! How can their family members deal with this?! This matter was caused by me, how can it be considered meddling?!"

  Xu Xian's words were reasonable and well-organized, being selfless, they sounded even more sincere.

  The Taoist was taken aback, looking at the tender face in front of him, full of determination, and couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, stinginess is not just his problem, everyone advises, but only you are willing to open your purse. However, I really don't have any money. How about this? I have a Taoist method to give you, let's consider the matter settled?" As he spoke, the Taoist pulled out a book from his bosom.

  Xu Xian was deeply moved, but who hasn't had such a dream? To meet an extraordinary person and obtain a mysterious and powerful manual, then soar to the sky. But Xu Xian shook his head fiercely, shaking off these thoughts. "No, no, you should give the money back to its owner! You must have it."

  The Taoist suddenly said angrily: "A monk doesn't speak deceitful words, can I still cheat a little kid like you? I've been traveling around the world, neither robbing nor stealing. Where did all that money come from?" After finishing speaking, he pushed Xu Xian out with one hand.

  Xu Xian lightly fell to the ground, and when he looked up again, he found that there was no alley anywhere, only a green stone wall. He vaguely remembered that earlier when he was talking to the Taoist priest, it was clearly in the midst of the bustling city, but the alley was quiet as if it were another world.

  Xu Xian slowly got up, patted the dust off his body, and walked back with a mix of regret and frustration. He had originally wanted to help the villager get his money back for the pear and see if he could learn some magic tricks. But as it turned out, whether in this life or the next, he was destined to accomplish nothing. All sorts of worries finally merged into one long sigh.

  Returning to the original place, he saw that the countryman was still sitting on the ground wiping away tears. Passersby who didn't know what had happened asked around and couldn't help but laugh when they heard the story. Xu Xian touched his pocket and found that there was still a pear left from the Taoist priest's gift to him.

  Thought for a moment and walked over, handing the pear to the countryman, saying: "Here, take it, it's getting late, hurry back!" It will still take some time to push the cart from the countryside!

  The countryman lifted his face, and the foolish expression on it was etched with tears. Xian's heart was both amused and saddened. If only you had been more generous, would things have come to this? A pitiful person must have a hateful side, there is reason for it!

  The villager suddenly jumped up and grabbed Xu Xian, shouting: "It was you who bought the pear! You must be an accomplice of that cow-nosed thief! Pay me back for the pear, pay me back for the pear, or I'll take you to see the official!"

  Xu Xian sighed and tried to reason with them, but the villagers were like people grasping at a lifeline, unwilling to listen, and only continued to pester him. The people on both sides of the street mostly recognized Xu Xian, and now they gathered around, speaking in unison about the villager's wrongdoings. The villager's momentum suddenly dissipated, and he involuntarily let go, but then he began to lament his cart and his pear tree again, and burst into tears once more.

  Xu Xian saw the bruise on his arm and felt angry, wanting to just leave. But seeing the pitiful look of the villager, he scolded himself: Xu Xian, you're such a rotten person, rotten to death! Isn't dying once enough?

  But thinking of this car pear, I don't know how many hopes it has brought to the villagers. He's just acting strangely under heartache. Bitterly smiling and thinking: once is not enough, then let's do it again!

  No need for good news, no seeking of favors, Xu Xian is just that kind of person. As the saying goes, "The mountains and rivers can change, but one's nature is hard to shift." This is probably something that even transmigration cannot change!

  Xu Xian smiled and pulled the vegetable vendor aunt closer: "Sister, just give him the pear money, look at how pitiful he is, who wouldn't be anxious in such a situation?" "Brother..." "Grandpa..."

  The sun sets in the west, and the people on the stage gradually disperse. Xu Xian pats the bag of money in his hand, but in the end, he only gets back a small half. Some people leave after watching the excitement, while others refuse to admit it, but there's nothing that can be done about it. It's just enough to make up for some losses.

  Xu Xian made a guarantee and borrowed tools, the villagers' large cart was already repaired, and he handed over the money to him. Xu Xian thought for a moment and took out a few more coins, saying: "I'll give you back that pear too." He felt a slight sense of satisfaction in his heart, who says I always end up losing out when doing good deeds?

  The countryman nodded his head foolishly, only thanked him repeatedly, and couldn't say anything new no matter how hard he tried.

  "Hurry back! It's already very late, be more generous next time!" Xu Xian waved goodbye to the villager, the sunset was setting in the west, stretching his shadow very long. Xu Xian was immersed in his own happiness, those regrets had been thrown behind him. But this happiness didn't last for too long, Xu Xian suddenly exclaimed: "My soy sauce."

  The unqualified soy sauce party Xu Xian little friend dragged a soy sauce bottle and ran wildly all the way.

  In the soy sauce shop.

  "Chen Xiaoge, get me a bottle of soy sauce, hurry up, hurry up."

  In an old residential house.

  "Little rabbit, where did you die in the afternoon? See how I'll deal with you, and run." A woman holding a broom chased Xu Xian's chicken flying dog jumping. With a face like Xu Xian's, it can't be considered handsome, only mediocre.

  "Sister, stop hitting me, I was wrong, isn't that enough? Don't cry!"

  "Who cried? Watch me beat you to death."

  "Soy sauce spilled! Soy sauce spilled!" Xū Xiān suddenly exclaimed.

  "Oh no, oh no!" The woman hastily stopped and said with a pained expression.

  "Gotcha! I'm starving to death, let's eat! You'll have the energy to fight after you're full! Wow, it's taro! My favorite food!"

  "I knew you'd eat." The woman said with a warm feeling in her heart. In their poor household, they always ate the cheapest things available, which weren't very fresh, but no matter what was made, it was always Xian's favorite food.

  A faint glimmer of oil light, not as bright as the lamps in a wealthy household. Eating plain food with only a hint of oil flavor, who can say that Xian is far from happiness at this moment?

  The starry sky was radiant, and on the stone bridge in front of the gate stood a Taoist priest gazing at the firelight emanating from Xu Xian's home. It seemed so close, yet felt as distant as the horizon. Had he too once experienced such moments? Even he himself could no longer distinguish. The autumn wind swept across the river surface, and with his cultivation, he still felt a slight chill.

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