Volume 1 Qinghe County Chapter 45 Luo Zhenren

  The little Taoist put away the strange news written by Wu Daoguan, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and slowly stopped in his tracks, taking a look at the scenery around him.

  They had just gone around Jiugong County and traveled about forty miles to the foot of Erxian Mountain.

  Ji Zhou's Jiugong County, Erxian Mountain, that was Luo Zhenren's Daoist temple, so when he reached the foot of the mountain, the little Daoist stopped in his tracks and sat down on a bluestone by the side of the road. He took out some clear water from his gourd and rested for a while before carefully removing the armor from his legs and putting it away, not daring to damage it in the slightest.

  If you recklessly use the divine law to intrude and offend Luo Zhenren, the crime of a minor Taoist will be even greater.

  So Xiaodaoji put away his armor and horse, preparing to hike up the mountain as he had done before.

  Luo Zhenren was in the Purple Void Temple on the mountain, seemingly uninterested in worldly affairs, but actually held extremely high prestige and had become the leader of all Taoist sects. Luo Zhenren only had one disciple, named Gong Sunsheng, who was taught various Taoist techniques that seemed to have a mysterious and unpredictable effect, earning him the nickname "Enter Cloud Dragon" on the Jianghu, with some reputation.

  The little Taoist had rested enough, and slowly walked up the mountain. After a while, there was a strange fragrance that filled his nostrils. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be two different kinds of fragrances mixed together.

  This fragrance seems to have the effect of relieving fatigue and invigorating the spirit. The little Taoist greedily sniffed the fragrance, unknowingly quickening his pace, because the fragrance ahead was even thicker.

  "Also heard this fragrance, not in vain. " Wait for the little Taoist to turn a few bends, it is already at the waist of the mountain, and there is a slightly flat place in front, where some strange flowers and grasses are planted. The little Taoist knows that although it is March in the mortal world, due to Luo Zhenren's boundless magical power, the strange flowers and grasses here are almost always in bloom.

  Although the fragrance is strong, under Luo Zhenren's magical power, this scent will forever revolve around Erxian Mountain and disappear as soon as it leaves the mountain. Ordinary people in the world are not allowed to enter the mountain, so except for the Daoist practitioners who come and go, there are hardly any human footprints here, and it is unknown to the world.

  "Are these rare flowers and grasses really brought down from heaven by Lu Zhenren's mighty magical power?" The little Taoist priest looked at them, smelled them, and suddenly remembered the various rumors he had heard.

  One year, Luo Zhenren suddenly appeared in the Second Immortal Mountain of Jiugong County and directly drove away all the people who originally lived there. By the time officials sent someone to investigate, a not-so-small Purple Void Temple had already been built on the mountain.

  The officials who came to see Luo Zhenren were so powerful that they did not dare to act rashly. When they asked Luo Zhenren where he came from, Luo Zhenren smiled and said nothing, only pointing his hand at the sky, indicating that he was from heaven.

  Lu Zhēnrén also expressed his unwillingness to disturb the world, and asked the government for the entire èr Xiān Shān, forbidding ordinary people from entering the mountain, and not obeying the imperial edict.

  Emperor Song Huizong, upon hearing this, sighed and said: "There really are immortals in the world!", then wrote the four characters "Protector of the Country True Man" to bestow on Luo, granting him the position of Grand Master of Taoist Temples throughout the land, ordering the officials of Ji Prefecture not to disturb him, and declaring the Two Immortals Mountain a forbidden area.

  To the world, Luo Zhenren was extremely mysterious and had boundless magical powers. However, to the Taoist sects, Luo Zhenren was nothing but a charlatan who liked to show off his skills, not worth mentioning at all. Especially Wang Daoshi, who was by Emperor Huizong of Song's side at that time, was very displeased and secretly ran to the Purple Void Temple. Unexpectedly, before he even entered the temple gates, he was kicked out by a powerful force, only then did he realize Luo Zhenren's might.

  Lu Zhen took over as the head of the Taoist sect and did not engage in oppressive behavior, but instead put forward a rather strange request.

  That's all the Taoist temples, every Taoist temple in the Song Dynasty, each month they would write down all the strange and unusual things they heard or saw into a record of anomalies, and send someone to deliver it to the Zixu Temple on Erxian Mountain.

  The Taoist community was quite surprised, but this matter is really insignificant. Such trivial matters are gradually handed over to the person in charge of the local Taoist temple.

  Wu Daoguan presided over the Jade Emperor Temple and was responsible for recording strange events in Qinghe County and several surrounding counties, which is why a little Taoist priest sent him a book.

  A small number of Taoists speculated that Luo Zhenren, by doing so, would be able to escape the law enforcement of the Song Dynasty as soon as there was any wind or movement. However, they couldn't figure out why Luo Zhenren wanted to do this.

  Because Luo Zhenren seems to have really used this strange record as a leisure reading material, and has never issued any instructions to the Taoist sects of the world since leaving the Zi Xuan Temple.

  The little Taoist swayed his body to the front of the Zixu Temple, knocked on the door respectfully, and soon a Taoist boy came out: "It's brother, isn't it? Are you here to deliver this month's extraordinary news?"

  "It's exactly so." The little Taoist took out a package of fine paper from his bosom and handed it to him: "Also trouble the young master to take me to see Luo Immortal."

  "The real person is now meditating in the main hall, you can go there yourself." The Taoist boy saw that the little Taoist looked familiar and didn't bother to pay attention to him: "I still have homework to do here."

  The little Taoist wasn't surprised, took the strange news record and entered the Guanmen, walking towards the direction of the main hall. He had also been there two or three times before and was quite familiar with the buildings inside the Zixu Temple.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, a fragrant incense burner was lit inside the grand hall. Luo Zhenren wore a golden cloud crane cloak and a jade leaf star crown on his head, with a long sword floating in front of his chest, sitting cross-legged on a cloud bed with his eyes closed.

  The little Taoist did not dare to shout loudly, so he stood with his hands hanging down and waited quietly for a moment. Luo Zhenren opened his eyes: "Where are you from?"

  "I am from the Yu Huang Temple of Qinghe County, sent by Wu Dao Officer." The little Taoist remembered Wu Dao Officer's words and didn't dare to look at Luo Zhenren again, only bowing his head to kneel down: "Specially came to present this month"

  "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio."

  "Put it on the table over there." Luo Zhenren said, and then his spirit wandered off again.

  The little Taoist priest bowed his head again, got up and unfolded the wrapped cloth layer by layer, took out Wu Daoguan's personally written Strange Records, gently placed it on the side table, made another bow, and retreated.

  As soon as the little Taoist left, Luo Zhenren jumped down from the cloud bed, rubbed his numb legs, and completely lost his dignified and divine demeanor. After his legs felt a bit better, Luo Zhenren started to stretch his neck and waist, moving around: "Being a Taoist is tiring, sitting in meditation all day long. It's said to be a good thing, but in reality, it's no different from being locked up in prison."

  "Qinghe County? Hmm, a key object of observation." Luo Zhenren flipped through the book of strange records.

  "At the beginning of the month, a sow gave birth to eighteen piglets, which is worth recording."

  The first article made Luo Zhenren furious, what's so strange about a mother pig giving birth to many? What's so memorable about it! Is this Wu Daoguan just showing off after eating his fill?

  "The Hundred Flowers Tower is booming with business, making a fortune every day."

  The second item left Luo Zhen speechless, isn't Baifang Lou a common name for brothels?! What's with you, a Taoist, paying attention to the business of someone else's Baifang Lou?!

  The previous few pages were completely devoid of nutrition, mostly just nonsense, even recording the trivial matter of a light rain on a certain day.

  Lu Zhen directly flipped through it quickly, and his eyes were attracted by one of the pages.

  There is a picture on the page with...

  "What are these two big men doing?" Luo Zhenren was extremely shocked: "What kind of style is this?"

  He took a closer look and Luo Zhenren's hands began to tremble: "This... what is this?"

  Under extreme shock, Luo Zheng began to seriously read the content of the nearby pages.

  "In Qinghe County, there was a wealthy man named Ximen Qing, also known as Blowing Snow. Within two or three days, he had cut off someone's whip, fondled a woman's breasts, laughed at a doctor, become a county official, taken a concubine, saved Wu Dalang, divorced his wife, and captured a great thief... All these things shocked people to no end. He plundered the Wu family and obtained over 10,000 taels of silver, earning him the nickname 'Half of West Gate'."

  The attached "Blowing Snow Seven Rest Book" also surprised Luo Zhenren.

  "Has the plan... already begun?" Luo Zhenren closed the Strange News Record and looked at the roof of the grand hall, muttering to himself.

  "Fine, this way I won't have to spend such a miserable life here, like being in prison."

  Lu Zhenren strode to the gate of the palace and shouted: "Tongzi! Tongzi, where are you?"

  When Deng Tao hurried over upon hearing the sound, Luo Zhenren had already resumed his divine human form: "Deng, go and summon your senior brother Gong Sunsheng to come here. I have some matters that I need him to attend to."

  "In obedience to the law."

  After a moment, footsteps sounded outside the main hall. Luo Zhenren knew that it was his disciple Gong Sunsheng who had arrived, and he hurriedly jumped onto the cloud bed, closed his eyes, and assumed a meditation posture.

  "Teacher, what's the matter? Please instruct me." Gong Sunsheng held a duster in his hand and walked in to pay respects with a bow. Only then did he lift up his head and wait for Luo Zhenren's teachings.

  Lu Zhen opened his eyes and looked at Gong Sunsheng, who was eight feet tall with a majestic appearance, sporting a thick beard. In his heart, he secretly sighed: "He looks so good, why does he have to keep this beard? I'll definitely find an opportunity to trick him into shaving it off someday."

  Gongsun Cheng stood for a while, seeing Luo Zhenren's eyes moving back and forth on his face, especially his beloved whiskers, couldn't help but feel a bit hairy, so he quietly reminded: "Teacher... teacher?"

  "Ah? Ah." Lu Zhiren finally came to himself from his reverie and thought for a moment before saying: "Disciple, I have just had a vision in the void and obtained an omen. It seems that there is someone named Ximen Qing in Qinghe County, Dongping Prefecture, who has some connection with the Tao. As it's not convenient for me to go down the mountain myself, you can go on my behalf and transmit the Tian Gang Wu Lei Zheng Fa (Heavenly Gate Five Thunder Orthodox Method) to him."

  "What!" Gong Sunsheng was shocked, and the duster in his hand fell to the ground unnoticed: "How can Master say such a thing? Like that Jiao Lian who is skilled in magic tricks, heard Master's name, came from afar to visit and ask for guidance, but Master dislikes Jiao Lian's improper background and external skills, refusing to teach him the Taoist methods."

  "What's this Ximen Qing's name, I've never heard of it before, and he's not even a fellow Taoist, what's the connection between him and me?"

  "The fate of the Tao is predetermined by heaven, how can it be guessed at will!" Lu Zhiren saw Gong Sunsheng's confusion and coughed: "Although you have cultivated many Taoist methods, the mysterious and subtle parts are not yet clear. The Taoist fate of Ximen Qing is deep and heavy, and in this world, there are only a few who can be counted on their fingers. How can it be let go!"

  "Teacher, the Heavenly Thunder Five Elements True Method is a secret transmission of yours, and Ximen Qing has not even entered the door, how can he have such great luck?" Gong Sun thought back to when he was learning this Heavenly Thunder Five Elements True Method, and remembered how much trouble his teacher had given him, and now today, for no reason at all, he was being asked to transmit it to an outsider.

  Even if we were to accept Ximen Qing as a disciple, shouldn't he at least be made to fetch water and chop firewood for a few years first?

  "You don't have to go, I'll just take back the Thunder Five Elements spell and destroy your cultivation." Luo Zhenren saw that no matter how he persuaded him, Gong Sunsheng refused to comply, so he directly said this.

  Gongsun Sheng heard this and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He thought to himself, since Luo Zhenren didn't give him a deadline, he might as well take the opportunity to go sightseeing, visit friends, and have some fun. As for that unknown Ximen Qing, when the time came, Gongsun Sheng would teach him the Taoist arts, but whether or not he learned them was no longer his concern.

  "This... disciple obeys the master's will."