NOVEL FULL

Strange Stories

Chapter 68: Only Good and Evil

Chapter 68: Only Good and Evil (Thanks to the leader of "Yi Gu Gui Fang") Early the next morning, two Taoists, several pilgrims, a fox and a donkey went down the mountain again. The donkey was still carrying two bamboo baskets, which were covered with fine cloth and contained a few cats. Not only the three cat demons practicing on the Scissor Peak, but also several in the Taoist temple have actually gained spirituality, but have not yet achieved enlightenment and transformed into human form. They were also brought along this time. When there are outsiders around, they don't speak, but often stick their heads out and look around curiously, as if they are looking to see where they are going. The fox walked beside Lin Jue. It was already dusk when we arrived in the city. When several merchants heard that they might not be able to get all their money back, and that they had to get it back as soon as possible, they started scrambling to see whose house they would visit first as soon as they entered the city. Someone said that his family's money was lost the latest and it was easiest to find it back, and someone immediately said that they should go to the family whose money was lost first. Someone took out silver and said it was tea money, and someone immediately did it, but the third brother did not accept the money, just waved his hand and said to go to the nearest person's house. Under the setting sun, the group walked past the community temple again.

Lin Jue turned around and saw that there were quite a few people gathered in front of the community temple today. Most of them were shirtless, and their muscular bodies were more clearly visible due to sweat. They all looked like strong men, and there was an old man with a cane standing in front of them. "What is this doing?" Lin Jue couldn't help but ask in confusion. "Isn't it because of what happened in the city? We have been worshipping this Master Chen, but he is useless. Some time ago, someone who stayed in this temple was robbed by a monster. What do you think is the reason for worshipping him? When someone in the city heard about this, they said to smash the statue and ask for the statue of Lord Yili instead." "What about the old man?" "Oh, that's Mr. Liu, who is highly respected in the city." A middle-aged businessman said, "Everyone said he smashed the statue of the god, but no one dared to do it for fear of offending the gods. Only Mr. Liu dared to do such a thing. He is not only highly respected, but also a gentleman since he was young. He has never done anything wrong in his life. Even if the gods came to ask, he would dare to raise his cane to beat them away." "I see." Lin Jue nodded, thoughtfully. In this world, it seems that many goblins, ghosts, and earth gods respect people with virtue very much, and this does not seem to be because virtue itself has some kind of power. Specifically speaking of this matter, the people of this world have always been pragmatic even when it comes to worshipping gods, so they naturally want to replace him. However, even if this god himself is useless, people still feel awe. They are afraid that the gods will come to blame and hold them accountable, or that the gods will take the case to a higher god, or that they have done some evil deeds or thoughts in their lives, which will be used as grounds for criticism by the gods. Only those who truly have confidence in their own virtues and have a clear conscience dare to face the gods as mortals. They can build temples and statues, but they can also tear down temples and destroy statues. If you think about it carefully, you will find it interesting. Then we came to a house named Yang. This family is very big and there are quite a few people in the family. Although he was anxious, he did not act rudely. He first asked his family to pour tea for Lin Jue and the other man, and then he walked towards the inner courtyard. By the time Lin Jue put down the bamboo basket on the donkey's back and released the seven cats, Mr. Yang had already come out with his money box, which was a wooden box covered with thick iron sheets. However, a big hole had appeared on the box at this time. "My family keeps all their money in here. We know that some monsters come to steal it. They say it's a villain. If it's covered with iron, it won't be stolen. But now there's a hole in the iron." The leading cat stood up, holding the iron box and sniffing. The remaining two cats looked at it curiously.

Lin Jue couldn't help but fall into deep thought. It was unclear whether these monsters had become more powerful, or whether this was their strategy - to steal some loose silver first, let people know that the boxes wrapped in tin would not be stolen, thereby prompting people to put all the silver and money in their homes into the tin boxes, and finally destroy the boxes; or perhaps it was originally very difficult for them to destroy the tin boxes, but over time, all the people in Yi County knew the secret, and except for those merchants who took a detour here because of the flood, everyone locked their money in the tin boxes, and the monsters had no choice but to take the trouble to drill open the tin boxes. At this moment, Lin Jue lowered his eyes and saw his own little fox sniffing in the air. Finally, he raised his head and looked towards the house in front. The third senior brother also saw this scene. The two looked at each other and exchanged opinions. "Go and have a look first." So each of them took a piece of cake and stuffed it into their mouth, then picked up a cup of tea and poured it into their mouth, and that was it, they had finished their dinner, and then they followed the fox. The third brother also said to the person behind him: "Please follow me, my three Taoist friends." The three cats were doing their own things, but when they heard this, they immediately followed. The four cats from Fuqiu Temple were slower and less attentive, but after the tabby cat on the Scissor Peak took a few steps, it turned back and called to them, so they hurriedly ran to follow. The fox is in front and the Taoist is behind. Behind them are seven cats of different colors. All the way to the east corner of the courtyard. There are also flowers and plants planted here. A tree is bent into a suitable shape and sticks out of the wall. There is a rockery underneath, which is covered with moss and has an inconspicuous hole hidden behind it. The little fox walked here and stopped, raised one paw, put it on the stone, turned around and stared at Lin Jue seriously. Lin Jue went over to take a look. The entrance of the hole is about the same thickness as a bowl, but the inside is obviously larger, which is enough for mice as big as cats or humans to pass through. "Thank you very much." Lin Jue touched the little fox's head. This little thing looks serious and stern, as if he knows he is doing something important. "Junior brother, was the temple where you caught mice last time the same temple in the city?" "Yes." "That's not close to here." "Seems to be." "Could it be that these things have dug through the entire underground of Yi County?" The third brother frowned, "Or is there a group of them underground in every neighborhood?" "do not know." "..." Then the third brother turned his head and said to the people of the Yang family, "We will start to exorcise the monsters. If there is any money down there, we will bring it up. Please step aside for the time being. It's best to stay away." "Good good..."

After the Yang family left, he bowed to the cat among the three and said: "Thank you for your hard work, fellow Taoist." "Why are you saying these things, fellow Daoist? We are neighbors and old friends. Fourth Aunt has also agreed to your request and we have also agreed on the hard work fee. This is the way it should be. Besides, my Fourth Aunt is about to become a god and she still needs your help." This cat speaks in a very different way. "The rats below can transform into humans and use weapons. Be careful, senior." Lin Jue couldn't help but remind him. But the cat glanced at him: "How can a mouse bully a cat? Besides, we have been rooted in Yishan for a thousand years. Don't we have any ability at all?" As he spoke, he was already walking towards the cave entrance with his tail raised. As soon as he finished speaking, he jumped forward and easily got into the cave. When the other two cats saw this, they also went in without hesitation. At that moment, only the four cats from Fuqiu Temple were left outside, including a red cat, a colored beaver, an orange cat, and a black and white cat. They looked into the cave curiously, and then turned back to look at Third Senior Brother and Lin Jue. "Meow~" A voice came from the cave, like a call. "Go ahead." Although the third brother had never learned the method of gathering beasts and taming birds, he also said to them, "This is the Taoist friends from Jiandao Peak helping you." When the four cats heard this, they also went into the cave. "Brother, don't worry about what's going on in the cave. The fellow Taoists from Scissor Peak will take care of these rat monsters." The third brother took out four beans and threw them on the ground. "Be careful." Suddenly, two shield-sword warriors and two archers appeared on the ground. "it is good." Lin Jue also withdrew his gaze from the cave. Pull out the hatchet, pick up the sentry stick, and put them together to make a broadsword. Holding it in your hand, you will feel safe. "Ah……" The third brother laughed and said, "Junior brother, you really have a special liking for this Pudao." Lin Jue didn't say anything. At least for him now, magic can be used to exorcise monsters, and so can the broadsword. Magic is useful, and the broadsword is not necessarily worse than magic, and may even be more useful. The fox beside them seemed to understand what they were saying. It immediately withdrew its gaze from the cave, sat down next to Lin Jue's feet, and stared around vigilantly. At dusk, there were still voices in the streets outside. There were also some noises coming from the cave. There were sounds of mice squeaking, cats meowing, and running. Gradually it got dark. Nothing happened on the ground. The cave gradually became quiet. After a while, the tabby cat from Jiandao Peak came out of the cave first, dragging a mouse about the same size as itself. Two cats followed behind, and then the four cats from Fuqiu Temple. They all did the same, holding a big gray mouse about the same size as themselves.

When they caught the mice, they placed them on the ground. Lin Jue looked down and thought of the rat soldier leader in the temple a few days ago. However, he did not have any mercy in his heart, knowing that these rat monsters, in addition to stealing money, would actually harm people in the city, and their personalities were unexpectedly ferocious. "There are two more." The cat put the mouse down and said, "We have to run one more trip." "Is it connected down there or is there just one piece?" “It’s a big one.” "Is there any money in it?" "It's the heavy white stone, right?" "Yes." "There are some." "Please, fellow Taoist..." "That one is so heavy." "Sorry to trouble you, fellow Taoist." The third brother smiled and saluted it. "Ugh……" The cat sighed and went back in. The third senior brother withdrew his gaze, looked down at the rat on the ground, and frowned. "What's wrong, senior brother?" “It smells dead.” "Dead anger?" Lin Jue's expression froze when he thought of that rotten smell. No wonder these rat demons are so bold and ferocious. Both dead energy and ghost energy are related to Yin energy, but they are different. Lin Jue's cultivation is too shallow. Although Seventh Senior Brother is extremely talented, he majored in drama. It is normal that he did not notice it a few days ago. Until now, Lin Jue only knew that ghosts cultivated Yin Qi, but they also produced a kind of Qi, which was called ghost Qi; dead Qi also came from places with thick Yin Qi, often related to corpses, and also mutated. Usually, ghost Qi would make creatures feel uncomfortable, subconsciously stay away or become weak, while dead Qi might make creatures sick or even become violent and ferocious. Before returning from Ogawamura, the fellow disciples in the temple had discussed these three kinds of qi during meals. Strong ghost aura is not only caused by big and evil ghosts, and strong death aura is not only caused by zombies and evil corpses, but also by people or monsters who specialize in this way, and even evil things that are born from it. Lin Jue only remembered the stench. "Aren't these rats transformed into spirits? How can there be death energy?" Lin Jue asked in confusion, thinking of Ogawamura, "Could it be that they became spirits under the influence of death energy? Or is it that the people who prompted them to become spirits and directed them from behind are related to death energy?"

"It's all possible." "so……" "Be careful!" "understood." Lin Jue looked around and knew that his third senior brother was ready to welcome someone's arrival, but it was still silent outside. That person did not come. "Don't worry. We are in the city and it's still early. It would be best if he doesn't come. It would be best if he comes. If he doesn't come, it doesn't matter. There are rat monsters everywhere. We can find them one by one and cut off his sources of income one by one." The third brother said with narrowed eyes. After saying that, he looked at Lin Jue again and grinned: "Junior brother, it's not that easy to make money from your carving knives..." Lin Jue immediately knew—— This is a battle of wits. It's just that there is no personal grudge, and no one has drawn the line first. It is even very likely that the two sides don't know each other so far. If we have to say something, it's only about good and evil. (End of this chapter)