NOVEL FULL

Strange Stories

Chapter 14: Overnight stay in the temple

Chapter 14 Overnight stay in the temple (asking for monthly ticket) The bamboo forest rustled under the moon, and the footsteps of the people also rustled. Lin Jue walked in front, which was really a helpless move. Ever since these people caught up with him, they refused to walk ahead of him. Whenever Lin Jue slowed down his pace, they would slow down as well. Even if they couldn't see clearly in the darkness and there was a jostle, they still refused to walk ahead. At the same time, Lin Jue could also feel that many people were looking at him quietly. Some of them looked at themselves and then looked at their companions. The rest who did not secretly look at themselves were those who often staggered when walking. They probably did not often face the situation of walking at night, so they did not often drink herbal remedies such as pine needle tea, and suffered from night blindness. "Little... Immortal Master..." Finally, someone couldn't help but speak up, breaking the silence and asking Lin Jue, "Was that a monster just now?" "Hmm?" Lin Jue heaved a sigh of relief when he heard the voice and replied, "It's the monster that often comes out to scare people on this road."

"..." Everyone immediately looked at each other. Those who couldn't see held their breath and looked around in confusion. "May I ask, Master... who did you learn from?" A man dressed as a businessman asked with a bow. "I don't have a master." Lin Jue also looked around. Even though there were many people around, he was afraid that the monster was still there or that there were other monsters spying in the dark. Therefore, although he wanted to correct the way these merchants called him, he was also ashamed to bear it, but he still held back and just said, "Everyone, stop talking and concentrate on your journey." When everyone heard this, they didn't dare to say anything more. The atmosphere became solemn again. Lin Jue had no choice but to say, "Don't be afraid, there are so many of us. Even if there are demons sleeping on the road, we should get up and make way for them." The atmosphere relaxed a little. Lin Jue quickened his pace and strode forward. Everyone quickly followed. As the speed increased, everyone couldn't help but pay more attention to their feet. With the occasional sounds of people about to fall and reminders to "be careful", their fear was reduced. This stretch of road was uneventful. Lin Jue also started thinking as he walked. "Yishan..." At this moment, he finally remembered this mountain, and he also knew why it sounded so familiar to him. According to the legend of Shu Village, Sangu went out for fun and stole some fairy peaches from a fairy mountain. After coming back and eating them, they first turned into fish and then into a mountain. The mountain where Sangu went to pick the fairy peaches was called Yishan. Since there really was a Sangu, then what about the legend? If the legend of Sangu is true, then Mount Yi is indeed a rare fairy mountain. Thinking of this, Lin Jue couldn't help but ask, "My dear gentlemen, have you ever heard of a fairy mountain nearby called Yishan?"

"One mountain? Which one?" "never heard before." "We ordinary people..." "I think I've heard of it..." "I haven't... have you heard?" "Yishan..." There was a chaotic sound, with only two sentences in between that seemed useful, but the voices were very small due to uncertainty. Fortunately, the night was quiet and only the sound of footsteps could be heard, so Lin Jue could still hear even the smallest movement. "Has anyone heard of it?" “I’ve heard of it vaguely.” “I think I’ve heard of it.” The two men talked as they walked. The sounds came one after another, one near and one far away. "Can you tell me about it?" "I heard it's a famous mountain with Taoists and immortals on it. Many of our immortal stories come from there." The person walking in front and closer to Lin Jue answered. "Isn't Mount Yi the mountain where Emperor Huangdi made the elixir?" The man walking behind said stumblingly. He could be seen holding another man's shoulders, his eyes confused and unfocused. "The Yellow Emperor made the elixir? Are there any other legends?" "Can not remember." "Nothing." "Do you know how to get to Yishan?" "I don't have a deep impression of this, but it should not be too far away." said the person walking in front. "Yishan is very remote and the road is difficult to travel. Since ancient times, people who have visited immortals, asked questions, burned incense and worshipped gods have gone to Qiyun Mountain... Ouch... No one has gone to Yishan." The man walking behind said, and he almost fell in the middle. Another person stepped into a puddle and splashed a lot of water. "I only know a general direction. If the immortal master wants to go, he may have to ask while walking." "How do we get there?" "After passing Shan Gu County, go to Qiyun Mountain first, walk 200 miles, and then go south. There is no official road there, only small paths used by Taoist priests and local people on the mountain." "Thank you very much." At this point, the road ahead became noticeably wider, and in the moonlight, a temple could be vaguely seen in the distance. Perhaps knowing that there were people walking at night in the rain, the monks of the temple lit a lamp at the door to welcome and guide them. It was the only light on this mountain road. "arrive!"

"It's here, it's here..." "Master! We're here!" Everyone immediately became excited. Those who couldn't see at night also asked people around them where they were and how far they were. "call……" Lin Jue breathed a sigh of relief again. It was then that he said seriously, "I am not an immortal master, nor do I have any spiritual power. I was just lucky enough to scare away the monster on the road just now. I was afraid that the monster might be eavesdropping, so I didn't correct your address. From now on, you can't call me immortal master anymore!" "what?" Everyone was surprised and puzzled. Lin Jue gave repeated instructions before moving forward towards the temple. At this time, the merchants and travelers became bolder. Some of them took the initiative to step forward and knock on the door gently. Soon a monk with a lamp came to open the door. "Dear donors, are you here to stay overnight?" "Exactly." "There are still people behind." "Maybe." "Please come in quickly." The monk welcomed them in and said, "It rained this afternoon, and there are many people staying here tonight, much more than usual. There are far from enough rooms." "Just squeeze in! Why do you care so much when you are out there? Young master, please go first!" Even though Lin Jue had already said that he was not an immortal master and did not have any spiritual power, these merchants still admired him very much when they heard about his behavior. Even after being led by him for a while, they still treated him with special respect. "polite." Lin Jue also walked forward, following the monk who was holding the lamp in front, and walked into the temple. As I walked, I looked around at the temples and monks. The monk was a very ordinary middle-aged monk, not tall or fat, and the cloth of the monk's robe was also very ordinary. This temple was also not a very large temple, and the tile walls and decorations were a bit old. At this time, there were already many guests staying in it. It was already very late, and these monks even got up to cook porridge for these people. At this time, many passers-by who arrived early were sitting or standing in the yard, at the door of the room, or under the eaves, holding a coarse pottery bowl in their hands, carefully slurping the hot porridge. This scene is very reassuring. Lin Jue smelled the aroma of porridge. The slurping sound also makes one's mouth salivate. I asked passers-by on the way here just now, and this temple seems to be just an ordinary temple. In fact, because it is built halfway and accepts travelers to stay overnight, it has more of a copper coin flavor than most temples. It is a bit like having a monk and running a hostel. I have never heard of "there are enlightened monks in this temple", nor have I heard that any monk here can perform any magic. "Cuckoo..." Lin Jue's stomach started to growl. At this time, they were walking in the middle of the temple. Lin Jue looked back at the mule in his hand, with some reluctance in his eyes.

Mules are a perfect combination of the advantages of horses and donkeys. They are as tough and durable as donkeys, but have a carrying capacity close to that of horses. It is really slow to walk with this book on my back. If I had a mule to help me, I would be much easier. Maybe I won't have to travel at night tonight. It may well have arrived before the rain. "Ugh……" Lin Jue sighed, then stopped walking, and without hesitation, he raised his head and shouted loudly: "Who lost a mule on the road tonight?" The night was quiet and the sound could be heard from far away. As soon as the words were spoken, the entire temple fell silent. What? Lost the mule along the way? Mules are not cheap. Some good mules can even be sold for more than poor horses. Many eyes swept over. But while they were thinking and making up their minds, someone stumbled out of the room. His foot tripped over the door frame and he crawled a few steps away. The monk who was leading the way was a little dazed at first, but when he roughly understood what had happened, he turned around to look at Lin Jue, then raised the lamp forward to light the way for the man. The person who came over was a middle-aged man. He is not tall and has three beards. It was that "Yao San". His expression at this moment was somewhat similar to Yao San's before, at least in terms of the fear on his face. But in addition to the fear that had not yet left, his face was also mixed with many complex emotions such as regret, heartache, and self-blame. When he saw the mule, he became very excited. "My! I lost my mule!" "..." Lin Jue was about to ask how he got lost, but when he saw his face and his expression, he said nothing and just handed over the reins: "I met you on the road, I'll give it back to you." "This……" The man didn't know what to say for a moment. "Congratulations, donor. You can eat now because you have recovered what you lost. Hurry up and take the mule to the stable at the back." The monk urged with a smile, holding up the lantern. Then he turned around and looked at Lin Jue again. Unconsciously, his demeanor and behavior became more respectful than before. "It is really admirable that the donor has such moral character at such a young age." "I don't deserve it, but it's just what I should do." "The donor should be regarded as an honored guest of our hospital." "Don't dare."

"You are too polite." The monk made a gesture of invitation, "Please continue to follow me. I know that you have been tired from the night journey, so I specially cooked some porridge to fill your stomachs." Everyone hurried inside. Most of them were in their thirties or forties, but they still walked in with Lin Jue in front, talking to each other as they did on the road. (End of this chapter)