novelraw Chapter 581 - 580 Bai Heqing
Chapter 581 - 580 Bai Heqing
"Fellow Daoist receives offerings from Anping Town to ensure the safety of the area, indeed you have the right to take charge. How do you plan to handle this situation?"
Jiang Yuan felt a surge of anger just seeing the details before the ellipsis, not bothering to read it all, as he didn’t know the kid dared to molest a girl.
Just a mere servant, using the master’s power to wield a little bit of authority to do evil deeds and bully others; merely beating him up is far too lenient!
Bai Heqing was taken aback by these words, how could the other immediately discern that he enjoys the incense offerings from Anping Town?
Upon closer inspection, this fellow Daoist bore no trace of spiritual power leakage, seeming like an ordinary person at first glance. If not for his ability to wield a flying sword to punish the wicked servant, Bai Heqing would have mistaken him for a rich young master among mortals.
Dressed in high-quality silk magical robes, wielding a premium spirit sword filled with sword energy; this unfathomable cultivator suddenly appearing in such a remote place—perhaps he came for the same reason as well?
"Such wicked servants bullying and oppressing others are indeed despicable, naturally, their deeds will be recorded and posted publicly, beaten soundly and expelled from Anping Town, never to return as a warning to others." Bai Heqing was so furious his white beard quivered, summoning his lifebound weapon, the wolf fang club, to give the servant Xiaosi a light whack, which his mortal body could not withstand, causing him to faint with his eyes rolling back.
The refugees were scattered swiftly after Jiang Yuan purchased goods at a high price; when he used the Clear Wind Sword to punish the wicked servant, the remaining ones also hurriedly ran to the city, leaving the area outside the city gates empty.
Bai Heqing sighed, saying, "Since this fellow Daoist saw through it at a glance, Bai doesn’t have much to hide. I merely wish to enjoy some incense offerings due to possessing some skills, so that crossing tribulations in the future might have some added enhancement.
Having enjoyed mortal offerings, I must ensure the area’s safety. Yet, being inherently different from humans and busy with cultivation, I leave the town’s daily management to humans. Occasionally, some take advantage of others, making fellow Daoists laugh."
"The human heart is unpredictable; there are good people, naturally there are bad ones too, it’s unavoidable. Being able to achieve this much, fellow Daoist has done very well." This was not Jiang Yuan speaking casually, but sincerely moved.
Previously affected by the malicious deeds of the three major families in Riverfront Village, he believed those demon cultivators receiving offerings under the guise of immortals were not anything good.
But Tang Qin, receiving offerings from the Tian Changgui family, even finding ways to intervene upon encountering Yin Messengers;
Bai Heqing, enjoying Anping Town’s incense, occasionally descends in person to investigate and inspect discreetly, both being dedicated all the same, serving as a sort of "Guardian God."
"Bai shamelessly refers to myself as the Immortal Elder of Antarctica, it’s a helpless measure." The white-bearded old man glanced at his own statue and laughed, "Surely the fellow Daoist understands.
Being a demon cultivator with some protective abilities, I thought of acquiring some incense offerings for a taste, while mortals need protection but fear demon cultivators. There’s no choice but to adopt the title of Immortal.
Otherwise, even with maximum effort to protect, once the common folk know they’re offering not to an immortal elder but their most feared demons, they might smash the statue overnight.
However, those demon beasts in the wilderness are not to be underestimated; losing protection would result in hiding in fear, and with bad luck, countless lives in an entire town could be ruined by demon beasts overnight."
Jiang Yuan had seen the combat capabilities of demon beasts, even the Celestial Sword Sect faced difficulties against them, much less mortals?
During summer, fewer demon beasts descend upon the Cloud Prairie, yet there’s the threat of Mist Cloud, and Bai Heqing’s protective shield keeping Anping Town safe defensively is already impressive.
Seeing the other party nodding in agreement, Bai Heqing tentatively asked, "This deserted island is remote, with rare cultivators, did you come by or is there something you need here?"
"A friend entrusted me to visit his descendants in town." Jiang Yuan believed the other feared he came to make trouble, so he explained his purpose before bidding farewell: "It’s getting late; I won’t delay your handling of the wicked servant."
After speaking, he nodded to prepare to enter the city but was stopped and retained by the other, who said, "Fellow Daoist, please stay. Bai has a request, hoping to take up a few moments of your time.
Earlier mentioned enjoying the people’s incense so naturally, one should protect the area’s safety; Bai has never slackened in these years, and truly, Anping Town’s people have no worries about demon beasts invading threatening.
Yet recently, for some unknown reason, I vaguely sense a bad force lingering near the town, conducting several secret visits but finding no trace. If the fellow Daoist is available, could you help sense what might be nearby? If discoveries occur timely resolving issues, Bai would offer a substantial reward!"
He thought, since he couldn’t discern the other party’s power, naturally it was above his own; and having stepped in to punish the wicked servant revealed him as an upright cultivator who despises abusive behaviors, so why not request his assistance to uncover the situation?
Even if extra rewards must be given, resolving potential threats and ensuring safety without affecting receiving offerings, it’s quite worthwhile.
"A lingering bad force?" Jiang Yuan recalled what the old dog had advised before escorting his disciples away, and commented, "I do know summer wilderness draws the Cloud Prairie here, heading northwest for a distance is Cloud City.
Frequently, Mist Cloud clusters arise on the Cloud Prairie, unpredictably from somewhere, dispersing uncertainly; within the clouds could hide monsters or treasures, wrapping around people or cultivators, leading to potential disappearance. Could the force you’ve detected be a Mist Cloud casually drifting by with something unpleasant inside?"
Bai Heqing had never heard of such extraordinary things in the world. Hesitantly, he said, "Rising suddenly and vanishing abruptly, this description does indeed resemble what I sensed, no wonder I occasionally tried to locate that aura when transferring it, but couldn’t find it..."
He suddenly understood and, smiling, bowed, "Thank you for your guidance, dear friend. The world is indeed full of wonders, today I’ve truly learned something new. In that case, I will stay a few days in Anping Town, to confirm if the Mist Cloud is causing the array’s sensing, so I can feel at ease."
After Jiang Yuan bid farewell once more, he headed into the city, walking towards where Qiao Mei’s family lived in Central Street. He mused about having such a responsible "Guardian" in Anping Town; after solving Lin Chunsheng’s problem of not being able to pass messages through dreams, Lin Dayou can finally rest easy about his wife and children’s safety.
Anping Town, as the largest town within a hundred-mile radius, stretched over several dozens of miles occupying half a mountain, bustling and prosperous.
The Lower District housed the most people. The houses were cramped and small, with many families only having walls on each side shared with neighbors, simply adding a roof and a back wall to count as a room;
In the Central District, the houses were fewer, but the layouts were more structured and appealing.
Lin Dayou’s wife, Qiao Mei, along with their two children, and an elderly couple, Grandfather and Grandmother from Riverfront Village, settled in Wanfu Lane, slightly towards the lower part of Central District.
Upon entering the lane, Jiang Yuan saw the large characters "Lin Family Shop" hanging over the main door, accompanied by the aroma of steamed buns and the scent of burning firewood, which made him feel as if he had stepped back into his childhood home.
When his grandmother was alive, she often used earthen stoves to burn firewood for cooking, steaming buns in large pots. Jiang Yuan loved adding wood and working the bellows. The wooden bellows would rhythmically make a "whoosh-whoosh" sound as they moved, making the fire burn brighter and his face flush red.
"The buns are ready, I will move out the pickled vegetable jar," Qiao Mei, with a grey cloth tied around her head, wiped the sweat off her forehead and instructed, "Aunt Liang from the street ordered a steamer of buns, give them to her if she comes by, she’s already paid."
Grandmother replied with a smile, "Got it, you rest after moving the jar, the old man and I will set up the stall by the street. When Chunxi and Chunsheng come back, you’ll still have to manage the children’s homework."
Qiao Mei responded and emerged from the kitchen, looking up to see a well-dressed young man standing at her door, she smiled, "The buns are just out of the pot, sir..."
She paused, her mind flashed back to past scenes and she recognized him at once, becoming so excited she was at a loss for words, "Little Immortal! Oh my, why are you here, come in, quick, quick!"
She hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron and happily yet frantically ushered him inside, "The house isn’t tidied up, please don’t mind, sit down, and I’ll make you tea!"
"No rush, I was just passing by, just came to see how life is treating you now." Jiang Yuan, had it not been for the system popping up the details, wouldn’t have dared recognize her.
He still remembered how Qiao Mei was, running madly to Shuiyun Lake for help, skin and bones, tanned dark, her hair like dried grass, wearing coarse hemp clothes full of patches.
Now, only a few months into starting a new life, she was much fairer, her face filled out, tidied up cleanly, and upon closer inspection, she was merely a woman in her early thirties, still quite young.
"Thanks to you, compared to before, we’re living a blessed life!" Qiao Mei hurriedly called for Grandmother to meet their savior and carefully introduced, "With the money you provided, we bought this small courtyard and started our own business. The bun and pickled vegetable business is doing well; both children are in school learning to read and write. Whatever they do later will be far better than living in Riverfront Village before!"
Her husband, Lin Dayou, occasionally passed messages through dreams. She knew it was thanks to the Little Immortal that he was saved from suffering. Now, though separated by life and death, they could sometimes meet in dreams.
She burned some paper gold ingots in her leisure time, as Dayou earned some money in business and managed to send it over to support the family, seeing their life becoming increasingly prosperous. Only her son, Chunsheng...
Qiao Mei recalled her husband mentioning several times about not being able to pass messages through dreams, moreover, Chunsheng’s temperament recently became stranger. She initially wanted to discuss it with the Little Immortal, but considering the significant favor they had received from him, she felt she couldn’t repay him and was embarrassed to trouble him with trivial matters.
Thus, she opened her mouth, but in the end remained silent, only saying that life was good.
"Since I’m here, I’ll wait for the two children to come back from school and see how their studies are going." Jiang Yuan casually made up an excuse, then took out a bundle of firewood, herbs, and vegetables bought from the refugees at the city gate.
He handed over a package of gold, silver, and jewels, patiently instructing, "With the Immortal Elder Temple guarding Anping Town, it’s very safe. Dayou is doing well on the other side too. It’s just that you’ll need to work harder, with the elderly and children, everything requires your personal effort. Keep what you find useful, and sell what you don’t need."
The elderly couple was astonished, exclaiming "Heavens bless," without seeing Jiang Yuan’s subtle hand movements, when their courtyard was suddenly filled with goods with a wave of his right hand.
Qiao Mei, bewildered, caught the heavy little cloth bag with both hands, hearing the crisp jingling inside, knowing they must be precious items, immediately declined, "You’ve saved us and helped us settle down. Although life is good now, I can’t accept anymore. I’m still young and able-bodied, and occasionally Dayou can help out; the children are grown enough to share some chores, I can’t take such great kindness any more."
As they were refusing, Lin Chunxi ran breathlessly inside, exclaiming, "Mother! You must go see, the sun’s almost setting and Chunsheng insists on leaving the town!"
Jiang Yuan looked up to see Lin Chunxi, taller now and fairer, with a faint grey mist clinging to him— according to the system, it’s a sign of imminent sickness due to strange contamination!