Inner Demons

Chapter 74: Nothing More Beautiful Than a Sunset

But at least, Li Yunxin's smile made him feel at ease.

In the fifty or sixty years that Old Daoist Liu had lived, few people had smiled at him like that or said such words. As he looked at the young man he had "picked up" from the roadside today, he suddenly realized...

Ah, he wasn't alone anymore.

He was no longer alone, managing that Dragon King Temple, walking the streets and alleys, reading people's faces, happy for a few days after selling a few paintings, then going to bed early at night, and waking up in the morning to stand blankly in the front courtyard.

If he wasn't alone anymore, and the other person didn't care about how he appeared to others... then what did he have to care about?

It had been so many years.

Old Daoist Liu's fear, born from seeing the magnificent and prosperous scene in front of the building, suddenly vanished.

He then chuckled, "Good, I have you, Brother Xin."

"Let's go," Li Yunxin said with a smile, "You've been hungry all day."

The two of them then squeezed out of the crowd, intending to merge into the splendor in front of the building.But after walking two or three steps to the roadside, the old Daoist suddenly stopped again.

Li Yunxin assumed he was still feeling inferior and frowned slightly, thinking he probably needed to spend a few minutes giving him some "psychological intervention"—this was something he was adept at. Especially for someone like Old Daoist Liu, who trusted him.

A professional, especially a professional among professionals like him, could, in a few minutes and for a relatively short period, construct a temporary but solid psychological defense for someone who already had no guard against him... but he had never thought of doing it before.

He felt he probably preferred the "unspoiled" old man.

Because... it was very interesting.

But just as he was about to speak, the old man had already turned to the right and said loudly, "Fellow Daoist Shi. We meet here. How have you been?"

Li Yunxin then looked to the right and raised an eyebrow.

Old Daoist Liu's voice and tone were those he used when speaking to incense-offering devotees in the hall. Clear and sonorous, with a hint of brightness in its richness—rare for his age.

However, in these three sentences, the trailing sound of each word had an imperceptible tremble and rise—

This old man was very excited right now.

But it was an excitement brought on by some strong positive emotion.

When Li Yunxin saw that Fellow Daoist Shi, he smiled faintly to himself.

Ha. Nothing more beautiful than a sunset.

Fellow Daoist Shi was a woman. Probably in her forties or fifties.

Most women in this world, at forty or fifty, looked like they were sixty or seventy in his world. But this "Fellow Daoist Shi" actually looked a little...

Still charming. Perhaps it was because even though her cultivation was from a miscellaneous sect and unconventional, it still had some effect.

She also wore a blue Daoist robe and had a Daoist bun. Her face had wrinkles, but they weren't unpleasant. Her skin was smooth, and she had a somewhat dignified appearance, looking like a Daoist priestess with some cultivation.

Standing next to Old Daoist Liu, a common person looking at them would truly feel they were otherworldly and possessed the demeanor of a highly accomplished cultivator.

When this Fellow Daoist Shi saw the old man, she first paused slightly, then her eyes happily narrowed as she returned the greeting, "Old Daoist Liu, you're well too."

The tone and voice of these two sentences made Li Yunxin feel kindly towards her. Although this woman was old, she seemed to have a cheerful and lively disposition. In this world, at her age, that was quite rare.

The old Daoist quickly said, "Good, good. Fellow Daoist Shi... are you also here for the Treasure Blossom Assembly?"

"Indeed," that Fellow Daoist Shi said, still smiling with narrowed eyes, "I thought such a grand event would have nothing to do with us small temples, but who knew they actually sent an invitation. The person who delivered the invitation said it was the intention of Lingkongzi, the Daoist of Langya Grotto-Heaven's Head Disciple of the Sect Master. I received the invitation last night and set out, rushing as fast as I could, only arriving now."

Old Daoist Liu blinked, "Ah?"

That Fellow Daoist Shi then said, "They say that Lingkongzi will have something to say at the assembly—the invitation was polite, saying they wished for cultivators near Weicheng to pool their wisdom and efforts. But I think... it's probably to assign us some tasks. How can people like us be considered cultivators? That esteemed person is merely being polite."

The old Daoist responded twice, then fell silent for a moment.

Li Yunxin knew the old man had lost his train of thought. He smiled faintly, stepped forward, and bowed to Shi Daoist, saying, "Greetings, Senior."

The woman had been looking at Li Yunxin earlier, and now, seeing him speak, she smiled even more happily, "Oh. Old Daoist, is this your disciple? He's really handsome!"

The old Daoist quickly said, "Hmm... this is..."

"This humble Daoist is Yun Xinzi." Li Yunxin knew the old Daoist's predicament and said with a smile, "He is indeed my master's new disciple. Greetings, Senior."

Old Daoist Liu cast him a grateful glance—if Li Yunxin hadn't spoken, he truly wouldn't have known whether to say "this is my disciple." At this point, he quickly introduced, "Disciple, this is Daoist Priest Shi Kuizi, the Temple Keeper of Dagushan Mountain God Temple, twenty li outside Weicheng. She is my master's... old acquaintance."

Li Yunxin bowed again, and Shi Kuizi returned the gift. Old Daoist Liu then gestured, and the two walked side by side into Qionghua Tower.

The old man seemed a bit uncomfortable again at this point, and Li Yunxin, because of this little interlude, smiled inwardly—he never expected Old Daoist Liu to have such a romantic entanglement. He could see that Old Daoist Liu admired Shi Kuizi, and he could also sense that the female Daoist was not averse to Old Daoist Liu, even having a slight fondness for him.

But these two were so far apart, and it wasn't his era where long-distance relationships were convenient... what kind of story was between them, exactly?

After passing through the carriages and horses on the street, they arrived at the entrance of Qionghua Tower.

Previously, people blocking the view had prevented a clear sight, but now they saw a group of people already waiting by the large stone lion on the left side of the entrance.

The large stone lion in front of Qionghua Tower was two people high. The space between the stone lions was wide and the door was large, just like the gate of the former imperial palace in Weicheng, creating a small plaza.

A group of Daoist priests in blue Daoist robes were waiting by the stone lion on the left.

Two young apprentices were also waiting there. When they saw someone dressed simply, they eagerly led them over, checked their invitations, exchanged a few words, and directed them to wait there.

Thus, it was understood that they were probably receiving guests like themselves—those in fine clothes and on magnificent horses went straight through the main entrance and were not stopped.

However, this was not a discourtesy—in such an era and such a world, there was naturally a clear distinction between superior and inferior. If these invited wild Daoist priests were truly to enter through the same door as those high officials and wealthy nobles, they would instead feel more uncomfortable, just like Old Daoist Liu.

Seeing the three approaching, a tall, thin apprentice came forward and bowed, "Are the three Daoist masters here for the assembly? Do you have an invitation?"

Shi Kuizi returned the bow, took out a small red invitation, and handed it to the apprentice to see. Another apprentice then led her away.

The old Daoist frowned slightly, and with some hesitation, pulled his invitation from his sleeve.

Because... it was quite different from Shi Kuizi's.