novelraw Chapter 208 Greed Drives People Mad!
Chapter 208 Greed Drives People Mad!
Chapter 208 Greed Drives People Mad!
The area in front of Changqing Gate was paved with bluestone slabs. Ma Da kowtowed heavily, and after more than a dozen kowtows, the bluestone slabs were covered in crimson!
The bright red blood was very eye-catching, and everyone saw it. Their hearts skipped a beat. Had this person also gone mad?
Listen to this insane rambling, and look at this frantic kowtowing. Only a madman could do something like this.
Ignoring the whispers of the crowd, Ma Da continued to kowtow repeatedly, each sound sending chills down everyone's spines.
"He's gone mad! He's gone mad!" Old Mrs. Cheng's face darkened. She ordered the servants to drag the man away. "Take him out and hand him over to the authorities! Tell them he's a fraudster..."
"slow!"
Madam Han immediately stopped her, saying, "Your Cheng family keeps accusing him of being a fraud, but who has he been deceiving? The three brothers are crazy and spout nonsense, but they haven't cheated anyone out of their money."
"What? Do you think this government office is run by your Cheng family? You can just arrest someone and fabricate charges against them?"
The younger generation of the Cheng family were stumped. Indeed, although these three people seemed crazy, they hadn't actually cheated anyone out of their money.
"Mrs. Han's tongue is still so sharp." Old Mrs. Cheng's face twitched.
Mrs. Han added fuel to the fire with a smile: "You still mean what you say."
These words enraged Old Mrs. Cheng, who glared at her fiercely and her temper flared up. She was determined to punish these three people today!
"Send it to the authorities and say it's spreading rumors and misleading the public..."
“Oh dear! This accusation is even more unconvincing!” Madam Han interrupted again. “This morning you said you dreamed of the Queen Mother of the West and even asked for wine at her banquet. So now people outside are saying that the Queen Mother of the West wished you a happy birthday in your dream.”
What a coincidence! The ancestors of these three people also saw the Queen Mother of the West. Since they all saw the Queen Mother of the West, why were they convicted of "spreading heresies and misleading the public"? But you were praised for doing good deeds and accumulating merit.
Why do you keep trying to convict them? They're just three lunatics, what's wrong with them? Why are you so eager to convict them, could it be that...?
Madam Han didn't say the rest, but her peach blossom eyes, like hooks, scoured back and forth between Ma Da and Old Madam Cheng. The smile on her face was quite meaningful and extremely glaring.
Grandma Cheng was so angry that she saw stars and lost her footing. The younger generation behind her quickly helped her up.
The headmaster and all the teachers of Changshan Academy twitched in unison.
Please, please don't let anything happen at their academy!
They didn't want to get involved in these people's schemes!
But there are always people who enjoy watching the drama unfold.
Another official's wife, who had come to watch the commotion, was very curious about what Madam Han hadn't finished saying.
"Mrs. Han, please finish your sentence! What? You're just leaving things unsaid, making us all anxious!"
Madam Han laughed even more heartily; she had been waiting for this question: "The Cheng family is so eager to convict these three people. Could it be that one of you is lying? When the lie meets the truth, wouldn't you panic and cause trouble?"
This is very blunt, tantamount to pointing at Old Mrs. Cheng and saying that she is a fake!
In order to create a good reputation for herself and the Cheng family, she fabricated a story about the Queen Mother of the West hosting a banquet for the immortals and bestowing wine upon them.
Grandma Cheng was so angry she couldn't speak, her face turned pale, and she felt incredibly guilty.
The younger generation of the Cheng family couldn't hold their tempers and started arguing with Madam Han on the spot.
"Madam Han clearly dislikes the Cheng family and is determined to smear them!"
"Madam Han's eyesight is poor, and her mind isn't very sharp either. If there's a truth to this matter, then the one who's lying must be these three lunatics!"
"That's right! These three are spouting nonsense; it's obvious who's telling the truth and who's lying! Yet some people just can't see it!"
……
Listening to the younger generation of the Cheng family talking one after another, the headmaster and all the teachers of Changshan Academy closed their eyes.
idiot!
They've been led astray by the nose!
Mrs. Han was very pleased; the Cheng family was as foolish as ever.
Madam Han pointed at Ma Da and the other two brothers and clicked her tongue twice: "Look, look, look at the miserable state of these three brothers! Since ancient times, whenever a mortal encounters an immortal, it is a wonderful thing to be granted medicine, blessings, a name, and opportunities!"
For thousands of years, it has been the same. Everyone talks a good game, but in fact, which one of them is not a deception?
But look at these brothers, they are different. Their ancestors encountered immortals, but it wasn't a pleasant encounter; instead, they were consumed by greed and stole the immortals' divine incense.
At this point, Madam Han paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "I often think that those mortals who wait for immortals to bestow things must have never seen a real immortal. If they had, who wouldn't be greedy?"
Just like the words the brothers recited, "The blue phoenix carries the incense burner hanging in the sky, the smoke waterfall flows into the Milky Way, forming a ladder to immortality, helping those with destiny to enter the Jade Pool of dreams." If there really is such divine incense that allows mortals to ascend to immortality, who among those present would not be tempted upon seeing it?
If I could become an immortal, why would I need immortals to bestow medicine, blessings, names, or opportunities? Once I become an immortal, wouldn't all of these be at my disposal?
These words struck everyone present like a thunderbolt!
Yes! If one could see the divine incense that could help one ascend to immortality, who would care about the rewards bestowed by immortals?
Once I become an immortal, won't all of this be within my grasp?
Suddenly, the crowd of people nearby shouted, "What those brothers are saying is true! Their ancestors must have seen real gods!"
The sudden commotion among the people caused the headmaster of Changshan Academy to change his expression. He hurriedly spoke up to calm them down: "Everyone! Everyone! Please calm down. The person is here and can't run away. We definitely need to find out what happened."
Upon hearing this, the people gradually calmed down, but their gazes remained intensely fixed on Ma Da and his companions.
Ma Da and his two companions trembled. Although they were terrified, they knew they had to keep up the act. If they said it was a lie now, they would probably be beaten to death on the spot!
The Cheng family, who were at a complete disadvantage at this point, were extremely unwilling to accept it.
So the clever younger generation of the Cheng family came up with a clever idea: "Weren't they fighting over some kind of incense? Let's make them hand over the incense, light it, and see!"
Everyone's eyes lit up, and even Madam Han was eager to try.
What she said just now was half deduction and half nonsense. She just wanted to annoy the Cheng family. She was also very curious about the divine incense that the three brothers were fighting over!
Upon hearing that they were to hand over the incense to light, Ma Da and the other two breathed a sigh of relief.
We've finally reached the point of lighting incense. Let's hurry up and light it so they can run away in the chaos!
Ma Da ran over to Ma Er, took half a stick of incense from his body, and presented it to Madam Han with both hands.
Mrs. Han was stunned: "This is... incense?"
“That’s right, the form of the Divine Fragrance is a flower. This is a red peony. The other half was destroyed during the struggle, so only this half remains.”
Everyone had never seen incense like this before, and they all crowded forward to take a look. The more they looked, the more shocked they became!
The petals of this red peony are layered upon each other, as thin as a cicada's wing!
What kind of skill does it take to knead the face powder into this shape!
It's truly a masterpiece!
"Find me a tinderbox!" Madam Han reached out her hand, about to carefully take it, but was suddenly pushed by Old Madam Cheng halfway, falling onto the nanny behind her.
Everyone was startled by this scene and it was too late to stop it. They could only watch helplessly as Old Madam Cheng was about to receive the incense.
Ma Da tried to pull his hand back, but was pinned down by Cheng family servants who suddenly rushed over, rendering him unable to move.
Just then, a dark shadow swept past Ma Da's head from the sky, and the next second, the half-stick of incense in his hand disappeared!
"Where's the incense?!" Old Mrs. Cheng grabbed Ma Da's hand, her face contorted with rage.
"It's in that man's hands! He stole the sacred incense!"
"The person is standing at Changqing Gate!"
"That man is incredibly skilled! Did anyone see how he snatched the incense and how he climbed up the door?"
……
Amidst the commotion, everyone looked up at Changqing Gate.
Gu Tang, who was perched on the wall not far away, angrily cursed, "Who is this bastard?! He ruined my good... uh..." He couldn't finish his curse because the man had lit the incense with a tinderbox and placed it at the highest point of the door.
Then it turned around and leaped down, disappearing from sight after a few jumps!
what the hell!
Lightness skill?!
"Father! Father! Did you see that just now?! That person knows kung fu!"
"I saw it, it's a rare sight."
The father and daughter were focused on something different from the others; they were still looking in the direction where the figure had disappeared, while everyone under Changqing Gate stared in disbelief at the top of the gate.
Snow-white smoke began to flow from top to bottom. At first, it was very thin, but after a few breaths, the smoke became thicker and drifted down from the door, like a layer of white gauze falling from the sky, covering half of the Evergreen Door.
"A blue phoenix carries an incense burner hanging in the sky, a waterfall of smoke cascades into the Milky Way, forming a ladder to immortality, helping those with destiny enter the Jade Pool of Dreams..."
Someone recited this line, and it exploded like water dripping into a hot oil pan!
"The ladder to immortality! The ladder to immortality must be hidden in that flowing mist!"
"Yes! The Ladder to Immortality! I must find the Ladder to Immortality! I want to become an immortal!"
"Become an immortal? Yes, become an immortal! I want to become an immortal!"
"I want to become an immortal!"
"I want to become an immortal!"
……
In an instant, the thought of "I want to become an immortal" overwhelmed everyone's mind. Everyone crowded under the Changqing Gate, and everyone wanted to be bathed in that smoke!
Seeing this crazy scene, Ma Da and his two companions trembled a few times. Taking advantage of the chaos, they quickly slipped into the crowd and disappeared in no time.
Gu Tang, who had been keeping a close eye on the three brothers' movements, felt a chill run down his spine: "Father, this has blown up. Let's go pick up Ma Da and the others and get them out of the city first!"
The three brothers cannot remain in the city any longer.
"it is good!"
The father and daughter climbed down from the wall, quickly went to the teahouse, got on the oxcart, and went to the pre-arranged location to wait for the other party.
As planned, after Cheng Luan escaped, the three brothers found a secluded spot to clean their faces, especially Ma Da, who had to remove the paint from his face to reveal the dark spots underneath.
You should also get your hair done. Put a hat on your head and comb all your hair into the hat.
As for the clothes he was wearing...
The cotton-padded coat is covered by an outer shirt, so you can just take off the outer shirt.
After getting ready, the three of them rushed to the location they had agreed upon with Gu Tang.
Gu Tang was getting impatient, and when no one came, she wondered if something had happened to them.
Fortunately, all three brothers eventually made it to the party.
After picking up the people and putting them on the oxcart, Gu Lianshan drove the oxcart out of the city.
The news from Changqing Gate hasn't spread far yet, so now is the perfect time to leave the city.
Gu Tang found a small village closest to the city and rented a courtyard for the three brothers. Then, Gu Tang gave them ten taels of silver to use first.
"This is for your meals, don't be stingy, you brothers did a great job today! After I sell the incense, I'll share the money with you! You should stay here and recuperate for the next few days."
The three brothers, overjoyed to receive ten taels of silver, were beaming with happiness. When they heard there was more to come, they were so happy they could only laugh foolishly, speechless.
Gu Tang, being very perceptive, pulled her father away, letting the brothers celebrate together.
Back in the city, rumors were already circulating, and the father and daughter were very pleased with the sight.
"Let's go back to the courtyard first. We're not the ones in a hurry now."
Looking at the crowd discussing on the street, Gu Tang was in a good mood and told her father to drive home.
……
As Gu Tang turned at the intersection, she encountered the group of beggars again.
The leader was still that skinny beggar who looked very young.
However, the more Gu Tang looked at this person, the more familiar he seemed, as if she had seen him somewhere before...
Seeing the man's tattered and dirty black clothes, Gu Tang had a sudden inspiration and her eyes widened instantly.
"That guy who stole the incense!"
"What the hell?" Gu Lianshan asked without turning his head.
Gu Tang patted her father's back, her expression excited: "Dad! Dad! Stop the car! I saw that person who knows kung fu!"
"What?"
"That man who knows kung fu! He's the black-clad man who stole the incense from Changqing Gate and then placed it on top of the gate! I saw him!"
Gu Lianshan hurriedly pulled over and looked back: "Where?"
"He's the leader of that group of beggars behind us!"
"Among beggars?" Gu Lianshan looked at him as if he had misunderstood. "Those who know lightness skills are all masters! How could masters be mixed in with beggars?"
Such a highly accomplished person should be worshipped, not begged.
"Look for yourself! The person is coming!" Gu Tang said excitedly, rubbing her hands together as she pondered how to strike up a conversation with the expert.
Or, why doesn't she become an apprentice? She should become an apprentice of a man, treat him like her own father, and then have him teach her martial arts!
Gu Tang had high hopes, and her eyes were fixed on the man, thinking he would come over, but to her surprise, the man turned away!
Tsk!
Pity!
Gu Lianshan finally saw the person, but his eyesight wasn't as sharp as Gu Tang's, and he didn't recognize him: "You haven't mistaken me for someone else, have you? I don't think it looks like him at all."
The important question is, if the man really was a master of qinggong (lightness skill), why would he associate with a beggar?
"Your eyesight isn't good... Never mind, they've all left, let's not talk about it anymore, let's go back too." Gu Tang felt a pang of heartache; her dream of mastering light-body skills was shattered!
On this side of the alley, the man stood there with a cold face, seemingly arguing with someone.
"Boss? Why are we coming here?" The little beggar behind us looked puzzled. This wasn't a place for begging, so why were we here?