"Thank you, you will stay at the old man's house tonight, and I will ask my mother-in-law to prepare two dishes for you."
Chen Si didn't expect that the villagers here were so enthusiastic and thanked him repeatedly. He originally wanted to take some money, but the old man pushed him back with determination.
The old man took the two of them home with a hoe on his shoulder. On the way, the villagers cast curious glances, and some even took the initiative to come up to them and ask them where they were from. They chatted with each other for a long time.
"There are few outsiders in the village, so don't mind." The old man said with a smile.
Through chatting along the way, Chen Si learned that the old man's name was Peng Youyun, and his granddaughter's name was Peng Qian.
Their ancestors have lived in this small village for generations and have nothing to do with the world.
The lives of the earlier generations were not peaceful. Sometimes bandits would come to rob the village, and there were even military disasters.
But every time the Taoist priests from Sanxian Temple went out and said a few words, those people would retreat. Therefore, the villagers had great faith in the Taoist temple, and would bring some offerings to the gods every month in exchange for the Taoist temple's continued blessing.
After hearing what Peng Youyun said, Chen Si had a good impression of the Three Immortals.
Of the immortal cultivators he had met so far, this was the only one that best matched his impression of an immortal.
But we still have to wait until we meet tomorrow morning to tell what happens.
Peng Youyun's house is also a brick house. Although it is not big, it is neat and clean. There is a small courtyard in front of the door, surrounded by fences, and some chickens, ducks and poultry are raised in it.
As soon as he entered the house, an old woman came up to him and took the hoe from the old man's hand.
"We have guests today, mother-in-law, please prepare two more dishes and kill a chicken to eat."
When the old woman saw the guests coming, she was also full of joy and ran to the kitchen to cook without asking.
Chen Si and Li Chen looked at each other and couldn't help but sigh at the simple folk customs in this village.
Opposite the main door is the hall. On the front wall are several rows of spiritual tablets, which can be counted up to six generations. Peng Youyun said that those who go further should go to the clan leader to see them.
The food was served shortly after, and the octagonal table was filled with farm dishes. There were more than ten dishes of various sizes, which made the two people who had been in seclusion in the cave for several days drool with greed.
At this time, there was a sound from the attic, and then someone was heard coming downstairs.
Chen Si turned around and saw a little girl of seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a thin green shirt, with a pink face and hazy eyes, as if she had not yet woken up.
She scratched her disheveled hair and said lazily: "Master, grandma, good morning, Qian'er wishes you well."
Peng Youyun glared and scolded: "What time is it? I'm still sleeping. I finally came home and it's so sloppy. It's so messy! We have guests today, so go and clean up!"
Peng Qian then opened her eyes and saw two young men standing next to her grandfather. Her cheeks immediately turned red and she went upstairs to tidy up.
Peng Youyun smiled awkwardly and said, "Let me tell you a joke. There are many rules in the Three Immortals Temple. The old man's granddaughter came down from the mountain to manage the tribute ceremony. She finally returned home and forgot all the etiquette."
"I live a miserable life in the Taoist Temple. Everyone must be like this when they go home. I understand." Li Chen quickly smoothed things over.
After a while, Peng Qian tidied up and came down. Her face was still a little hot, her smart eyes were looking at the ground, and she was a little embarrassed to look directly at Chen and Si.
"Hello, gentlemen, I am Peng Qian, a twenty-fifth generation disciple of Sanxian Guanmen. I just made you laugh."
Chen Si looked at the little girl pretending to be serious and wanted to laugh for a moment, but he still suppressed the raised corners of his mouth and said in return: "I am Chen Si, his name is Li Chen, we have heard of San San outside. As for the reputation of the Immortal Temple, it is said that the temple owner inside has great supernatural powers and boundless magic power. This time I came here hoping to meet the old immortal in the temple and see his true appearance. Girl, can you see if you can be accommodating."
Listening to the young man in front of her praising the Taoist temple's rainbow fart, Peng Qian couldn't help but feel good, and her impression of Chen Si became a little better.
"Master also likes to meet visitors from outside. I will introduce them to you tomorrow. There should be no problem."
Chen Si quickly thanked him.
Then everyone sat down to eat. The two of them had not had a full meal in the past few days. They were really hungry and wolfed down the food without any regard for appearance.
Peng Youyun and the old woman were also very happy when they saw that the food was to their liking, with smiles on their faces.
Contrary to Chen Si and the others, Peng Qian is dignified and well-behaved, not at all like a farm girl.
Chen Si couldn't help but secretly sigh, the Three Immortals Temple is indeed rich in heritage, which can be seen from the words and deeds of his disciples.
In the afternoon, Peng Youyun went to do farm work again. Peng Qian took the two of them around the village and talked about the history of the village and the Taoist temple.
Chen Si didn't find out anything from it, so he didn't ask any more questions.
After nightfall, the two were arranged to rest in a guest room.
The lights in the room were turned off, but the moonlight from the window was still bright.
"Brother Chen, I have thought about it. When I retire, I will come to this village to take care of myself. This is my ideal life."
Chen Si nodded in acquiescence.
This place is indeed like a paradise. After just one day, my heart seems to be much calmer, and even the anxiety I have been feeling has been relieved.
However, Chen Si still felt vaguely uneasy. He always felt that something was wrong in this village, but he couldn't put his finger on it for a while.
After a while, Li Chen's snoring came from the room.
Chen Si stood up, drew a blood formation on the ground, and continued to practice silently.
In the dead of night, there was a noise from a house next door, and there seemed to be a quarrel.
After a while, the quarrel gradually disappeared and turned into bursts of children's cries.
Chen Si was a little curious, but since he was new to the village, he did not rush out to inquire, but continued to sit cross-legged and meditate.
I don’t know how much time had passed, but the sound of gongs and drums came from outside the window again. I looked at the time and saw that it was only around four in the morning.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and Peng Qian's gentle voice came, "Two guests, it's time to go up the mountain. We will be ready to leave in a while."
"Excuse me, Miss Peng, we'll get up right away."
Chen Si woke up Li Chen rudely and dragged him out half-pushed, half-dragged, and finally managed to follow the team.
Dozens of strong villagers carried cattle, sheep and pigs in a long line, winding towards the mountains in the distance.
People in the village stood at the entrance of the village to see each other off, and the gongs and drums were loud and lively.
Leading the crowd was a short-bearded Taoist priest who walked at the front holding a fly whisk. His face had rough lines and he had a sense of self-importance without anger.
"Senior Brother Xu, they are the two foreigners I mentioned before." Peng Qian said in a low voice, as if she was a little afraid of this senior brother.
But Senior Brother Xu just glanced sideways at Chen Si and Li Chen and ignored them at all.
He was slightly angry and reprimanded: "Junior sister, I have said it many times. Master is pressed for time. Instead of wasting time on receiving these outsiders, it is better to meditate in seclusion. Why can't you listen to me! "
"I, I..." Peng Qian was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to respond. "I saw that Master likes to chat with people from outside, so..."
"No next time!" Senior Brother Xu snorted coldly, swept the whisk and left.
