In the dead of night, there are only a few lights left in Jiuzheng County. There is an old house in the east of the city. From the tall stone lions erected on both sides of the gate, and the spacious courtyard connected to the front and back, you can tell that it is a wealthy family.
But in Nuoda's courtyard, there were no maids or servants walking around, and there were no lights in the corridors or main rooms. It was very quiet, as if no one was living there.
However, there is an ancestral hall in the backyard of the old house. From the crack of the door of the ancestral hall, a candlelight is printed outwards. Looking in through the crack of the door, there are many memorial tablets in the ancestral hall and the incense is strong.
There are large fish, large meat, fragrant rice and other sacrifices on the mahogany altar table in the hall. There is a copper incense burner in front of the altar, filled with smoke. There are two rows of long incense candles next to it. There are also turtle pattern oil lamps hanging on the wall, and the candlelight shines Light up the entire ancestral hall.
"Squeak, squeak!" The wooden door of the ancestral hall opened in the wind, and a young Taoist dressed in Taoist robes walked into the hall. The young Taoist had a heavy face and walked slowly to the altar. He took three short incense sticks from the altar and lit them. Kneel on the futon in front of the incense burner, hold the incense and bow down.
"Unworthy child Liu Yu is back!" The person kneeling on the ground was Liu Yu, who had returned from the North. He raised his head and looked at the top row of tablets on the altar. The two tablets were engraved with Liu Qing and Mrs. Ai. The young Taoist He couldn't help but feel red-eyed, as he couldn't see his two elders to their death, which would be a lifelong regret for him.
"Xuan Yu traveled to a foreign land for a hundred years to seek immortality, but failed to see her two elders die. I hope the two elders can forgive Yu'er's selfish behavior." Liu Yu inserted the incense in her hand into the copper incense burner, and then picked up the wine pot next to the incense burner. Pour a cup of sacrificial wine, hold it high in worship, and then slowly pour it in front of the altar.
After the worship, Liu Yu knelt quietly in the ancestral hall. The wind picked up in the middle of the night. A strong gust of wind blew into the ancestral hall and blew down a scroll of paintings hanging on the right wall. The long piece of paper fell with the wind. , fell right next to Liu Yu, who was kneeling quietly in front of the incense burner. The drawing paper was spread out, and it was a portrait.
On the painting paper, there is a young Taoist floating out of the dust, sipping tea under the green pines. The young Taoist is dressed in Taoist robes, with fine features and beautiful eyes. He is Liu Yu. The title on the upper right of the painting is "Taoist Master Huang Shengzong Xuanyu".
There is a small line of notes in the lower left corner of the painting: My son Liu Yu, the words are as clear as the face. There is no difference between immortals and mortals. There is no need to feel guilty. Your mother and I will be well in our old age. I hope my son will take care of you for the rest of his life!
Hot tears filled his eyes, like raindrops on the drawing paper. The Taoist sobbed silently. He carefully rolled up the drawing paper and hugged him tightly. The night wind blew gently, the candlelight swayed, the night was cold and his heart was desolate, and he was speechless and desolate.
…
"Hey! Why is the door open!" Butler Yang, an old slave left behind in the Liu residence, came to the ancestral hall with two young men as usual at night to light incense and add oil to the ancestral hall. When he got closer, he found that the door of the ancestral hall was actually open. He couldn't help but Quickening his pace, he remembered that when he lit incense in the middle of the night, he had already closed the door.
Butler Yang trotted to the door of the ancestral hall, looked inside and saw that the sacrifices on the altar table were complete, the lights in the ancestral hall were brightly lit, and everything was fine, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Go and look around!" He thought that the wooden door of the ancestral hall was blown open by the wind, but when he came to the copper incense burner and saw the few short incense sticks that were only half burned in the burner, his expression suddenly changed. .
Butler Yang and the two boys carefully looked around the ancestral hall and found nothing missing. Except for a few unextinguished incense sticks in the furnace, there was also a small pile of newly burned paper money and ashes.
"Weird!" This was weird. If there was really a thief, why didn't he just take something and just burn paper and light incense? Could it be that Butler Yang couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
"Butler, the painting is gone!" At this time, the boy on the side suddenly opened his eyes and pointed to the empty right wall. There used to be a portrait of Liu's ancestor hanging here. It is said that this ancestor was also a profound cultivator of immortality. .
"Hurry up and report to the official!" Steward Yang suddenly looked frightened and immediately asked the boy beside him to go to the Yamen to report to the official.
Although this painting is not by a famous artist, it is a portrait of Taoist Xuanyu, the ancestor of the Jiuzheng Liu family. It cannot be thrown away. Every year in the first month of the first month, the owner returns to his old home from Zhengyang Fucheng to pay homage to his ancestors. He is told to take good care of the ancestral hall and look after the paintings.
After the Jiuzheng Yamen got the news, they immediately sent out arrests. The Liu Family Courtyard was the old residence of Liu Tongpan in Zhengyang Prefecture, and they did not dare to be careless at all.
The Jiuzheng Liu family is a famous family in the county. In recent generations, some people have been serving as officials in the court. They moved from the county to Zhengyang Fucheng decades ago.
This is not just a thief from somewhere. He is so courageous that he even stole into the old house of Master Tong San.
But strangely enough, after a search, it was discovered that in addition to the loss of a portrait of the ancestors in the Liu family's old house, a small pit was newly dug under the century-old locust tree in the backyard. What did the thief mean?
Just when the arrester of Jiuzheng Yamen had a headache, thousands of miles away, Liu Yuzheng was heading towards Gaocang Kingdom with his sword. The rising sun was rising in the east, and the rays of rays penetrated the clouds, illuminating Liu Yujian's cheek. Thousands of feet high in the sky, among the sea of clouds, one person and one sword, followed by Walk with the wind.
After the worship, Liu Yu dug out the jade box that had been buried under the tree in the backyard many years ago. Inside the jade box was a volume of "Blood Yuan Gong" and a copy of the incomplete "Ghost Dao Kung Fu".
In fact, Liu Yu had already had this intention, but when he was stationed in the North, he left in a hurry. Those who didn't come rushed back to his old home. The destination of this trip was Gaoyang City in the northern border of Gaocang Country.
A few months ago, Liu Yu was attacked on her way back. If it weren't for practicing the "Tao Soul Heart Sutra", her soul would have become stronger and stronger, and she would have died under the evil curse.
Although he was lucky enough to escape the disaster, he was afraid that the other party would find out that he was not dead and would try to kill him again. After a while of deliberation, he had no choice but to implement the fake death strategy.
Liu Yu set off alone in Yuecheng, took a passing merchant ship and returned to Yunzhou first, waiting for the three sects' fleet in Zhoushan City. After the three sects' fleet arrived in Zhoushan City, Master Xuanmu summoned Liu Yu privately, saying that he had contacted the sect and prepared a plan for him. Liu Yu arranged a foreign posting.
However, there are still some sect affairs procedures that have not yet been finalized, so Liu Yu rushes to Gaoyang City first, and when he arrives there, he goes to the Taoist Master of Gaoyang Taoist Temple, "Changshan Taoist", to receive the official sect mission.
The specific position and where he will be stationed will be known when the time comes, and Liu Yu will also be informed. This mission may seem difficult, but he spent some effort to win it.
…
Gaoyang City is located in the border area of the northwest corner of Gaocang Kingdom. It is the city of Gaoyang Prefecture. There is a vast Fusha Lake three miles outside the city. Gaoyang Taoist Temple is built next to the lake. This temple is very popular and attracts many tourists who come here every day. Watch the worship.
At this time, tourists and pilgrims gathered in Gaoyang Taoist Temple. The hill-shaped double-eared unicorn incense burner in front of the main hall of Gaoyang was densely filled with long and short sacrificial incense. Green smoke curled up and the incense was extremely strong. At this time, a sword light fell from the sky and fell. A Taoist priest wearing a mask and robes.
"Could this be an immortal?"
"Look at the immortal!"
"Don't talk nonsense, this is Huang Shengzong's most accomplished person!"
The Taoist priest with a mask on his face immediately attracted tourists and pilgrims to watch and talk in low voices. Many pilgrims even knelt down and worshiped, looking at him with reverence.
"Disciple He Yang, pay homage to senior!" Huang Sheng Sect disciple He Yang, who was maintaining order in the temple, saw the visitor wearing the sect's "Huang Sheng Ming Spirit Robe" and immediately pushed through the crowd and stepped forward to pay his respects.
"I'm a poor Taoist, Xuanting, is Master Changshan here in the observation room?" The visitor was Liu Yu, who had rushed from Yue Kingdom. He put away the Silver Wind Sword and asked.
"Uncle Changshan is doing magic in the immortal statue. The poor Taoist Junshan has seen the senior brother and asked the senior brother Xuanting to follow him to the quiet room first." Hearing the commotion, Junshan Taoist Meng Shengming came over and saw it. Someone from the sect came forward and said politely.
"Meng Shengming?" Liu Yu's face turned cold under the mask. He didn't expect to meet this person here. This person colluded with the Tushan Two Bears to murder Senior Brother Ai, but Liu Yu still remembered it in his heart.
"Master!" He Yang saluted immediately when he saw his master, Taoist Master Junshan, coming.
"Let the pilgrims disperse!" Meng Shengming waved his disciples away, then put on a smile and said to Liu Yu: "Senior Brother Xuanting, please come this way!"
…
"I wonder if Senior Brother Xuanting came to see Senior Uncle Changshan for sect affairs. If the sect has something to arrange, you can also tell me." Meng Shengming led Liu Yu to a quiet room in the Taoist temple and brewed a cup of wine. Serving fragrant tea, he said politely.
After his master Jin Shan died, Meng Shengming took over the post of deacon of the Taoist temple, and the position of the temple's master was succeeded by his master uncle, Taoist Changshan.
Taoist Changshan was originally the deacon of this temple and had been assisting his senior brother Taoist Jinshan. Speaking of which, this senior had a relationship with Liu Yu.
"Junior Brother Junshan has misunderstood. Pindao is here this time. He has been assigned by the sect to serve in the Gaocang Kingdom. He came here to report to Senior Uncle Changshan." Liu Yu said equally politely.
"Oh! That's it! By the way, I don't know which uncle my senior brother is under. I'm ashamed to say that I have never heard of my senior brother's name." Meng Shengming couldn't help but frown slightly, why did the sect suddenly arrange for someone to come down? Maybe he noticed something, but he quickly regained his smile and asked without leaving any trace.
"Master Xuan Bei, Pindao has been stationed abroad these years. It's normal that my junior brother has never heard of it." Liu Yu explained.
"This must be Senior Nephew Xuanting!" Just as Meng Shengming was about to ask again, he received the news that Changshan Taoist who had walked out of the Jian Yuexian Statue Formation Secret Room was walking into the room and said with a smile.
"Xuan Ting pays homage to his uncle!" Liu Yu hurriedly stood up and said.
"Greetings, Uncle Master!" Meng Shengming followed.
"Sit down quickly!" Changshan Taoist raised his hand and sat down himself.
"Disciple has been ordered to come here and obey Master Uncle's instructions!" Liu Yu said with cupped hands.
"No need to be polite. The Celestial Master's Guardhouse in the "Shadow Ghost Forest" outside Gray Mist Mountain where my nephew works is not in the city. The mission scroll was sent a few days ago. After reading it for a while, my nephew will understand. "Taoist Changshan shook his head and said with a smile.
"Junshan, please step aside for a moment!" Taoist Changshan immediately took out a red mission scroll and did not unfold it immediately, but said to Meng Shengming who was standing aside.
"My little brother, please leave first!" Meng Shengming stood up and bowed, then turned around and left the house. His face suddenly showed suspicion when he left the house.
"Please look, nephew Xuanyu!" After nephew Junshan left, Taoist Changshan unfolded the mission scroll. Apparently, the sect had informed Liu Yu of his true identity.
"It's an expedient, I hope my uncle won't blame me!" Liu Yu immediately took off the cold iron mask, revealed his true face, and said in apology.
"No defense!" Taoist Changshan said calmly. Looking at the extraordinary young nephew in front of him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of powerlessness in his old age.
Thinking back when he first met this boy, it was more than a hundred years ago when he was ordered to go to Yannan City to investigate an incident of evil cultivators massacring a village. At that time, this boy was just an ordinary sixth-level Qi practitioner disciple.
Time has passed, and now this child's cultivation has almost caught up with his own. He is really terrible. Time flies, and he is really old. Alas! Thinking that he has been practicing in the mountains for nearly four hundred years, but his cultivation level is no higher than that of the Seven Palaces. His life is so busy that he may not even be able to reach the threshold of the golden elixir.
"Let Xuan Yu, a disciple of the sect, be stationed at the Celestial Master's Guardhouse in the "Shadow Ghost Forest" and serve as a guard of the Celestial Master for fifty years. He will command his superior Taoist Taixiong. His salary will be 80,000 low-level spiritual stones and 3,000 yuan per year. For your contribution, I will give you two more Qingke Dan."
Looking at the content on the mission scroll, Liu Yu couldn't help but look solemn. It was another long-term foreign mission, and this was the first time Liu Yu had heard of the "Shadow Ghost Forest".
Even though he had been working in Yannan County for ten years, he had never heard of such a strange place in Gao Cang Country. However, judging from the two Qingke Pills he could receive every year, the salary for his position was extremely generous.
Because according to Liu Yu's understanding, the sect would only consider rewarding the disciples with the Qingke Dan when their cultivation reaches the late stage of foundation building. It seems that Master Xuanmu really put a lot of effort into this.
"I wonder if my uncle knows where this ghost forest is? What's the situation?" Liu Yu put away the mission scroll and asked worriedly.
"Nephew Xuanyu, there is no need to ask any more questions. Haosheng is resting in the temple for a few days. Pindao will ask Junshan to take you there. Gray Mist Mountain is about a day's journey away. As for the situation in the Shadow Ghost Forest, I'll wait for you. My nephew will know when he arrives." Taoist Changshan said with a smile.
"Disciple knows!" That's it, Liu Yu said no more.
"Let's go!" Taoist Changshan stood up and said cheerfully as he went to a restaurant in the city to wash away the dust for you.
This son was able to receive the Qing Ke Dan mission in the middle of foundation building. It seems that he has a lot of connections among the Xuan generation, although this is partly due to the special nature of the Shadow Ghost Forest.
But it shows that he is much better than himself. His longevity is still young, he has reached the sixth level of foundation building, and he has the opportunity to hit the golden elixir realm. His future is boundless, which is really enviable.
