Even if Li Changan had the ability to visit Jiutian and consult Jiuquan, he would not be able to escape the interrogation of his seven aunts and eight aunts during the holidays.
He has always been very self-aware.
I have no car, no house, no savings, and no partner.
Does slaying demons count as work?
Count a ball!
A jobless vagabond.
So this year's "New Year's Eve" is still sad.
It just so happened that the Spring Festival was approaching in the "ancient world" as well. Where else could we celebrate the New Year? It was a lot cleaner here. So after completing a batch of tasks, Li Changan simply stayed here, and Xiao Huangshu was rare and understanding and did not drive him away.
During the Chinese New Year, you can’t treat yourself badly.
He left the deep mountains and old forests and headed all the way to the prosperous area. He arrived at a place called Liucheng and found the most famous restaurant in the area.
As soon as I walked in, I was stopped by the waiter.
The younger brother had a business-like smile on his face, but his eyes were wandering around Li Changan, showing a hint of suspicion.
The Taoist priest understood it immediately.
He had just killed a bunch of demons and chased the tiger demon across half of the mountain. He was now looking gray and dirty, and his clothes were in rags. It was not surprising that he was thought to be a beggar.
Immediately take out your own exclusive pass - the large pearl of modern craftsmanship purchased online.
"Are you... Taoist Priest Li Xuanxiao?!"
Li Changan made a move.
"Brother, do you recognize Pindao?"
The waiter in the shop was delighted, and while he warmly welcomed me in, he shouted "Welcome to welcome our distinguished guest".
Directly leads to the backyard seating area.
After a while, the shopkeeper came over in person to accompany him and arrange the order.
He didn't ask what he wanted to eat. He asked what his taboos were. Apart from that, all the other good wines and dishes were served on the table. If Li Chang'an hadn't sternly refused, he would have almost invited the sister from Qin Lou Chu Restaurant next door to pour wine.
The Taoist priest was confused and flattered by this meal. He had made some insignificant achievements in the work of slaying demons, but he was not worthy of such a warm reception from the people.
He is not a person who makes people suffer.
"Shopkeeper, how much does this meal cost? I can't eat your food for free."
unexpectedly.
"Don't worry, Taoist priest, someone has already paid the money for you in advance."
At this time, the waiter outside the door came up to report.
"Taoist Priest, the carriage that came to pick you up is already... eh?"
The dining table was empty, the windows of the private room were wide open, and the Taoist priest was nowhere to be seen.
…………
The so-called showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing.
Is it good luck to be favored by others for no reason? No, it is trouble!
Li Changan is not afraid of trouble, but he doesn't like trouble either.
So he traveled 200 miles through the mountains and forests overnight. He was hungry on the way, so he didn't go to a city restaurant. Instead, he found a noodle restaurant with the best reputation in the market.
I just ordered a bowl of mutton noodles.
Green onions float on the white jade soup, and the aroma is so fragrant that it makes your fingers twitch.
I quickly took a sip of hot soup to dispel the coldness in my body, and excitedly picked up my chopsticks...
"Are you Taoist Priest Li Xuanxiao?!"
Li Changan reluctantly put down his bowl and chopsticks, turned around and saw the shop owner's old face with a mixture of doubt and excitement, and sighed deeply.
"There are many Taoist priests named Li in the world, and there are also many Taoist priests named Xuanxiao, and there must be more than one named Li Xuanxiao. But Li Xuanxiao, who has people helping pay the bills everywhere, is probably the only poor Taoist in the world."
"Hey! It's really Li Xuanxiao!"
These words were like poking a hornet's nest. The Taoist priest was surprised to find that the whole market was boiling with excitement.
Vendors from all walks of life rushed over and stuffed fruits, pastries, cooked food, and snacks on his table. Even those selling chicken, duck, and fish meat came to mix them in. Next to him, the old shop owner smiled and accepted them one by one, and then
He used his cooking stove to put away all the ingredients.
Not long after, several tables of food were set up in front of the Taoist priest. The vendors who arrived first were very happy, and those who arrived later were eager to try their things. There were also a few little children hiding behind the adults, staring at the dazzling array of delicious food.
With Harry.
The Taoist priest finally stopped laughing and simply called on the people around him to solve the problem together.
After having enough wine and food.
While Li Changan set up a bench to soak up the sun, he asked the shopkeeper next to him who was laughing so hard that his eyes were almost closed.
"Old man, I've eaten and you've made money. Now, there's something I can't figure out. Can you help me clarify it?"
"Don't worry, Taoist priest." The store owner signed a guarantee, "The old man knows everything."
"When I was in Liucheng, someone paid for me. I walked 200 miles overnight to get to you, as if you were waiting here specifically for me, but someone paid me. I'm curious, who is it?"
"The Taoist Priest doesn't know?"
"What should I know?"
"Everyone has spread the word. Whether it is our rural market or the Liucheng you mentioned, wherever there are inns and restaurants in the populated areas of the nearby prefectures and counties, there will be people taking your portrait of the Taoist priest and paying a deposit.
Tell us to treat you with the best things and pay three times later, you will be our God of Wealth!"
I think he is a boy who spreads his wealth.
It's just other people's money that's gone.
After getting the answer, Li Changan breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that he is not being monitored and followed, nor is he being calculated by others, but that some rich man has lost his wealth.
Li Changan was a little curious about what the other party wanted from him.
So when the carriage came again.
Li Changan did not leave quietly.
…………
The carriage arrived at a nearby dock.
Outside the wall there are high walls and deep moats, and inside the wall there are pavilions and pavilions. According to people traveling with him, the owner of Wubao was a powerful and powerful family in the state and county, and his ancestors had several prime ministers.
Li Changan asked, but the host who greeted the guests said that they were not the real owners, and that the fort was just a place for Taoist priests to rest.
And as soon as the Taoist priest came, the master moved to the side courtyard and gave him the main courtyard.
All hospitality was equally attentive and never rushed, as if a Taoist priest could regard Wubao as his own and live there forever as long as he wished.
So the Taoist priest only stayed for one day to relieve his physical fatigue and then set out on the road again.
This time it was by boat.
It is a passenger ship converted from a building ship.
There were nearly a hundred boatmen, cooks, musicians, servants, and maids on the ship, but there was only one guest, Li Changan.
The big boat went up the river.
Every time I visit Guanjin, there will be traders flocking in to offer local specialties, and local figures will come forward to invite me to travel with them.
Li Changan ignored everyone and just stayed in the quiet room, arranging the magic tools and talismans.
After going all the way south, we finally landed ashore, changed to a carriage and arrived at our destination - Hucheng.
As soon as the carriage entered the city gate, Li Changan smelled a familiar uneasiness in the air.
The New Year is approaching, but the market is particularly depressed. Pedestrians are walking in a hurry, with frightened expressions on their faces.
There were few old and weak women and children walking outside. Occasionally, they would catch the curious eyes of children behind the windows or between the cracks in the doors. Before the Taoist priest had time to show his smile, he heard the scolding voices of the elders and the subsequent closing of the doors and windows.
The carriage came all the way.
What Li Changan saw was mostly closed doors and stickers of door gods glaring at them.
…
The carriage arrived at a mansion, and the person who led the way said that the real owner would be arriving soon.
The rest is lackluster, the same mansion and compound, the same group of servants, and the same large table of wine and food.
Li Changan declined the service of the servants and asked them to come to the table to eat together, but none of them dared to refuse. Only the coachman looked carefree and agreed.
So he asked the servants to divide the food and wine, leaving only a few plates, and the Taoist priest and the coachman drank together at the same table.
The coachman was not too old and was very talkative. He could talk about anything from all over the world.
When Li Changan talked about this strange encounter, he asked quietly:
"Aren't you worried, Taoist Master?"
"worry about what?"
"Being courteous will do something to others!"
"It doesn't matter." The Taoist priest grabbed a roast chicken, tore it into two parts, and left the chicken head and chicken ribs on the opposite side. "I'm also curious. The master smashed this gold and silver mountain because he wanted to hear something from Pindao.
What repercussions?”
The coachman didn’t dislike it at all. He grabbed the roast chicken and ate it while asking:
"What if the Taoist priest is asked to do something that is harmful to nature?"
Li Changan smiled.
"This person wants to do bad things, mostly because of his burning desires. As the saying goes, 'People and gods like to be pure, but their minds are disturbed. People's minds like to be quiet, and they want to lead them.' If the master insists on going his own way, the Taoist priest will have to help him to be quiet and quiet."
The coachman was stunned when he heard this, then laughed and shook his head, put down his hand to cook the chicken, and repeatedly touched his heart with his hand.
"Fortunately! Fortunately!"
"Although I am far from being quiet and inactive, I have never wanted to harm nature."
Li Changan didn't show the slightest surprise.
As soon as he met him, he knew that this guy had a strange identity.
His face is rosy and his skin is delicate and fair. How can he look like a coachman?
Now that he had revealed his identity, he did not rush to speak. Instead, he resigned first.
After a while.
When the person stepped into the room again, he had already changed his clothes.
Wearing a yellow turban on his head, brown clothes, cloud shoes on his feet, a cloth belt wrapped around his waist, and a floating dust in his hand, he looks like a solemn Taoist master.
"Tianshi Dao Yu Tuzhi offered wine and met Taoist friend Xuanxiao in Tongchen."
This time Li Changan finally showed a little surprise.
At that time, Zhang Daoling founded the Tianshi Sect, broke down mountains and cut down temples in the Shu region, and established twenty-four jurisdictions to divide parishes and lead the congregation. The leader was called Zhitou or Jijiu.
Later, it gradually declined and gradually faded away in name only.
This was the first time Li Changan saw a living Taoist sacrificial wine.
"Is it possible to make a living by offering wine in a public place and driving a carriage?"
Tongchen, who was opposite him, didn't take it seriously, and smiled, suddenly removing his solemn look.
Then he hung the dust on his belt, pulled up his sleeves and served it to the table, grabbed the unfinished roast chicken and gnawed it again.
"I have no choice. In order to recruit you, Taoist brother, I have spent every copper I can use. Later I found out that I no longer have money to hire a driver. Fortunately, before I joined the Taoist religion, I also had the skill of driving a driver, so I might as well just hire a driver. Come by yourself."
Li Changan didn't believe a word of it.
"Zhengyi is the leader of Xuanmen. There are countless Taoist masters, and Taoist friends are valued as sacrificial wine. Naturally, he has a wide network of contacts and has countless money in his hands. Where is the need for Li, a wild Taoist?"
Tongchen wiped the grease on his mouth and shook his head repeatedly.
"Brother Taoist is too humble. He killed the Buddha's corpse and eliminated the evil dragon. Who in the world doesn't know the name of Taoist Xuanxiao?!"
"Besides, it is true that I, Zheng Yiyi, belong to a famous sect, but precisely because I am a famous sect, the world has to deal with more things. No matter how many talented people there are in this sect, how can they take care of a remote and small government like me? "
Li Changan nodded slightly.
It is said that since the collapse of the world, the imperial court has been unable to control local areas, so the Tianshi Sect has picked up the "Twenty-Four Rules" and established some additional new ones.
Yu Tuzhi is not among the traditional twenty-four governances. It is mostly a newly established minor governance, so it is possible that it is not taken seriously.
Tongchen said again:
"As for connections and money, what role do they have in front of demons?"
really.
When he entered the city, Li Changan noticed that although the market was depressed, it was not dilapidated. From his experience, it was either bandits or demons causing trouble.
"Tricky?"
Tongchen sighed and stopped eating the chicken in his hand.
"So that fellow Taoists know that I, the predecessor of Yu Tuzhi, was Yu Tuguan on Tushan Mountain outside the city. I suppressed the Patriarch and subdued a big demon under the watch. But the world was in chaos and the demons rose and disappeared. The big demon took the opportunity to escape. He gathered five powerful demons as his minions, and summoned ghosts in the mountains, threatening to break into the city and come in to eat people..."