The clouds outside the window were dyed pink by the setting sun, which was mesmerizing, but also light and not glamorous.
The cloth in the cloth workshop behind the house was blown by the wind.
In the room on the second floor of the inn, the Taoist conversed with the cat.
"Sanhua Empress's method of turning stones into soldiers can be regarded as a small success. Even if you encounter an elite soldier, if there is no strong man with strong martial arts in the army who can split bricks and stones, or a trebuchet, you will not be able to compete with the three.
The mountain god invited by the Flower Empress can fight against the mountain gods. Even if they fight with the monks, few monks can get such a stone giant these days." Song You said, paused, "But even the same tall stone giant is powerful.
They are divided into weak ones, some are strong and can run fast, and some are weaker and can run slower. This is a test of one's own Taoist cultivation and magical attainments."
"Where's Sanhua Empress's?"
"It's very powerful." The Taoist said, "If you practice more, you will become even more powerful."
"Practice again!"
"Furthermore, after the Midas touch is used together with the Midas touch, the mountain god's stone turns into gold steel, which becomes heavier. It also tests the mountain god's strength, otherwise he will not be able to walk."
"No wonder Sanhua Empress's mountain god has become harder, but also runs slower!"
"You need to practice more."
"Practice more!"
"The second is the method of turning stones into gold." The Taoist said slowly, "For the same amount of spiritual power, proficiency in spells, and the depth of attainments, it is not only the size of the area that can be covered, but also the area that is transformed from stones and spells.
How hard the gold steel can be and how long it can last requires practice slowly."
"Then when will Sanhua Empress be able to defeat that monk?"
"Think about it, when Sanhua Empress has reached the point where she can reach out and cover the entire stone giant with a little golden light, even if the headless monk is infinitely powerful and indestructible, he still won't be able to defeat the giant made entirely of gold and stone.
It sucks. When Sanhua Empress can practice the spell effect to be more durable, she will be invincible. When she practices the gold steel to be harder, she will have an advantage. Then she can practice the magic of turning stones into weapons to the point where even the entire giant can turn into a weapon.
He who has gained gold can still move freely, so he can easily defeat that monk."
Song You said and paused for a moment: "Three Flowers Empress needs to know that no matter how powerful the monsters summoned from the demon summoning flag are, they are powerful monsters and magical weapons, but the mountain gods summoned are different. This is different from Sanhua Empress
It's the same as the fire technique that she has practiced for many years, Sanhua Empress is the master of it."
"knew!"
The cat looks serious and meticulous.
"I've been here in Xianning for more than half a month, and I haven't climbed Cangshan Mountain yet. I plan to have a vegetarian meal at the nunnery on the mountain tomorrow. Does Sanhua Empress want to go with me?"
"Miss Sanhua is going fishing, and she also needs to practice her spells to protect passers-by from being beaten to death by that monk." Mao'er stood on the table, meticulous and immersed in the process, "Go on your own."
Fishing and selling money, practicing spells and getting stronger gradually, and protecting the common people, in fact, there is nothing she can refuse.
The temptation is simply too great.
It's a pity that there are so many seagulls by the lake, flying overhead every day and screaming, but I can't catch a swallow because I know it.
Otherwise, how happy it would be.
After chatting for a while, one person and one cat went downstairs.
The Taoist still borrowed the inn's kitchen, cut open and cleaned the largest fish that Sanhua Empress had brought back, cut it into thin slices, and used a lot of Sichuan peppercorns to make a pot of pepper fish.
After taking it out of the pot, add onions, ginger, and chili peppers, and pour a spoonful of hot oil over it.
"Tsk!"
Golden oil bubbles appeared on the entire dish, and the rich aroma rose instantly.
"The store will charge you for the oil you use."
"Don't dare. Even if you use it, you are considered a villain. I will give you a bowl of coarse rice as a gift." The store owner said quickly, "As long as you are not afraid of villains stealing your craftsmanship, that's all."
Song You just laughed when he heard this and didn't say much.
What is there to cherish about this?
When the dishes were served, the store owner indeed gave him a bowl of dry multi-grain rice, put it on the table, and invited the cat to come and eat with him.
It's already dark outside.
The inn has a good business during the day, because the owner likes to study cooking skills, has good craftsmanship, and uses ingredients conscientiously. Many people will come here to eat even if they don't stay here. The fish Sanhua Empress catches every day will basically be eaten in the store the next day.
It was exhausted, but I didn't expect that at this time, there were still people eating in the lobby downstairs.
It's a group of businessmen.
The oil lamp was dim, and the businessman was sitting in the middle of the lobby, which was the brightest position, but it was still reflected by the light of the oil lamp, and everyone's facial features became profound.
The Taoist also sat down next to him, took the Sanhua Empress's royal bowl, and filled her with fish.
The businessmen next to me were shocked and discussing endlessly.
They were discussing things at the lake during the day.
"Isn't it true that every time the headless monk meets someone, he always asks if his head is still around his neck? Why is it different this time?"
"Who knows?"
"It works fine..."
"Scared to death..."
The store owner heard this and was curious, so he went over to ask.
The discussion became more lively.
Only the Taoist was sitting next to him. There was a calico cat on the corner of the table, which could hardly be seen clearly under the oil lamp. He was eating pepper fish and multigrain rice and listening to their conversation.
The cat often lowers its head, almost burying it in the bowl and licking the fish meat, but from time to time it raises its head, pouting and turning to look at the group of businessmen. There is no expression on the cat's face, and no one knows that she heard it.
How do you feel when others discuss this?
Naturally, the merchants couldn't tell her apart.
"What smells so good..."
"It's the side table."
"Staff, may I ask what that gentleman is eating? Why does it smell so good?"
"Hey, sir, I'm sorry, the food that gentleman ate was cooked by themselves, and the store doesn't have this dish." The store owner asked quickly, "It can't make this dish either."
"That's all..."
"Cats are also on the table these days."
Many businessmen glanced at the Taoist and at the extraordinarily beautiful calico cat on the table. The color of the cat was very similar to the tricolor clothes worn by the girl during the day. But even so, no one compared it with the girl during the day.
Connect it with the cat in the mouth of a girl or a headless monk.
The cat also had a normal look on his face, lowering his head to eat meat.
No one knows what she is thinking.
…
Early the next morning.
When Song You woke up, his Sanhua Empress had disappeared. She must have gone out to make a living and slay demons along the way.
The Taoist still opened the window and looked outside. The scenery outside the window was still the same, and the weather was almost the same as the first half of the month. The blue sky and light clouds made it slightly cooler inside the house. You can imagine the warmth bathed in the sun.
Just right for traveling.
It's a pity that there is only one person.
The Taoist pursed his lips, closed the window, washed himself briefly, took the bamboo stick, and went downstairs.
After eating a bowl of rice noodles with rake meat, I asked the store owner how to get to the mountain. I took an extra pancake and went out.
The street in front of the inn connects the slender West City Gate and East City Gate, which are the Shanmen Gate and the Haimen Gate. Because the lake below is quite large, local people often call it the sea.
Go all the way up and out of the west gate.
The slope is obviously getting steeper.
After exiting the west city gate and continuing upward, you will reach the foot of the mountain.
There are many villages at the foot of the mountain.
Song You walked slowly and looked at these villages one by one.
When he was painting the world, he had also been to the foot of the mountain. There were also many mountain villages at the foot of the mountain. But now it seems that they are just roughly the same. From a distance, they are the same. When you get closer, there are not many similarities.
The people who live there are completely different.
However, the road up the mountain is still at the same location.
The Taoist passed through the village and walked along the path.
The slope is getting steeper.
Occasionally I stop and look back, only to realize that I have climbed very high.
The golden fields at the foot of the mountain, the square and slender mountains, the long lake and the mountains across the lake were all clearly visible. Even though it was not raining, there was still a rainbow hanging across the sky.
It is a beautiful scenery that is both heart-opening and shocking.
"..."
Song You subconsciously turned around and looked around him, only to find that he was the only one here today.
No wonder the journey is so boring.
"pity……"
I can't even find someone to share it with.
It seems that she has already become accustomed to walking with the Sanhua Empress.
Song You shook his head and continued going up.
This mountain climbing trip is indeed extremely boring.
It's even more boring than climbing a mountain in a painting.
Although looking back, the scenery is similar, both in late autumn, but without a little thing running back and forth, jumping around, and a lot of missing sounds, I still feel uncomfortable.
"..."
Song You smiled, and actually experienced a little bit from another angle, the feeling of ordinary people becoming parents and slowly raising their children, getting used to their children's existence and then slowly moving away from them.
I'm really not used to it.
Fortunately, the nunnery is only on the mountainside and not too far away.
The Taoist approached the temple and turned to look.
The painting is actually at a similar location, but it is a Taoist temple, not a Buddhist temple.
It may be that many years ago, when Mr. Dou completed the painting, there was a Taoist temple on the mountain. It may be that Mr. Dou did not know whether it was a Taoist temple or a temple on the mountain. It may also be that Mr. Dou painted the temple, but since he has never been to this temple
The temple only had its appearance. Later, a Taoist priest came to the painting and changed it into a Taoist temple.
From the Taoist's point of view, the two sides are actually quite different.
Apart from the fact that they are both halfway up a mountain, half-covered by dense forest, they don't have much in common.
Soon we arrived at the mountain gate.
"Jingzhao'an..."
The Taoist still stopped at the door and looked at the door couplets on both sides.
What is written above is——
It is difficult to achieve great virtue without accumulating small kindnesses;
Small evils persist and eventually turn into big mistakes.
The handwriting is pretty good.
Since the temple is located on a mountain, a bit far from the city, and there is the more famous Three Pagoda Temple at the foot of the mountain, there are not many pilgrims, but because of the beautiful scenery, there are some people inside.
Song You was wearing a Taoist robe. As soon as he walked in, he received special attention from the master in the nunnery. He accompanied him all the way and asked him where he was from and what he was doing here. It was mostly to show concern for his colleagues. I heard that he was just here to visit.
After enjoying the view and enjoying a vegetarian meal, the accompanying Master breathed a sigh of relief.
She still gave him three sticks of incense, but when he asked if he wanted to invest money for sesame oil during the fast meal, the nun stopped him and said that they were both monks and would not accept his money.
That's good, it saves some money.
Empress Sanhua will definitely be happy when she finds out.
It's a pity that she is not here either.
"..."
The Taoist shook his head and walked around the temple. When the clock rang at noon, he came to the Five Views Hall and prepared to eat.
It was a small room, but it was bright. The sun shone in from the window, and the dust glowed with golden light. There were several square tables inside, all equipped with benches, painted black, and there were about ten people sitting there.
Song You actually saw an acquaintance.
"Why is Chai Niang here too?"
"Sir! Are you there too?"
Xiao Chai Niang was sitting at a table in the back, which happened to be illuminated by the sun. She seemed to be a regular visitor here. In addition to a maid, there was also a nun accompanying her.
"Come and see the scenery, and also come and see the temple."
"Sir, please come and sit with me."
"Being respectful is worse than obeying orders."
There are not so many details in the temple. Everyone eats meals together, and when there are many people, they all have to sit together. Besides, Song You is wearing a Taoist robe and is her old friend, so there is no need to pay attention to it.
Go over and sit down and ask her why she is here.
"Sir, I don't know. When I was in my hometown, after my husband left, my sister, brother and I often went to play in the Taoist temple on the mountain. Now that we are here, even though there is no Taoist temple, we always want to come and see, at least the Taoist temple we can see halfway up the mountain.
The things are almost the same." Xiao Chainiang sighed and said, "In recent days, my officials are busy with their studies and often don't eat well. When they get sick, they come here to worship Buddha. I hope that the Lord Buddha can bless my officials and their health.
Pass the exam soon."
"It's really not possible if you don't eat well."
"well……"
Xiao Chainiang sighed again and said helplessly: "It's also my fault that he is too obsessed with studies. He often studies behind closed doors in the attic, or he goes to study in the pavilion in the middle of the lake below. It's very hard and he has to send food there. But he started reading.
I often forget to eat when I come here. When I wait to eat, the rice is cold. If the rice is delivered, it will be cold already. The rice is soaked until it becomes soft. I can't eat well, it's hard work, and my body is weak...
…”
"That's true."
Song You sat and thought for a while, then said, "I have an idea."
"What's the idea?"
"I heard about it in other places." Song You smiled at her and said, "Other places have chicken soup, which is delicious and nutritious. But someone had an idea. After the chicken soup was cooked, he didn't put away the oil, but let the soup rise.
The layer of oil floating in the bowl, the thicker the better, boil the rice until it is cooked, but do not put it in, but find another small bowl to put it in. The layer of chicken oil floating on the bowl can prevent the soup from getting cold, which will last for a long time.
It's hot. Just put the rice in it when you're ready to eat it. It'll be hot very quickly. You can even add some eggs and other side dishes to it first. It's quite convenient and has a lot of flavor."
After hearing this, Xiao Chai Niang thought about it and realized that it seemed feasible, and she immediately smiled.
"I came here to worship Buddha on this mountain and wanted to ask for the Lord Buddha's blessing, but I didn't expect to meet Mr., which is considered a blessing." Xiao Chainiang stood up and bowed to Song Xing, "I'll give it a try when I get back."
"I also heard it from other places."
"No matter what, thank you sir."
"It would be better if it can be carried forward."
While the two were chatting, the nun had already brought the vegetarian meal.