ps: Thanks to Fading Away, Kuai Dao 1, and the intoxicating nostalgia reward, and continue to thank fellow Taoists for their monthly votes for encouragement.
∈♀,
After more than a month, Zhao Ran returned to Songzhu Peak and saw Luo Zhiqing eating and drinking beside the pavilion.
Zhao Ran was very surprised and hurriedly stepped forward to meet him: "I have met Third Senior Brother."
Luo Zhiqing's mouth was filled with all kinds of food. While chewing, he stood up halfway and greeted Zhao Ran: "Well... junior brother... sit down first..."
Zhao Ran sat opposite Luo Zhiqing and said with a smile: "Brother, don't be impatient, eat slowly." Then he filled his glass with wine.
Luo Zhiqing stuffed the last piece of cake into his mouth, drank all the wine in the glass, wiped his hands on the Taoist robe, and then nodded to Zhao Ran: "Junior brother, I'm full."
Zhao Ran: "... Just eat enough..."
Luo Zhiqing: "Well..."
Zhao Ran: "...?..."
Luo Zhiqing: "?"
Zhao Ran was helpless: "Why is senior brother here?"
Luo Zhiqing suddenly realized: "Oh... I'm here to see my junior brother. The senior brother said that he was afraid that the junior brother would encounter difficulties here, so he asked me to take him back. Well, this is what the master meant."
Although Luo Zhiqing's words were unclear, Zhao Ran understood what he meant in a flash and couldn't help but be very grateful and said: "Thank you Master and Senior Brother for your concern. I don't have any difficulties here. Everything is fine."
Luo Zhiqing looked Zhao Ran up and down and said: "It's good. Well, I think junior brother has entered the realm of Taoist priests? That seems to be good indeed. Senior brother said that junior brother's ability is too low, so don't agree to anything rashly.
, otherwise it will be disgraced and not beautiful..."
Zhao Ran had a dark look on his face: "...Thank you, Senior Brother, for remembering..."
Luo Zhiqing asked again: "Junior brother, did you promise anything from Jade Emperor Pavilion? Senior brother said that master promised to help you find the Black Armored Turtle. If anything happens, master will stand up for you, so don't be afraid."
Zhao Ran pondered and said: "I agreed to go to Xia Kingdom, and I will return in as little as three months, and as much as six months. It is not a dangerous thing, so please don't worry, master and senior brothers."
Luo Zhiqing scratched his head and said: "The second senior brother is right. He said that you are a person who is used to doing things by yourself, and you will definitely agree to help the Jade Emperor Pavilion with things. So when I came, the second senior brother gave me a talisman.
"Let me bring you the Earth Flame Golden Light Talisman. I gave it to you when you apprenticed as a teacher last year. Didn't you say you had used it when you returned to the teacher a while ago?" After that, he stuffed a talisman into Zhao Ran's hand.
After Zhao Ran took it over, he was filled with emotion: "Second Senior Brother is very interested..."
Luo Zhiqing thought for a moment and said, "That's all... Junior brother, do you want to go back with me?"
Zhao Ran said: "I will leave for Xia Kingdom soon. When I come back, I will go and thank my master and senior brothers."
Luo Zhiqing stood up, hesitated for a moment before leaving, and pointed to the remnants of a bit of cake on the plate on the table: "I've been eating here for ten days, and this is the only one that's delicious. Junior brother, can you help me ask what it is?"
Zhao Ran hurriedly went to find the deacon Taoist priest in Yunshuifang, and after asking for details, he asked for a large bag and gave it to Luo Zhiqing: "Brother, this is the Fengxiang Three Tea Cake made by Yuhuang Pavilion. I asked for more for you. You
Take it home and eat it slowly."
Luo Zhiqing collected the bag and went down the mountain side by side with Zhao Ran. The deacon Taoist priest from Yunshuifang stayed with him for a few words and then accompanied him down the mountain gate. Luo Zhiqing's back disappeared behind the mountain road, and the deacon Taoist priest smiled at Zhao Ran and said: "Taoist Master Zhao.
This senior brother of yours is really a prime minister. He has been eating for ten days. I haven’t seen him calm down very much. I’m even scared after eating, haha.”
Zhao Ran was so smart. He understood it as soon as he heard it. He took out a one-hundred-tael banknote and stuffed it into the hands of the deacon Taoist priest: "My senior brother had a disaster at home when he was young, and he was very hungry. Please take care of me more these days.
Don't refuse. By the way, my senior brother likes to eat Fengxiang Three Tea Cake. Could you please ask someone to bring one over every month?"
The Taoist priest had a smile on his face. He handed over the banknote and said, "What do you care about or don't care about? Daozhang Zhao's senior fellow apprentice is his family. Since your senior fellow apprentice likes to eat our cakes, I didn't tell you that, so I will bring some every month."
Enough!"
After collecting the money, the Taoist priest added a few more words: "Taoist Master Zhao, you brothers are really deeply affectionate. You are such a great brother. When I came, I had to take you away, no matter what."
It makes no sense, and I almost started fighting with Taoist Priest Dongfang..."
"Which Dongfang Taoist Priest?"
"Taoist Master Zhili... I won't give up until I take him to see your retreat. I dare to do something in the Jade Emperor Pavilion. I have never seen it in my life. This time it is an eye-opener. Speaking of which,
I have also seen many fellow disciples plotting against each other..."
While chatting, they returned to Songzhu Peak and entered the Yunshui Room. They saw Dongfang Li already waiting in the courtyard, and the Taoist deacon hurriedly bowed his back and retreated.
Dongfang Li smiled bitterly and said, "Senior Brother Luo... Haha, I don't dare to see him anymore. Please forgive me for my disrespect, Junior Brother Zhao."
Zhao Ran smiled and said: "My senior brother is honest and honest, so it's no wonder that he offended senior brother Dongfang."
Dongfang Li said: "How can you... By the way, congratulations to Junior Brother Zhao for entering the Taoist realm. I will serve wine to congratulate Junior Brother tonight, and I will also come to pay tribute."
Zhao Ran said: "Thank you very much. I have been in retreat for more than a month this time, so I haven't been delayed for too long, right?"
Dongfang Li said: "It's okay...that's it, let's talk about it first."
The two returned to the cliff pavilion and sat opposite each other, and Dongfang Li began to explain.
"Mingwu has been selected. You are scheduled to go to Xia Kingdom during your retreat. You have two tasks. One is to go to Xingqing Mansion disguised as a merchant. It is best to establish a foothold in Xingqing Mansion, such as opening a shop.
Etc. Don't do anything in normal times. After everything stabilizes, within half a year at most, we will replace someone to take over. Then you can return to Daming..."
"Who is Mingwu? How can I contact him?"
"I can't tell you who Ming Wu is for the time being. We hope you never know...if something happens, he will give you a flying talisman that contains your consciousness. He has already taken it away. After receiving the flying talisman, you can use it according to your own needs."
We need to tell you that there are still three hidden stakes like yours. Don’t contact them unless you have to. Well, this is their flying talisman, one for each person.
, they also have your flying talisman in their hands. For the same reason, they won’t tell you who they are for the time being..."
"Okay, then I wish you a safe and sound life."
"The second thing is not necessary, but I personally hope you can keep it in mind..."
"What happened to Zen Master Aquarius?"
"Yes, he disappeared very strangely. There are people in Jialan Temple and Tianlongyuan who suspect that he is related to the stolen Wheel of Life. If you can find clues, be sure to tell me immediately. You know, this skill is from Taoism.
Words are very important.”
"I understand. Actually, this is the real reason why you asked me to go to Xia Country?"
"Well……"
Zhao Ran patted Dongfang Li on the shoulder: "Don't worry, since I agreed, I won't go back on it. I will pay attention, but don't have high expectations."
Dongfang Li was a little embarrassed and stopped explaining. He coughed dryly and said, "Just take it as a chance. Besides, this technique will be of great use to you."
"Anymore?"
Dongfang Li took out a box, handed it to Zhao Ran and said: "What's in this is your identity, the owner of Chengji Shop in Guyang County, Cheng'an. You are very familiar with the situation in Guyang County, and you won't reveal anything when asked..."
"
Zhao Ran said suspiciously: "I know Chengji Shop, and I've seen Cheng An, so there won't be any flaws in pretending to be him?"
Dongfang Li smiled and said: "Cheng'an does exist..." As he said that, he took out a soft leather mask and handed it to Zhao Ran, "Whoever puts it on is Cheng'an."
Zhao Ran unfolded the mask, looked at it, and then tried to put it on his face. This mask was obviously a magic weapon, and once it was put on his face, it seemed to blend with his face, without any trace of leakage. He took the Oriental gift
After looking at the bronze mirror that was handed to him, he couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head: "It's been a long time, but the Cheng'an I saw last time was just a piece of cake? Is Chengji Store the property of your Sanqing Pavilion?"
Dongfang Li was noncommittal and continued: "The mask is a magic weapon. It cannot be seen by those who are not a wizard or above. In Buddhism, it corresponds to the Bhikkhu realm. This must be remembered, and try not to wear a mask in front of monks at the Bhikkhu realm. But you
Since he is pretending to be a businessman, I believe that under normal circumstances he will not encounter a monk at that level, so it is still very safe. In fact, even if you meet a monk at the bhikkhu level in person, don’t panic, as long as the other party is not suspicious and does not use Buddhist supernatural powers to see you.
There will be no problem with you as foreign minister."
Zhao Ran asked again: "I am a businessman from Ming Dynasty, will there be no problem in going to Xia Kingdom?"
Dongfang Li smiled: "Of course it is not allowed on the surface, but in fact it is not forbidden in private. The Xia Kingdom is in urgent need of salt, tea, silk, iron and other supplies from the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty is also short of horses, cattle, sheep, furs, and medicinal materials.
Wait, just turn a blind eye to each other, you don't have to worry about this. The caravan has been prepared for you and is on standby at Ye Xueguan. You can just go over and take over. The shopkeeper is called Li Laoshi.
He has always thought that there is only one Cheng'an in the world, so you have to be careful in front of him. However, his situation is written in detail in the book, including Chengji Shop. You can deal with it after you read it carefully. Don't worry, Li Laoshi is very honest.
, and you don’t talk much, I believe you can handle it easily.”
"Then when I arrive in Xia Kingdom, do I need to buy anything?"
"Just leave the business matters to Li Laoshi... Of course, there are still three thousand taels of silver notes in the box. You can buy whatever you like. The rest is your travel expenses."
"Okay, last question, what I said last time...can it count?"
"I really don't understand, you are already Jiang Tenghe's direct disciple, why do you still miss these secular affairs?"
Zhao Ran asked back: "Brother Dongfang, you have been in Tianlongyuan for twenty years. Wouldn't it be good to come back and become the direct disciple of your Jade Emperor Pavilion? Why do you still have to worry about so many things?"
Dongfang Li was startled and sighed: "That's true. Everyone has their own ambitions and can't come reluctantly... Don't worry, Sanqing Pavilion will come forward. It's just a small county court and supervisory court. It's not a difficult task, but it won't be as difficult as you think."
So fast, everything still has the rules of Shifang Jungle, and you have to follow the rules."
Zhao Ran nodded: "I understand this, but you won't make me wait for three to five years, right?"
Dongfang smiled softly: "It's absolutely impossible. It could be as little as three months or as much as half a year!" (To be continued...)