"Young master, you are too generous, and it's getting late. Otherwise, offering just two strings of Merit Coins would also have earned you a vegetarian meal at the White Cloud Temple."
On the way down the mountain, Uncle Li muttered somewhat incessantly.
Even his former master wasn't this generous.
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin and didn't respond to Uncle Li, only lost in thought.
Dark spirit!
This is the original word from Daoist Mingzhang, which also explains the function of this Daoist Talisman.
This world has once again revealed a corner of its veil to him.
...
Down the mountain, into the carriage, heading all the way back.
"Uncle Li, do you think there's really such a thing as ghosts in this world?"
"Of course there are, how could there not be." Uncle Li spoke as if it were common knowledge, "Just last year, there was a ghost trouble at Landlord Zhang's house in the county, then a wandering Daoist took care of it and took the ghost away."
Lu Zheng: (⊙o⊙)!!
So, I'm the one without common sense?
Lu Zheng was speechless, but thinking about it, it's indeed the case. Who talks about common sense matters unless there's a need?
Moreover, as ordinary people, they would subconsciously avoid topics beyond their grasp as it makes them feel safer.
"But young master, don't worry, after all, the world is still under the Great Jing Dynasty's rule. Each state and county is guarded by a City God. Most people may not encounter a supernatural event in their lifetime." Uncle Li comforted Lu Zheng.
Why does a City God suddenly pop up?
Uncle Li, how much common sense haven't you told me yet?
Lu Zheng sighed; most people wouldn't experience unusual events in their lifetime, so most live normal lives.
On the surface, it's calm and peaceful, but secretly there's an undercurrent.
How similar these two worlds are, only the way they manifest is different.
Never mind, let me explore slowly.
...
"Giddy up!" The driver guided the donkey cart, bumping along the rough mountain path, soon turning onto the main road.
Lu Zheng shifted his seat, feeling a bit more comfortable.
Through the window, he saw the sky already covered with a red glow, the sun becoming large and red, slowly setting in the west.
"Honest Zhang, go a bit faster, otherwise we won't make it back to the county before sundown; we don't want to walk on the road at night." Uncle Li saw Lu Zheng was frowning and urged repeatedly.
"Please excuse me, young master. My donkey is old, and this is already the fastest it can go," Honest Zhang said urgently, "But don't worry, this beast has great endurance, it will surely get us back to the county before dark."
Lu Zheng nodded. They had already turned onto the main road, so even if they didn't reach the county before dark, they were only a mile away, not far.
Seeing Lu Zheng nod, Uncle Li stopped urging.
The few of them fell silent, leaving only the sound of the cart creaking and the donkey's hooves clacking on the main road.
Lu Zheng was enjoying the scenery under the evening glow when he suddenly saw a lonely figure walking along the roadside ahead of the main road.
As the donkey cart approached, Lu Zheng saw the figure more clearly.
It seemed to be a woman carrying a blue rough cloth bundle on her back, wearing a plain silk water-green flower-printed skirt, her hair styled in a "Moon chasing the Hair" shape, adorned with a copper hairpin.
Her figure was slender, wavering with each step, and occasionally she would raise her hand to wipe her sweat or adjust the bundle on her back. Who knew how long she'd been walking; it looked quite strenuous.
Honest Zhang instinctively glanced back at Lu Zheng.
But Lu Zheng's expression was impassive, "The county is only a few miles away, and it's all along the main road, no danger."
The implication was to ignore her.
Honest Zhang's eyes darkened, muttering something under his breath, and continued driving the cart wordlessly.
Uncle Li curiously glanced at Lu Zheng, puzzled why the usually kindhearted young master seemed so indifferent this time.
Clack... clack...
The donkey cart swayed past the woman.
Both Honest Zhang and Uncle Li couldn't help but look at her, and even Lu Zheng couldn't resist sneaking a glance.
She looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, her figure slim and graceful, apricot eyes, peach-like cheeks, loose strands of hair framing her face. Taking deep breaths, her lips tightly pursed, an invincible firmness emitted even amongst her rosy face tinged with some paleness.
A lovely girl from a humble family.
But just a brief glance, and they had already passed each other, the donkey cart rattling away much faster than walking.
"Young master?" Uncle Li asked Lu Zheng again.
Lu Zheng released his grip and looked down at the Peace Talisman in his hand.
The Peace Talisman showed no reaction.
Could it be that he was overthinking?
As Lu Zheng nodded, ready to relax, a charming voice like a Yellow Oriole drifted from behind the cart, "Dear sir in the coach, could you kindly give this young lady a ride?"
Seeing Lu Zheng nod, Uncle Li was ready to signal Honest Zhang, but hearing the woman's voice, Honest Zhang had already started to tighten the reins, intending to stop.
Just then, Lu Zheng's cold voice suddenly echoed, "Keep going, don't stop!"
"Eh?"
Uncle Li was stunned, and Honest Zhang instinctively waved the whip he held.
"Giddy up!"
Clack... clack...
The donkey picked up a brisk pace, even hastening a few steps, quickly leaving the woman far behind.
Realizing the donkey cart wouldn't stop, the woman also stopped calling out, just wiped her sweat, adjusted her bundle, and continued on her way.
"Young master?"
Lu Zheng's face was stiff, his heart pounding, and a chill ran straight up from the base of his spine.
Meanwhile, the Peace Talisman in his hand had already curled slightly charred on one edge, as if singed by a distant fire.
...
The incident happened just when the woman spoke!
Lu Zheng was about to agree, and the woman coincidentally called out.
As the charming voice appeared, the Peace Talisman in Lu Zheng's hand suddenly emitted warmth, like a hand warmer.
Then the edge of the talisman paper started to char.
At the same time, a cold chill arose, and Lu Zheng vaguely caught a whiff of a foul odor.
Not until Lu Zheng ordered and the donkey cart moved far away did the heat of the talisman dissipate, and the charring ceased.
...
On hearing Uncle Li's question, Lu Zheng didn't speak, just revealed the talisman in his hand for him to see.
Uncle Li's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but gasp.
Uncle Li looked at Lu Zheng, wondering what kind of person young master was! All the strange things he never encountered in his lifetime seem to frequently appear since serving the young master?
Encountering high talents and running into dark spirits is truly exhilarating.
...
Suppressing the urge to look back, the donkey cart did bumpily and shakily make it into the county town before night fell.
Honest Zhang dropped them off at their doorstep, then, under the moonlight and the lights of the still-open shops, drove away with his cart.
Lu Zheng and Uncle Li ate the dinner left for them by Aunt Liu, and then Lu Zheng sent Uncle Li to rest. He returned alone to his bedroom.
He glanced at his silk bed set and velvet quilt, then shook his head, placing the Peace Talisman under his pillow, instantly crossing back to the modern world.