Chapter 8: Descent

Lin Bai's current appearance is truly flamboyant; his clothes have not been washed for a week and have long since become stiff and block-like. Not to mention his long hair, which is black with hints of white, lacking any sense of elegance. The sense of weariness that Lin Bai prides himself on is also absent. Coupled with the blue cloth pouch he carries on his back, he resembles a laborer coming down from the mountains to work.

Such a loser, no explanation!

"Dare to look down on me? I will exchange money for coins and smash you to death." Lin Bai muttered, instinctively reaching into his pocket, only to find it empty. He turned all his pockets inside out, but surprisingly, he only found a fifty-cent coin.

Although I have not engaged in this profession for many years, I still have some attire prepared in my package. Finding a stream on the mountain, I tidied myself up a bit, casually tied my grizzled ponytail, and changed into a stone blue Daoist robe. I truly appeared to possess a certain ethereal quality, and with Lin Bai's already outstanding appearance, I exuded an even more refined and otherworldly charm.

Just as Lin Bai was about to knock on the door, it suddenly swung open, and a Taoist priest dressed in a blue robe rolled out from inside. He truly rolled out, his body tumbling out of the room like a ball. Lin Bai stared in astonishment at the priest, dumbfounded, thinking that this was not how rituals were supposed to be conducted.

If you lack true skill, do not take on this tough task. If you delay the treatment of my grandson's illness, I will strike you dead with a single blow

At the foot of Mount Mao, Lin Bai was astonished to discover that there were indeed quite a few peers from his own field here.

Without saying a word, these were still the three people who greeted Lin Bai when he entered the village. Carrying a small backpack, Lin Bai reached the bend in the mountain path, turned back, and laughed heartily: "The green mountains remain unchanged, the clear waters flow on forever. Prepare roasted chicken and fine wine for me, I, Little White Dragon, will return!"

How could such a loser appearance possibly captivate those women who climb the mountain to seek fortune and wonder when they will meet their true wealthy and handsome prince

Boss, take care, we will be waiting for your return, and we will go up the mountain to roast chicken together!

"Wuliang Tianzun, who is cursing the old Daoist..." In the Daoist temple, Zhang Sanfeng, who had moved a rattan chair to imitate Ruan Ji basking in the sun, suddenly shivered, but soon understood something. He gently patted his belly and said to himself with a smile:

After one night, the village at the foot of Mount Mao suddenly felt something was amiss. It seemed that the group of children at home was unusually quiet that morning, with not a single one shouting to go down to the river to bathe and catch fish, nor was there anyone crying out to go up the mountain to find their leader

The young Taoist descended the mountain to venture forth, while the old Taoist on the mountain had given instructions: the women down below are of good quality, and if encountered, he must bring one back! After passing through one village after another, the young Taoist secretly pondered: where are the women, the women, the beautiful women?

"Infinite Celestial Sovereign, although women are beautiful, the belly is the largest, I must quickly seek that ritual." Lin Bai spoke such flowery words, and his pace quickened a bit, yet his eyes remained restless, continuously assessing the women passing by in three directions.

Little White Dragon, you rascal, how could you kill my crowing rooster again? If you want to eat, why not eat a hen? If the rooster is not killed, the hens can still lay eggs and hatch chicks. What will happen to the hens when they are left hungry like this!

Though he spoke boastfully, Lin Bai's speed on his feet quickened by several degrees. The people at the foot of Mount Mao may lack other skills, but their ability to run is quite remarkable. If they were to catch up and take revenge for yesterday's grievances, Lin Bai would truly find himself in a difficult situation.

As the line changed for the first time, on the way down the mountain, the gaze of the young women, who came seeking a good marriage, towards Lin Bai was noticeably different from before

As the saying goes, once the road is opened, wealth will come rolling in. With the increase in foot traffic, the area at the foot of Maoshan has also become prosperous, with crowds of people every day, and during holidays, it is even more bustling.

In other places, rituals for the salvation of the deceased are generally performed by monks. However, in Maoshan, it has been customary since ancient times for such ceremonies to be conducted by Taoist priests. Some friends may not understand why Taoist priests, who are not typically associated with the salvation of the deceased, would participate in these rituals. Isn't this akin to a dog catching a mouse, meddling in affairs that do not concern them?

Looking at the fifty-cent coin in his hand, Lin Bai finally understood what was going on. In this world, apart from the senior brother who had been at the station, clutching his pant leg and crying loudly, who else could possess such deft skills and fortune to take money from his own pocket

The entire village was immersed in a strange atmosphere, but just moments later, countless voices of cursing erupted from within the village

He dashed to the entrance of the house where the funeral was being held. This house featured a three-story building, covered with climbing ivy, which looked lush and beautiful in the summer. At the entrance, two stone lions stood guard, indicating that the family was relatively well-off. However, it was the seventh day after the death, yet the main door was tightly locked, and not a single guest had come to pay their respects, which was quite unusual.

The old man bit down on his pipe, took a couple of puffs with a wheeze, sighed, and threw his cane outside, saying: "As you suggested, let's prepare for the arrangements for Xiao San as well. The eldest has passed, and now Xiao Shan is in this state. Xiu'e, you must take good care of your health. Maoshan, oh Maoshan, how have you come to this point, unable to even find a priest to exorcise the evil spirits."

After such a commotion, quite a number of people gathered outside the small building. However, the gazes of these onlookers directed towards the family inside were not filled with pity or sympathy, but rather carried a hint of schadenfreude.

The life of the mountain dwellers at the foot of Maoshan is relatively difficult, but with the sweeping winds of reform, the restrictions on the pursuit of immortality and the mystical aspects of this path have also eased. Moreover, Maoshan boasts beautiful scenery, and in recent years, its development has further attracted many visitors to enjoy the picturesque landscapes.

Lin Bai was taken aback. When he ascended the mountain, he still had some money on him. Although it was not enough to astonish anyone, it could indeed serve to validate his identity as a wealthy and handsome man. But where had all that money gone now mhetushu .com .com!

Little White Dragon, you scoundrel, you climbed over the wall to watch me bathe, yet you didn't think to come in and see me in full view. Now that you've left, who knows when you'll return? What if someone else misses you?

Disciple, you are going down the mountain to roll in the world of pleasures. Senior brother, it is not unreasonable for me to take a small portion of your earnings. Going out to chase women, finding a woman with a big backside certainly requires some money. I believe you won't hold it against me!

After much contemplation, aside from resorting to street fortune-telling or performing rituals for others to earn some travel expenses, there truly seems to be no better alternative. This is also a method of survival in the underworld. When Lin Bai first descended the mountain, he often engaged in such activities to make a living. However, in recent years, as his business has grown, he has not resorted to these old means of livelihood for quite some time.

"Damn it, I spent all day hunting eagles only to have my eyes pecked out by one. Zhang Sanfeng, you scoundrel, how could you take all my money? You could at least have left me enough for bus fare! Do you really think I'm just a fat sheep to be slaughtered?" Although he said this, there was not a trace of anger on Lin Bai's face.

Several fortune-telling stalls were clustered together, all proclaiming their services with the phrases "iron-clad predictions" and "no deception for young or old." Lin Bai's face turned slightly green upon seeing this. Although he considered himself a small dragon in the turbulent waters, with a relatively prominent reputation in the martial world, he could not ignore the fact that there were more wolves than meat. If these competitors were to seize the opportunity first, his chances of securing fare for the journey home would be even more uncertain

Lin Bai hummed a little tune while casting glances at the tourists ascending the mountain to offer incense and seek divination at Maoshan. Maoshan is a renowned scenic tourist destination in China, attracting many visitors, including a number of beautiful women. However, the song was rather unbearable, and as soon as it was sung, it drew quite a few disapproving looks.

A few days ago, when Lin Bai and Zhang Sanfeng were climbing the mountain, they happened to see a family mourning at the foot of the mountain. Today marks exactly seven days, which is the seventh day after the death, and it is customary to hold a ritual to help the departed soul find peace.

Father, why not make some preparations for Xiaoshan's funeral? If this drags on and we can't find the root of the illness, it would be a problem if we are unprepared when the time comes..." A woman in her thirties walked out of the room, grasped the old man's arm, rubbed her eyes, and spoke with tears in her eyes.

As soon as Lin Bai's song was performed, the tourists at the foot of the mountain, who had been influenced by advanced internet culture, were utterly astonished by this piece.

In fact, within Taoism, there are indeed scriptures for the salvation of the deceased, such as the "Sutra of Deliverance for Beings," formally known as the "Sutra of the Supreme and Wonderful Deliverance of the Lingbao Daozun," which serves to liberate the souls of the departed, allowing them to be free from the five sufferings and eight difficulties in the next life, and to enjoy blessings and longevity.

Money can be earned again, but my senior brother is on the mountain, and the incense offerings at that dilapidated temple have been nearly nonexistent under the management of the old Taoist priest Li Tianyuan in recent years. It is only reasonable to leave some money for my senior brother to get by.

An elderly man with white hair and beard emerged from within, letting out a fierce roar. Despite his advanced age, he was full of vigor, wielding a cane as he chased after something. "Damn it, all the Taoists on Mount Mao are dead. I found someone to exorcise the evil spirits, and they charged quite a bit, but you managed to scare yourself instead!"