Chapter 3: Apprenticeship

Jiang Le's eyes lit up

He has received his inheritance, it seems he is about to become wealthy

Upon suddenly encountering several high-quality magical artifacts, it is inevitable to feel a twinge of envy

Jiang Le could not believe it and said, "Are you kidding me? How could a corpse be dangerous?"

Mao Xiaofang smiled faintly: "Of course, the corpse is not dangerous, but if it undergoes a transformation, that would be a different matter"

"Alright, kid, encountering me might just be the biggest turning point of your life. However, there is something you should take care of as soon as possible; otherwise, before this turning point even begins, you might find yourself accompanying Old Jin on his final journey," Mao Xiaofang said with a hint of amusement.

What should I do about this? I don't quite understand. Jiang Le looked weakly at Mao Xiaofang, seeking guidance.

Mao Xiaofang glared at Jiang Le and said, "I will say it again, do not call me Ghost Brother; you may address me as Daoist Mao."

Really gone? This is how it should be, the living and the dead are on different paths. Old man Jin, I wish you to be reincarnated as a rich second generation.

Mao Xiaofang glanced at the corpse of the old man on the ground and said, "So it's him."

Old Jin spoke for a long time, yet he saw Jiang Le still wearing a look of ignorance and insincere flattery, dealing with the matter perfunctorily. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, displaying a face full of helplessness

Emotions are still an unrestricted old ghost; what the heck, does this count as being haunted by a ghost

After all, the current version of myself can be considered a semi-invalid, forgetting everything I learn. If I cannot recover, I won't even be able to fulfill my mother's hope that I can attend university and become a successful son. Even in the future, if I do not continue my studies, it will be difficult to find a job.

However, Mao Xiaofang displayed a peculiar smile and said, "What are you looking at? From now on, I will follow you."

Mao Xiaofang laughed heartily and said, "I, Mao Xiaofang, have spent my life subduing demons and vanquishing evil, yet I have not left behind a lineage. I thought my line would come to an end, but unexpectedly, fortune and misfortune coexist; where there is loss, there is gain. I am fortunate to have a successor like you from wwwhetushucom.com."

Mao Xiaofang reined in her smile and said irritably, "You can't even use chopsticks yet, and you're already thinking about eating."

Mao Xiaofang was taken aback, then irritably flicked her finger, causing a point of red light to land on Jiang Le's head, producing a sharp sound.

Mao Xiaofang, however, did not explain to him and said: "Alright, stop daydreaming, quickly tidy up. The old man's corpse is surrounded by negative energy and cannot be left for long; it must be dealt with promptly"

Zombie Transformation

So that is very valuable

Mao Xiaofang remarked thoughtfully: "Some innocent people have died unjustly because of thoughts like yours. Let me tell you, it is the corpses that are truly dangerous"

Tsk tsk, I didn't expect that this old man Jin left behind some good things. It seems that the world has indeed changed greatly, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to collect these precious magical artifacts. Mao Xiaofang looked at the items in the yellow cloth bag and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

This is yet another terrifying scene in a horror film

Jiang Le's smile faltered as she stared intently at Mao Xiaofang, thinking she must have misheard.

In Jiang Le's eyes, a red light flickered, akin to a wolf that had been hungry for several days suddenly spotting a solitary fat sheep

Subsequently, Mao Xiaofang instructed Jiang Le to retrieve a small yellow cloth bag from the compartment beneath the spirit tablet.

Jiang Le was taken aback; those words were quite unsettling! He hurriedly asked, "Master Mao, what is it that you wish to say?"

Surely, I cannot be this unfortunate; how could I encounter such a situation?

Jiang Le said in confusion: "Daoism? Are you referring to the kind of Daoist priest catching zombies in horror films? It feels unreliable."

Jiang Le was startled

There are copper bells, yellow paper, cinnabar, brushes, and some dark red threads

Jiang Le chuckled and quickly asked the question that concerned him the most: "Master, how should I treat this illness of mine?"

Mao Xiaofang expressed his frustration: "Hitting you is merely a light punishment. Money, m.hetushu.com, money—it's all about money. You, young man, must not entertain such thoughts in the future. These things cannot be bought even with money, yet you dare to think of selling them."

Jiang Le was suddenly filled with excitement and quickly ran towards Mao Xiaofang, intending to seize him.

Old Jin is a solitary person who does not particularly enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. Could it be that all this money is what he has saved up?

Then, Mao Xiaofang nodded and said, "Basically, that's about it"

"Old Man Jin?" Jiang Le was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Didn’t he go to the underworld? What can a corpse do?"

Mao Xiaofang, however, was not surprised; instead, she nodded and smiled lightly, saying: "I noticed it long ago. Your celestial apex is obscure, and the light of your life appears somewhat dim. It must be that you experienced some fright in your childhood, which led to damage to your soul. However, the fact that you have not turned into an idiot after all these years suggests that the problem is not significant."

Mao Xiaofang said calmly: "I can teach you"

However, Jiang Le passed directly through Mao Xiaofang's body, only then realizing that what lay before him was a ghost, or rather, a Dao soul, which has no physical form

Jiang Legan smiled and nodded, yet his eyes were filled with confusion

However, the yellow cloth bag is bulging, as if it contains a considerable amount of items

Old Jin said irritably

Old Jin cast a grateful glance at Mao Xiaofang and performed a grand gesture of respect in the Taoist manner, saying: "In that case, I can depart in peace. Take care, fellow Daoist."

Mao Xiaofang disdainfully looked down at Jiang Le and said: "You are truly a mere mortal, unaware of the divine powers at home. Although my physical body has been destroyed, I am no longer an ordinary soul, but a Dao soul. A Dao soul is cultivated through diligent practice and the comprehension of the heavenly way, and can be ranked among the ghosts and deities. Moreover, throughout my life, I have subdued countless demons and monsters, accumulating immeasurable merits. Now, I can reincarnate whenever I wish, and if I choose not to, living like this is quite good too"

Jiang Le was not reckless; he stepped forward and respectfully bowed several times.

Jiang Le came to his senses and hurriedly said, "No, Brother Ghost, why are you following me? Humans and ghosts are on different paths; we are not on the same road. You should go and be reincarnated. Perhaps in your next life, you could become a rich second generation or a government official's child, living a carefree life. Wouldn't that be delightful?"

Jiang Le briefly explained a few points, which left Mao Xiaofang in awe, remarking on how rapidly the world is changing

Having spoken, Old Man Jin's figure became ethereal and gradually vanished from sight

The issues with his mind have troubled him for over ten years, and Jiang Le has long had enough; even if there is only a glimmer of hope, he will absolutely not give up

Then Jiang Le turned to Mao Xiaofang, grinning with a simple, foolish smile, secretly thinking, since Old Man Jin has already passed away, what are you still doing here? Let's go together; we can chat along the way, how wonderful that would be.

So be it, perhaps I am too stubborn. In today's world, skill surpasses the law, and even with a complete lineage, it is not guaranteed that one can achieve a true outcome. Moreover, my family's inheritance has undergone great changes and is lacking in many aspects. Even if it were to be passed down, it would be ambiguous at best. Why should I force others into a difficult position? Jiang Le, you and I have a certain affinity; in the future, this establishment will be entrusted to you. I hope you take good care of it.

Of course, such words cannot be spoken; Jiang Le is not foolish. Arguing back with the master will certainly bring no benefits

Mao Xiaofang's profound remark: "Is he still called Mao Daolong now?"

"Horror movie? What is that?" Mao Xiaofang expressed confusion

Looking again at the corpse of Old Jin, Jiang Le no longer felt the joy that came after the departure of Old Jin's ghost. The soul has left, yet the corpse can still cause harm? How had it never been realized that this world is so perilous?

Jiang Le quickly looked around and truly could not see Old Jin, a look of surprise appeared on his face

Mao Xiaofang continued, "There is no need to rush your matters; come with me first, and I will have you retrieve some items." As she spoke, Mao Xiaofang flew towards a row of spirit tablets.

The yellow cloth bag was opened, but instead of seeing money, there was a chaotic pile of various items and books.

Jiang Le scratched his head and forced a smile, thinking to himself that he had been suffering for over ten years; how could he not be anxious? Moreover, if this soul was not healed, the progress in learning this technique would also lag behind.

Mao Xiaofang smiled and said: "A mundane doctor can only treat the body; how could they possibly understand the soul? The injury to your soul is not severe. If I still had my physical form, I could simply draw a calming talisman for you, to soothe your spirit and stabilize your soul, ensuring your peace for a day. However, for now, you must rely on self-study and self-governance."

But what if it really turns into a corpse? It would be completely unrecognizable to its own kin

Jiang Le grimaced in pain and shouted, "Master, why are you hitting me? It hurts so much"

Although he claimed to be a master Taoist of his generation, he traveled far and wide, and apart from the Pure Yang Bagua, which was a valuable inheritance from his school, all his other magical tools were of ordinary quality

Jiang Le nodded repeatedly and joyfully said, "No problem, as long as Master Mao teaches me, I promise to study diligently"

However, it wasn't long before Jiang Le could no longer feel happy

Jiang Leyi asked eagerly, "Master, are these items very valuable?"

Jiang Le smiled wryly and said, "If that's the case, then I have no solution; I don't know how."

Upon seeing this, Mao Xiaofang let out a deep sigh and then spoke with a serious tone: "Friend, you cannot remain in the mortal realm for long; you must hasten to the underworld. However, rest assured, the righteous path in this world will not decline. Even amidst the great changes of heaven and earth, I will ensure that the Daoist lineage remains unbroken. This young man possesses the roots of wisdom, and I will guide him. As for the Jin family's teachings, those that can be passed down will certainly not be lost to him."

Jiang Le suddenly realized, and quickly knelt down obediently, bowing three times with a loud sound, then respectfully called out: "Disciple Jiang Le, pays respects to Master."

Regarding the inheritance and such matters, he completely cannot understand or comprehend. However, the main focus now is to appease Old Man Jin, to prevent him from coming to find me in the middle of the night every day. I can endure it, but my mother cannot handle it. What if something unfortunate were to happen?

These spirit tablets are all made of ancient wood, inscribed with the names of the Jin family, which should belong to the ancestors of Old Man Jin

Do not try to deceive me. Listen carefully, what I mean by passing the shop on to you is not just the front store and this small courtyard, but also the legacy of the Jin family.

This yellow cloth bag clearly shows signs of age; the yellow has faded to a dark yellow and appears somewhat worn.

This behavior made Mao Xiaofang nod secretly, as this disciple he accepted is indeed a person of pure character, unafraid of being misled by others.

Jiang Le shook his head and said with a look of dejection: "I might disappoint you, Master Mao. I have had a flaw since childhood; I learn everything slowly, and by the next day, I will have forgotten most of what I learned the day before. So if you teach me, I may not be able to learn it."

The most valuable item should be a copper coin, but Jiang Le has only a superficial understanding of antiques and is unable to assess the value of these copper coins

Jiang Le helplessly changed his tone and said: "Alright, Master Mao, it's getting late. If you go to be reincarnated now, you might still catch up with Old Man Jin, and you'll have some company on the way"

With an awkward smile, Jiang Le gazed intensely at Mao Xiaofang and excitedly said: "Master Mao, you are truly remarkable. I remember when I was a child, I was hit by a car and subsequently fell seriously ill. After I recovered, I developed this problem of being slow to learn and forgetting things the next day. I consulted many doctors, and they all said it was due to a brain injury, which current medical science cannot cure."

It seems that the mental burden has been lifted, and Old Man Jin's spirit is in a state of daze, as if it is about to separate from his soul again

Mao Xiaofang smiled faintly and said mysteriously, "This is simple. As long as you learn the Daoist techniques and apply them using Daoist methods, you can dispel the negative energy from his body and prevent the possibility of corpse transformation"

Jiang Le twitched the corner of his mouth, his expression filled with frustration.

Imagine a perfectly intact corpse suddenly coming to life, then mindlessly biting anyone it encounters, showing no fear of pain; it feels extremely frustrating