Chapter 6, Experts from Beijing

Lu Qingwen angrily said: "How infuriating, this despicable man is so irresponsible, he might as well take Xie Yongfang's ghost to his home..."

I couldn't help but ask: "What is regrettable?"

"No need for that, it is more important to attend to the matter at hand." The elderly man, known as Old Lu, shook his head, glanced around in the distance, and then his gaze settled on me, revealing a hint of surprise. He then quickly walked towards me, continuing to look me up and down.

I shook my head: "Thank you for your kind intentions, but I believe being a teacher is quite good."

In dealing with such uncultured individuals, I simply ignore them and pretend not to have heard. Old Master Lu shot a glare at his granddaughter: "If you continue to be so rude, I will not take you out anymore!"

What savior?

This ... ... should be able to be found

Old Lu seemed to be hesitating about something and casually remarked: "What is known as spiritual roots refers to the ability to communicate with spirits, which is essentially the ability to connect with the spiritual energy in the universe. It can be simply understood as the aptitude for learning esoteric arts. Your aptitude is quite good, but unfortunately, you are too old. It would have been better if you had encountered me a few years earlier."

Lu Chengshan ignored him and asked me: "You are the one who encountered the evil entity, right? Tell me the whole story in detail from beginning to end."

You possess a spiritual root, but unfortunately, you have wasted your years, and your muscles and bones have become stiff, with your meridians blocked. There is little prospect for your cultivation of the Dao.

"Find a few people to dig it out, but do not disturb her remains. Call me once it is excavated." Lu Chengshan turned to see Secretary Chen still standing there, a look of difficulty on his face, and couldn't help but smile, "It doesn't dare to show itself during the day, and besides, I am here. What are you afraid of?"

Old Lu is quite a discerning person; he immediately saw that I lacked sincerity, but he was reluctant to refuse me to my face. He appeared somewhat displeased, yet he did not say anything further, perhaps thinking that I would change my mind after witnessing his true abilities

"Yes, yes." Secretary Chen replied repeatedly and hurriedly left

Old Chen immediately began preparations to welcome the distinguished guests, arranging the hall, slaughtering pigs and sheep, instructing wwwhetushucom.com to send a band, gathering the children to dress neatly, and taking the paper flowers for the June 1st performance to line up for the reception

Old Chen hurried over, but the people in the car did not get out. After rolling down the window a little and saying a few words, Old Chen returned with an embarrassed expression, dismissing everyone and forbidding anyone from watching—clearly, his flattery had missed the mark.

I find it somewhat amusing that for the farmers in this remote mountainous area, Beijing is an immensely sacred and radiant existence. A person from Beijing is akin to an imperial envoy from ancient times, arriving in a grand sedan chair, wielding a special sword to eliminate treachery and dispel evil, instilling fear in both gods and demons. Thus, Old Chen is very excited. However, I remain clear-headed; Beijing is not Longhu Mountain, and not everyone can subdue demons and capture ghosts, right? If I were to fail, how terrifying could the events of tonight become? How can I escape the clutches of these malevolent beings? But I remain clear-headed; Beijing is not Longhu Mountain, and not everyone can subdue demons and capture ghosts, right? If I were to fail, how terrifying could the events of tonight become? How can I escape the clutches of these malevolent beings?

The young girl frowned and said: "You truly do not know what is good for you. My grandfather is a towering figure in the current realm of cultivation. For him to accept you is a blessing you have earned over ten lifetimes..."

Perhaps these monks do not possess the means to subdue demons, but they are undoubtedly true monks with cultivation and virtue. The fact that they lack even a modicum of self-defense reveals just how formidable that hanged ghost is

I feel a bit uneasy; why is the "Imperial Envoy" constantly looking at me? Could it be that I have some sort of demonic aura about me?

Lu Chengshan glared at his granddaughter and then asked, "Do you know where she is buried?"

Sweat, how could I possibly elaborate in front of Lu Qingwen? Fortunately, my eloquence is not too lacking, and my thoughts are relatively quick. I detailed what needed to be detailed and omitted what could be omitted, effectively narrating the entire matter from beginning to end.

After most of the villagers had left, the door of the driver's seat of the sedan opened, and a sturdy man in his thirties jumped out. He had a resolute face and sharp eyes, exuding an explosive sense of power. The person who emerged from the passenger seat was a thin, elderly man with white hair, appearing simple and humble. I had seen this person in a photo in the school office; he is the principal, also surnamed Chen

Principal Chen, Secretary Chen, the driver, and others hurriedly left, but the young girl stood still. Old Lu said: "Although I am not wearing Taoist robes, I am, in fact, an authentic Taoist with a genuine lineage. Currently, I hold a position in a special department of the government, dealing with supernatural matters. Although you are somewhat older, there is still potential for development. Are you willing to follow me?"

On the right appeared a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, tall and slender, dressed in a light yellow polka-dotted ruffled long dress, as graceful as a fluttering butterfly. Her hair was neatly styled at the back, her forehead smooth and full, her eyebrows elegantly shaped, and her phoenix-like eyes exuded an imposing presence, radiating brilliance. Although her face still bore a hint of childish innocence, it already displayed the dazzling charm of a star and the regal elegance of a princess, making it difficult to gaze directly at her.

Old Master Lu possesses the demeanor of ancient sages, so I greeted him with a cupped fist salute: "My name is Zhang Xuanming"

Lu Chengshan nodded slightly after listening, gesturing for everyone to come over and walk towards the school together. Lu Chengshan asked, "There was a woman who committed suicide at the school before; what is the story behind that?"

After the two individuals got out of the car, they quickly opened the rear door and bent slightly forward in a gesture of invitation. The person on the left appeared to be in his fifties, of medium build, dressed in a silk long gown, with short hair and a long beard. He wore a gentle smile, exuding an extraordinary demeanor, though his sword-like eyebrows appeared somewhat too thick, carrying a hint of dominance and a trace of menace amidst his elegance.

Old Lu nodded: "A good name, it resembles those of our kind. My name is Lu Chengshan, and this is my granddaughter Lu Qingwen"

Although the police were called, the police car from the township station did not arrive. Everyone waited patiently until nearly four o'clock in the afternoon, when a small car finally arrived, covered in a cloud of yellow dust. The drum and gong team, which had been waiting by the roadside, immediately began to play energetically, and the sound of the suona was deafening. Children with painted red faces shook paper flowers of varying lengths and shouted: "Welcome, welcome, warmly welcome..."

This ... ... is too sudden for me; I need to think about it.

This hanging ghost is far more ferocious than the monsters I have encountered. If it weren't for that monster protecting me, I might have been taken away by the hanging ghost on the very first night. Therefore, from a certain perspective, I should be grateful to that monster. ... Now that monster has also acted as a matchmaker for him ...

When I saw the corpse of the old monk, with bulging eyes and a tongue hanging out, I immediately thought of the female hanged ghost, and a chill ran down my back. It is hard to imagine that a person could strangle themselves with a rosary, and even when they could not breathe, still not let go. Clearly, it was not his own strength that caused his death, or he had completely lost his sanity at that moment.

My primary concern is still Chen Xing. It seems that not marrying her is not an option, yet I feel somewhat reluctant to marry her. It is not that Chen Xing is not beautiful; in fact, she is very pretty and charming, and her family background is also quite good, making her fully deserving of me. However, I cannot accept a marriage that is so sudden and imposed upon me. Marriage does not equate to love, but how can there be marriage without love? As a modern intellectual, must one really marry first and then fall in love?

The young girl, intrigued yet somewhat displeased because her grandfather holds me in high regard, asked, "Hey, what is your name?"

Around 10 o'clock in the morning, Old Chen received a phone call, and his mood suddenly brightened. He mysteriously said to me, "The savior has arrived, this is great!"

Principal Chen took the lead, and everyone went to the vicinity of the school. However, Lu Chengshan did not enter the school; instead, he looked around and then walked around the school to the back where the overgrown graveyard was located

After ten years of hard study, no one inquired about me. Suddenly, I found a job, and my fiancée appeared out of nowhere. A benefactor from the capital took a liking to me, and it seemed that my fortunes had finally turned. However, the job location is not ideal, my fiancée is someone I do not know well, and the benefactor's generosity from www.hetushu.com is quite unexpected. Is all of this truly good fortune? I feel that these things are all rather unreliable

A person has died, and the monks are certainly unwilling to let the matter rest. There was a commotion, and soon the entire village was aware of it. Rumors spread rapidly, and the people were in a state of panic. Old Chen's relatives and the village officials came out to maintain order. Old Chen was so anxious that he nearly spat blood; his daughter had been humiliated, and a vengeful spirit was demanding a life. In one night, two major incidents occurred, both extremely difficult to handle, leaving him feeling powerless. Human life is of utmost importance, and he could not afford to consider the repercussions. He reported the case to the township police station and called many people for assistance, including the former principal.

Old Master Lu raised his hand to stop his granddaughter and said with a smile: "Everyone has their own aspirations, and one cannot impose their will on others. However, I still hope you will consider it. Although following me may not necessarily bring glory to the family or lead to great success, in any case, even if you only learn a few skills, it is far better than being a teacher by dozens of times."

The eminent monks from Huayan Temple recited scriptures without any unusual occurrences until late into the night. Later, feeling somewhat drowsy, they sat on the cushions to take a short nap. They had grown accustomed to sleeping while sitting when tired; some could even recite scriptures while dozing off, and everything seemed normal. However, when dawn broke, they discovered that all the lights had gone out. One of the elderly monks had used his prayer beads to strangle himself and had already lost his breath

The girl pouted and said, "There is no need to tell others my name!"

I almost burst out laughing; I had never considered becoming a Taoist priest. What is there to regret? Isn't being a teacher better than being a charlatan? However, I was still a bit curious, so I asked him: "What is a spiritual root?"

Principal Chen humbly said, "Old Lu, shall we go to the village office for a cup of tea and take a rest?"

Principal Chen and Secretary Chen exchanged a glance. Principal Chen said: "I am not very clear about the specific situation; that was over twenty years ago. It seems there was a female educated youth named Xie Yongfang who became involved with a male educated youth. Later, the male educated youth returned to the city with the books, but she did not receive a quota to return. Embarrassed to face others, she hanged herself."

The young girl asked, "Grandfather, is his talent really that exceptional?"

Old Lu's disdain for teachers makes me somewhat uncomfortable; this is akin to cursing a bald monk. Perhaps he indeed possesses some abilities and authority, and it would not be difficult to gain a minor official position by associating with him, which is a shortcut to leaving this impoverished place. However, I feel a significant distance between myself and Old Lu; our worldviews and lifestyles differ greatly, and being with them may not necessarily bring happiness. Moreover, Old Lu just mentioned that I am too old to pursue the path of cultivation. If I do not learn well and face scorn from others, I will endure a lifetime of humiliation. It is better to be a leader among chickens than a follower among cattle; why strive for unattainable heights?

Old Lu did not answer her, but said: "You all step aside, I have something to discuss with this young man."

This is confidential! Old Chen said very seriously. After thinking for a moment, he felt that I was one of his own now, so he put his arm around my shoulder and said, "It's fine to tell you, but you must not tell anyone else! There is an expert from Beijing who happened to learn from the old principal at the Education Bureau that we are having trouble here, and he promised to come and handle it. The old principal repeatedly instructed that we must not tell anyone that he is from Beijing!" There is an expert from Beijing who happened to learn from the old principal at the Education Bureau that we are having trouble here, and he promised to come and handle it. The old principal repeatedly instructed that we must not tell anyone that he is from Beijing!

I did not look at her much, not because I was afraid to stare, but because I did not like her haughty demeanor. Is it really necessary for someone from Beijing to hold their head so high?

Everyone noticed the anomaly, but no one dared to speak up. Old Lu walked up to me, scrutinized me from head to toe, then circled around to look from behind, muttering to himself, "What a pity, what a pity..."

I merely smiled politely and did not show any disdain towards the old man's self-righteousness. Now I finally understand why I often encounter supernatural events; it is because I possess a "spiritual root," which makes me sensitive to the presence of other spiritual entities. Ghosts and similar beings may also be quite interested in me, as they might gain my spiritual root by absorbing my vital essence.