Chapter 1938: Storyteller

Winter gave way to spring. In the blink of an eye, the New Year season arrived. This year was destined to be a prosperous one.

In just a few months, Qin Sang's reputation had spread far and wide. The three villages at the foot of the mountain, in particular, had truly benefited. For any illness, major or minor, a visit to the Taoist temple always resulted in a cure.

Qin Sang's ledger was already half-filled, yet he never pressed for payment. Even with the New Year approaching, no Taoist from Qingyang Temple came down the mountain to collect debts. Some poor families, who hadn't even paid their first medical fee, found themselves needing a second visit. They would enter nervously, but Qin Sang never mentioned the unpaid debt.

Everyone saw this and began to say that a true immortal had arrived on the mountain. As a result, the temple's incense offerings flourished. When people butchered their New Year livestock, they would always set aside the best cuts and send them up the mountain. Qin Sang tried to decline the offerings, but they insisted it was to nourish the two young Taoist disciples, leaving them no matter what, since Taoists weren't particular about meat or fish.

Faced with such persistent generosity and the festive season, Qin Sang made an exception. In just a few days, various New Year goods piled up, filling half a room. Though crudely prepared, they tasted good. Nothing went to waste; the master and his two disciples lived among mortals, eating three meals a day and savoring earthly delights like everyone else.

It was the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. The New Year was almost here.

Yu Lang, invigorated after a night of cultivation, pushed open a sliver of his window. A cold wind swirled, carrying snowflakes indoors. Outside, a heavy snow had begun to fall at some point. "A timely snow promises a bountiful year," he murmured.

Yu Lang pushed the window wide open, not using any spells, letting the snowflakes fall on him with a look of serene contentment. The academy was closed for the New Year, with holidays extending until the eighth day of the first lunar month, and he had already finished his assignments early. Before he started school, he longed to study every day, but once he entered the academy, he realized how delightful holidays truly were.

"I wonder if Senior Sister is awake yet?" Yu Lang leaned slightly out the window and glanced at the room next door. In the past six months at the academy, Senior Sister still didn't talk much, but she was noticeably less taciturn than before. He had recently learned that Senior Sister didn't meditate at night; she slept like a mortal.

"How exactly did Senior Sister gain her cultivation?" Yu Lang couldn't figure it out.

"With this weather, and the heavy snow blocking the mountain, no one should be coming up. I wonder if Master will come out of seclusion. Senior Luo Hou is still sleeping, and Senior Taiyi is nowhere to be found. Senior Vermillion Bird, too, has been cooped up in its nest all day; I haven't seen it out for a while. Is it too boring on the mountain? Master also strictly forbade it from playing tricks on people..." Yu Lang mused idly, noticing the snow gradually lessening. By the time it was fully light, the snow had stopped completely.

The Taoist temple was blanketed in white, like a soft, flawless white carpet, and even the courtyard walls were capped with snow. "Whoosh!" Yu Lang pushed open the door, exhaled a cloud of white mist, and just as he picked up a broom leaning against the wall, he heard the creak of the adjacent door opening and Xiao Wu emerged.

"Senior Sister." Yu Lang called out. Xiao Wu nodded and also picked up a broom.

"Senior Sister, let's sweep all the way down the mountain. Qiu Hua and the others said they wanted to come up to play with you. With such heavy snow, I wonder if they'll still come." Qiu Hua, whom Yu Lang mentioned, was a classmate from the academy. The few girls in class usually played together, led by Qiu Hua, who was quite spirited and would bravely exchange curses with boys, always gaining the upper hand. Qiu Hua and the others all liked Xiao Wu, believing her silence stemmed from a gentle nature, and were determined to protect her from being bullied by boys.

Thinking of this, Yu Lang scratched his head, unsure what Senior Sister truly felt about these playmates.

The two first cleared a few paths within the temple, then opened the temple gate and swept their way down the mountain path. Before they reached the foot of the mountain, three people appeared, walking towards them. It was none other than Scholar Chen, accompanied by his page, treading through the snow. The third person was their classmate, Tao Teng, who shared a similar temperament with Yu Lang. Before long, Yu Lang had given him the nickname 'Naoteng' (meaning 'boisterous').

"Yu Lang! Senior Sister... hehe." Tao Teng deliberately drew out the sound, winking mischievously. Yu Lang, despite looking several years older than Xiao Wu, had to call her Senior Sister, which often earned him teasing from his friends.

"Greetings, Master." Yu Lang shot Tao Teng a glare, then he and Xiao Wu put down their brooms and stepped forward to bow.

"I have come specifically today to examine your studies," Scholar Chen began with a joke. Seeing no trace of alarm on the two students' faces, he inwardly marveled at how well Daoist Qingfeng had chosen his disciples. Yu Lang was understandable, having studied before and possessing a foundation. But Xiao Wu, only seven or eight years old, had a photographic memory. Within days of enrolling, she had memorized several classics word for word and remembered the master's explanations perfectly. Because of this, Scholar Chen had specifically discussed with Qin Sang, concluding that their minds were not yet mature enough, and thus they should remain in elementary school.

"What a pity she's a girl," Scholar Chen sighed to himself. Though the state of Yan had an open-minded culture, there was no precedent for women holding official positions. Although Yu Lang was a spirited boy, and his usual demeanor suggested ambition, he seemed to have been "bewitched" by his Master, showing no interest in fame or fortune. It was as if he only studied to understand Taoist scriptures.

"If I had met such a Master in my youth, would I have been like Yu Lang?" Scholar Chen thought of Daoist Qingfeng's demeanor and conduct, and this thought crossed his mind. He pointed to the food box in his page's hand, "A thousand mountains veiled in snow, truly breathtaking. In such a scene, how can one not seek out friends to enjoy the snowy landscape? I specifically asked your Madam to prepare some local delicacies. Daoist Master, you must have finished your morning lesson by now?"

He lived as a recluse in Qipai Village, nestled by mountains and water, but there was no one in the village he could truly converse with, and his friends were not nearby. Finally, Daoist Qingfeng arrived. Scholar Chen felt a sense of regret for not meeting him sooner, yet this man was even busier than he was.

"Master..." Yu Lang hesitated slightly, looking at Senior Sister. Xiao Wu nodded gently, "Master has come out of seclusion."

The two quickly finished sweeping the remaining snow. Indeed, there was no one at the foot of the mountain. Back at the temple, they saw Master and Scholar Chen had already set up a table and charcoal brazier in the temple's small attic. The small attic was suggested by Scholar Chen and built under his direction. The lower level was supported by wooden pillars, and a ladder led to the second floor. The second floor rose above the courtyard wall, offering an excellent view that encompassed the entire mountain scenery.

"Yu Lang, go string up the beef from the Zhang family and bring it for roasting. And the string of fruits your Master gathered from the mountain, wash them clean and serve them," Qin Sang instructed. "Fruits? Oh, I see." Yu Lang understood immediately. Calling Tao Teng, he hurried to the food storage room, where indeed hung a string of bright red spirit fruits.

"There are still fruits in the mountains at this time of year? What kind of fruits are they?" Scholar Chen asked. "This humble Taoist is not sure either, but rest assured, Scholar Chen, these fruits are non-toxic and possess a peculiar fragrance."

Scholar Chen chuckled, "Of course, I believe you on that. At your place, Daoist Master, there's always something new to eat. I truly don't know how you prepare those seasonings; they always turn something ordinary into something extraordinary. In comparison, the things I brought are almost unpalatable."

The seasonings were made with spirit herbs, so of course they were fragrant. Qin Sang rarely indulged his appetite before. Now, stealing a half-day's leisure, and wanting Xiao Wu to experience the five flavors of the human world, he had put in no small amount of effort.

He picked up his chopsticks, put a piece of golden-yellow pastry from the plate into his mouth, and chewed lightly. It wasn't as exaggerated as Scholar Chen claimed.

"Madam Chen has excellent culinary skills; these have a unique flavor." As Qin Sang spoke, his gaze drifted outside the temple. On the mountain path, several people were approaching the temple, led by two elders, one of whom was Dr. Liu.

"Oh? Someone else is coming up the mountain today?" Scholar Chen peered out. "Perhaps an urgent illness," Qin Sang said, glancing at the elder beside Dr. Liu, then stood up. "Please excuse me for a moment."

"You all wait outside!" Dr. Liu waved his hand, preventing those behind him from entering the temple, bringing only the elder inside. "Daoist Master..."

Qin Sang waved his hand, stopping them from bowing, and led them into the main hall. The elder was dressed in fine, luxurious clothes, clearly a person of status. His face was flushed, but the redness was abnormal.

Interrupting during the New Year season made Dr. Liu a little uneasy, and he quickly explained the elder's condition. Qin Sang pondered for a moment. "This illness is not suitable for medicine. Bring me silver needles."

"Yes!" Dr. Liu, knowing the routine, took out silver needles from his medical kit, his face full of anticipation. He had witnessed Qin Sang use needles before and could only describe it as miraculous.

"Watch closely!" Qin Sang cautioned, then instructed the elder to lie down on the straw mat. He deliberately slowed his movements, allowing Dr. Liu to clearly see every tremor of the silver needles. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Qin Sang withdrew the needles and stepped back. The flush on the elder's face slowly faded.

"Miraculous! Truly miraculous!" Dr. Liu, having seen everything clearly, was deeply shaken. Suddenly, his expression dimmed. "I'm too old... I can't perform that! What a pity I only met the Daoist Master now!"

"If you can't perform it, you can pass it on to your disciples," Qin Sang said.

Those who accompanied the elder were his attendants, and their carriage was waiting at the foot of the mountain. Dr. Liu was about to leave with them but was kept by Qin Sang. "You've arrived at a fortunate time. We happen to be short of company today. There's no harm in staying overnight at the temple; your family can pick you up tomorrow."

Dr. Liu was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he asked someone to send a message to his family and followed Qin Sang up to the attic.

"So Scholar Chen is here too," Dr. Liu said, giving a slight bow. The two were well-acquainted and didn't need to be formal.

"Come quickly! Come quickly! Taste the Daoist Master's treasured collection! I guarantee it's a peerless delicacy, a rare treat on earth! If the Daoist Master doesn't come soon, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist taking a bite myself!" Scholar Chen was impatient, holding a handful of meat skewers sizzling with oil over the charcoal fire. He sprinkled a pinch of spices, and an intense aroma suddenly burst forth, blending seamlessly with the scent of roasted meat. Dr. Liu sniffed, unable to help but exclaim, "How fragrant!"

The page and Yu Lang, who were serving nearby, had long been salivating.

Just then, Qin Sang chuckled softly, "It's quite lively today." Everyone looked towards the temple entrance at the sound. The elder and his entourage had disappeared from the mountain path, but two men now appeared. One was young and handsome, the other slightly older. The older man walked half a step behind, yet they didn't seem like master and servant. Both were dressed in white, with an uncommon demeanor.

"What presence!" Scholar Chen's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "I've never seen such individuals before! What a pity! What a pity! Are they friends of the Daoist Master?" "It's our first meeting, but this humble Taoist has long heard of them. They should be Mr. Yu and Mr. Yi," Qin Sang said.

As if sensing something, the two looked up. The younger man smiled slightly and raised the ceramic jar in his hand. "With spirit fruits and fine dishes, how can there be no good wine? I've specially brought a jar of century-old wine. Might we join you upstairs, if there are two spots?"

"Mr. Yu, you are too polite. 'To have friends come from afar, is it not a joy?' Please come upstairs, both of you!" Qin Sang stood by the window, instructing Yu Lang and Xiao Wu to go down and welcome the guests.

The newcomers were precisely the County God and the Civil Judge of this county. Qin Sang had already learned their names from the Earth God and guessed their identities upon meeting them.

The attic was not large. After exchanging greetings, County God Yu and Judge Yi sat down. With the addition of the four young attendants, it felt a bit crowded, but fortunately, no one else came up the mountain afterward.

The jar of fine wine was opened; it was indeed excellent, its aroma wafting everywhere. With everyone sharing a cup, the unfamiliarity between them quickly diminished.

Only Judge Yi occasionally glanced at the table, his pupils slightly contracting, subtly signaling County God Yu to pay attention to the plate of seasonings. The string of fruits was called Jade Elixir Fruit, capable of enhancing the cultivation of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Serving them to mortals was already extremely extravagant. The seasoning powder, surprisingly, contained spirit herbs of even higher quality than the Jade Elixir Fruit, as well as medicinal powders they couldn't identify. The two secretly exchanged a glance, quite surprised, and looked at Daoist Qingfeng with newfound respect.

Scholar Chen was even more interested in them. "May I ask where you two gentlemen are from? You're not from Jin County, are you? Otherwise, I'm certain I would have recognized you."

Mr. Yu chuckled, "We are indeed from Jin County, but we don't often appear before people, so it's normal that Scholar Chen wouldn't recognize us."

"Two more recluses!" Scholar Chen showed a self-deprecating smile and drank a cup by himself. "With such character as you two possess, my so-called seclusion seems suspiciously like seeking fame, in comparison."

"Our talents extend no further than a single county or city. Scholar Chen, however, possesses great talent for governing the nation and bringing peace to the people, with the demeanor of a duke or marquis. How can we be compared?" County God Yu raised his cup in response.

"If you all put it that way, this humble Taoist is merely a mountain dweller," Qin Sang said, joining them for a cup.

"You are all like immortals; only this old man is a mere mortal," Dr. Liu said, raising his cup to join the fun.

Judge Yi glanced at him, took a small sip of wine, and hinted meaningfully, "If you learn a bit of the benevolent heart from Daoist Qingfeng, and not merely his medical skills, it will be enough to benefit you for a lifetime." Dr. Liu paused, slightly bewildered.

Scholar Chen seemed a little drunk, his eyes glazed, muttering, "Mr. Yu's words might have been a jest just now, but if we scholars don't serve the nation above and bring peace to the common folk below, to whom shall we offer our knowledge and learning?"

Qin Sang, swirling his wine cup, suddenly paused, a slight frown creasing his brow.

At this moment, in Jin County town. A streak of green light landed in a corner of the city. A moment later, a young, pretty girl emerged. A kingfisher circled a few times and landed on her shoulder, its eyes bright and full of spiritual energy.

"How lively!" The county town was filled with the New Year atmosphere, and the City God Temple Street, in particular, was bustling with people. Everything seemed new and fascinating to the girl. "The human world is wonderful, much livelier than the mountain! Isn't that right, Xiao Zhu?" The kingfisher fluttered its wings and chirped twice.

"So much delicious food too!" The girl looked around, left and right, salivating at the sights, until she stopped before a teahouse. A resonant voice emanated from within.

After listening intently for a moment, the girl wondered, "Is that a storyteller, like the ones in books? Isn't it almost New Year's? Why is someone still telling stories?"

The girl didn't notice that everyone on the street was watching her because of her actions. "People don't eat during the New Year? That young gentleman inside, don't let his age fool you, he tells stories wonderfully," an auntie nearby couldn't help but interject.

"Let's go in and listen," the girl said, stepping across the threshold.