Young master, why not become a corpse immortal?

Chapter 79 Changyun Town

Lin Jiang leaned out of the car window, looking at the vast, flat wasteland in the distance and the towering stone city walls on it, and was very pleased:
"We've arrived at Changyun."

Manager Liu also poked his head out, took a breath of fresh air, and said in a somewhat complicated tone:

"We've arrived at Changyun."

Throughout the journey, Manager Liu, who was the only one with not much ability, was filled with anxiety.

He had actually traveled this route to Xingyuan with the Wudang family quite a few times before, but as long as the Wudang family raised their flags, the bandits on the road would basically not show up.

Even those wielding large swords would at most come out and exchange a few pleasantries, give a small amount of silver, and that would be the end of it.

The way our young master passed the test...

That was truly unheard of and unseen before.

However, Manager Liu did not think that Lin Jiang had done anything wrong.

The mountain bandits with broadswords are different from the village bandits with farm tools. The former deserve to be killed, while the latter deserve to be beaten. If Lin Jiang has the ability to break up these sentry posts, it can be considered as eliminating a scourge for the people.

The carriage soon arrived at the gate of Changyun. This place was somewhat similar to Cangsong. Although it was a town, it was large and spacious.

However, unlike the newly built wall on the side of Cangsong, this city wall was covered with vines and dew, and large sections of the stone surface were damaged. The eastern wall even had a large crater, and merchants were going in and out along the eastern wall, setting up their stalls outside.

This city was a fortress of the previous dynasty. Many people died here, and the city walls were also destroyed by a powerful master. After many years, the dilapidated ancient battlefield became a town called Changyun.

Unlike a proper city with guards at the entrance, here people could come and go as they pleased without any restrictions. On the streets, you could see many people with swords or knives at their waists. Many carriages were parked in front of the inns on both sides of the road, some were merchant caravans and some were escort teams.

Without exception, each team had a flag bearing the character "武" (Wu) hanging beside them.

There were also many wandering martial arts practitioners along the way, including a young man holding a long spear, an old man leaning on two iron crutches, and a long-haired man who didn't carry any weapons but just standing there made him seem like someone not to be trifled with.

They were all outlaws from the Jianghu, mostly coming from the Jianzhou direction. Some were using this place as a transit point to head east by waterway, while others planned to join caravans and travel along the road full of bandits to Yuxiang.

Lin Jiang poked his head out and asked Niu Man, who was still following Chen Dajiang's car:

Where is "Treading on Clouds"?

Upon hearing this, Niu Man stretched out his hand and pointed to the mountains not far away.

Lin Jiang looked into the distance.

Outside Changyun Town stands a high mountain that reaches straight into the clouds.

Looking up at the clouds, it seemed as if a figure was flying on the clouds, soaring straight into the sky.

"It's like a fairyland. The Taoist priests in the temple must all be quite skilled," Lin Jiang couldn't help but sigh.

“Yes, that’s precisely why I came to Changyun to study. If I can learn even a fraction of a master’s skills, then when I return to the village, the people around us won’t be able to bully us anymore.” Niu Man said, glancing at Lin Jiang with great admiration.

"Like you, young master, you can send all those bandits flying with a bang!"

“You went up the mountain to learn some wonderful methods, not some martial arts training. You shouldn’t be able to knock someone away with just a few punches and kicks.”

Lin Jiang corrected Niu Man.

"Then let fire breathe from your palm!"

After entering the town, Manager Liu immediately instructed Chen Dajiang to drive the carriage to a post station.

This inn has always had some connection with the water trade; they're old acquaintances. Coming here serves two purposes: first, to handle some official business, and second, for safety.

After arriving at the post station and putting away their luggage, everyone went about their own business.

Chen Dajiang needs to replenish his food; the food and drink on the bus may not be enough.

Manager Liu wanted to stay at the post station to sort out the account book issues.

Lin Jiang was a free man with nothing to do. Seeing that Niu Man was going to climb the mountain, Lin Jiang went with him.

The two left the post station and headed towards the mountains. After they left the walled city, there were still many newly built houses on both sides of the road.

It extends all the way to the foot of the mountain.

The further down the mountain you go, the more lively it becomes.

When the mountain shadows loomed over his brow, the streets were filled with wandering knights-errant carrying swords and talismans.

There are significantly more江湖客 (jianghu ke, meaning wandering martial arts practitioners) here.

"Is something happening around here?" Lin Jiang wondered.

"I don't know, this is my first time in Changyun." Niu Man was also surprised.

He was truly a "child coming to the city from the countryside for the first time" in the quintessential sense. Everything around him, whether people, shops, or anything else, was a chaotic mess, making Niu Man's eyes blurry.

After rubbing his eyes hard, Niu Man finally focused his gaze back on the path leading up the mountain.

He had planned to go straight up the mountain to seek instruction from the person who treads the clouds, but unexpectedly, his stomach suddenly growled twice. He hadn't eaten lunch today, and Niu Man was starving.

The farm boy blushed, but still stubbornly insisted:

"It's okay, I'm not hungry, I'll just keep going uphill like this."

“This mountain is so high, and you’re not one of those Taoist priests who can ascend to the clouds. If you get hungry and panic halfway up, we’ll have to help you down.”

Lin Jiang laughed and, without waiting for Niu Man's consent, directly dragged him to a nearby restaurant.

This shop serves meat, specializing in pig's head meat; it's kind of like a small, unassuming teahouse.

Order a serving of braised pig's head, braised tofu, and some baijiu (Chinese liquor) and salted beans; an ordinary person would get drunk.

Lin Jiang wouldn't.

When the pig's head meat was served, Lin Jiang was surprised to see how finely it was cut. He never expected that there would be a chef in this area with such exquisite knife skills.

The waiter noticed Lin Jiang's surprise, so he draped a towel over himself and gave Lin Jiang a brief introduction:

“Our boss used to work in the red cabinet industry in Beijing, and he honed his knife skills back then.”

What is a red cabinet?

“There are three kinds of vendors selling pig’s head meat in the capital. The red cabinet vendors use sharp knives to slice crystal-clear meat, each slice so thin it’s translucent; the white sedan chair vendors chop large bones with an axe, dropping half a pound of meat into your bowl; and the meat cart vendors offer large quantities, bringing the cart and bowl together. Just lift the cloth, and you’ll find whole pieces of meat inside. You can have another bowl after you’ve eaten one.”

"interesting."

Lin Jiang kept these thoughts in mind, and if he ever came across them in the capital, he would definitely have a bowl to try.

Niu Man was still a little hesitant, but he couldn't resist the aroma of the braised meat. He asked for a steamed bun, broke it open, put a few slices of meat inside, and ate it. It was delicious!

Several wandering swordsmen watched them eat and drink, and couldn't help but swallow hard, but could only stare at the wild vegetables on the plate, picking them one by one.

Some of the wealthier ones simply ordered a pork knuckle, and when they looked at the bill, they couldn't help but feel the pinch.

This place is truly bustling; all the tables on the first floor are full, and people are coming in in twos and threes. The lanterns on the eaves are being bumped and shaken by the wandering travelers who are squeezing in.

There's nowhere to sit.

There was a Taoist priest who looked around and, seeing that there were few people on Lin Jiang's side, simply plopped down in front of Lin Jiang.

"Laymen, may we sit together?"

"sure."

Lin Jiang moved aside and glanced at the Taoist priest a couple more times.

He was a young Taoist priest with a fairly well-trimmed beard, gentle features, and a somewhat worn-out robe, suggesting he was not wealthy.

The Taoist stared at the menu for a long time before ordering a plate of green vegetables.

Lin Jiang stared at him for a while.

"Is the Taoist priest a master who rides the clouds and mist?"

"Exactly."

"Does the Taoist priest have any dietary restrictions?"

"There is no such thing as 'stepping on clouds and mist'; it does not prohibit meat or alcohol."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiang summoned the waiter and ordered another plate of pig's head meat.

“Hey, young master, isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” The young Taoist priest was taken aback.

"Since we've met, we're all guests. I happen to have some questions I'd like to ask you, Daoist Master."

The Taoist priest hesitated for a moment:
"I still don't know how to address you, young master?"

"My name is Zhu Da."

Niu Man blinked; he remembered that this young master's surname seemed to be Lin.

“Young Master Zhu, my Taoist name is Fang Xuanzi,” the Taoist bowed, “so we can call ourselves acquaintances now.”

"Greetings, Daoist Master." Lin Jiang returned the greeting.

"Young Master Zhu, please feel free to ask me anything."

Lin Jiang pointed to the martial arts practitioners around him.

"With so many martial arts practitioners in this area, is there some interesting story behind it?"

"Hey," Fang Xuanzi laughed, "You're absolutely right. Today, the Taoist temple on the mountain is open to the public. We're inviting heroes from all walks of life to witness the ascension ceremony."

(End of this chapter)