How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

Another spring has arrived, and the mountain town is covered in blooming flowers. The reds are dazzling and the pinks are delicate. The sea of ​​flowers stretches out like a fiery cloud surrounding the mountain town. In the early morning, the mountain town is immersed in a thin mist, appearing and disappearing, quiet as if it were a dead city.

A series of clattering hoofbeats came from afar, rapid like the drumbeats of a battle. A middle-aged man, dressed in an old robe and wearing a straw hat, arrived on horseback, his body glistening with morning dew and radiating weariness from his haste.

"Open the gate quickly!" The middle-aged man dismounted and knocked urgently on the city gate.

"Who is it! Can't you see where you're going so early in the morning?" The two guards, still sleepy and angry from being woken up, hurriedly lowered their heads and fawned when they saw the middle-aged man. "Oh, Uncle Qian, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, please come in, please come in."

The middle-aged man ignored the two men, mounted his horse, and hurried into the city, leaving the two soldiers behind him to discuss the matter. The younger soldier looked bewildered: "This... why is Uncle Qian in such a hurry so early in the morning?"

The older soldier gave him a whack with the stick and whispered, "You forgot... what day it is today..."

The middle-aged man rode at full speed, heading straight for the prefect's residence: "My lord!"

The prefect, already dressed neatly and sporting heavy dark circles under his eyes, sat upright in the main hall, waiting for the middle-aged man to arrive.

Upon seeing the person enter, he put down his cup, stood up, and asked eagerly, "What do you mean?"

The middle-aged man, panting heavily, didn't even drink a cup of water before hurriedly saying, "Princess Duan'an and her army have already approached within a hundred miles of the city."

The prefect slumped into his chair, his face pale and his eyes filled with despair: "We're doomed..."

The middle-aged man swallowed a few times, coughed lightly, and then said, "Sir, for the past four years, Princess Duan'an has been managing the seven cities in the northwest without making any moves. This time, she is on her way to the capital but is just passing through this area. Why should we be afraid?"

The prefect rolled his eyes at him and scoffed, "Fool! If that were truly the case, why would I be so afraid!"

The middle-aged man took a few steps back after being scolded, and said with some confusion, "Please forgive me, sir. I was foolish and stupid. I hope you can explain it to me."

The prefect sighed deeply before saying, "Very well, since we've already come a hundred miles away, it seems we're doomed. In that case, there's no point in delaying any longer."

The middle-aged man bowed and stood aside, awaiting the prefect's answer.

The prefect slowly said, "Four years ago, the seven cities in the northwest were already Princess Duan'an's territory. At that time, she defeated the barbarian tribes and won a great victory on the frontier, which made her famous throughout the world."

"At that time, no one in the world could have imagined that these seven cities in the Northwest were far from what Princess Duan'an wanted. From then on, she slowly eroded the cities, until now most of the country was already in her hands."

"Several months ago, news came from the capital that the emperor was seriously ill and the princes were fighting amongst themselves. The emperor issued an edict ordering Princess Duan'an to come to the capital to defend the emperor."

"But what does this have to do with us? Shouldn't Princess Duan'an be rushing to the capital?" The middle-aged man was increasingly puzzled.

“If we follow common sense, this is naturally correct, but… Princess Duan’an’s army not only moved slowly, but also took the opportunity to deal with some corrupt officials along the way.”

"In just a few short months, we've passed through thirteen cities. Four of these cities originally belonged to Princess Duan'an. As for the remaining nine cities, those officials with integrity were naturally taken over for their own use. Those officials who were honest...if they were honest...they will surely die without a burial place..."

"Then...what should we do? Sir, shall we escape?" the middle-aged man hurriedly said.

The prefect shook his head and replied, "It's no use, you may leave now."

"Sir!" The middle-aged man wished he could rush forward and grab him.

The prefect said softly, "It's not that I don't want to escape. If I were more than a hundred miles away from here, I would definitely run. But it's only a hundred miles away. Given Princess Duan'an's methods, she must have already arranged for people to enter the city, just waiting for me to run away."

Seeing this, the middle-aged man looked at him for a while before pursing his lips and saying, "Sir, I'm not leaving!"

The prefect glared at him and said angrily, "What are you doing here? Foolish! Leave now and help me protect my people in Cherry Lane."

The middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment before realizing that the other party was referring to his mistress and her two sons and one daughter. After thinking for a moment, he nodded in agreement: "Yes, sir."

The middle-aged man turned to leave, but the prefect called him back: "Wait a moment."

The middle-aged man quickly turned around, and the prefect then said, "Go to the accounting office later and get some money; it's my way of showing my appreciation."

The middle-aged man nodded, then bowed and left to accept the order.

After watching the person leave, the prefect sighed deeply, slumped into his chair, and looked on in despair.

The steward cautiously entered and greeted him, "Sir."

The prefect looked up at him before saying, "Let's arrange it as I say."

The butler pursed his lips and nodded in agreement: "Yes, sir."

After watching the steward leave, the prefect closed his eyes, took a deep look around, and fell silent...

Liu Yin, along with Wen Shuyun and Dong Feng, are temporarily residing in Qincheng.

It's not that she didn't want to go to Huaicheng. Ever since her book "Miscellaneous Talks" was published four years ago, people have gradually become less extreme, and women have finally had the opportunity to step out of their homes.

However, because of this, everyone admired Liu Yin even more. Ever since the news of her heading south spread, everyone guessed that her destination was Huaicheng.

They all flocked to Huaicheng to find her, and for a time the whole city was filled with traces of hermits. She really didn't dare to show herself for a while and could only hide in the nearby Qincheng.

"Miss, Zhu Mei has sent a letter." Dong Feng walked over quickly, carrying a medicine box.

Now she has become a well-known female doctor, but few people know that she was one of Liu Yin's students.

"Let me see." Liu Yin took the letter and looked at it carefully.

After reading it, she couldn't help but clap her hands and exclaim, "Excellent! Excellent! As expected of Mei Wu!"

"Miss, is this news about Sister Mei Wu?" Dong Feng asked with a smile as she placed the pastries she had bought on the table.

Liu Yin nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, Mei Wu is now a famous female general under Duan An. Zhu Mei is also very capable. Although she is not a martial artist, she is a well-known official in Yancheng. I think she will surely make great achievements in the future."

"Your Highness is always surrounded by many talented people. I heard that the Eight Reclusive Scholars and their many disciples have all come to serve Your Highness, and their fame has already spread throughout the world," Dong Feng said with a smile.

Upon seeing this, Liu Yin couldn't help but say, "You are also my disciple. Why can't you go and make a name for yourself now?"

Dong Feng was taken aback for a moment before smiling and replying, "Miss, my heart is not there. Being by your side is what I truly desire."

This wasn't the first or second time they'd had this kind of conversation. Dong Feng always refused outright, and Liu Yin was at a loss. She respected Dong Feng's choice and didn't want to make a decision for her under the guise of doing what was best for her.