Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, but Thunderbolt Taoist Sect

When Ma Ji realized that he was the monster people were talking about, he was still somewhat incredulous, but the fact was that wherever he went, the residents would be frightened away and scatter completely.

"How do I look like a monster?!"

He tried to strike up a conversation again, wanting to ask where he was, but before he could even speak, the people around him scattered again. Ma Ji stood on the empty street, asking this question.

Calling him a monster is more unjust than Dou E. Ma Ji was a dashing and handsome young man, loved by everyone in his hometown. He was shipwrecked and ended up in this godforsaken place. When he saw these strangely shaped and shocking residents, he hadn't even been scared and shouted "monster" yet. Why did you shout "monster" first?

Ma Ji had seen deformed children before, but this place was really strange. He hadn't seen a single person with normal facial features. They all looked weird. If you randomly pulled one of them out onto the street and let him take a stroll around at night, he would scare at least three thugs to death.

Originally, he thought he was saved after seeing land, as instructed by the immortal. He believed that as long as he told the locals where he came from, he would have a way to return home.

Ma Ji had been doing business abroad several times and knew that the surrounding countries were mostly tributary states. With simple communication, they were generally willing to lend a helping hand.

Given the current situation, let alone communicating or asking for help, these residents run away as soon as they see him, and there isn't even a single person he can ask a question. How can Ma Ji plan to go home?

As he walked, Ma Ji decided to stop worrying about these things. It is said that those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune. He had barely escaped with his life, so he should cherish it. As long as he was alive, there was hope of returning home.

Seeing how terrified the residents were of him, Ma Ji abandoned his attempt to learn about the area through social interaction and instead began to utilize his "advantage."

He deliberately walked onto the bustling street and watched people scatter and flee. Then he went to the basement of each stall to see if the written language differed from what he knew. When he got hungry, he chose a restaurant and went inside. Everyone in the restaurant was scared away by him, so Ma Ji just picked some dishes that looked good and ate them. Anyway, the restaurant was empty, and no one charged him.

After making use of this "advantage", Ma Ji was surprised to find that it was quite enjoyable. He also saw a few people dressed as soldiers. The two sides made eye contact and kissed each other countless times. He thought the other side looked scary, and the other side thought he was even scarier. He was scared away.

Because of this peculiar situation, Ma Ji's life after landing was unexpectedly comfortable. Although he still didn't understand why these people called him a monster and feared him like a tiger, it made the usually popular Ma Ji feel strange.

Although Tian Shanzi had dodged beforehand, that was an immortal who had saved his life, and the immortal had said he didn't want to have too much contact with the mortal world, unlike these people.

To be honest, the other party disappeared after displaying some extraordinary abilities, and no one knew where he went. Ma Ji didn't even have time to properly thank him, and he didn't even ask for his name.

The other party saved not only Ma Ji's life, but also the life of his parents' only child. It could be said that this rescue saved the Ma family lineage. Logically speaking, Ma Ji should have carefully inquired about which deity the other party was, and to repay this kindness, he should have set up a memorial tablet to worship him.

Unfortunately, the immortal left too quickly, giving him no chance, and he had no idea where the other person went.

Where did Tian Shanzi go? Of course, he went to catch seafood... cough, no, he went to find someone. The second storm that Ma Ji encountered was strange. Not only was the wind blowing against the prevailing wind at sea, but the seawater was also mixed with various forces, which eventually formed churning waves.

However, this was not directed at Ma Ji. It was more like a magical battle taking place in the sea, and the overflowing magical power mixed with the seawater to create a man-made disaster. Ma Ji was completely affected by it.

This place is not outside the East China Sea. People are fighting in the sea. Doesn't the Dragon King of the East China Sea care?

Although he didn't really want to join in the fun, things were indeed too unusual. If someone really caused trouble, he could directly suppress them with force and leave quickly. So Tian Shanzi still searched in the direction the waves were coming from.

His guess was right. The strange movements in the sea came from a fierce battle of magic, and coincidentally, one side of the battle was a native of Liaozhai, and the other side was suspected to be an illegal transmigrator.

Why do we say "suspected"? When the fan noticed the commotion and headed this way, the person on the other side quickly spotted him and, taking advantage of their favorable situation, immediately stopped fighting and fled the battlefield with lightning speed, running in the opposite direction without looking back.

When Tian Shanzi first arrived in the East Sea, the only person he could be considered to know was a mortal named Ma Ji. Ma Ji was afraid that there must be something wrong with Ma Ji when he saw him. Realizing this, Tian Shanzi immediately summoned his Dao Wind Fan and slapped Ma Ji with it.

But the opponent ran too fast and decisively, and seemed to have something to defend himself. Daofeng Tianbo only managed to hit the opponent's back. Although he was injured, the injury was not serious. The person who was attacked ignored the injury on his back and ran away despite the pain.

Looking back at the other side of the battle, it was quite something—it was a dragon! The man was able to overpower a dragon, yet when he saw the Heavenly Fan, he chose to run away without hesitation, without even a hint of returning to retaliate. Something was clearly wrong.

The fact that he ran away so decisively means he must know Tian Shanzi. Since he just arrived in the world of Liaozhai, no one knows him yet, so this guy must be an outsider.

The dragon on the other side looked troublesome, but since it was in dragon form, Tian Shanzi didn't feel much aversion towards humans, seeing it as a large animal. He originally planned to check the dragon's injuries, leave some medicine, and then leave. The guy on the other side, who seemed to be an illegal traveler, was more important.

But as soon as the Heavenly Fan approached, the dragon spoke, saying that he was the third prince of the East Sea Dragon King. He was fighting with an enemy while investigating some matters, but was ambushed by the enemy using a strange method, which is why he was at a disadvantage.

If it weren't for the timely appearance of the Heavenly Fan, this Third Prince of the East Sea would probably have been skinned alive and died. Now, although he has been saved, his injuries are too severe. The Third Prince begged the Heavenly Fan to send him back to the Dragon Palace, promising to repay him handsomely.

Tian Shanzi: ...

This is indeed a big problem. The third prince of the East Sea Dragon King, no wonder he can cause such a big storm. Tian Shanzi was actually unwilling, but since he was cooperating with the gods of this world, and the other party was indeed seriously injured, it was unknown when the third prince would be able to swim back to the Dragon Palace on his own.

But Tian Shanzi really didn't want to go. He knew that the Dragon Palace was a crowded place, and if he went there, he would have to see the Dragon King. According to the customs of this world, the next step would probably be to hold a banquet to welcome him.

Thinking about all sorts of people he might encounter next, whether they were monsters or gods, Tian Shanzi was already itching to wave his fan. But he had to agree to this task because the person in front of him was a local deity, and he couldn't just stand by and watch someone die. If something really happened, the world would probably descend into chaos.

Moreover, according to the Third Prince, he encountered the guy who was suspected of being an illegal transmigrator while investigating some things. If Tian Shanzi wanted clues about the person from earlier, contacting the Third Prince of the East Sea would be the best option.

In other words, this social event was unavoidable.

Tian Shanzi now deeply regrets believing that guy's nonsense, thinking that there would be less trouble overseas and that if he didn't encounter anything that required his intervention, he could go and see if there were any local seafood scallops in the sea.

Now look what's happened! We haven't even started catching seafood yet, and we've already caught a dragon, the Third Prince of the East Sea... Wait a minute, could this Third Prince be named Ao Bing?

The Third Prince's dragon body was enormous. Tian Shanzi couldn't support him like he was helping someone, nor could he lift him with his hands. Fortunately, the other party was seriously injured but still had the strength of his body. A little ripple didn't affect him much. Tian Shanzi used the wind from his Daoist fan to blow him up and used the wind and waves to send him to the sky above the sea where the Dragon Palace was located.

The advantage of this method is that the Heavenly Fan does not need to exert much effort to lift the huge dragon's body, nor does it need to get too close to the opponent. It only needs to be at a distance and use the Heavenly Fan to control the wind force and direction.

He thought for a moment and decided it was best not to deal with the people in the Dragon Palace. It would be too scary for a group of people to surround him. He would instead follow the aura he had just heard and search alone. If he still needed to negotiate with the Dragon Palace, he would send someone else.

"We have arrived at the Dragon Palace. Third Prince, you may send a telepathic message from underwater to inform me that my mission is complete. Farewell."

"Immortal, please wait. Let me explain the matter to my father. You are a distinguished guest of the Dragon Palace, why don't you come in..."

“I do not like to be in groups with people. Now that the Third Prince is out of danger, I, Tian Shanzi, shall take my leave.”

"Immortal, aren't you also investigating that strange fellow? The Dragon Palace is willing to assist you."

“I will investigate this matter myself. If you continue to pester me, I will have no choice but to send the Third Prince on his way, so that you can go straight to the Dragon Palace.”

"...Alright, Immortal Master, please take care."

The Third Prince had a gut feeling that the other party's "one step to the Dragon Palace" wouldn't be like before, where they would carry him with the wind. Judging from the other party's tone, it was more likely that they would use that huge fan magic weapon to slap him into the sea.

During the battle, he sensed that the guy opposite him had strange methods, which were very different from those of immortals and demons. He also had many underhanded tricks that could not be brought to the table. He was ambushed because he was unfamiliar with these tricks. The dragon was full of treasures. If this otherworldly immortal named Tian Shanzi had arrived a step later, he might have been killed.

He wanted to explain the matter to his father in detail and properly thank the Heavenly Fan for saving his life, but the man seemed to dislike interacting with people, so he could only watch as the other man turned into a streak of light and left amidst the clouds.

Since the other party is investigating, and I was also investigating the trouble that guy caused in Haishi, I may continue to investigate to avenge this grudge. I will definitely be able to meet the immortal again, so there is no need to rush to repay the debt of gratitude.

The situation in the East China Sea was far from peaceful, and there was some commotion on Liu Qingyuan's side as well. However, the commotion wasn't on his side, but rather because Feng Xiangru and Hongyu's affair had been discovered.

Because Feng Xiangru had to study during the day, he and Hongyu always agreed to meet at night. The two were very sweet together and there were no problems. However, one night, Feng's father did not go to bed early and chose to take a walk in the yard. When he passed by Feng Xiangru's room, he heard a woman laughing from his son's room.

It should be noted that although the Feng family had a father and son who were both scholars, they were so poor that they were practically destitute. Their house had not been properly repaired for many years, so the soundproofing was naturally terrible, leaving no room for anyone to mishear.

This was a huge mess. The family had been hoping their son would pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to the family, but instead of studying properly, the boy was hiding a girl in his room. That night, the Feng family was in an uproar.

That evening, Mr. Feng stood in the courtyard and berated Feng Xiangru. He was old after all, and in his anger he couldn't hit him with much force. Hongyu stayed inside and didn't come out, so Mr. Feng didn't see what she looked like, but that didn't stop him from beating Hongyu up as well.

After being scolded like that, Hongyu felt wronged. She knew in her heart that it would be difficult for her and Feng Xiangru, who were both fox spirits, to get married like ordinary people. Feng's father was a typical old-fashioned man who always obeyed the words of matchmakers and the orders of parents. After this incident, he would be even less likely to agree to their relationship.

Feng Xiangru still harbored a glimmer of hope regarding this matter. After his father left, he returned to his room and felt that his father's attitude could be gradually softened, and that the two could continue as they were.

But Hongyu refused and told Feng Xiangru to go to the next village to find a girl surnamed Wei, who was the perfect daughter-in-law in Feng's father's eyes, and to marry her...

"Wait a moment."

Upon hearing this part of the story, Liu Qingyuan couldn't help but interrupt Hongyu's narration.

"You're introducing a wife to your lover?"

Although he already knew the plot, hearing the person involved recount it in person was a completely different experience.

“Feng Lang is talented and upright, and the Wei family’s daughter is beautiful and virtuous. The Feng family needs a lady like her to manage the household.”

"No, that's not what I meant..."

Realizing that the other person seemed to be on a different wavelength, Liu Qingyuan wanted to explain further, but Hongyu hadn't stopped yet.

“This kind of girl is most suitable for marriage, but the dowry her father is asking for is unaffordable for ordinary families, which is why she has not yet married. I gave Feng Lang forty taels of silver, which is enough for them to get married.”

Today, she gave Feng Xiangru forty taels of silver to propose marriage in a neighboring village. Liu Qingyuan was curious to see Hongyu alone, so he came here to listen to her story.

Judging by the time, this matter should be settled by now. The Feng family is poor, but they have a good reputation. Feng Xiangru also has the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination). As long as he studies hard, he will have a bright future.

"……how about you?"

Feng Xiangru got help and started a family, but what will become of Hongyu?

"I'll just stay here and watch. If the Feng family encounters difficulties in the future, I'll be happy to help them."

She is a fox spirit, unaffected by the ravages of time and illness, and can watch Feng Xiangru settle down and start a family nearby. The Wei family's daughter was carefully chosen by Hongyu. With a good wife managing the household, Feng Xiangru can focus on his studies, and the Feng family will soon recover.

It's difficult for Liu Qingyuan to judge Hongyu's way of thinking. Perhaps as a fox spirit, her concept of love is somewhat unique, or perhaps this is just a common problem in the stories of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, where some fantastical elements detached from reality are mixed into the world of supernatural beings.

"Since you already have a plan, I won't interfere. However... do you trust my divination?"

"The Taoist Master is a great master of the Taoist sect, and the Immortal Master Hongyu."

Although Hongyu had doubts about the origins of the two Taoist priests who recognized her true identity at a glance, they were indeed skilled. It was not easy to get a Taoist master to perform divination, and since they offered to do so, Hongyu was naturally willing to believe them.

"The Feng family will indeed prosper in the end, but a great disaster will befall them a year later. This disaster is caused by human error, and as a fox spirit, you probably cannot solve it all."

Fox spirits should avoid getting involved in karma and owing grudges during their cultivation. If they kill people, they will carry karmic burdens and hinder their cultivation. Therefore, many fox spirits repay kindness by giving money or people. They can use magic to turn people from fools into smart people, but they cannot physically harm or kill others. They can only start with the people around them and use their strength against them.

Therefore, their abilities often seem to fluctuate. Sending messages in dreams, curing illnesses, and flying through the clouds are all trivial matters for them. When faced with intense conflicts, they would take a long and complicated approach to a problem that could be solved with a knife, ultimately making their cultivation seem rather useless.

"Please enlighten me, Daoist Master!"

Hearing that the Feng family was facing both future disaster and impending calamity, which she herself could not resolve, but that the other party was telling her, she was certain there was a solution. Hongyu decisively knelt before Liu Qingyuan, begging the immortal for guidance.

Immediately afterwards, Hongyu heard a soft sigh and the sound of something turning. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that the turning sound was coming from the bronze longsword behind the other party, and white smoke was constantly rising from the hilt of the sword, which was quite strange.

The spinning sound stopped, and Hongyu watched as the Taoist priest in front of her unfastened the long sword from behind his back and pulled out the hilt.

Wait a minute, what was pulled open? The pommel of this sword could be opened before? No, what's the point of an openable pommel? Why design it like that? It seems to be hollow... Why make the pommel hollow? To hide something?

Because of this action, Hongyu's original worries vanished. If you were to add special effects to her at this moment, she might look like a fox with a head full of question marks.

Liu Qingyuan ignored Hongyu's bewildered expression. He poured out a few pills and handed them to Hongyu, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"This medicine is made by absorbing spiritual energy. Although it is not a miraculous elixir, it still has some effect on strengthening the body and restoring health. To put it simply, it can prolong life when seriously injured."

The Feng family's future calamity comes from man-made disaster. Feng's father was beaten so badly that he died. Hongyu cannot kill the evil mortal, but she can use these pills to save the seriously injured Feng's father. As long as he is treated in time, Feng Xiangru can avoid the destruction of his family.

The stories in Liaozhai generally span a period of time. Liu Qingyuan is an outsider and cannot stay here for decades. To avoid some regrets, he can only learn from the local methods and use their strengths against them.