Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, but Thunderbolt Taoist Sect

"This is the second time already. It seems that your temperament is also suitable for Confucianism. How about I mention it to my friend Long Su and ask you to try being a Confucian-Taoist exchange student?"

Whether it was Xiao Cui, Wang Jia Erlang, or even Zhang Hongjian who was with them, their first thought was that Zhao Shimingdeng was not a Taoist, since there was clearly a Taoist standing next to him.

"If we have to choose someone to go to the Confucian school, Jianzi, you are the most suitable."

"That's different."

As he spoke, the white-haired Taoist put his arm around the shoulder of the person next to him. The person holding the lantern swayed slightly as the lantern was pressed down on their shoulder.

"I do know the Confucian school very well, but that's just a casual visit between friends. Besides, Long Su stays home all the time; I wouldn't find him at the Confucian school anyway, but..."

His gaze fell on the lantern in Zhao Shiming's hand.

"If you go to the Confucian school, won't the lanterns reflect light off their ornaments?"

It is well known that, with the exception of a few special cases, Confucian practitioners dress in increasingly luxurious attire, adorned with a dazzling array of ornaments, elaborate and beautiful hairstyles, and wearing exquisite brocade robes, interwoven with pearls and jade, and jingling with the sounds of jade pendants.

In that case, many of the ornaments would reflect light. If Zhaoshimingdeng carried the lantern and walked around the Confucian crowd, wouldn't the scene become even brighter?

Illuminating the World: ?

"Jianzi, your ingenious ideas truly have no limits."

That's a really tricky angle. If you could actually do that, it would be like adding special effects to the Confucian scholars.

"Confucianism..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Erlang and Zhang Hongjian exchanged a glance. As scholars, they were very familiar with the word "Confucianism," but the Confucian school that these two mentioned seemed to be quite different from what they knew.

It felt like the Confucian school that the other side was talking about was more like a path to immortality, and had little to do with scholars like them.

"By the way, what's the deal with that pear seller?"

Despite the teasing, Liu Qingyuan still remembered the commotion in the distance, which showed no signs of calming down. He even heard faint shouts.

It's not unusual for someone to shout a few times when selling something, but judging from the emotion in that voice, it didn't seem like they were trying to attract customers.

"Oh, here's the thing. There's an old man in our town who sells pears. I don't know what method he uses, but his pears always taste better than everyone else's. No matter how others grow them, they can't compare to his."

"Everyone in the surrounding villages knows that something happens every year because of this pear."

Zhang Hongjian chimed in, indicating that the other party's pears were indeed very famous.

"It's just a pear that tastes better, how could it cause any trouble?"

Liu Qingyuan: This plot is so familiar. I'll use a cheat code and search for the original work.

"His pears are so fragrant and sweet that no one else can compare. When the old man found that no one else could compare to his, he started to raise the price, making it more expensive year by year."

When a pear becomes expensive enough, its nature changes.

"Judging from the noise, it's probably someone who thinks his pears are too expensive and they've started arguing in the street again. This kind of drama happens a few times every year, and the people in town are used to it."

At first, some people thought it was wrong to do this, but these pears were grown with great effort, and it's their freedom to set the price as they see fit. No matter how delicious they are, they're still just pears, so ordinary people don't care anymore.

The reason for this commotion is mostly that outsiders are unaware of the special nature of these pears and have never heard of such expensive pears before. They are eager to reason with the seller and try to bargain.

After all, this old man had been selling pears in town for many years, and the neighbors all knew that he would raise prices on the spot, so they basically ignored him. Only some spoiled brats who didn't care about money, or wealthy families would buy some pears from his stall to try something new when entertaining guests.

"It's probably one of the outsiders arguing with that old man again. Don't worry, both of you immortals, nothing will happen."

These pears have been priced exorbitantly for years, but they are always clearly marked and never cheat the poor out of a penny. The seller will inform you of the price beforehand if you want to buy them.

Anyway, his family's pears have become famous over the years, so there's no worry about people coming to buy them.

"Since we have nothing else to do, let's go take a look."

After using the cheat to check, Liu Qingyuan found that this was the content of "Planting Pears". However, after looking around, there was no trace of the Taoist priest who looked like a beggar in the text. The voice at the center of the commotion sounded like a strong middle-aged man speaking, which did not fit the plot. Perhaps, as Wang Erlang and Zhang Hongjian said, it was just an ordinary argument about pricing.

But it's a lively event, and since we have nothing else to do, we might as well watch. On a grander scale, this can be considered experiencing local customs and culture while carrying a guiding light.

So, Liu Qingyuan, holding Zhao Shiming's lamp and followed by two scholars, approached the place where the commotion was taking place.

Both of them were taller than ordinary people and had naturally good eyesight, so they quickly saw what was going on inside the crowd after getting close.

There were four people in the center: an old man selling pears at his stall, two strong men and a boy opposite him.

Among them were two who appeared to be brothers. The older one was thinner and remained silent, while the younger one looked more robust and was arguing at the stall.

Behind them was a young man who, though silent, was more noticeable than the other two.

The two in front are clearly scholars. Perhaps because they were preparing for a long journey, their clothing was simpler than that of Wang Erlang and Zhang Hongjian, who were dressed in long gowns, but you can still see some characteristics of scholars.

But the one following behind was not only dressed in a smart short outfit, but also carried a simple longsword on his back, looking every bit the wanderer.

Originally, the young man was just looking at the two brothers in front of him. He glanced at the crowd of onlookers and noticed two different colors.

Ordinary people mostly wear gray and white. These colors are not unusual to blend into a crowd, but for various reasons, their clothes are old coarse linen clothes, which may also have some messy dirt on them. Although they are called white and gray clothes, in fact, they are all gray and drab.

Among them, there are two people who look too clean and too dazzling.

"It seems there's really nothing to worry about, so... oh?"

After taking a quick look, Liu Qingyuan realized that the two sides were just arguing and there was no sign of it escalating into a fight. Relieved, Liu Qingyuan looked around and his eyes met those of the young man carrying a sword inside.

Intuitively sensing that this person was no ordinary individual, Liu Qingyuan smiled at him as a greeting, and then led her entourage out of the crowd.

It wasn't that he wanted to leave voluntarily, but rather that people around him and Zhao Shimingdeng had already noticed that they were two too conspicuous, and he felt that if he didn't leave soon, the center of the commotion might shift from the price of the pears to the two of them.

He was just there for the fun of it, but he didn't want to become the center of the controversy.

Seeing that the person had left, Ma Jiepu, who was in the center, frowned and thought for a moment before finally deciding to chase after them.

"Brother Yang, I suddenly remembered that I have some things to take care of, so I'll take my leave first. If there are any other circumstances, you two brothers can return to the inn and wait for me."

"it is good."

The man addressed as Brother Yang was the older man who remained silent. He didn't stop his companion from leaving suddenly, nor did he ask any questions. He and his brother had only met the other man on the way, and perhaps the other man had relatives in town.

After speaking, Ma Jiepu led his donkey into the crowd, searching for Liu Qingyuan and Zhao Shimingdeng. He himself was no ordinary person, and the two he was looking for were no ordinary people either, so finding them was easy.

"It's about time. My friend and I should head back. Your brother has narrowly escaped this time, but he should be careful in the future."

"Thank you for your instruction, Immortal Master."

"And this young master Zhang, now that we've met, let me offer you a word of advice."

"...Please speak, Immortal Master."

Zhang Hongjian never expected that he would be involved. The other party had the appearance of an immortal and even helped his friend avoid the death of the painted skin. This statement must have carried a lot of weight.

Just for that one sentence, his trip to the city was a win-win situation.

"If in the future a group of scholars speaks well of you and asks for your help, remember: there are some people in this world who can win together, but not lose together."

"Yes."

This directly pointed out what he might encounter in the future. Zhang Hongjian knew the weight of these words and bowed in gratitude.

After everyone left, Liu Qingyuan and Zhao Shimingdeng remained still. They stood in a secluded alley, the sun blocked by the high wall, casting a shadow that made the lantern in Zhao Shimingdeng's hand appear even brighter.

They didn't wait long before Ma Jiepu arrived with his donkey. Upon seeing the two of them, his reaction was different from most others. He showed no surprise or doubt, and immediately knelt down to pay his respects as a junior.

"Junior Ma Jiefu greets the two seniors."

"..."

Watching the other person's crisp and efficient bow, Liu Qingyuan silently took half a step back. "Young man, you're something else," she thought, "you've just thrown a 'senior' curse at both of them right off the bat."

"Young man, please rise. You are too kind."

Although she knew that there probably wasn't such a thing as "the curse of the predecessors" in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Liu Qingyuan still hoped that the other party could change their way of speaking due to the cultural gap.

As for the name Ma Jiepu? Liu Qingyuan had lost count of how many "protagonists" she had encountered; this place was truly a gathering of stars.

"This is our first time meeting, how can you be considered a senior?"

"With your ethereal appearances, you two must be reclusive masters. My cultivation is too shallow, so I should naturally address you as seniors."

Ma Jiepu was not an ordinary wandering knight, but a fox spirit. He disguised himself as a wandering knight and traveled to various places, living a life of wandering. On his journey, he had seen many strange people and events, including gods, demons and ghosts. Therefore, he was not surprised to see that the two had different appearances from the general public.

On this trip to town, we met the Yang brothers, Yang Wanshi and Yang Wanzhong, on the road. After a brief introduction, we found that the brothers were good people. We chatted happily along the way and grew closer day by day. After a while, the three of us lit incense and became sworn brothers.

The Yang brothers were originally traveling a long way home, but Ma Jiepu found that he was traveling along the same route as them, so he accompanied them and passed through this town.

When he first entered this place, he noticed that the town was a bit different. The spiritual energy in the southwest was turbulent, and there were traces of other demons causing trouble in the town, but the aura was subtle, and there were also traces of some capable people, so he didn't pay much attention to it.

The three arrived in the city yesterday evening. Since they were new to the city and unaware of the situation, they did not pay much attention to the news of the immortals descending to earth. The city was a mixed bag, and all kinds of rumors were spread and most of them were completely distorted.

Because Ma Jiepu is a fox spirit, he doesn't need to sleep at night. That night was when Liu Qingyuan and Master Li were dealing with the painted skin. Normally, apart from Wang Sheng's family, no one around would notice the demonic wind stirred up by the painted skin ghost, but Ma Jiepu is no ordinary person.

Seeing the eerie wind rising from the flatlands at night, he must have guessed that a demon was causing trouble in the city. Fearing that someone might be harmed as a result, he immediately climbed out of the inn and headed towards the direction of the demonic aura.

Unfortunately, the inn was some distance from the residents' homes. The painted skin ran desperately out of the city, and Ma Jiepu missed the chance to exorcise the demon. He only saw a towering sword strike from afar, and in his shock, he knew that the matter had been resolved.

Ma Jiepu thought he would never meet such a master, since they were just passing through. He never expected to see him in person in the middle of the city today.

To this, Liu Qingyuan could only say that it was a real coincidence. He had only been here for three days, and it was truly amazing that so many people had gathered together within those three days.

"So, you two come from beyond the heavens and earth?"

Compared to most fox spirits, Ma Jiepu was somewhat special. Most fox spirits stayed in one place to cultivate and only traveled occasionally, but he was different. He traveled all over the world like a true wanderer.

Because of this, he has seen more bizarre and strange things than most of his kind, and he is quite accepting of some theories that shatter his worldview, such as the mysterious origins of the two people in front of him.

"I never imagined there were worlds beyond the heavens and earth. I have traveled to the eight wastelands and four seas and have come to the borders several times. Unfortunately, my cultivation is not enough. To the east there are whirlpools of sea disasters, and to the west there is a high mountain barrier. I myself have not reached the level of immortals. I do not know what the world beyond the heavens and earth looks like."

Liu Qingyuan: The high mountain barrier to the west... Young man, you didn't go to the Himalayas, did you?

"Traveling around and seeing countless mountains and seas is quite elegant."

"How does it compare to you staying in the dark side all your life?"

“I’m cultivating in the dark path, and so is Brother Ma. Although our methods are different, there is no difference.”

"However, traveling around is similar to our Daoist sect's plan this time. Brother Ma can keep an eye out for it in the future, and you might even meet other Daoist fellow practitioners."

Ma Jiepu travels all over the country, and Liu Qingyuan will also be sending out aliases all over the country. If things go by chance, the two sides might actually run into each other... no, they are bound to run into each other.

Liu Qingyuan remembered that the Yang brothers, Yang Wanshi and Yang Wanzhong, were traveling with Ma Jiepu. They were going home this time, and soon Ma Jiepu would witness the chaos and turmoil in the Yang family. This family was too troublesome, and he should try to manage them if he could.

"Oh, by the way, if you meet someone, you don't need to call them 'senior,' just ask for their name."

"……it is good."

Ma Jiepu was somewhat puzzled by this request. "Senior" was a respectful title, the kind of address that was least likely to be wrong when addressing someone. Asking for someone's name so directly was, in Ma Jiepu's opinion, somewhat impolite.

However, since the other party had already said so, he readily agreed. If he used the characteristics of the two people in front of him as a reference, it would be relatively easy to recognize such a reclusive master, and he shouldn't be mistaken for someone else.

"I never expected to meet so many people in just three days."

After wandering around for a while, seeing that it was getting late, the two returned to Huoranjing. As soon as the light of day dimmed, the presence of the World-Illuminating Lamp began to increase dramatically. If it stayed any later, he estimated that he would be able to compete with the night watchman for work, so he hurried back.

"This city has a really great geographical location."

The city is home to characters from stories like Pear Tree, Painted Skin, Lu Pan, and Ying Ning; outside the city dwell ghosts, demons, and fox spirits; in the nearby villages, there's Zhang Hongjian; and among the passersby are Ma Jiepu and the Yang brothers—the place is truly diverse.

However, while strolling around, he heard that the magistrate of this county was a notorious villain. It was said that he had beaten a scholar to death with sticks in a fit of anger, causing widespread resentment in the area. It seemed that Zhang Hongjian's story was about to unfold.

It was through these reasons that Liu Qingyuan pretended to be a fortune teller and left Zhang Hongjian with this message, hoping that the other party would listen to the advice and not get involved in the matter of suing the county magistrate.

Yingning and Wang Zifu are both here. The magistrate in this story was a good person, but the current magistrate is a bad official. Before Yingning marries into the Wang family, the current magistrate will definitely be replaced. So even if we don't care, this bad official will be removed for some reason.

But fate had other plans. Before he could enjoy his peaceful days for more than a few days, Wang Erlang ran into the mountains to find Liu Qingyuan. He was just an ordinary scholar, and without a path, he didn't know the location of the Open Realm. He even lost his way in the forest and was eventually led there by the person who brought him the World-Illuminating Lamp.

Zhang Hongjian still participated in the lawsuit against the county magistrate. Just like in the original story, he did not actually participate after being advised by others. He only helped write the complaint and even made some revisions and polishes, thinking that this way he would not be implicated.

But as the saying goes, "When you win, everyone takes credit for the victory; when you lose, you fall apart and can no longer unite." Although Zhang Hongjian was not directly involved, he was implicated by the other scholars and accused of forming cliques for personal gain.