Chapter 115: The Belated Battle (asking for monthly tickets) The ancient road down the mountain is covered with autumn leaves and colorful forests. Occasionally, there would be patches of moist soil covered with the footprints of wolves and clouded leopards. A mule passed silently, with a thin village old man sitting on its back, his body swaying. In front of it were two Taoists holding swords, walking quickly. "It will take two days to get to our place. Thank you for your hard work, Taoist priests." "We are not suffering, but the village elders are suffering. Those who stay in the village are suffering." Lin Jue said, "While we have time on the way, the village elders, please tell us about the fox demon in the village." "OK……" The village elder sat on the mule's back, looking like he was thinking back. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "In fact, these fox demons have always lived near our village and have known us for a long time." "You've known each other for a long time?" "yes……" Lin Jue nodded, it wasn't surprising.
There are the most stories about fox demons and fox spirits circulating in the world. This is not only because there are so many fox demons and fox spirits in the world, but also because they often live together with humans. This kind of thing is not surprising. So the village elder was left to continue speaking. "I don't know where to start, I only know that a few years ago, this group of fox demons split into two factions, they didn't get along with each other, and often fought at night. Some people in the village were asked to go over to help. Even I was once found by them at night, and they asked me to bring a hoe and a shoulder pole to help them fight, but I didn't go, and few people in the village went either. “Not long after, they seemed to have decided the winner, and only one side was left. "After that, for a while, the foxes were rarely seen, and the previous reports of fox encounters in the village were rarely heard of. "It was not until the past two years that people's homes were robbed. At first, we didn't know who did it, but later we found out that it was these foxes. After being discovered, they simply tore their faces open and demanded money for offerings. If we didn't give them, they would make everyone in the house restless. We reported it to the government and invited the masters from the nearby villages, but they couldn't do anything about it, so we had to keep them as offerings. "Three days ago, for some reason, they went crazy and started harming people in the village and demanding young boys and girls. We were all very scared, and many of us ran away from the village. We also invited some quacks to take care of them, but they were also harmed by them." As the village elder on the mule's back spoke, he couldn't help but glance at the white fox following them. The fox seemed to have noticed something and turned to look at him while jumping lightly. The old man was frightened and immediately looked away. "There is no other way. I heard that there is a Fuqiu Temple in Yishan, and the Taoist priest is very good at exorcising demons. But I also heard that demons have been causing trouble everywhere recently, as if they had made an appointment. Our village is far away from the temple, and the villagers dare not travel such a long distance, fearing that they will be killed on the way. Only I am old, and it would not be a loss even if I died, so I came here alone to ask for help." "Old gentleman is righteous." An old man who has lived for most of his life and would not be in vain even if he died, is willing to risk his life to come to such a remote place to ask a Taoist priest to save his neighbors. Such an old man deserves the title of local sage. As for such a person, no matter how capable Lin Jue is, he obviously deserves more respect. "But is there really a fox demon in the village, old sir?" "What? Of course it's a fox demon." "Has it ever revealed its true form? Does it look like a fox?" "It has revealed its true form, just like any other fox." The old man paused and glanced at the fox next to him, "But it is different from the Taoist priest's fox. It is almost the same as any other fox."
"Aren't foxes afraid of dogs? Aren't there any dogs in the village?" "Yes, but those foxes are very powerful and there are so many of them that the dogs in the village have long been subdued by them." "I see." Lin Jue nodded, thoughtfully. There are simply too many fox demons and fox spirits in the world, and these days information is not circulated smoothly, people’s knowledge is limited, and it is difficult to form a unified understanding, so it is very confusing. These rumored fox demons and fox spirits are not only like humans, they have their own races, clans and even factions, and many of them are not foxes at all. This is why the Taoists want to talk about fox demons and fox spirits separately. Is there a difference between the words 妖 and 精? If we look for the original meaning of the word, there may be a difference. However, whether it is a word or a character, they are all used for communication. Over time, they have been confused and there is no difference. Just like gods and immortals. Originally there was a difference between gods and immortals, but nowadays, many people called immortals in heaven are actually canonized gods, and many people called gods are actually immortals who have cultivated themselves. Therefore, "gods and immortals" has become a common word in actual use by people in the world. There is no need to distinguish the specific meanings of the two words in detail, nor is it necessary to regard the source as the only correct answer. That's what goblins are like. But "fox" is really special. For example, in the previous dynasty, people admired dragons and loved dragons, but how could one see a real dragon easily? So over time, the word "dragon" became confused. When people see a large crocodile in the water, they call it a crocodile dragon, and a small crocodile is called a pig dragon. When they see a large snake that has cultivated successfully, they call it a dragon, and a carp that has become a spirit is also called a dragon. Even some ordinary small snakes are called dragons out of respect or affection, and when they are called or even written into poems and books, they are also called dragons. Later on, it became even more exaggerated. People may go to the mountains and pass by the roadside and see some strange things that seem to glow or fly away with the wind, and they cannot understand why. But as long as these things touch water, people will exclaim that this is a dragon. Then you can go down the mountain and brag about it to your family and friends. In fact, it satisfies people's yearning and desire to see and find dragons. The same is true for fox demons and fox spirits. People in this dynasty like fox spirits. If you see a demon spirit with the ability to change in the secular villages and cities, but don't know what it is, you call it a fox. In this way, you will be like the protagonist in the book or story, seeing the unpredictable fox and making friends with such a magical spirit. You can be satisfied, feel amazing, and brag to others. In fact, it may not be a fox. Therefore, in order to distinguish them, the Taoists separated the two words "monster" and "spirit". The monster that was transformed from mountain foxes is called a fox monster, while the monster whose true form cannot be identified in the eyes of the world is called a fox spirit. What Lin Jue wanted to find was a real fox transformed into a demon. Although fox demons have their own clans and factions, they must communicate with each other. Perhaps I can find out from them where this fox that I have raised for more than two years comes from. When we reached the foot of the mountain, a voice suddenly came from the mountain: "Do you dare to go down the mountain at this time?" The old man sitting on the mule thought it was not a human when he heard the strange sound and was so frightened that he almost fell off the mule. But the two young Taoist priests were calm and composed. "Why not?"
"I heard that Emperor Yujian has made a great determination and sent the Three Saints of the South, many spiritual officials and star gods, and heavenly soldiers and generals to eradicate the Corpse Tiger King. It seems that the Corpse Tiger King will not be able to escape this disaster no matter what! In order to have a chance of survival, he will order his monsters to stir up trouble in the world. The bigger the noise, the better. If you go down the mountain, those monsters will fight you to the death!" "It's time to go." The Taoist just said so. There was no more movement in the forest. Lin Jue and the other man looked at each other, then took out their paper donkeys, which turned into two gray donkeys, leading the mules and riding on the donkeys to continue on their journey. The skinny mule and the elegant Taoist priest. The sound of hooves echoed through the mountains. It was already afternoon. The old man had taken more than two days to get here, and the two of them hurried along, so they were almost there by the evening of the second day. But it was almost dusk. "Senior brother..." The little sister on the donkey shouted. "what happened?" Lin Jue turned and looked at his junior sister. "I'm familiar with the road." The junior sister pointed ahead and said puzzledly. "Somewhat familiar?" Lin Jue also turned his head to look. Ordinary mountains, ordinary waters, mountain paths, and roadside fields, nothing special. But after hearing what she said, it did seem somewhat familiar. "Ah~" The fox jumped lightly, leaped onto a branch, and stretched its neck to look around. "Is it the way to Xiaochuan Village?" Lin Jue said, turning to look at the old man, "Excuse me, old sir, have you ever heard of Xiaochuan Village?" "Of course I have. Our Li Village is not far from Xiaochuan Village, only about twenty miles away. It was from Xiaochuan Village that we heard about the Taoist priests of your temple, so we came to invite them." "I see." As Lin Jue was speaking, he heard the fox bark again. The sound is light and a little bit tight. I looked at it, and then looked forward in the direction of its gaze. It happened that the path was a gentle slope. I rode the donkey forward a few steps and saw a big tree suddenly appearing on the road. The big tree was in the middle of the path, blocking the way. There will definitely be no trees in the middle of this kind of path.
Lin Jue's expression froze. Isn't this the same as last time? The only difference is that it's still daytime. "oops!?" The setting sun was hanging in the sky, and the old man on the mule was suddenly startled and pointed forward: "This...this...this...how come there is a tree growing in the middle of this road? This tree didn't exist when I came here!" "Don't worry, old man." Lin Jue rode his donkey forward and looked at the tree. I don’t know if it is the same tree I saw two years ago at night. In any case, I didn’t see it clearly then, but I can see it clearly now. This should be a pear tree with lush branches and leaves. Dangshan produces pears, and now is the season when pears are ripe. This tree is also densely packed with fruits, but they are all crooked pears. Lin Jue seemed to sense something and turned back. Behind him was an old man riding a mule, and then the younger apprentice sister. The two of them stood in front and behind, protecting the old man in the middle. But at some point, a huge rock appeared on the path behind them. "It's you two indeed." Lin Jue turned over and got off the donkey. He stretched out his hand and the donkey turned into a piece of paper and flew back into his hand. He frowned and raised his sword and walked forward: "Since we meet again, we are old friends. I wonder if you two still remember us. Anyway, the same thing applies - "We are Taoist priests from Yishan, and we are from the orthodox Fuqiu Temple of the Lingfa School. We are going to Li Village to exorcise the monster. If you two are kind-hearted monsters who know the danger ahead and come to stop us, just leave now. We two brothers and sisters appreciate all your kindness. When we come back, we will definitely offer you incense and candles again, just like last time. "If you two are also evil demons, and you came here to stop us at the order of the demon king, then the battle that we didn't have two years ago will be held now!" As soon as he finished speaking, he drew his sword. "call……" An evening breeze blew from the mountains, causing the pear tree in front to shake violently, and the pears seemed about to fall. But the next gust of wind immediately turned into a vicious wind. The sky and the sunset were all darkened when the vicious wind blew. The pear tree shook violently, and even its branches began to sway. Suddenly a branch swung! There was a black spot flying towards Lin Jue. What else could it be besides pears? Lin Jue just shook his left hand, chanted a spell, and a dart flew out. It’s not that the shot was very accurate, but Lin Jue just stared at the pear and chanted a spell, and the dart just hit it. "puff……" The pear exploded instantly, disintegrating into a cloud of black smoke. Only then did Lin Jue smell the strong smell of death.
It turned out to be an evil demon related to the Demon King! Rather than a good demon! It was a waste of the offering last time! "Fuyao! Take the old man away! And protect his safety!" "Woo!" Lin Jue threw the reins in his hand, and the fox naturally jumped down from the tree, took the rope in its mouth, and walked into the soil nearby. The two men stood one in front and one behind, holding long swords, one facing the pear tree and the other facing the boulder. I think that the two of them came with the intention of harming people that night, but they were acting spontaneously at the time. Seeing that the three people were orthodox monks, who were very boastful and had a strong aura and were not easy to provoke, they naturally did not want to risk fighting with them for a few pieces of flesh and blood. After testing them and finding that they did have magic, they left. Now that the Demon King is in danger, he must be in a hurry, so the two demons naturally can no longer retreat. Lin Jue figured it out instantly, but couldn't help shaking his head. "It's a pity, it's a pity..." It was indeed boasting at that time, but two years have passed, and the two young Taoist priests who needed their senior brother to lead them down the mountain to gain more experience are no longer the same as before. (End of this chapter)