thenovelthief #321 - Xuzhou Governor's Mansion, real and fake aunt!
#321 - Xuzhou Governor's Mansion, real and fake aunt!
“Reverend Xu, you certainly made me wait!”
“Please, come into the mansion! I have already prepared a feast, just waiting for Reverend Xu’s grand arrival!”
The meatball, oh no, the Governor of Xu Prefecture, Lord Pan, approached Xu Chengxian with a beaming smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
This posture was much lower than that of Governor Qin Hong.
Not only was the main gate wide open, but he also personally came out to welcome him, referring to himself as 'I' in every sentence.
This was truly the attitude of someone seeking a favor.
“This humble Taoist was captivated by the scenery along the way, causing Lord Pan to wait for so long.” Xu Chengxian stepped down from the cart and said with a smile.
He didn't deliberately try to make things difficult.
Although this Governor Pan's appearance perfectly matched the image of a corrupt official who embezzles the people's wealth, his body didn't have any Yin, evil, or karmic power. On the contrary, the official aura on his body was quite pure, and there was even a trace of the nation's dragon energy protecting him.
It seemed his identity shouldn't be simple.
Of course, this was good news for Xu Chengxian.
Dealing with a good official was much better than dealing with a corrupt and foul-smelling fellow.
At least it wouldn't test his mentality so much.
In addition, treating his youngest son would be much easier.
If everything went smoothly, wouldn't it be logical to ask him for a small favor?
Therefore, his attitude could be described as amiable.
Governor Pan couldn't help but feel flattered, repeatedly cupping his hands to welcome him into the Governor's mansion.
“Hmph, what 'captivated by the scenery'?” Da Hei, relying on the fact that others couldn't see or hear it, crossed its front hooves in front of its chest and snorted with a smile, “Clearly, you didn't even open your eyes much along the way!”
Then, it glanced at the cart parked in front.
At this time, a young Taoist and a young monk got off the cart, one after the other.
This was another reason why they couldn't travel fast on the road.
The two little fellows on the cart, one needed to use his magic power to refine pills, and the other needed to meditate and chant sutras to make incense sticks, how could they travel fast?
What's more, there was still a child sleeping on the cart.
Huh?
Wait a minute!
“You two little brats actually wanted to run away?” Da Hei glared.
With a flash, it rushed over.
“Quick! Faster!”
“That terrifying black sheep has discovered us!”
Liuguang grabbed Yinkong by the collar, pulled him and ran, shouting as he ran, “Westward!”
“You escape first!” Liuguang said urgently.
Didn't I tell you to go west?
Once you escape, run west!
“Ouch!”
“Ouch!”
With this delay, a black shadow flashed, and each of them received a kick on the back.
With two thuds, they were both kicked to the ground, crying out in pain.
“Hmph, still want to run?” Da Hei snorted, spitting out a wisp of black smoke to tie them up and bring them to Xu Chengxian.
“Da Xu, I've caught these two little mice back!”
“Senior Brother Xu.” Yinkong called out with drooping eyebrows.
“Hehe, Senior Brother Xu.” Liuguang also called out with a smile.
At this time, Governor Pan couldn't help but shrink his pupils, looked up at the sky, and then pretended to be overjoyed: “This is the Immortal Master’s magic? Ah! This is immortal magic! Immortal magic!”
In his eyes, it was as if Xu Chengxian just glanced over there, and the two people were driven over as if they were tied up.
It couldn't be ghosts being driven in broad daylight.
It could only be immortal magic!
What he didn't know was that it was indeed driving ghosts, but not ordinary ghosts, but an ancient ferocious beast turned into an old ghost.
Xu Chengxian didn't deny it, turning to look at the two.
“Well, you two are alright, you have a little bit of cunning, I underestimated you.” He couldn't help but smile, “You actually knew to pretend to be obedient and wait until Xu Prefecture City to run away.”
“No, we didn't want to run.” Liuguang said, “We just wanted to go home and take a look.”
“Then what about you?” Xu Chengxian asked Yinkong.
“This monk is going to visit Senior Brother Liuguang at his home.” Yinkong replied with a stiff face.
“Alright, isn't it just wanting to go back to the Sea Soul Sect?” Xu Chengxian smiled, “Why run? I was originally going to send you home.”
“Really?”
“Is it true?”
The two couldn't believe it.
Senior Brother Xu, who had been squeezing them to work after catching them, would be so kind?
“Of course, it's true.”
Xu Chengxian, being suspected of his character, revealed a displeased expression and said, “Senior Brother asked you to work to make money from the pills you refined and the incense you made? Those mundane things are not worth mentioning to me!”
“I did that to consume your magic power!”
“Look, you didn't have any magic power to use when you ran away just now, right?”
“...Senior Brother Xu, you're so smart.” Yinkong scratched his bald head and smiled embarrassedly.
“But Senior Brother Xu, you just said that you were here to send us home?” Liuguang asked suspiciously.
“Ahem! Of course, I'm here to send you home, there's no need to doubt that.” Xu Chengxian said, “But, I saved you and sent you back, shouldn't I get something in return?”
“What does Senior Brother mean?”
“The Sea Soul Sect should give me some benefits, right?”
“What benefits does Senior Brother want?” Liuguang asked quickly.
If it wasn't too difficult, he could go home smoothly.
But if it was too difficult, and his master didn't think he was worth the price, it would be hard to say.
“Let Song Jue become a disciple of the Sea Soul Sect.” Xu Chengxian said. “To be able to follow a true cultivator to practice.”
“Song Jue?” Liuguang was stunned, then turned to look at the cart he had been sitting on all the way. There was a child on the cart, sleeping soundly.
The commotion just now didn't wake him from his sweet dream.
“Him?” Yinkong blinked. He thought this shouldn't be difficult.
Although Song Jue seemed silly, Senior Brother Liuguang was also like that.
Maybe his master would like such a disciple.
But for insurance, he added, “If Uncle Master doesn't accept him, I'll have my master take him as a novice monk.”
Considering that Song Jue might not want to become a monk, he thoughtfully added, “You can return to secular life even after becoming a monk, with five chances to regret it.”
“...You're quite considerate.” Xu Chengxian said.
“My master will accept him! I'll beg him!” Liuguang shouted impatiently.
If his master didn't accept Song Jue, wouldn't he have to go to the Bodhi Temple with him?
He didn't want to be a monk, and even more so, he didn't want to shave his head!
“I think Song Jue would also prefer to practice Xuanmen cultivation methods.” Xu Chengxian smiled.
Then, he turned to Governor Pan and said, “Lord Governor, when the time comes, I'll have to trouble you to send a message to the Sea Soul Sect and have their people come.”
“Me?” Governor Pan, who was watching from the sidelines, was stunned.
Thinking, is there still something for me to do here?
“Exactly, I have to trouble Lord Pan to be an intermediary.” Xu Chengxian smiled, thinking, if there was nothing for you to do, why would I waste my effort at the gate of this Governor's mansion?
With just Liuguang and Yinkong's third level of Qi refining, could they make a commotion under his nose?
It would have been easier to knock them unconscious before entering Xu Prefecture City.
This was all to let the Sea Soul Sect know what he was here for.
“No problem, leave it to me!” Governor Pan readily agreed, then reached out to lead the way, “Reverend Xu, why not go to the mansion to eat and chat?”
“Alright.” Estimating that the messenger had already entered the Sea Soul Sect by now, Xu Chengxian nodded.
…
The group entered the Governor's mansion.
Governor Pan excused himself to rearrange the feast, arranging for a maid to lead Xu Chengxian to a guest room to rest first.
Da Hei rolled its eyes and followed.
After a while, it came back, exclaiming, “Da Xu! You'll never guess what kind of strange thing happened in this Xu Prefecture Governor's mansion!”
“They actually have two grandmothers, one real and one fake!”