Ink Mountain County, Li Residence.
The Three Pure Ones Bell under the eaves swayed in the wind, but remained silent.
Chen Jiao paced back and forth at the entrance of the main hall, the food behind her already reheated multiple times. She suddenly stopped, turning sharply: “Didn’t he say he would definitely be back today? Look at the time it is now!” Her voice was laced with anger, yet her eyes were filled with worry, “You two conspired to deceive me. If anything happens to my little brother, I…”
Li Xiangwen could only keep apologizing: “My dear wife, it’s my fault.”
“Calm down.”
Chen Jiao raised a hand to wipe the corners of her eyes, her tone softening a bit: “I know you treat him well, but in these times…” Her voice trailed off, “It’s so chaotic outside, how can I not worry?”
“That boy is clever,” Li Xiangwen comforted, “You still don’t know his capabilities?”
“But…”
“Little brother is already eighteen this year,” Li Xiangwen cautiously observed his wife’s expression, “He’s also reached the age to marry and have children. If you keep controlling him like this, outsiders will gossip.”
Chen Jiao was silent for a long time, finally sighing softly: “You’re right, it’s time to arrange a marriage for little brother.”
A hint of a smile flashed in Li Xiangwen’s eyes: “Precisely. Once he’s married, his wife will naturally keep him in line.”
“Let his sister-in-law discipline him well!” Chen Jiao said, then suddenly coughed twice.
“It’s late, let’s rest.” Li Xiangwen pulled his wife into his arms, “Perhaps that rascal will be back on his own first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Oh dear,” Chen Jiao pushed him away, blushing, “I’ll put the food away in the kitchen. If little brother comes back in the middle of the night, at least he’ll have a hot meal.”
“Exactly, exactly, we can’t let that boy go hungry.”
Just then, a servant rushed in to report: “Master, someone from the County Office is here, asking you to go immediately!”
“At this hour, what could possibly be so urgent?” Chen Jiao frowned in displeasure, carrying the food tray towards the kitchen.
Li Xiangwen smiled, calling for a servant to help him change: “My dear wife, I’ll be right back.”
“Take your protective amulet!” Chen Jiao’s instruction came from the kitchen.
“Yes, dear!”
…
The next day, not a cloud in the sky.
Ink Mountain County official road.
“Giddy-up—”
Chen Ming sat upright in the carriage, his thoughts already immersed in his mind.
opportunity codex · Page One
〖Slay Demons and Exterminate Evils〗
Demon: Spider Demon
Sins: Devoured 159 human cocoons
Notes: Good at transforming into humans, fears fire
Completion Status: Incomplete
Completion Reward: Spell “Fasting”
opportunity codex · Page Two
〖Marketplace Encounter〗
Today’s Encounter: Gift of Silver
Requirement: Give Zhang Bo three taels of silver; his daughter-in-law is about to give birth.
Completion Status: Incomplete
Reward: Five taels of silver
opportunity codex · Page Three
〖Daily Good Deed〗
Today’s Good Deed: Alms Giving
Requirement: Give ten coins to three beggars
Completion Status: Incomplete
Reward: A drop of Morning Dew
Chen Ming opened his eyes, feeling much brighter.
“Zhang Bo, can you go a bit faster?” Chen Ming lifted the curtain, “I want to eat the winter bamboo shoot and ham stew my sister made.”
Hearing this, Zhang Bo cracked his whip, a smile he couldn’t suppress playing on his lips, likely thinking of something happy himself.
“Young Master, hold on tight.”
“Giddy-up—”
The pained yellow horse galloped towards Ink Mountain County.
Ink Mountain County.
Today, there were many more people than usual.
Eastern Street of Ink Mountain County was now packed with crowds, all craning their necks, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive.
Sweat seeped from Li Xiangwen’s back under his uniform as his scabbard pushed against the surging crowd: “Step back! Everyone, step back!” His shouts were drowned out by the roaring multitude.
Suddenly, three gongs sounded from the city gate.
“Dong, dong-dong—”
Then, figures moved at the city gate, a procession following the gong-beater.
“They’re here, the Immortal is here!”
The common people began to cheer, excited, shouting, “Immortal.”
“Immortal, please look at my child!” A common old woman knelt directly and kowtowed.
The gongs thundered, and human voices roared.
Li Xiangwen felt the entire county plunged into a frenzy.
Several young boys walked at the front of the procession, holding five-colored banners, their flags unfurling like rainbows. A dozen strong men, bare-chested, carried a dark soft sedan chair, its eaves draped with a smoky, dark gauze that swayed lightly with each step.
Inside the sedan chair sat an old Daoist priest, over eight feet tall, with pale, greenish skin and a cinnabar mark between his brows. He looked down at the reveling crowd below, smiling happily, his mouth split into a wide grin.
Saliva dripped, unnoticed.
He merely narrowed his eyes in intoxication, his slender, pale fingers tapping lightly on the sedan chair rail in time with the crowd’s cheers.
The old Daoist priest toured the entire county as if inspecting his new territory, finally having the soft sedan chair carried directly into the back hall of the County Office.
Li Xiangwen frowned, looking at the fervent crowd, and elbowed his colleague:
“What’s with this grand display?”
He had arrived late last night and was only told to maintain order on Eastern Street today, but no one had informed him of the specific reason.
His colleague looked left and right, lowering his voice: “I heard it’s a living immortal invited by the County Magistrate from the capital. His Daoist name is ‘Eight-Eyed Daoist,’ and he’s rumored to be a high-ranking master who attained enlightenment on Kunyu Mountain. He came specifically to our Ink Mountain County this time to select spiritually gifted children with immortal edge to take up the mountain for cultivation.”
“Spiritually gifted children?” Li Xiangwen narrowed his eyes.
“That is…” His colleague made a gesture of pregnancy, “Those babies who haven’t been born yet. They say they need to start cultivating in the womb to attain immortality in the future.”
Li Xiangwen suddenly understood, “No wonder then.”
If their children were chosen by the so-called “Immortal,” wouldn’t they be able to transform from a pheasant into a phoenix? To soar to the heavens?
…
At the entrance of Li Residence.
“Zhang Bo, my brother-in-law said your grandson is about to be born.”
Chen Ming slipped a piece of silver into Zhang Bo’s hand.
“This is my gift.”
Zhang Bo wanted to decline, but seeing the three taels of silver, his hands paused slightly.
His family was expecting a new addition, and it was time to spend money again.
“Take it.”
“Aye—” Zhang Bo cupped his hands to Chen Ming, “When the child is born, please come for the full-moon celebration!”
“Giddy-up—”
The beggars, who had long been anticipating, swarmed forward, but maintained a disciplined three-step distance.
“Chen Gongzi, it’s my turn!”
“Wang Mazi already received some last time!”
“He got some a few days ago, it’s my turn now.”
Chen Ming had a bit of a headache. Most of the ‘Daily Good Deed’ tasks given by the opportunity codex involved giving alms to beggars. Although the money wasn’t much, over the years, he had become well-known among the beggars of Ink Mountain.
The beggars clamored, but always maintained an appropriate distance.
They wouldn’t provoke Chen Ming, and they could get a reward at the first opportunity. After all, who didn’t know that Chen Gongzi’s strength was mysterious and unfathomable, his brother-in-law was Constable Li of the County Office, and his sister was the proprietor of Yubozhai, the largest silk shop in the city?
Chen Ming shook his head and chuckled, pulling out a handful of copper coins from his Pregnant: “Today, as an exception, ten coins for each person.”
He then distributed most of the reward silver he had received from Ji County.
The beggars of Ink Mountain County were either widowed, orphaned, childless, or disabled. There were no signs of child abductors, and if there had been, Chen Ming would have eliminated them.
Chen Ming watched the beggars disperse, then turned and stepped onto the stone steps, only to see Chen Jiao standing by the door, a smile on her lips.
“Sister.” Chen Ming cautiously stepped forward.
Chen Jiao didn’t respond, but her gaze swept over him from head to toe. Seeing him return completely unharmed, her tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly: “It’s good you’re back.”
“Where’s brother-in-law?”
Seeing that Chen Jiao wasn’t angry, Chen Ming also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“An ‘Immortal’ came to the yamen, and he said he’d be busy until night.” Chen Jiao grabbed his wrist and led him inside, “The food will get cold, let’s eat first.”
Chen Ming was pulled forward by her, but couldn’t help but look back in the direction of the yamen: “Immortal?”
“Mhm.”
“If you had returned half an hour earlier, you would have seen the spectacle.” Chen Jiao snorted lightly, “A dozen strong men carrying a black sedan chair, going from house to house. When they came to our door…”
Chen Ming paused.
“The bell you hung,” Chen Jiao gestured towards the eaves, “It rang by itself.”
Chen Ming looked up. The Three Pure Ones Bell, which warded off evil and suppressed malevolence, hung under the eaves, now swaying in the wind, but making no sound.
Chen Ming said casually: “This bell is probably broken.”
“Yes, this bell has been hanging for two or three years, and it rang for the first time today.”
“Don’t say that, it sounded quite nice. It was so noisy outside, but I heard it clearly.”
Chen Jiao gave Chen Ming a bewildered look, and Chen Ming couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly.
“Hey, wait a moment,” Chen Jiao called a maid, “Go and bring the brazier over.”
“Yes!”
“Come, step over the brazier, for peace and prosperity, and protection from evil.” Chen Jiao tugged at Chen Ming’s wrist, muttering.
Chen Ming complied. He knew his sister’s temperament, that she responded to gentleness but not to force.
“Hurry and wash your hands and come to the table. Sister made your favorite winter bamboo shoot and ham.”
Chen Jiao released him and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
Chen Ming looked at her back, his heart softening. Thankfully, there was still enough time, and the road ahead was long.