After Chen Yuan left Lu Xian Temple, he wrapped the rusty sword on his back in black cloth again, put it back on his back, and strode forward on the official road.

Pingliang County, where his home is located, is southeast of Lujiang City.

So if he wants to go home, he must go south along the official road in front of Lu Xian Temple and pass through Nanshi Mountain.

Walk to a similar location and then turn onto an official road that leads directly to Pingliang County.

Passing by the market next to Lu Xian Temple, Chen Yuan took a special look at the cake shop he often went to before. He found that the shop was open and the boss was busy working on the stove in front of the door without noticing it.

He passed by the store.

"I don't intend to alarm anyone, just leave like this"

When Chen Yuan saw that his boss was busy, he gave up the idea of ​​saying hello to him.

Following the crowds on the road, they passed directly in front of the pastry shop, passed through the already bustling market, and continued walking forward.

Chen Yuan didn't know that not long after he had just walked here.

The middle-aged cake shop owner walked happily to Lu Xian Temple with two bowls of steaming mutton cakes that had just been cooked and sprinkled with chopped green onions.

……

The further he walked, Chen Yuan found that there were fewer and fewer houses on both sides of the road.

At first, one or two villages could occasionally be seen on both sides of the official road, but later they basically turned into trees.

Fortunately, there are many pedestrians on this official road, so I don’t feel lonely at all.

Pedestrians are all immersed in walking. Many people are tired from walking and have exhausted their physical strength. They will sit under the shade of a tree on the roadside to rest for a while, eat some dry food and drink some water, and then continue on their way after their physical strength recovers.

Chen Yuan, who is in the elixir realm, has no physical exhaustion and can move much faster than anyone else.

However, Chen Yuan's speed was not too fast, just a little faster than most people. After walking for about an hour, he would rest on the side of the road for a while before continuing on his way.

Chen Yuan, a young Taoist priest carrying a rusty sword and baggage, is not particularly conspicuous among passers-by.

In this way, Chen Yuan walked for four hours, from the red sun rising in the east to the setting sun in the west.

Then a large mountain more than a hundred feet high, with many stubborn rocks visible in the mountain, appeared in front of Chen Yuan.

"Taoist Priest, why don't we go together? There are many monsters in the mountains. Although there are mountain gods in Nanshi Mountain to protect us, it is said that there are monsters in the mountains. We'd better be careful."

When we were about to enter the mountain, we just met on the road. A group of more than ten people pulled a caravan full of seven or eight carts of goods. One of the leading middle-aged businessmen who had been paying attention to Chen Yuan walked up to Chen Yuan and invited him

.

"Is there a demon in this Nanshi Mountain?"

Chen Yuan frowned and asked.

He had some doubts in his heart. Isn't this Nanshi Mountain the territory of Nanshi Mountain God?

Why are monsters so rampant?

"Yes, some people have seen it, but there are different opinions on what kind of monster it is. Some people say it is a fox monster, some say it is a deer monster, and some say it is a tiger monster."

The middle-aged businessman was wearing a brown silk coat and a foreigner's hat. He had a hooked mustache around his lips. There was a glint in his eyes. He wore an iron wrench on his right thumb. He looked at Chen Yuan.

Smiled politely.

The reason why he came to invite Chen Yuan was carefully.

In this world, most monks who can walk alone outside are those who have the ability.

The young Taoist priest in front of me seems to be carrying a sword on his back.

Even though the young Taoist priest in front of him is too young to have any profound skills, he should have two skills.

Inviting this young Taoist priest to the team can help improve the safety of the caravan without spending any money.

All he had to pay was a very polite invitation and a few words. This was a very cost-effective deal.

"Since there are monsters in Nanshi Mountain, aren't you afraid?"

Chen Yuan asked curiously.

"Harm, there is nothing to be afraid of. Although there are monsters on Nanshi Mountain, the monsters on Nanshi Mountain are not harmful. They just play tricks on passers-by and often talk to passers-by. Besides, there is also a mountain god on Nanshi Mountain to bless you."

What?"

The middle-aged businessman said.

"No, I'm used to walking alone."

Chen Yuan shook his head and refused.

The reason why he rejected this middle-aged businessman's invitation.

One is because when he passes by Nanshi Mountain this time, he plans to visit the Nanshi Mountain God whom he met at the City God’s Banquet.

The second is that he does not know the origin and details of this middle-aged businessman and his caravan, and does not want to rashly travel with strangers who do not know the details.

"Since the Taoist Master is not willing, then forget it. I am being presumptuous."

The middle-aged businessman was not ashamed to be rejected by Chen Yuan. He smiled and turned around and left.

As a businessman, he knows the importance of building good relationships.

Although he invited the young Taoist priest to go with them and was rejected by the young Taoist priest, there was no need to be embarrassed and offended in vain.

The businessmen they do business with are often rejected many times.

Seeing the middle-aged businessman leave in awe, Chen Yuan looked at the Nanshi Mountain, which was not very high but stretched endlessly, and walked into Nanshi Mountain without looking back.

Seeing that Chen Yuan had already entered the mountain, the caravan headed by the middle-aged businessman also entered Nanshi Mountain.

……

Not long after Chen Yuan entered Nanshi Mountain.

The Golden Crow sets on the west mountain and gradually falls.

After a sunset glow as crimson as blood appeared, the world quickly fell into darkness.

Fortunately, Chen Yuan was lucky. Shortly after dark, he found a small, dilapidated house on the side of the road at the center of Nanshi Mountain.

This dilapidated house is four feet long and more than two feet wide. It is a square building.

Chen Yuan took a closer look and discovered that the house only had walls and no roof.

Judging from the shape and size, it used to be a temple.

However, at this time, in this temple, not only were the statues of worshiped gods gone, and it was impossible to tell what kind of temple it was before, the roof had completely collapsed due to years of disrepair.

Its wooden doors and windows were also removed.

But when you go out, it would be nice to have a place to protect yourself from the wind and rain.

Although this house cannot protect you from the rain, it can protect you from the wind.

Chen Yuan thought about the weather during the day, and it didn't look like it was going to rain at night.

Moreover, this season has not yet reached spring, and it generally does not rain suddenly.

I decided to stay here for one night.

He first went around to pick up a bundle of firewood and came back, lighting a bonfire in a corner.

A bonfire can not only keep warm in the dark, but can also prevent wild beasts from attacking.

It was also when lighting the bonfire that Chen Yuan discovered that there were several piles of plant ash traces on the floor of the house.

"That is to say, this place has been lived in by passers-by before."

Chen Yuan said to himself.

Chen Yuan was not surprised. In this kind of barren mountain, as long as there are walls and tiles, they are places where passersby live.

Then Chen Yuan sat cross-legged by the bonfire, closed his eyes and meditated.

But not long after, when the firewood in the bonfire burned out and Chen Yuan stood up to add more firewood, he found the sound of horse hooves and wheels not far away.

"It's really unlucky. The few resting places in front have been occupied by others in advance."

"It seems that we will have to sleep in the wild tonight."

"I remember that there seemed to be a ruined temple in front of me. Although the ruined temple had no roof and few people usually lived there, the walls had not collapsed yet and could block some cold wind. I could barely stay there for a night."

"Look, there seems to be fire in the ruined temple in front, and there are already people inside."

"No matter, let's go take a look and talk to the people inside to make some room for us. It will be more difficult to find a shelter from the wind if we go further."

Then there was a burst of conversation.

Not long after, a group of people walked in from outside. When Chen Yuan looked up, he realized that the person who came was the middle-aged businessman who had invited him to go with them just before dark and before entering the mountain.

"Taoist Priest!"

Seeing that it was Chen Yuan, the middle-aged businessman was a little surprised and said.

Then he became happy. He thought that the person in the ruined temple was a caravan like them!

Unexpectedly, there was only one Chen Yuan, which would be great.
To be continued...