On the Path to the Great Dao

The maid Ding Ding hesitated for a moment, a touch of reluctance in her eyes. After all, they had only just met and exchanged a couple of words—how could she possibly stay at a stranger's home?

Chen Shi noticed her hesitation and smiled.

"Ding Ding, do I look like a bad guy to you?"

Ding Ding shook her head.

"No, you don't."

Chen Shi said,

"Since I don't look like a bad guy, what does big sis have to fear? I'm well-respected in the village, known far and wide as a good man. Ding Ding sis, my Blackie Pot knows how to cook, and its skills are top-notch. Tonight, let it whip up a few dishes."

Ding Ding's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Blackie Pot, stammering,

"It... it can cook?"

"Chopping veggies, firing up the wok, stir-frying, full meals—sautéing, pan-frying, boiling, deep-frying, it's ace at everything." Chen Shi continued,

"Stay at my place, and you'll see for yourself. Are you really planning to stand guard here all alone tonight?"

Ding Ding glanced at the coffins inside the manor, clutching her cyan-blue pipa cloth bag tighter, a flicker of fear rising in her heart.

Chen Shi strode toward the exit, turning back with a smile.

"Come on, let's go! We can come back to check on Madam Hua Li in a few days."

Ding Ding gritted her teeth and hurried after him.

The two humans and one dog headed down the mountain. As Ding Ding kept pace with his steps, she whispered,

"Does your Blackie Pot really know how to cook?"

Madam Hua Li, now lying in her coffin, had overheard their entire conversation. She shook her head inwardly.

"Chen Shi's just like his grandpa back in the day—sweet talker, best at fooling young girls."

She made no move to stop them, letting Chen Shi take Ding Ding away.

Ding Ding followed Chen Shi to Huangpo Village. Sure enough, just as he said, the villagers were incredibly welcoming. They looked at the young scholar Chen as if he were a hen laying golden eggs.

"What a pretty little miss! Don't let that bully fool you."

Grandma Yuzhu beamed at Chen Shi while whispering to Ding Ding,

"Find a chance and run if you can."

Another old lady grinned through gritted teeth, murmuring softly.

"Should we report him to the officials?"

Yet another woman sidled up beside her, flashing a smile at the village bully while quietly asking.

"No, don't report to the officials! The authorities are in his pocket—he's already killed several!"

"You're either tricked here or snatched, right?"

Ding Ding finally shook off the overly enthusiastic villagers and followed Chen Shi to his home.

No sooner had they arrived than Blackie Pot started sweeping the yard. Ding Ding stared at the dog in astonishment, but after a moment, it felt perfectly normal to her—her own overreaction seemed odd instead.

Chen Shi went door-to-door, borrowing oil, salt, meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits.

The villagers gave generously and enthusiastically.

Sure enough, Ding Ding watched as Blackie Pot donned an apron, washed and sorted the vegetables, then chopped them neatly into piles.

"Stop staring, Ding Ding. Let's go tidy up the guest room."

Chen Shi called out. Ding Ding snapped back to reality and hurried after him. Together, they straightened the guest room and fluffed the bedding.

Chen Shi hung the bedding on a wooden rack and lit a plate of goose pear incense beneath it, making the quilts smell fresh and fragrant. He smiled.

"The incense has over a dozen ingredients like goose pear, agarwood, and sandalwood.

The goose pears I picked from the mountains myself, juiced them, mixed with the spices into scented honey, and shaped into these disks.

All calming, soothing scents. Sleep under these quilts, and you'll have the deepest, steadiest rest.

Does Ding Ding sis like the smell?"

Ding Ding sniffed it and smiled.

"It's quite nice."

Chen Shi beamed, sitting on the bed's edge.

"As long as you like it.

Normally it's just me and Blackie Pot at home—gets awfully lonely.

Ding Ding sis, keep me company and chat a bit."

Ding Ding sat down, her heart fluttering like a startled fawn.

Chen Shi perked up, words flowing like a river. He regaled her with his adventures: from Grandpa eating candles to the kiln works, from the kiln works to the Evil Buddha, then village mountain rules, all sorts of bizarre evils, and methods to refine evil spirits.

He eagerly pulled out his secret records of drawn evils, flipping page by page for Ding Ding, explaining key knowledge points.

Ding Ding felt him drawing closer and closer, her heart in a panic, sensing something was about to happen.

*Snap!*

Chen Shi closed his secret record of evils.

"You won't be bored staying here—I'm a talisman master too. I can take you along to exorcise spirits.

Business has just been slow lately."

He looked troubled.

"Qianyang Mountain used to be crawling with evils, but now who knows where they've scampered off to. Finding even one is tough.

"Could a big evil have appeared in the mountains and chased all the others away?"

Chen Shi mused absently.

"According to what the sisters said, shouldn't he be making moves on me by now?"

Ding Ding's heart pounded wildly.

Chen Shi stood and headed out.

"Blackie Pot says dinner's ready. Let's eat."

Ding Ding blinked in surprise and hurried after him, thinking,

"He's a true gentleman after all. I misjudged him."

Sure enough, Blackie Pot had prepared four dishes and a soup, meat and veggies alike.

The two sat down to eat. Blackie Pot removed its apron, fetched a bucket of water from the well, washed its paws, and watched the pair of young teens eating. It sighed.

With the old master gone, how long could this home hold together without me?

That night, Ding Ding bathed, poured out the bathwater, bolted the door, and lay in bed, heart racing.

"If he comes over, do I open the door? If I don't... but what if he begs? Do I open or not?"

Lost in wild thoughts, she heard noises in the courtyard.

She crept up quietly and peeked out the window. Moonlight bathed the yard in silver glow. Chen Shi had soaked in a medicinal bath, wearing only white trousers, shirtless.

He practiced in the courtyard.

The youth's demeanor was utterly devout, as if cultivation were a sacred rite.

He trod the gangbu steps, each motion like a fierce tiger, carrying indomitable will. With every stride, starlight burst forth, flowing over his skin and along his muscle lines.

Behind his head floated a small temple. From within shone sunlight-like rays, like a yellow lantern's glow.

Inside the temple, sun, moon, and stars transformed into surging light streams, pouring into Chen Shi's body.

Atop the Divine Shrine in the small temple sat the three Ghost Kings, solemn as an old Buddha, radiating a hint of sanctity.

These days of following Chen Shi in practice had been terrifying—they were always sacrificed as his Divine Embryo—but they had gained immensely, cultivation surging!

Especially with much ghost and evil qi refined away, they showed momentum to surpass the Great Ghost King and claim supremacy!

Chen Shi finished his session and returned to his room, without raiding the west wing.

Ding Ding felt a twinge of disappointment, yawned, burrowed under the covers, and fell asleep soon after.

In the courtyard, the dog sighed.

The pig doesn't even know to go rooting for cabbage yet.

What a worry.

Ding Ding spent the night at Chen Shi's. She woke in the morning to Blackie Pot cooking breakfast, but Chen Shi was nowhere in sight.

Accustomed to serving others, being waited on by a dog felt awkward. She rushed to help.

One person, one dog cooked and chatted about household trifles, having a merry time.

After a while, Ding Ding suddenly snapped clear for a moment, puzzled.

"Did Chen Shi's dog just talk? Weird, I don't remember that... just a vague impression? Who was I just talking to?"

A chill crept over her. Blackie Pot's gaze seemed oddly knowing.

But soon, under the dog's eyes, she brushed it aside.

Chen Shi paid respects to Godmother, studied his morning lessons, then returned home to eat breakfast with Ding Ding. She washed the pots and bowls while he took a small knife, gave Blackie Pot a cut, mixed the blood with cinnabar, and drew a Galloping Horse Talisman on the wooden cart.

By the time Ding Ding finished the dishes, Chen Shi had the cart ready.

Ding Ding shouldered her cyan-blue sack. Chen Shi was already aboard, pulling her up. They sat together as the wooden cart rumbled along, Blackie Pot leading the way out of the village.

Qianyang Mountain might have had that demon trouble, so evils are scarce now—no business there.

No need to go to Black Mountain; I handled it clean.

Aboard the cart, Chen Shi analyzed like a pro.

"Xinxiang County's had two magistrate changes. I took out the biggest evils; nothing major left.

Lei County? Been trouble there before—no go.

Shuiniu County? Pass.

The only spot for talisman stall business now is Fei County.

Fei County's seat is at the southwest corner of the Qianyang range, over two hundred li away. Not in New Duo Province—it's under Gongzhou Province.

But we're not heading to the county seat, just the villages and towns: sell talismans, exorcise evils.

Poor kids head households young. Chen Shi's been burning through cash lately, saving for a wife, but most Qianyang evils fled, killing his business. Now off to Fei County.

Grandpa said this 'poaching territory' shames the trade—other talisman masters despise it. But Chen Shi's desperate for coin.

Grandpa's wooden cart always creaked along slow as molasses. In Chen Shi's hands, it whistled like wind, Galloping Horse Talisman maxed out, blazing down the post road.

Half a shichen later, they reached Xinglong Town in Fei County.

Chen Shi parked in the bustling market, set up his talisman stall with pre-drawn charms. But no takers.

Ding Ding pointed.

"Is this a Peach Talisman? Young master, have you used one on me?"

Chen Shi shook his head.

"I'm too young for that."

Ding Ding stuck out her tongue, grinning.

"Can I try one?"

With no business, Chen Shi handed her one.

"How do you use it?"

"You got a sachet? Take a strand of your hair, wrap it in the talisman, stuff it in the sachet."

Chen Shi plucked a hair from her head and wrapped it in the talisman paper.

Ding Ding pulled out her sachet, took the paper, tucked it in, and smiled.

"All set?"

The girl's smile made Chen Shi's world brighten, vibrant and alluring. Something in his heart twanged, pounding wildly.

Men passing in Xinglong Town's market couldn't help but stare at Ding Ding. Once their eyes landed, they stuck fast.

Ding Ding startled and shoved the sachet into Chen Shi's hand.

Chen Shi gripped it, and Ding Ding's gaze fell on him. The youth seemed to stir her heart like spring breeze through hair strands; her cheeks flushed.

Women gathered round, stopping at the stall.

Chen Shi hurriedly tossed the sachet aside.

"Talisman master, I'll take this Peach Talisman!"

One woman snapped to, declaring.

"Give me a Peach Talisman!"

"I'll take three!"

The crowd surged forward, pulling out silver. Chen Shi grinned ear to ear. He sold talismans while Ding Ding collected cash—pure joy!

Blackie Pot watched, puzzled.

"Is the young master's craft improved, or is my blood yang qi stronger? Am I about to reveal my true form?"

It grew uneasy.

Chen Shi's stall sold out fast, pockets full. Thrilled, he packed the cart and took Ding Ding shopping: snacks, toys, girls' rouge and powders—everything.

Satisfied, they returned to the cart to find a scholar in green robes waiting.

"Talisman master, our village has an evil haunting it. Please save us!"

Chen Shi smiled.

"What about other talisman masters? I'm already poaching—can't steal more business."

The green-robed scholar hesitated, then confessed.

"Truth be told, three have already died."

Chen Shi's face grew solemn.

"For this...

He clenched his teeth.

"...minimum twenty taels of silver!"

His heart raced—highway robbery.

His plan: if they haggled, he'd accept!

"Deal!"

The scholar agreed briskly.

Chen Shi blinked, stunned.

Ding Ding leaned to his ear, breath tickling, whispering,

"You asked too little."

New Duo Province, Li Mansion.

Li Xiaozheng received the edict from the Xijing Cabinet and laughed in fury. To First Madam Xia Weiyin, he said,

"New Duo Magistrate Geng Chun was Zhang family planted. Chen Shi killed Geng Chun, but Zhangs say nothing of revenge. The edict calls Geng Chun an evil, sets a new magistrate en route.

Chen Shi killed Lei County Magistrate Yan Jingsi too—she's Second Madam's kin, Yan family.

But Yans ignore it, even air their dirt, pinning Yan Jingsi with letting a flood dragon wreak havoc.

Now the Cabinet edict sets a new Lei County Magistrate—also on the way!"

He slammed the edict down, fuming.

"If Chen Shi kills me, this New Duo Patrol Governor, will the Cabinet pin treason on me too? New Duo's officials swapped once over this Chen Shi—another round?"

Xia Weiyin stifled a laugh, soothing him.

"Husband, isn't this the old Cabinet lords fearing Chen Yindu lives, so they sit tight? Waiting for others to test the waters.

Li Xiaozheng turned anger to a smile.

"I get their game—want the Li family to stick our necks out.

But my resolve is iron; I won't bite.

Let Chen Shi fuss. Li family eyes stay on the Great Ming Treasure Ship."

Xia Weiyin asked,

"How's the Great Ming Treasure Ship these days?"

Li Xiaozheng's smile faded. He sighed.

"Over thirty dead."

Xia Weiyin chilled inwardly, probing why.

Li Xiaozheng sighed.

"The treasure ship—approach fine, but touch it, and it unleashes the hidden Ghost God Domain.

Many Li clansmen couldn't flee, turned to stone statues.

My seventh brother and crew test now, probing the stone ship's Ghost God Domain limits."

Xia Weiyin frowned slightly.

"Even if limits found, can't board—still helpless."

"There's one way aboard: feet off ground.

I'm going personally to find the Ghost God Domain's core!"

That afternoon, Li Xiaozheng led men onto the treasure ship.

That night, word spread: Li Xiaozheng petrified. Chaos engulfed Li Mansion.