"Alright, I'll take care of your business for you, let me calculate my surname and name, where I come from and where I'm going." Lin Ji said with a smile.
The Taoist was taken aback.
"Brother, you..."
"Taoist, if you can't figure it out, don't blame me for taking action! It's not acceptable to deceive people on the roadside in broad daylight."
"Haha, this Taoist is also just trying to make a living, brother, don't make fun of this Taoist."
The Taoist quickly packed up the stall and turned it into a box, carrying it behind him.
"So, brother, you are the catcher of Qingyang County. Since this Taoist arrived in Qingyang County, I have heard all day about how wise and martial the catchers in the county are, extraordinary in demeanor."
"Alright, stop flattering." Lin Ji shook his head.
When he first saw this person in Tongtian Town, Lin Ji used the Decree of the Heavenly Supervisory Office to bring him into the town.
The Decree is a symbol of the catchers of the Heavenly Supervisory Office in various states and regions, so it was not surprising that the Taoist understood his identity.
Just as he had just figured it out, he quickly started flattering, which was a bit too fast.
At that moment, the Taoist's stomach suddenly growled.
Lin Ji looked at him strangely.
"A cultivator can starve himself?"
"Being away from home, there are inevitably times of embarrassment." The Taoist looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Come with me, we have some acquaintance, today I'm in a good mood, I'll treat you to a meal."
"How can this be polite." The Taoist rubbed his hands and followed behind Lin Ji, his eyes squinting with a smile.
Lin Ji brought the Taoist to Ruyi Tower, the only decent restaurant in the county.
The shopkeeper was surprised to see Lin Ji.
"Lin Catcher, why are you here again? Wasn't the meal just now not to your taste? Please wait, I'll have the kitchen prepare another table for you."
"It's not me, it's this Taoist." Lin Ji pointed to the Taoist behind him and said, "This is my friend, rare to meet, just make some appetizers for us."
"Alright, please follow me upstairs."
Lin Ji led the Taoist upstairs. It was the time when the guests were dining at noon, and the window seats were already taken.
The restaurant staff didn't reserve a seat for him as they saw Lin Ji leaving.
The two guests by the window saw Lin Ji and quickly got up to offer their seats.
"No need, you enjoy your meal, I can sit anywhere."
Saying that, Lin Ji sat down with the Taoist at a table near the stairs.
Soon, the delicious dishes were served. Although it was meant to be simple, the restaurant prepared a full table.
The Taoist, instead of starting to eat eagerly, first bowed slightly to Lin Ji.
"I sincerely thank Lin Catcher for this meal."
"Don't be so polite." Lin Ji smiled and returned the gesture.
After the courtesy, the Taoist began to eat heartily, without any more formalities.
Watching him eat with oil all over his mouth, wiping it on his sleeve before continuing to eat, Lin Ji was somewhat speechless.
"Take it easy, no one is going to snatch it from you."
The Taoist ate intently, without responding.
Lin Ji casually asked, "Master Pingxin, didn't you say you were going to Liang City to slay ghosts? How come you ended up in Qingyang County?"
Talking about this matter made Pingxin Taoist stop his voracious eating.
"Liang City is not a place for people to stay!"
"Oh? Please elaborate." Lin Ji's eyes lit up, eager to know more.
Pingxin Taoist seemed to have eaten half full, so he wasn't as ravenous as before.
Holding a chicken leg in one hand and a wine glass in the other, he leisurely said, "After the news of Liang City being surrounded by ghosts spread, cultivators from all over the world thought that Liang City would soon be in trouble. However, after they arrived, although the city was indeed surrounded by ghosts, they did not attack!"
"It has been more than half a month now, and the people in the city, besides being constantly frightened, have not suffered any harm. Isn't this strange?"
Lin Ji raised his eyebrows slightly, thinking of the fierce ghost he caught last night, and said, "I heard that it was the Ghost King who restrained his subordinates."
"That's not entirely false," Pingxin Taoist sighed, "Many cultivators who arrived at Liang City saw that the city was safe, so they went out to slay ghosts."
"Seeking death," Lin Ji said instinctively.
"Indeed!" Pingxin Taoist nodded quickly, "The ghosts may not attack the city, but that doesn't mean they won't harm people. When cultivators go out, aren't they just sending themselves as food to them?"
"Just as I witnessed, two cultivators at the Fourth Realm died at the hands of the Ghost General. As for those at lower realms, the deaths are too numerous to count."
"So powerful?" Lin Ji was surprised, "Even the Ghost General level took action?"
The strength of a Ghost General is usually between the Third and Fourth Realms, while a Ghost Marshal is between the Fifth and Sixth Realms.
Even stronger Ghost Marshals can directly confront the cultivator Lin Ji had encountered before.
Even under the Ghost King, there are not many Ghost Marshals.
"I estimate that if the Ghost King doesn't give orders, those Ghost Marshals will be itching to make a move." Here, Pingxin Taoist suddenly lowered his voice and said, "The Ghost King in Liang City can no longer control his fierce ghosts. In just these few days, many fierce ghosts have scattered and no longer obey the Ghost King's orders."
"There are fierce ghosts wreaking havoc in the city at all times, and the people dare not go out. We cultivators who lend a hand are even more breathless."
Pingxin Taoist looked helpless and continued, "There is Master Zhang Chengfeng guarding the city, so there is no problem. Others may not know, but I can't stand the constant vigilance and torture, so I escaped."
"Lin Catcher, you must also be careful in this matter. I heard that Lianghe County and Yunyang County have been ravaged by fierce ghosts, causing the deaths of many people."
"I know about this. Last night, I just dealt with a few fierce ghosts that escaped from Liang City." Lin Ji nodded, then wondered, "But Lianghe County and Yunyang County are farther from Liang City than Qingyang County, so why are there only a few fierce ghosts in Qingyang County?"
"I know about this." Pingxin Taoist smiled, "It's because Master Xianchizhang of Daliang Temple is guarding the direction from Liang City to Qingyang County, impregnable. It's very impressive! I was able to leave Liang City because of this."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji remained expressionless, but sighed inwardly.
Master Xianchizhang doesn't care about anything else, but only guards this side of Qingyang County, which made it hard for him not to connect it with himself.
"Why does he want to find me for something, not say anything, but everywhere he looks out for me?" Lin Ji frowned.
Just then, Lin Ji's gaze inadvertently swept across the first floor of the restaurant and noticed two warriors standing at the entrance.
The two had clear features, clean faces, each carrying a long sword behind them, exuding a heroic and chivalrous aura.
They were just a bit too young.
The Taoist noticed Lin Ji's gaze and followed it, then chuckled.
"Two little girls."
"Yes, disguised as men." Lin Ji glanced at them a few more times before retracting his gaze.
(End of this chapter)