Chapter 5

"Monster? Village Chief, what monster are you talking about? A gentleman does not speak of strange and supernatural things; there are no such things as monsters in this world. Village Chief, don't joke about it!" Ning Wuxie looked at the Village Chief very seriously and said solemnly.

Seeing Ning Wuxie return to normal, the Village Chief no longer had any reservations and said, "Wuxie, that's not right. You didn't see it last night; there was a monster as big as this..."

"Village Chief, there are indeed no such things as monsters in this world. Last night, it was probably a mistake by the villagers."

The Daoist gave the Village Chief a cold look, interrupting him, and then looked at Ning Wuxie, saying, "Since you are a scholar, you should focus on your studies. I see that your home is very poor, with few books. Now that you are seriously injured, I have some medical skills. Since your injury was caused by me, it is my responsibility to treat you. Why don't you move to my White Cloud Temple?"

Before Ning Wuxie could speak, the Village Chief looked delighted, as if he himself were going to the White Cloud Temple, and quickly said, "That's great, that's great! Daoist, you are truly compassionate. Wuxie, hurry and thank the Daoist!"

Ning Wuxie hesitated for a moment, looked at the Daoist, and said, "Daoist, your kindness is something I will never forget. However, I have an elderly mother and a mentally challenged brother at home. If I go to the White Cloud Temple, no one will take care of them, and I will be very worried."

"Go, Wuxie. Your mother and the old man can take care of them. With your injuries, even if you stay at home, you won't be of much use. If you go to the White Cloud Temple, you can recover and study. The county examination is approaching, and you are the village's hope. Don't let trivial matters disturb your mind."

The Village Chief took the initiative, wanting Ning Wuxie to go to the White Cloud Temple, partly out of self-interest. Now that Ning Wuxie seemed normal, if something strange happened again at night, the villagers wouldn't be able to handle it. It would be better for Ning Wuxie to go to the White Cloud Temple, where the powerful Daoist could keep him in check. If Ning Wuxie were possessed by a monster again, it wouldn't affect the village.

The Village Chief's thoughts couldn't be hidden from the Daoist, but this suited the Daoist's plans. He wanted Ning Wuxie to come back to the White Cloud Temple to observe him further. If Ning Wuxie were truly a monster, he would eventually reveal himself. At the temple, Ning Wuxie wouldn't be able to escape the Daoist's control.

Seeing this, Ning Wuxie knew that going to the White Cloud Temple was inevitable. This was the only way to resolve the misunderstanding between the Village Chief and the Daoist.

Thinking about it, it was ironic that a decent person like him was mistaken for a monster.

How could a scholar be a monster?

Ning Wuxie smiled bitterly. Throughout history, there have been stories of monsters and ghosts. He wasn't an atheist or a theist. In his view, these things were too distant. But now, with something as extraordinary as reincarnation happening, what else couldn't happen?

The White Cloud Temple was about twenty miles from Ning Wuxie's village. After Ning Wuxie agreed to go to the White Cloud Temple, the Daoist set off with two young Daoist disciples and Ning Wuxie.

Ning Wuxie originally wanted to go home first, but the Daoist disagreed, and the Village Chief was eager for Ning Wuxie to leave. Thinking that going home now would only cause gossip among the villagers, he gave up.

Along the way, there were countless dense forests, with bird songs and the sound of the wind intertwining, reminding Ning Wuxie that this was no longer his original world but another time and space.

After noon, the sky darkened, and dark clouds gathered. Soon, snowflakes began to fall, like white feathers drifting down.

Ning Wuxie was wearing only a blood-stained white robe with many tears, caused by being whipped with thorny branches. The wounds had already scabbed over, leaving ugly scars. The cold wind blew through the holes in his robe.

It was still January, and the snow made the air even colder. The cold wind blew through his robe, making him shiver as the snowflakes froze him.

After walking less than five miles, Ning Wuxie's eyebrows were covered in snow, and he shivered, sitting down on the ground. He hugged his shoulders, rubbing them and exhaling warm breath.

"Cold, too cold..."

Enviously looking at the Daoist and the two handsome young disciples, Ning Wuxie's teeth chattered, and he asked, "Aren't you cold?"

In the cold snow, the Daoist and the disciples, dressed only in Daoist robes, were still rosy-cheeked, as if nothing was wrong. Their physical condition made Ning Wuxie feel inferior.

"Master, I don't think this scholar is a monster. The snow is getting heavier, and with his condition, it will be difficult for him to reach the temple. Why don't we help him a bit?" One of the disciples looked at Ning Wuxie with a sympathetic expression and asked the Daoist.

The Daoist pondered for a moment and nodded. "Mm!"

In Ning Wuxie's puzzled gaze, the disciple took out a yellow talisman from his chest, recited a spell, and stuck it on Ning Wuxie's chest.

"How do you feel now?" The disciple smiled at Ning Wuxie and asked.

A talisman to keep warm? If this had happened before, Ning Wuxie would have thought he was crazy.

But now, the warmth from the talisman made him realize it was true. He no longer felt cold. The warmth from the talisman made him feel as if he were by a fireplace. His frozen body gradually warmed up, and his pale face turned rosy. The effect was astonishing.

"God, gods..." Ning Wuxie's eyes widened, thinking of the gods in strange stories who could fly and do anything. Could these people be gods?

The handsome disciple, feeling Ning Wuxie's gaze, scratched his head shyly and said, "It's just a minor Daoist technique. How can we be called gods? Master is the one with great power and boundless Daoist skills!"

Looking at the Daoist, Ning Wuxie swallowed and stared at him with longing.

"You and I have no karmic connection; you are not suitable for Daoist cultivation. Give up on that idea," the Daoist shook his head.

Ning Wuxie looked at the Daoist in surprise. Who said he wanted to cultivate with you?

"Um, no, I just wanted to ask if the Daoist could create some food. I'm hungry and have no strength to walk."

As soon as he said this, his stomach growled, and he looked at the Daoist sheepishly.

"You don't want to cultivate with me?" The Daoist looked incredulous. He had never met a mortal who didn't want to cultivate.

Ning Wuxie bowed respectfully and said, "Daoist, you have great power. What virtue do I have to be your disciple? I have no karmic connection with you. What can I do?"

"..." The Daoist was speechless, feeling he had misunderstood.

"Daoist, can you create some food?"

Ning Wuxie spoke timidly, his eyes full of hope.

"The White Cloud Temple has already prepared food. The snow is getting heavier; let's go back first."

The Daoist muttered to himself and walked quickly ahead. The two disciples looked at each other, and Ning Wuxie smiled.