An Encounter On the Way Home

"Young master, you're too generous. Besides, it's already late. Otherwise, Baiyun Temple would have invited you for a meal even if you only offered two kan."

On the way down the mountain, Uncle Li nagged.

Even his previous master was not so generous.

Lu Zheng rubbed his chin and ignored Uncle Li. He was deep in thought.

Drive evil spirits away.

These were Master Mingzhang's exact words, which was the function of this amulet.

He just learnt a bit more about this world.

...

They went down the mountain, got into the cart, and headed back.

"Uncle Li, do you think there are really ghosts in this world?"

"Yes, why not?" Uncle Li said, "last year, there was some trouble with ghosts in a family in the county. Then, a wandering Taoist priest took action and contained the ghost."

Lu Zheng was speechless.

Was he so ignorant?

Lu Zheng was speechless. If it was a common topic, people would casually mention it.

Moreover, as an ordinary person, he would subconsciously avoid these topics that were beyond his understanding, which would make him feel more secure.

"Don't worry. After all, the great Jing dynasty is still in charge of the world. Every state and county has a City God. Most people may never see a spirit." Uncle Li consoled Lu Zheng.

There was a City God?

Uncle Li, how much more common knowledge have you not told me?

Lu Zheng sighed. Most people would never experience anything abnormal in their lives. 

On the surface, it was calm, but undercurrents were surging.

The two worlds were similar, but they were expressed in different ways.

Forget it, I'll slowly explore it myself.

...

"Go!" The coachman rode the donkey cart along the bumpy mountain road and quickly turned into the main road.

Lu Zheng shifted his butt and felt a little better.

Through the window, he could see that the sky was already orange. The sun had become red and huge, and was slowly setting from the west.

"Zhang, let's go faster, or we won't be able to make it back to the county before the sun sets. We don't want to walk at night." Uncle Li saw Lu Zheng's frown and urged him.

"Please forgive me, young master. My donkey is old, and this is already the fastest it can go," The coachman, Zhang, hurriedly said, "but don't worry, this beast has great endurance. It will definitely be able to return to the county before dark."

Lu Zheng nodded. They had already turned onto the main road. Even if they could not reach the city at night, they were only one mile away. It was not far.

Seeing Lu Zheng nod his head, Uncle Li stopped pestering him.

The few of them quieted down, leaving only the squeaking of the carriage and the stomping of the donkey on the main road.

Lu Zheng was admiring the scenery of the setting sun when he suddenly saw a figure walking alone on the road ahead.

As the donkey cart approached, Lu Zheng could see the figure even more clearly.

It looked like a woman. She was carrying a blue cloth bag, wearing a green dress, and her hair was tied up in a bun with a brass hairpin.

Her figure was slender and lithe, and she swayed with each step. From time to time, she would raise her hand to wipe her sweat or lift the bag on her back. No one knew how long she had been walking, but it looked like she was walking with great difficulty.

Zhang subconsciously turned to look at Lu Zheng.

However, Lu Zheng was expressionless. "We're only a few miles away from the county. Besides, we are on the main road. There's no danger."

He was implying that they shouldn't stop to help.

Zhang's eyes darkened as he mumbled something. He didn't know what to say, but he just turned his head and continued riding without a word.

Uncle Li gave Lu Zheng a strange look as well. He wondered why the usually easygoing Lu Zheng didn't show any mercy to women this time.

Tap... Tap...

The donkey cart passed by the woman.

Zhang and Uncle Li couldn't help but look at the woman. Lu Zheng also glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.

She looked to be no more than 17 or 18 years old. She had a slim figure, almond-shaped eyes, peach-shaped cheeks, and messy sideburns. Panting, her lips were tightly pursed, and her face was ruddy with a touch of paleness. There was a unique sense of determination in her face.

What a lovely girl from a humble family.

However, the two had already crossed each other. Although the donkey cart was swaying, it was much faster than walking.

"Young master?" Uncle Li asked Lu Zheng again.

Lu Zheng relaxed his hand and looked at the protective amulet in his hand.

There was no reaction.

Could it be that I'm overthinking things?

Lu Zheng nodded. Just as he was about to relent, a sweet voice that sounded like an Oriole came from behind the carriage."The noble in the carriage ahead, could you be kind and give me a lift?"

Seeing Lu Zheng nod his head, Uncle Li was about to call out to Zhang when he heard the woman's voice. Zhang had already pulled on the reins and was ready to stop the cart.

At this moment, Lu Zheng's cold voice suddenly rang out. "Go straight and don't stop!"

"Eh?"

Uncle Li was stunned. Zhang had already subconsciously waved the whip in his hand.

"Go!"

Tap...Tap ...

The donkey trotted and even sped up a few steps. Then, it went further and further away, leaving the woman far behind.

Seeing that the donkey cart didn't stop, the woman didn't shout anymore. She just wiped her sweat, picked up her bag, and continued on her way.

"Young master?"

Lu Zheng's expression stiffened. His heart was pounding wildly, and he felt a chill run up his spine.

At this moment, one side of the protective amulet in his hand had already turned yellow, as if it had been struck by fire.

...

It happened when the woman was talking!

Lu Zheng was just about to agree when the lady shouted.

The moment she spoke, the protective amulet in Lu Zheng's hand began to emit a wave of heat. It was like a hand warmer.

Then, one side of began to turn yellow.

At the same time, Lu Zheng felt a chill. He could even smell a faint stench.

It was only after Lu Zheng gave the order and the donkey cart was far away that the heat from the talisman paper dissipated and the charred yellow stopped spreading.

...

Lu Zheng didn't respond to Uncle Li's question. He only showed the paper amulet in his hand to Uncle Li.

Uncle Li's eyes widened and he could not help but gasp.

He looked at Lu Zheng and wondered what kind of person the young master was. He had never encountered such strange things in his life, so why did he encounter them so many times since he stayed with the young master?

It was exciting to meet an extraordinary man and an evil spirit.

...

Resisting the urge to look back, the donkey cart really did make its way into the county at night.

Zhang sent the two of them to the door, and then under the moonlight and the lights of the shops that were still open, he rode the donkey cart away.

Lu Zheng and Uncle Li ate the dinner that Aunt Liu had left for them. Then, Lu Zheng told Uncle Li and the others to rest while he returned to his bedroom alone.

Lu Zheng glanced at his four-piece silk suit and velvet quilt and shook his head. He then placed the protective amulet under his pillow and instantly traveled back to the modern world.