Moreover, among these seven or eight Wuqing Temple disciples, two had quite high seniority.
As the foremost Daoist temple beyond the pass, first in strength and first in scale, Wuqing Temple was extremely professional.
They embroidered cloud patterns with silver thread on the cuffs and collars of their robes according to disciples' seniority.
It was somewhat like military rank insignia.
Like the team of Wuqing Temple disciples he'd seen in Ningyuan Town, the leading senior brother Huang Guanmin had one cloud pattern on his cuffs and collar.
And that somewhat noisy, sharp-tongued junior sister also had one cloud pattern.
One cloud pattern indicated current generation disciples of Wuqing Temple.
Those with two cloud patterns, if they were excellent in ability and character, could open their doors to accept disciples!
Further up were three patterns, four patterns, with the highest being six golden cloud patterns.
Wuqing Temple's seniority system wasn't just based on their internal divisions, but on the seniority of all cultivators beyond the pass.
Speaking of which, according to this seniority division, Lu Yuan counted as four cloud patterns.
That's right, Lu Yuan's seniority was very high.
Mainly because the old man at home had high seniority. As the old man's direct disciple, Lu Yuan's seniority was naturally extremely high. However, it wasn't particularly useful. Since people outside weren't from the same temple, not many recognized this.
It was only at some Daoist grand ceremonies and conferences that seniority was arranged by rank.
At this moment, among the group of Wuqing Temple disciples behind Chen Fushun, two had two cloud patterns.
If that previous Wuqing Temple senior brother Huang Guanmin came here, he would have to call these two-cloud-pattern disciples "martial uncle."
Although the cloud patterns didn't directly represent strength, in the vast majority of cases, those with higher seniority were stronger than those with lower seniority.
For this group of people to appear here...
Hmm...
After what happened last time, Lu Yuan felt a bit apprehensive.
So he didn't even ask why this group was here, only bowing slightly with cupped hands, "Daoist Masters, may you be merciful."
These several Wuqing Temple Daoists immediately returned the courtesy but their eyes were full of scrutiny.
Examining Lu Yuan from head to toe.
Not the disdainful look Huang Guanmin had before, but rather a...
"So you're the kid called Lu Yuan!"
It was basically that kind of feeling.
This left Lu Yuan somewhat baffled, but he didn't ask these Wuqing Temple Daoists. Instead, he turned to look at Chen Fushun and said directly, "Village Chief, how come these Daoist Masters from Wuqing Temple..."
Lu Yuan's words were only halfway out when Chen Fushun urgently waved his hand to interrupt.
Chen Fushun leaned in closer, lowered his voice, and his tone was full of eager attempts to distance himself.
"They came on their own, we didn't invite them!"
"They said they just came out of Taiyin Mountain, passing by, and insisted on staying to take a look... I've tried to send them away several times, but they won't leave."
The Wuqing Temple Daoists: "..."
Why don't you lower your voice a bit more?
We heard everything!!
Chen Fushun's words inside and out were just afraid Lu Yuan would misunderstand.
After all, there were rules in the trade. When employers hired people for jobs, they most feared two tigers on one mountain.
As for why, last time in Ningyuan Town was a perfect example.
You look down on my techniques, and I look down on yours.
Two different techniques, different formations, different methods of subduing demons and eliminating evil, performing rituals simultaneously could easily clash!
In the end, the employer still suffered!
Chen Fushun was afraid Lu Yuan would misunderstand and leave in a huff but these words falling on the ears of the Wuqing Temple group were no different from a loud slap in the face.
The Wuqing Temple group really couldn't take it.
Damn it!!
Are we Wuqing Temple some kind of plague?!
Some kind of disaster?!
The way Chen Fushun said it made them sound like stray dogs that couldn't be driven away!!
What's this supposed to mean!!
Are we Wuqing Temple forcing ourselves on you?!
Are we being cheap?!
For a moment, the Wuqing Temple people really wanted to slap Chen Fushun hard.
These past two days had really suffocated the Wuqing Temple people to death.
Truly suffocated to death!
What kind of place was Wuqing Temple?
The foremost and premier Daoist temple beyond the pass!
For ordinary families to get Wuqing Temple to come down the mountain to help, if not begging their ancestors, they'd at least have to queue outside the mountain gate for a full day!
And even then, if they didn't pay extra incense money, those who came down would mostly be one-cloud-pattern current generation disciples.
They had been passing by, discovered evil spirits, and out of compassion wanted to offer free assistance. And the result?
The result...
Guess what happened??
These people didn't want them to help!!
They weren't interested!!
Although they didn't dare directly drive them away openly, the hints in every word and phrase, and every time that troubled expression like they couldn't take a shit, all told them...
Leave quickly!
We don't need you here!
Honestly, this really made these Wuqing Temple Daoist Masters smoke with anger!
When had Wuqing Temple disciples ever received this kind of treatment beyond the pass??
If it weren't for the young miss being kindhearted and insisting on waiting until the matter was resolved, they would have left with a flick of their sleeves long ago!
During this time, after everyone privately inquired around, they finally understood why the village chief and villagers didn't want them.
Instead, they were waiting for some "White-Robed Young Daoist" Lu Yuan from True Dragon Temple.
True Dragon Temple?
Never heard of it.
Lu Yuan?
Even more unknown.
At first everyone thought he was some unworldly master, but... now actually seeing this person called Lu Yuan, just you are Lu Yuan!!
A half-grown kid!!
Several Wuqing Temple disciples exchanged glances, their scrutinizing eyes almost stripping Lu Yuan bare from inside out.
"It's cold outside, let's go inside first, we'll talk inside."
After Chen Fushun finished speaking, he had people unload the boxes from the backs of Lu Yuan's group then Chen Fushun led Lu Yuan toward his own home, not even acknowledging the Wuqing Temple group, treating them completely like air.
This made the Wuqing Temple group's teeth itch with anger.
"Whose household was it?"
Lu Yuan followed behind, looking at the white banners fluttering in the village, his voice somewhat heavy.
Chen Fushun walking ahead paused in his steps and let out a long sigh.
"Li Laifu, and Chen Mancang's little grandson..."
Lu Yuan's heart sank heavily.
Li Laifu, that man in his fifties who smiled foolishly at everyone he met, a simple farmer.
Chen Mancang's little grandson... only six years old. Last time he came, the boy had grabbed his robe asking for candy.
Damn evil spirits...
Soon, the group quickly arrived at the village chief's doorstep.
Just as they were about to step inside, a clear, cold voice like an icy spring rang out from behind, "Why are you all still here? Didn't I tell you to go check the evil-warding talismans in the village?"
Hmm?
As this clear, pleasant yet cold voice sounded from behind, Lu Yuan looked back following the sound.
He saw not far away, a woman standing quietly.
She was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, wearing Wuqing Temple's plain white robe.
Her posture was upright as a pine, her face exquisitely beautiful, and her temperament even more coldly transcendent, like the Moon Palace fairy who didn't partake of mortal food.
This woman wore Wuqing Temple's robe, with bright and clear three cloud patterns on her cuffs and collar.
This woman??
Lu Yuan had seen her before!!
The daughter of Wuqing Temple's temple master, the Grand Celestial Master Shen Jizhou's only daughter!
A true daughter of a wealthy family in the literal sense!
The dream lover of all male Daoists, an unattainable flower on a high peak!
Publicly recognized by all men as "the most beautiful female Celestial Master beyond the pass" but absolutely not a vase. A super genius who became a Celestial Master at twenty-five!
Shen Shulan!