Shen Shulan truly wanted to invite Lu Yuan back to Wuqing Temple, but his single phrase "I have urgent matters" blocked all words of persuasion.
All that remained in her heart was deep regret.
Before Shen Shulan could speak again, Lu Yuan looked at the large and small bundles behind their group.
"You're preparing to leave already?"
"Won't you stay for a meal?"
This question made Shen Shulan somewhat embarrassed. She shook her head.
"No, we're also pressed for time."
She paused, her voice lowering a few notches.
"Besides, the villagers... probably won't ask us to stay either."
As soon as the words fell, Village Chief Chen Fushun led a group of villagers, carrying tables, chairs, and benches in a grand procession.
In a large iron pot was steaming hot pork stewed with vermicelli noodles and that little spotted pig that had been released ultimately still hadn't been able to escape Qingniu Village.
How to put this matter... when performing the ritual, Lu Yuan had indeed released the little spotted pig.
However!
If it was caught again afterward, you couldn't blame anyone else~
Then, two more pots of dishes were brought up.
One pot of rooster stewed with hazel mushrooms.
One pot of braised grass carp.
Well then, nothing was wasted. Even the fish was caught back and the scene was exactly as Shen Shulan had predicted.
Chen Fushun only prepared bowls and chopsticks for Lu Yuan's trio, treating their Wuqing Temple group as if they were invisible.
The Wuqing Temple Daoists' faces couldn't quite hold their composure, but no one got angry.
After all, this entire job from start to finish had been handled by Lu Yuan alone. They truly hadn't contributed much.
The employer not offering a meal was perfectly normal.
Shen Shulan was just about to tell Lu Yuan to eat first, that they would take their leave. However, Lu Yuan frowned at Chen Fushun who had come before him, "This job, the Daoist Masters from Wuqing Temple also put in great effort. One Yang-Gathering Pill costs several dozen coins."
"Several dozen coins for a Yang-Gathering Pill, and they can't even eat a few bites of meat in our village!"
"Hurry up and add a few more pairs of chopsticks."
After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Chen Fushun looked embarrassed, "Aiya, how could we..."
He quickly laughed it off.
"Just now seeing the Daoist Masters busy packing things, I thought you were in a hurry to leave, so I didn't dare ask you to stay."
"We'll add them right away, right away!"
Having said this, Chen Fushun personally led people, jogging to get bowls and chopsticks.
At this moment, Lu Yuan looked at the somewhat dazed Shen Shulan's group, "Sit down and eat something hot before leaving."
"Otherwise, when it gets to mid-afternoon and you're hungry, there'll be nowhere to eat."
Soon, Chen Fushun's group returned carrying bowls and chopsticks.
While apologizing to Shen Shulan's group, they invited them to sit down.
Shen Shulan's group weren't fools, everyone understood that Chen Fushun initially had no intention of keeping them at all.
This was because of Lu Yuan.
Shen Shulan's group felt grateful in their hearts that Lu Yuan had spoken up for them.
It wasn't about coveting this meal, but they truly felt uncomfortable, after all they had initially genuinely wanted to help, hadn't they?
"Alright, sit down and eat quickly. It's cold outside, everything will get cold soon."
Lu Yuan said while inviting everyone to sit down.
After a whole night of work, their bellies were already empty.
Shen Shulan's group exchanged glances. Finally, they all solemnly and silently cupped their hands toward Lu Yuan before sitting down.
With Lu Yuan's statement that they had "put in great effort," the villagers' attitude toward Wuqing Temple did a complete one-eighty.
They stood to the side helping to add rice and pour water.
After finishing the meal, it was already past nine in the morning.
The time to part had come.
"Martial Uncle Lu, we bid you farewell."
Shen Shulan gave Lu Yuan a deep bow.
Lu Yuan nodded and behind Shen Shulan, all the Wuqing Temple Daoists also bowed in unison.
They performed a grand salute to this "Martial Uncle" who was even younger than them.
After seeing off the Wuqing Temple group, Lu Yuan turned around to look at Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an who were packing things.
"You two, come here."
Hearing this, the two immediately put down what they were doing and ran over.
Lu Yuan took out his money pouch and methodically counted the money.
"In a bit, you two go back to the temple first. I still have some matters, so I won't be returning for now."
Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an exchanged glances. Looking at the sky, they were still somewhat worried.
"Brother Lu..."
Lu Yuan didn't let them finish. He directly divided the counted money into three stacks, handing one stack each to the two.
"It's fine. Today's the last day. After I'm done basking in the sun, I'll be fine."
"Take this money. This is our earnings from this trip."
The two took the money and their hands trembled. They hurriedly tried to stuff the money back into Lu Yuan's chest.
"No, no, Brother Lu, this is too much!"
According to all Daoist temple rules, money earned from jobs was split half to the temple, half distributed among the Daoists who worked but this distribution wasn't equal shares.
For a group like Lu Yuan's trio, Lu Yuan would definitely take the lion's share.
For example, if fifty coins remained, Lu Yuan would take forty, and Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an would each get five.
After all, Lu Yuan did most of the work.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an just assisted. Naturally they got less.
No one had any objections to this kind of distribution.
For Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an, their biggest purpose in going out with Lu Yuan was to cultivate and learn, not to earn money.
Later when these two had sufficient cultivation and could lead teams themselves, they could also take the lion's share.
This trip, Donglin Village didn't charge money. The employer in Ningyuan Town gave a total of one hundred ten coins.
Soon Qingniu Village could give another fifty or sixty coins or so.
Lu Yuan gave Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an thirty coins each.
This was a huge sum. Normally, these two would only get seven or eight coins each per trip.
"Alright, stop fussing with me."
Lu Yuan forcefully stuffed the money back into their hands, brooking no refusal.
"New Year's coming soon. After you get back to the temple, pack up and go home."
"Before going home, buy a few more catties of meat and get some proper New Year goods for your families."
He tucked the money away properly, then raised an eyebrow and added another line.
"Keep three or five coins for pocket money yourselves. Give the rest to your parents, don't you dare pocket it!"
"I'm going to ask at your homes later. If you dare pocket the money and not give it to your families, just watch how I'll deal with you two!"
Hearing Lu Yuan say he'd visit their homes, the two half-grown boys immediately forgot about the money and excitedly shouted, "When will Brother Lu come!"
"I'll have my Ma make you flatbread rolls with meat!"
Regarding this, Lu Yuan just smiled, "The date's not certain, but I'll definitely come!"
Soon, Chen Fushun's group came with the money.
Sixty coins total. Lu Yuan wasn't polite and directly accepted it all.
Don't think Daoists earned little per trip. The three of them earned one hundred seventy coins this trip.
This was nearly a year's earnings for two small workers in Fengtian City but actually, they also spent a lot. Various talismans and magical implements used all cost a lot of money.
Money received, the three of Lu Yuan parted ways at the village entrance under the villagers' watchful eyes.
Lu Yuan returned to Ningyuan Town. Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an returned to True Dragon Temple.
Lu Yuan walked several hundred meters along the main road when a clear, cold voice appeared in his mind.
[Subdue Demons and Eliminate Evil reward settlement complete: Transcending "Grave Youth," cultivation slightly increased]
The next instant, a vast and pure power arose from nothing, surging into his limbs and bones like a bursting river.
Lu Yuan's steps paused. He closed his eyes, carefully feeling the surging spiritual power within his body.
He could feel that invisible barrier had become as thin as a cicada's wing.
Just a little more.
Just a little more, and he could pierce through that layer of paper and truly enter the Celestial Master realm!
...
The next day at ten in the morning, having hitched a ride on a passing horse cart midway, Lu Yuan returned to Ningyuan Town.
He didn't go directly up the mountain.
First, the timing wasn't right. The yang qi at noon was too strong.
Second, digging up someone's grave required informing the people of Ningyuan Town.
After all, he would be going to dig at Ningyuan Town's ancestral burial ground.
If he didn't explain clearly and someone saw him at night and reported him to officials to arrest Lu Yuan, that would be a joke.
Additionally, when going up the mountain to dig the grave, he'd need to borrow some hoes and shovels. He couldn't very well dig with his bare hands.
Arriving at the Xu family's gate, the Xu family members saw him like seeing a living immortal, warmly welcoming him inside.
Lu Yuan didn't beat around the bush. He got straight to the point, inquiring about Gu Qingwan's family situation.
"Gone, long gone."
Old Master Xu sighed, shaking his head repeatedly.
Lu Yuan nodded, then asked again, "What about the former clan leader's household in town? Are they still around?"
He was afraid when opening the coffin, the other party would come out to obstruct.
After all, this matter had an unclear relationship with that household.
Who knew Old Master Xu would directly spit.
"Ptui! That family lacking in virtue moved away long ago!!"
"Daoist Master, go ahead and dig without worry! I'll inform the town in a bit so no one goes up the mountain today!"
Saying this, Old Master Xu lowered his voice and leaned over, his eyes full of awe and curiosity.
"Daoist Master, that grave... does it have some big problem?"
Lu Yuan's expression didn't change. He just smiled calmly.
"Nothing much. After hearing about it last time, I couldn't stop feeling uneasy."
"With heavy snow about to seal the mountain and nothing much to do at the temple, I'm idle anyway. I came to take a look and help transcend if I can."
After hearing this, Old Master Xu looked at Lu Yuan and couldn't help but sigh, "Daoist Master is truly compassionate..."
"..."
...
Past three in the afternoon, the sun slanting west.
Lu Yuan shouldered a hoe borrowed from the Xu family and walked alone up the back mountain.
He stood before that lone grave mound, looking at the three characters "Gu Qingwan" on the tombstone.
Prepare, open the coffin!