Chapter 164: Hiding Land

The sky was gradually darkening, making it impractical for Huang Xingye and his group to descend the mountain.

Daoist Qing Song returned to the kitchen, using ingredients purchased by Qi Wen and some items Huang Xingye had brought to prepare a dinner sufficient for everyone.

Perhaps it was because he had found Daoist Qing Song, but Huang Xingye felt an unprecedented sense of security at Yunshan Temple, especially after unburdening himself that afternoon. His mood had significantly improved. Huang Xingye, who had barely eaten in days, ate a generous meal that evening and even enjoyed a few cups of wine.

As for accommodation, it was easily resolved. Ji Yuan offered his room, which, with straw mats, was large enough for six people to sleep comfortably. Huang Xingye was not one to fuss about a master not sharing quarters with servants. Ji Yuan, naturally, went to share a room with the two Daoists.

Once everyone was asleep, and Qi Wen’s even breathing filled the room, Daoist Qing Song, the most anxious among them, finally couldn't hold back and quietly asked Ji Yuan, "Mr. Ji, I know you're not asleep. You must have thought of a solution to help Huang Xingye, haven't you?"

Ji Yuan was indeed awake and knew Daoist Qing Song wouldn't be able to sleep. Hearing Qi Xuan's slightly anxious question, he jested, "Of course I have a solution. The solution is for Daoist Qing Song to go down the mountain with Huang Xingye. If any unforeseen circumstances arise, he can help him slay demons and vanquish evil."

Daoist Qing Song's heart trembled. "Oh, Mr. Ji, you know my capabilities. Fortune-telling, yes, but slaying demons and vanquishing evil? I haven't even seen a ghost! Isn't that a bit too difficult? My lifespan was just restored; what if this venture costs me my life?"

Ji Yuan stopped teasing him. He had his own plans for Qing Song's agreement. "Hehehe... Daoist Qing Song will certainly descend the mountain with Huang Xingye, but it may not necessarily be the real Daoist Qing Song."

Having spoken cryptically, Ji Yuan's magic subtly flowed, and his body began to undergo a transformation. His nose became slightly wider and flatter, the corners of his eyebrows elongated and their angle shifted, wrinkles appeared on his forehead, crow's feet around his eyes, and even the skin tone, muscles, and moles on his face changed. Within two breaths, two identical faces of Daoist Qing Song were looking at each other.

That night, the stars were brilliant and the moon hung high. With starlight filtering through the window, after one's eyes adjusted, there was still a decent level of visibility. At this moment, Daoist Qing Song's eyes were wide, and he held his breath, unable to speak.

Ji Yuan hadn't truly mastered shapeshifting yet; in fact, the shapeshifting described in the old dragon's jade slip was quite "anti-human." Ji Yuan needed to study it thoroughly and find a way to modify it before he could learn it. Essentially, this transformation couldn't compare to Sun Wukong's Seventy-two Transformations, having more of the essence of a "blinding spell." Currently, borrowing a bit from it was feasible. Since Ji Yuan and Daoist Qing Song were of similar build, he could use his masterful blinding spell to achieve a "face-changing" effect.

His innate magical properties were quite extraordinary; when not frequently invoked, there was almost no fluctuation. Coupled with a touch of "transformation" technique borrowed from the jade slip, this "face-changing" became extremely difficult to discern. Afterward, he would simply put on Daoist Qing Song's robes and change his hairstyle. At that point, probably only Qi Wen, who spent day and night with Daoist Qing Song, would notice anything amiss. Others, including Huang Xingye, outsiders, and even ordinary ghosts and deities, likely wouldn't. Strictly speaking, this transformation was a combination of magic and mundane disguise, but with very faint traces of both.

The next morning, Qi Wen's initial stunned expression was notable, but in any case, it was the two Daoist Qis of the temple who saw off the guests down the mountain. Finally, "Daoist Qing Song" departed the mountain with Huang Xingye and his group. As for Mr. Ji, he was reportedly suffering from a cold and hadn't gotten out of bed.

At Yunshan Temple, the real Daoist Qing Song hid in his room, waiting for everyone to descend the mountain. It was quite some time before Qi Wen finally returned. "Master, I'm back!" Qi Wen excitedly rushed back and entered the room, where he saw Qi Xuan (the real Qing Song) breathing a sigh of relief and drinking tea. "Master, how come Mr. Ji's face looks just like yours? Is that a master's disguise technique? Can you teach me too?"

Daoist Qing Song gently tapped Qi Wen on the head. "What disguise technique? That's immortal magic! How many times have I told you, Mr. Ji is an immortal!"

Qi Wen subconsciously rubbed his forehead and mumbled, "But Mr. Ji himself said he isn't..."

Beyond the Yunshan range, the road suddenly became much easier to traverse, or rather, there was a smooth path underfoot. Huang Xingye's group had carriages waiting in Yunkou Village. They couldn't use them to go up the mountain yesterday, but today, returning, they naturally wouldn't need to walk. There were two carriages in total: one covered and one a flatbed. They did not return to Dongle County town but went directly to Maoshan Town.

Inside the carriage, Huang Xingye began to feel nervous again. "Daoist Qing Song, would it be more appropriate for us to visit the City God Temple first?"

"No need. Since you've already made offerings to the City God, the City God of Dongle County must already be aware. Perhaps he has already dispatched spirits to inspect the Earth God Temple in Maoshan Town." As Ji Yuan spoke, his gaze remained fixed outside through the carriage curtain, though he observed nothing out of the ordinary.

"But Daoist Qing Song, wouldn't we be safer if we stayed in the county town? My wife's family is in the city, and our children are staying with her there temporarily..."

"Master Huang has done well, but you can't hide forever. This matter needs to be faced. Even spirits have moments of laxity, much less ordinary people. Staying in Dongle County won't guarantee safety; it's better to resolve the matter completely."

"Aye, aye, Daoist, you are right!"

After these exchanges, Ji Yuan simply closed his eyes and rested, feigning disinterest in further conversation. Huang Xingye, despite his nervousness, had no choice but to speak in hushed tones with Li Mian beside him.

Around noon, the carriage arrived just outside Maoshan Town. The coachman reminded the occupants, "Master, we're almost home." Before Huang Xingye could reply, he saw Daoist Qing Song, sitting opposite him, open his eyes. "Let's go. We'll visit the Earth God Temple first."

"Alright! Ah Fu, drive the carriage to the Earth God Temple!"

"Yes, Master!"

The servant responded, adjusting the carriage's direction. A while later, the carriage stopped outside the Earth God Temple. Ji Yuan, Huang Xingye, and the others disembarked in turn. The servant remained with the carriage, while only Li Mian, Huang Xingye, and "Daoist Qing Song" walked forward.

The Earth God Temple was located on the southern outskirts of Maoshan Town. At this hour, besides the artisans hired by the Huang family and an elder from the town overseeing the temple's construction, there were no other onlookers from the village. Ji Yuan stopped first, about a dozen paces from the temple, and whispered to Huang Xingye and Li Mian, "There are Day Patrollers in front of the temple. Do not speak unnecessary words."

"Day Patrollers?" Huang Xingye cautiously inquired.

"They are commonly known as Day-Roaming Deities. They were likely dispatched by the City God of Dongle County."

"Oh, oh, I understand, I understand!" Huang Xingye felt greatly reassured. Li Mian, on the other hand, was full of doubt, peering intently towards the temple but seeing nothing unusual.

The three approached the Earth God Temple together. The artisans and the elder overseeing the temple quickly greeted Huang Xingye, naturally drawing the attention of the two Day Patrollers, who both looked at Huang Xingye. "This is Huang Xingye."

"Indeed, he's the one who went to the City God Temple to make offerings and report the situation here."

"And who is this Daoist? He seems to be Daoist Qing Song from Yunshan Temple, the one who often sets up a stall in front of the temple."

As the two Day Patrollers conversed, they meticulously observed Huang Xingye beside them. Ji Yuan saw them but did not alert Huang Xingye, to avoid startling him. Observing the temple's statue closely, Ji Yuan noted many non-human characteristics. The incense offerings were very faint, and the lingering divine aura from the statue was weak, clearly indicating that the Earth God had not visited the temple recently. He then looked at the statue's detached arm, placed in a corner. The master artisan was filling soil to support it but hadn't reattached it to the statue. There was no trace of evil energy on it, making it seem as if it had been deliberately broken off.

*Could it just be human mischief?*

After a while, Ji Yuan and Huang Xingye's group returned to the Huang residence in town. The two Day Patrollers also followed them back. The Huang residence was certainly not as grand as the princely estates in the capital region, but it was undoubtedly a prominent and spacious mansion in Dongle County. Due to Daoist Qing Song's arrival, Huang Xingye prepared to entertain him with fine food and wine.

However, before lunch, Ji Yuan asked the Huang family servant to prepare two small wooden plaques. He then had some wine and dishes delivered to the guest quarters prepared by the Huang family, and then he entered the room alone, specifically instructing the Huang family members not to disturb him for the time being. Unable to do otherwise, Huang Xingye, along with Li Mian and the rest of the household, went to eat by themselves.

Inside the guest quarters, Ji Yuan took up his brush and wrote "Dongle County Day Patrol Right Envoy" and "Dongle County Day Patrol Left Envoy" on the two wooden plaques respectively. Then he lit three incense sticks and stuck them into a large bowl filled with raw rice grains. Not long after, the two Day-Roaming Deities were drawn to the room and, upon seeing the setup, understood the situation.

"Daoist Qing Song, so you can see us?" one of the Day Patrollers asked. Ji Yuan bowed to them. "There were too many mortals present earlier, and I am aware of the rules of the underworld, so I did not approach the two envoys. I hope you will forgive me."

The two Day Patrollers scrutinized the Daoist before speaking. "Hmm, we don't blame you. This table of wine and dishes is quite lavish."

"I was just about to invite the two of you to enjoy it together!"

"Hehe, excellent, excellent!" The two Day Patrollers also smiled. In small county City God Temples, Day Patrollers and Night Patrollers usually did not have physical forms, and it was rare for them to receive lavish daily offerings.

Ji Yuan conversed with the two Patrollers as they ate. Spirits consuming essence and his eating food were not in conflict; it simply meant that after they finished, some dishes would appear untouched. During their conversation, Ji Yuan learned that Day and Night Patrollers had been coming to Maoshan Town daily to investigate, but primarily to find the Earth God. It seemed the Earth God had hidden himself, and even those from the underworld could not find him.

"Such a thing exists?" Ji Yuan was surprised to hear this. The Earth God had hidden himself?

"Absolutely true. It is precisely because this matter is so strange that, although the underworld has found no traces of evil, they have continued to send people."

By this time, the food and wine had been consumed. Ji Yuan frowned in thought for a moment before addressing the two underworld officials. "Two Day Patrollers, this humble Daoist believes this matter is not simple. I hope you will now return and report to the City God that Huang Xingye has a special destiny, and a formidable evil entity seems to be plotting something against him. I request that the underworld send more personnel to investigate."

The two Day Patrollers exchanged glances. "We will return and report, awaiting the City God's decision."

"My thanks to both of you!"

Ji Yuan cupped his hands in farewell as the two Day Patrollers departed. After waiting for a while, his eyes flashed, and he lightly stamped his foot in the guest quarters. The floor rippled with arcs of light, like water. "I summon the Earth God of Maoshan Town to appear!" As long as you were an entity connected to the ley lines and serving as an Earth God, no matter how well you hid, you could not escape "divine summoning."

Inside the room, a swirl of green smoke rose from the ground, and a stooped "person" dressed in earthy yellow robes appeared before Ji Yuan. A face covered in yellow fur still possessed human features. Upon seeing Ji Yuan, the Earth God immediately bowed repeatedly. "The Earth God of Maoshan Town greets the Immortal, greets the Immortal! Immortal, you are a master of the Dao; it is good that you have come, it is good that you have come! You must mete out justice for this humble deity!"

The Earth God's appearance was strikingly similar to Huang Xingye's distressed state when he sought help yesterday, causing Ji Yuan to frown once again. "Earth God, please sit and speak. Why did you not appear when the underworld sought you?"

This Earth God seemed to know about the "divine summoning" technique and now felt greatly reassured, yet he insisted on standing. "To answer the Immortal, Huang Xingye has provoked something formidable, which even the Dongle County City God might not be able to suppress. I unknowingly helped the Huang family earlier. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't dare show myself!"