Chapter Sixty: Seeking Help

Huh?

Fang Xiao rode his big blue donkey, and before he even reached the temple, he saw from a distance a crowd gathered at the entrance. There were several mules and horses laden with baskets as well!

Although the Little Jing Mountain Temple was situated halfway up the mountain, with short and easily traversed paths leading up and down, its incense offerings were pitifully sparse on ordinary days. Hardly anyone made the effort to come and worship the gods. Even the villagers of Zhenjia Village at the foot of the mountain usually ignored the temple’s existence altogether.

Such bustling activity was a first for Fang Xiao. Especially now, with the sun nearly setting.

He pondered for a moment, then pressed his legs gently against the donkey’s flanks. The big blue donkey snorted and broke into a trot, quickly reaching the temple entrance.

As Fang Xiao leaped off the donkey’s back, before he could even ask, an elder in an ornate brocade robe hurried forward and respectfully saluted him. “May I ask, young sir, are you the junior Daoist Fang under Master Pang?”

Fang Xiao returned the salute, saying, “I am Fang Xiao. May I ask what brings you here, elder?”

He had been in this world for quite some time now—bit by bit growing familiar, step by step blending in. He was increasingly at ease with his present identity.

“I am Gao Liangping of Gao Family Village,” the brocade-robed elder said quickly. “Forgive this abrupt visit, but I come with a request.”

“Let us go inside and talk,” Fang Xiao replied, moving forward to open the temple doors.

“Bring the offerings inside!” Gao Liangping waved his hand, and the group of villagers he’d brought immediately unloaded the baskets from their mules and horses, carrying everything into the courtyard.

Though the baskets were covered with cloth, it was clear they were filled with rice, flour, cured meats, and similar provisions.

Gao Liangping said, “Junior Daoist Fang, these two loads of rice and flour, one load of sweet peaches, and one load of cured meat are the offerings from Gao Family Village to your esteemed temple. Please accept them.”

Fang Xiao was surprised. For the Little Jing Mountain Temple, in its current decrepit state, to receive so many offerings—there must be a serious matter at hand.

He nodded and asked, “Elder Gao, how may I be of help?”

Gao Liangping smiled bitterly. “It’s a long story…”

As it turned out, Gao Family Village was renowned in the region for its pig farming, and Gao Liangping’s ancestors had raised pigs for generations, supplying fat hogs mainly to the county town. Though pig farming was hard work, the Gao family lived comfortably and stably.

But their peaceful life was shattered half a month ago.

One morning, the villagers in charge of feeding the pigs discovered an enormous black-haired pig with a blue face and tusks had appeared in the pigsty. Not only that, but the pig spoke human words, demanding food and drink!

Upon hearing the report, Gao Liangping realized his household had been invaded by a monster. He quickly organized a group of strong villagers, armed them, and prepared to drive the creature out.

But the pig demon possessed immense strength, its bristly hide impervious to blades and spears. Several villagers were injured in the struggle, yet they couldn’t harm a single hair on the beast!

The pig demon, however, did not slaughter Gao Family Village. Instead, it used its power to threaten Gao Liangping, demanding fifty pounds of white flour buns and twenty pounds of cooked soybeans as its meals. Otherwise, it would devour Gao Liangping’s entire family.

Unable to drive it away and powerless to defeat it, Gao Liangping had no choice but to comply, hoping the demon would leave once satisfied. But the monster settled into the pigsty, its appetite growing ever more voracious—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even midnight snacks were required!

Though the Gao family possessed some savings, they could not withstand such waste. In just half a month, most of their pigs had been sold, and their stores were nearly depleted. Gao Liangping could no longer sustain this burden.

He began to secretly seek help far and wide, finally hearing from the master of Zhao Family Village about the Little Jing Mountain Temple. And so, he journeyed twenty miles with his people to seek Fang Xiao.

Wiping tears from his eyes, Gao Liangping pleaded, “Junior Daoist Fang, I heard you have the means to slay monsters—you destroyed the old tree demon in Zhao Family Village. Please, save Gao Family Village!”

With that, he rose and offered Fang Xiao a deep bow.

Fang Xiao hurried to help him up. “No need for such ceremony.” He asked in confusion, “Elder Gao, why don’t you seek help from the Qingfeng Temple in the county?”

Master Pang had once told Fang Xiao that Qingfeng Temple in the Six River County boasted dozens of cultivators, and its master had even achieved Foundation Establishment. Monster-slaying was their specialty!

Last time, Fang Xiao had accompanied his master to Zhao Family Village to destroy the old tree demon. According to Master Pang, intercepting Qingfeng Temple’s business had provoked their visit to cause trouble afterwards.

Fang Xiao had no fondness whatsoever for Qingfeng Temple—in fact, he deeply disliked them, so he didn’t mind stealing their business. But now that his master was in seclusion, he was not entirely confident he could handle the pig demon at Gao Family Village.

Fang Xiao feared neither battle nor failure. But if he failed to slay the demon, incited its wrath, and endangered Gao Liangping’s family, that was not an outcome he could accept.

“Qingfeng Temple…” Gao Liangping’s smile was bitter indeed. He glanced around, lowered his voice, and said, “To tell the truth, I can still afford to feed the pig demon for now, but if I summoned Qingfeng Temple’s people, our family would be ruined overnight!”

Fang Xiao was taken aback.

He remembered Master Pang’s words: in this world, monsters devour humans, humans devour monsters, monsters devour monsters, and humans devour humans.

Seeing Fang Xiao silent, Gao Liangping grew anxious. “Junior Daoist Fang, so long as you can slay—or even just drive away—that demon, I am willing to offer…” He spread his hand, “Five spirit stones!”

Spirit stones? Fang Xiao recalled that spirit stones were currency for cultivators, their value and utility far beyond ordinary gold or silver. When Master Pang acquired a Sumeru Ring from the Golden Core Cave, it held several medium-grade spirit stones, and he was nearly ecstatic!

Judging from Gao Liangping’s expression, he was offering everything he had.

Fang Xiao was about to respond when Gao Liangping took out a small box from his sleeve and handed it over. “Junior Daoist Fang, these two spirit stones are a deposit. When the pig demon is dealt with, I’ll give you the rest!”

The brocade-robed elder looked hopefully at Fang Xiao.

“Let’s do this,” Fang Xiao said, taking a deep breath. “Elder Gao, it’s too late today. Tomorrow morning, I’ll visit your village and see if I can handle that demon. So keep your deposit for now.”

Gao Liangping was overjoyed. “Thank you, Junior Daoist Fang, thank you!”

He did not understand Fang Xiao’s concerns, believing that Fang Xiao’s agreement meant the matter was all but resolved.

With their terms settled, dusk began to fall.

In the hall, Gao Liangping lit three tall incense sticks before the statue of the Supreme Emperor of the East, then departed with his villagers.

Only after the people of Gao Family Village had gone did Fang Xiao notice that the bench Gao Liangping had occupied bore a finely crafted jade box.

The box containing the spirit stones!