"May we meet again someday!"
Xiao Ning chuckled softly, which served as a farewell.
After Fahai left, Xiao Ning turned around and looked at the white-bearded monk who had collapsed on the ground, as well as Xu Xian, the Taoist boy in the temple.
"Kid, you've got some nerve, daring to confront someone at the Golden Core stage?"
He glared angrily at Xu Xian.
"Master, this disciple cannot tolerate his behavior. He can't distinguish right from wrong, and he's too arrogant and domineering!"
Xu Xian remained indignant.
"Alright, your vacation isn't over yet, get lost!"
Xiao Ning flicked his sleeves, ignoring the old monk, and his clone gradually dissipated.
"Phew, what terrifying cultivation level! It scared me to death!"
The old monk breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Xu Xian, saying, "Master, thank you so much for speaking up and saving my life. I am deeply grateful!"
In that instant, the old monk became kind and polite, unlike before when he greeted Xu Xian in the tone of an elder, no longer daring to address him as a young man.
"You're too kind, Master. As long as you don't do anything evil in the future, then my efforts today won't have been in vain!"
Xu Xian waved his hand and said.
The monk said happily, "This little demon will certainly remember the Taoist's instructions and do more good deeds from now on in order to be liberated as soon as possible."
"You're welcome, I'm leaving!"
Xu Xian looked at the eastern horizon; the sun had already risen above the horizon, hanging high in the sky, casting golden rays across the land.
After greeting the old monk, he headed towards Qiantang County and returned to his brother-in-law Li Gongfu's home there.
Li Gongfu was, after all, a county constable. Although he was considered honest and upright, he lived in a nice house, much better than some ordinary people.
This is a three-courtyard house with many rooms. After Xu Jiaorong married into the family, Xu Xian stayed at his brother-in-law's house until he went up the mountain to become a Taoist acolyte.
The Li residence was unusually lively today. Li Gongfu sat excitedly in a chair, sometimes getting up to drink tea, sometimes strolling around the room, his heart filled with excitement.
Xu Jiaorong and two maids were busy in the kitchen, and the rich aroma of meat wafted out, filling the entire Li residence with its delicious fragrance.
Xu Xian walked to the outside of the Li residence and smelled that scent. He sniffed and his face showed excitement.
"This tastes like Dongpo pork! It smells so good!"
When the Chinese poet Su Dongpo was young, he was so popular that he offended the court officials and was demoted to Huang'an County in Guangji Prefecture. Because there were many pigs and the meat was cheap there, he ate meat every day and created this famous dish that has been passed down through the ages.
"Sister, brother-in-law, I'm back!"
Pushing open the door, Xu Xian shouted as he walked into the hall.
Hearing his voice, Xu Jiaorong ran out of the kitchen.
This is a woman with the quintessential characteristics of the Jiangnan water towns: delicate features, dignified character, gentle and virtuous.
"Hanwen, where did you go? Why didn't you come home all night?"
Holding Xu Xian's hand, Xu Jiaorong looked him up and down, then scolded him playfully, before giving him a suspicious look with a strange expression.
"Could it be... Hanwen, you're still young, you should be more restrained in some things!"
Li Gongfu did not tell her the truth, only saying that a friend had invited Xu Xian out to play. Little did he know that Xu Jiaorong had misunderstood.
"Ahem, my wife, what nonsense are you talking about? Go and cook!"
Upon hearing her words, Li Gongfu, who was sitting in the hall drinking tea, spat out a mouthful of tea and quickly tried to stop her.
"Oh dear, my Dongpo pork!"
Xu Jiaorong exclaimed in surprise and rushed to the kitchen.
Watching her departing figure, Xu Xian was completely bewildered: "Brother-in-law, what does my sister mean? I don't understand."
"It's nothing, it's nothing. Come, come, sit down!"
Li Gongfu didn't want to explain, so he forcibly changed the subject, lowering his voice to ask, "Hanwen, how are you? Are your injuries fully healed?"
It was only after witnessing Xiao Ning's extraordinary abilities that Li Gongfu was not worried; otherwise, he would have been in a great hurry long ago, and would not have been so leisurely.
"Brother-in-law, don't worry. The abbot's magical power is boundless and all-powerful. This mere poisoning is a piece of cake for him!"
Sitting in his chair, Xu Xian took a sip of tea and said with a proud and self-satisfied expression.
"That's good, that's good. You have no idea how scary it was when you collapsed. Fortunately, the county magistrate suggested that I send you to Qingxu Temple, otherwise, we would have been in big trouble!"
Li Gongfu, still shaken, recounted what happened after Xu Xian fell into a coma.
"Oh, I see!"
Xu Xian nodded, remembering Su Kangnian's favor.
"However, Hanwen, we owe you a great debt last night. Otherwise, that monk Yuanyi from Hanshan Temple would have been a tough opponent. If you hadn't been there, the county would have not only returned empty-handed, but would have certainly suffered heavy losses!"
Li Gongfu was very excited, his face flushed, and said, "Yesterday, the county magistrate secretly told me that with this merit, I am very likely to be promoted, and perhaps I can get a seventh-rank official position."
"Haha, that's wonderful! Congratulations, brother-in-law! You've finally achieved your wish!" Xu Xian was also very happy.