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Secretary Xing started making things up: "I can't say how it tastes, but back then, Jin Wuzhu took the master of Huanglongfu braised beef with him south to fight against Yue Fei's army. It is said that Yue Fei once captured a few pieces of braised beef and exclaimed how delicious it was..."

"Oh, it existed as early as the Southern Song Dynasty. I just wonder how it compares in taste to Pingyao beef?" Master Wei asked with some doubt.

"Master Wei, we've never eaten Pingyao beef, so we dare not make any judgments," Secretary Xing said, glancing meaningfully at the paper package.

"Then please try this Pingyao beef..." Master Wei said eagerly, handing the paper package to Secretary Xing.

"Men from Northeast China eat by the handful to truly appreciate the flavor," Secretary Xing said, feigning embarrassment.

"But it's fine to eat," the moralist said generously.

Before he could finish speaking, Secretary Xing, disregarding his dignity as a secretary, grabbed a handful of the food and stuffed his mouth full, stammering, "Delicious, delicious."

"Are you from Northeast China?" Master Wei asked, staring at him.

Secretary Xing swallowed hard, nodding as he did so.

"Judging from your attire, you must be a government official, right?" Master Wei speculated.

"County Party Secretary." Secretary Xing blurted out, then grabbed a large handful of beef, leaving very little on the paper bag on the coffee table.

"How does it taste compared to the beef from Huanglongfu in Guandong?" Master Wei asked anxiously, watching the beef dwindle.

After swallowing, Secretary Xing licked his lips, cleared his throat, and then solemnly told him, "After careful tasting, comparison, and evaluation, I believe that Pingyao beef is slightly better."

Master Wei breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thinking that there was no need to go to Guandong anymore.

"Sigh," Secretary Xing sighed, moved by the scene, "You monks are so lucky, so carefree and unrestrained... Master Wei, where are you getting off?"

“In Hedong, Shanxi, I have two unworthy junior brothers who were seriously injured in Yongji County. I went there specifically to visit them,” the Taoist priest replied.

“Hedong in Shanxi? I’m going there too,” Secretary Xing said without hesitation.

"That's wonderful. We're traveling together. May I ask your honorable name, Secretary?" Master Wei asked with a smile.

"Just call him Secretary Xing. That's what all the people in Huanglong Prefecture call him. He's the local official, after all..." With food in his stomach, Secretary Xing regained his usual cheerful personality and became more talkative.

"Secretary Xing is a state cadre. I'm not afraid to admit it, but I feel there's an evil aura about you..." Master Wei stammered.

"An evil aura?" Secretary Xing was secretly surprised.

“It’s possessed by some kind of evil spirit,” Master Wei pondered.

Secretary Xing silently looked at Master Wei without saying a word.

"I am skilled in Maoshan magic. Although I have traveled all over the world and seen many evil things, this is the first time I have encountered something like what Secretary Xing is wearing," Master Wei said slowly after a moment of contemplation.

"What is it?" Secretary Xing asked cautiously, secretly wondering if this old Taoist priest could see the wriggling head inside my body...

"Secretary Xing, don't worry. Exorcising demons is the duty of those who study Taoism. Once we get off the bus in Yongji, I will exorcise the evil spirits for you," Master Wei said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Secretary Xing sneered inwardly. "Hmph, exorcise the worm-headed barbarians? Let's see just how powerful your Taoist Maoshan magic really is..."

As the night train rumbled through Jiexiu and Hongdong, it was already broad daylight. It wasn't until late afternoon, near dusk, that it finally came to a slow stop at Yongji Railway Station.

The two got off the car and checked into a small hotel in the county town. After washing up, they went out together, and the streets were already shrouded in twilight. Master Wei, carrying a canvas travel bag, asked passersby for directions and then went with Secretary Xing to Yongji County People's Hospital.

In the lush, flower-lined courtyard of the county hospital's inpatient ward, Master Wei immediately spotted his two junior disciples, Mao Da and Mao Er, dressed in blue and white striped hospital gowns, arguing with a glamorous woman wearing the same gown.

“Brother, Old Ni’s beauty is exactly the same as before she was injured,” the short, stocky Mao Er argued, his face flushed.

“Nonsense! Old Ni is far more handsome now than before, Mao Er, don’t speak against your conscience…” the tall and thin Mao Da retorted.

The middle-aged woman smiled silently, watching their verbal sparring with a flirtatious look.

"Mao Da and Mao Er, have you recovered from your injuries?" The moral guardian frowned and then called out loudly.

When Mao Da and Mao Er looked up and saw that it was Master Wei, they quickly stopped arguing, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Senior Brother, what brings you here?"

Master Wei snorted and said angrily, "The story of you two fighting over a girl and getting injured has been around for a long time. It's a disgrace to us Maoshan Taoists."

"Oh..." The old nun from Emei, who was listening from the side, was displeased and said awkwardly, "What do you mean by 'jealousy'? You put it so harshly. Now that we've reformed and opened up, isn't free love allowed? I've heard Mao Da and Mao Er mention that they have a senior brother who's a 'defender of the faith.' Seeing him today, he really lives up to his name, hehehe..." After saying that, she twisted her body with a charming and graceful manner and laughed like a silver bell, her voice as soft as a little girl's.

Mao Er nudged the old nun and whispered, "That's our senior brother..."

"Mao Er, what's wrong with Senior Brother? Senior Brother is also a passionate Taoist priest in the martial arts world. Even though he doesn't show it, he can't help but feel a little jealous when he sees a beautiful woman like the old nun." Mao Da said loudly and clearly.

Master Wei was furious upon hearing this and shouted, "You two good-for-nothings are spouting nonsense and talking rubbish!"

At this moment, the old nun from Emei had already glanced at Secretary Xing and exclaimed in admiration, "Wow, what a tall and mighty man! He must be from Northeast China!"

Secretary Xing, unaware of the woman's origins, could only offer a faint smile and say, "This lady has a good eye. I am indeed from Huanglong Prefecture in Guandong."

Upon hearing this, the old nun from Emei smiled radiantly, her alluring eyes sizing up Secretary Xing as she said, "Comrade? That's so outdated... Who calls someone that now? These days, the fashionable term is 'Miss'."

"Miss?" Secretary Xing couldn't help but chuckle. He noticed that the woman was at least forty years old. Despite wearing makeup, she couldn't hide the wrinkles etched on her face by time.

"Of course she's a young lady, and unmarried," the old nun from Emei corrected.

On the west side of the road outside the county people's hospital, there is a small restaurant with a sign that reads "Bai Duo Restaurant". It is a local traditional restaurant. Dinner was hosted by the old nun from Emei Mountain, who was entertaining the senior disciple Wei Daoshi and Secretary Xing, a guest from Guandong.

Old Ni deliberately sat next to Secretary Xing, which aroused the dissatisfaction of Mao Da and Mao Er.

“Secretary Xing, even in the freezing cold of the Northeast, men can drink strong liquor. This little tavern has Yongji Sangluo wine, which has been lost for hundreds of years. It was only brewed again by the descendants of the Liu family at the end of the year before last. Why not give it a try…” The old nun from Emei had eyes that sparkled with spring, and her fiery gaze seemed to speak volumes.

Secretary Xing's heart was stirred. The people of Huanglong Prefecture were simple and honest. Although the women were forthright, they mostly adhered to traditional virtues and were not as flirtatious or seductive as this.

“Secretary Xing,” the old nun from Emei leaned lightly against him, her fragrance wafting through the air, and began to introduce the wine, “'Sangluo Wine' was first brewed at the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty by Liu Baidu from Hedong. Its brewing method is unique; the wine jars must be placed in the sun to dry. The *Luoyang Garan Ji* records that this wine is ‘fragrant and delicious, and one who is drunk will remain so for a month.’ Legend has it that during the Yongxi era of the Western Jin Dynasty, Mao Hongbin, the governor of Qingzhou, was escorting Sangluo tribute wine from Puzhou to a mountainous area when they were suddenly attacked by bandits. After robbing them, they saw the fine wine on the cart and began to drink it heartily, becoming completely drunk and being captured alive by government troops. Later generations also called this wine ‘the wine for catching traitors,’ saying, ‘They fear not drawn bows and daggers, but only the wine they themselves have drunk.’”

Mao Dadao: "Old Ni is truly knowledgeable."

Mao Er chimed in, "The old nun should be a professor."

"Oh, I see. No wonder the shop's name looks so unusual," Secretary Xing said with a sudden realization.

The old nun from Emei personally picked up the wine jar and filled the bowls for Secretary Xing and Abbot Wei, while Mao Da and Mao Er awkwardly poured their own wine.

"Come on, let's have a welcome dinner for Secretary Xing and Senior Brother, cheers!" The old nun from Emei glanced at Secretary Xing with a flirtatious look and downed her drink in one gulp.

"Good wine!" Secretary Xing exclaimed loudly after taking a sip. He found it to be mellow and robust, with a lingering fragrance and an unforgettable aftertaste, far better than the sorghum liquor from Huanglongfu.

The old nun from Emei clapped her hands and said, "Serve the first dish, 'Steamed Five Old Peaks'."

The shop owner then brought out a plate of five duck butts, their fat, pointed ends pointing upwards, glistening with oil and emitting a fragrant aroma.

"The Five Old Peaks of Yongji in Hedong have given birth to such a famous dish; it is truly a blessing from heaven and earth..." the old nun said with a smile.

Secretary Xing was taken aback and slowly reached out with his chopsticks.

"Wait," the old nun from Emei said with a slight smile, "This dish needs to be eaten with a dipping sauce, which is quite elegant and is called 'Monkey Scooping the Moon'."

"Wow, the food culture here is so sophisticated!" Secretary Xing exclaimed with great admiration.

The owner brought out a dish of dark brown Shanxi aged vinegar, with a drop of sesame oil in the center of the dish, round and clear, emitting a faint fragrance.

"This is 'The Monkey Trying to Catch the Moon,' how about it? Now you can start eating." After saying that, Old Ni picked up a plump duck butt, dipped it in the sour aged vinegar, took a bite out half of the duck butt, and chewed it with relish.

Everyone ate one duck butt, and sure enough, it melted in their mouths, with a lingering, meaty aroma, offering a unique and delightful experience.

“Live meat is generally very delicious,” Master Wei said with a click of his tongue.

The old nun from Emei said, "Guan Yu of the Three Kingdoms was a native of Yuncheng in Hedong. He was a burly man with a red face. Qin Shubao of the late Sui Dynasty was a native of Licheng in Shandong. He was a yellow-faced man. So the name of this dish is 'Guan Yu vs. Qin Qiong'."

The shop owner respectfully served a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes...

"Whether you prefer Guan Gong or Qin Qiong, it's up to you." The old nun laughed heartily and poured another full glass of mulberry wine.

At this moment, Secretary Xing felt more and more that this old nun from Emei had quite a few endearing qualities.

The third dish was called "Mother and Child Reunion," which turned out to be a plate of soybeans stir-fried with bean sprouts!

The old nun from Emei smiled mysteriously at Secretary Xing and said, "The next dish is 'Xiao Erhei's Wedding' by Shanxi writer Zhao Shuli."

This time, an empty plate was served, containing only two peeled, dark-colored preserved eggs...

"'Xiao Erhei is getting married'? Hahaha..." Secretary Xing laughed heartily.

The old nun laughed along with a flamboyant air, her body trembling with laughter.

"Secretary Xing, this old nun has specially prepared a dish just for you," the old nun from Emei whispered in his ear, her breath making Secretary Xing's ear feel warm and itchy, causing him to become restless.

"What dish?" Secretary Xing asked, his face flushed.

"This dish is called 'Private Whispers'," the old nun said, gesturing for the owner to bring it over.

Secretary Xing looked closely and realized it was a plate of pig tongue and pig ears...

"Alright, hurry up and eat. I still have to exorcise evil spirits for Secretary Xing tonight," Master Wei said indignantly.

Chapter 196

The exorcism ceremony took place in a small hotel room. It was a single-story house with few guests, and the courtyard was empty except for a bright moon hanging quietly in the night sky.

The lights were off inside, but the cool moonlight streamed softly into the room through the glass window. The old nun from Emei and Mao Da and Mao Er were also present, silently watching Master Wei perform his magic.

During dinner, Secretary Xing was clearly quite drunk after being persuaded to drink by the charming old nun from Emei Mountain. The mulberry wine had a strong aftereffect, and now he was lying on the bed fully clothed, snoring loudly.

At the end of Hai hour (9-11 PM), Master Wei took out a set of utensils from his travel bag, set up an altar facing east, lit three sandalwood sticks and inserted them into a rice bowl, with blue smoke swirling around. Then he knelt on the ground, burned three pieces of yellow paper, kowtowed three times, drew a cross on the ground with his right middle finger, pressed his calf on the cross, and then pressed his right leg on his left leg and sat down on the ground. This is the "single lotus position" in Maoshan magic. Then, he burned a talisman, closed his eyes slightly, straightened his body, and suspended his head. He inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth nine times, then placed his hands around his dantian and recited the Maoshan Initiation Text: "I respectfully invite the Three Pure Ones and the Three Realms, the Supreme Lord Laozi, Zhang Zhao Erlang, Yue Wang Patriarch Li Gong Zhenren, the Old Man of Dongshan, the Little Sister of Nanshan, Guanyin of the South Sea, Fuxi Shennong, the Yellow Emperor, the Thunder God Emperor, the Holy King Pangu, the Earth Mother Yuanjun, the Jade Emperor, Hengshan Qilang, Luoshan Jiulang, the Three Heavens Kaihuang, the Five Sacred Mountains, the Divine Firmament Palace, the Dragon and Tiger Mysterious Altar Marshal Zhao, the Three Mao True Lords, the Five Planets and the Twenty-Eight Constellations, and all the gods and immortals holding talismans and spells, to help this humble Taoist save all beings from suffering, subdue demons and evil, and ward off wickedness. May the Kui Gang protect my body and manifest its power, responding to every call, and even granting miracles without being called..."

"The eldest brother is practicing 'spiritual communication'," Mao Da whispered solicitously to the old nun from Emei.

Seeing this, Mao Er hurriedly stood on tiptoe and put his mouth close to the old nun's other ear, explaining in more detail: "'Spiritual communication' has six kinds of communication: sensory communication, visual communication, auditory communication, mental communication, spiritual communication, and supernatural communication. It is to use spiritual power to force qi into the pores of the skin, guide qi into the meridians, and move it to the Zhongchong acupoint of the Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin at the tip of the middle finger, which connects with Secretary Xing's philtrum acupoint, so that one can communicate with the evil things in his body."

"Your senior brother is indeed amazing..." the old nun from Emei said admiringly.

"Not necessarily. If my 'Gu Eel' and Mao Da's 'Iron Rooster' were still alive, hmph... they would have forced that evil thing out long ago," Mao Er said indignantly.

At that moment, Master Wei suddenly leaped into the air and landed on the bed. He formed the "Maoshan Haoguang Jue" with his hands, drawing out the yin and yang bio-currents within his body. He slowly pressed the Zhongchong acupoint on his middle finger onto the Renzhong acupoint below Secretary Xing's nose, silently reciting the "Qingming Mantra," and began communicating with the "dirty things" inside Secretary Xing's body...

"This wine is really strong..." the evil creature seemed to be unable to hold its liquor, uttering incoherent thoughts.

"What are you?" Master Wei asked, channeling his thoughts.

"That old nun from Emei... she's really seductive..." the evil creature exclaimed.

"Who exactly are you?" Master Wei asked sternly.

“A wrathful barbarian,” the evil creature replied coldly.

"A 'wriggling barbarian'?" Master Wei was stunned; he had never heard of such a thing before...

"What 'Worm-headed Barbarian'?" Master Wei asked, puzzled.

"Hmph, this wine is really potent..." After saying that, the evil creature fell silent, and no matter how much Master Wei tried to urge his mind, it did not respond.

"Alas, it seems this evil thing is also drunk..." Master Wei sighed and jumped off the bed.

"Senior brother, what kind of evil spirit is it?" Mao Da asked curiously.