https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-217-A-Strange-Sky-the-Chilling-Aura-of-Death/12619308/
Chapter 216: Unnamed Taoist Temple, Torrential Rain
"Master, I don't think we'll make it to the next town before nightfall."
Little did Lu Qing and his companions know that a notorious demon, who had thrown all of Ji Province into chaos and had everyone on edge, was hot on their trail.
At that moment, they were gazing up at the gloomy clouds overhead, a bit worried.
The sky looked ready to unleash a torrential downpour, and they were currently in the wilderness, still several dozen miles away from the next town. It seemed unlikely that they would make it there in time.
"Since we won't make it, let's find a place to take shelter from the rain first. I recall there used to be a half-abandoned Taoist temple nearby, but I'm not sure if it's still habitable."
The old doctor glanced at the heavy black clouds above, knowing that if they didn't find shelter soon, it might be too late.
They were fortunate to have a carriage to shield them from the rain, so they didn't have to worry too much about getting soaked.
However, their concern was that if the rain became too heavy, the carriage might get stuck in the mud, which would be troublesome.
Under the old doctor's guidance, Mag drove the carriage to the abandoned temple.
After inspecting the place inside and out, they found that while the temple was a bit dilapidated and the roof had collapsed in many places, letting the light through, the main hall was still relatively intact and provided shelter from the wind and rain.
The only odd thing was that there wasn't even a signboard out front, so they had no idea what the temple was called.
"Alright, we'll stay here for the night. I think this rain is going to be heavy, so we'll set off again tomorrow," the old doctor decided after looking around for a while.
Lu Qing and the others naturally had no objections.
Being no ordinary humans, camping outdoors was not a problem for them; it was merely a little less convenient, but it wouldn't affect them much.
Even Xiaoyan, who used to be timid, had become much bolder and wasn't afraid at all.
"Master, I'll go look for some firewood outside. I'll start a fire and cook dinner," Lu Qing said, seeing that Mag was tending to the carriage.
"Alright, go ahead," the old doctor nodded.
As for Wei Zian, even if he wanted to help, Lu Qing and the others wouldn't feel at ease letting him do so.
Before long, Lu Qing returned with a bundle of firewood.
Just as he lit the fire, the dark clouds that had been gathering overhead finally let loose a downpour.
At first, it was just a few scattered raindrops, but soon it turned into a torrential rain, the force of which startled Lu Qing and his companions.
"Fortunately, Master, you knew about this Taoist temple. Otherwise, if we were still on the road, we would have been drenched," Lu Qing said, looking at the heavy curtain of rain that obscured the view just ten meters away, feeling relieved.
Mag and Wei Zian nodded in agreement.
Although their carriage was specially made by the Wei family to withstand wind and rain, it would have been difficult to guarantee that it could withstand such a downpour.
Xiaoli, on the other hand, snuggled closer to Xiaoyan, as she disliked the rain the most.
"This rain is indeed quite heavy. It's the heaviest rain I've seen in years. As for this temple, I used to be quite close with the head priest here. After he passed away, the temple fell into disrepair with no one to take care of it," the old doctor said, gazing at the pouring rain with a sigh, a touch of sadness in his voice.
Lu Qing's heart stirred upon hearing this.
He knew very little about his master's past, and the old doctor rarely spoke of it.
This was a rare occasion where his master mentioned something from his past.
"Master, did this priest not have any disciples?" Lu Qing asked.
"No," the old doctor shook his head. "He lived a solitary life and did not take on any disciples."
"Was this priest very skilled in martial arts?" Wei Zian asked, his curiosity piqued.
The old doctor smiled and replied, "My friend only practiced the art of cultivating the heart and nature, and he didn't achieve much in the way of martial arts. However, he had a noble character, and I've always admired him for that.
Wei Zian and Mag immediately fell into a respectful silence. In their eyes, the old doctor's medical ethics were noble and rare, and for him to express admiration for someone else, that person's character must have been truly exceptional.
Only Lu Qing felt a hint of doubt about his master's words. He knew that when it came to martial arts, his master's words were often only half true. His master often claimed to have poor aptitude and a dislike for conflict, which was true, but his natural talent was extraordinary. How else could he have created the Nurturing Fist, comprehended the concept of Water and Fire Harmony, and achieved the Innate Realm?
So, when his master said that the Taoist priest had no notable achievements in martial arts, Lu Qing suspected it was an act of humility. For someone to live alone in this remote Taoist temple, they must be far from ordinary. It was a pity that the priest had already passed away, and they never had the chance to meet.
As the group chatted casually, Lu Qing, ever efficient, boiled a pot of meat porridge and served it to everyone. As for Xiaoli, who disliked porridge, he had a big bowl of dried fish instead.
For this trip, the Wei family had naturally prepared ample supplies. But Lu Qing's preparations were even more extravagant, thanks to his possession of the Cosmos Sack, a spiritual artifact.
Aside from other things, he had brought along several dozen pounds of dried fish for Xiaoli alone. If he had had more time to prepare, he would have brought over a hundred pounds.
Of course, Lu Qing only used the items in the Cosmos Sack when necessary. So far, they had been consuming the supplies brought on the carriage and those purchased along the way.
On this slightly chilly rainy day, the warm porridge was a welcome treat, and everyone felt refreshed after a few mouthfuls.
"Lu Qing, your culinary skills are truly remarkable. Even a simple dish like this salted meat porridge becomes a delicacy in your hands," Mag exclaimed, giving Lu Qing a thumbs-up after finishing a large bowl.
Wei Zian, slurping his porridge enthusiastically beside him, nodded in agreement.
"It's not that exaggerated," Lu Qing laughed. "I just added some homemade spices to the cured meat, giving it a unique flavor."
When traveling, fresh meat was not easy to carry. So, Lu Qing had brought along cured meat that he had sun-dried and smoked during his free time over the past two years. It turned out to be very useful on this trip.
As Lu Qing and his companions enjoyed their warm porridge in the Taoist temple, the rain outside intensified. It poured down as if the heavens had split open, the force of the downpour increasing by the minute.
Staring at the column-like streams of water flowing from the eaves, Lu Qing and his companions felt a sense of dread. They feared that the roof of the main hall might collapse under the weight of the rain or that the rainwater would flood in.
Fortunately, despite its age, the hall was well-built and situated on higher ground. As the rain gradually weakened, the roof held firm, and there was no flooding, much to their relief.
However, the old doctor still worried: "This rain is a bit too abnormal."
Lu Qing's heart stirred. This was the first rain since the heavenly anomaly, and the ferocity of the downpour seemed to portend something ominous.
The old doctor, sharing a concerned glance with Lu Qing, looked even more troubled.
A heavy silence fell over the main hall.
However, it didn't last long. As Lu Qing pondered the significance of the heavy rain, his expression suddenly changed. At the same time, Xiaoli's ears perked up.
After a few breaths, the old doctor also looked up, his eyes alert.
Only Mag and Wei Zian remained oblivious.
But soon, they too heard the commotion coming from outside.
(End of Chapter)
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