met free Chapter 37: Good Deeds Come to Fruition
Chapter 37: Good Deeds Come to Fruition
Seeing Wu Peng crying like a child, Cao Xing didn't know how to comfort him.
All he could do was pat Wu Peng on the shoulder and say, "Let's encourage each other."
After Wu Peng calmed down, Cao Xing said goodbye to him. As they walked out of the mountain gate, Cao Xing looked up at the blue sky and white clouds in front of him, but his mood was not much lighter than Wu Peng's.
Upon closer reflection, how much better off am I?
The illegitimate child of a deity, the murder case of the Yellow Robe Monster—Cao Xing himself dared not imagine what would happen to him if he were to be accidentally exposed one day.
He wasn't Sun Wukong, so he didn't need 100,000 heavenly soldiers. Any god, even the City God, could kill him with a sneeze.
When that day comes, will I also burst into tears?
Cao Xing's gaze turned cold. He shook his head, banishing these distracting thoughts. He was as weak as an ant now, and whatever an ant said was a joke. Rather than creating trouble for himself, he should focus on cultivation and increase his strength as soon as possible so that he could fight for a chance to survive in the future.
"A sage!!"
When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, Cao Xing saw Song Fang's elderly father already waiting for them.
Upon seeing Cao Xing, the old man immediately tried to sit up from the rock, but failed twice, indicating that he had been waiting there for a long time.
Cao Xing stepped forward and gently helped the old man up: "Grandpa, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's go eat first."
"Hey, let's eat first, let's eat first. What would you like to eat, Immortal? I brought some silver."
The old man nodded repeatedly, trying to pull Cao Xing's arm to go to the restaurant for a meal.
Seeing that the old man had clearly misunderstood him, Cao Xing thought for a moment but didn't explain, simply saying, "No need to go to the restaurant, let's just have a simple bowl of noodles."
"Eating noodles? That won't do."
"Let's have noodles."
Without saying a word, Cao Xing pulled the old man into the city and arrived at the restaurant where he and Bixia had first eaten noodles. They ordered two servings of noodles and a side dish.
Cao Xing just kept eating the noodles, head down. After eating so much roast chicken and steamed buns in the mountains, nothing felt as comforting as this bowl of noodles.
Song Fang's elderly father wanted to speak several times, but seeing that Cao Xing was eating with great relish, he didn't want to disturb him. He lowered his head and absentmindedly put the noodles into his mouth.
After Cao Xing finished eating and drinking, he casually placed thirteen copper coins on the table and said, "Let's go, old man, let's go to your house."
"My home?"
The old man looked at Cao Xing with a puzzled expression. Cao Xing nodded and said, "Yes, I brought Song Fang back."
"They've brought them back!"
The old man was stunned for a few seconds, his face gradually turning pale. He understood what those words meant.
Or rather, he had already anticipated this outcome, but had refused to admit it until Cao Xing pointed it out. He felt heartbroken and helpless, but it only took a few breaths.
"It's good that you're back."
The old man wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, led Cao Xing to his home, and pushed open the courtyard gate. He saw that the house was empty, with only a table and a bed remaining.
Although Lao Song did not approve of Song Fang attending the conversion ceremony, he couldn't refuse Song Fang in the end and still sold all the valuables in the house.
After the old man invited Cao Xing into the house, Cao Xing took out the clay figure he had made and placed it on the table.
Song Fang, Erhu, and Sun Bai are all locals, even neighbors. After Cao Xing read out their names, Old Song sighed and turned to inform Erhu and Sun Bai's families.
Soon, Erhu and Sun Bai's families also arrived.
Cao Xing was afraid of trouble and didn't want to expose himself, so he took advantage of the crowd and quietly blended into the crowd to leave quickly.
I've essentially helped them get home. I just hope that after tonight, Song Fang and the others will have fulfilled their wishes and enter the cycle of reincarnation soon.
Once outside the city, Cao Xing found a place with decent scenery and took out the last clay figure.
This clay figure is called Shang Xiang. He's not a local. Cao Xing asked him about it before they went down the mountain.
Shang Xiang said that he had no family there and only asked Cao Xing to let him leave so that he could be buried in peace.
"Brother, I don't understand feng shui, but this place is nestled against the mountains and by the water, with gentle breezes and bright sunshine. I hope you will be reborn into a good family in your next life."
Cao Xing punched into the mud and rocks beside him, carving out a hole the size of a washbasin, and placed the clay figure of Shang Xiang inside: "Take care."
After saying this, Cao Xing swept the soil off and sealed the cave entrance.
Just as he turned to leave, Bixia on his wrist tugged slightly at Cao Xing. When Cao Xing turned around, he saw Shang Xiang's figure emerge from the shadows, bowing to Cao Xing with his hands clasped: "The path to immortality is winding, fellow Daoist, take care."
As Shang Xiang's figure gradually faded away, a cool, yin aura surged into Cao Xing's body.
Not bad, this guy is quite decisive.
Feeling the merit already deposited into his account, Cao Xing pondered whether he would have any similar clients after returning home. After all, these people had low demands, few tasks, and quick payments; who wouldn't like that?
Since it was still early, Cao Xing didn't rush back to the mountain. He bought some dry food, rice, pickles, and dried fish.
All these things together cost only one or two taels of silver, which is much cheaper than eating on the mountain. Some can be given to Wu Peng, and the rest can be taken back to the hut. This way, he won't have to eat roast chicken every time. After a few more days, he'll probably get sick of it.
After buying the items, Cao Xing was about to return to the mountain when he suddenly felt a surge of energy, as if two streams of good karma had entered his body.
After the Yin virtue descended, Cao Xing immediately sensed that it was the Yin virtue of Erhu and Sun Bai.
After gaining these two merits, Cao Xing felt a cool sensation in his chest. The three merits made him feel great. Although he didn't know what was going on with Song Fang, he figured it wouldn't be long before things got better.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock..."
Cao Xing had just left the city and was about to head up the mountain when, before he had taken two steps, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
The rain was light, but fine and continuous, as if a hazy gray veil had been shrouded in it.
All around were bare rocks, and there wasn't even a simple shed to shelter from the rain. Cao Xing had no choice but to tighten his clothes and hold the package containing rice, pickles, and dried fish more tightly, preparing to brave the rain.
"Immortal! Wait! Immortal!!" Suddenly a shout came from behind.
Cao Xing paused, turned around, and saw a figure running towards him through the misty rain.
Cao Xing looked closely and saw that it was Song Fang's father.
"Immortal, if it weren't for you, my child would probably be dead and never find peace. I will forever remember your great kindness. Unfortunately, I have nothing else to offer but an umbrella. I hope you will not find it offensive."
"Thank you then."
Cao Xing reached out and gently took the umbrella. Just as he took the umbrella, Cao Xing suddenly paused and looked up at Lao Song with some surprise.
Old Song smiled frankly: "He's already getting old, and I'm worried about Xiao Fang all alone. We're father and son, so let me see him off one last time."
As Old Song finished speaking, Song Fang emerged from the white mist, walked to Old Song's side, and bowed slightly to Cao Xing: "Brother Cao, thank you."
"You're too kind." Cao Xing nodded slightly.
"Brother Cao!"
Song Fang took two steps forward, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "There are some things I didn't dare to tell you when we were on the mountain. I heard from the old ghosts in the mountains that there is a very evil coffin being suppressed under the Corpse Dissolving Cave. If you don't find a way to escape, you will be used as a sacrifice by that female demon sooner or later. Brother Cao, you are a good person, you should run away as soon as possible. I have seen it clearly now, that Shangfang Temple is a place that eats people."
Upon hearing this, Cao Xing raised an eyebrow. He had long suspected that Gu Su's motives for recruiting him were impure, and now he realized that was the case. But... was that really the case?
It's no wonder he's suspicious. After all, Song Fang's words came from those old ghosts. Who knows if those old ghosts deliberately told Song Fang what they meant?
"Thank you for reminding me, I will pay attention."
"It's getting late, we have to go now, take care."
Old Song pulled Song Fang to say goodbye to Cao Xing again. The two took two steps back and their figures gradually disappeared into the white mist. At the same time, two portions of Yin virtue fell on Cao Xing.
Two acts of good deeds?
Could it be because father and son are of one mind?
Cao Xing couldn't figure out the reason either, but that didn't diminish his joy at gaining an extra bit of good karma for no reason.
Including the previous three, I now have five portions of good karma.
I wonder how much cultivation level these five acts of good deeds will improve.
Thinking of this, Cao Xing began to feel expectant.
Cao Xing arrived at the cave dwelling, but Wu Peng was not there. So he left some food for him and went back to the back mountain.
After a long day, Cao Xing was exhausted, but as he touched the Yin De in his arms, his eyes couldn't help but light up with anticipation again.
After he sat cross-legged and meditated for a while, he attempted to transfer a portion of his virtuous deeds into the Crimson Blood Scripture.
As the cool sensation spread through his chest, Cao Xing felt a surge of energy, as if a bulldozer was surging through his body.
Cao Xing hurriedly activated the Crimson Serpent Spirit Transformation Technique with all his might to accelerate the refining of the spiritual essence within his body, and in an instant, the true qi in his dantian continued to increase.
"That's a bit fast."
The speed of spiritual energy transformation was getting faster and faster, but Cao Xing gradually found that his dantian could not withstand it.
Fortunately, at this moment, the exquisite relic inner core in Cao Xing's mouth once again stabilized and functioned, a wisp of cool energy surged into his five internal organs and strengthened his dantian, and the discomfort in his dantian just now immediately disappeared.
With the blessing of the exquisite relic inner core, Cao Xing had no more worries. He activated the Crimson Serpent Spirit Transformation Technique at full speed. After about an hour, when Cao Xing opened his eyes again, a look of joy immediately appeared on his face.
Breaking through two levels in a row from the eighth level of Qi Refining, the effect of this Yin Virtue is many times stronger than that Spirit Essence Pill. It's no exaggeration to call it a cultivation artifact.
There are still four portions of Yin virtue left. If I refine them all, I'm afraid I'll be able to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage very soon.
Cao Xing touched his chest.
No, if I break through to the Foundation Establishment stage in such a short time, Gu Su might start to doubt me.
Thinking of this, Cao Xing took out the book [Inspiration Yin Yang Degree]. Since it was inconvenient to improve his cultivation level, he would improve his strength first.