The following day, the merchant caravan packed their belongings and set off once more.

Since womenfolk had joined them, the few available horse carts were all designated for their transportation (perhaps Manager Xu had informed the women of Li Ang's arrangements yesterday, as there were no longer cries of women coming from inside the carts), and so Li Ang and other honored guests had no choice but to each ride a horse for their journey.

Initially, Manager Xu and Yang Er were somewhat worried, thinking that an eminent figure like Taoist Xi Menzi might not be adept at horse riding and would end up with sore inner thighs during the continuing journey. However, the Taoist elders rode quite skillfully, especially that Kun Tao (that is, Liu Wu Dai. Male Taoists are respectfully referred to as Qian Tao, and female Taoists as Kun Tao).

"Escort Master Yang, Manager Xu," Li Ang said while riding his horse, chatting casually with them, "having traveled the jianghu for many years, have you ever heard of any tales involving strange and supernatural creatures or extraordinary events and beings?"

"Tales of the Strange?" Manager Xu, seemingly reminded of something, let out a sigh. "The Taoist Master must have also heard of Longhu Mountain and the Wude Guards, no?"

Li Ang nodded. "I have heard a little."

"A thousand years ago," the somewhat portly Manager Xu began, stretching out his chubby hand and stroking his beard, "the founder of the Celestial Master Tao from Longhu Mountain, Taoist Master Zhang, ascended Mount Qingcheng with his two disciples, Wang Chang and Zhao Sheng. Using the Supreme Heavenly Master's sword, Talisman, and seal, they summoned the Eight Demon Generals. They subdued foreign demons, exterminated deceitful evil, destroyed temples, and swept away blood-eating and cunning deities, all to protect the common folk. From that point onward, the Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain became the most revered school throughout the dynasties, receiving national honors and tributes. The Taoists from Longhu Mountain mostly remain hidden in the mysterious and secluded mountain forests, unconcerned with worldly matters, with only a very few disciples walking the earthly realms to purge evil spirits. Regrettably, I have not been blessed enough to meet such an eminent figure."

Manager Xu had just finished speaking when he realized his faux pas and hastily said to Li Ang, "Of course, Taoist Master Xi Menzi is greatly learned in Taoism, in touch with both the heavens and earth, unified with nature inside and out, pure and calm, shining without ostentation—a true eminent figure."

"Heh, Manager Xu, you flatter me," Li Ang waved his hand dismissively, not taking the freshly delivered flattery seriously. "Are there any names for the Taoists from Longhu Mountain who walk the world?"

Manager Xu shook his head. "This... I have not heard. There is not only one sect in the Taoist Door. Apart from Longhu Mountain, there is also Quanzhen, Jingming, and so on. However, most Taoists who descend the mountain do not seek fame or fortune and rarely leave their names behind, even when they banish ghosts and subdue demons. In recent years, there have been far fewer accounts of exorcising foxes and summoning spirits. Instead, it is the news of the Wude Guards that has become widely known among the people."

Li Ang raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

This world was in a time when a feudal dynasty was on the decline, marked by the saying that when a country is about to perish, demons will rise. According to Scholar Zhu's statistics, over the past few decades, the frequency of reports of demons had been steadily increasing. However, natural and man-made calamities such as floods, droughts, locusts, wars, and plagues brought even more terrible impacts, and these had overshadowed the significant threats posed by demons.

Manager Xu continued languidly, "Originally, the Wude Guards only took in orphans and abandoned infants from the populace. They aimed to sharpen their will, toil their muscles and bones, starve their flesh, and disrupt their lives. These recruits went through rigorous tests and endured various trials.

"Upon reaching adulthood, they were expected to be loyal to their sovereign, love their country, be honest with others, and be fearless warriors against demons.

"Only then would they be awarded their Token. They would don their armor and wield their weapons, becoming members of the Wude Guards. These guards used law swords, danced with master blades, commanded mystic seals, guarded provinces and counties, patrolled various regions, and suppressed demons throughout the realm.

"However, with troubled and chaotic times and a weakened imperial court, over the past century the Wude Guards have no longer held to the tradition of only recruiting orphans but have begun selecting elite soldiers from the military."

Li Ang shook his head. "Training them after they've come of age certainly won't be as effective as raising them from childhood."

Manager Xu sighed. "Indeed. Demons and ghosts are fierce and powerful. Some evil spirits are so strong that even the Wude Guards must summon a large army and surround them just to beat them back.

"The Wude Guards were originally the emperor's personal troops.

"But with the Fan Towns growing more independent by the day, the Wude Guards stationed in various provinces and counties were also showing signs of acting independently and having every man fight for himself, resulting in numerous casualties when dealing with local demons."

Having said that, Manager Xu paused for a moment, and with a sigh added, "If it weren't for the lax military preparedness of the Wude Guards, the White Lotus Cult wouldn't be so brazen as to 'enlighten' bandits outside Lvzhou City."

Discussing this topic, both Manager Xu and Yang Er felt somewhat depressed and gloomy. The Wude Guards' lack of enthusiasm for their duties meant that the rise of evil spirits across various places greatly affected their business as caravan workers. As for why they didn't give up being merchants and just stay peacefully in one place... one could only say that oppressive governance is fiercer than tigers; if they couldn't pay the taxes, they wouldn't need to wait for demons—the government would devour their business first.

Yang Er perked up and said, "Speaking of strange tales, I heard a story not too long ago. They say that in a village in Mengzhou, the wife of the headman had just died and hadn't yet been placed in her coffin. One evening, as her children were keeping vigil by her body, they vaguely heard distant music approaching, reaching the courtyard.

"And to their shock, the corpse began to tremble slightly. Moments later, a white-dressed female corpse suddenly sat up from the funeral bed and, following music from an unknown source, began to dance alone.

"The family was struck dumb with astonishment and terror, not daring to intervene. They could only watch helplessly as the female corpse followed the music, fell at the threshold, then got up again after a while, hopped out the door, and disappeared into the forest.

"As night fell and the woods grew pitch-black, no one in the village dared to chase after her. It wasn't until the first watch that the drunken headman returned home. When he learned his deceased wife had gone after the music, he flew into a rage. He broke off a mulberry branch at the door and chased into the forest.

"He continued until he reached the Chaotic Grave Mound, six li away, where he saw his wife, draped in ethereal clothes, hopping and dancing in front of a tree.

"The headman, emboldened by alcohol, showed no fear. Instead, he shouted loudly.

"The zombie, hearing the noise, turned around and gave her husband a sinister and terrifying grin.

"Without a second thought, the headman raised the mulberry branch and struck her. The zombie immediately fell to the ground, and the music stopped. He then carried the zombie back home and a few days later, buried her calmly according to ritual."

Li Ang couldn't help but give a wry laugh. "Is that even possible? That drunkard is much more terrifying than the vile spirits."

Yang Er also laughed. "Indeed. I heard this from a drinking buddy. It's said that the music that moved the corpse was called 'Bewitchment'—'Bewitchment' of what, exactly?"

Li Ang said, "Bewitching Spirit Music. The 'Evening Burial Record' states: 'When a person has just died and the soul lingers, there is an official in the Underworld who manages the music that leads the deceased into darkness, preventing them from ascending to heaven; this is called bewitching spirit music.'"

Yang Er nodded with admiration. "That must be the name, then. The Taoist Master really is resourceful and knowledgeable."

Li Ang smiled and, looking ahead at the low hill, said indifferently, "Let's hurry. The city gates of that small town ahead are about to close."

"The Goose City behind the mountain?" Given Li Ang's previous feats, Yang Er wasn't surprised that he knew the county town ahead was about to close its gates (in fact, it was the Scout Soldier Bee flying in the sky that informed him).

With a whistle, he urged his horse on, prompting the caravan to quicken their pace toward Goose City.

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