"It seems this immortal master is a true expert. These appearances are likely meant to deceive the common folk! Such an expert is not easily found. I must persuade the immortal master to stay; the hope of our village rests entirely on him!"
Thinking this, the white-haired village chief hurried forward to offer his respects.
"Immortal Master, if you refuse our money, our village absolutely cannot treat you and your esteemed disciples poorly! Please come to this old man's home. This old man wishes to host you properly!"
This was a complete 180-degree turn from their encounter at the mountain god temple earlier.
Lin Shuainan hadn't eaten anything since last night and had stood guard for the entire night. He was already famished and was about to agree.
Seeing Lin Shuainan's mouth watering, Ling Feng immediately stepped forward and said sternly, "Master, it's best we don't disturb the villagers. This mountain god temple is a place for quiet cultivation, and it's more suitable for divining the village's troubles!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Shuainan instinctively raised an eyebrow. "If there's food, why not eat for free..."
But with a glare from Ling Feng, Lin Shuainan suddenly came to his senses. "Oh, right! Old Village Chief! This immortal master and my disciples are all cultivators and it's inconvenient to disturb everyone at their homes. We'll be fine at the mountain god temple!"
"Uh... Alright then! Da Niu, Xiao Shan, quickly bring over the best bedding and blankets from your homes for the immortal masters. Also, everyone else, prepare some meals for the immortal masters and bring them over while they're hot..."
As the old village chief gave his instructions, the surrounding villagers sprang into action. In a blink of an eye, the mountain god temple was cleared out.
Smoke curled from chimneys throughout the village, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air, making one's mouth water!
Villages from neighboring areas, having heard of the immortal master coming to save them, also slaughtered chickens and sheep, preparing delicious food and fine wine. Soon, the scent spread across the entire mountainside!
On the mountainside, Shan Han Yi swallowed hard, his face contorted.
"Bastards! Are these villagers all idiots? They were so easily fooled by that fool Lin Shuainan with just a few words!"
His subordinates also grumbled upon hearing this.
They had been here for four days, and none of the villagers had invited them for a meal, let alone slaughtered chickens or ducks.
Furthermore, they had been driven away with sticks and forced to stay on the mountainside.
Smelling the fragrant aroma wafting from the mountain, they suddenly felt that the food in their hands was no longer appetizing!
Gulp. Several of them couldn't help but swallow.
Shan Han Yi, of course, heard everything clearly. He had retreated into his tent precisely to resist the temptation of such delicious food.
However, the scent seemed to penetrate everywhere!
"Damn it, these country bumpkins deserve it! They're facing doom, yet they still have the time to entertain others!"
After cursing in annoyance, Shan Han Yi couldn't help but reach out and shout towards the outside, "Bring me the telescope!"
"Huh?"
"What 'huh'? Bring the telescope!"
Shan Han Yi's face turned red as he cursed again.
What a joke! The smell was too enticing. Even if he couldn't eat it, he could at least feast his eyes!
With the telescope in hand, Shan Han Yi began observing everything at the mountain god temple.
"Wipe your drool!"
Ling Feng sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, yet he knew Lin Shuainan was drooling all over the place.
Lin Shuainan chuckled sheepishly, "Hehe, Big Brother, I'm sorry for making you pretend to be my disciple this time!"
"Hmph, you know you should be sorry? Not only did you take advantage of Ling Feng, but you also claimed we were all your disciples. You're truly something else!"
Xiu Xiu pinched Lin Shuainan's waist, causing him to grimace in pain!
The mysterious girl and Guan Ya both snickered at the sight.
Although Lin Shuainan had taken advantage of them, as large quantities of wine and meat were brought in, everyone's opinion changed.
That's right! It wasn't Lin Shuainan taking advantage of them; it was they who were taking advantage of Lin Shuainan!
Following Immortal Master Lin, there was definitely good food to be had!
The village chief, along with several important figures from the village, such as the deputy village chief, the brigade cadres, the women's director, and the village butcher, all arrived...
The village butcher, having contributed two pigs, was now also considered an important figure in the village and could sit opposite Lin Shuainan and the other immortal masters.
The butcher's face was greasy... no, it was radiant!
"Haha, Immortal Master! I'm the village butcher, everyone calls me Butcher Zhang! This suckling pig today is definitely less than three days out of the pen, and it's incredibly delicious! Come, I'll toast you with a vat of wine!"
Butcher Zhang was a rough and hearty fellow, and he toasted with vats, lifting a large vat and gulping it down!
Lin Shuainan, being fond of wine himself, felt a stir of desire. However, just as he was about to lift a vat, he was startled by a look from Ling Feng and shrank back.
"Ahem, drinking leads to mistakes. Eat less, know more. May the Lord grant you wisdom..."
"Idiot, you've blown your cover! You're a Taoist priest, not a missionary!" someone urgently reminded him from the side.
Lin Shuainan quickly corrected himself, "Sanqing Daozun above, grant you wisdom!"
Butcher Zhang was left stunned, scratching his head with his greasy, shining hand. "Ah, the immortal master is indeed an immortal master. I don't understand what you're saying!"
"Alright, Butcher Zhang, you say less," the white-haired village chief chided, then respectfully asked, "Immortal Master, why are people in our village always dying inexplicably? What exactly is going on?"
Lin Shuainan instinctively looked at Ling Feng. Seeing Ling Feng's posture of meditating with closed eyes, he knew this was his cue to improvise.
"Hmm! This is the work of ghosts and demons!"
"This Lin Shuainan is truly a charlatan. Ghosts and demons? He's talking utter nonsense!"
*Crack!*
Shan Han Yi clearly saw the delicious food and fine wine on Lin Shuainan's table and also saw his lips move. Enraged, he smashed the telescope in his hand to pieces!
Those around him looked distressed.
Lin Shuainan was indeed a great con artist.
However, enduring hardship in this remote village with Shan Han Yi, they would rather follow such a con artist. At least the food and lodging were good!
And with so many people fawning over them, how enjoyable was that!
"Damn it, if you don't want to eat what's in your hands, you can all starve!"
Hearing Shan Han Yi's anger directed at them, everyone quickly lowered their heads and started eating. If they didn't eat now, they might not even have these instant meals in a few days.
Shan Han Yi, however, could not eat anything at all.
"After you've all eaten, keep a close watch on the situation below. I want to see what else this bastard Lin Shuainan can come up with!"
With that, Shan Han Yi flipped over, preparing to sleep and lull himself into unconsciousness.
Everyone else inwardly lamented their misfortune.
Inside the mountain god temple.
Lin Shuainan's words shocked everyone present!
"This, Immortal Master! What kind of ghosts and demons are you talking about? The elders in our village also mentioned that there were fox spirits in the mountains that sucked people's vital essence. Those deceased villagers were all emaciated and extremely weak, looking as if they had been drained dry by fox spirits!" someone exclaimed in surprise.
Lin Shuainan waved his hands dismissively, "Hmm! No! Even if fox spirits want to suck vital essence, would they target children? That child you mentioned earlier, Gou Sheng, was only eight years old and hadn't even grown hair yet. How could a fox spirit suck him dry? That's indecent!"
The village chief and the others felt a moment of awkwardness.
But Lin Shuainan's words, though crude, were not without reason!
At this moment, Ling Feng suddenly spoke, "Village Chief, I need to ask you a few questions. Please answer them truthfully!"