Chapter 212: A Grave, A Toad

The season had already passed into early autumn. Among the mountain ranges, the breath of autumn grew ever heavier. Beneath the glow of the setting sun, patches of withered yellow swayed across the hills, drifting down in a ceaseless fall. 

Like passing through a curtain of rain, the old donkey flicked its bald tail, stretching out its tongue to lick at the falling dry leaves. The instant its hooves touched the ground, it had already covered several zhang. Upon its gently undulating back, Lu Liangsheng sat sideways, flipping through a book. Taking a fruit picked by Hong Lian, he bit lightly into it—sweet juice and crisp flesh. 

“Master, would you like a bite?” 

From the corner of his eye, within the swaying bookshelf, the muffled voice of the toad sounded. 

“Not eating!” 

Lu Liangsheng patted the donkey’s head, slowing its pace. He casually closed the book, leapt down from the donkey’s back, and opened the small compartment door of the bookshelf, passing in the fruit still in his hand. 

Inside, the Toad Daoist slumped against a gourd, his two short legs drooping. Around his pale belly was wrapped a circle of bandages—that was from being scalded by the small pot. 

“Still angry, Master? I already apologized.” 

Lu Liangsheng crouched down, pushing the fruit a little further inside. “Have some fruit, calm your temper. It’s very sweet and full of juice.” 

“Hmph!” The Toad Daoist turned to face the other direction. “Why don’t you try getting scalded once?” 

He glanced at the bright red fruit in his disciple’s hand, smacked his lips, and shifted slightly to the side. “Put the fruit down.” 

Then, stretching out his webbed hand, he slapped the small compartment door shut. 

Lu Liangsheng chuckled, withdrawing his hand. Rising, he returned to sit atop the donkey, took out a map to glance at it, and urged the old donkey onward. Ever since the battle with Pudu Cihang, his master had grown increasingly like a child, occasionally throwing little fits. 

Though the journey to Qishan Cave Residence was long, it was a familiar route. Without delay, relying on Lu Liangsheng’s technique, Shrink the Earth into Inches, along with the old donkey’s speed, they would likely arrive within a day or two.

Departing from Qixia Mountain, they traveled northward, passing He Valley Prefecture, then changed course along the official road through Fulin Prefecture. They paused in the capital for half an hour, visiting Min Changwen and his daughter, giving them invisibility talismans and teaching them how to use them. 

He also instructed Min Yuerou that if matters became unavoidable, she should forcibly take Min Changwen away. Given the old man’s temperament, he would most likely choose to live and die with the city—and the young woman understood this well. 

Afterward, he inquired about Zuo Zhengyang’s situation. Unfortunately, a few days prior, once his wounds had healed, he had departed without a word. Even Min Changwen did not know where he had gone. 

‘The loss of an arm dealt him a heavy blow. If he can endure it, perhaps by now, he may already have stepped onto the path of cultivation.’

After bidding farewell to the father and daughter, Lu Liangsheng did not go to visit the City God Yu. They had only met once and exchanged a few words—there was little acquaintance between them, and a visit would have felt somewhat abrupt. 

Leaving the capital, he crossed the river and headed north. By the following day, he chose to travel along sparsely populated mountain foothills. As they drew closer to Qishan, the surrounding terrain—mountains and plains alike—grew increasingly desolate. 

The forest swayed, and among barren hills and withered trees, startled birds flapped wildly through the woods. A long trail of dust stretched behind them, and amid a faint “whoa” sound, they came to a halt beneath a solitary peak. 

The old donkey panted heavily, stamping its hooves. From within the swaying bookshelf compartment, the Toad Daoist pushed open the small door, glanced at the surrounding scenery, and let out a yawn. 

Then, sliding down along a rope, his webbed feet landed upon the uneven ground. Turning back, he spoke to his disciple: 

“You know how to open the cave residence. Go up yourself. Your master has a matter to attend to—no need to follow.” 

Having said that, he clasped his webbed hands behind him, waddling off toward the withered woods and low hills to the west. 

Hong Lian slipped out from the painting scroll and came to the scholar’s side, asking softly: “Young Master, what’s wrong with Master Toad? He seems to have something on his mind.” 

The Veiled-Moon Sword trembled a few times, sliding slightly out of its sheath. 

“If a toad has something on his mind, he must be thinking of a swan…” 

Smack! 

Lu Liangsheng slapped the scabbard. “Be quiet!” Only then did he lead the old donkey and Hong Lian up the mountain. This time, he had come to select suitable cultivation methods for his two disciples, Yuwen Tuo and Qu Yuanfeng. 

‘With how much Master has collected, there should be something suitable to choose from.’ 

Upon entering his master’s cave residence, a resplendent galaxy lit up overhead, as though he were walking amidst encircling stars. Not far away, the magical treasures, secret manuals, and medicinal pills that had once fallen from another hidden space were still piled there. 

…Uh. 

Looking at the heap of treasures, pills, and manuals taller than himself, he pressed a hand to his forehead. Now this would take some searching—no wonder his master hadn’t come up. 

Lu Liangsheng plopped down before the “small mountain”, casually picking up a cultivation manual, and calling out behind him: 

“Hong Lian, come help—Master should’ve come up with us first…” 

The muttered voice drifted out beyond the cave residence. In the autumn dusk, the fading light sank behind the western hills. Amid the shasha rustle of brush being pushed aside, the Toad Daoist, gourd on his back, made his way along the rugged slope to halfway up the mountain. 

Soft sunset light rolled in with drifting dust. Ahead, scattered rocks lay everywhere. Beneath a protruding boulder on the bare cliff face stood a lone earthen mound. Beside it grew a birch tree he had personally planted in years past—now as thick as a man’s waist. 

The Toad Daoist walked over with his webbed hands clasped behind him. Raising his toad face, he reached out a webbed hand and brushed across it. The carved characters from long ago had been heavily worn by wind and erosion, already blurred beyond recognition. 

Tracing along the old grooves with the tip of his webbed fingers, he slowly re-carved the words. After quite a while, he sat down cross-legged with the gourd on his back and smiled at the grave marker. 

Softly, he said: 

“I’m back.” 

He gazed at the tombstone for a long time. Then, with both webbed hands resting on his knees, the Toad Daoist suddenly let out a laugh. 

“It’s been a long time since I came. This old man has been out and about lately—stirring up storms wherever I go. Several great sects joined forces to hunt me down, and even some third-rate riffraff showed up too, hahaha… Who do they think I am? How could they possibly succeed? 

“But recently, I’ve been quite busy. I even took in a disciple—very clever. At first, I never intended to accept him. He even forced me to reveal my true form, which nearly caused my demon core to explode. Fortunately, everything turned out fine. No need to worry—you see, I’m sitting here just fine, talking with you… 

“Last time, I even ran into your father—a bald old monk, nagging endlessly, even thinking of becoming this old man’s father-in-law. If not for your sake, would I have let him off so easily? Hahaha—” 

The sunset light fell upon the scene: a single toad, laughing with spirited pride before a small grave mound. 

“Time passes too quickly… In truth, I know you may have already been reincarnated. No matter. Once I recover my cultivation, I’ll surely go to the City God to ask where you are. If I can’t find out, I’ll smash the City God Temple, then head to Mount Tai and barge into the Underworld to dig out the Book of Life and Death!” 

He rambled on for quite some time, not without a fair share of boasting. After a while, the Toad Daoist patted his backside and rose to his feet. 

“This old man should go check on my disciple—never gives me peace of mind. I’ll come see you again when I have time.” 

Only then did he leave this place. Having said so much, his mood was noticeably lighter. His steps became brisk, and from time to time, he even hopped along the path he had come by.