Ji Xiang was not boasting.
Having spent so much time in the Great Fuli Land, Ji Xiang's sense of time had long since become unclear.
And in the incense smoke of those divine tablets, there were the prayers and wishes of people. What kind of absurdity were those wishes, seen through Ji Xiang's eyes in Fuli?
The deities people prayed to were merely divine tablets, all created by their own desires. Therefore, how could there be any true gods in the world?
The chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department gave an awkward smile. However, listening to Ji Xiang's earlier words, he was also lost in thought, suddenly feeling that his many years in the Imperial Household Department had been wasted.
This Forbidden City was originally a great forbidden land of the world, but who knew when the soldiers here could no longer fight, the generals began to fight for power and profit, the court was filled with a miasma, and the divine positions received by the Taoist officials and divine officials were becoming weaker and weaker.
Everyone was very active at first, but slowly, they all became people who muddled along, just getting by.
"What you say is true. If this old servant had met a wise person earlier, I should have already cultivated immortality."
The grand eunuch walked through the market, reminiscing about the person he had once loved.
"Alas, I am now incomplete below, and that girl has long since married. The impermanence of life, when I reflect on my actions for half my life, I find that I have achieved nothing."
The eunuch of the Imperial Household Department sighed, stating that eunuchs also had competition. The Imperial Household Department was the lowest among the Twelve Departments. Which chief eunuch did not wish to become the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial?
Look at the grand eunuch Tian Yi, who served by the emperor's side and acted on behalf of the Eastern Depot. Although he was an old slacker, his predecessors were all formidable figures.
"Your Excellency, do not say that. Although you are very old, you at least have a not-weak divine position. The position of [Bìluò Shìláng] is truly a heavenly post. This humble Taoist predicts that you may have great achievements in the future."
"Then this old servant will accept Master Ji's auspicious words!"
Around them, some people saw the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, his attire particularly striking. Of course, under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be anything new.
Eunuchs going out with a group of people were usually out to purchase goods. If they were going to the West City, they would go to the Hanlin Academy. Although the people from the Imperial Household Department did not often leave the city, they were familiar with many people here. However, today, they were accompanied by a heroic and handsome young Taoist, which attracted the attention of many.
Some people could not help but let their imaginations run wild.
"Are the eunuchs in the palace now wearing Taoist robes?"
"Hey, is Emperor Wanli favoring Taoism again?"
"This Taoist looks so handsome, it's a pity he's castrated."
"What are you looking at? Does he look good?"
A man snorted, rolled up his sleeves, patted his arm, and boasted to the person beside him:
"This is a real man!"
"What's the point of looking good? Are you going to seduce young girls?"
Such remarks came from all directions. When the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department turned his head, those who were speaking immediately fell silent, and it was impossible to tell who had said it.
The remaining people did not dare to speak, but smiled. Some who were slightly familiar with the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department greeted him. The grand eunuch hummed a couple of times. Seeing these familiar faces, he warned them:
"Do not speak carelessly!"
"This person beside me, do not gossip about him. Watch your mouths, say what should be said, and do not say what should not be said."
After the grand eunuch gave a few admonitions, those people all smiled and said they understood. However, Ji Xiang, with his immortal demeanor, walked past and glanced at them slightly, nodding. Those people then acted as if they were old acquaintances and struck up a conversation with Ji Xiang.
Familiar people could exchange a few words with the grand eunuch, while unfamiliar people naturally kept their distance.
Children ran through the bustling market. Seeing the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, they hid to the side. Listening to the whispers around them, the children were extremely curious: "Is that handsome Taoist also a eunuch?"
Ji Xiang turned his head at this moment. The children stood at the street corner, peeking out their heads, shaking their pigtails, and one child even had the same hairstyle as Nezha.
Ji Xiang smiled and turned to leave. The children then hurried after him, chattering and whispering to each other, saying that he looked so handsome, how could he be a eunuch? He definitely wasn't.
"Azure robe, crane-embroidered clothes, red whisk, truly like an immortal!"
"What's so good about being a Taoist? Pure and abstinent, no fun!"
"But I heard that cultivators live long lives... I'll tell my dad later, Dad, I'm going to cultivate immortality..."
"I'll go tell your dad right now, and see if your dad doesn't beat you to death!"
The children walked not far from Ji Xiang, waving and greeting him. The child with the Nezha hairstyle even asked:
"Taoist priest, is cultivating immortality fun?"
Ji Xiang smiled: "Of course it's fun. We eat clouds and mist, drink jade dew, chant scriptures three times a day, offer incense constantly, and drive away ghosts and demons at night. Look at all these magical artifacts on me, little ghosts bow to me as soon as they see me, calling me their esteemed master."
"Heh heh, then haven't you just gained years for nothing?"
The children giggled. The child with the Nezha hairstyle was very excited. As he walked, he chased after Ji Xiang and asked, "You really look like an immortal! Can I take you as my master?"
Ji Xiang couldn't help but laugh: "Do you know what a master-disciple relationship is? The Tao cannot be easily passed on."
The child with the Nezha hairstyle seemed a little confused.
Ji Xiang greeted the grand eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, fell back a few steps, and said to the child with the Nezha hairstyle:
"What does your family do?"
"My father is a craftsman at Mingyufang, living in the West City."
"Then can you afford the two taels of silver for apprenticeship?"
The child with the Nezha hairstyle was stunned, his face showing difficulty. Ji Xiang then smiled: "See, if you don't have money, even your livelihood is a problem, how can you go out to cultivate?"
"When parents are alive, one should not travel far. If one travels, one must have a purpose."
"Moreover, cultivation also depends on your immortal bones. Many people are mediocre their entire lives."
As Ji Xiang was chatting with the children, someone suddenly emerged from an alley ahead, looking dazed, and bumped into the grand eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, falling in a "tiger pounce" posture in front of him.
"Huh?"
The person raised his head, his eyes still hazy. The eunuch of the Imperial Household Department saw his clothes and stopped in time, almost kicking him.
What, trying to extort money?
"Huh, a Korean official?"
The eunuch of the Imperial Household Department recognized the man's attire as that of an official from the Joseon Dynasty. He should be in the Ministry of Rites now. Why was he wandering around the streets in such a state, as if he hadn't sobered up?
This was truly unbecoming!
...
Liu Mengyin got up from the ground, dizzy from the fall. Last night, he had stayed at Elder Lei Xuan's inn and heard a sensational big story, but then he seemed to have fallen asleep while listening.
When he woke up in the morning, he was still groggy and was thrown out. He vaguely remembered Elder Lei Xuan shouting in his ear, "Don't come again next time!"
But this was not the important thing. The important thing was that after Liu Mengyin left the inn, he felt that his vision was exceptionally clear. He blinked his eyes, and then he saw a different world!
Liu Mengyin trembled all over, looking around in fear. He didn't even notice the grand eunuch of the Imperial Household Department. It was only when he saw Ji Xiang following behind, along with the children, that he suddenly came to his senses and exclaimed:
"You didn't! You actually didn't!"