I run a Taoist temple in a bizarre world.

Chapter 63 The Strange Green Water Village

The day is almost halfway over.

Chi Le stood under a tree, enjoying the shade, with a view of a large cluster of buildings in Cuishui Village.

Cuishui Village is indeed not far from Qingshan Temple.

Chi Le set off in the early morning and arrived at Cuishui Village before noon.

He had changed his clothes by then.

The loose, dark Taoist robe he wore was nowhere to be seen; he had transformed into a common farmer dressed in coarse cloth, and the mist that had been swirling around his face had also disappeared.

He revealed a handsome face, showing his true appearance in the real world.

This is a change that Chi Le recently discovered while searching for "strange peach wood" in an unnamed hill near Qingshan Temple.

Once he leaves Qingshan Temple, he can change the clothes on his body and dispel the mist on his face at will.

"It's a pity that the [Toad's Treasure Molt] cannot be transformed at will."

Lifting a corner of the thin gauze outer robe she was wearing, still in its original state, Chi Le looked somewhat helpless.

"But it's alright, now that we're in a strange world, we're not too conspicuous."

"However, something's not right about this Cui Shui Village."

Looking at the already bustling Cuishui Village in the distance, Chi Le changed the subject on his own.

In the eyes of ordinary people.

Outside Cuishui Village, farmers are busy tending to their crops under the midday sun.

Inside the village, young children played and frolicked at the village entrances and alleys, while farm women gathered in groups, chatting about everyday matters while busy preparing vegetables for lunch.

This is a typical scene of a farmhouse in a secluded village.

But Chi Le sensed something was off, and there was a familiar feeling about it.

It was cold and damp.

The whole village exuded a chilling atmosphere.

It's like encountering a day-returning person in the real world, or the chilling presence of demons and evil spirits in a strange and fusion-like area.

"It's almost noon; demons and evil spirits couldn't possibly have survived until now."

"Moreover, neither the Special Affairs Bureau's data nor what I've seen myself shows that any demons or evil spirits can escape the eerie fog and survive in the sunlight."

Chi Le watched the villagers busy themselves in the sunlight.

Dispel those outrageous thoughts from your mind.

"But it's possible that evil spirits or demons roamed this area and left behind traces."

"But to leave such a large mark in one go, demons and evil spirits that haven't reached the first or second rank are definitely not enough."

"If it were a higher rank..."

Chi Le didn't think any further. A higher level wasn't impossible, but Cui Shui Village wouldn't still be intact.

"Regardless, the closest place to Qingshan Temple, and the only place that might have the [Fragrance-Eating Ghost], is Cuishui Village. Since we're already here..."

[We'll search for clues related to the food's aroma, and also look in long-abandoned temples to see if any divine artifacts from Qingshan Temple can be found.]

After repeating the two main goals of this trip to Cuishui Village to myself in my heart.

Chi Le became extremely vigilant, making sure that there was enough incense offerings and that the mountain gate could be summoned at any time.

He lifted his leg and walked towards Cuishui Village.

It was different from what he had expected.

On the way to Cuishui Village, there were no signs of demons or evil spirits lurking there, waiting to attack people after they had crossed the pedestrian crossing.

Some were just normal inquiries and greetings.

"I've never seen you before. Where are you from?"

"Hey, why are you bothering with other people? Hurry up and start digging! If you don't finish, you won't get any cornbread later!"

"It's in the neighboring Changxi Village, right? If you want to buy medicinal herbs, go to Old Li's place. Look, just follow this road to the end, that's the house with vines hanging at the door."

"But didn't Zhao Zhu from your village arrive with his men early this morning?"

"What's wrong? Did you oversleep?"

Chi Le remained silent, only offering a slightly awkward smile.

He accepted the explanation given by the person who greeted him.

The man shook his head dismissively and continued swinging his hoe.

"Sigh, these young people nowadays..."

Chi Le wiped the lingering fake smile from his face, looked at the only road connecting the inside and outside of Cui Shui Village, and slowly moved his feet.

He had just observed the layout of the village from under the trees outside the village.

In the southeast corner, a little away from the village's main building area, there is a house that clearly resembles a small temple or shrine.

But to get to any temple, you can only take this road leading into the village.

If you walk around the outside of the village, you will step over a lot of farmland.

A group of farmers were busy working here, so Chi Le couldn't be so ostentatious.

[But this road will pass by Old Li's house again, where Zhao Zhu comes to Cui Shui Village to buy medicinal herbs. Although his appearance and clothes have changed, it's always better to be careful.]

Chi Le thought to herself.

Zhao Zhu had seen his abbot's disguise at Qingshan Temple before, and Chi Le didn't want this disguise he was using to travel outside to be exposed so quickly.

Perhaps it was because Chi Le hesitated to move forward.

The old man who had spoken to Chi Le earlier picked up his hoe and said something to him.

"Young man, don't you even know how to walk?"

"Perfect timing, I'm going home for dinner. Come with me, I'll take you to Old Li's house."

With unwavering enthusiasm, the old man pulled Chi Le along and headed into the village.

It was cold and damp!

As the old man approached Chi Le.

Chi Le could feel this chill even more acutely.

It wasn't because of a brief encounter with demons or evil spirits that caused the chilling aura.

He looked more like a fish butcher who had been butchering fish for years, with a fishy smell emanating from his pores.

Chi Le deliberately maintained a safe distance for himself.

Not only was she wary of the old man who was approaching her, but she was also wary of the village women and children around her.

When they saw Chi Le's unfamiliar face, they didn't show much doubt or wariness.

After a brief glance, they continued with their work.

It seemed as if they were already used to it.

Despite this, Chi Le remained vigilant and began to scrutinize the houses he passed.

The house was nothing special, and its layout was similar to that of houses in Changxi Village.

In addition to the door god paintings pasted on the main gate, there are also three sticks of incense that have burned down to the base of the door.

The incense sticks are not special in appearance; they are the kind commonly found in temples.

Chi Le glanced through it briefly.

Almost every household had this burnt incense hanging above their door.

Why is it displayed in every household?

Moreover, I always felt that the incense had a stronger chilly, gloomy scent.

However, given her current situation, Chi Le did not ask the question, but simply kept it in mind.

Before long, the old man brought Chi Le to the front of the Li family's house, which was considered a wealthy household in the village.

"Here it is. Zhao Zhu and the others should still be here. Just go in. Don't be afraid of him scolding you. Zhao Zhu may look strict, but he's actually very kind-hearted. Even if he scolds you, he won't say anything nasty."

The old man offered words of comfort.

He clearly interpreted Chi Le's refusal to enter Lao Li's house as a sign that he was afraid of being scolded for oversleeping and missing the group activity.

Chi Le did not deny this, but simply nodded silently.

When the old man saw Chi Le's appearance, the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.

Perhaps it reminded her of when she was young and faced a similar situation, she felt helpless and like the sky was falling.

But considering his age, with half of him buried in the yellow earth, it's nothing.

The old man knew that he had to rely on himself to get through this kind of thing; no one else could help him.

So he tried to pat the young man on the shoulder as a silent encouragement, but the young man dodged him.

The old man didn't insist, he said.

"I'm heading back now. Like I said, don't be afraid."

Chi Le raised an eyebrow.

This old man is a veteran actor.