Chapter 224 Yangzhou Taboo
We have arrived in Yangzhou. These were the loudest words Li Daoxuan had ever heard.

Just the boatman's shouting caused countless people to make a commotion.

After drifting on the river for so long, I feel at ease only when I reach the shore and put my feet on the ground.

The noise coming from the boat was the sound of countless footsteps.

The Xue sisters also knew that they had arrived, and they were preparing to get off the boat with their few belongings, but when they saw that Li Daoxuan had not left yet, they stayed where they were and did not move.

After all, he is the benefactor who helped them, so they still understand this courtesy.

He carried the basket of books on his back and waited for everyone to get off the boat first.

The boatman will stay in Yangzhou for a day to replenish the things on the boat. There is no need to rush to compete with others for the way. The aisle in the cabin is small, so one person can travel alone.

In addition, the crowd was crowded and the smell of others was strong. Li Daoxuan didn't want to be idle, so he decided to wait until everyone got off the boat and then get off slowly.

I was bored sitting on the horizontal board, so I continued chatting with the Xue sisters.

"As soon as we get off the boat, we're going to look for that relative?"

"That's right. I have been wandering for a long time and brought my sister here. I want to find my aunt as soon as possible and have a stable place to live and live a good life." Xue Yurong answered quietly, but Li Daoxuan could see that her eyes were full of expectation and joy at this moment.

Li Daoxuan looked at Xue Yurong, thought for a moment, and then took out a few taels of silver from his pocket, handed it to her, and said, "You should keep this carefully. I hope everything goes well for you when you go to visit your relatives. But it's always better to have some silver on hand."

"Master Li, how can I accept any more money from you? If you hadn't helped me, my sister and I might have sneaked onto the ship and been caught." Xue Yurong declined hastily, unwilling to accept the money.

After all, she had received too much care from the young master, and she was afraid that she could not repay the favor.

Seeing her resistance, Li Daoxuan could not help but frown slightly, weighing the silver in his hand and continued to say to Xue Yurong: "It's just a little money, it's not worth mentioning. You haven't had any contact with your relatives in Yangzhou for more than ten years, how do you know they are still living there? If the relatives are not found, where will you and Yuyan eat and live?"

"This..." After hearing Li Daoxuan's words, Xue Yurong couldn't help but tease.

She knew that what he said made sense. After she and her sister escaped, they did not have any extra money, otherwise they would not have sneaked onto the ship and had to ask him for help in the end.

"Take it. It can at least sustain you for a few days." As he said that, Li Daoxuan stuffed the money into Xue Yurong's hand. Looking at Xue Yuyan beside him with a smile on his face, he reached out and touched the little girl's head.

He actually liked this child very much. Although he looked quiet, he actually had an active mind. He was curious about everything and liked to think about it.

If he had a famous teacher to teach him, he might be able to become a remarkable person even when he reaches that stage in the future.

"Be careful on the road." Li Daoxuan reminded and prepared to get off the boat with his book basket on his back.

The two sisters followed him and walked outside.

When he was near the ship's mouth, he was about to get off the boat, but was stopped by a voice behind him.

"Master Li! Young Master Li!" Niu Daming's voice was heard, and Li Daoxuan looked back curiously. The two sisters heard the voice and saw that Li Daoxuan had stopped. They also stopped and moved to the side, fearing that they would block Li Daoxuan's sight.

Li Daoxuan couldn't help but smile when he saw the two sisters looking awkward. He turned sideways and motioned for them to go first.

At this time, Niu Daming came hurriedly, wiping the sweat from his head, with a smile on his face, followed by the old boatman and the boatman named Shuiwa.

But Shuiwa's face was pale at this time, and there were cloth bandages on his feet. After falling into the water that time, he was bitten on the feet by a water monkey. After resting for a night, he was able to walk.

He walked up to Li Daoxuan and, with the help of the old boatman, kowtowed to Li Daoxuan respectfully.

"Shuiwa kowtows to thank the benefactor for saving his life."

"Get up, it's time to take action." Li Daoxuan helped him up, looked at him and smiled, "Don't be so stubborn in the future. Don't be ignorant and fearless. Otherwise, if you really lose your life, you will regret it too late."

"Shui Wa knows." Shui Wa nodded seriously. Li Daoxuan patted his shoulder, then looked at Niu Daming beside him, and saw his flattering expression, and he immediately understood: "Brother Niu, do you have something else to tell me?"

"Master Li is extremely intelligent." Niu Daming praised, then reached out to the old boatman and took a wooden box from him. Compared to the wooden box containing money last time, this one was obviously flatter.

He presented the wooden box respectfully to Li Daoxuan and said, "Master Li saved the people on our ship. Please accept this token of appreciation."

"It was already last time."

"That time it was to show my appreciation. This is a thank-you gift from my boatman to the Taoist priest. If someone died on our boat, I would have to go to the Yangzhou government office right now. It would have delayed us for some time and it would have been difficult for us to do business. Master Li, please accept this as a token of my friendship to you. If you don't accept this gift, it means you look down on me!"

After hearing what Niu Daming said, Li Daoxuan felt that it would be bad if he didn't accept it.

He actually doesn't like this kind of rhetoric of forcing someone to do something, but there are many people in this world who say this.

"Well, it's a sincere gesture." Thinking of this, Li Daoxuan took the box, thanked him, and chatted with Niu Daming for a while.

"Master Li, what errand do you want to do when you come to Yangzhou this time?"

"I'm just helping a benefactor." Li Daoxuan said with a smile.

"I see." Niu Daming nodded. "If this Taoist priest comes to Yangzhou to do business, we still have to talk to him about some taboos."

"Taboo?" Li Daoxuan was also a little curious after hearing this.

Is there any special taboo in Yangzhou Prefecture?

"The Taoist priest has extraordinary skills and great magic, so we naturally believe in him. However, there is a group of monks in Yangzhou city, called the Happy Zen Sect. They have deep influence in Yangzhou and are said to have close connections with the Yangzhou prefect and the governor of Jiangnan. We all know that Buddhism and Taoism have never gotten along since ancient times. If Taoist priest Li meets monks in Yangzhou, he should not conflict with these people." Niu Daming said cautiously.

"Happy Zen Sect?" Li Daoxuan thought about the name of this Xuanmen sect but didn't know it. He looked at Niu Daming with some doubt. Seeing his expression, the other party did not hide anything and told him everything he knew.

"We can't really explain this Happy Zen sect. We only know that it is a group of monks. It is said that many officials like to associate with them. They are very powerful. Even the Daming Temple in Yangzhou has to give in to this Happy Zen sect. Anyone who gets involved will have their family destroyed."

At this point, Niu Daming looked nervous.

He looked around again, fearing that something unexpected had happened.

Then he whispered in Li Daoxuan's ear, "I heard that this Happy Zen sect has a secret method that can make this man strong. Even the most incompetent man can regain his strength by going to this Zen sect. Therefore, these officials and wealthy businessmen have close contacts with them. I just want to talk to the Taoist priest about this, please don't tell others."

"I know." Li Daoxuan seemed to understand something and nodded at Niu Daming.

"It's good that Master Li knows. The other thing is about the Cuihong Tower in Yangzhou. I wonder what the precepts are for the master. If you are interested in going there, don't show off your wealth, otherwise your life will be in danger."

"Also, Yangzhou has not been peaceful these days. If it's night, Taoist priest, go to sleep peacefully and don't go out at night to avoid getting into trouble."

After Niu Daming finished speaking, he exchanged a few words with Li Daoxuan, and then the two of them bowed and said goodbye, separating on the deck.

Li Daoxuan got off the boat, put his feet on the ground, felt the peace of mind of being down to earth, and walked towards Yangzhou city.

Not long after leaving the dock, we saw a city wall appear.

Like a woman waiting to put on some makeup, she sits there quietly.

Willow trees on both sides of the river swayed in the wind, and faint sounds of women's singing could be heard.

It is true that the wind blows the willows on the bank, and the rouge passes through Yangzhou.

Carrying his book basket on his back, Li Daoxuan walked slowly into the city.

(End of this chapter)