Chapter 83 Tea House
After seeing Grandma Zhang off, Li Daoxuan saw the basket left on the ground.

When I opened it, I found a basket of eggs. Inside were a few strings of copper coins of varying sizes, worth only about two or three coins of silver. They must have been left behind by Granny Zhang.

Li Daoxuan remembered that he had eaten wontons at Granny Zhang's place. She was so old and still selling things at a stall, so it was obvious that her family was not well-off. He also heard her say that she had a son who was married. Her husband passed away early, and she was the one who worked hard to raise her son.

So it seems that although the things left here are not valuable, they may be the most valuable things that Grandma Zhang's family can show off.

"Young master, these things..." the servant looked at Li Daoxuan and asked, pointing at the basket on the ground.

"Put it away and put it in the kitchen first." Li Daoxuan sighed softly, feeling mixed emotions.

Just now, I saw that Granny Zhang was already in a critical condition. I guess the evil spirit in the family was even more rampant and had already started to attack Granny Zhang.

Since he had promised the old lady this, Li Daoxuan would not disappoint her. He decided to go to Granny Zhang's house tomorrow to take a look before making other plans.

Eliminating demons and evil spirits is not as easy as fighting. Mountain spirits and wild monsters are naturally created, and they are often magical and difficult for ordinary magicians to deal with. Not to mention that there are various methods in the world, all of which borrow the power of spirits and monsters, called great immortals, to eliminate demons and evil spirits.

Therefore, when dealing with different evil things, you need to have strategies to deal with them. This place is dangerous and is beyond the knowledge of ordinary people.

The old Taoist priest once told a story about a wizard who went to a grave to exorcise ghosts. However, because he went to the wrong target, the ghost possessed him and he eventually became insane.

Such situations are common, and to exorcise evil spirits, one needs to open an altar and offer sacrifices. After all, people can die easily, but ghosts and gods are hard to guard against.

Back in the house, Li Daoxuan packed up his magic tools, including a peach wood sword and an eight-diagram mirror, which were given to him by the old Taoist priest.

Apart from these, there are only some true talismans and a piece of flamboyant tree left.

The phoenix wood was a treasure buried with the Ming crown prince Zhu Biao in Longling. Although Li Daoxuan did not understand what the thing was used for, the Taoist treasured it so much that it was definitely not an ordinary thing.

This royal poinciana tree is one foot and three inches long and two inches wide. The wood is round and shiny, and the wood grain is like phoenix feathers. If you look at it towards the light, it looks like phoenix feathers swaying when you look closely, and you can vaguely see a phoenix flying in it when you look at it from a distance. The color is extremely beautiful, no wonder it is called royal poinciana tree.

Li Daoxuan held it in his hand and felt a warmth coming. Even if he stood in front of the window in a single layer of clothes and let the drizzle and cold wind blow in, he didn't feel any cold at all. This magical appearance really made people love it.

Li Daoxuan played with the Delonix regia for a while, and then wrapped the wood with silk.

Although I don't know its use, it's always a good idea to keep it around.

The next morning, Li Daoxuan spoke a few words to Mrs. Li and said that he had something to do and needed to be out for a while.

Although Mrs. Li was also worried about her son's safety, she thought that although the boy was young, he grew up in Maoshan and saved Master Li and his eldest son in Longling, so she hesitated for a moment and then agreed.

"Come back early and don't miss the time." Mrs. Li said with concern.

"I know, mother." Li Daoxuan grinned, revealing his white teeth. "Don't you know my ability, mother? Don't worry."

"You little brat." Madam Li poked Li Daoxuan's forehead with amusement, and then handed him a purse. "You should have some money to keep with you when you go out. Take this first, and if you need anything else, tell me."

"Mother, you will spoil the child like this." Li Daoxuan took the purse and opened it. There were several ingots of silver in it. It should be quite a lot, about ten taels. In this era when the average annual income of tenant farmers was only eight or nine taels, this money was already a year's rich expenditure for an ordinary family at that time.

Mrs. Li always loves and spoils her son so much, which makes Li Daoxuan feel a little guilty.

"What's the matter? You are my child, can't I spoil you as a mother?" Madam Li said with a smile, and asked the servant to bring the jade needle raincoat and golden rattan hat.

This thing is similar to an ordinary straw raincoat, but it is more exquisite and comfortable than a straw raincoat.

"Go ahead, be careful on the road." Mrs. Li advised Li Daoxuan as she helped him put on his clothes. Li Daoxuan nodded and left the Li family's house with the magic tools and talismans.

Standing at the door of Li's house, listening to the sound of raindrops falling on the ground.

Tick-tick, like a mechanical clock that never sleeps. A lot of water has accumulated on the bumpy bluestone slabs, and the water is clear to the bottom.

There were few pedestrians coming and going, and everyone was in a hurry, walking in the rain.

This was the first time that Li Daoxuan went out to see Jinling by himself. When he came back before, he was only busy finding the way and didn't take a good look at the city of Jinling.

Now, it is a place with green tiles, white walls and lush grass. Mosses creep up on the corners of the walls, and pine and cypress trees stretch out their branches in the garden. The courtyard wall stretches out and surrounds the four sides. It has the elegance of Suzhou and Hangzhou, and the uniqueness of Jinling. Although it is different from the misty Jiangnan in imagination, it is more real.

Li Daoxuan took a deep breath, feeling the drizzle falling. Listening to the sound of water splashing, he felt that this moment was real.

Perhaps he has never been able to truly understand this world since he traveled to it.

This is an era that is about to be in chaos, and it is also an era that has not seen any changes for a thousand years. Living in this era, happiness and misfortune have become a predetermined outcome.

"No matter what, I am still me." Li Daoxuan said to himself.

He pulled the bamboo hat on his head and walked slowly into the rain. The clouds and mists lingered around him, hiding the beautiful scenery of Jinling in the whiteness.

Walking towards Granny Zhang's house, the Bagua mirror hanging around his waist jingled against the rope knot, and the peach wood sword behind him trembled slightly, making a buzzing sound.

"The magic weapon is shaking. I think there is an evil spirit nearby." Li Daoxuan looked around. The streets and buildings were connected, and black and white were intertwined in the mist and rain, like an ancient painting, wandering between heaven and earth.

However, he sensed an unusual smell in this ancient painting. A faint stench emanated from the building and floated around Li Daoxuan's nose.

"It seems that Jinling is not as safe as I thought."

Winter rains came and went, thick fog rose, cold winds blew, and the stench of corpses floated in the air.

There was no sound of chickens or dogs, and no human voices. Something strange must have happened.

Li Daoxuan walked through the streets on the bluestone slabs, looking coldly at the pedestrians passing by.

The Lantern Festival hasn't even ended yet, but the streets of Jinling City are no longer bustling?
Perhaps something had happened that caused people to be afraid to go out.

Li Daoxuan looked around as he walked, afraid of missing something.

Soon I came to the door of a shop and saw a sign hanging upstairs with the word "Tea" written on it, followed by three small words "Old Brand". I guess it must be an old shop.

Li Daoxuan stood in front of the store for a moment and then walked into the teahouse.

There were not many customers inside, only two or three people were sitting at the table drinking tea and chatting. In front of the counter, several iron stoves were burning charcoal, boiling water in the kettle.

The waiter was leaning against the counter, dozing off with his eyes closed. Perhaps sensing someone coming in, he rubbed his eyes and smiled at the visitor, "Sir, would you like some tea?"

"Hello." Li Daoxuan said coldly.

"Okay, please take a seat." The waiter greeted him warmly and took him to an empty table.

(End of this chapter)