Bizarre Cultivation: Starting from Being Beaten Up by Reality

Chapter 20 Deceptive Tactics

Lin Fan looked around and realized that the two were no longer at his home, or even in Bailin Village.

This was a neat and shiny wooden house. The two men looked different from before; they had both become strong and tall young men.

Lin Fan asked, "Who are you?"

"Uncle-Master, my current identity is Xu Yunxiao, a disciple of the Ge Family Martial Arts School. At a young age, I have already reached the peak of the first level of fist strength, and I also have a beautiful fiancée named Xiao Cui."

Lin Fan asked again, "And who am I?"

The dog-skinned Taoist priest chuckled and replied, "You are Ge Sichao, the young master of the Ge Family Martial Arts School. The school master has been cultivating you with great effort, but you haven't even been able to break through to the first level. You're also a lecherous fellow; because you covet Xiao Cui, you've caused Ge Yunxiao no shortage of trouble."

Lin Fan frowned slightly. This time, the 'illusion' wasn't a return to the modern world; it was still within the Great Qian Dynasty. What was going on with this unfamiliar scenario?

But he quickly understood, "So this is the world you remember? Your past? That's why you know so much about the people and things here!"

Yun Xiangzi was surprised that Lin Fan understood so quickly. How could he know that modern people were so familiar with things like time travel and dungeons? After a moment of hesitation, he explained, "Of course not. I am a monk, with no attachments or past. As for knowing about the situation in this strange realm, that's naturally because I have cultivated the Heavenly Eye, which allows me to know everything in this illusion."

"Isn't the Heavenly Eye a skill cultivated by monks? Forget it, what's the point of arguing with someone like you?" Lin Fan wasn't in the mood to listen to his boasting. "Anyway, it's all the same. So what should we do next? And where is the Red-Clothed Curse?"

"Nephew, don't rush. Take out the immortal sword first."

Lin Fan reached out and touched a peach wood sword that didn't match his current clothes at all, and found it hanging on his body.

Lin Fan hurriedly drew his peach wood sword. He knew very well how strange this illusion was, and if he could, he didn't want to stay there for even a moment longer.

"Where is the Red-Clothed Curse? Just kill it, right?" Lin Fan looked around with his sword.

"Tsk, you're someone who's about to become a monk, stop thinking about killing people all the time!" Yun Xiangzi was very calm, seemingly not worried about his situation of being separated from his soul. "Do you know that only our souls are here, while our bodies are still in your house?"

“Our soul and body are not completely synchronized at this moment, but our actions here will still affect our bodies. You may not understand if I put it that way, so let me give you an example,” Yun Xiangzi said slowly.

Lin Fan hurriedly interrupted, "Stop using analogies. Why didn't you say these things before we came in? Why do you have to explain them now that we're here? I know, I almost shoved a scythe down my throat while eating in the illusion."

"It's a miracle you're still alive. In that case, it's easier to explain. This sword can cross two realms, so it can help us find our way. Although we've emptied the house, there are still walls and that hoe. If you bump into something, you won't bleed here, but your body over there will suffer."

Lin Fan examined the peach wood "divine" sword with a complicated expression. He really hadn't expected it to be used like this. It's just a walking stick!

Soon, the two men started pointing at the ground with their swords and began walking. They were like two blind men who could see the road, and every now and then they would pretend there was something in front of them and walk around in circles.

Chun Chun is sick. She's not young, but she acts like a child.

"Are these two kids out of their minds? It's not even dark yet, and they're using a cane to feel their way. Wow, they're acting like there's really a wall in front of them."

"Of course it is! To be honest, he looks quite ill."

"Don't talk nonsense. These two are disciples of the martial arts school. They might be practicing some new techniques."

"What kind of skill? The Toad Blinding Skill?"

In the local dialect, "frog" and "blindly groping" sound similar. After an old man said this, the women around him all burst into laughter.

The problem was that because they had to ensure safety with every step, Lin Fan and his group couldn't walk very fast. The passersby simply surrounded them, eating sunflower seeds and discussing how the Toad Kung Fu was practiced and how powerful it was.

Some even asserted with certainty that the Toad Toad Kung Fu is invisible in ordinary times, but once activated, its perception far surpasses that of ordinary people, making it sound very plausible.

Even though he knew it was all an illusion, Lin Fan still felt embarrassed and wanted to escape as soon as possible. Especially when he thought about his own body, poking around in the house with a wooden sword, he could only pray that no one would come in. If his own mother saw him, she might drag him away to be exorcised.

"Daoist Master, where are we going? Where is the Red-Clothed Curse hiding?" In his anxiety, Lin Fan even became a little more polite in his speech.

"Don't rush, just follow me. The time isn't right yet. We have to follow the path of this illusion."

The two lingered until it was almost dark before finally arriving at a thatched hut.

As soon as the two pushed open the door, a beautiful figure rushed out of the room.

"Yun Xiao, why are you only arriving now! I still need to go home and cook!" The pretty young girl complained angrily to the dog-skinned Taoist priest.

Yun Xiangzi casually made up a story: "I just had a discussion with Senior Brother Ge and gained some insights, so I came back a little late."

The girl then noticed Lin Fan behind the dog-skinned Taoist priest, her eyes showing disgust. "Why are you here! Ge Sichao, you're not allowed to have any bad ideas about our Yunxiao!"

Lin Fan didn't know what to say for a moment. After all, he didn't know Ge Sichao well, and saying too much would only make him look foolish.

"Senior Brother Ge actually came here specifically to apologize to us," the dog-skinned Taoist said, poking Lin Fan's calf with his wooden sword.

Although Lin Fan was displeased, he had no choice but to cooperate for the time being. "Ahem, that's right. I was young and ignorant before, and I offended Miss Xiao Cui and Junior Brother Xu a lot." Lin Fan carefully chose his words and said, "I have realized my mistakes and will definitely correct them in the future. I hope that you will be magnanimous and give me another chance."

Seeing that his sincere expression seemed genuine, Xiao Cui raised her beautiful swan neck and nodded in satisfaction. She then recounted the despicable things Ge Sichao had done in the past and made a few disparaging remarks about Lin Fan.

Although Lin Fan was unhappy about being disliked, fortunately, Xiao Cui had a pleasant voice and her scolding had a touch of coquettishness, so Lin Fan had no choice but to not take it seriously.

"Xiao Cui, hurry back, it's getting late." The dog-skinned Taoist priest urged Xiao Cui when he saw that it was almost time.

Xiao Cui went back into the house, packed some things, and turned to leave. She was stopped by the dog-skinned Taoist priest as soon as she reached the door.

The young Taoist priest, dressed in a dog-skin robe, grabbed Xiao Cui's hand and pulled the girl closer to him. His handsome appearance made his usually lewd expression seem unusually refreshing. He whispered in her ear, "I'll be waiting for you at the usual place tonight."

Xiao Cui's face immediately turned bright red. She nodded slightly, whispered a word of advice, and ran off quickly.

Lin Fan was not far away. Although the two were whispering to each other, he could still hear everything clearly. Now he understood why Xiao Cui had waited for them to come back before leaving.

Watching the girl's graceful figure disappear into the distance, Lin Fan couldn't help but sigh, "What a good girl, why would she fall for a stinky old man like you?"

"Sigh, I already told you this isn't me." The dog-skinned Taoist priest was too lazy to explain to Lin Fan anymore and went inside to see Xu Yunxiao's mother.

Xu Yunxiao's mother knew the two had arrived long ago, but she was too weak and her words, though spoken with all her might, could not reach the outside.

There were no clues from the mother's side. She simply chatted with the Taoist priest about everyday things, telling him to take care of his health, to work hard, and most of all, to tell him that Xiao Cui had many things to offer and that he shouldn't let her down.

Lin Fan noticed a tattoo on Xu Yunxiao's mother's face—a lifelike tattoo of a Taoist priest. The Taoist priest had a solemn appearance, unlike an ordinary cultivator.

Lin Fan interrupted, asking, "What illness does Aunt Xu have?"

"I am seeking the Dao of the plague," Xu Yunxiao's mother replied. "I have been suffering from it for ten days and only have twenty days left to live."

Yun Xiangzi said sincerely, "Mom, don't worry, I will definitely cure you."

"Just give your mother a break. Don't try to show off just because you know a little kung fu. Murder is a crime, and if that happens, we'll both be beheaded!"

Lin Fan didn't understand why treating an illness could be linked to murder, but he wasn't in a hurry to ask. He could ask the dog-skinned Taoist priest separately later.

"Hey, why are you leaving without even eating dinner? Xiao Cui specially cooked some dishes and left them on the stove."

As soon as the dog-skinned Taoist priest was about to leave, the mother began to stop him.

She held Xu Yunxiao's hand and said earnestly, "Yunxiao, please don't think about saving me. I'm an old man and I won't live for many more years anyway. When I die, just find a place to bury me. Don't spend money on my funeral. I know you have a talent for martial arts, but please don't be competitive. Marry Xiaocui as soon as possible and live a peaceful life."

The Taoist priest on the surface sincerely agreed, but Lin Fan could tell that he hadn't listened to a word he said.

Lin Fan chimed in, saying that his father had something important to discuss with them, which was why they had to go. Only then did the two of them finally leave the house.

Lin Fan hurriedly used his wooden sword as a cane, tapping it rapidly around.

"This plot is so boring, and they always dawdle like this while walking." Lin Fan was already very impatient. What was this? Was he being shown a family drama?

"It's almost here, almost here, the Red-Clothed Curse is about to appear," Yun Xiangzi said, somewhat dazed.

"So where do we go now? Why don't we just go there from the beginning?"

"Go to the place where Xu Yunxiao and Xiao Cui are having a secret rendezvous."

Lin Fan suddenly understood everything: the Taoist priest had gone home just to trigger this secret rendezvous!

Lin Fan suddenly realized, "Could it be that Xiao Cui is the Red-Clothed Curse?"

"Not yet."

"Stop beating around the bush and tell me everything you know all at once."