After Princess Xuanxue came down from the mountain, the whole capital was in chaos.

Chapter 178 When something goes wrong, there must be a monster

Taoyuan Village is very large, with mountains to the north and a river running through the city. There are many peach blossom trees planted in the village, hence its name. The oldest peach tree has been around since the birth of the village, and is at least two to three thousand years old.

Zhang Jing said that this village used to have a population of five to six thousand and stretched for more than ten miles. A plague ten years ago killed everyone in the village.

The further we go in, the more trees and weeds grow in the wild, and the trees are very thick, some even hundreds of years old.

"Everyone, please follow closely." Xing Shuo reminded loudly.

The trees are getting denser and denser, and Yuan Qi has the illusion that he has arrived in a primeval forest.

Because the village is very big, it got dark while walking. Fortunately, everyone was prepared and brought oilcloths and fire folding bags.

Xing Shuo and others continued walking inside with Yuan Qi and others holding a torch.

There was a faint light appearing in front, and everyone felt anxious.

Bai Youhui asked, "Seventh sister, you see there are people living in front. The pavilions over there look very beautiful."

"It's just an illusion. Be careful not to lose your mind."

When Yuan Qi said this, the surrounding scenery immediately changed. It was no longer a desolate and dense forest, but turned into a lively market. Street vendors were one after another, the streets were crowded with tourists, and the dilapidated houses also changed. The red walls and green tiles are full of fireworks.

Everyone was startled, because the policeman was holding a knife in his hand, so he was very eye-catching, and everyone pointed at Yuan Qi and others.

"Put it away. There is no killing intention. We will not be in danger. Now let's find the owner of this illusion." Yuan Qi calmly pressed the knife in Xing Shuo's hand.

A young man with a bamboo basket blocked everyone's way: "Would you like some sugar cakes that have just come out of the pot? They are very sweet."

Everyone knew that this was an illusion and there was no way they dared to eat, so they all shook their heads.

The boy selling candy cakes regretfully gave way, and Yuan Qi asked him: "Brother, where is the leader here?"

The young man touched his head with confusion on his face.

Yuan Qi made something up casually: "My brother passed by here a while ago. He is tall and handsome. He is wearing a white robe. Have you seen him?"

The young man was very enthusiastic: "Are you a scholar?"

Yuan Qi nodded like a chicken pecking rice: "Yes, yes, my brother is studying in the academy and has not returned home for a long time. My mother asked me to come out and look for him."

The young man pointed to the far north: "The scholars are all over there at Taozhi Academy. You might be able to find them there."

Yuan Qi looked in the direction of his finger. There were bright lights over there, and a large, neat building was built on the mountainside, which could be seen from a long distance.

"Thank you, brother." Yuan Qi led everyone away.

Bai Yougui also noticed: "The people here seem to be ordinary people. Do you think they are the original residents of this village?"

Yuan Qi smiled: "You have been with me for a long time, and you have become smarter. You are right, but they are all ghosts, doing the same business as they were before they were alive."

Bai Youhui immediately felt unhappy. Looking at the people passing by him, he subconsciously avoided them.

The policemen who followed did not dare to talk to those people at will, let alone buy their things.

Xing Shuo chatted with Yuan Qi: "These people don't seem to know Kung Fu, they are all ordinary people. Taoist priest, are they really just ghosts and not monsters?"

Yuan Qi hummed: "They are not monsters, the monsters are right in front." Everyone looked up and saw that the very tall peach tree was right in front. Its branches stretched out far away, and pink peach blossom petals would fall wherever they went. The place is decorated beautifully and romantically, and the petals on the tree seem to be falling forever.

Even Bai Youhui and Qian Wenbing couldn't help but reach out and take a few petals, and they could still smell the faint fragrance when they put them in their palms.

It didn't take long for everyone to arrive under the peach blossom tree.

Under the tree stood a handsome young man wearing a pink and white gown. His dark hair was tied with a peach branch. He had handsome features, red lips and white teeth. He also held a folding fan with peach blossoms in his hand. Not far away was a A table with a jug of wine and several wine glasses.

He looked at Yuan Qi with a smile.

Yuan Qi was also looking at him. He had at least two thousand years of cultivation. Fortunately, there was no murderous intent in this man.

"You all wait here and don't go too far." Yuan Qi ordered.

Xing Shuo was also a little confused: "Taoist Master, is this the monster you are talking about? Why isn't it a green-faced fang? Instead, it's a handsome man?"

"Ah."

"I, Tao Ran, have met the Heavenly Master." Tao Ran is not only good-looking, but also polite.

Bai Youhui looked at this person carefully and whispered in Yuan Qi's ear: "He doesn't look like a monster."

Yuan Qi spoke to Bai Youhui without any concealment: "With high cultivation level, I can hide it well, but I can't hide the evil spirit."

"Can you beat me?" Bai Youhui felt a little unsure.

"No problem. Although he is powerful, he is also afraid of my red lotus fire. Trees are most afraid of fire." Yuan Qi was very confident.

After muttering enough, she spoke to Tao Ran: "How old are you?"

Tao Ran invited Yuan Qi, Bai Youhui and Qian Wenbing to sit down at the table, where there were four seats for four wine glasses.

He chuckled and said, "Two thousand seven hundred and fifty-six years old."

"You have been here for a long time, it would be a pity to die." Yuan Qi said this as soon as he sat down.

"You knew it as soon as we arrived in this village, right?" Yuan Qi smelled the wine on the table. It was brewed with peach blossoms and had a refreshing taste. It is rare to see such good wine outside.

Bai Youhui smelled it and knew it was good wine: "Peach Blossom Drunk."

Tao Ran glanced at him lightly and then answered Yuan Qi's question: "Yes, my root system has covered a ten-mile radius. I'll know it as soon as you come. What do you think of my place, Master Tian?"

Yuan Qi raised his eyebrows slightly: "I don't think there's anything good about you imprisoning the souls of the Taoyuan Village people here so that they can't go to the underworld to reincarnate or be reincarnated."

Tao Ran was a little angry: "I'm afraid the Heavenly Master doesn't know how they died back then, right? If it weren't for the plague, they would still be alive now. The villagers of Taoyuan Village have watered and nourished me for generations, but when the plague came, I couldn't save them. They, do you know how sad I am?”

"Birth, old age, illness and death are reincarnations of heaven. Everyone is just a passerby in this world. It is not something you or I can control. Just like the villagers here all died of the plague, that is also their fate. You should let them go their own way." Yuan Qi persuaded him patiently. If it weren't for the fact that he didn't have the intention to kill, he would have burned the place down long ago.

Tao Ran obviously disagreed with this statement: "No, the villagers here are dead. They watered and nourished me, so I have the obligation to let them continue to live on this land."

"You are deceiving yourself."

Bai Youhui couldn't stand listening and asked him: "You imprison the villagers here and prevent them from reincarnation. Why do you still leave so many scholars? How did they offend you?"