Qingdai's words left me bewildered.
"Met me in this life?"
Did she feel like she was giving me a hint?
A wry smile touched my lips.
"What's so fortunate about meeting me? I've caused you so much trouble, and made you protect me for twenty years. I can't help you with anything now. I'm just a minor Taoist priest with Soul Palace cultivation."
I chuckled at myself. Compared to Qingdai's abilities, my cultivation was truly insignificant.
But Qingdai shook her head.
"You are the most talented Taoist I have ever met. You will surely achieve great things in the future."
Qingdai said this with conviction. Her words sent a jolt through my body, like a shot of adrenaline. My master had also said I had good cultivation talent; it was innate. But I hadn't expected my talent to earn Qingdai's recognition.
"I will work hard. After all, I promised to help you eliminate the remnants of the new dynasty and that Grand State Preceptor."
I said with a smile. Qingdai nodded emphatically.
"I await that day."
After speaking, she playfully extended her right hand, showing her little finger. She tilted her head slightly, looking at me. Qingdai was already beautiful, and this playful expression was captivating. Looking at her small, delicate lips, I felt a strong urge to kiss them.
But I was confused by her gesture.
"What is this?"
"A pinky promise!" Qingdai replied.
I laughed, a genuine laugh. This wasn't child's play, why a pinky promise? Though I thought this, my hand moved of its own accord, gently hooking onto Qingdai's little finger. Her hand felt a bit cold, but her smile seemed so warm.
"Alright, it's settled. After I leave, you must cultivate diligently. Grow up quickly, help me eliminate the remnants of the Qin dynasty, and help me fulfill my destiny..."
Qingdai spoke earnestly. I nodded in agreement. Qingdai was delighted, her smile sweet. But then, she said to me,
"However, before I leave, I have one more request."
Hearing this, I became serious. Qingdai, with her abilities, still needed something from me? If so, I would do my utmost.
"You name it, I'll go through fire and water." I stated firmly.
Qingdai smiled and replied,
"It's not that serious! But there is some danger."
Danger? From the moment I was born, danger had been my constant companion. My lifespan had been eaten away by ghosts, leaving little remaining. Since entering the Taoist path, I'd been fighting ghosts, monsters, and demonic beings. What more could I fear?
"Qingdai, tell me, I fear no danger."
Qingdai didn't hesitate and continued,
"I have a subordinate, a Luohan from the Qingshan River..."
As soon as Qingdai said this, my heart sank. A Luohan from the river, wasn't that a water ghost? Good heavens, Qingdai actually had water ghost subordinates. Although I had known for a long time that Qingdai had a force behind her, she had mentioned it before, and Miao Nanzi had spoken of it too. But as of now, aside from Long Po, I hadn't met any of her subordinates. Now she suddenly mentioned a water ghost subordinate, and in the Qingshan River at that. What did she want me to do? I was surprised but remained silent, listening intently.
Qingdai continued,
"A few days ago, a fierce ghost appeared upstream of the Qingshan River. It drove my subordinate into the Qingshan Stream and occupied my subordinate's river mansion and dojo. Although I went there several times, intending to suppress and kill the fierce ghost, I couldn't fully exert my abilities in the water. Moreover, the fierce ghost would quickly flee whenever it saw me, making it difficult to track. And I must leave tomorrow night. So, I wish to entrust you with the task of helping my subordinate reclaim his river mansion..."
This was Qingdai's first request to me, besides finding the man with the fire cloud on his chest. Although I didn't know how difficult it would be, I couldn't refuse. Without Qingdai's protection, I wouldn't have even reached twenty years old. Therefore, without blinking, I agreed immediately.
"Okay, leave this to me. By the way, what is your subordinate's name? How do I find him?"
Qingdai didn't hesitate and gave me her subordinate's information. He was a ghost cultivator named "Heitou". Qingdai said that this ghost, "Heitou", had drowned in the Qingshan River during the late Qing Dynasty. However, after his death, he hadn't become a fierce ghost. He was simply unable to reincarnate and could only wander in the Qingshan River. Unlike other ghosts, he didn't look for a substitute to reincarnate. He preferred to drift in the water. It wasn't until thirty years ago, when Qingdai arrived here, that she recruited him.
As for the fierce ghost from upstream, Qingdai had little information about it. Its cultivation wouldn't be much higher than mine, otherwise, Qingdai wouldn't have asked me to handle it. The only thing she knew was that this water ghost was adept at escaping. For everything else, she told me to ask Heitou for details after meeting him at Qingshan Stream.
I nodded in agreement. As we spoke, a rooster crowed from the backyard.
"Guk guk guk..." It was the feed I had bought for Xiao Mei, for seven or eight chickens.
Qingdai heard the sound and looked out the window. Then she spoke to me again,
"Alright, I must be going now. When you reach the Qingshan River, speak my name. He will come ashore to meet you..."