Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1517 - 943: The Taoist Is an Honest Man
Previously on Journey to the End of the Night...
The old Taoist chuckled twice: "Hahaha, my lady, you do know how to joke."
No one openly boasts about attempting to harm their own husband.
The old Taoist, whose name was Huang Renjia, had arrived in this small village a few days prior and had been performing rituals for several days.
He had personally observed this charming madam bringing a young man into the village.
Fraudulent Taoists like them, possessing only a few underhanded tricks, have no genuine skills.
Within the bustling areas of the Capital, commoners can discern his abilities with a single glance.
As a result, he is compelled to remain distant from the prosperous Capital, instead choosing to deceive uneducated women in this remote mountain village to make a living.
By performing a few minor tricks and uttering some unheard-of esoteric phrases, he can completely fool them.
They willingly offer their money.
If it were solely about swindling money, that would be one matter, but Huang Renjia also possesses a restless, thieving nature.
Should he happen upon a pretty young farm girl,
he most often devises a method to lure her into bed under the pretense of exorcising demons.
He claims it is to bless his body with divine light, imbuing them with fortune.
His glib tongue invariably succeeds in coaxing some ignorant, poorly educated women into willing compliance.
From the moment he first saw Shu Ci a few days ago, this old Taoist felt a stirring of restlessness.
Oh my!
He typically subsists on wild greens and clear broth; who would have imagined such a stunning beauty could be found in this godforsaken place.
He has always favored married women and has a talent for physiognomy.
Unlike Aunt Wu, he does not naively believe that she and Baili An are mother and son.
There is clearly not the slightest resemblance between them.
He had already surmised that the two most likely eloped to evade an arranged marriage.
Those sons of noble families, raised in opulence, often appear sickly and are likely quite useless in every aspect.
When he unexpectedly overheard this enchanting lady lamenting her husband’s inadequacy, was this not the opportune moment he had been awaiting?
Observing this beauty’s naturally seductive and charming eyes intently studying him, Huang Renjia felt as if half his bones had turned to jelly.
His gaze was practically fixed upon Shu Ci’s ample bosom.
His thumb unconsciously rubbed his wrist, struggling to contain his excitement; striving to maintain his composed demeanor, he said with a smile:
"I perceive in your brow signs of an excessive fiery nature, the lines from your temples indicative of nobility, yet hollow beneath the surface.
I suspect you possess a deficiency of yang energy, and your young husband lacks inherent vigor.
No matter how willing you might desire to engage, I fear he lacks the vitality to satisfy you, am I correct?"
Although she found his words rather arcane and cryptic, Shu Ci did not understand them at all.
Noticing her vacant gaze, the old Taoist was secretly delighted, thinking to himself that this beauty must hail from humble origins, inexperienced in the ways of the world.
This makes her even easier to deceive.
He flicked his horsetail whisk, smiled faintly, and stated: "Based on what you articulated just now, you wish to diligently care for your young husband at home.
According to this old Taoist, he lacks the requisite strength; even if you forcefully attempt to satisfy yourself, you are likely to be left merely hanging in frustration."
Shu Ci grasped these words, and they truly resonated with her situation.
"That is precisely right; he is simply too inadequate. The last time, we had barely begun when he could not continue; it is so frustrating."
Upon hearing this, the old Taoist's contempt for Baili An intensified.
However, observing this lady conversing with an old Taoist like him about such matters without the slightest concern for the reservedness a woman ought to exhibit.
She must be an experienced temptress, his heart yearning unfulfilled.
The old Taoist could scarcely contain his glee; he impulsively stepped forward, poised to grasp her hand, exclaiming with laughter:
"Home-cooked meals are good, but it's difficult to fill your stomach with them. My lady, perhaps consider sampling something different for a change; maybe rustic flavors possess their own unique appeal?
This old Taoist is humble; having cultivated for forty-five years and practiced energy enhancement, encountering my lady today is truly a delight.
I offer myself willingly, should you desire, to fulfill your need, maintain the balance of yin and yang, and alleviate your inner anguish."
Shu Ci raised her eyebrow, appearing quite surprised by this old Taoist.
Forty-five years of cultivation is not substantial in her estimation.
Yet, his willingness for self-sacrifice and dedication – she truly wished Baili An could emulate such qualities.
If that young man possessed even half the initiative of this Taoist, she would likely awaken from her sleep laughing.
The old Taoist's eyes roamed over Shu Ci’s graceful figure as he spoke.
The prospect of an intimate encounter with such a beauty made him exceedingly pleased with himself.
Upon witnessing his grin, Shu Ci was met with a sight of two rows of discolored teeth, caked with tartar beneath a pair of thin lips.
A noxious odor assailed her nostrils, instantly detected by her keen fox senses.
At such proximity, Shu Ci felt as though two pungent, overripe scallions, steeped in soy sauce for three days, had been forced into her nose, causing her eyes to water and her nose to run uncontrollably.
She rapidly retreated several paces, evading the old Taoist's skeletal grasp.
Her sleeve was brought to her face, muffling her mouth and nose as she suppressed a few retching coughs.
"No, no, even though that young fellow requires a bit of effort to capture and keeps me waiting in suspense, he truly is a delicacy. I may have been famished for an extended period, but I am not so utterly desperate. Considering your current withered state, so bitter and unyielding to the bite, I truly cannot bring myself to partake. It would be far better to await his recovery, wouldn't it?"