Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

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Otherwise, how could they say that having an elder in the family is like owning a treasure? Only the old village chief, who had seen a lot and was broad-minded and clear-headed, could think of this juncture. Once he suggested it, the villagers naturally would not object. After all, it's a peaceful and prosperous time, and life can still go on.

It's better to worship this item well, as it could offer another option in times of crisis.

"Please forgive us, Mr. Lu, for we are all short-sighted," the village chief said after his excitement had subsided, realizing that by rights this object belonged to Mr. Lu since he had killed the monster. It was not theirs to decide upon.

Lu Yu, however, smiled and waved his hand, "What use do I have for this corpse? It's better given to you. Consider it my lodging fee for my short stay here. If you feel embarrassed, just bring out some of your cherished tea from home to share—that will do."

The words of Lu Yu sent the villagers into ecstatic delight. Although they would feel regret if Lu Yu took the toad's corpse, they would definitely not be resentful. Lu Yu was now considered by Willow River Bay to be on the same level as the old village chief; his word was law, and they would drop all their tasks to fulfill the master's request.

Now that the master had agreed, they were all elated and called upon the village chief to arrange a feast.

"These kids really take liberties," the village chief muttered, shaking his head.

"It means they don't see me as an outsider!" Lu Yu replied, unconcerned. To the people of Willow River Bay, this object was a rare treasure, but for Lu Yu, it was useless. Smiling at the merry villagers, he stretched out his hand, inviting the village chief to join him for a pot of tea.

The tea trees of Willow River Bay are green tea, with Mingqian Tea being the finest. Every year at this time, the village holds a grand ancestral worship event, offering cattle and sheep to pray for peace.

Once the ceremony ends, the strong young men would strap ropes around their waists, climbing the steep cliffs to pick the spring tea. For the villagers, it was their greatest source of income for the year.

This year was no exception. At the village chief's command, the young men who had been prepared quickly scaled the cliffs. They were expert climbers and had trained in this skill from a young age. Watching them smoothly navigate the cliffs was a pleasing sight.

Soon, the young men reached the cliff top and cautiously approached a few tea trees—the lifeline of the entire village. They carefully picked the tender buds and placed them in the baskets on their backs, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Lu Yu took out a small twig with a few tiny buds still attached and waved it lightly. A burst of colorful lights flew out from the tea trees on the cliff and landed on the buds he held, which seemed to benefit from this action, gradually growing larger. On closer inspection, they resembled the leaves from the cliffside tea trees.

The crowd watched the miraculous scene in amazement, unsure of the purpose behind Mr. Lu's actions. Nevertheless, they trusted that the master would not harm them.

"My heavens!" a shout of astonishment drew everyone's attention. The buds that had been picked were growing rapidly, visible to the naked eye, and in no time, they had returned to their pre-harvested state.

Seeing this, the young men were overjoyed and hurried to pick more. To their amazement, the tea leaves grew back after being picked, stopping after the third cycle. Even so, their earnings were incredibly substantial. Each person weighed the heaviness of their basket with pure joy in their heart.

"It must be the Immortal Law used by Mr. Lu. Quickly express your thanks to the master," the old village chief was the first to snap out of his surprise and quickly instructed the people around him.

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It was then that the crowd realized Lu Yu had already vanished without a trace.

"Mr. Lu is over there," a child shouted. Following the direction he pointed, the people saw that Lu Yu had long ridden away on Big Black Donkey, leaving them only a silhouette from behind.

"Mr. Lu, take care!" the people cried out loudly, hoping to retain him, but they saw him turn around and wave his hand, and Big Black Donkey instantly transformed into a shadow and disappeared from their sight.

The villagers of Willow River Bay instantly lost the joy of their abundant harvest, staring at the fading figure of Lu Yu with a sense of loss.

"Mr. Lu is an Immortal who descended to the mortal world. How could he stay among us for long? We were fortunate to have lived with him for so long; greedy desires would only bring divine punishment. It's better to go back and live well, so as not to waste Mr. Lu's kind intentions," the village chief's words brought everyone back to their senses.

Only then did they continue with the unfinished work, albeit without the previous excitement.

The old village chief also sighed slightly, leaning on his cane as he shakily made his way back to the ancestral hall. Although he had just spoken righteously to comfort the villagers, in his heart, he felt very sad. Although Lu Yu had not lived there for a very long time, he was amiable and knowledgeable. Find exclusive stories on empire

The village chief felt no distance in their conversations, which had made them close friends, despite not knowing that Mr. Lu was actually much older than he was.

Walking into the ancestral hall and looking at the now empty hall, the village chief felt a moment of dizziness, as if he could still see the gentle and jade-like Mr. Lu sitting at the desk, brewing a pot of hot tea and smilingly inviting him to taste it.

Collecting his thoughts, the village chief realized he would probably never see Mr. Lu again. Just then, he suddenly noticed that there were items left on the desk.

Upon closer inspection, he saw the two agate stones that Lu Yu often played with, now emitting a soft glow; beneath them lay a book.

The village chief called over Zhu Zi, a boy who could already read poetry, looking at him earnestly, hoping to find out what message Mr. Lu had left behind.

"Village chief, please forgive my leaving without bidding farewell. Connections come and go, each in their own time; there's no need for concern. I leave behind the agate stones, marked with my seal, to protect the village from disasters. The book contains methods for planting tea cuttings and crafting Mingqian Tea—a gift for the villagers and children."

With just a few words, it was as if they were spoken into his ear. The village chief could not help but have moist eyes as he looked at the agate stones and the book, understanding they were Mr. Lu's gifts.

With the book, the villagers of Willow River Bay no longer had to risk their lives picking tea on the cliffs. The agate stones were treasures that could protect them from disasters, something the village chief had never heard of before. He felt immense gratitude toward Lu Yu, pitying that the gracious man had already left quietly, leaving no one to express their thanks to.

In the years that followed, Willow River Bay became a tea village famous far and wide. Relying on their unique tea cultivation and processing techniques, the villagers lived happily, enshrining in the ancestral hall the agate stones and the toad's exuviae left by Lu Yu.

One day, an influential official, upon hearing of the treasure, came to seize it forcefully but did not expect to be driven away by the soaring agate stones, fleeing in terror before even nearing the ancestral hall. Afterward, no one dared to trespass the village. As the children Lu Yu taught grew up, each became extraordinary, turning Willow River Bay into a legend. And thus, the story of Mr.

Lu in the green robe continued to be told.