"Zhaozhao, the Song family ancestors have made great merits. Now they are facing a great calamity. This time you go down the mountain to help them through it. It's a good opportunity for you to accumulate merits. The more merits you accumulate, the less likely you'll be struck by lightning during your tribulation. Do you understand?" Chongming stood in front of the mountain gate, carefully instructing his little disciple.
"I know, Master!" Zhaozhao nodded, and the little leaf on top of her head swayed accordingly.
Chongming looked at the innocent - faced Zhaozhao and sighed. He cast a spell to help her retract the leaf on her head.
Zhaozhao was an ordinary little tree spirit who had just transformed into a human form not long ago. Occasionally, she couldn't control herself and would expose some features of a spirit. Chongming couldn't help but worry. If a leaf popped out when she was down the mountain, wouldn't she be caught and killed in no time?
He instructed uneasily, "It's full of dangers down the mountain. You must never expose your identity as a spirit. Keep a low profile in everything. I've put a protective treasure in your bracelet. Don't use it easily unless it's absolutely necessary. Remember?"
Zhaozhao looked at the bracelet on her hand and obediently replied, "Yes, I remember!"
"Then set off. Song Yao will come to pick you up at the foot of Wutong Mountain." After saying that, Chongming waved his hand. Immediately, an illusory flaming red Chongming bird appeared in the air. It grabbed Zhaozhao by the back of her neck and threw her onto its back, then flew away with her.
The illusory Chongming bird sent Zhaozhao to the foot of Wutong Mountain and then disappeared in an instant.
Zhaozhao stared at the disappearing Wutong Mountain. She kicked a stone on the ground and waited under the scorching sun for her cousin Song Yao to pick her up.
Actually, it wasn't accurate to call Song Yao her cousin. After all, Zhaozhao had no real relation with the Song family. It was just that her master asked her to take the place of the missing young lady of the Song family so that she could enter the Song family legitimately. She could leave after completing her mission.
After a few minutes, there suddenly came a roaring sound. Zhaozhao sat up straight and turned her head towards the sound.
Not far away, a long black monster came rushing over, kicking up clouds of yellow dust. Zhaozhao had never seen such a sight before. Frightened, she took a few steps back and tightened her grip on the bag in her hand.
The black monster stopped a few meters away from her. The two sides of the monster opened, and a young girl in a red dress stepped out.
Zhaozhao looked at the girl opposite, then took out a photo and carefully compared. It seemed that this was Song Yao! She patted her chest to calm herself down. Just as she was about to speak, the young girl spoke first.
Song Yao covered her nose and mouth in disgust, straightened her little fragrant - style coat, and complained impatiently, "What a lousy place! So much dust, and the sun is so scorching!"
Hearing this, the people behind immediately came up with an umbrella to shield her from the sun.
"Are you Zhaozhao?" Song Yao looked at Zhaozhao's old - fashioned clothes from who - knows - how - many years ago and that incredibly tacky cloth bag with disgust. She rolled her eyes speechlessly.
What was Dad thinking? He actually asked her to come and pick up this country bumpkin in person. It was so annoying!
"Yes, I am." Zhaozhao nodded with a smile, and received another eye - roll from Song Yao.
"..." Zhaozhao was innocent. She didn't understand.
Song Yao rolled her eyes again and then turned around and got into the car first.
The black - suited man beside her made a gesture of invitation to Zhaozhao expressionlessly, "Miss, please get in the car."
So this movable thing was called a car. Zhaozhao thought. She looked at Song Yao in the car and then got in as well. Song Yao frowned and moved to the side, as if trying to stay away from her.
This action made Zhaozhao realize that she seemed to be disliked... She pursed her lips and thought that as a 200 - year - old spirit, she shouldn't argue with a 20 - year - old human. Then she imitated Song Yao and closed her eyes. After a while, she touched the top of her head uneasily and secretly smiled happily.
Well, great! The leaf didn't show. She was a qualified human!
Song Yao quietly opened one eye and happened to catch a glimpse of Zhaozhao's silly smile. Her mouth twitched, and she turned her face away.
Wasn't she a fool?
The car soon stopped, and Song Yao got out first.
The Song family was wealthy. The single - family villa looked stylish and imposing. Zhaozhao had never seen such a building before. On the way here, because she wasn't used to riding in the car, she didn't dare to look out and had kept her eyes closed tightly, fearing that she would vomit in the car.
Now seeing the Song family's house, she was completely shocked.
Song Yao raised her chin haughtily and snorted, "Such a country bumpkin."
Zhaozhao imitated her and shouted, "Such a country bumpkin!" Actually, she didn't quite understand what "such a country bumpkin" meant after hearing Song Yao say it all the way, but since she wanted to be a human, imitating must be right!
"..." Song Yao was at a loss for words. She stomped away in her high - heels and ignored her.
Zhaozhao stood at a loss in the Song family's hall. The servants coming and going seemed not to see her at all. No one paid attention to her.
She pulled the little cloth bag in front of her. Back on Wutong Mountain, she had a group of senior brothers and sisters. She had been carefree every day. Now standing in this place that didn't belong to her, she suddenly felt a bit lonely.
"Hey! What are you standing there stupidly for? You're all covered in dust. Go take a shower. You've dirtied the carpet." Song Yao stood on the second floor and shouted at Zhaozhao impatiently.
Zhaozhao looked down at the carpet that she had dirtied and apologized softly, "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."
"..." Song Yao was angry but couldn't vent it. She scolded the servants, "Take the second young lady to her room. Can't you see?"
Only then did the servant come over and lead Zhaozhao to her room.
After taking a shower, Zhaozhao was curiously looking around at a bunch of things she had never seen before in the room. Just as she was about to reach out and touch them, there came a knock on the door. Frightened, she immediately withdrew her hand and opened the door.
"What are you doing? So slow." Song Yao walked into the room impatiently with her arms folded. She was in a very bad mood now.
Some people in the Xuanmen were showing off the spirits they had captured again, and Song Yao hadn't encountered a spirit for more than half a year.
As someone who had been doted on since childhood and always wanted to be the first in everything, Song Yao couldn't bear the feeling of falling behind others.
She had finally snatched a commission in the Xuanmen. Before she could even be happy, her father heard about it and called her. He insisted that she take this country bumpkin with her.
Song Yao disdainfully sized Zhaozhao up and down. Such an ignorant person would only cause trouble for her!
But she couldn't disobey her father's order. No matter how reluctant she was, Song Yao had to do it.
"Get ready. You'll go with me to Posa Village to catch spirits tomorrow."
"Catch... catch spirits?!" Zhaozhao's eyes widened in surprise. She asked in disbelief.
"Tsk! What are you so surprised about? Didn't Dad say that you've learned some skills from that old Taoist priest on the mountain? Why are you reacting so strongly when you hear about catching spirits?" Song Yao frowned and looked at Zhaozhao, a bit unhappy.
Hearing one shocking thing after another, Zhaozhao felt so guilty that her eyes wandered everywhere.
This was great. Her master, the Chongming bird, had become an old Taoist priest, and she, a spirit, was going to catch another spirit...
What on earth was her master's plan?
Poor Zhaozhao wanted to cry but had no tears. She carefully asked, "Why do we have to catch spirits?"
Song Yao thought she was annoying and explained impatiently, "As a family of spirit - catchers, what's so strange about catching a spirit?"
Song Yao looked disgusted. "Besides, spirits are harmful things. We should just catch them. There's no need for so many reasons."
Zhaozhao was unhappy hearing this. She seriously explained to Song Yao, "Not all spirits are bad guys. Actually—"
"Will you ever shut up?!" Song Yao was completely annoyed now. "I don't have time to waste on you. I'm just here to inform you. Go or not, it's up to you. Defending spirits. I think you've really gone stupid staying on the mountain!"
Song Yao left, leaving behind a weary Zhaozhao.
It turned out that there were families of spirit - catchers in the human world, and Song Yao hated spirits so much. It seemed that she really had to work hard to pretend to be human.
When would the Song family's calamity come... She wanted to go back to Wutong Mountain.
On the first day in the human world, Zhaozhao held back the discomfort in her heart, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.
What would Posa Village be like tomorrow?