Lin Jiu was the first to pass through the Gate of All Worlds, his form disappearing into the swirling portal with practiced ease. After all, without him serving as a dimensional anchor to guide their passage, Gustave and the others were not beings of the Moral Lord's transcendent nature, making it impossible for them to force their way through the interdimensional barrier on their own power.
When Lin Jiu materialized back in his familiar room, he immediately noticed that the sun outside his window remained suspended in exactly the same position it had occupied when he first departed. Not a single shadow had shifted, not a moment had passed in his absence.
"It's precisely as Gustave explained," Lin Jiu murmured to himself with profound amazement. "No matter how long I remain in that extraordinary place, returning here takes only the briefest instant."
He moved to his window, gazing out at the unchanged landscape with newfound appreciation for the miraculous nature of what he had experienced.
"This Gate of All Worlds is truly beyond all mortal comprehension and expectation," Lin Jiu continued his internal reflection. "But since we have had the incredible fortune to meet the Saint Ancestor himself today, it's hardly surprising that such a treasure would exist within his domain."
The implications of what he had witnessed were still settling into his understanding, each revelation more staggering than the last.
Moments later, Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei materialized in Lin Jiu's modest room, their forms solidifying from the same interdimensional energy that had transported them across the boundaries between worlds.
"Gustave, Heavenly Master, this humble dwelling is where I make my residence," Lin Jiu began with an apologetic tone, gesturing around his simple quarters. "Besides myself, there are two other disciples who live here with me. The accommodations are quite simple and modest, so please forgive the lack of luxury."
When the two distinguished visitors had fully arrived, Lin Jiu felt compelled to provide a brief introduction to his current living situation, acutely aware of how humble his circumstances appeared compared to the grandeur of the Bamboo Staff Bistro.
"It's perfectly fine," Gustave replied with a dismissive wave of his hand, indicating that such concerns were completely unnecessary.
His tone carried genuine warmth and acceptance, showing that material circumstances meant little to someone of his elevated understanding.
"Fellow Taoist, you don't need to address me as Heavenly Master from this point forward," Zhang Zhiwei added with similar consideration. "Just call me by my Taoist name, Tiantong. I will likewise call you Yimei from now on. How does that arrangement sound to you?"
Zhang Zhiwei's suggestion reflected his own desire for more natural and comfortable interactions among friends.
After hearing his friend express these preferences, Lin Jiu remained silent for several moments, clearly processing the implications before shaking his head with helpless understanding.
"Fellow Taoist Yimei, how about you introduce us to the outside world and show us around your domain?" Gustave suggested with mounting excitement.
Having established their more comfortable forms of address, he strode purposefully toward the door, eager to explore this new reality.
Lin Jiu currently made his residence in the famous novice village known as Renjia Town, and his official dojo was established in the charity cemetery located on the outskirts of the settlement. This location served both his spiritual practice and his practical needs as a guardian against supernatural threats.
When supernatural monsters and malevolent ghosts were not actively threatening the area, Lin Jiu earned his modest living by serving as the caretaker and guardian of the charity cemetery. This work provided both income and purpose, allowing him to remain vigilant for any supernatural disturbances.
Lin Jiu didn't have to live in such relative poverty and simplicity, but he was a man of unwavering principles and moral convictions. When he helped people solve their supernatural problems and spiritual difficulties, he was steadfastly unwilling to charge excessive fees, taking only enough payment to sustain his basic living expenses. His dedication to service rather than profit defined his entire approach to his calling.
If Lin Jiu had truly wanted to accumulate wealth and material comfort, although he wouldn't become extraordinarily rich, it certainly wouldn't be difficult for him to achieve a lifestyle similar to that of his junior brother Simu, who had chosen a more commercially minded approach to their shared profession.
When Gustave and the other two walked out of Lin Jiu's modest quarters, the sun remained high in the azure sky, but the charity cemetery appeared completely empty and devoid of human activity. If an ordinary person without spiritual training were to visit this place, they would undoubtedly be thoroughly frightened by the atmosphere of otherworldly presence that permeated the grounds.
Although Gustave didn't possess specific knowledge of how to catch monsters or exorcise ghosts using traditional Taoist methods, the incredibly powerful aura emanating from his advanced techniques meant that most supernatural entities would be dissolved or dispersed before they could even approach within striking distance. This natural protection was further enhanced by his mastery of Rumble-Rumble devil fruit abilities, and everyone knew that thunder represented the ultimate nemesis of all evil spirits throughout the world. If any supernatural being failed to be destroyed after being struck by thunder, it simply meant that insufficient force had been applied.
The same principle applied to Zhang Zhiwei's formidable capabilities. He had already cultivated the Golden Light Curse to an extraordinarily profound level of mastery, not to mention his extensive knowledge of various thunder-based techniques and supernatural combat methods. When he had descended from the mountain in his own world, the very sky and earth had changed color in response to his power, and the entire Quan Xing organization had been swept away by divine thunder before they could even attempt to flee from his righteous wrath.
Zhang Zhiwei had essentially achieved the status of a land immortal walking among mortals in the human world. If it weren't for the fact that the traditional path to ascending to true immortality in the world of "The Outcast" had been mysteriously severed and blocked, Zhang Zhiwei might have already transcended mortal limitations entirely and achieved divine status.
Even Gustave, with all his accumulated power and abilities, didn't dare claim that he could defeat Zhang Zhiwei in direct combat. The old Heavenly Master's capabilities were simply that formidable and respected.
"Wen Cai must have found another place to slack off and sleep!" Lin Jiu exclaimed with evident exasperation, observing the completely empty courtyard.
Seeing the deserted state of his usual training grounds, Lin Jiu immediately realized that his apprentice Wen Cai had undoubtedly found some comfortable hiding spot to indulge in his habitual laziness. Meanwhile, his other apprentice Qiu Sheng was currently in town, dutifully helping his aunt manage her rouge and cosmetics shop.
"Gustave, Fellow Taoist Tiantong, how would you both feel about accompanying me on a tour of Renjia Town itself?" Lin Jiu suggested, his concern for maintaining proper appearances driving his decision.
Lin Jiu was someone who cared deeply about his reputation and the impression he made on others. It would represent a tremendous loss of face if Gustave, and Zhang Zhiwei, the legendary heavenly master, were to witness Wen Cai's shameful display of laziness and lack of dedication. Therefore, Lin Jiu thought it would be much wiser to take both distinguished visitors into the town proper, where they could observe the positive aspects of his community and responsibilities.
"Sure! I'm eager to observe the local customs and cultural practices of this place," Gustave replied with enthusiastic agreement, nodding his approval of the plan.
He had never actually witnessed firsthand the authentic scenes and atmosphere from the Republican era, so of course he wanted to take advantage of this unique opportunity if it was being offered.
Zhang Zhiwei shared the same sentiment and curiosity. Although he had personally lived through the Republican period in his own world, that experience was now nearly a century in the past, making this chance to revisit such times particularly appealing and nostalgic.
Therefore, under Lin Jiu's knowledgeable guidance, the three of them made their way toward the bustling marketplace that formed the commercial heart of Renjia Town.
Unlike the scenes Gustave had observed in historical documentaries and educational materials, Renjia Town was genuinely bustling with vibrant human activity and seemed remarkably lively and prosperous. People were constantly coming and going throughout the streets, creating an atmosphere of dynamic commercial and social energy that spoke of a thriving community.
"Although Renjia Town bears the modest designation of a town, it is actually a well-known and highly regarded settlement within a radius of several hundred miles," Lin Jiu explained as they walked through the busy streets. "It is considerably more prosperous and economically developed than many ordinary county seats and regional centers."
He gestured toward the impressive buildings and busy commercial establishments that lined their path.
"This remarkable prosperity is primarily thanks to Master Ren, who serves as the wealthiest individual in all of Renjia Town," Lin Jiu continued his explanation to both Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei. "His family was once recognized as the richest and most influential family in the entire province. Although their business empire experienced some decline for mysterious reasons in later years, it was under the long-lasting influence and investment of the Ren family that Renjia Town developed into the thriving community you see today."
As they continued their walking tour, Lin Jiu provided this context to help his distinguished visitors understand the economic and social foundations that had created such an unexpectedly prosperous settlement.
Gustave nodded with understanding and interest. Although Master Ren met his demise relatively early in the original story timeline, judging from the fact that he had been able to afford sending his daughter abroad for education and his other impressive demonstrations of wealth and influence, he had indeed possessed the authentic bearing and capabilities of a former provincial magnate.
"Uncle Jiu!" called out various voices from the crowd.
"Uncle Jiu!" echoed others with warm recognition.
Passersby moving through the busy streets of Renjia Town would invariably nod respectfully and offer friendly greetings when they spotted Lin Jiu among the crowd. These interactions clearly demonstrated that Lin Jiu enjoyed considerable prestige and genuine affection throughout the community, with residents of all ages and social stations showing him obvious respect and appreciation.
In addition to the respectful greetings from the townsfolk, the young unmarried women and even some married ladies standing along the sides of the street could not help but whisper among themselves. Their glances, curious and animated, were fixed not on Lin Jiu or Zhang Zhiwei, but on Gustave. His fair skin, sharp white features, and foreign air stood out in the streets of Ranjia Town, making him an object of fascination and quiet admiration.
Before departing from the Bamboo Staff, Gustave had taken the time to change out of his casual tank top and shorts into more appropriate attire for this expedition.
Gustave was now wearing a crisp blue striped shirt that was perfectly tucked into well-fitted marine blue slim jeans, complemented by a pair of elegant gentleman's boots on his feet. His hair was styled in a sophisticated 3:7 ratio part and combed back with precision, and when combined with his naturally sunny and handsome facial features plus his impressively tall and athletic figure, he would undoubtedly be the center of attention and admiration not only in this historical era, but even in modern times.
Gustave had long since grown accustomed to such attention and admiring gazes. After all, he had been something of a celebrity during his years abroad traveling, so facing such looks and reactions was neither surprising nor particularly noteworthy to him at this point in his life.
"Gustave's appearance is truly..." Lin Jiu muttered under his breath, a mixture of amusement and slight embarrassment coloring his voice.
Hearing the animated discussion between Uncle Wang's second daughter and Uncle Seven's youngest daughter as they passed nearby, Lin Jiu couldn't help but smile and shake his head with helpless understanding of the effect his friend was having on the local female population.
As they continued their leisurely exploration, they eventually arrived in the vicinity of Aunt's rouge shop, where Qiu Sheng was currently working.
"Master!" Qiu Sheng called out with obvious excitement and surprise when he spotted Lin Jiu approaching through the crowd.
His voice carried both joy at seeing his teacher and curiosity about the distinguished friends accompanying him.
"This is my disciple Qiu Sheng," Lin Jiu explained to both Gustave and Zhang Zhiwei as they drew closer to the shop. "When he doesn't have specific training duties or spiritual responsibilities, he comes here to help out at his aunt's rouge and cosmetics shop in town, learning the value of honest work and community service."
When Lin Jiu confirmed that it was indeed Qiu Sheng, he felt comfortable introducing the young man to his distinguished visitors, though he remained somewhat anxious about his apprentice's behavior and performance.
Lin Jiu maintained mixed feelings about his disciple Qiu Sheng, experiencing what could only be described as half satisfaction with the young man's development and progress. The reason for this complicated assessment was quite specific and understandable.
The positive aspect was that Qiu Sheng had demonstrated exceptional talent in martial arts training and had already mastered approximately eighty to ninety percent of Lin Jiu's complete martial arts curriculum and fighting techniques. Based on his natural ability, dedication to physical training, and rate of improvement, it could be confidently predicted that Qiu Sheng's future achievements in martial arts would definitely surpass even Lin Jiu's own considerable accomplishments.
However, the source of dissatisfaction lay in a fundamental misunderstanding of their sect's true purpose and focus. Lin Jiu was not affiliated with the Beggars' Sect or the Hongmen organization, which primarily emphasized martial prowess and physical combat abilities. Instead, he belonged to the Maoshan Sect of Taoism, an institution dedicated to learning and mastering spiritual practices, supernatural techniques, and mystical arts. Although Qiu Sheng had developed impressive martial arts skills that would serve him well in physical confrontations, his understanding and application of actual Taoist principles and supernatural techniques remained disappointingly average at best.
"Master, why have you come to town today?" Qiu Sheng inquired with genuine curiosity, trotting over to Lin Jiu with the eager energy of a devoted student.
His eyes darted curiously between the two impressive strangers accompanying his teacher, especially Gustave which look extremely different from any other people he had ever seen, clearly wondering about their identities and the purpose of this unexpected visit.
"These two are my esteemed friends, Gustave and Taoist Tiantong," Lin Jiu responded formally, gesturing respectfully toward each of his friends in turn. "I have brought them here specifically to visit and experience Renjia Town, showing them the local customs and community life."
Lin Jiu's introduction was carefully worded to convey both respect for his guests and appropriate context for their presence.
"This humble student respectfully greets Taoist Master Tiantong!" Qiu Sheng declared immediately, executing a proper and respectful salute toward Zhang Zhiwei.
His response was prompt and appropriate, as Zhang Zhiwei's traditional Taoist attire and dignified bearing made it obvious to anyone with eyes that he was an accomplished and highly skilled Taoist master deserving of proper respect and deference.
However, when Qiu Sheng turned his attention to Gustave, he found himself hesitating with visible uncertainty and confusion. After all, Gustave appeared to be even more handsome than Qiu Sheng himself, dressed in exceptionally fashionable and modern clothing that seemed foreign in its sophistication, and looked remarkably young for someone supposedly worthy of his master's friendship and respect. Could this stylish young man truly be one of his master's esteemed friends and fellow practitioners?
"Why aren't you properly greeting Gustave?" Lin Jiu demanded sharply, delivering a firm but not harsh slap to Qiu Sheng's shoulder when he observed his disciple hesitating awkwardly in front of Gustave for an extended period.
Lin Jiu's tone carried both authority and mild exasperation. This was Gustave they were dealing with! Such disrespect, even if unintentional, was absolutely unacceptable.
"Oh! This humble student respectfully greets Taoist Gustave..." Qiu Sheng finally managed to stammer out, executing a somewhat reluctant and confused salute toward Gustave after his master's firm prompting.
His greeting lacked the immediate conviction he had shown with Zhang Zhiwei, but at least it was properly delivered.
When facing Qiu Sheng's obviously reluctant and confused greeting, Gustave was decidedly less polite and accommodating than he had been when interacting with Lin Jiu himself. After all, Lin Jiu's two disciples had truly earned reputations for being problematic, lazy, and generally disappointing in their dedication to their studies and spiritual development. Such behavior hardly warranted the same level of respect and consideration he showed to accomplished practitioners.