Yu Qinglian carefully observed Pei Jing's expression, and immediately smiled with her beautiful eyes curved: "Don't be shy, tell me which unlucky guy it is."
"Go away, no."
Pei Jing didn't want to pay attention to her.
Yu Qinglian said: "Tsk, that's really strange. I thought you were going to be lonely for the rest of your life because of your dislike for people and dogs."
Pei Jing couldn't talk to her anymore: "Goodbye."
Yu Qinglian burst out laughing and stopped him: "Don't go, don't go. Let's talk for a while."
The young man in brown took two steps, then thought of something, and reluctantly retreated slowly, probably because he still wanted to hear her opinion. But Yu Qinglian's next words immediately made him decide that he would never talk to this woman again in his life.
"Actually, even if you don't tell me, I know who that person is."
Pei Jing: "... ...you know this again?"
Yu Qinglian lowered her eyes, fiddled with the petals with her fingers, and smiled meaningfully: "We have known each other for hundreds of years, have you noticed that you can't change the subject at all? On some things, your thoughts are as straight as a single mind. When you talk about one thing, you will only talk about it. For example, just now, we were discussing Chu Junyu, and we haven't discussed the result yet, and you suddenly threw this question to me. Do you think I can guess the answer?"
Pei Jing: “… .”
Yu Qinglian laughed: "Don't deny it, the protagonist must be Chu Junyu."
Pei Jing: “… ... ” He was really asking for trouble by chatting with her.
Yu Qinglian had been bullied by him since she was a child, so it was rare for her to see him so humiliated, so she admired him for a while with great interest.
Finally, she concluded, "Okay, just accept it. After all, Chu Junyu is way better than you in terms of looks and temperament, and his cultivation may even be higher than yours. I don't think it's a loss."
Pei Jing: "... You seem to be making me laugh."
Yu Qinglian laughed out loud.
Pei Jing didn't laugh, she laughed first.
I really can't continue chatting today.
Pei Jing fled with his sword.
He did not go back to the village chief's house, but found the family that took Wusheng in in the middle of the night and jumped in directly from the second-floor window. Wusheng had just finished meditating and saw him rushing over so hurriedly. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What's wrong with you?"
Pei Jing was still immersed in the atmosphere that was hard to describe just now, and said: "Yu Qinglian is such a terrifying woman."
Wusheng was slightly stunned. After all, it was always the other three who complained about Pei Jing. It was rare for the other day to be the other way around. He immediately smiled and said, "What did she do to you?"
Pei Jing: "She is poisonous and makes me lose face."
Wusheng: “…”
Pei Jing shook his head, trying to forget what had just happened, and discussed with Wusheng about praying for blessings tomorrow.
Wusheng had already accomplished the purpose of his trip, and all that was left was to accompany them. He frowned and said, "Actually, I'm more worried about the villagers."
Pei Jing: "Don't worry, I have a way."
Wusheng knew him too well: "Killing people's gods, destroying people's temples, and running away after the fight?"
Pei Jing had nothing to say.
On the day of the prayer day, every household got up very early. Before dawn at the village chief's house, Pei Jing heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He didn't need to sleep anyway, so he got up and saw the village chief burning incense. On the table was a plate of dough, a plate of peanuts, and three incense sticks. A'ru knelt on the mat and kowtowed one after another until her forehead was blue. Her grandfather was still watching beside her with an expressionless face. His voice was vicissitudes: "Continue."
Aju's brother sat on a chair next to her, drawing on the table with water.
Pei Jing asked: "What are you doing?"
It was still dark when candles finally lit up the sky. Smoke rose slowly, reflecting on the wrinkled face of the village chief, who looked somewhat numb from having experienced the vicissitudes of life. "The blessing day is when Wenquxing comes out. Tell her to pray first. If you anger the god, you should be punished. Otherwise, the consequences will be even worse."
Pei Jing carefully observed his expression, then looked at A'ru. The little girl was very well-behaved and didn't cry out in pain. He didn't know how long she had been kneeling.
"Gods are all about accumulating merit. Punishing them once is enough. There's no need to do this."
The village chief said, "Don't you want to see what it's like to pray? I have prepared the mask for you. Come with me and let her kneel here."
Pei Jing: “???”
Before leaving, Pei Jing looked back and saw Aju kneeling on the ground and kowtowing. Her brother was drawing with water beside her like a child. His expression was dull and his lips were tight, but in the smoke, he showed a kind of indifference and cruelty.
It was almost dawn and the fog was thick in the deep woods.
The village chief walked around with his cane as usual. Pei Jing looked at the mask carefully from behind. It had a green face and fangs, like an evil ghost. It felt cold and rough in his hand.
"Just blend in like this."
Pei Jing: "I remember you were thinking of expelling us on the first day."
The village chief said, "It's just a show. Don't you still want to borrow the power of Wenquxing to heal Aju's eyes?"
Pei Jing was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "That's right, even though I've delayed it for so long, you have to believe me."
The village chief looked back at him, then turned around and said, "I hope you won't let me down." His voice was deep and struck a chord with people.
Walking in the fields, the village walking stick was full of holes and stuck in the mud.
Pei Jing smiled and said, "Village Chief, if you have any instructions, just ask me. Although I may not be able to do it, it's always helpful to speak it out."
The village chief smiled wryly: "Really?"
He didn't intend to hide it either.
His voice was hoarse. "Since A-ju's accident, I have been having trouble sleeping and always having wild thoughts. Others may not know, but as A-ju's grandfather, I must know that she and her brother have had a good relationship since they were young, and they are even in tune with each other. The only thing that could make her run out to see her brother in the middle of the night... is that something happened to her brother."
Pei Jing listened carefully.
"I have lived in this village for decades. Two or three of my uncles were chosen by Wenquxing. After being chosen, they left and there was no news about them. They came back before they died, and they were only in their thirties or forties. People in the village said it was normal, because the Wenquxing in the Zhuangyuan Temple looked very weak. Scholars have enjoyed all the glory and wealth, so what if they have a short life? People are more sober when they get old... ... What do you mean scholars have short lives? It's not certain whether the glory and wealth are real."
Pei Jing couldn't help but think of the shopkeeper in Yunzhong City. When he introduced Zhuangyuan Village to them, he also said that the older he got, the more he felt that Wenquxing looked weird. When it comes to evil spirits, children and the elderly can often see clearly. It can be regarded as a return to nature in a sense. Half a step into the earth, dust to dust, dust to earth. How you came, how you go.
The village chief said slowly: "I kept you here not only because of Aju, but also because you were able to cure Aju's illness and you have lived peacefully in Zhuangyuan Village for so long. You should all be monks."
Pei Jing: "Old man, you have good vision."
The village chief did not accept his false praise.
Firecrackers were set off in the distance, crackling and emitting red smoke. Villagers came one after another, preparing to go to the Zhuangyuan Temple.
The village chief looked ahead with his cloudy and small eyes.
"Although I am the head of this village, I also want this nightmare to end quickly."
The Zhuangyuan Temple was crowded with people. The witch danced in front of him, chanted a confusing speech, and then shouted "Open" in a hoarse voice. Pei Jing saw Chu Junyu in the crowd first. He came quite early. The young man was dressed in white and his temperament was as cold as ice. He didn't dare to approach anyone within three feet. He thought Chu Junyu's expression was a little strange today, but before he could take a closer look, someone suddenly put his hand on his shoulder.
The golden bells rang and the red gauze fluttered.
The girl smiled and said, "Why are you staring at me like that?"
Pei Jing had been feeling aggrieved all night and now he couldn't stand it any longer: "Just shut up."
Yu Qinglian said: "You dare to do it but you dare not let others say it?"
Pei Jing: “…”
Brother, have you figured it out? Your analysis makes sense, and that's because Chu Junyu has a crush on him, okay? What did he do? ?
The author has something to say: Wow, this plot has been dragging on for me for a month.
Wipe, wipe, wipe.
Sorry for another two-day hiatus.
I will try to finish writing the story of the transition from Zhuangyuan Village to Tianyan City in one go tomorrow.