The room was lit with a light and shimmering. Ning Xiaoling tiptoed in and felt a faint trace of sword energy in the room. She turned her head and saw her senior brother meditating alone in the bed, sitting upright with a solemn expression. , seemed not to notice his arrival.
Ning Xiaoling breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that now that I have reached a higher level, my senior brother can't find me anymore.
She pursed her lips and smiled, becoming more confident in her Taoist Hidden Breathing Technique. She turned around and gently closed the door, and then walked to her senior brother in a catwalk. She looked at his face seriously when he was concentrating on practicing, and felt that The senior brother should be pretty much the same as the banished immortal with feathers and stars in the story.
She was just a little strange. There were futons for disciples to meditate in every wing. Why did the senior brother sit on the bed to practice? Well... the quilt was a bit messy. The senior brother obviously liked clean and tidy things.
Although she felt a little weird, Ning Xiaoling didn't think too much about it. She carefully sat down next to her senior brother. After a while, Ning Xiaoling finished meditating for a long time and then Ning Xiaoling patted his shoulder and said crisply: "Brother!"
Ning Changjiu's body moved, and he quickly opened his eyes. He glanced at the girl next to him in surprise, with an astonished look on his face: "Xiao Ling? Why are you here? When did you come? I didn't even know you were senior."
Ning Xiaoling smiled, revealing her snow-white teeth. She lowered her voice and said, "Now that I can't see my senior brother for a whole day, why don't you allow me to come and see you?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "This is not in line with the rules of the sect."
Ning Xiaoling snorted softly: "Then why didn't you take my key away? Isn't this a clear hint that I would secretly come to see you?"
"..." Ning Jiujiu said helplessly, "I forgot."
Ning Xiaoling didn't believe it and said, "You said you forgot Master's hairpin last time, and you said you forgot it this time. I see, senior brother did it on purpose."
Ning Jiujiu sighed and said, "It would be bad if Junior Sister is discovered like this."
Ning Xiaoling crossed her chest with her hands and said proudly: "Now that my Taoist hidden breath technique has reached a higher level, sister Yazhu will definitely not be able to find me. As for the master... it is even less likely that he will know."
"Well..." Ning Jiujiu replied, "Junior sister, please return the key to me in the future."
Ning Xiaoling clutched the key in her hand and said nervously: "Brother... are you serious?"
Ning Jiujiu looked at her pitiful eyes and couldn't bear it, so he had to say: "If Xiaoling is discovered, it will be difficult for Master."
Ning Xiaoling frowned and looked at him and said, "Senior brother, what's wrong with you? You don't usually call me Master Marry Master in private."
"Is there any..."
"Yes!" Ning Xiaoling looked at him strangely and said, "Senior brother, what are you afraid of? With our current state, it is absolutely foolproof. Master Marry will definitely not be able to find it, and what will happen if he finds it? Well, Master looks cold and fierce on the surface, but in fact she is softer than anyone else. When the time comes, I will apologize sincerely and beg a few words softly, but she will definitely not be willing to scold me. I have never been slapped by Master before. She loves me so much."
"..." Ning Changjiu looked at her with pity and said, "It's better not to embarrass Master."
Ning Xiaoling looked at her senior brother with a strange expression, moved closer to him, and said, "Senior brother, you are so strange today. Are you hiding something from me?"
Ning Jiujiu smiled and said: "Is there anything else I can hide from someone so young?"
Ning Xiaoling hummed slightly and stepped back, but kept staring at him, saying angrily: "Senior brother must have a secret."
Ning Jiujiu said: "I just hope that Xiaoling can practice with peace of mind."
Ning Xiaoling pursed her lips and said: "But Xiaoling has already reached the higher realm of immortality. If he continues to cultivate further, he will be like Master Yazhu. If he cultivates for a while, he will be on par with the master. If he cultivates for a while... well, It would be terrible if my realm surpassed that of Master, I'd better take it easy."
"Hey, so Xiaoling, what are you here to do? Show off to your senior brother, who is in the Nascent Realm?" Ning Jiujiu sighed.
Ning Xiaoling said: "I came to talk to senior brother."
Ning Changjiu said: "Wouldn't it be possible to relieve boredom by chatting more with your senior brothers and sisters during the day?"
Ning Xiaoling shook her head and said: "They kept surrounding me, chattering and asking about Linhe City. They made my mouth dry and I couldn't even drink water, especially that little senior sister Lerou... ugh."
Only then did Ning Jiujiu remember the little girl who often tried to tease him a month ago, but then it backfired, and said: "The disciples in the peak are all good teachers and helpful friends. Junior sisters should pay more attention to their advantages. For example, Lerou has an indomitable quality. .”
Ning Xiaoling waved her hand in front of him and said: "Senior brother, have you gone wrong in your cultivation? You still don't like junior sister..."
Ning Jiujiu rubbed her head habitually and said with a smile: "How could that be?"
"That's good." Ning Xiaoling said with a smile: "Then I can come and play with senior brother every day from now on, okay?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "Junior sister is so arrogant, if Master really finds out..."
Ning Xiaoling interrupted: "Then let her come and play together. We are already familiar with each other anyway, so it doesn't matter."
Ning Jiujiu took a deep breath and looked at the innocent face of the girl who was sitting casually on the bed with her thigh pressed against her. His eyes were suddenly filled with sympathy. He said softly: "What nonsense are you talking about, little girl?"
Ning Xiaoling seemed to understand something all of a sudden. She sniffed and said, "Oh, I understand. Senior brother only likes sister Xiang'er, right... If you have a fiancée, you don't want junior sister."
Ning Jiujiu said: "What are you talking about? How could I like that damn girl?"
Ning Xiaoling sneered and said: "Senior brother, you are still pretending? You never hit or scold Sister Xiang'er back. You are also trembling when you are with her. You are afraid of making her unhappy. You are not afraid of being with me." It’s the same, how long has it been since just now, how many times have you secretly issued eviction orders?”
Ning Jiujiu sighed: "Mainly because I can't beat her."
Ning Xiaoling raised her face and said: "So, senior brother is the most useless and can only bully junior sister. Well, junior sister is so pitiful..."
With that said, Ning Xiaoling fell down and rolled directly onto Ning Changjiu's bed.
Ning Jiujiu's heart trembled, and he immediately pressed forward, blocking Ning Xiaoling's sight with his upper body.
This move made Ning Xiaoling stunned. She crossed her arms and said nervously: "Brother, what do you want to do?"
Ning Jiujiu had a hard time saying it, and pretended to be gentle on his face: "What the junior sister said is that the senior brother doesn't take much care of you on weekdays. Although Linhe City had to do this before, he also put his own life in danger. These things have happened these days. It always lingers in my mind and makes me feel very guilty.”
Listening to Ning Changjiu's gentle words, Ning Xiaoling, who had always been afraid of both softness and hardness, looked at him with wide, watery eyes and said, "It's okay. You and Sister Xiang'er paid so much back then. Of course age also plays a role... Senior brother, don't blame yourself."
Ning Jiujiu smoothed her hair on her forehead and said, "It's great that junior sister can think like this."
As he spoke, he held her shoulders and tried to pull her up from the bed, but Ning Xiaoling refused to get up. Her nose twitched and she whispered: "Brother, why does your place have a faint fragrance?" Yeah, this scent is a bit familiar..."
Ning Jiujiu immediately interrupted her and said, "Maybe it's the fragrance of flowers on the clothes. Recently, in the late winter and early spring, the snow cherry blossoms on Tianku Peak have bloomed a lot. Today, senior brother went to enjoy the flowers."
"Oh..." Ning Xiaoling said disappointedly: "Senior brother didn't call me when he was appreciating the flowers."
Ning Changjiu smiled and said, "I'll go with Xiaoling tomorrow... You get up from me first."
Ning Xiaoling grabbed the soft sheets, rolled her body, and said, "Senior brother, you are so close to me, how can I get up?"
Ning Jiujiu forced a smile. He gently pressed Ning Xiaoling's shoulders and said, "Stop making trouble. I'll help junior sister get up and be obedient."
Ning Xiaoling said displeased: "Sister Xiang'er occupied your room for a month, why didn't you say a word? I just wanted to lie down for a while, but senior brother wouldn't let me. Well, senior brother is indeed a bully!"
Regarding Ning Xiaoling's evaluation, he did not dare to refute anything at the moment, and echoed: "It is indeed senior brother's fault. Xiaoling, you get up first. Senior brother is a little tired and wants to go to bed early. Can I spend more time with Xiaoling tomorrow?" ?”
Finally, after a long tug, Ning Jiujiu pulled her up from her bed. He breathed a sigh of relief silently and said, "Junior sister, don't be so willful in the future, okay?"
Ning Xiaoling didn't feel that she was willful. She said angrily: "Just now you persuaded me nicely and agreed to everything. Now that I'm up, you're preaching to me again. Hmm, senior brother, that's too much!"
Ning Jiujiu knew that he had made a mistake and wanted to say something to make up for it, but Ning Xiaoling didn't say anything and lay back down again, hitting the back of his head heavily on the pillow.
Ning Jiujiu felt bad and was about to cover her sight again, but after Ning Xiaoling experienced a brief dizzy spell when the back of her head hit the pillow, her sight was immediately attracted by something. She opened her eyes wide and looked. Looking ahead, there was a dark shadow on the top of the bed frame!
"Ah!" Ning Xiaoling exclaimed.
Ning Jiujiu wanted to cover her mouth, but it was too late.
Only then did Ning Xiaoling understand why her senior brother was acting so abnormally today. Before she could see clearly who the man in black robes was, her brain was already running rapidly. She quickly came up with the "truth" and exclaimed: "Senior brother, You’re actually sleeping with a prostitute!”
Ning Jiujiu covered her mouth and said, "Don't scream, what a prostitute, this is..."
Before Ning Jiujiu could finish his words, a voice suddenly came from outside the door:
"What are you making a noise about? Don't yell and scream at night!"
That was Yazhu's scolding sound.
After scolding, Master Yazhu still seemed a little worried. She took out the spare key and started to open the door.
Ning Jiujiu and Ning Xiaoling looked at each other, and they could see panic in each other's eyes.
The door opened quickly.
Yazhu walked in from the door and saw Ning Chang sitting in front of the desk, looking at the moon in the sky, singing something with a thin throat.
After seeing Yazhu, he stopped singing and said in surprise: "Uncle Yazhu, why are you here? Did I sing too loudly just now..."
Yazhu looked around, and finally her eyes fell on Ning Changjiu. She thought to herself that the woman's voice she just heard was his singing voice
Yazhu frowned and said, "Singing music at night? What kind of music are you singing?"
Ning Changjiu cleared his throat and said: "I met a singer in Linhe City earlier. The singer sang a song before she died. I don't know the name, but the song was sad and moving, lingering in my heart for a long time. Today, the night is clear and the breeze is blowing. Suddenly this incident was heard, and I couldn't help but recall the desolate appearance of the singer who fell from the building under the moonlight. I felt so sad that I couldn't help but hum a song, which can be regarded as a memorial to the poor woman."
Ning Jiujiu finished his speech fluently and looked at Yazhu sincerely, with a bit of sadness, a bit of indifference and a bit of vague thoughts in his eyes. Ning Jiujiu was born delicate, and now his eyes are like this, even if As a woman, Yazhu couldn't help but feel a lot softer when she saw this look.
She sighed softly: "I wonder what song it is that makes you miss it so much?"
Ning Jiujiu pinched his throat and sang bravely. The voice was actually a bit soft and feminine, and the trembling voice seemed to have thousands of charms:
"The winter wind blows the velvet boat to drink, and half the boat is filled with ice and snow. The twilight is like water washing makeup red. I dreamed of the old country, and I hate who I share... The evening breeze blows the clouds into the flower pond, and we meet hand in hand on the lotus boat. The wine hairpin is tied around the head. . The youthful sky is like a dream, and the silence is falling on the flower island."
The young man's voice was very thin, and his body rose and fell in the night as he sang and danced with the lyrics and music. It was like a young woman fluttering her sleeves in the attic. The desolation.
Listening to this, Yazhu couldn't help but think of some past events, and felt sad in her heart. She believed Ning Changjiu's words and said, "That must be a poor woman... I usually see you as a dull person, but I never imagined that you have such a delicate mind."
Ning Jiujiu didn't know that the brothel girl who was forgotten by the whole world sang this song and walked into the light at the last moment of her life.
Ning Jiujiu nodded and said, "I'm sorry for disturbing my uncle, I'll be gentler in the future."
Yazhu looked around again, and after confirming that there was no one else, he nodded and said: "Well, you are the Peak Master's mercy and stay here. If you do this again in the future, I will report this to the Peak Master."
Ning Jiujiu said: "Yes, if the master punishes me then, I will fully accept it."
Seeing that his attitude was correct, Yazhu didn't make things difficult for him anymore. She looked around again and finally walked out of the door.
After the door closed, Ning Jiujiu slumped back in his chair, his sleeves hanging down greatly, his expression as if he had gone through several hard battles, and his face was full of exhaustion.
At the top of the bed frame, Lu Jiaoyu and Ning Xiaoling, who were hiding, finally relaxed.
Ning Xiaoling was still in shock. She sat on the bed and looked nervously at the woman in black robe in front of her. She whispered: "Master... Master, how... why is it you? Why are you in senior brother's room? I... "
Lu Marian had an idea in her mind. She did not intend to give Ning Xiaoling a chance to ask questions, and said: "Ning and I have something to discuss. Besides, as my teacher is the master of this peak, of course I have no restrictions on where I go, but you , Xiaoling, why are you in senior brother's room, huh? You don't even remember the rules?"
"I... I..." Ning Xiaoling panicked. She pinched the corner of her skirt, rubbed it repeatedly, and whispered: "I... I didn't know Master was here."
Lu Marian's voice was cold and majestic, and she said, "If I hadn't been here tonight, I'd probably never know what Xiaoling said about me behind my back."
Ning Xiaoling was so frightened that she forgot what she had just said, and kept admitting her mistake: "Oh... Master, there are many people with a broad mind. Master Xiaolingtong must not take it to heart. I... I... um , It’s all my fault, senior brother. Senior brother didn’t even tell me. What’s there to hide about these little things? I won’t tell anyone…”
Ning Jiujiu was shocked, thinking that he had sacrificed so much, why did the crime come around and be placed on himself in the end
He no longer wanted to explain, and looked at Lu Jiaomao for help.
After all, Lu Marian still relied on Ning Jiujiu's innate spirit hammer to forge her sword body, so she also moved towards him. She knocked on Ning Xiaoling's head and said: "You still dare to talk back? Do you know what crime you are guilty of talking about the Peak Master behind his back?" ?”
Ning Xiaoling was shocked again when she saw that her master was so serious today. She shook her head and whispered: "No... I don't know."
Lu Marion actually didn't know that there was no such thing in the sect rules.
But she still said with a cold face: "Since this is your first offender, I will spare you once. If you dare to do this again in the future, don't blame Master for being ruthless."
Ning Xiaoling nodded repeatedly.
Lu Marian's expression softened a little. She touched Ning Xiaoling's head and said earnestly: "Xiaoling, now you are also a Taoist. Although our Yujian Tianzong sword cultivation does not pay attention to the ruthless Taoism, the path of Taoism is still the same. You need to be focused on nothing, and you can’t always think about family and love, otherwise it will be difficult for the sword’s heart to be clear, Xiaoling, do you understand?”
Ning Xiaoling continued to nod.
Lu Marian felt relieved now and asked: "No one is allowed to tell anyone what happened tonight, remember?"
Ning Xiaoling nodded, feeling a little dizzy, and agreed: "Don't worry, Xiaoling is sensible. From now on, this will be the secret of Xiaoling and Master alone! If Master really can't trust me, he can use Taoism to erase Xiaoling's memory." .”
Lu Jiejiu said: "This is a forbidden magic in the peak. How can master know it? In short, Xiaoling must keep his mouth shut from now on."
"Yeah!" Ning Xiaoling nodded, but she was still confused, and whispered softly: "Well... Master, what exactly are you doing here, senior brother?"
Lu Marian was stunned for a moment, thinking that she was still too soft-hearted, and she should have scolded her all the way, so that Ning Xiaoling did not dare to speak.
Ning Changjiu, who was lying bored on the side, smoothed things over and said: "Today, the master expounded the theory of the sword coming out of the sixteen orifices in the sword hall. I felt that what the master said was not quite right, so I made an appointment to discuss the matter in the evening."
Ning Xiaoling remembered the content of Lu Marion's lecture that morning and asked curiously: "Is what Master said wrong?"
Lu Marian was equally curious, but she didn't show it. She just looked at Ning Changjiu calmly, as if the two had discussed it for a long time and came to the result.
Ning Changjiu said: "There are seventy-two orifices in life, and all of them can produce swords. It is said that swords come from sixteen orifices because only those sixteen orifices are strong enough for ordinary ascetics to allow spiritual power to pass through the acupoints. It spurts out at a faster speed, but a true master of kendo will never stick to these. The seventy-two orifices roar at the same time, the sword energy all over his body shines with the sun and the moon, and the sky and the earth are the same color. This scene is the real master of kendo. place."
Hearing these words, Lu Marian was yearning for her. If it had been in the past, she would never have believed these words, but now her sword spirit is more and more in tune with her body. At this moment, she uses herself as a sword, raises her sword intention, and cuts the sword. When the Qi is flowing, one can even bypass the acupoints. This unbelievable thing is possible. Maybe it is true that the seventy-two orifices resonate at the same time!
Ning Xiaoling did not doubt her senior brother and said: "Senior brother is really knowledgeable."
Ning Jiujiu nodded gently, his eyes fell on Lu Marion, and said: "There are still many fallacies in the Sword Scripture. I can discuss it with Master in the future."
This is a hint that she will come every night from now on.
Lu Marian's ears were slightly red. She straightened her clothes and said solemnly, "No need. If you have anything to do in the future, you can tell me in the sword hall. Today is an exception, and we won't do it in the future."
She said, then looked at Ning Xiaoling who was huddled in her chest, spread her hands and said, "Xiaoling, hand over the key."
Ning Xiaoling was crying, tightly covering the key in her hand, softly begging: "Master-father-"
Lu Marian was not soft-hearted at all, and said: "On the count of three, if you still don't give it to me, you will go to the sword hall to receive the punishment tonight."
In the end, Ning Xiaoling obediently handed over the key in her hand.
Lu Marry put the keys away and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The twists and turns tonight made her a little dizzy.
Lu Marion glanced at Ning Changjiu, who was sitting in front of the window, and said, "Well, that's it for tonight. Xiaoling, I'll take you back to the house. It's time for me to return to the Peak Lord's Hall."
But Ning Xiaoling shook her head and cautiously suggested: "Master, you see we finally got together tonight, how about... playing something interesting?"