Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Ning Jiujiu also subconsciously opened his eyes and glanced at Liu Xiwan. The girl was staring ahead blankly. Her body suddenly tensed up and she shuddered. Her originally talkative expression suddenly froze. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly, not daring to breathe.
The knock was short.
Liu Xiwan's breathing slowly slowed down.
She slowly turned her head and looked at the door. The line between the door and the door turned black - there was someone standing there.
Boom, boom, boom.
The knock on the door sounded again, rhythmic, and every sound hit the beat of the girl's heartbeat with precision.
Ning Jiujiu guessed something, and a smile floated on his pale face: "Miss Liu, a guest is here. I have difficulty moving. You can open the door and entertain them."
Liu Xiwan was still hoping for a chance. She calmed down and asked tentatively: "Who... who is outside?"
"Junior sister, are you in there?"
The woman's voice was pleasant and gentle, with a hint of anxiety and worry in it.
It is indeed the second senior sister! Liu Xiwan was shocked. The senior sister ignored the rules of Tianbang and came to the door!
But listening to my senior sister's tone... she seemed worried and concerned about me.
As expected, my senior sister is usually so fierce, but since I haven’t been back from the competition for so long, she is still more worried about my safety! Liu Xiwan stroked her heart and thought softly, senior sister is really a smart person.
"Yes!" Liu Xiwan was about to stand up, but her legs were slightly numb from kneeling for a long time, and her movements were a little slower.
The second senior sister obviously breathed a sigh of relief and greeted: "Junior sister, are you okay? Why haven't you come back for so long? What happened? You have made senior sister worried for so long."
Liu Xiwan thought for a while and said: "This matter is very long, um... and very complicated. Let me and my senior sister explain it slowly. I was careless in this sword competition, and it insulted the name of the sword pavilion. Even if my senior sister scolds me, I will .”
The second senior sister smiled and said: "It's okay. I brought you out just for experience. Smooth sailing may not be a good thing. Encountering some setbacks will also be helpful for your future growth. If you stay in the building and don't want to come out because of defeat, there is no need. Besides, your Seventh Senior Brother has already lost face to Jiange. As for your shameless girl, what can you lose?"
The second senior sister is so good... The more Liu Xiwan listened, the more moved she felt. Back on the snowy street, she faced the assassination of the Killing Court and buried herself in the snow, but she was still accidentally plotted by her opponent. When she was desperate, the second senior sister came walking on the snow and sword. At that time, she regarded the second senior sister as a role model.
Only then did she realize that she had misunderstood her senior sister in the past. It turned out that her senior sister was such a good person... She felt guilty for what she had said behind her back before.
"Thank you, senior sister." Liu Xiwan said movedly: "There is a reason why I stay here. I will explain it to senior sister later."
Second Senior Sister hummed and said softly: "Open the door quickly, it's so windy and snowy outside, can you bear to let Senior Sister stand in the snow all the time?"
Breaking into the rankings by yourself has broken the rules. It would be too shameful to break in again... The second senior sister suppressed her emotions and smiled gently.
The girl rubbed her legs, straightened her hair and straightened her clothes, and said, "Sister, wait a minute, I'll open the door for you right now."
The second senior sister stood at the door, waiting quietly.
Ning Changjiu listened on the sidelines, and the more he listened, the more something was wrong... Is this really the same person as the senior sister Liu Xiwan said
His keen intuition made him a calm bystander. He looked at the moved girl and said, "Did you hear a story when you were a child?"
"What story?" Liu Xiwan answered casually while running towards the door.
Ning Changjiu said: "The big bad wolf knocked on the door and invited the little white rabbit to his house. He said he would treat him to carrots. The little white rabbit..."
Liu Xiwan guessed what he was going to say and immediately interrupted sharply: "Stop instigating the relationship between me and my senior sister. You are the big bad wolf who wants to treat me to carrots! You have ulterior motives."
Ning Changjiu felt bored and did not continue to persuade him. He lay flat on the ground and waited for Liu Xiwan to throw herself into a trap.
"Senior sister!"
Liu Xiwan shouted loudly, pulled the bolt, and opened the door.
The wind and snow crashed into the house.
But Liu Xiwan didn't see the gentle and beautiful face of the senior sister as she expected.
Along with the wind and snow came Zhang's cold and angry face.
"Junior sister, long time no see."
The second senior sister spoke slowly, and a chill spread across the place.
Liu Xiwan realized that she had been deceived. At this moment, she was the little white rabbit in front of the door. The big bad wolf stood in front of her, throwing away the tempting carrot and revealing its sharp teeth and fangs.
Liu Xiwan wanted to close the door, but it was too late.
The second senior sister grabbed her wrist.
"Senior...Senior Sister." Liu Xiwan looked at her fierce face, still holding a bit of luck in her heart: "How long have you been standing here?"
The second senior sister said calmly: "It's been half an hour."
The last glimmer of hope in Liu Xiwan's heart was shattered.
"Senior sister... have mercy on me!"
…
Ning was lying on the cloak on the floor for a long time. In his ears, the girl's screams were accompanied by a crackling sound. The sound was clear and crisp, like the breath of waves hitting the rocks.
Ning Jiujiu had no time to look up at the 'pleasant' scene and laugh at the girl's tragedy at the moment. He closed his eyes and abandoned all sounds and distracting thoughts.
He recalled what had happened earlier.
The boy in black stood under the half-withered tree, looking at the dried up and spreading veins, and finished telling a story that left Ning puzzled for a long time.
"When you see her in the future, retell this story to her." Evil turned his back and faced the tree, his voice was quiet: "After you leave here and before you see her, don't tell anyone about it. It’s impossible to even think about this little story.”
Ning Jiujiu didn't know what shocking secret was hidden in this story, but he believed what he said and nodded in agreement.
Ning Jiujiu asked: "Do you know the master?"
Evil said: "I can guess who she is... After thousands of years apart, my memory has been blurred."
Ning thought for a long time and then asked: "Senior, do you know who I am?"
Evil turned back calmly, staring at him with dark eyes. He did not speak directly, but said: "The broken country in your body reminds me of many past events."
Ning didn't ask again for a long time.
Evil said: "My sister, how is she doing now?"
Ning Jiujiu replied: "She is now guarding the inner demon tribulation."
"Heart Demon Tribulation." Evil nodded and asked, "How is she doing?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "When I first met her, she said that the shopkeeper asked her to manage the place. At that time, she was like an ordinary little girl. I had some chats with her, and we even agreed on the code words. See her again when I enter the Purple Garden. But..."
Ning Jiujiu paused and continued: "But when I entered the inner demon tribulation, I was almost killed by her after I said the code word."
Evil listened and was silent for a while, then said: "She was controlled."
Ning Jiujiu asked: "That shopkeeper?"
"Well, we will meet it sooner or later." Evil said this, referring to us. He stood under the tree, as if missing his sister, and then he whispered: "It's good to be alive, there is always a chance to meet each other while we are alive." ,Right?"
His voice was endlessly ethereal, and Ning Changjiu felt a little startled and responded: "Well, you and your sister can always meet each other."
Evil calmly said: "I will continue to wait."
"What are you waiting for?" Ning asked for a long time.
"Waiting for death." Evil said, "Or for a new life that doesn't exist."
Ning would not speak again for a long time.
After that, his state of mind became heavier and heavier. The half-dead giant tree disappeared in his eyes. All kinds of disabled old men passed by his sight. Their faces were twisted and they had all kinds of strange disabilities. They were either chanting incessantly or tearing apart. He opened his body, revealing the flesh and blood as pale as death.
"After you leave, I will erase all traces of you." Evil's voice came through his pupils.
That was their last look at each other.
Ning didn't recall that story for a long time. After he made sure that he didn't remember any details of his conversation with Evil, he slowly opened his eyes.
The door was open, and the cold wind poured into the house, making people feel chilly.
Ning Jiujiu turned his head and glanced over there.
The movement at the door has become much quieter.
Liu Xiwan had been beaten by the second senior sister and was kneeling on the ground, listening to the second senior sister's scolding.
"Liu Xiwan, you are really promising." The second senior sister crossed her arms, her hair was disheveled, her pretty face stared at her coldly, and said: "Hiding here is just waiting for me to break the rules, and then let the senior sister teach me a lesson ? Disrespectful and lawless! If I hadn’t heard it today, I wouldn’t have known that in my lovely heart, senior sister is actually like this.”
"Senior sister, you heard wrong..." Liu Xiwan said weakly.
"How dare you speak so harshly!" The second senior sister grabbed her ears and said, "You said before that you would have to stay up for two days, make me anxious, and then retreat completely?"
Liu Xiwan thought that she had no way out now.
The second senior sister said: "You want to escape completely, right? Do you want me to escape completely now?"
Liu Xiwan knelt on the ground, looking at her senior sister pitifully, and said: "Senior sister, I was just being ridiculous for a moment. I said such things. I really know that I was wrong. Don't let your whole body...etc."
As she said that, Liu Xiwan couldn't help but glance inside the room.
The second senior sister said: "Huh, what? Are you afraid that the wild man will see the joke?"
Liu Xiwan pursed her lips and did not dare to refute, so she could only cover her clothes tightly.
The second senior sister grabbed her hand and said, "Get up."
Liu Xiwan was pulled up by her, then dragged into the house and came to Ning Changjiu.
Ning Jiujiu opened his eyes slightly and said, "I have met Mr. Jiange II."
Although the second senior sister was angry, the other person was an outsider and a patient after all, and he seemed to be polite. When Liu Xiwan slandered her earlier, it was this young man who said a few words on her behalf.
The second senior sister's expression softened a little and asked: "Who are you?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "Zhang Jiu, a disciple of the Ancient Spirit Sect."
The second senior sister frowned slightly: "How come the order is signed by the deputy sect leader?"
"Well... I got promoted recently." Ning Jiujiu said sincerely.
Of course the second senior sister didn't believe it, but she didn't bother to ask. She looked at him and said, "Before you won the little junior sister, did you win against that Xiao Qiu guy?"
"Um."
"Who is more powerful, little junior sister or Xiao Qiu?" The second senior sister must have disdained comparisons with Jiange disciples in the past, but the fourteenth junior sister is the first disciple she has led personally, and she needs to cultivate some confidence in herself.
Ning Jiujiu said: "Junior sister Guige is much more powerful. We fought hundreds of moves before, and it was hard to separate. Although I won, I only won one and a half moves, and I suffered such serious injuries. , is somewhat invincible."
Liu Xiwan looked at him gratefully, finally feeling some warmth in this cold winter.
The second senior sister was doubtful and said: "Why did I hear you say that your injury was caused after coming down from the Tianbao?"
Liu Xiwan was stunned and thought, Senior Sister, are you here so early
Ning Jiujiu said: "For some reason, the Heavenly Ranking has tested my character. My Taoist heart was already shaky, and now I am even more depressed. This makes Mr. Er laugh."
The second senior sister snorted coldly and said: "Look at me, my swordsmanship is better than yours, and I'm also more polite than you. Let's just replace the fourteenth disciple of Jiange!"
Ning Changjiu apologized deeply and said: "Thank you for your kindness, senior sister. It's just that I have good relations with the master of the Ancient Spirit Sect and care about the future of the Ancient Spirit Sect. I will not switch to another school."
Hypocrisy, so hypocritical! Liu Xiwan felt indignant.
"Yes." The second senior sister nodded, thinking that he was a good prospect, but it was a pity that there were no more seats for Jiange disciples.
She said: "When I heard about the changes in the Ancient Spirit Sect, as a Chinese cultivator, I feel sad. If I have free time in the future, I can bring my junior sister to visit me at my house."
Ning Jiujiu said: "Thank you very much, Mr. Er, for your kindness."
Liu Xiwan felt that their conversation was very hypocritical, but she was the weakest and the one with the least say.
The second senior sister asked: "Have you known each other for a long time?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "Well, Miss Liu and I... are friends."
The second senior sister shook her head slightly and said, "You are not friends."
"Huh?" Ning Jiujiu was puzzled.
The second senior sister said firmly: "You used to be the little junior sister's master, right?"
Two pairs of innocent and doubtful eyes fell on the second senior sister at the same time.
Ning Jiujiu was stunned and asked, "Why did Mr. Second say this?"
The second senior sister said confidently and proudly: "Junior sister used to be a sword spirit. Although I don't know where she comes from, if you two know each other, I guess you were the one holding the sword back then."
Ning Jiujiu and Liu Xiwan looked at each other.
Ning Jiujiu said: "Second Sir, you are indeed aware of everything. I was indeed Miss Liu's... master in the past."
Liu Xiwan clenched her fists, feeling angry and aggrieved. She wanted to refute but didn't dare to speak.
Second Senior Sister nodded lightly, thinking that her inference was indeed correct, and said: "Although Junior Sister was your sword in the past, now she is a disciple of the Sword Pavilion. You must no longer treat each other as master and servant."
"Of course not." Ning Jiujiu said: "Jiange disciples have a distinguished status, and I also regard Miss Liu as an equal."
The second senior sister looked at the sick young man and listened to his precise answers, but she didn't have much anger to take out on him.
She just asked: "Tell me about your past."
Ning Jiujiu laughed dumbly and said: "There is no past. They just met by chance, made a contract with each other, then experienced life and death, gambled their lives again and again, and finally parted ways."
"Really?" Second Senior Sister looked at Liu Xiwan and said, "Tell me about it."
Liu Xiwan lowered her head with an aggrieved look and muttered: "It's just... pretty much what he said."
The second senior sister said coldly: "Well, just don't make gambling on your life a habit. Before you really master the sword, you must be sure to be steady when you draw the sword. The battle of wills in the world is not worth risking your life as the winner. In short... Your senior brothers and sisters will protect you in everything."
Liu Xiwan felt some tenderness again and spoke firmly, "Don't worry, I will definitely cherish my life in the future and never gamble again. Xiaowan... has always been very obedient."
Ning Jiujiu looked at her obedient appearance as she called herself Xiaowan, and once again lamented the uncertainty of fate.
When the second senior sister heard this, her face suddenly darkened.
No more gambling... It seems that gambling is indeed prohibited in Jiange.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but take a deep breath and wanted to pull Liu Xiwan over again and give her a beating.
At this moment, Liu Xiwan hit the tip of the spear again: "Senior sister, you look great with your hair down. By the way... Where did senior sister's sword go?"
…
…
One night passed, and Ning Changjiu leaned against the wall and regained his energy.
Previously, when he first left the top floor of Tianbang, evil forcibly usurped part of his spirit, and then used those spirits as light. After he returned to the room, he followed his original spirit and traveled to the tree. Under the giant tree.
Doing this may avoid prying eyes.
Ning Jiujiu sealed part of his memory to prevent himself from thinking about the story. He only folded it in the sea of consciousness, and then labeled it with the four words "top priority".
Ning let out a long breath.
She walked out of the house and leaned on the railing to look at the wind and snow.
Liu Xiwan came up the stairs and said, "Give me the cloak."
Ning Jiujiu took off his cloak, put it on for her, and said with a smile: "Your senior sister is much more fierce than mine, but as the saying goes, a strict master produces a good disciple, and Liu Nuxia has a bright future."
"You're a big-headed ghost! What's the future..." Liu Xiwan thought of a certain word, paused for a moment, and became even more angry: "Next time we meet, I will never forgive you!"
Ning Jiujiu sighed: "Why do you have to be so violent when practicing swordsmanship?"
Liu Xiwan said: "You polished the match yourself and threw it into the firewood pile, and then you blamed the firewood for burning brightly? Why did Lu Marianjian meet someone like you!"
Ning Jiujiu smiled indifferently and said, "Do you want to hear the way to defeat me?"
Liu Xiwan narrowed her eyes, looked at him with great distrust, and said: "Humph, it must be another trap, keep it to yourself!"
Ning Jiujiu said helplessly: "Then I have no choice but to take care of myself."
Liu Xiwan rolled her eyes, she tied her cloak and said, "I'm going back."
Ning Jiujiu said: "If Jiange is really not good to you, you can come to Ancient Spirit Sect."
"Senior sister is... very kind to me!" Liu Xiwan said angrily: "I won't come to cause trouble for you, lest your backyard catches fire and your white-eyed wolf's carrots are roasted into ashes."
Ning Jiujiu said: "I have always been honest and dignified with Marian, Xiang'er and the others."
Liu Xiwan sneered. She put her sword on her back, pulled on her cloak, and wrapped herself into an owl again.
"By the way, remember to go to the casino."
Before leaving, Liu Xiwan said.
"Casino? What are you doing there?" Ning asked for a long time.
Liu Xiwan said: "This is what Senior Sister asked me to tell you... Senior Sister previously bet on me to win in the casino and lost both the crown and the sword. No one dared to take these things, and Senior Sister had no shame to take them back. After thinking about it, you are not afraid of death. It’s up to you to get it. Of course, the public announcement cannot be that some senior sister lost in gambling, but it must be that she appreciates the younger disciples and cherishes their talents.”
Ning Jiujiu was stunned for a moment, thinking that it was no wonder that Mr. Second was so angry when Liu Xiwan asked about the hair crown and sword earlier. He thought that this girl had been scolded again...
"Can I leave the building when I'm in charge of Tianbang?" Ning Jiujiu asked.
Liu Xiwan sarcastically said: "You don't know anything and you come to compete on the list?"
Ning Jiujiu confronted him and said: "You know so much, but my men still lose the sword."
Liu Xiwan glared angrily, stamped her feet fiercely, and explained through gritted teeth: "On weekdays, no one challenges you. Within the scope of this day's list, you can go wherever you like. If anyone comes, just go back and keep the list! Remember to pick up Senior Sister's The things have been taken away, and others are coming, so don’t lose!”
Ning Jiujiu looked at the short-haired girl in the snow and nodded seriously, with a gentle expression.
Liu Xiwan looked at his rare gentle facial features and thought he was going to say something like 'Take care of yourself all the way'.
Ning Jiujiu smiled and said: "Nvxia Liu, please escape intact."
Liu Xiwan held the sword, turned around and pounced.
…
…
Outside the railings of the high-rise building, the snow was in a mess. This ancient building with a pearl-like dome looked quiet in the wind and snow.
Ning Jiujiu dug out his body from the snow, dusted the snow off his clothes, and looked far away.
This is the center of Middle-earth. Except for the buildings in Tianbang, as far as the eye can see, there are wilderness and plains all around.
Is this the center of the world... Ning Jiujiu had this idea.
No, the center of the world should be the location of the Kingdom of God each year.
It's just that since the Tianbang falls here, it also has its own special significance. He couldn't help but think of the big tree that grew out of the earth's core and had roots almost all over the world... Is it Mr. Yuan? Or is it some kind of substance that is the origin of the world
He no longer thought about it, got up and went downstairs to the casino.
Many people in the casino had dispersed in despair, but there were also more people who stayed there, waiting to admire the grace of this peerless young man.
Ning didn't ask about the location of the casino for a long time. He followed the breath of the sword and walked over.
As he entered the door, countless pairs of eyes fell on him.
The table in the middle of the casino has been cleared, except for the silver crown and ancient sword placed on the table, like the emperor's crown and authority.
No one spoke in the room.
Because this is a special moment, it is the first time that the sword of Jiange falls into the hands of others.
Ning Jiujiu ignored this sense of solemnity.
He walked to the table, took the crown and sword casually, stared at the lines on them for a while, then turned and left.
This process is surprisingly simple, as if it is not the world-famous sword, but the raincoat he left behind.
Suddenly, a voice broke the calm.
"I bet on you to win."
Ning looked for a long time, and Xiao Qiu looked at him with a firm expression.
Ning Jiujiu nodded gently and said, "You have good taste."
After saying that, he walked out of the door.
After leaving, everyone began to talk, praising his extraordinary grace and divine demeanor.
Ning held the sword for a long time and looked at the three characters "Liu Junzhuo" engraved on the scabbard, frowning slightly... thinking that this was the name of the world. Then, he pushed it away an inch with his thumb and stared at the edge of this peerless weapon.
The sharp edge is also engraved with two characters - Kunlun.
Kunlun... Ning Jiujiu frowned and stared for a long time, not sure if this was a coincidence.
Kunlun, Moon Kingdom…
To the northeast of Tianbang, the ancient city where all the demons gather seems to be guiding something.