On the steps under the Taoist temple, the fog has dissipated, and the sixteen-year-old boy and girl are standing on the mountain path. Behind them, the sky and the earth are open, and the waves of wheat are undulating.
Ning Changjiang wore a cyan Taoist robe, which made him look more delicate, while Zhao Xiang'er's Taoist robe was snow-white, which added to her childish beauty.
After the happy meeting, the two looked at each other.
The breeze was gentle, holding their clothes and hair softly. Ning looked at Zhao Xiang'er for a long time. At a certain moment, he suddenly felt that this could be Xiang'er, and they were dreaming at the same time! But soon, Ning Jiujiu rejected this idea - Xiang'er didn't know that she had another life, and there was no way that she would be able to survive. She shouldn't be so calm at this moment.
This should be an illusion constructed by consciousness.
The rain and sunset in the Imperial City of Zhao Kingdom have long gone. Looking back after all the hardships, the girl in the dream is still as if she had first met her. It’s a dream I don’t want to wake up from…
Zhao Xiang'er also looked at him quietly, her snow lotus-like Taoist robe covering her body, as soft as a cloud. There is no unnecessary feeling in the dream, the sunshine and the spring breeze are all warm.
Is this... the Taoist temple of Master Ning Changjiu
Of course, Zhao Xianger knew that this Taoist temple was not real. When she was a child, she received a marriage certificate and her mother told her that her future husband would be a young Taoist priest. At that time, she had imagined what the Taoist temple would look like, imagining every door and every hall. Every brick, although the marriage letter was later sealed in dust at the bottom of the box, the original thoughts may never fade away.
Is this the Taoist temple I imagined when I was a child
As for why Ning Jiujiu appeared in the imperial city instead of the Taoist temple, she couldn't figure it out. She just thought it was an impermanent fate that transcended her mother's calculations.
Zhao Xiang'er looked at him and blinked, thinking that when she saw his skin like this three years ago, she was almost deceived, thinking that he was really a gentleman with clean features... Well, could it be that he learned bad things later? ah
Zhao Xiang'er's clear black and white eyes were slightly narrowed, and her long and curved eyelashes were fluttering in the sunlight, as delicate as a porcelain doll.
She seemed to be planning something.
Ning Jiujiu was stunned. He had done something wrong after all, so even in his dream, Zhao Xiang'er's kitten-like eyes still made him a little panicked.
However, Xiang'er in the dream was still so young, so he should take care of her as a younger sister and polish her character to avoid suffering in the future... No, where did the future come from in the dream
The two of them were looking at each other quietly with their own thoughts, but they heard a fairy voice coming from the Taoist temple.
"Come to the inner sanctum and see me."
This is the voice of Ye Changong.
It was the first time that Zhao Xiang'er heard such a sound, and she felt like she was on the coast, with the pure wind coming towards her.
Ning Jiujiu was also slightly absent-minded.
You are never completely awake in your dreams, so the two of them turned around and walked side by side towards the steps.
Deep in the Taoist temple, among the gods and Buddhas, they stood together in front of the curtain.
The curtain opened slightly, and the words of the viewer floated out:
"From today on, you two are both Taoist companions and my only two disciples. After today, I will be in seclusion. You can get along well in the meditation and don't disturb me."
The voice of the viewer is very soft and beautiful, and one can't help but think of what a peerless beauty the woman speaking is.
The only second disciple... Are the senior brother and senior sister gone? Could it be that subconsciously, I have always longed for a two-person world with Xiang'er? Ning Jiujiu, who had always been confident, suddenly had doubts about his own character.
The only second disciple... Did this female master and Ning Jiujiu teach one-on-one before? Zhao Xiang'er felt a chill in her heart, and wanted to lift the curtain to see what she looked like, but then she thought about it, she had never seen Ning Changjiu's so-called master at all, and she should not be able to realize it in a dream, so she was separated by a layer of veil. .
Thinking about this, Zhao Xiang'er glanced at Ning Changjiu quietly, and she found that the other person's expression didn't seem to fluctuate... Well, maybe I was overthinking it.
While the two were thinking, the curtain opened and two volumes of scriptures fell in front of them.
They reached out and held it.
Even though they haven't opened it, they can already feel the infinite mysteries in it through the pages of the book.
"Disciple thanks Master." Ning Jiujiu said naturally.
Zhao Xiang'er had just arrived and was a little uncomfortable. She opened the book, inspected the goods, and then whispered without respect: "Disciple thanks Master."
Strange... I have obviously never read this scripture, but how come the mysteries in it are so real.
The immortal voice of the master of the temple came again: "Now that the matter has been decided, you should step back and practice hard. Don't slack off. In three years, the gate of the temple will be opened. I will test your unique skills."
…
Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xianger walked out of the hall together with books in their arms.
"Ning Jiujiu." The viewer's words came up again.
Ning Jiujiu was slightly shocked and asked, "Master, what's the matter?"
"Close the door." The viewer said.
"..." Ning Jiujiu thought to himself that this was indeed his unshakable position in Guanzhong.
"Yes, Master."
He closed the temple door.
The two looked at each other.
"That... Ning Changjiu!" Zhao Xiang'er opened her mouth slightly and said seriously: "Listen up, from now on, you will be my junior brother."
"Ah?" Ning Jiujiu was shocked, but he was not willing to agree. He said, "I am Master's disciple. How can you be my senior sister after you?"
Are you so stubborn in your dreams? Zhao Xiang'er frowned and said, "Haven't you heard a common saying?"
"What?" Ning asked for a long time.
"The one who comes last wins!" Zhao Xiang'er said confidently.
Ning Jiujiu was shocked. He didn't expect Xiang'er in his dream to be so sharp-tongued. He didn't know how to refute.
Zhao Xiang'er took advantage of the victory and pursued her: "From now on, I will be your senior sister, and I will teach you Taoism on behalf of the master."
Ning Changjiu thought to himself that here in Taoist Temple, he was a local snake, how could he lose
"Junior sister, are you kidding me?" Ning Jiujiu said: "Although you are my unmarried wife, I will not let you be unruly and willful!"
Zhao Xiang'er's fine eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a look of anger suddenly appeared on her porcelain-white face: "Who are you calling unruly and willful!"
Ning Jiujiu looked at her fierce, tiger-like appearance, gave in a little, and sneered: "Okay, you are gentle, kind, and beautiful."
Zhao Xiang'er felt that he was scolding her, so she scolded him back: "Then you still have good character and are honest!"
Both of them seemed to be hurt by the scolding, and their hearts were filled with pain. They silently resolved their emotions and did not speak for a while.
But who is the senior sister and who is the senior brother must be distinguished!
Ning Jiujiu recalled the stories of the fourth senior sister and the fifth senior brother, and immediately turned around and bowed, saying: "Master, I am here to bow to you, my disciple."
Zhao Xianger knelt down with her legs bent, holding the book in one hand and holding her cheek in the other. She blinked at him and said, "You kneel down so fast, but Master seems to be ignoring you."
Ning Jiujiu said: "Master has recognized me a long time ago!"
"Do you recognize me?" Zhao Xiang'er shook his head and smiled, and said, "That's right. After leaving the palace earlier, Master asked you to help close the door. Doesn't the implication mean that you are a closed disciple?"
Ning Jiujiu was stunned for a moment, unable to find a reason to refute, so he had to force himself to calm down and said: "I am just the disciple responsible for closing the door!"
Zhao Xiang'er smiled faintly, her crooked eyes full of cunning, "Stop sophistry, in short, I will be your senior sister from now on!"
Ning Jiujiu said: "You are dreaming!"
Zhao Xiang'er was startled and thought that she was indeed dreaming, and only in dreams would she shed her cold and gorgeous disguise and reveal her girl-like personality...
She said angrily: "You are just dreaming!"
Ning Jiujiu was shocked, thinking why he couldn't cure Xiang'er in his dream... This was still his dream! It’s really useless…
The two of them were stabbed in a sore spot at the same time. Ning Jiujiu bit his lip and lowered his head in thought. Zhao Xiang'er pursed her lips and puffed out her cheeks, her eyes dark.
Zhao Xiang'er suddenly spoke and suggested: "Then let's decide the outcome! The winner wins! The losing side must be respectful to the other side and stop being arrogant, how about that?"
"No problem!" Ning Changjiu had this idea and asked, "How do you want to compete? A civil fight or a martial arts fight?"
Zhao Xiang'er's eyes narrowed, and she said confidently: "Let's do this, let's bet on one thing!"
"What?" Ning Jiujiu asked curiously.
Zhao Xiang'er smiled and said: "I can guess what kind of woman you like! If I am right, you have to admit defeat, okay?"
Ning Jiujiu looked at her confident look and thought, what does this sixteen-year-old Zhao Xianger know? She is bound to fail.
"Since you have this suggestion, I will comply with you." Ning Jiujiu said.
The two temporarily put aside their prejudices, sat down by the lotus pond, made a promise, and then looked at each other.
Zhao Xiang'er's first words struck Ning Changjiu's consciousness like thunder: "You like female sword fairies in white clothes!"
"That sword fairy must have a very good figure, um... he should have a bright sword mind and a cold personality on weekdays." Zhao Xianger continued: "Tell me, am I right?"
Ning Changjiu opened his mouth half-open, not knowing how to speak. How did the sixteen-year-old Xiang'er know Marry...
"You also like the woman who is your enemy, falling in love with each other, and having mutual feelings for each other. That woman's figure... I guess, she is also tall and graceful. As for her hair, it may also be an unusual color." Zhao Xiang'er said coldly He said calmly, and then used his trump card.
Ning Jiujiu felt like being shocked by electricity. He stared at Zhao Xiang'er blankly, his pupils trembling, and he thought to himself, let's forget about getting married. How did you know, Si Ming? ! After being shocked, he suddenly understood that such a dream must be out of guilt for Xiang'er! After all, I don't know how to tell Xiang'er about Si Ming... This is the so-called fear during the day and dream at night!
Zhao Xiang'er raised her eyes. She looked extremely pure in her white Taoist robe. Her slender arms supported her tender cheeks, but she looked as lazy as a kitten. She smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, and asked between her thin lips: " How's that? Am I right?"
She was confident that she would win.
Ning was silent for a moment, raised his head and said firmly: "That's not right!"
Zhao Xiang'er's eyes opened, and she snorted softly, with a threatening tone in her tactful words: "You should follow your heart when cultivating, and you must not cheat!"
Ning Changjiu said categorically: "It's just not right!"
Zhao Xianger said: "Since it's wrong, then tell me, what kind of woman do you like in your heart?"
Ning looked at her for a long time and said in a gentle voice: "The girl I like should be as old as me. Her eyes are black and white, just like the mountains and the sky on a snowy night. Her long hair is pitch black, like... All the dark clouds in the world are condensed together, and they are as soft as clouds. When she wears a black skirt, she is cold, when she wears a white skirt, she is elegant, and when she wears a smart outfit, she is heroic. She has different thoughts, She has her own pride and her own kindness, she... "
"Stop, stop talking!" Zhao Xianger raised her delicate palms to interrupt.
Her eyes were obviously flustered, and her chest was rising and falling rapidly. She bit her lip, and her already porcelain face became even paler.
He...how did he...
Zhao Xiang'er suddenly figured out that this was when Ning Changjiang was sixteen years old. How did he know Lu Jianjian and Si Ming at that time? He... he clearly only knew himself! Why am I so stupid...
It must be because the dream was not clear enough!
"Miss Xiang'er, am I... right?" Ning Jiujiu asked softly.
Zhao Xiang'er took a deep breath and thought to herself that she was cultivating herself in the Three Thousand Worlds and slaying demon sparrows in the Heavenly Fire Trial. How come in her dream... Could it be that what is shown in her dream is the softest part of her heart
Ning Jiujiu stretched out his hand and waved it in front of Zhao Xiang'er's eyes.
Zhao Xianger came back to her senses, lowered her voice, and said weakly: "You... you won."
Ning Chang smiled and asked: "Then what should you call me?"
…
…
"What a nightmare..." Zhao Xianger slowly opened her eyes, looked at the flames spreading between the sky and the earth, held the blade in her hand, and sighed to herself.
But luckily it was a dream... If Ning Jiujiu found out about such a shameful dream, he would probably be so arrogant that he would jump to the sky!
I hope I won’t have such a dream again tomorrow.
Zhao Xiang'er thought this way, but found that her mental recovery was unexpectedly good. Hmm...a blessing in disguise
She held the sword tightly and walked towards the next demon king.
She wanted to vent her anger.
…
"What good dream did you have last night? Did you laugh so happily?" Si Ming asked with a frown as he looked at Ning Changjiu, who had been giggling since he woke up.
Ning Jiujiu suppressed his smile, learned yesterday's lesson, and said: "I dreamed that we took back the power of Netherworld, saved Xiaoling and Netherworld, and then lived carefree in the Ancient Spirit Sect."
Si Ming looked at him doubtfully and asked, "We?"
Ning Jiujiu smiled and said: "Of course it's us, you are our sect master, how can you not be here?"
Siming sneered and said, "I believe your lies! I'm afraid you dreamed of your little wife again last night and had sex with her in your dream, right?"
Ning Jiujiu was amazed at Siming's understanding of him. He changed the subject and said calmly: "Why did you wake up earlier than me?"
Si Ming sat cross-legged, her fingertips skillfully changing the sword techniques. While practicing her sword, she said leisurely: "During the days when I came to the City of Ten Thousand Demons, I slept peacefully every night just because I was too tired to control the sword during the day. These days I should You are traveling around the mountains and rivers, and your spiritual energy has not been consumed at all, so why do you need sleep to replenish your energy? You, on the other hand, are doing nothing, but you are sleeping more soundly every day."
"I think too much every day and am... very tired." Ning Jiujiu explained, looked at Si Ming, watched her practicing her sword for a while, and asked, "Why is your swordsmanship so different from before?"
Si Mingyun said lightly: "I am talented and intelligent, and I have some understanding of swordsmanship. Well... in short, you are closer to death."
When Ning Jiujiu heard this, he immediately remembered the scriptures given to him by his master in his dream.
Will there be any mystery in the scriptures
He was so preoccupied with arguing with Xiang'er that he almost forgot about it.
After Si Ming finished practicing his sword, Ning Jiujiu finished combing her hair, and the two of them walked out the door as usual.
"Bai Lu, the longevity star, won't be back until tomorrow. Where are we going today?" Siming asked.
Ning Jiujiu said: "Yesterday you said that we should prepare for the worst against Bailu."
Siming said: "Well, we are here to rob things after all, so we can't expect it to be polite to us."
Ning thought for a long time and said, "Let's go down the mountain and take a look. When I came here yesterday, I saw some temple shadows on the side."
Siming and him walked out of the inn carefully arranged by boys and girls, and walked outside along the stone path of Biqiu Peak. Their figures flashed past the bustling road of Xiaoyao, and in a blink of an eye they arrived outside the stele pavilion. The tombstones outside the stele pavilion were as new as new.
"Compared with the previous ones, this mountain is not more evil, but more fragrant with birds and flowers." Siming walked slowly, her eyes fell on the dimly lit forest, looking at the slippery moss and mottled trees in the forest. The shadow said softly.
Ning Jiujiu said: "If this place can stay like this forever, it will be considered lucky for the monsters."
"Wishful thinking." Siming chuckled and shook his head, sarcastically saying: "There is no ultimate happiness in the whole world, and there is no spiritual mountain where the sunset falls. The peace here will one day be broken. The real God never cares about mortals. Life and death."
Ning Jiujiu said: "Although you were once a god, you don't have to be so pessimistic."
Siming said: "You will be pessimistic only after you have seen the truth. You will understand one day."
After she said this, she walked down the mountain.
There is a flower field on the mountainside. There is no soil under the flower field, and it is made of rocks. It is full of white and dignified flowers. Outside the flower field, there is a fence with thin wires hanging between them, and flower-protecting bells tied to the wires. Several women who have just become sperms are cultivating the flower fields.
"This flower is quite beautiful." Ning Jiujiu said.
"That's stone tea." Siming said, "It's a short-lived flower that can only bloom for one season and can be used as medicine."
While they were talking, a group of white deer came noisily outside the nearby forest. The women hurriedly drove them away to prevent them from trampling or eating the flower fields.
Walking through the camellia field, under the mountain peak, you can already see the sacred tree in the distance.
Siming looked at the almost dead sacred tree with a look of nostalgia: "The ginseng fruit tree disappeared after being pushed down. It turned out that it was planted here, and it was not completely dead."
"So it's called the ginseng fruit tree." Ning Changjiu nodded gently.
Siming said: "The ginseng fruit tree may have the effect of prolonging life, but it is wishful thinking to live forever."
Ning Jiujiu didn't know much about this and didn't say much. However, whether it was yesterday or today, when he looked at the sacred tree, he felt a sense of nausea in his heart. This nausea did not come from his heart, but from the golden crow. of.
After leaving Bhikkhu Peak, they walked towards the series of temples behind them.
The temples rise high from the ground. Their walls are made of large and small dark blue stones. The gabled roof extends gently. There are no windows. Several holes for light are cut into the ancient walls.
They walked up the road on the side of the temple.
The weather was gloomy and a heavy rain was about to fall at any time.
Most of the gods enshrined in the temple were famous giant monsters who died in the war between gods.
These demon kings once fought with the saints, climbed the sky pillar, climbed to the Immortal Palace, trampled the sky to pieces, and turned the world upside down, causing the sun and moon to lose their light. At this moment, even if they are just sculptures, they still carry the majesty that makes the demons kneel down and tremble. Most of their true bodies have been shattered at this moment, and their souls have been suppressed under the major dynasties in Middle-earth, lingering in the shadow of the saint's afterglow.
Ning walked into the temple for a long time.
Three open doors separate the dim boundary between light and shadow.
Ning Jiujiu asked softly: "If one day I die in battle like them, will you build a statue for me?"
Siming asked: "How much did Lu Jianhui give you, and you actually have the ambition to build a temple for yourself?"
"..." Ning was silent for a long time and said, "I just assumed."
Siming said calmly: "Of course I will."
Ning Changjiu was deeply moved. But listen to Si Ming continue: "Build an ancestral hall and use black iron to make a kneeling statue of you. Tell the world that you are a traitor and evil person. You will be despised by others and be infamy for thousands of years."
Ning Jiujiu smiled bitterly and said, "Master Priest is so cruel."
Si Ming nodded lightly and said calmly: "So I'm not allowed to die easily."
Ning Jiujiu was stunned for a moment, then saw Si Ming slowly walking towards the statue in the middle.
…
The four demon statues enshrined in the middle are said to be the four dead demon saints, and their names are clearly written under the thickly painted sculptures.
Under the dragon is written the Great Sage Who Overwhelms the Sea, under the giant lion is written the Great Sage Moving Mountains, under the ancient ape is written the Great Sage Ventilation, and under the great tamarin demon is written the Great Sage Expelling Gods.
The four statues of demon saints stand almost towering above the sky in the temple. They carry the scent of incense. Even though the statues are full of cracks, they still have not collapsed. According to the notice on the temple door, if one day, their souls truly die, these statues will also be broken.
If that day really comes, it should be a very tragic scene...
Ning thought quietly for a long time, his eyes passing through the temple of demon temples. He looked at the large and small standing statues, and wanted to salute a stick of incense. Then he was surprised to find that the incense seller was actually the monkey demon again!
One person and one monkey looked at each other for a while, both of them were surprised.
"Where are you from?" Ning Jiujiu asked casually.
The monkey demon smiled and said: "There is no origin. It was just born in the mother's womb."
"Where's your mother?" Ning asked for a long time.
The monkey demon was silent for a while and said: "My mother and brothers and sisters were all eaten by wild tigers, and I was the only one who survived..."
My luck in life may have been used up at that time.
Ning asked it for a long time how many incense sticks he bought, handed it the copper coins, and said, "Then you have to live well."
The monkey demon did not refuse. He accepted the copper coin, grinned and said, "You are such a kind guest. You will definitely be rewarded."
Ning looked at its tail for a long time and asked, "How did you break your tail?"
The monkey demon scratched his ears and cheeks, and said with a smile: "It was broken when he was born. I don't know, maybe it was bitten by a tiger, but luckily it only bit the tail... half a tail in exchange for a life is still worth it."
Ning Jiujiu glanced at Siming, who looked away from the little monkey and shook his head slightly.
The little monkey looked at the statue behind him and did not want to burn incense. He just worshiped devoutly, kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times.
Ning Changjiu bowed slightly and saluted the demon god, while Si Ming stood quietly, indifferent.
"Do you know all these monsters?" Ning Jiujiu asked.
The little monkey demon said: "I can't even call them by their names... Anyway, they are all great monsters."
Ning Jiujiu asked: "Why are there no statues of saints here?"
The little monkey demon was shocked, and then said firmly: "Of course it's because the saint is still alive! The saint will never abandon us. Well... this is what my mother told me before she was alive."
Its voice was lower. It always felt that it was its own misery that killed its mother.
Ning looked at it for a long time and said with a smile: "If you live well, maybe one day you can be enshrined in the temple."
After saying this, Ning Jiujiu realized that something seemed wrong with his blessing.
The little monkey demon was extremely happy after hearing this. He swung his broken tail, clenched his fists, and said seriously: "I will definitely become a great demon king!"
Ning Changjiu smiled and nodded.
After the little monkey demon finished speaking energetically, his mood was a little low. It looked at Ning Changjiu and said seriously: "The City of Ten Thousand Demons is not as peaceful as the guests see. You... although you are big shots, you must be careful. , City of Ten Thousand Demons, many good people have died.”
After saying that, it lowered its head and left in a hurry.
After the little monkey left, Siming said: "I must have been dazzled that day. It was just an ordinary monkey, nothing special."
"Well, the little demon has a hard life." Ning Jiujiu was still thinking about its last words.
The two of them found nothing unusual and left the temple.
Shortly after leaving the temple, heavy rain began to fall, and the dim tones swallowed up the light between heaven and earth.
When passing by the sacred tree at the foot of the hill, Ning Jiujiu slowed down and saw someone carrying a bucket to water the ginseng fruit tree.
What was picked in the bucket was not fertilizer, but a pile of flesh, blood and bones that could not be distinguished from beasts or humans. They exuded a strong fishy smell in the heavy rain.
"This is the truth about Shenmu." Siming sarcastically said, smiling: "Don't look at it, be careful of nightmares."
Ning Jiujiu withdrew his gaze and shook his head gently.
The fertilizer of the sacred tree is fresh corpses, so what are the human-like fruits it produces
Ning Jiujiu temporarily suppressed the idea of knocking over the ginseng fruit tree, and walked towards the mountain with heavy steps.
As we approached the mountainside, electric light flashed in the sky. In the twisted electric light, a face full of rain and a sharp-mouthed monkey cheek suddenly appeared!
Ning Jiujiu did not panic.
He looked at the monkey demon standing in front of the mountainside stone, frowned and asked, "Why don't you leave? Are you... waiting for me?"
The little monkey's face was covered with rainwater, and it was shivering in the cold.
It raised its head, looked at the accumulated dark clouds in the sky, and whispered, "Guest... Guest, I have something to say to you."
"What words?" Ning asked for a long time.
The little monkey stretched out his hand to wipe his face and said: "Guest, guest, do you know why, these days... can I always meet you?"
Ning Jiujiu frowned and asked, "Why?"
Bang!
The thunder rang in the ears, and the little monkey suddenly jumped up. It seemed to have made some determination, and threw a paper ball to Ning Changchun. Then he ran towards the woods behind him and disappeared in the heavy rain in the blink of an eye. .
Ning Jiujiu picked up the ball of paper and opened it. Two words were written crookedly on it:
Run away.