Shao Xiaoli stood quietly holding the box.
The calamity thunder had passed, and the moonlight fell back into the room. Her blood-red satin skirt was slightly messy by the long wind of the calamity thunder. The girl's skirt was slightly open, her shoulders were half exposed, her collarbones were exquisite, and her soft skin was whiter than ivory.
She looked at Ning Jiujiu's astonished expression and her smile became even stronger.
The lake breeze outside brought in the coolness.
"Eh? What are you keeping? What are you talking about, boss?" Shao Xiaoli's slender eyelashes were tangled, and his youthful and pretty face was full of confusion. "Does boss know what's in the box?"
When Ning Changjiu heard this, his expression turned cold, his eyes narrowed, his Taiyin Eyes opened, and he looked through the wooden box and saw the inside.
He fell silent again.
I saw that the wooden box contained some old things from the past, including hairpins, bracelets and other utensils left by Shao Xiaoli's mother, and some bone carvings that Xiao Li made when he was bored after they went to the tribe across the snowfield. In this secret book, the top one has the words "Northern Divine Sword" written on it.
“…”
Ning was speechless for a long time.
Shao Xiaoli had already introduced them one by one. It seemed that the conspiracy had succeeded. She spoke enthusiastically, but Ning Jiujiu didn't go too far.
Shao Xiaoli asked curiously: "Why does the boss look a little disappointed?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "It's nothing, I was wrong."
Shao Xiaoli put the box aside, climbed onto the bed on his hands and knees, approached Ning Changjiu, and asked in an innocent tone: "Wrong idea? What did the boss originally think it was? Huh?"
Ning Jiujiu looked at Shao Xiaoli's face close at hand. The girl's beautiful face was lightly painted with pink and white. She looked particularly ancient and beautiful, like a goddess in a painting. Most of her thick black hair was draped on her shoulders and back, and there were also many locks. The silk playfully passed over the collarbone and fell into the loose skirt, matching the snowy skin. Shao Xiaoli seemed to know how tempting this scene was, and intentionally stretched out his hand to move the strands of hair between the skirt, as if plucking the strings of a piano.
The strings seemed to be hooked on something. It was obviously silent, but Ning Jiujiu seemed to hear a faint sound.
The mythical Luo Shen overlapped with the girl in front of him. Ning Jiujiu stared at it, speechless for a moment.
"Why didn't you speak, boss?" Shao Xiaoli stretched out his slender fingers and waved them in front of his eyes.
Ning took a deep breath and said, "You did it on purpose again, right?"
"What's intentional?" Shao Xiaoli opened his innocent eyes.
Ning Jiujiu never thought that he could even surrender to a woman like Si Ming, but he fell into trouble with this little girl one after another.
Shao Xiaoli seemed to suddenly realize it, and she smiled charmingly: "So the boss is looking for this."
With that said, she got out of bed again, rummaged through the boxes and found a small wooden box, unlocked the wooden box with familiarity, and brought it to Ning Changjiu.
Ning looked at the candle whip in the wooden box for a long time and sighed: "You really keep it?"
Shao Xiaoli said: "Of course, my mother didn't leave many things behind when she left. I treat everything as a treasure."
Ning Jiujiu smiled lightly and said, "You are really filial."
"That's right." Shao Xiaoli nodded confidently and said, "Boss, do you want to try these?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "You'd better play with your sister Siming."
Shao Xiaoli suddenly realized: "The boss wants to play this with Sister Siming!"
Ning Changjiu's face darkened, he rubbed her hair and cursed a little goblin.
Shao Xiaoli still wanted to pester him, but he heard Ning Changjiu say: "I'm a little tired, Xiaoli, please let me go."
Shao Xiaoli thought he was making excuses and didn't believe it. When he looked carefully, he saw that Ning Changjiu's cheeks were a little white, and she held his hand, which was also a little cold.
Ning Jiujiu quickly closed his eyes and fell asleep.
After Shao Xiaoli confirmed that he was really just tired and nothing serious, he gently removed his shoes and socks, slept next to Ning Changjiu, and used his body to help him warm up.
When Ning Jiujiu woke up, the sun was already empty.
The thatched cottage was not big, and the bedroom was not far from the kitchen. When he woke up, he heard the sound of burning firewood, and with it, the smell of food.
Ning Jiujiu doesn't have much attachment to delicious food in the world, but Xiao Li is keen on cooking.
He got up, put on his clothes, and came to the kitchen, where he saw Xiao Li sitting on the firewood stove, her cheeks flushed.
She no longer has her hair laid on her forehead, but combs her black hair to both sides, which makes her more charming. Coupled with her red dress, she has the temperament of a proud queen when she is not talking.
"What are you going to eat today?" Ning Jiujiu asked casually.
"The names of the dishes haven't been compiled yet." Shao Xiaoli was confused.
"..." Ning Jiujiu asked: "Do you really like cooking?"
Shao Xiaoli said plausibly: "Some people practice swordsmanship hard to kill demons, and some people do it to get better ingredients."
Ning was silent for a long time and said, "Xiao Li is really full of witty words."
For the first time, he felt verbally suppressed, and he walked out of the kitchen angrily, waiting for Xiao Li to finish work.
Shao Xiaoli brought out the food one after another and gave them loud and domineering names. Compared with the past, Shao Xiaoli's pattern of naming dishes has become bigger and bigger. I believe it won't be long before all the twelve gods are spared. .
After eating the Suzaku Nirvana Soup and Tishan Danhai Soup, Shao Xiaoli packed up the bowls and chopsticks and went out with Ning Changjiu.
Ning recalled the pictures the poem gave him for a long time, trying to find some clues from them, but those pictures were too ordinary, mainly the structure and scenery of the world. Because the pictures were too grand, not even living creatures could be seen.
He stopped thinking about it and opened his eyes, looking at the warm scene in the summer wind and crossing the Red River.
"Where are we going? To the boss's hometown?" Shao Xiaoli asked.
Ning Jiujiu said: "I don't know either, but I always feel that I have to do something."
Shao Xiaoli asked: "Boss, haven't you figured it out yet?"
Ning thought for a long time and said: "I have some preliminary ideas, but I'm not sure yet."
"what idea?"
"I want to return the favor to Nanzhou." Ning Jiujiu said.
…
"Return?"
"Well, just cut off the bonds."
"Have you left many bonds in Nanzhou?"
"Because I deliberately avoid the world, there are not many." Ning Jiujiu said: "Come for a walk with me."
Shao Xiaoli followed him gently.
Going out of the Southern Wasteland Abyss, the closest place is Liantian Town.
It is summer now, the lotus breeze in Liantian Town is blowing, lotus flowers are blooming everywhere, the lake is a clear blue, and the lake is filled with clear sky.
There was another white cloud in the clear sky.
Those are Ning Chang's clothes.
He wanted to avoid more people, so he did not enter through the main entrance, but went around the lotus lake at the back.
Just like many years ago, there are wooden boats parked beside the lotus pond, and the huts on the shore are adjacent to each other. The word "feng" is formed between the street and the houses.
"What is this place?" Shao Xiaoli asked.
Ning Jiujiu gave a brief introduction, and then roughly described the thousand-year struggle between Yuqi, Xiu She, and Jiu Ying. When Jiu Ying was born, the snake head twisting like thunder seemed like yesterday.
Shao Xiaoli's heart trembled when he heard this, and he said with a smile: "Boss is really in trouble."
Ning Jiujiu said: "Yes, when an old Taoist priest died, he said that I was destined to be alone. I have always believed it."
Shao Xiaoli smiled lightly and said, "Taoist priests know how to lie."
Ning Jiujiu said: "I am also a Taoist priest."
"Um... the lotus flowers are blooming so well here, how about we steal a small boat at night and go boating here?" Shao Xiaoli suggested.
This sentence brought back Ning Jiuchuan's memories, "When I left Duanjie City, I came here with Marry on the first night."
Shao Xiaoli's eyes were clear and he said: "I understand, the boss is suggesting that I wear wedding clothes to help you relive the past, right?"
Ning found it difficult to answer for a long time, so he had no choice but to rub her hair and whisper "Fairy".
The two walked ashore slowly.
The Lizard General and the Toad Marshal were still facing each other on the eaves on both sides. They were shouting noisily, but the Toad General looked a little old. It must not be too long before the Lizard General stared at the lonely roof every day, missing his lifelong rival. .
The rabbit spirit was also patrolling. It was carrying three carrots on its back. When it saw Ning Chang, it couldn't help but gave him one carrot as a gift.
Ning Changjiu smiled and declined.
He tries to avoid more causes and effects.
The rabbit spirit was a little angry and jumped away.
"The monsters here are all friendly." Shao Xiaoli said with emotion.
"Yes." Ning Chang responded.
He did not tell the truth - in order to arouse Xiu Snake's demonic nature, Zhang Chengyu took away the evil thoughts of all nearby monsters.
Ning Jiujiu bypassed the alley and followed his memory to Zhang Qiyu's house. The house was empty, the lotus in the water tank had long become mud at the bottom of the tank, and the wind chime hanging at the door had also disappeared. The palindrome poem should have long since collapsed.
Ning didn't touch the door for a long time. He drew it casually, opened another 'door' on the door, and walked in quietly.
The house was empty.
Qiu Sheng and Xiao Lian were both taken to the village chief's home.
"This is Yuqi's house." Ning Jiujiu said, "I promised a little boy that I would bring his grandfather back and cure his sister's mute disease."
Shao Xiaoli said: "Bring grandpa back? Didn't you just tell me that his grandpa is under the observation of the master?"
Ning Jiujiu smiled lightly and nodded, saying: "Yes, but I can draw."
When Shao Xiaoli was confused, Ning Jiujiu had already passed through the house and courtyard and came to Zhang Chengyu's study. The swallow's nest outside the study door was also empty. When the study door was opened, dust fell down.
In the old house with mottled light and dust, you can smell the fragrance of books and ink with just a slight sniff.
Ning Jiujiu sat down on the table. Shao Xiaoli took out the inkstone, pressed her sleeves with her jade hands, and polished it. Her hair was piled on the table, which was more antique than the inkstone.
Grinding the paper, and then pressing it with paper, Ning Jiujiu took the brush, absorbed ink at the tip of the pen, thought for a while, and then painted. His first stroke was a little unfamiliar, but the subsequent strokes became more and more smooth, and soon one The image of the vicissitudes of the old man was sketched on the paper.
Shao Xiaoli sat directly next to the table, supporting the edge of the table with both hands and swaying her slim legs. She looked at Ning Jiujiu's serious painting appearance, pursed her thin lips into a smile, and did not disturb her.
After the portrait was drawn, Ning Jiujiu added eyes to the figure.
The portrait is lifelike.
Ning Changjiu hung the painting on the wall.
"Boss is really awesome." Shao Xiaoli said sincerely.
"I learned it when I was a child." Ning Jiujiu said.
Shao Xiaoli said: "Mother told me that every man has a magic pen...Mother really didn't lie to me."
"..." Ning Jiujiu coughed twice, unwilling to respond. He just put the brush into the water, stirred it, and cleaned it.
Shao Xiaoli helped clean up the table.
"Where should we go now to find Qiusheng Xiaolian and tell them that grandpa is back?" Shao Xiaoli asked.
Ning Jiujiu nodded and said, "Well, let's help Xiaolian treat her illness first."
Shao Xiaoli looked at the paintings hanging on the wall and said worriedly: "Is this a lie?"
Ning sighed for a long time: "So I have to try my best to lie for the rest of my life."
The door to the study room had been closed, and Ning Jiujiu returned to the front hall and walked to the painting of the black cat on the wall.
According to Zhang Chengyu, when Xiaolian was born, it was the Fourth Senior Sister who came here to look for her. He was forced to start the 'Ghost Festival', so Xiaolian's soul was affected. In order to save his life, he could only save part of the soul. Deposited into a black cat.
When Xiaolian gets her soul back, the black cat will die. Zhang Chengyu was afraid that her granddaughter would be sad, so she drew a replacement very early.
Ning Jiujiu took the black cat out of the scroll.
The two left the house and found the village chief's residence.
He saw Qiu Sheng, who was much taller and was helping the village chief chop firewood, while Xiao Lian was helping choose vegetables.
Ning waited for a while, and when Xiaolian carried Cai back to the house, he broke the void and came to the house.
Shao Xiaoli waited quietly outside the house.
Not long after, Ning Changjiu came back, holding the body of a black cat in his arms.
This black cat has actually been dead for many years.
"Go and bury it outside the village." Ning looked at the black cat for a long time and said.
Shao Xiaoli said: "Let's bury it in the village. This is its home."
"Yeah, that's fine." Ning Jiujiu nodded.
Ning Jiujiu incinerated the black cat's body with sword fire and buried the ashes beside the lotus pond, where the year-round breeze would melt it.
After doing all this, Ning stood by the lake for a long time. He could feel that his soul was lighter.
Jiu Ying, Yi Qi, Xiu Snake, these are all the ancient gods he killed in his life as 'Yi'. This bond that has lasted for thousands of years is like a hand holding clothes and waiting for words. Now, this The hand finally let go.
When he and Ning Xiaoling came here, Ning Xiaoling once said that they could settle down in Liantian Town after Qianfan passed away, but now he knew that he might not come back in the future.
The lotus that once witnessed clear dreams overwhelming the stars has long since decayed. Although the sound of the waves still sounds, it never calls him because he is not a human being in the world.
Shao Xiaoli looked at Ning Changjiu's snow-white clothes and felt that he was even more lonely.
She gently raised her hand and grabbed Ning Jiujiu's sleeve.
Ning Jiujiang slowly came back to his senses.
"Boss is so good at painting, can you draw another sister for Xiao Li?" Shao Xiaoli asked.
Ning Jiujiu smiled ashamedly and said: "Xiao Li is so beautiful, but my brushstrokes are too clumsy. I'm afraid I won't even be able to draw any charm."
Shao Xiaoli said reluctantly: "I think the boss can do it."
"But I don't have a pen now. I'll draw again when I have the chance."
"The boss wants to perfunctory it again... As my mother clearly said, every man has a pen."
"... Do you want me to draw a little Xiaoli for you?"
"May I?"
"What a goblin." Ning Jiujiu flicked her forehead and compromised: "When does Xiao Li want to paint?"
"Why don't you choose a day and hit it?" Shao Xiaoli looked at him with a smile.
Ning looked at the girl standing beside Pingting for a long time, thinking about the uncertainties of the world in the future, and finally nodded, "Then tonight I will eliminate evil for the people and surrender you, the goblin."
Shao Xiaoli pretended to be panicked, but his eyes were filled with a gentle smile.
It's still a long time before night arrives.
Time suddenly seemed longer.
Ning Jiujiu said: "Let me take Xiao Li to see other places. Where does Xiao Li want to go?"
Shao Xiaoli said: "How about going to Yujian Tianzong? The peak masters seem to be interesting people."
Ning Jiujiu shook his head and said: "There are many people in the peak. I don't plan to go back until I'm ready."
"Are you afraid of accidentally leaving a bond?"
"Um."
So they walked around casually outside Liantian Town, looking for clues about the past. There were not many barren mountains here, and looking around always aroused people's desire to gallop.
Shao Xiaoli stood on tiptoes and jumped in the stream. Suddenly a poem sounded and he read it out: "Li Liyuan grass..."
Ning Jiujiu pretended not to hear.
Shao Xiaoli looked at the shrimps, crabs and snails swimming in the stream, and asked: "By the way, boss, where is Luohe?"
Ning Changjiu said: "Luohe is in the middle of the earth, very far north. It is close to the Shenhua Tower. I can take you back to have a look when the time comes."
"Okay!" Shao Xiaoli agreed immediately. She looked at the fertile water plants and scattered wild flowers and said with emotion: "It's so nice outside. It feels fresh and beautiful no matter how you look at it."
"But someone wants to destroy it all." Ning Jiujiu said.
Shao Xiaoli squinted his eyes, looked at the sun, and said in disbelief: "There are such bright things in the world, what darkness can't be driven away? There is no sun in Duanjie City, so it is very dangerous, but it is different here... "
Ning Jiujiu smiled and said, "That's right. Xiao Li has never seen the sun before. You can look at it more. Once you get used to it, you won't be in the same state of mind now."
Shao Xiaoli shook his head. She smiled happily. Her finely braided teeth were particularly bright in the sun. She looked at Ning Changjiu and said: "I have seen the sun a long time ago. Three years ago, I knelt in front of the light curtain. I saw it when I was there.”
Ning was stunned for a long time before he understood what he meant.
This little girl really used every opportunity to praise people and spared no effort, which made him feel a little ashamed and didn't know how to respond.
Shao Xiaoli was even more happy. She lifted up her skirt and walked in the sunshine of the world, her hair shiny.
…
Like Shao Xiaoli, there were others who were stunned when looking at the vast wilderness when they first arrived in Nanzhou.
Liu Junzhuo looked at the undulating grass waves in front of him, not sure what he was feeling.
She clearly knew that she was just lying dormant in accordance with her master's secret orders, waiting for the right time to overturn the world.
But she always felt that she was getting further and further away from this world.
Liu Xiwan asked: "Senior sister, do you want to go south again?"
Liu Junzhuo shook his head and said, "Lu Marian went south a few days ago. If he goes further, he may encounter trouble."
Liu Xiwan nodded and said, "Then it's finalized by buying a house here?"
Liu Junzhuo nodded and said, "Well, don't show off."
Liu Xiwan agreed. When she was about to find a good place to live, Liu Junzhuo stopped her again and asked, "How did Junior Sister find such a peerless sword and iron?"
Liu Xiwan paused slightly.
The sword iron that the second senior sister mentioned was actually Liu Xiwan's hair that was submerged in the water. She is a peerless sword scripture. The sword energy has been condensed for thousands of years and is rich and extraordinary.
Now she followed her memory and retrieved the sword thread that sank in the stream.
The hair has long been tangled together and looks like a solid piece of iron, with water-like textures all over the surface.
"I got it by chance back then..." Liu Xiwan flipped up her short hair and said, "Anyway, it's a great opportunity. I'll find the best blacksmith and cast it into two swords. I'll give one to my senior sister to repay her for her kindness back then." Kindness.”
Liu Junzhuo lowered his head and smiled slightly, "It's just Master's order. How can there be real kindness?"
Liu Xiwan said: "It's okay, I'm in love for a long time."
Liu Junzhuo looked at the cute appearance of his junior sister and sincerely felt that accepting this junior sister as his disciple was the most correct thing he had done in these years. If he unfortunately died in any year, there would be no one to worship him in the solitary grave.
The three junior sisters walked across the grassland and came to a small town surrounded by willow trees.
"This is it." Liu Junzhuo said.
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw a group of children passing by laughing, chanting nursery rhymes:
"Willows on the embankment, He Qingqing..."
She didn't hear the last sentence clearly.
…
In a blink of an eye, the sun sets in the west.
Ning Jiujiu returned to the Golden Crow Kingdom after cutting off the ties with Liantian Town. Just like yesterday, he tried to regain control of the Golden Crow Kingdom and return to his throne.
But his two lives were too far apart, and his divinity was almost completely exhausted in the eternal world. Now it is difficult to have any connection with the Golden Crow Kingdom.
Of course, it is also possible that this divine kingdom is too dilapidated and he needs to repair it completely before he can restore it to life.
The Golden Crow flew back to the quiet grass and tree hall.
He thought of his conversation with Shao Xiaoli during the day, and regretted that he had agreed too hastily.
He must have deep feelings for her, but is that kind of love really a passionate love between a man and a woman
Ning Jiujiu cannot be sure.
But it was too late to regret it. Since I had agreed to Xiao Li, of course I had to concentrate on it and not let her down.
When Ning Jiujiu returned to the house, he found that Xiaoli had already set up by the window. The light in the thatched cottage was dim at night, as if it were enveloped in a hazy fog. Shao Xiaoli was wearing Lu Jiaojiu's clothes, and his snow-white figure was like the color of fog. Lotus at the end.
Ning never used his spiritual power for a long time, let alone opened his Taiyin Eyes.
He allowed everything to retain the original and ambiguous beauty of the night.
He quietly walked to the window and stopped a few steps away from Shao Xiaoli.
"Is there little going on in the village today? Why did Xiao Li come back so early?" Ning Jiujiu asked casually.
Shao Xiaoli's shoulders moved slightly, but he didn't answer him.
Ning Jiujiu continued: "Actually, Xiaoli can just wear her own dress. There is no need to always wear wedding clothes, especially tonight."
Shao Xiaoli still didn't respond to him.
The atmosphere is a bit strange.
Ning Changjiu hesitated slightly, and immediately thought that Shao Xiaoli was playing hard to get. Yes, she is a little girl after all. Although she is pressing forward step by step during the day, when her disguised stubbornness fades away at night, what remains is still soft...
"Is Xiao Li pretending to be a cool fairy? If you don't reply, I will take out the box tonight and teach Xiao Li a lesson." Ning Jiujiu threatened jokingly.
Shao Xiaoli was still standing quietly by the window, with his back to him, wearing a snowy silhouette and a quiet look, but his temperament was low, really like a lotus silent in the night.
Ning Jiujiu felt a little strange and was about to teach this little girl a lesson when he heard the door behind him open.
Shao Xiaoli was dressed in a red dress and stood at the door, saying: "Boss, the food is ready. Today's dish is pear mixed with glutinous rice made by the female sword fairy who stole lotus roots from Liantian Town. Boss, come and eat first... let's eat... "
Both of them were stunned.