Ning Jiujiu pulled the wooden bolt open, and the dust fell. After the door opened, there was an old woman on crutches standing at the door.
The old woman's hair was gray, her face was as pale as a withered vegetable leaf, her body was thin and stooped, her cheekbones were upturned, the corners of her mouth were pulled downward, and the wrinkles on her face were like lotus leaves.
She raised her head, stared at the young man in white clothes with a pair of white-haired eyes, and said in a trembling voice: "Mr. Ning...are you back?"
Ning looked at her for a long time and couldn't remember which street the old woman was from, so she just replied: "No."
A look of disappointment flashed across the old woman's face, and she said, "Oh... I saw smoke coming from your chimney, and I thought the old gentleman was back..."
Ning Jiujiu asked: "Does the old lady have anything to do with him?"
The old woman looked at him for a while and asked, "Are you the old gentleman's apprentice?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "Well, if you have anything, you can ask me to tell him."
The old woman waved her hand and said, "It's nothing. My grandson fell ill half a year ago, and the old man cured him with a bowl of talisman water. I always wanted to thank him, but the old man left for two months."
Ning thought for a long time and said seriously: "You're welcome."
The old woman looked into the room and asked, "Are you really not here? I wanted to bring an old hen over and let my grandson pay homage to his benefactor..."
Ning Changjiu turned slightly sideways.
The old woman saw the girl in the dim room, leaning on the chair with her legs sideways, looking at her like a kitten, and asked: "I remember that the old gentleman had a pair of... golden boy and beautiful girl disciples, but why are you back, old man?" Sir hasn’t come back yet.”
Ning Jiujiu said: "The old gentleman is still busy with some rituals in the imperial city. We will come back to pick up some magical tools and leave in two days."
"Oh..." The old woman shook her body and nodded, but the wrinkles on her face seemed to be deeper. She fumbled in the bag around her waist, and finally took out a tooth-like pendant and gave it to Ning Jiujiu. Said: "This is something passed down from ancestors. It is said to have some spiritual energy. If you meet the old gentleman, remember to give him this pendant. It will be regarded as repaying the kindness of saving your grandson. I am also old. Next time, if the old gentleman I'm afraid I won't be able to see him when I come back... Oops."
The old woman suddenly exclaimed.
She looked towards the room, and suddenly she saw a pair of wolf-like eyes staring at her dimly. Her stooped body trembled slightly, and the crutch tapped the ground twice. She stepped back slightly, and almost couldn't catch her breath. .
Ning Jiujiu glanced at Shubai and explained, "Don't be afraid, mother-in-law, this is the helper we hired."
The old woman was relieved and said: "This guy's eyes are really scary..."
Shubai stood there, staring at the old woman, holding the shovel like a knife in his hand. Perhaps it was because the old woman wanted to thank Ning Qianshui, so he hated the fierce look on the house and the ground, and stared at her for a while. .
Ning Jiujiu smiled and signaled Shubai to step back.
Shubai turned around and left, continuing to add firewood to the stove.
The old woman calmed down, looked at him seriously, and put the pendant into his hand, "Don't refuse, don't refuse. If I don't repay this life-saving grace, I will end up in hell..."
Ning Jiujiu took the pendant, put it away, and said, "Then thank the old man for my master."
The old woman seemed to have finished one thing, and felt much relieved, and sighed: "That's good, that's good."
Ning Jiujiu said: "Old lady, do you want to stay for a meal?"
The old woman refused and said, "No, my grandson is still waiting for me to come home."
Ning Jiujiu did not persuade him to stay: "Old man, be careful on the road."
…
"Ning Qinshui is dead. How dare you accept this old man's family heirloom?" Shubai stared at Ning for a long time, very angry.
Ning Jiujiu asked, "What should we do? Tell him about Ning Qinshui's death?"
Shubai said coldly: "It shouldn't be accepted anyway."
Ning Jiujiu ignored it, picked up the pendant, looked at it in the light, and said: "The old man is honest, it is indeed a good thing."
Ning Xiaoling asked: "Senior brother, you won't want to return it secretly, right?"
Ning Jiujiu smiled and said: "Ning Qinshui almost killed us, so let's just collect some interest."
Ning Xiaoling was doubtful, only thinking that the senior brother should not be such a person.
Ning Jiujiu patted the back of her chair and said, "Let's go eat."
Shubai said: "But the rice is not yet cooked..."
Ning Jiujiu said: "Who said we have to eat at home? If we come back once in a while, of course we have to go to the pub."
Shubai was shocked and said angrily: "Then what kind of food do you want me to cook? I cooked for three people!"
Ning Jiujiu did not answer. He just touched the secret compartment under the compass, took out a money bag, weighed it, threw it to Ning Xiaoling, and said with a smile: "Take senior brother to eat something delicious."
Ning Xiaoling took a look at the money bag and smiled slightly. Her teeth were as white as porcelain. She stopped pursuing him for wasting food and said with a smile: "Okay."
Shubai froze on the spot.
Ning Jiujiu paused and glanced at him, then said: "Okay, there's nothing else to do for you. Go home and don't keep your master waiting."
Shubai was speechless, having no idea what kind of medicine this boy in white was selling.
Ning Xiaoling followed him and asked softly: "Senior brother, do you think he is a malleable talent and you are tempering his character?"
Ning Jiujiu shook his head gently: "Senior brother, you don't have such free time."
Shubai stood still, listening to the sound of the fire burning the firewood, looking at the steam overflowing from the edge of the pot lid, and cursed angrily: "Fuck the immortal!"
…
There are still three days until New Year's Eve, and the central area of Linhe City is already decorated with lights and colorful, filled with a lively atmosphere.
Ning Xiaoling said with emotion: "He saw you withdraw the money. You let him alone in the room. Aren't you afraid that he will take all the money?"
Ning Changjiu said: "There is not much money left, so let's test him."
Ning Xiaoling snorted coldly: "That's my money, of course you don't feel bad!"
Ning Jiujiu joked: "Are you so diligent and thrifty at such a young age?"
Ning Xiaoling said: "If you don't be diligent and thrifty, how can you have money to treat senior brother to dinner?"
Ning Changjiu said: "Don't fool me. When you passed by that rouge and gouache shop, you didn't take your eyes away."
Ning Xiaoling said plausibly: "I am marrying Master's adviser. Master is so beautiful. If I can put some more pink on her, she will be a real fairy."
Ning Jiujiu smiled and said: "I didn't expect that junior sister respects teachers as much as I do."
Ning Xiaoling snorted lowly and didn't want to answer.
After a while, she suddenly asked: "By the way, that pendant... won't there be any problem?"
Ning Jiujiu said: "Don't worry, senior brother has seen it and there is nothing wrong with it. We have suffered the loss of Ning Qishui once, so of course we must be careful in everything."
Ning Xiaoling nodded vigorously.
The long river passes through the city, and arch bridges are built horizontally. Pedestrians are wearing long cloaks or jackets. There are also cart drivers who are sweating and have rolled up some sleeves. The blue robes and books on the tall horses are covered with books. With wide sleeves, the body is slightly hunched, the brows are closed, and the horse's hooves move slowly and unhurriedly, as if he is pondering the poem.
It's approaching noon, the sun is shining, and the unfrozen river water is glowing with sparkling golden light. Several restaurants and singing houses are built against the river bank, with vermilion lacquer railings and fine floral patterns. It's clearly daytime, but candlelight is still faintly swaying, revealing The clear shadows of the buildings.
Ning Xiaoling said with emotion: "There were still a series of dilapidated houses in front of us, but here it suddenly became lively. The gap is really big."
Ning Jiujiu said: "There are so many monsters in this world. If it weren't for the small towns protected by the fairy mountains, who could withstand the attacks of waves of monsters and ghosts? Many people have moved to the city and have a place to live and survive." That's enough, these songs and dances to bring peace are not something that most ordinary people are greedy for."
Ning Xiaoling thought of the scene where mountain ghosts attacked the city when she was a child. After so many years, when she thought of it, she still felt a thorny chill in her heart.
She shook her head and said: "I don't want to think so much. After dinner, I will take my senior brother to drink flower wine!"