Yuan Xianger was walking on the trail outside the wilderness, and the sky was getting darker little by little. The lights of the village behind him were completely invisible, and the road ahead was a chaotic darkness.
Yu Yao didn't seem to have any plans to stop and rest. In the silent jungle, the footsteps of the two of them as they stepped on the grass and withered branches under their feet could be clearly heard.
The night was thick, foxes, fires and insects chirped, and the branches of the trees were shadowy, as if there were countless terrifying beings hiding there, quietly peeping at the two people who were walking in the nocturnal wilderness.
Yuan Xianger was a little scared. Because she really knows that there are lives that are different from human beings in this world, she is more afraid of being in such a wilderness than anyone else.
She tensed her nerves all the way, worried that a terrifying monster would suddenly jump out of a dark corner in the next moment.
The seven-year-old self didn't even have a familiar person beside him, only a cheap master who had just known each other for less than a few hours.
No, to be precise, she doesn't even know if this so-called master is human.
Yuan Xianger quietly raised her head and glanced at the man who was holding her hand. The man's eyebrows were sparse and his skin was like jade, which seemed so unreal under the moonlight and stars in the distance.
Could he be a monster too
This thought made Yuan Xiang'er suddenly get goosebumps.
Yu Yao stopped and looked at the little apprentice who was following him obediently all the way. The little apprentice is only six or seven years old, so he should be tired, maybe a little scared, after all, she is still a little girl who is only so tall.
"Is Xiang'er scared?" Yu Yao squatted down in front of Yuan Xiang'er, "It's alright, with me here, they usually don't dare to come out."
Yuan Xianger looked at him, embarrassed to tell him that most of the source of her fear came from himself.
Yu Yao took out a talisman from his bosom. Such talismans with yellow paper and red characters are very common in this world and are widely used by the people in various occasions, whether it is weddings, funerals, or medical treatment and housekeeping. People can be seen begging for it devoutly. Yellow talismans are either posted and worn, or dissolved in water to drink into the stomach.
But Yuan Xianger never felt that they could play any real role.
Sometimes she could even see those goblins playing with these so-called slogans, which were supposed to exorcise evil spirits, as leaf cards.
Although the one in Yu Yao's hand was also the usual yellow paper with red letters, Yuan Xianger felt that it was different as soon as it was taken out. At this moment, in her eyes, the runes written in the scarlet cinnabar are like spirits flowing along the strokes with a splendid aura, and under the load of a piece of yellow paper, there is a faint shocking power.
Yu Yao's long fingers flew, and deftly and skillfully folded the talisman into a standard triangle. He gently pinned the folded talisman into Yuan Xiang'er's belt. He didn't know if it was because of his heart. A warm feeling came from his waist, which made Yuan Xiang'er feel relieved, dispelling the fear and calming down.
She realized that she might finally have seen the true amulet.
"You..." Yu Yao squatted in front of her, feeling a little embarrassed for what he said next. He hasn't accepted an apprentice yet, and he doesn't quite know how to get along with such a young apprentice, "Would you like to call me Master?"
"Master."
Yuan Xiang'er answered without any pressure, and of course she didn't have much sincerity.
She did not have the deep-rooted concept of being a teacher for a day as a father for a lifetime in this era. The only thing she needed to consider at the moment was how to make her young body survive in this world.
But Yu Yao seemed to be very satisfied, he reached out and touched Yuan Xianger's head, "Master's house is not too far from here, in order not to make your wife wait in a hurry, Xianger worked harder and accompanies the teacher on the road overnight. ?"
"Yes, I will listen to Master." Yuan Xiang'er was sweet and well-behaved.
As long as you don't suddenly turn into a big monster and swallow me, I can listen to you.
Yu Yao felt very moved. He often heard some fellow Taoists complain about how hard and troublesome it was to bring apprentices. But why is his little apprentice so cute and cute.
"Come on, I'll carry you on my back for the teacher."
He turned around and left his back to the obedient and sensible little apprentice.
…
Yuan Xianger lay on Yu Yao's back and walked a long way, the night was already dark, and the sky was full of stars.
Yu Yao's steps are very steady, with a unique rhythm, making Yuan Xiang'er a little drowsy. She now feels that this master of hers should not be a monster. Those big monsters are all high and high. She has never seen a big monster who walks such a long way in such an honest and human manner.
With such thoughts, the young body could no longer resist the sleepiness, and became confused in the regular and gentle shaking.
The man's back was broad, and strangely, he seemed to smell of sea water. This makes Yuan Xianger, who has lived in a seaside city since childhood, feel very familiar and at ease.
She vaguely had a dream, in which she returned to her childhood, to a time she had forgotten. There was a mature and steady man, Yuan Xianger couldn't remember his face. But when her mother saw him, she gave a rare gentle smile. The uncle took him and his mother to the biggest playground in the city, and spent a happy and happy day until it got dark and the city lights up like stars. On the back, walking slowly among those beautiful stars.
At that time, Yuan Xianger was lying on the solid back, falling asleep with the man's shaky steps, thinking that this might be the feeling of his father, and really hoped to sleep on his father's back forever. But when she woke up the next day, everything was back to normal. His father's back disappeared, he still slept in a luxurious and spacious room, and his mother became more indifferent and hurried than before.
I don't know when the long night has passed, and the sky is already bright. Yuan Xiang'er opened her eyes and found herself still on that swaying back. Master carried her on her back and walked all night.
On a midsummer morning, the sun was already very hot, and a blue bamboo hat was crookedly covering her head. Yuan Xianger lay on the man's back and opened her eyes, watching the sunlight leaking from the gaps in the bamboo hats shaking in front of her eyes, she suddenly felt that since she had already been a daughter and a sister in this world, then being an apprentice would not be worth it. Nothing is impossible.
She got off Yu Yao's back and saw that the back that she had slept on all night was soaked with sweat. While wiping the sweat from his forehead, the master took out the water bottle and let himself drink it first.
Yu Yao's somewhat otherworldly face, in the sweaty appearance, began to gradually transform, becoming more real and human.
Yuan Xiang'er called softly, "Master."
This sentence was very light, but finally brought a little sincerity. It's a pity that Yu Yao couldn't hear the difference. He only felt that the newly recruited little apprentice was both soft and obedient, and it was really easy to lead.
A stream appeared in front of them, and the stream was gurgling to the east. A wide stone bridge was built over the stream. On the opposite side of the bridge was a lively town.
"This is Queqiu Town. Master's home is here. This clear stream originates from the Tianlang Mountains in the south of the town, and is the source of the stream at the entrance of your village." Yu Yao introduced to Yuan Xianger.
Queqiu Town is an ancient town with a long history. To the south of the town is the steep Tianlang Mountain. A wide stream flows out from the lofty mountains and flows around the town all the way to the east.
Yu Yao took Yuan Xianger's hand and walked slowly across the stone bridge, stepping into the noisy world.
"Sir is back. Whose doll is this? It looks like this."
"It turns out that Mr. has accepted an apprentice, so congratulations to Mr.
"Mr. is back. This is the live fish I got from the stream just now. I want to send it to my husband to taste it, but I'm afraid that the lady will rest. I happen to meet here."
"When will you be free, sir, my eldest grandson has been added, and I want Mr. Labor to give him a name."
"Seeing that the mother-in-law in the family can't sleep well, they all say that she is asleep. I also want to ask the gentleman to give Taoist water."
…
To Yuan Xiang'er's surprise, the pedestrians who came and went all the way, regardless of their identities, were very enthusiastic and respectful to Yu Yao, and Yu Yao seemed to be accustomed to this and deal with it comfortably.
The stone bridge is the only entrance and exit of the town. On the bridge, there are hawkers and pawns passing by. There are many hawkers on the bridge, selling needles, threads and brains, fruit and food, and there are people from all corners of the world who perform juggling skills. The scene is very lively.
All this is very novel to Yuan Xianger. She has always lived in a small village with a sparse population. This is the first time she has come into contact with such a colorful ancient market since she traveled.
Looking happy here, she suddenly stopped and pulled Yu Yao's sleeve.
"What's wrong?" Yu Yao followed her gaze and looked forward.
At the crowded bridge head, a figure standing abruptly taller than most of the ordinary people, the figure has broad shoulders and small head, dark face, a pair of eyes are standing on his face, and he is standing on the edge of the bridge pillar with his head bent and his head stretched out. Look at the steaming hot rice cakes being sold at a rice cake stand.
The old man who sold the rice cake greeted the passers-by with a smile, but he didn't see the figure that was almost pressing on his head.
Yu Yao laughed, the little apprentice was as shown in the hexagrams, with extraordinary talent, he opened his eyes to Yin and Yang at a young age, and he was a good seedling who inherited his own mantle.
"This monster is named Yu, with a black head and an obedient eye. It looks weird, but has a peaceful temperament. Although it likes to walk in the crowd, it doesn't disturb others most of the time. Xiang'er doesn't have to mind."
"Master, do you really see as much as I do?" Yuan Xianger was very happy when she realized that Master, like herself, could see those things.
For so many years, those monsters have clearly existed in the world and lived by their side, but only one person can see them, so they can only keep it in my heart and have nowhere to talk about it. This time, there is finally someone who can communicate freely without disguise.
"Yes, we also have all kinds of strange little monsters in Yuanjia Village. Although they are a little skinny, most of them are not malicious to humans." She recalled her days in Yuanjia Village. Scared, but it didn't really hurt her.
"The demons are different from the human race. Their temperament is uncertain and elusive. The two races live in a demarcation line, and most of the time they don't interfere with each other. But there are also big demons who arise on a whim and cause harm to the world, which is hard to prevent."
Yu Yao cast his gaze to the thousands of mountains in the south of Queqiu Town, which used to be the lair of the ancient demon clan, the Sirius clan. Although the Heavenly Wolf family is no longer in this world, there are still some very terrifying existences.
"Xiang'er, you must remember that although we live at the foot of the mountain, we can't enter the depths of Tianlang Mountain at will, and we can't provoke those big monsters who live deep in it. There are some of them that Master can't deal with."
Yuan Xianger was in a good mood at the moment and could say anything. She glanced at the endless green hills in the distance and assured, "Well, I won't provoke them."
The master and the apprentice walked all the way along the bluestone road in the town. The most prosperous area passed, and the houses and pedestrians on both sides gradually became scarce.
The weather in summer can change as soon as it changes. The sky that was still bright just now was covered with dark thunderclouds in the blink of an eye, and it rained with a clatter.
Pedestrians on the street avoided one after another, Yu Yao put the hat on top of Yuan Xianger's head, picked her up and ran forward.
"Xiang'er is in no hurry, she's already home. It's the yard in front." He stretched out his finger to show Yuan Xiang'er.
At the end of the road, the green hills are obstructed, and a cool courtyard with a water-milled brick wall is faintly exposed at the foot of the hill. In the courtyard wall, the pines and green trees and the reclining bamboos are not luxurious, but they are cool and comfortable.
Before running to the front, the courtyard door suddenly opened, and a pair of slender hands holding a bamboo umbrella stretched out from inside.
The author has something to say: Unlike what you think, there is no slow learning process, the female lead will grow up with a bang, and then the male lead will come out.