As the date of the final exam approached, the number of disciples coming and going in Huayu Hall suddenly increased.
Every day you can see former outer disciples of different ages wearing different clothes coming up the mountain path.
Some of them wore Taoist robes, looking like immortals. Some walked like dragons and tigers, dressed like people from the underworld. Some were young and in their prime, while others had gray hair and were old.
A dusty big man carrying a load walked through the gate of the Education Hall and called out to Mu Xue and the others who were walking out hand in hand, "Junior sister, please excuse me. I'm here to take the exam. May I ask where the check-in place is this time?"
Mu Xue pointed out the place to him.
The big man smiled and nodded in thanks, carrying a pile of messy daily necessities and walking over. This man had matted hair and beard, and his clothes were patched. If it weren't for the fact that people without the talisman could not reach the top of the mountain, Mu Xue would hardly believe that he was also a disciple of Guiyuan Sect.
Another fat white man wearing a round brocade crown and golden boots came up the mountain with sweat on his forehead. When he saw Xia Tong and the others, he bowed and said with a smile, "I am here to take part in this round of exams. I would like to trouble you, my junior sisters, to show me the way."
Judging from the way this person was dressed, he was definitely not just from an ordinary wealthy family. He was from a royal family, a wealthy family. Normally, such a person would never treat a little girl like Mu Xue so politely.
But after entering the mountain gate, no matter what their status outside the mountain was, they were now just fellow disciples. They had to show respect to each other, especially to these new disciples who had a promising future.
"What should I do? I'm suddenly a little worried." Yuanzi burped, "Will we end up like this, unable to enter the inner gate even when our hair turns white?"
"Even if I can't enter the inner gate, I will just stay in the mountain and don't want to go home." Xia Tong looked at the courtyard with people coming and going, revealing a sad look that didn't match her age. "I will live in the mountain for the rest of my life, and I don't plan to get married in the future. As long as I'm still here, my family will feel proud of me, and my mother will be able to live a better life."
Xia Tong's mother was a child bride who was bought into the family when she was young. Her mother-in-law was cunning, her husband was rude, and she had a large family of brothers. Her life was very difficult.
"Zhang Erya, Xia Tong, someone has come to your family and is waiting for them at Chongxu Temple at the foot of the mountain. Go and see them quickly." A senior sister came up from Chongxu Temple at the foot of the mountain to pass a message to Mu Xue and Xia Tong.
As the triennial examination approaches, many disciples’ families come from all over to visit and encourage their children.
In the past two days, the mountain road has been very busy with people coming and going.
Xia Tong was very excited and pulled Mu Xue down the mountain.
"Hurry, hurry, Xiaoxue. It must be my mother coming to see me."
She ran very fast on the bluestone steps, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling.
The child who just said he would never go home is actually missing his family.
Mu Xue was pulled by her to run, and she felt a little bit of anticipation in her heart.
The ones who came to visit Mu Xue were her father, mother and brother Da Zhuzi.
In this day and age, it was very difficult for ordinary people to travel far. After crossing the magic circle, it was a matter of seconds to reach Jiulian Mountain, but for parents and brothers to come from their hometown, they would need to travel through mountains and rivers, and it would take more than a month to go back and forth. It was not easy to get food and accommodation on the way, and to guard against thieves and robbers.
The situation at home had obviously improved a lot. The father, who had been poor all his life, now wore new silk clothes, and the skinny and hard-working mother also wore a gold ring on her finger to keep up appearances.
The parents, who had never even left the town, sat in the tea room, looking very cramped, not knowing where to put their hands and feet, and nervously pulling at their new clothes.
It was not until she saw her little daughter whom she had not seen for several months that Zhang's mother forgot her awkwardness. She took Mu Xue's hand, looked her over for a moment, and then hugged her in her arms.
"I miss you so much. Let me take a good look at you. You've lost so much weight."
Father Zhang reminded in a low voice: "What nonsense are you talking about? Erya lives in a fairyland, how could she be thinner?"
Before they left, the clan leader and local officials came to see them off and gave them many polite words to pay attention to. This timid and simple farmer took those words to heart.
Mother Zhang wiped her tears quickly and smiled sheepishly at the monk who was in charge of the tea room.
She pulled her six-year-old daughter to look around, feeling very sad. Erya had been fair and tender since she was a child, and she had never left her side. Now that she had been here for a few months, her chin had become pointed, which showed that life in the mountains was not easy.
Although it was a matter of honor for the family, he could not bear to see his beloved daughter, who had to be an apprentice at such a young age. Dazhu must have had a hard time being an apprentice in the city and being beaten and scolded by his master.
Mu Xue was held tightly in her mother's arms. She was not used to such closeness.
He barely managed to stick his head out from under his mother's strong elbow and tried to tell her that he had only lost weight because he had just had a serious illness.
She raised her head, and from this angle, she could clearly see a pair of thick, calloused fingers wiping the corners of her eyes. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were squeezed into a ball, filled with turbid tears.
When he first came into this world, he held her in his big hands and carried her around the fields, allowing her to spend a very leisurely and idle time.
At that time, the hands were not so rough and the eyes did not have so many wrinkles.
Mu Xue suddenly felt a surge of pity in her heart.
"I'm fine. The food in the mountains is good. We have chicken legs every day. The master doesn't hit me." She tried hard to learn to comfort others.
Back then, when I was keeping Xiaoshan by my side, the more serious the injury Xiaoshan suffered, the more he hid when he came back so that she wouldn't find out.
It turns out that this is the mood.
A child who is loved and cared for by someone will want to repay the person who took care of him or her.
Let her be worry-free and no longer sad.
Mu Xue lay in her mother's arms, letting her mother's hand pat her shoulder gently.
Until the mother calmed down, let go of Mu Xue, tried to smile, took out earthenware jars from the bag she brought and placed them on the table.
"These are all the foods you loved to eat when you were little. I was afraid you wouldn't be able to eat them in the mountains. These are pickled cucumbers, salted duck eggs, pickled bamboo shoots, and freshly pickled young ginger..."
Father Zhang said at the side: "Erya is going to be a fairy, why would she need this? I told you not to bring so much, but you have to embarrass yourself."
Mu Xue took the jars and said, "Thank you, mother. I always miss the taste of home."
She had always been a talkative person, and after she said just one sentence, her father, mother, and brother all looked happy at once.
"As long as you like it, I'll bring it to you next time I come to see you."
After not being together for long, the family members had to say goodbye and leave.
Mu Xue escorted them all the way out of Chongxu Temple and to the avenue at the foot of the mountain.
Before getting on the carriage, Zhang's mother held her little hand, reluctant to let her go, and choked up as she said, "Girl, if the master is too fierce and beats you hard, you... just come back home, your parents are still raising you."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't teach your child bad things." Zhang's father pulled his wife into the car, not very happy. He told his daughter seriously, "My daughter, you can't listen to your mother. Remember, you must be respectful to the master in the mountains, learn skills well, and don't get into trouble. Now our family, clan, and the whole village are counting on you for honor."
Mu Xue expressed that she could understand what both her father and mother said. She nodded, waved and sent them to the car.
The elder brother Dazhu stayed outside the car, avoiding people, quietly lifted up the corner of his clothes, took out a small bundle tied to his trouser waist, and stuffed it into Mu Xue's arms.
"Sister, since you were chosen, many people have come to our house and presented us with many valuables. I heard that you have to give gifts to your master when you become his disciple. Other children will have them, but I'm afraid you won't. Mother has chosen them for you and asked me to give them to you quietly. You can keep them for now." He carefully looked around and finally emphasized in a low voice,
"Don't listen to your father. I have you at home. If you can't stay in the mountains any longer, come home. I can support you."
Standing at the foot of the green hill, Mu Xue watched the carriage leave in a cloud of red dust. Covered in red dust, she turned around and walked back.
Xia Tong had also just seen off her relatives and was crying with red eyes and nose while holding the package left for her by her parents.
"I saw my mother. In the past, my father always beat my mother, and my grandmother was also very cruel to her. Now my mother's clothes are nice, and there are no scars on her face. She is much better than before."
Mu Xue took her hand and walked back. Xia Tong sobbed as she walked and wiped her nose with her sleeve.
"Xiaoxue, I'm very happy, really."
Crying and laughing at the same time, am I happy or sad
Mu Xue looked at her helplessly, "What delicious food did your mother bring you?"
"Oh, by the way, there are pickled pepper chicken feet, snow cakes and plum candies. They are delicious. I'll share them with you later. How about you?"
"Mine are pickled cucumbers, salted eggs, pickled bamboo shoots, and freshly pickled young ginger. I'll give some to you later."
All sects in the immortal world, no matter where they are hidden, will mostly set up some temples to represent their sects in the country where they belong, so as to increase their influence in the mortal world, recruit disciples and select outstanding disciples.
Therefore, although spiritual veins are scarce in the fairy world, the veins of cultivation are still prosperous and are not obviously weaker than the demon world with abundant spiritual energy.
The temple of Guiyuan Sect in the human world is called Chongxu Temple. This Chongxu Temple located halfway up Jiulian Mountain is the most magnificent and impressive.
Although the main hall is located halfway up the mountain, there are reception halls, teahouses and some food and wine shops at the foot of the mountain for believers who come to burn incense to rest.
The management and operation of these places are also undertaken by the inner and outer disciples of the sect in turn.
When Mu Xue and Xia Tong passed by a noodle stall, they unexpectedly discovered that the stall owner was an acquaintance. His surname was Yang and his given name was Jun. He was the senior brother who welcomed them in when Mu Xue arrived at the mountain gate on the first night. He was from Tiezhu Peak.
"Senior Brother Yang? Why are you here?" Mu Xue greeted him.
"It's Xiaoxue." Yang Jun often saw Mu Xue boxing in the square and was very impressed by her. "Isn't it normal for me to be here? It's my turn to be on duty this week. Are you hungry? I'll make you a bowl of noodles. Eat before you go back."
Mu Xue and Xia Tong sat down at the table.
Yang Jun, who was standing behind the stove, skillfully took the fish out, added sesame oil, mixed in thick peanut butter, and sprinkled with a handful of fresh chopped green onions.
Two plates of fragrant peanut noodles were placed in front of them, along with two bowls of bone soup that had been simmered for a long time.
Mu Xue took a bite and found the noodles to be chewy and the sauce to be rich and delicious.
Xia Tong didn't even bother to talk, she just sipped the food and only freed her hand to give a thumbs up.
"But brother, won't this delay your practice?" Mu Xue was puzzled.
Yang Jun laughed: "What do you little girls think cultivation is? Hiding in the mountains and meditating day and night?"
"Isn't it vegetarian?" Xia Tong looked up and said vaguely.
"Yes, you haven't become disciples yet, and no one has explained this to you in detail." Yang Jun swiftly cleaned the table with a rag. "We are born in the mortal world, so cultivation is naturally inseparable from the mortal world."
“It is very difficult for those who have never seen this colorful world, have never experienced the various temptations and hardships of the human world, and have only buried their heads in the mountains and practiced hard, to successfully overcome the human and heavenly tribulations on the path of practice.”
"It's like you girls, you went up the mountain at a young age, and you've never met any slick men in the world. One day you suddenly came down the mountain, and you met a handsome young man, who showed you all his ways in the world, was attentive and caring. When you returned to the mountain, you saw his face when you were meditating, and you saw his face when you were in a state of tranquility. Isn't this a love tribulation?"
Mu Xue and Xia Tong both laughed out loud.
"Don't laugh, Senior Brother, what I said is still superficial." Yang Jun said, "Don't laugh, and laugh yourself, "You will understand in the future. Only by being down-to-earth and having a temper that has been tempered through many experiences can you not be easily tempted by demonic obstacles during cultivation. Those mental tribulations, emotional tribulations, and demonic tribulations will not be too fierce. You can get through them smoothly."
"Then do we have to come down to cook noodles and entertain the guests?" Mu Xue asked.
"That may not be the case. If you enter the inner sect, the master will naturally arrange different tasks for you based on your temperament besides teaching you the Dharma. For example, you can go out to the martial arts world to do some trivial things. Or you can go to a certain place to rescue the people. It is also possible that you can go to a relatively safe secret place to practice. Who knows?"
He scratched his head. "Oh, I don't know why, but my master always asks me to take care of my fellow students and do some trivial things. He never assigns me any exciting tasks."