In the Jiangnan water town in the early morning, the air is full of humidity, and the sunlight shines on the lake through a thin layer of clouds, sparkling.
On the shore of the lake, a group of immortal disciples in white clothes and swords stood.
"Couldn't Yujian fly over there directly? You still have to take a boat. What are the rules in Taohuawu? There are so many." Wei Jing held the sword and looked at the black-covered boat wading from a distance, quite displeased.
"Xiao Wu, be careful with your words." He Xingzhi said in a warm voice, "When you arrive at their territory, you must abide by their rules."
In order to promote friendly exchanges among all immortal sects and make progress together, today's cultivation world holds an immortal sect conference every three years.
This year's Xianmen Conference will be held in Taohuawu, a water town in the south of the Yangtze River.
Counting it, this is the first time that the Kunlun Sword Sect has sent disciples to participate in this kind of gathering.
However, since the Kunlun Sword Sect has just changed its head, and it is just in time for the annual acceptance of new disciples, the elders in the sect are too busy to touch the ground, so they can only send He Xingzhi and Wei Jing led a dozen or so disciples there.
Taohuawu is located in the middle of a vast lake, within a radius of a hundred miles, you can only go there by ferry.
While the two were talking, the awning boat sent by Taohuawu sailed leisurely to the shore of the lake.
Wei Jing waved his hand, and was about to order the disciples behind him to board the boat, but saw He Xingzhi's expression sink.
"Who's in there?" He Xingzhi asked in a deep voice.
There is no one at the helm of this boat, and it is driven by immortal methods. There should be no human breath in it.
No one answered.
Wei Jing and He Xingzhi looked at each other, and their right hand silently landed on the sword at the waist.
The atmosphere on the shore of the lake suddenly became a little stalemate.
Suddenly, the hull moved slightly, and the curtain blocking the bow was lifted.
Wei Jing thought? Didn't want to?, raised his sword and stepped forward, but suddenly withdrew his sword after seeing the figure walking out of the boat.
One didn't stand still, and there was a plop? It fell on the deck.
"Xiao Wu, why do you make such a great gift?" The visitor leaned on the bow of the boat with a smile on his face.
After a while, the disciples of the Kunlun Sword Sect successfully got on the ferry to Taohuawu.
"Brother, why did you show up? Here, don't you come to Taohuawu?" Wei Jing asked? The person sitting opposite.
Qi Shu put on a kind smile when he heard the words: "Isn't it because I don't trust you? I came to support you. It's the first time for us to participate in the Fairy Gate Conference in Kunlun, but we can't? Let others look down upon you .”
Wei Jing said "Oh", and couldn't help but look him up and down: "But? You don't look like you are going to attend the Fairy Gate Conference."
Qi Shu was wearing a light blue gown, and for some reason, he was wrapped in a black robe, covering his whole body tightly. It didn't look like he was coming to the Fairy Gate Conference, but rather... ready to go on his way at any time.
"Cough." Qi Shu cleared his throat, "Going out too quickly, I didn't bring my disciple uniform."
Even Wei Jing would not believe this excuse.
He Xingzhi has been listening silently since he got on the boat, until then? Then he interjected leisurely: "Then dare to ask? Senior brother, did Immortal Lingxiao agree to go down the mountain this time?"
Qi Shu: "..."
The young man had just the right smile on his face, but Qi Shu's heart was trembling when he saw it. He looked away and said vaguely: "Master no longer holds any position in the faction. Where should I go? Why should I tell him?"
Wei Jing exclaimed: "Did you come out without telling Ling Xiao Xianzun?"
"Hush." Qi Shu rolled his eyes at him, "Keep your voice down, what are you shouting about?"
"Going down the mountain without asking for instructions is a serious crime." Wei Jing lowered his voice, "You are too courageous."
Qi Shu: "I asked for instructions, but..."
It's just that the way to ask for instructions was to leave a note in the room when the master was called by the head to discuss matters, and then ran away overnight with his luggage.
The two people sitting opposite were still looking at him suspiciously. Qi Shu and them looked at each other for a while, covered their faces and sighed: "Don't tell him I'm here, please?"
Qi Shu ran away from home.
During the two years with Master, Qi Shu had a very good life. Immortal Ling Xiao said that he doesn't know how to love, but? If he really likes someone, he treats him well with all his heart. Highly cultivated, beautiful, obedient and caring everywhere, even if you look at the entire Central Plains, you can't find a better lover than Gu Hanjiang.
The only problem? The master is too strict on the matter of double cultivation.
If he had known that such a day would come, even if Qi Shu was beaten to death, he would not have mentioned dual cultivation like Master, but it is a pity that there is no such thing. After all, double cultivation is a kind of cultivation method. Since it is a cultivation method, there must be results of cultivation.
And when the results of practice are not achieved? What should we do as expected
There is only one way, keep practicing.
The problem lies in this "continue to practice".
Since the double cultivation, Qi Shu's cultivation base has improved extremely fast. But? I don't know why, but recently it is clear that I am approaching a breakthrough, but I can't improve it no matter what.
In this regard, Ling Xiao Xianzun fully carried forward his sense of responsibility as a master, and carefully inspected Qi Shu from head to toe, from the inside to the outside.
In the end, it was concluded that Qi Shu's practice method was wrong.
Qi Shu's current practice method is to rely on absorbing and refining the opponent's essence, so as to improve his cultivation.
But at the same time, he himself was releasing essence. And usually have to vent several times a night, wasting a lot of energy in vain.
If things go on like this, the effectiveness of double cultivation will naturally be compromised.
The solution is also easy, either hold back or block.
Any one will do? Qi Shu was killed.
The day before yesterday, Qi Shu had just completed the arrangement of new beginner disciples, and when he returned to Baizhang Peak, he was dragged into the bedroom by his master, and tried a new type of cultivation method for a whole day and night.
The whole process was long and difficult, and Qi Shu's fragments were broken several times.
If the head hadn't suddenly had to discuss something important with Immortal Ling Xiao, Qi Shu would probably be dead right now.
In short, Immortal Lingxiao left Baizhang Peak on his front foot, and Qi Shu packed his small baggage on his back foot and slipped down the mountain.
He had nowhere to go, and thinking of the upcoming Immortal Gate Conference, he came over to join in the fun.
The black boat carried the Kunlun disciples to a small island in the middle of the lake.
Everyone got off the boat, there were already disciples waiting on the shore of the lake, and they were led through the peach blossom forest outside the island.
The island is full of peach trees, and this is the season when the peach blossoms are in full bloom. Looking around, everything is light pink in color. Walking in the peach forest, the peach blossoms are scattered all over the ground like rain.
This is the origin of the name Taohuawu.
The disciples sent by Taohuawu were very enthusiastic, and soon started chatting with He Xingzhi. Qi Shu was tossed so hard at the latest that the clothes underneath were still tingling and numb, and he fell to the end of the team after a while.
Seeing him, Wei Jing deliberately slowed down and walked to his side.
"...Brother Qi, we are going to enter Taohuawu soon, do you really want to go in with us?"
Qi Shu tried his best to pretend that nothing had happened, and asked: "Why, can't you?"
"How dare I say no, it's just..." Wei Jing hesitated to speak with a full face.
"Are you afraid that my master will take his anger out on you when he finds out?" Qi Shu sneered, "Wei Xiaowu, senior brother loved you for nothing before."
Wei Jing shrank his neck: "Yes? It's really scary for Lingxiao Xianzun to be angry..."
"Export."
Qi Shu glanced at him and smiled lightly.
Not far away is the Taohuawu gate carved out of jade. At this moment, there are already many cultivators gathered there, saluting and greeting each other. It is very lively.
Qi Shu subconsciously gathered the outer robe on his body, and comforted him: "Don't worry, Master Qinglan was still pestering me when I left, and there are so many things going on in the sect recently, how can he have the time to care where I go. Even if he really finds out that I have appeared after the fact? In Taohuawu, I will take care of it myself, and I won’t—”
Before he finished speaking, the crowd in the distance suddenly parted a path.
"I have seen the real Rong Hua, and I have seen the immortal Ling Xiao."
Qi Shu: "?"
who
Master Rong Hua, the master of Taohuawu, came out from the sect and was chatting happily with the people next to him. And the one next to him, dressed in a plain white fairy robe, has a very beautiful appearance, but his expression is indifferent, even when the other party talks to him, he just nods slightly.
As if aware of the gaze coming from ahead, Gu Hanjiang raised his head, and his gaze fell on Qi Shu.
"Ash, why are you here so late?"
Qi Shu: "..."
Taohuawu's status in the realm of comprehension is still not high. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is flourishing with such a person as Lingxiao Immortal Venerable being held for the first time to hold the Immortal Gate Conference.
Master Rong Hua was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, he not only invited Gu Hanjiang to sit with him at the main seat, but also kept offering tea and greetings.
Gu Hanjiang didn't seem to feel uncomfortable in this kind of situation, or in other words, he treats people in a lukewarm way all year round, and doesn't care what others think of him at all.
In comparison, Qi Shu was very restless.
Of course, it's not just seeing his master being cowardly, it's mainly his butt that hurts.
It seems that Taohuawu is not short of money, and for some reason they can’t even afford a cushion. A hundred or so people came to the Fairy Gate Conference, all of them sat cross-legged on the stone platform, with a small table in front of each person, Is it for tea
Qi Shu sat uncomfortably, and wanted to get up and move around, but Gu Hanjiang seemed to be afraid that he would run away, as soon as he moved, the latter's eyes followed him.
After seeing him, Qi Shu didn't dare to move.
Just as he was feeling bored, someone suddenly walked up to him: "Your Excellency is Qi Shu, Senior Brother Qi from the Kunlun Sword School?"
The young man in front of him was wearing a blue Taoist robe. Qi Shu didn't recognize him, but the Taoist robe on him looked familiar.
"I am." Qi Shu said, "What advice do you have?"
The young man bowed to him, and said: "I am a disciple of Xuanzong, I want to compete with Senior Brother Qi for a while, I wonder if Senior Brother will show you face?"
Tianxuanzong can be regarded as a veteran fairy sect in the cultivation world.
It's just that I heard that the talents in the faction have been withering recently, and they no longer have the prestige of the past.
The fairy gate meeting is nothing more than two things, discussing the way and fighting skills.
For some fairy sects whose prestige has been greatly reduced, this is an excellent opportunity to show off.
But he picked the wrong guy.
"I'm not feeling well today. If you really want to compete, you might as well fight with my junior brother." As he spoke, he glanced to the side.
Of course it refers to He Xingzhi and Wei Jing.
The young man didn't even move his gaze: "Brother Qi looks down on me?"
"..."
In fact, this is not entirely wrong.
With Qi Shu's current cultivation base, going up to compete with other people is called bullying.
The young man's voice is not loud, but he has stood in front of Qi Shu for too long, and he has already attracted many eyes.
Even Immortal Ling Xiao, who was sitting in the main seat, cast his gaze over.
Qi Shu had a headache and asked, "Do you really want to fight?"
Youth: "You can't ask for it."
"Okay." Qi Shu stood up, straightened his clothes, "Then let's fight."
A fight without suspense.
Qi Shu's sword was never even out of its sheath from beginning to end.
The young man fell off the competition stage in embarrassment, and Qi Shu breathed a sigh of relief in the midst of the tide of cheers around him.
I moved too much, and my legs were a little soft.
He jumped off the stage, took advantage of the crowd rushing to support the young man's stall, and quietly disappeared into the crowd.
The inside of Taohuawu is very lively, compared to the peach forest outside, it is much deserted.
Qi Shu randomly found a place where no one was around, lay down under a tree, and stretched his body leisurely.
When Gu Hanjiang came here, he saw such a scene.
The young man was leaning against a peach tree, quietly closing his eyes, his hair and robe were covered with peach blossoms.
Gu Hanjiang didn't make a sound when he walked, but he still unconsciously took his steps lightly, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.
Qi Shu didn't seem to notice the person coming, Gu Hanjiang knelt down in front of him, watched quietly for a moment, then raised his hand to pick up a peach blossom that fell in his hair.
As soon as he touched it, the person in front of him suddenly opened his eyes, rushed forward, and fell into the peach blossom with Gu Hanjiang.
"Catch, here? Lah." Qi Shu lay on Gu Hanjiang's body, and said with a smile, "Master is peeping at me."
Gu Hanjiang still held the peach blossom in his fingertips, and handed it to Qi Shu: "I didn't peek, you know I'm here."
Qi Shu didn't answer, so noncommittal? No.
He got up from Gu Hanjiang, getting up violently, and the expression on his face was distorted again.
Gu Hanjiang asked: "Still uncomfortable?"
It's okay not to mention it, but I feel wronged when I mention Qi Shu. He hummed lowly, turned around to leave, but was pulled back again.
"I apologize to you, don't be angry." Gu Hanjiang said, "I did that... for a reason."
"What happened for a reason." Qi Shu said angrily, "You are unhappy because I was busy taking care of the new batch of disciples who just arrived a few days ago."
Qi Shu didn't expect that he would meet Yue Yunqing and Song An among the new disciples this year.
When the old friends met, he was overjoyed for a while, and was pestered by those two people, busy inside and outside to help deal with various matters for the newcomers.
If one doesn't pay attention, his master will be left out in the cold.
When he was settled and returned to Baizhang Peak, what was waiting for him was the new cultivation method that Master had just developed.
Immortal Ling Xiao became jealous, it was really terrible.
"I was wrong." Gu Hanjiang said seriously, "If you don't like it, you won't be like this in the future."
He admitted his mistake so sincerely that Qi Shu was a little at a loss: "Actually... I don't really like it."
And, I have to admit, even more comfortable than usual.
On the contrary, it was because of being too comfortable, that feeling of losing control, which made Qi Shu feel lingering fear afterwards.
Thinking of last night, Qi Shu's ears turned red instantly: "Anyway, anyway, I don't want to do that anymore!"
"Okay, don't do it."
"There are other, similar utensils, and I don't want them either!"
Gu Hanjiang: "Well, I listen to you."
A sword shadow pierced the sky, raising peach blossoms.
Qi Shu was wrapped in Gu Hanjiang's arms, blocking the oncoming cool wind.
Looking at the handsome profile of his master, he suddenly raised his head and kissed him on the lips: "Also... I'm actually not very angry."
"I know." Gu Hanjiang hugged him tightly, "If you really don't want to be found by me, you won't come here."
Qi Shu whispered: "I really wanted to run away, but..."
But...he just got off the mountain and didn't know where to go.
These years, he and his master have been inseparable.
They lived together in Kunlun, walking in the world, Qi Shu suddenly realized that he didn't want to go anywhere without his master.
It wasn't that he really wanted to run away from home, it was just an excuse to get awkward and wait for the master to coax him.
Master will always come to coax him.
Qi Shu huddled in Gu Hanjiang's arms, thinking sweetly in his heart