Balian raised his eyes slightly and looked at Chen Xiaolan: "What's wrong? Is there any inconvenience?"
Chen Xiaolan noticed the looks that Ying Ji and Bailian cast at the same time, and suddenly felt that she had lost her composure, forcing a smile on her face.
"It's... there are a lot of inconveniences. This time the master subdued the demon, he was seriously injured and very frustrated.
If you see an old friend, you will inevitably feel even more sad. It is better to let him be alone and quiet. "
Very poor excuse.
But Bailian didn't expose it. Looking at Chen Xiaolan's appearance, he guessed that something must have happened between her and Meng Zifei.
Seeing her in such a difficult situation, Balian didn't ask any questions and didn't force her.
"Well, if you encounter trouble, you can go to Qingtang Lane on Yonglin Street to find me."
Chen Xiaolan nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Si Chen, and thank you for the candied haws."
After saying goodbye to Chen Xiaolan, the morning light was already bright.
Under the sky, there are the sounds of swordsmen chanting loudly, and shadows all over the sky, all heading towards Wanggui Tower.
The Golden Immortal Auction has begun.
…
…
Chen Xiaolan returned to her temporary house, boiled water in the courtyard, cooked medicine, prepared breakfast, and then opened the door and entered the dormitory.
Every inch of land in Shifang City is precious, and it is a rich place in the world. Even for such a remote small stone house, the rent is very expensive.
She lived here with Meng Zifei for more than half a month, and all the money and spiritual stones she had with her were squandered.
Meng Zifei's curse was supposed to be cured after the expiration date, but something bad happened when the curse broke out and he was bitten by a wolf.
Even if the flesh and bones are reunited, the wounds of broken bones and flesh are still there.
I have been nursing for more than half a month, but I have not recovered yet.
Meng Zifei didn't have enough money to pay the entry fee, so he had to sneak across.
After renting such a poor and leaky house, there were not many spiritual stones left.
Chen Xiaolan was in a dilemma and had to choose the shameful and immoral way of stealing medicine to find medicine for him.
Fortunately, I met Bai Lian today, otherwise the guard would have fallen on him with his staff, and the wound that had finally been healed would have burst open again.
It's cold in spring, and the early morning wind in early spring blows on people's bodies, and their bones still feel a bit cold and painful.
Meng Zifei was half lying and half sitting on his sick bed, his face looking pale.
The sword was hanging between the walls of the bed. He smelled the smell of medicine and food wafting in the air, cast his eyes vaguely, and frowned.
"You came back so early today? And the breakfast... seems to be better than usual. Are you rich?"
Since Meng Zifei became seriously ill, Chen Xiaolan has been taking care of the rent expenses.
Although he didn't know that the spiritual stones on them had long been used up, but judging from the simple meals they had been eating recently, he could guess that they were actually living a very tight life at the moment.
It's just that neither he nor Chen Xiaolan are people who enjoy themselves easily, and Chen Xiaolan has never told him about her difficulties in the first place, so she doesn't care.
But today, I suddenly saw that the breakfast was actually preserved egg and lean meat porridge, as well as fried dough sticks and steamed buns. It was very different from the past, and I couldn't help but feel suspicious.
Chen Xiaolan put the breakfast decoction on the small table beside the bed without changing her expression.
"Aren't you helping people get hand grinder powder in Fulou these days? Today is the day to pay wages, so let's eat something good. Master has been suffering recently."
Chen Xiaolan is an upright and trustworthy person. She will not talk nonsense about Meng Zifei's unsavory past and the secrets that are too obscure to be known but must be kept well.
But when she met Bailian on the street today, she didn't say much to Meng Zifei. After all, what happened that night still made her cautious.
Since Mr. Si Chen showed off his appearance to others today, he naturally did not want outsiders to know his identity.
Even though Meng Zifei confessed to her, he had done some extremely evil things, and he would not harm Bailian.
But avoid unnecessary troubles if you can.
Meng Zifei hummed, took the medicine bowl, drank the soup in one gulp, and then started to enjoy breakfast.
When he lowered his head to drink the porridge, Meng Zifei noticed with sharp eyes the candied haws on Chen Xiaolan's waist.
His eyes moved slightly, and there was a soft smile in his eyes: "What? Do you also like to eat such children's food?"
There seemed to be light and shadow flowing in Chen Xiaolan's eyes for a moment, and then she said softly: "When I was a child, my family was poor and could not afford the gadgets in the city. One year, I went to the market with my aunt and saw this bright red candy, and I have never forgotten it.
I went home crying and wanting to eat candied haws. In that remote mountain village, girls were always given priority.
My aunt has always been fond of my cousin. Our family lives in poverty. It’s good to have food to eat and not go hungry. How can I have spare money to buy candied haws for me to eat?
It’s just that my grandma remembered the crying this time.
Master, do you know why I can’t celebrate your birthday even though I’ve been with you for so long? "
She raised her eyes, handed the newly filled porridge to Meng Zifei, and said with a slight smile: "That's because my grandma really wants to let me eat the candied haws I want on my birthday.
That day, she carried everyone in the family and drove early in the morning. She got up before midnight and went out for a walk on the mountain road. She walked for two full hours before going to the market and buying me a candied haws.
She and I both stayed at my aunt's house. She was old and didn't dare to trouble anyone.
When my aunt went to the market, there was a bullock cart pulling her, but she dragged her old body alone through the wind and snow for so long on the mountain road. "
It was just a simple casual question, and I got such a long-winded answer.
Mencius has been walking around the world for two hundred years, and he has long been accustomed to such poverty, poverty, old age and hardship.
Not to mention that he has never met the grandmother Chen Xiaolan mentioned, and it is difficult for him to feel empathy when he hears such mundane things.
In the past, Mencius would have maintained his gentlemanly demeanor. When he heard Chen Xiaolan say this, he would have patiently comforted her with a gentle and compassionate face.
It's just that since the curse broke out in the snowy mountains, Meng Zifei's most truly embarrassing and ugly side was exposed to Chen Xiaolan.
He simply broke the jar and threw it, and he didn't even bother to pretend in front of her.
He listened to these boring past events one after another, and said casually: "So, what does this have to do with not being born on the same day as you?
Is it because grandma is too old and has too much ambition but not enough energy? Even though she tried her best, she still failed to let you eat the candied haws, and did it disappoint you?
Or is it that watching your aging relatives travel far away just for a piece of candied haws makes you feel guilty and you don't dare to celebrate your birthday again? "
"Both, right?" Chen Xiaolan smiled and tore the long fried dough stick into small pieces for Meng Zifei to make it easier to eat.
She wiped the oil stains on her hand on the handkerchief and raised her eyes to look at Meng Zifei:
"But the master guessed a bit wrong. Grandma still went to the market and bought candied haws.
But on the way back, the wind and snow fell even harder. She missed her footing and broke her waist. She didn't know where the candied haws fell. "
When Chen Xiaolan said this, she suddenly fell silent and her expression became quiet, so quiet that she looked a little sad.
Meng Zifei put down the porridge in his hand, looked at her quietly, then lowered his eyes again, looking at the string of candied haws on her waist with his peripheral vision, his voice was a little cold:
"If this thing makes you sad, why bother buying it to hurt yourself."
Chen Xiaolan smiled and shook her head and said: "It's not like I hurt myself, I just thought of my grandma and didn't understand why a snowstorm could take away all the dignity of an old man.
She broke her back in the heavy snow, but survived. From then on, she could not get out of bed and walk for the rest of her life, and she had to eat, drink and poop between the beds.
A poor family has an old man who is paraplegic. How does Master think the family will look at her with disgust? "
Meng Zifei has spiritual roots, and even though it has been two hundred years, he is still young and handsome, so he cannot understand what Chen Xiaolan wants to express, and he is unmoved and says:
"It is normal for mortals to grow old, get sick, and die. Since you are old, you should take care of yourself and not cause trouble to your family.
Since I have put myself through such trouble just for a candy-coated haws and that ridiculous little birthday wish, why should I blame others? "
"Master, you are wrong. Grandma has lived so long. Even though her family members disliked her for bullying her, she never complained for a moment.
She was originally from a wealthy family, but despite her family's decline, she still retained her pride.
I have never seen her lower her head to anyone. Even though she is old and hunched over, her clothes are always neatly ironed and there is no trace of indecency.
But such a proud and decent old man lost all his dignity under the eyes of his family members who were becoming increasingly impatient, disgusted and evasive.
Perhaps even she herself had not thought that one day she would become nothing like a human being.
At that time, everyone in the family thought that grandma had died, but I was the only one who knew that this was not the case..."
Chen Xiaolan's hand holding the porcelain bowl tightened little by little. It wasn't until her fingertips turned pale and bloodless that she realized her loss of composure and couldn't help but chuckle:
"It was also a snowy night, and the fire in the house that my aunt gave to my grandmother was originally out.
When I got up at night to see my grandma, I saw through the crack of the door that my grandma used a poker to peel off the extinguished charcoal fire bit by bit, and then lay back down as usual.
I saw it all but didn't stop her.
Grandma fell asleep like this and never woke up again. When the family found out about it the next day, they were very calm. No one seemed to notice the closed window and door.
No one asked why the charcoal pot that was usually out of grandma's reach was so close to her bed that night.
Maybe my aunt was careless and forgot that day. Anyway, it was all just an accident.
The family put her in a shroud, wrapped her in a straw mat, and simply sent grandma away. "
Chen Xiaolan sighed and said, "So, sometimes I wonder why the person who treats me best in the world ages so fast."
Meng Zifei put down his chopsticks and looked at her: "Afraid of birth, old age, sickness and death, is this the reason why you practice?"
Chen Xiaolan put away the empty dishes and bowls that he had used for breakfast, and said with a smile: "Yes, I am afraid that one day I will become as stooped and crippled as my grandmother, and it will be difficult to walk or stand.
It's really suffocating to think about it, but it's a pity... I don't have spiritual roots, so it's only a matter of time before I follow in her footsteps, right? "
Meng Zifei looked at her with a smile in his eyes: "Normally you seem to be indifferent, but you are actually worried about these worldly things.
I missed the Poseidon Festival this time, and when I saw you looking indifferent, I thought you were really indifferent to fame and fortune, but I thought it turned out that a piece of candied haws made you scared again. "
He straightened his clothes and said softly: "It doesn't matter, just be patient and wait a little longer? What my teacher can give you is not just an ordinary spiritual root.
When the Golden Immortal Auction ends, you will have a unique spiritual root in the world. "
"Golden Immortal Auction?" Chen Xiaolan said in surprise: "Master's purpose of coming to Shifang City this time is not only the Poseidon Festival, but also wants to participate in the Golden Immortal Auction?"
She looked a little confused: "Is it possible that places like Shifang City will openly auction forbidden items like spiritual roots like the underground city?"
Meng Zifei seemed to suddenly react to Chen Xiaolan's question.
His expression was slightly startled, and his lowered eyes showed a hint of surprise that was even more surprising than hers.
He has always been shrewd and careful, but this was the first time that something like this had happened.
…
…
Under the guidance of the attendant, Bailian took his seat and looked back at the building. Inside the building, there were partitioned seats with screen fans hanging around them.
The two screens are facing each other, but the middle of the screen fan is neither jade nor gauze, but a very light and thin film of light.
Looking from the inside out, one can clearly see the crowds of people outside, but the outside world cannot see the people inside.
If it weren't for the sound transmission, not even a sound could be heard in the booth.
Looking downstairs from this room, an expert can sense that there is an extremely complex spatial array in this room.
As the largest auction house in Shifang City, Wanggui Building naturally has a lot of background.
Bailian sat in the soft room prepared by the cabinet in advance. At that time, the auction had officially begun, and when he looked up, he could see the huge auction platform in the sky.
His eyes were about to settle down when a loud uproar suddenly sounded in the building.
Seeing that the guests had all arrived, the attic door that had been closed was pushed open again, and the golden light of the morning poured into the building.
In the light, the female clan disciples in blue and white silk clothes opened the way for the girl who stood at the front in the middle of the road. She wore a silk dress with cicada wings, and the hem of the skirt was woven with jade and shark scales, shining brightly.
When the hem of the skirt swayed, a section of her snow-white and delicate calves were inadvertently exposed. The lines were soft and the steps were graceful.
This woman has a beautiful nose and snow-cheeked cheeks, eyebrows as cold as frost, and lips as delicate and bright as spring flowers.
Even Princess Dique would not be frightened by this appearance and attire.
Someone in the crowd obviously recognized this woman who appeared in a high-profile and exaggerated manner, and someone suddenly lost her voice:
"Miss Qin Si?!"
"Miss Qin Si also came to participate in the auction. It seems that there will be many rare and good things for sale at the Golden Immortal Auction today."
The chief manager of Wanggui Tower, who was secretly handling important affairs behind the staff, appeared almost as soon as the woman appeared. He greeted her respectfully, bowed his head and said with a smile:
"Miss Qin Si is coming without anyone notifying her, so Lao She can arrange a carriage to pick her up personally."
The woman who was called Miss Qin Si had her eyes slightly slanted, she used a small fan in her hand to cover her lips and smiled shyly, but the words that came out of her mouth were unspeakably arrogant and unruly:
"Is such a vulgar thing as a carriage worthy of letting my toes get dusty? If Mr. Li can get a unicorn to pull the carriage, I will probably think twice about whether to ride in the chariot arranged by you. "
Balian, who was sitting quietly drinking tea in the booth, suddenly raised his eyebrows.
Listening to the meaning of these words, is Miss Qin Si going to target Fang Geyu today?
