The next day, Beiliangshan, small courtyard.
Wang Qing held the wine jar and patted open the sealing mud. Red flames poured out. The wine was as red as blood and gurgled out. After a while, it turned into light smoke and dissipated.
Li Yang, Wei Shan, Han Hongrui, Jiang Shangzhen, Zhao Feiyan, Huang Shuo and others were all present, looking gloomy and silent; Yuan Qing stood far away, looking desolate, with dull eyes, as if he was lost.
The jar of wine was quickly poured out. Wang Qing raised his head and drank the last sip, smashing the jar to pieces with a "pop".
Send a bottle of wine to soothe the soul of the world.
After standing there for a long time, Wang Qing let out a long breath, turned around and scanned around. Seeing Yuan Qing alone, he felt a little surprised. He walked up to the young man and asked in a low voice: "Brother, why don't you see Junior Sister Ling'er?"
"Ling'er is gone." Yuan Qing replied in a low voice, his tone as calm as water, but anyone could hear the sadness in it.
Everyone had strange expressions on their faces when they heard this. Wei Shan even ran to Yuan Qing in two steps and asked loudly: "Senior brother, what do you mean 'Ling'er is gone'? Didn't Senior Sister say that she will leave in five years? Then Didn’t the old Taoist nun also agree?”
Yuan Qing turned a deaf ear to it and stared blankly at the sky, his eyes filled with fog, as if he was isolated from the world.
Wei Shan still wanted to ask, but when Wang Qing patted the young man's shoulder and sighed softly, he suddenly understood. As soon as the words reached his mouth, he swallowed them alive, and his eyes were filled with tears.
Seeing the young man's dejected appearance, Han Hongrui felt a throbbing pain in her heart for no apparent reason, and her eyes turned red unknowingly.
"Junior brother, do you know why Junior Sister Ling'er left?" Jiang Shang was really worried, hesitating again and again, and asked.
When Yuan Qing heard the words, the emotional and decisive words of the girl under the moonlit night seemed to ring in his ears again, and his heart suddenly twisted like a knife. After a while, he faintly replied: "Cut off the fate, return the cause and effect, and leave in search of the path."
Huang Shuo frowned after hearing this and murmured: "To run away privately when the war is about to begin would be suspected of betraying the clan..."
Before he finished speaking, he felt a sharp sword hanging from the top of his head. The sharp sword intent mixed with the murderous intent penetrated his brain. His scalp was numb, and his skills were not working automatically. In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder snakes danced wildly.
I saw Yuan Qing holding a long sword, with a cold expression, the aura around him surged, and the sword intent soared into the sky, walking step by step.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Feiyan hurriedly shouted loudly: "Yuan Qing, what are you going to do!"
Wang Qing, Li Yang, and Han Hongrui were also shocked. They stood a few feet in front of Yuan Qing. With a flash of inspiration, they had already launched their protective magical weapons. Wang Qing even said loudly: "Junior brother, calm down!"
When Wei Shan saw Yuan Qing's reaction, he reached out without thinking and tried to stop him. Unexpectedly, he was struck several feet away by a sword light without even touching the corner of his clothes.
Fortunately, she reacted quickly, and before the sword light reached her body, she used a screen of emerald green light to block it. Despite this, the little girl still looked frightened, her mouth was bloody, and she had been seriously injured.
Jiang Shangzhen quietly stood in front of Huang Shuo, waved his hands to lay down layers of protection, and then made a hand gesture and recited a mantra. Not long after, only a loud shout was heard, like a big copper bell, so powerful that it hit people's hearts directly.
Yuan Qing stopped immediately and gradually became clear. Then his face alternated between green and red, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood with a "wow" sound.
The spiritual light dissipated and the flying sword entered his sleeve. The young man swayed. After taking a deep breath, he finally stood up straight, clasped his fists and looked around, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, I'm sorry."
Only then did everyone put away their magic weapons and gathered around them with concerned expressions on their faces. Zhao Feiyan and Huang Shuo were still wary and still stood at a distance.
At this moment, a strong male voice was heard coming from everyone: "Disciple Xuanyuan, after listening to the order, go to the meeting hall immediately."
Everyone was stunned when they heard the sound, looked at each other, and without saying a word, they immediately released their magic weapons and flew towards the meeting hall.
In the meeting hall, there were crowds of people, and there was a lot of discussion. Except for a few teams who had not returned, the rest were all present.
After lighting the incense, Mei Xinyi appeared in the hall, the whispers stopped and the atmosphere became solemn.
I saw him walking in front of people, and several spiritual lights popped up at his fingertips, forming a curtain in the void. On it were written several big characters such as "Refining Weapons", "Carving Formation", "Liban", etc., and below were the names of many monks and their corresponding words. Peak name.
"The eight sects have gathered together to fight against the demon clan in Beiliang, so they have temporarily abandoned their divisions and let the Jingtian Sect Master make unified arrangements. Each of them will draw on their own strengths, work together, and plan together! All disciples immediately go to the corresponding peak to receive orders. Do not be negligent in your actions, any violation will be punished as treason!" Mei Xinyi said in a deep voice with a solemn expression.
As soon as he finished speaking, some monks surrendered and left, and then the crowd surged, and in the blink of an eye, more than half of them were gone.
Yuan Qing looked at the list. Wang Qing, Li Yang, and Han Hongrui were assigned to refine weapons. Jiang Shangzhen, Huang Shuo, and Zhao Feiyan were assigned to be imprisoned. Even Wei Shan was assigned to carve formations. Only Yuan Qing and Zhu Ling'er were not allowed to do so. Things were assigned, and even the name never appeared.
Not long after, the hall was empty except for Yuan Qing.
Mei Xinyi glanced at him, waved her hand to remove the light curtain, and without saying a word, she raised her feet to leave.
The young man had doubts in his heart and couldn't help but bowed and asked, "Senior brother, why don't you name me?"
Mei Xinyi didn't seem to hear her. She kept walking and walked out of the hall in a few flashes.
Yuan Qing straightened up, his doubts became more serious, and when he was about to leave, a message came to his ears: "Junior brother, don't be anxious, the sect has its own arrangements. In addition, the head knows that Zhu Ling'er left the sect without authorization, but it concerns the Supreme Immortal Qingye, so he will Junior brother can rest assured that there will be no investigation."
The young man stood quietly for a moment, sighed softly at the end, and bowed towards the palace door. Then he left the hall and returned to his room with his sword.
In the next ten days or so, Beiliang Mountain was like a furnace restarting, with roars and auras of various colors echoing each other. Groups of alchemy-forming and foundation-building monks shuttled between the peaks. From time to time, you could see the real Yuanying entering and leaving the formation. It was a busy scene.
But all this has nothing to do with Yuan Qing.
The young man has never left the door since he returned to the small courtyard. He just sits on the couch without thinking or sleeping, like a stone carving. The sword embryo in the body is silent, the sword shadow in the sea of consciousness is dim, the spiritual platform is covered with dust, and the sword heart is no longer bright.
During this period, Han Hongrui and Wei Shan each came to visit once. After several calls, they all fell silent. After waiting for a long time, there was still no response, so they had no choice but to leave.
A few days later, a ray of fire fell in the courtyard, revealing a rough and arrogant man with dark skin, who was Wang Qing.
As soon as he landed, Wang Qing shouted at the top of his lungs: "Brother, why are you still staying in the house! I finally got half a day to spare, and I made a few jars of good wine. Why don't you come out quickly and have a drink with me?" !”
After waiting for a long time, no one responded. Wang Qing pondered for a moment, then strode to Yuan Qing's room, pushed open the door, and opened his mouth to curse. The words came to his lips, but he couldn't say them out, because the young man in front of him had a face as dead as water, a dim light, and a heavy air of twilight all over his body.
"Alas," Wang Qing sat next to Yuan Qing and let out a long sigh: "I don't understand the love between men and women, but Junior Sister Ling'er left for the high road. Could it be that, brother, you are going to perish like this? Kill demons and demons, indulge. Jian Qingming, how happy you are, could it be that your sword's heart is destined to be a woman!"
After saying this, Wang Qing felt sad and angry when he saw that the young man was still indifferent. He sighed heavily and got up and left.
When he reached the door, he paused and said without looking back, "I heard that Senior Brother Qiu has recovered from his injury recently and is planning to come over to find you. You... ugh!"
After saying that, the fire lit up and soared into the sky.
The small courtyard returned to calm, and the young man remained as motionless as a clay sculpture.
After an unknown amount of time, there was a murmuring sound, as thin as the hum of a mosquito, which was hard to hear clearly. Gradually, the sound got louder, like ordinary people whispering, but they repeatedly chanted the word "Sword Heart".
After a while, there was a loud scream, and then the sword energy burst out, and then a bright silver sword light was seen rising from the ground and piercing the air.
Looking at the small courtyard again, the bed was broken, the couch was broken, the door was broken and the chair was broken, it was a mess, and the young man was nowhere to be seen.
Tianjian Peak.
Qiu Long was carefully appreciating the power of the true dragon in the cave, when suddenly fire came, and someone sent a message: "Senior Brother Qiu, Yuan Qing, a disciple of Xuanyuan, is here to visit and asks to see him."
After the fire light dissipated, Qiu Long flicked out a transmission note with his fingers, then stood up and walked to the main hall, sitting quietly and waiting.
Not long after, I heard a voice coming from outside the door: "Senior Brother Qiu, Yuan Qing took the liberty of coming to pay a visit and hope to see you."
Qiu Long waved his hand to release the restriction and said, "You're welcome, junior brother, please come in."
Seeing Yuan Qing face to face, he couldn't help but be shocked, but he said calmly: "Junior brother, please sit down."
Yuan Qing walked over and sat down. Without any polite greetings, he asked straight to the point: "Senior brother should have noticed something strange in my body at this time. Yuan Qing came here for no other reason than to ask senior brother, what exactly is this sword?" What are you practicing for?"
Qiu Long looked at Yuan Qing and asked instead of answering: "How did junior brother enter the realm of the clear heart of the sword in the first place?"
Yuan Qing replied without thinking: "Understand gains and losses, distinguish between good and evil, obey your true heart, understand your thoughts, and your sword will be completed."
Qiu Long nodded and continued to ask: "Then why did Junior Brother join Taoism and why did he practice swordsmanship?"
"It is not my original wish to enter the Tao. At that time, I exerted my strength in many directions and could not help myself. I loved swords when I was young, and by chance, I got a Sword Sutra, so practicing swordsmanship can be regarded as coming from my original intention. However, as I practice more and more, I gradually feel a sense of shackles, so I have the thought of cutting off the shackles and wielding the sword Qing Ming."
At this point, a trace of sadness flashed in Yuan Qing's eyes, and he paused and continued: "When the beautiful lady was by my side, I once wanted to hold my son's hand and wield the sword freely, but the beautiful lady had no idea. Now, although the immortal sword is always there, I don't know How to pick it up."
Qiu Long looked at Yuan Qing's sad look and chuckled.
"Why are senior brothers laughing?" Yuan Qing asked in confusion.
Qiu Long put away his smile, with a look of reminiscence on his face, and said slowly: "Both of Yu's parents died when he was young, and he lived on the streets, making a living by stealing, and was looked down upon by the world."
"I made a mistake and almost died. Fortunately, my master rescued me. He took me back to the mountain and taught me Taoism. It was only then that I learned that I was actually a human-dragon hybrid, half-demon. I was born to a demon dragon who raped my mother. , my mother also died at his hands."
"Since then, I have made a great wish to kill the demon dragon with my sword to avenge blood. Unexpectedly, a hundred years later, I heard the news of the death of the demon dragon. I lost my mind and didn't know where to go. After ten years of hesitation, I couldn't cultivate. Instead of advancing, he retreated. Disheartened, he left the mountain and joined the world of mortals, where he lived for another ten years."
"There was an old man who was full of knowledge and had a good knowledge of ancient and modern times. His disciples and disciples might be important ministers of the dynasty, the humerus of the country, or he might be a great scholar, with a garden full of peaches and plums. However, the old man would read books and look at faces every day on the street in the busy city, wearing commoners' clothes and sandals. , bad wine and coarse tea.”
"One day, Yu was curious and finally came forward to talk, turning his experiences into a mysterious narrative with the old man. After listening, the old man left a simple drawing on a piece of paper and got up. On top of the painting, he saw a dragon holding its title Jian, trapped in the shallows, surrounded by swarms of shrimps and crabs, fish and snakes, and not far away is the vast ocean."
"After twenty years of hardship, I suddenly realized that I was swimming like a dragon on my own, so how could I be bound by a fish or a shrimp!"
At this point, Qiu Long's momentum suddenly became strong, like a hidden dragon rising into the abyss, looking down at the world.
Yuan Qing had long been lost in thought, his brows furrowed, and scenes from the past flashed through his mind like a fleeting horse, and finally settled into two scenes: the young man in white clothes beat the snow, wielding a sword in the dark; the girl's dress was fluttering, smiling lightly. .
Listening to Qiu Long's words at this moment, the two images were blurred and entangled, the spiritual light on his body disappeared, and his expression became more and more painful.
He suddenly opened his eyes, which were filled with blood. The young man asked in a hoarse voice: "Dare I ask, senior brother, if practicing Taoism and refining a sword, do you have to renounce all the worldly affairs and desires, and be ruthless?"
When Qiu Long saw this, he shouted loudly, like a dragon roaring in the wild, and like the sound of a sword resounding: "There is no need to cut off the love thread, the sword's heart is self-clearing! Junior brother still doesn't understand!"
As soon as the words came out, they fell on Yuan Qing's ears like a thunderbolt from the blue. The two pictures suddenly merged into one, but it was a blue sky and white sun, flowers blooming into a sea, a young man holding a sword in vain, distant green mountains like eyebrows, and flowing clouds like eyes, pieced together into a blur. A familiar face again.
With his spiritual light gone, Yuan Qing stood up, gave a deep salute, and said respectfully: "Yuan Qing thanks senior brother for your kindness!" After saying that, he walked out of the cave with his head held high, regaining some of his former grace.
As soon as the young man walked away with his front legs, he saw an old man materialize on his back legs. He was wearing a gray robe and had a childish face. He turned out to be the head of the Shangqing Sect, Qu Yi.
Qiu Long immediately stood up to greet him.
Quyi flicked his sleeves and asked, "How is it?"
"The heart of the Tao is first established, the heart of the sword is not yet clear, and the love and calamity are entangled, and it still needs experience." Qiu Long thought for a while and replied respectfully.
"Hmph, a love calamity almost caused my heart to collapse. I have no future!" Qu Yi snorted coldly, then changed the topic and said to Qiu Long: "I have made a pact with Xuanyuan. During the decisive battle, this son It is prepared from the superior pure, so you don’t need to hold back, just keep it alive.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the shadow disappeared with a "bang".
Qiu Long responded respectfully, then smiled bitterly and sighed: "Junior brother, don't blame me for being cruel..."
Somewhere outside the mountains.
A streak of blood light flashed away like a gust of wind and thunder; a few miles later, three or four streaks of golden light were like maggots on the tarsal bones, chasing after him. The two chased and escaped, covering dozens of miles in the blink of an eye.
In the bloody light, the young man's clothes were torn, his body was mutilated, his charming face alternated between gold and red, and his almond-shaped eyes were full of sinisterness.
