"Senior Brother Shen, we have been here for several days and still can't find the whereabouts of the tiger demon. Why don't we go back."
The girl in yellow who spoke was one year older than Jiang Yuebai. She looked at the boy in white wearing Zhilan Yushu next to her with starry eyes.
Different from her usual arrogance and domineering nature, she is now a gentle and well-behaved young lady.
"Junior sister Lin, please be patient. I will accompany you on this special trip. I will definitely help you find the tiger demon and complete your mission this year. Don't worry."
"It's better that you treat me well. My ancestor doesn't care about me at all."
"Elder Lin also wants to train you. If he really doesn't care about you, how could he ask me to accompany you and take care of you?"
"Then do you mind that I am just an outer disciple and not worthy of you?"
"How come, Elder Lin is kind to my Shen family, and you are engaged to me. How could I care about your identity?"
"Brother Huaixi, you are so kind."
That girl was Lin Suiwan. Jiang Yuebai had never met the person next to her. From Lin Suiwan's name, he guessed that she should be Shen Huaixi, the inner sect.
She didn't expect that Lin Suiwan would take over the task here. They were really enemies.
Jiang Yuebai had a talisman on her body that concealed her aura. She lowered her bamboo hat and passed by the two of them calmly.
Lin Suiwan felt something in her heart, stopped and turned around, frowning in confusion, "Strange, why do I seem to see..."
"What's wrong, who did you see?"
Lin Suiwan's eyes flashed slightly, "Nothing, let's go, let's go find the host of Wuweiguan to find out."
…
Avoiding mortals, Jiang Yuebai's sword landed in the woods outside Qingxi Town, gathered his aura, straightened his clothes and walked out.
Approaching the edge of the forest, a middle-aged woman appeared in front of her, carrying a bundle of firewood alone, a hoe in one hand and a vegetable basket in the other. The basket was full of wild vegetables that are common in spring.
She hunched over and held the firewood behind her tightly after taking two steps, walking with difficulty.
Jiang Yuebai stepped forward and said, "Auntie, let me help you."
The woman turned around when she heard the sound, her face was sallow and thin, full of traces of wasted time.
Before she could say anything, Jiang Yuebai unloaded the firewood from her shoulders and carried it easily on his shoulders.
"I have been practicing martial arts since I was a child, and I am very strong."
The woman was embarrassed and said: "Little lady Xu Ying, thank you so much, Heroine."
"You're welcome, I also want to ask my aunt for directions. Is Qingxi Town ahead?"
Xu Ying nodded, "It's Qingxi Town. Is the heroine visiting relatives or visiting friends?"
Jiang Yuebai gestured and said while walking, "Look for someone. I wonder if Auntie knows if there is a family named Tao in Qingxi Town. The ancestor should be a blacksmith."
Xu Ying smiled and nodded, "Yes, Tao's blacksmith shop has been passed down in Qingxi Town for four generations. Now the Tao boy is very good at making farm tools and the price is affordable. Neighbors like to go to his blacksmith shop. Repair farm equipment.”
"Does Auntie know Tao Fengnian?"
Xu Ying paused, her eyes suddenly brightened, "Is the little heroine a disciple of the Immortal Sect?"
Jiang Yuebai pretended to be confused, "Why do you ask, aunt?"
The light in Xu Ying's eyes gradually dimmed, her expression lost, and she sighed before speaking slowly.
"Master Tao was very famous in Qingxi Town at that time. When I was a child, I heard Master Tao lecture outside a private school. He was admitted as a scholar before he was twenty and brought glory to the Tao family. Unfortunately, not long after they got married, his wife left the house. Caimai was hit by a carriage and broke his leg."
"Mrs. Tao is also pitiful. She had a high fever and didn't survive it, so she passed away. Master Tao was depressed after that, and then suddenly disappeared. The Tao family said that he was destined to be immortal and went to seek immortality. I didn't believe it at first. There are immortals in this world, but I never expected that my husband would be taken away by a passing immortal."
Xu Ying smiled bitterly and smoothed her gray hair on her temples. She was not yet forty, but already had silver hair, just like an old woman in her fifties or sixties.
"The day he left, he said that when he came back after he had achieved success in cultivation, he would take me to the Immortal Sect to enjoy the blessings together. I have been waiting for him. Unfortunately, I have not seen him come back after waiting for more than 20 years. Ahem, I made the little heroine laugh, old He always likes to nag."
Jiang Yuebai shook his head, "It doesn't matter, if Auntie wants to say it, you can tell me."
Xu Ying talked with Jiang Yuebai all the way back to Qingxi Town.
In the evening, it was foggy and rainy.
The ancient town is built near the water, with the reflections of the pavilions on both sides and the ripples caused by the small boats with black awnings, giving it an antique charm.
After walking across the small stone arch bridge, the smell of rice wafted out of the white-walled and black-tiled houses, and Wu Nong's soft words were everywhere, calling his children to go back to eat.
"Aunt Ying, is this a relative of yours? What a beautiful girl."
"No, don't talk nonsense."
"Aunt Ying, take a piece of the tofu I just ordered and eat it back."
"No, no, how can I be freeloading at your house all the time?"
Along the way, the folks in the surrounding villages were very concerned about Xu Ying. This family gave her two steamed buns, and that family gave her two sweet potatoes, which made Xu Ying very embarrassed.
Meow~
Many wild cats emerged from the alley and the roof, following Xu Ying like guards, and followed her home.
Jiang Yuebai looked at the novelty and asked, "Auntie, what's going on with these cats?"
Xu Ying smiled and said: "A few years ago, I was digging wild vegetables in the mountains and rescued a kitten. After that, the cats in the town became very affectionate to me. I would also get them some water and food when I had nothing to do. These cats saved me." many times."
"Once I was almost bitten by a poisonous snake. A wild cat jumped out and killed the snake. The most dangerous time was when I encountered a big insect. A group of wild cats came up and drove the big insect away. Otherwise, I would not be alive today."
"Big insect? I heard that there is a tiger demon near Qingxi Town."
Xu Ying nodded, "Yes, look at that house over there. The white lantern on the door has not been taken down yet. The head of his house came back from the night road last month and was seduced by the tiger demon and the ghost. I'm here. Heroine, just put the firewood at the door, and I'll take you to the Tao family's blacksmith shop."
Walking to a dilapidated yard, Jiang Yuebai put down the firewood and said, "No, auntie, show me the way. I'll go there myself."
"Then come in and have a bowl of water before leaving. You'll be tired all the way."
Unable to refuse, Jiang Yuebai went into the house to drink water.
"Danggui? Angelica, I'm back~"
Xu Ying called everywhere, then turned around and explained, "Danggui is the little kitten I rescued in the mountains. It's quite spiritual. I've been raising it. I don't know why I'm going crazy now."
Meow~
Wild cats squatted on the wall one by one, glaring at Jiang Yuebai. She was moved and used her spiritual eye to take a look.
The Spiritual Eye Technique, like the Dust Purification Technique, is a functional basic spell that can detect special auras. Jiang Yuebai glanced at Xu Ying and his pupils shrank.
There was a dark purple aura on Xu Ying's body. According to the book, it should be demonic aura, not very strong.
Jiang Yuebai scanned the surrounding wild cats again, but there was no evil spirit.
Xu Ying's family was poor and she often went to the mountains to cut firewood and dig wild vegetables and mushrooms for food. She must have been infected by accidental encounters.
After thinking about it, Jiang Yuebai went over and mentioned it.
"Auntie, I heard that an old immortal came to the Five Flavors Temple on the mountain today. If you want to find out where the immortal is, you might as well go to the Five Flavors Temple to have a look. You may gain something."
Xu Ying's eyes lit up, "Really? Is there really an old immortal?"
"Well, I just came down from the mountain, a lot of people are saying."
"Okay, I'll go take a look tomorrow."
Jiang Yuebai was relieved. She didn't know how to get rid of the evil spirit. Zhao Wude often moved around in the mortal world, so he must be better than her.
After leaving Xu Ying's house, Jiang Yuebai went straight to Tao's blacksmith shop. The blacksmith shop was closed. The lights were brightly lit in the back of the yard, and laughter could be heard.
"Grandpa, give me some candy."
"I wish my grandpa a blessing as good as the East Sea and a longevity as long as the Southern Mountains."
"Grandpa, Grandpa, I want some candy too."
"You little monkeys, go play and don't tire Grandpa."
Jiang Yuebai disappeared and jumped onto the courtyard wall, where he saw four generations living under one roof, and a group of grandchildren, old and young, gathered happily at the table.
The old lady was smiling brightly and full of energy, playing a drum to tease the swaddled baby next to her.
His facial features are very similar to Tao Fengnian, so he should be his biological brother.
Jiang Yuebai's mouth felt bitter and her heart felt mixed.
Is it worth it to give up the happiness of a mortal life, hang my life on the edge of a knife, and struggle to seek immortality all my life?
If grandpa saw this scene before him, would he regret stepping into the immortal gate without hesitation?
If he could become a Taoist priest like Zhao Wude and stay with his relatives, would his life be better now? Will he live longer?
With no answers to all kinds of questions, Jiang Yuebai sighed deeply, jumped off the courtyard wall and left.
The night breeze blows and the leaves rustle.
The old lady in the courtyard felt something and looked at the wall.
"Grandpa, what are you looking at?"
"I think I saw my brother."
"You must be dazzled. My uncle has already become an immortal. Now he will enjoy the blessings in the immortal world. How can he come down to the mortal world to endure hardships."
"Yes, he has become an immortal. He lives a long and carefree life. It's really enviable."
"Grandpa, please tell Nian'er the story of how my uncle became an immortal. I still want to hear it."
"Okay, if Nian'er wants to hear it, Grandpa will tell you one more time. It was in the Lost Immortal Ridge in Leyou Mountain. Rumor has it..."
