At noon, the sky clears after the rain, and Jiuyuan Mountain is still shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland. The top of Baizhang Peak is even more unique, with an inn with numerous terraces standing here. Two towering ancient trees stand on both sides like loyal guards. The breeze blows and the leaves rustle. Through the dense branches and leaves, you can vaguely see a blue wooden plaque hanging in the middle of the second floor of the inn, with four ancient gold characters carved on it. , "Ruchen Inn". After the clouds dissipated and the rain dispersed, the raindrops illuminated by the sun slid lazily from the eaves of the inn, bursting out the moment they touched the ground, and immediately blended into the fresh air.
"Creak" sound. A waiter rolled up the curtain at the front door of the inn, and then opened the windows on both sides. The air after the rain poured into the first floor of the inn. The waiter took a deep breath of the sweet air and smiled slightly. Hearing the greeting from someone inside, the waiter threw the sweat towel over his shoulder, said "here you come", then turned around and ran inside.
It was noon, and the first floor of the inn was already packed. Amid the crowds of people, the waiters were carrying trays and shuttled among the guests, constantly replacing empty cups and plates, and adding new wine, meat, and refreshments. For a time, the sounds of the waiters, the guests talking, the clinking of cups and plates inside the inn were intertwined with the sounds of the gentle breeze, the chirping of birds and the chirping of insects outside the inn. It was like a fairyland on earth.
Among the guests in the room, almost all were martial arts practitioners and immortal disciples from various sects. Everyone sat around the table in twos and threes, drinking and talking. From time to time, they walked around the table and exchanged glasses. His movements seemed careless, but his brows were furrowed, as if he was worried. Different from ordinary inns, in addition to food and wine, the tables of Ruchen Inn also have various strange weapons and magic weapons, which also adds a sense of martial arts and chivalry to the inn.
"Xiaohu, go help your Uncle Daren greet the guests!" The speaker was a middle-aged woman who lowered her head and flipped through the account books. She was the innkeeper and a lay disciple of the Qingxu Sect, Ji Ruchen. Since she opened this inn, Qingxu's disciples have been coming and going frequently. Because the Qingxu Sect is full of female disciples with good bones and beautiful appearance, they also attract many admiring guests to the inn.
Ji Ruchen was seen to be around thirty years old. She was lined with a plain Taoist robe and covered with a light blue thin veil of green water. She was tall and slender. The green silk on her head hangs down from her shoulders, and the jade hairpin is inserted diagonally. Her pretty face is as beautiful as a crown jade, her facial features are exquisite, her eyes are bright and clear, her lips are red and her teeth are white. Although she is no longer the most beautiful person in the country, she still has charm.
"Okay, mother!" The person who answered was Ji Ruchen's son, Jiang Xiaohu. He has just turned twelve this year, but he is already nearly eight feet tall. Jiang Xiaohu was wearing a light gray long-distance running shirt. He had a strong build, broad shoulders, and a straight chest. His whole body was full of youthful spirit. A piece of hair the size of a teacup is tied into a single braid hanging down the back of her head. This strange appearance is rarely seen. His face has a bronze complexion, his eyes are as bright as a torch, his eyebrows are as thick as ink, his nose is wide and his mouth is wide, and he looks like a hero.
Jiang Xiaohu ran up to a middle-aged man about forty years old in a few steps, took the teapot from his hand without any explanation, and said respectfully: "Uncle Daren, let me do the work of serving tea and pouring water." Come with my buddy! Since you are old, you should help my mother with some cabinet work."
The middle-aged man was Jiang Daren, the housekeeper of Ruchen Inn. He had been working with Jiang Xiaohu's parents since he was a child. Jiang Xiaohu also regarded him as his father and respected him very much. Jiang Daren took off the sweat towel hanging around his neck and wiped his face, then beat his waist again, and said with a wry smile: "That's fine! I'm old, and I'm really not able to do what I do! Xiaohu, then I'll leave this place to you to take care of. .”
"Okay! Don't worry, Uncle Da Ren!" Jiang Xiaohu agreed and started working with the guys.
Jiang Daren turned around and slowly walked towards the counter and came to Ji Ruchen's side. He helped her tidy up the large and small account books scattered on the counter. In less than a moment, these originally scattered account books were sorted into categories.
Ji Ruchen smiled lightly at him and said: "Daren, I am really grateful to you these years. Xiaohu and I's father is not always at home, and the inn and Xiaohu both rely on your care."
Jiang Daren waved his hand and said with a smile: "Madam, this is also my home. Although my cousin is gone, I can see you and Xiaohu... Hey, maybe all of this is God's will, God's will."
Ji Ruchen put down the work in his hands and glanced at Jiang Xiaohu who was running and busy. A smile flashed on his face, and a hint of worry flashed across his face. He sighed softly: "I only hope that this kid Xiaohu can finish this life safely." A lifetime. Don’t be like his father and risk your life in vain for the so-called chivalry."
Jiang Daren smiled and said: "Madam, everything in this world has been predestined for a long time, and we ordinary people can't control it. Just like you and your cousin, they are born with each other. But... well, let's not mention it. Just don’t mention it…”
Jiang Daren didn't want to mention the sad thing, but he also raised his head to look at Jiang Xiaohu who was busy around, with a look of admiration on his face, and nodded slightly: "I think this kid Xiaohu has a bit of a cousin's style, he must not be a thing in the pool. Ah! How could a good man with the world in his heart stay at this small Ruchen Inn. Hey, I just hope that he can find a famous teacher and have less hardships in his life."
At this moment, Jiang Daren suddenly caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man with an air of immortality walking into the door of the inn. Jiang Daren tilted his head slightly and said in a low voice: "Madam, do you think that person is Elder Xuanyi of Xiaoyao Sect?"
When Ji Ruchen heard this, he immediately looked up and saw a middle-aged man standing at the door. The man was more than eight feet tall, with a majestic figure and majestic air. He wears a purple gold crown with hair tied on his head, a blue Taoist robe, and a green jade pendant that represents his status tied to a white jade belt around his waist. The cheeks are thin but angular, the facial features are clear and deep, and the two light mustaches under the nose not only do not give the slightest sense of decadence, but add a sense of masculinity. Such a hero, who is he if he is not Xuan Yi?
Xuan Yi's thin but powerful left hand held a sword. The sword has an indigo scabbard and is more than three feet long. The exposed jaw of the knife is carved into the shape of a dragon's head, the knife grid is like a half-moon, the ring is like a waning moon, and the hand guard is as finely crafted as crystal clear jade. Although the sword has not left the body, it is exuding a cold air. That was Xuan Yi's sword, Han Yue. In the past, Xuanyi officially relied on this sword and the Xuanbing Qi of Xiaoyao Sect to kill demons and eliminate demons, and became famous in Kyushu.
Xuan Yi remained calm and used his telekinesis to examine the people in the inn. He found nothing unusual, so he strode towards the counter. Although he deliberately restrained his true energy, he could not hide the aura of a peerless master. I saw him walking with his clothes fluttering in a majestic manner. Xuan Yi stared straight ahead. Although he never looked away, he had a panoramic view of every move of the people in the inn. His every move was full of domineering aura.
There was a moment of silence in the inn, and all the guests in the inn looked at Xuan Yi. Some people even began to whisper, with envy and admiration in their eyes. The Xiaoyao sect is a famous cultivator of immortality and a leader of the right path. However, Xuanyi and his senior brother Xuanxi are unruly people. They have been walking in the world for a long time, doing chivalry and justice, eliminating violence and peace, and they have also met many people in the world. They are called Xiaoyao Er. Fairy.
Ji Ruchen hurriedly stepped out of the counter, came to Xuan Yi, bowed slightly, smiled like a dimple, and said: "I don't know that my senior brother is here, but my junior sister has not come far to greet me. I hope to pray for atonement."
Xuan Yi laughed loudly and said: "Junior sister Ji, there is no need to be polite! The Xiaoyao and Qingxu factions belong to the same sect, and you and I are brothers. This is not the Huijian Mountain, where do these formal etiquettes come from."
Ji Ruchen returned the greeting with a smile and asked, "Senior brother, where does this come from?"
Xuan Yi replied: "I came from Qingzhou Liuying City and was about to return to Qiyuan Mountain. I passed by here and came here to visit my junior sister. How are you always, junior sister?"
Ji Ruchen said: "Senior brother, please take care of me. My little sister is fine. Senior brother, please talk in a quiet place inside!"
Xuan Yi agreed, followed Ji Ruchen, and the two of them walked through the crowd and walked inside. Wherever they passed, people stepped out of their way to let the two men pass. Ji Ruchen smiled and nodded to everyone to express his gratitude.
The people in the inn slowly came to their senses, looked back, and continued talking. A man who looked like a middle-aged scribe leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice and said to the two people at the same table: "Hey, did you see it? That's Xuan Yi, the elder of Xiaoyao Sect! What he holds in his hand is Hanyue, the precious sword. But he is a famous divine weapon of the righteous way!"
"Oh, he is Xuan Yi?! Oh, he is really extraordinary! I have heard that Xuan Yi and his senior brother Xuan Xi have great Taoist skills, and the Youhan sword is even more powerful! When we meet today, they are indeed well-deserved. !" A young man wearing a gray robe looked at the backs of Xuan Yi and Ji Ruchen, his eyes filled with admiration.
A middle-aged man sitting next to him patted the man on the shoulder and sighed: "Okay, okay, stop looking! Xuan Yi came here to see Ji Ruchen, not to see you. You Why are you so excited!"
A smile flashed across the face of the middle-aged scribe, and he said softly: "I heard that the Xiaoyao sect and the Qingxu sect have the same origin. The founders of the two sects were brothers. It is not surprising that the people of the two sects have close contacts. of."
The middle-aged man also smiled faintly and sighed: "Hey, Brother Taoist is right. The Xiaoyao, Qingxu and Tiangang Sword sects are authentic Taoist sects. They rely on the cultivation methods in the Taoist heavenly book, and there are people in each sect who have become immortals after enlightenment. People. The disciples they have accepted are all with extraordinary bones and excellent immortal roots. The members of the sect are highly respected by the world. Coupled with the Fanyin Temple, which is currently gaining momentum, these four sects can be said to be the leaders of the righteous way, and the disciples of the four sects are also close Like a family. Haven't you heard it? Nowadays, both in the arena and among the people, everyone knows the four lines of the song: "The happy and carefree fairy couple inherits the Taoist heart, and their pure and beautiful shadows escape from the world. The Tiangang sword formation cuts off evil spirits, and the faint sound of Sanskrit spreads all living beings."
But they...hehe, they don't care much about cultivators from unknown sects like us. I think Ji Ruchen already knew the purpose of our visit, but she didn't even ask. I'm afraid that all of us are not as good as an ordinary junior disciple of the four righteous paths! "After that, the man picked up the wine glass and drank the wine in one gulp.
The middle-aged scribe laughed "haha", poured a full cup of wine for the middle-aged man, and advised: "Okay, okay, brother Taoist. We did not inform shopkeeper Ji in advance about our gathering here, let alone the four upright sects." It's natural for people to ignore you when you ask for help. Brother Dao, you don't have to be so angry. Come, come, come, let's drink. Ji Ruchen runs an inn, so it's okay for us to eat and drink."
Hearing what the man said, everyone at the table laughed "haha". The middle-aged man picked up the wine glass, and the two of them touched their glasses lightly, and drank it all in one gulp. Then they both lowered their heads in silence, thinking about something. Only the young man was still looking at Xuan Xi and Ji Ruchen who had disappeared into the crowd, with yearning and reverence in his eyes from time to time.
