When Zhang Xiaofan woke up, it was already dark. He probably had slept for at least five or six hours, but Baguio still hadn't woken up. She was clutching his clothes tightly with both hands, looking like a frightened and timid child.
, no one would have thought that she was actually an important figure in the Demon Cult!
Zhang Xiaofan put his hands under his head and listened to the "swishing" sound of the trees in the forest. Suddenly, he thought of the bamboo forests on the Dazhu Peak of Qingyun Mountain, didn't they also make such a sound?
These days, I have been missing under the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Cave, and the news may have spread back to Dazhu Peak. I wonder if Senior Sister Ling'er will be a little sad when she finds out about it? However, if I suddenly appear in front of her,
She will definitely be happy, and she will definitely grab my hand, excited, laughing and scolding: Brat, I knew you wouldn’t die that easily!
A smile appeared on his face in the darkening night. Even his eyes were so bright in this dark night, but he didn't see that there was another pair of bright eyes beside him. I don't know when it started.
, looked at him faintly.
※※※
It's dawn again, and the chirping of birds can be heard in the mountains, which is clear and sweet.
Zhang Xiaofan walked to the edge of the stream, put his hands together, and poured a handful of water on his face. A cold feeling penetrated into his heart. He checked his left hand and took off the bandage. The broken bone was actually healed.
It was almost done. Feeling happy, I took off the fire stick tied to my hand and inserted it into my waist. I moved my left hand vigorously. As expected, it was nothing serious.
"Is your hand healed?" Baguio came up from behind him, glanced at him, and then squatted down to wash his face with the stream water.
"Yes." Zhang Xiaofan said happily, "It's nothing serious. It doesn't hurt."
Baguio gently wiped the water droplets on his face with his sleeve and said, "Don't move too much. It's going to hurt your muscles and bones. It's better to rest for a while."
"Got it." Zhang Xiaofan responded smoothly, then looked at Baguio, hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Miss Baguio, now we are lucky to have saved our lives and escaped from the belly of the mountain. You and I can be counted as friends.
I made a friend, but after all, we have different opinions, so let’s break up here today.”
Baguio squatted by the water and did not get up, but her body seemed to be shaking. Zhang Xiaofan couldn't see her expression. After a while, he heard her say in a low voice: "Oh, is it different?"
Zhang Xiaofan nodded and said: "Yes, I am the righteous way, and you are the devil's sect. My teacher has taught me since I was a child that good and evil are not mutually exclusive. When I see you next time, I am afraid that you and I are already enemies and not friends. You are caring in the heart of the mountain."
I am really grateful for saving you. I will repay you for this kindness one day if I am destined to do so."
Baguio stared blankly at the hazy figure reflected in the clear water, and whispered: "Will you repay me?"
Zhang Xiaofan responded and said: "Yes, we have clear grievances. If you hadn't saved me, I would never have survived. If there is a place where I can serve in the future, I will do it." At this point, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.
, and quickly added: "But you can't let me do anything that is disrespectful to the moral principles of the teacher."
Baguio suddenly stood up, turned around and said: "I think you are a talented person, why not join our Holy Cult? I recommend you to my father. He always loves talents and will definitely be willing to reuse you."
It's better than you being an unknown cook on Dazhu Peak."
Zhang Xiaofan's face immediately darkened and he said: "Miss Baguio, don't talk nonsense. I am a member of the righteous path. I would rather die than enter the devil's path. In my opinion, being a little cook on Dazhu Peak is better than working as a cook on Dazhu Peak."
It’s much better to call the wind and rain in your demonic sect.”
A sneer appeared at the corner of Baguio's mouth, and his words became sharp and cold, saying: "People in the righteous way? You people in the righteous way have created less evil than those of us in the evil way. When the good and evil wars were fought, your immortal ancestors were different.
Just kill them, even the old, weak, women and children!"
"Nonsense!" Zhang Xiaofan was furious, "These are all good things done by your demon sect. Do you think I don't know that back then you killed many people and devastated all living beings..."
Baguio said angrily: "Did you see those with your own eyes? Your teachers didn't tell you. How could they tell you the truth for their own sake?"
Zhang Xiaofan sneered and said: "Then have you ever seen it with your own eyes? You are telling me here that the righteous way is evil and the devil's religion is right. Aren't you your elders whitewashing the words of your ancestors?"
Baguio was stunned and speechless for a moment. Zhang Xiaofan glanced at her and thought back to the days when he had shared life and death with her. His heart softened and he lowered his voice and said softly: "Miss Baguio,
No matter what our predecessors were like, let's just leave them alone. It's just that our Qingyun sect has strict rules and strictly prohibits disciples from interacting with people in the demon sect. I am older than Qingyun and I dare not violate it. Let's say goodbye today. See you again in the future. If so,
If you can repent and turn from darkness to light, I, Zhang Xiaofan, will definitely protect you with my wealth and life, so that you can enter the right path..." He spoke plausibly, but stopped as he spoke, only to see Baguio's sarcastic face,
Sneering endlessly:
"You bullshit righteous people, you can't even ask me to go. You talk about abandoning darkness and turning to the light. It doesn't matter. If you don't take it, I will show you a clear path. Just go and be your righteous person. See you someday. I will take you first.
Head!"
Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback, feeling that this woman could turn against her faster than flipping through a book, but after all, he had no intention of arguing, and he always felt that he was indebted to Baguio, so he immediately held up his hands and said: "Treasure." After saying that, he turned around and nodded.
He walked away without looking back.
Baguio watched him walk away without even looking back. After his figure disappeared into the woods, suddenly, her heart felt empty, as if she had lost something important, and her whole person suddenly lost her energy.
, and sat down slowly. His eyes wandered, and he inadvertently passed by the pile of flames and ashes where Zhang Xiaofan barbecued the rabbit last night. He was stunned in place, and shed tears unknowingly.
She looked at the pile of ashes and sat like this. She didn't know how long it had passed, until she suddenly discovered that the crisp birdsong in the woods behind her suddenly silenced, as if she felt some powerful smell.
Dare to speak out.
Then, she saw a dark shadow slowly move out from behind her, shrouding her in it.
Although it was daytime, it seemed that the sky had become gloomy for some reason.
Baguio suddenly turned around and stared blankly at the person behind her. After a long while, she suddenly cried out sadly: "Dad!..." and threw herself into that person's arms.
The shadow seemed to be startled for a moment, as if he did not expect Baguio to behave like this at all, but he was happy to see his daughter escape from the disaster, but his joy could no longer be concealed.
※※※
Zhang Xiaofan walked in this mountain forest for a day before he came out of Kongsang Mountain. Originally, if he walked in the air, he could have come out in half a day, but considering the injury to his left hand, he was still willing to walk a little longer, but this Kongsang Mountain
It has always been sparsely populated, and not even a soul can be seen on this road.
After spending one night in the barren mountains, Zhang Xiaofan walked onto the official road. Not only did the road become wider, but there were also more and more people there. He asked passers-by on the road, inquired about the direction of the road, and headed north.
At noon that day, the sun was in the middle of the day and it was very hot. Zhang Xiaofan had been driving for a long time and was quite excited when he saw a small tea stall on the roadside, propped under a big tree beside the road. Five people were already sitting inside.
, the six guests, looking at the shade, walked over, bought a bowl of tea to drink, and sat down to rest.
Not to mention, the tea at this small tea stall was actually refreshing and quenching thirst. Zhang Xiaofan drank a bowl and immediately felt comfortable, as if the day was not so hot anymore. He thought to himself and saw that the injury on his hand had healed greatly.
, I found a secluded place where no one was and flew back in the afternoon. It was faster and I could see Master earlier.
As he was thinking about it, he naturally thought that he would be able to see his senior sister Tian Linger soon, and he couldn't help but feel warm. At this moment, he heard a gentle voice coming from the side of the road: "Boss, give me a lesson."
Bowl of tea.”
A rare breeze blew by at noon, causing the branches and leaves on the big trees to sway, and bits of sun shone through, scattering to the ground. The tea stall owner, who was in his fifties, agreed and leaned over to pour tea. Zhang Xiaofan inadvertently looked at it with his eyes.
The past can never be taken back.
A middle-aged scribe with thin eyebrows and a square face, his brows look elegant, but his eyes are bright and his forehead is full. However, in this elegance, he has a calm and powerful aura. He is dressed in a Confucian robe and has a lavender jade pendant at his waist.
, exquisite and clear, with a faint aura of auspiciousness, you can tell at a glance that it is not an ordinary product.
Zhang Xiaofan watched for a long time, and suddenly realized that he was overwhelmed by the demeanor of this middle-aged scholar. He felt that as soon as he walked in, five or six guests, including himself, who were drinking tea together at the tea stall, unexpectedly...
They were all silent and unable to speak, being suppressed by this person's momentum.
Zhang Xiaofan withdrew his gaze, but was slightly amazed in his heart. At the same time, he was deeply disappointed by the middle-aged scribe's demeanor. Although he didn't look very handsome, this kind of temperament that came from within was really rare.
The scribe entered the tea stall, took the tea from the boss, sat down casually, and began to taste the tea slowly. The guests who were still chatting and laughing around him now all fell silent. Inside the tea stall,
The atmosphere was strangely quiet for a moment, but the middle-aged scribe was the only one who remained calm, unaware of the situation around him, drinking tea and resting alone.
After a while, the other guests either had enough rest or finished their tea and left one by one to pay their bills. The boss came over to clear away the bowls. Under the big tree, only Zhang Xiaofan and the middle man were left.
There are two scribes.
Zhang Xiaofan didn't feel uncomfortable at all, but after sitting for a while, he felt that he was well rested. Just when he was thinking about checking out and leaving, he suddenly heard a voice behind him:
"Little brother."
Zhang Xiaofan was startled. Hearing the gentle and familiar voice, he turned his head and saw the scribe smiling peacefully at him. He asked in surprise: "Sir, did you call me?"
The scribe nodded with a smile and said, "Exactly." He stood up and walked over slowly. Zhang Xiaofan stood up after him. When he got closer, he cupped his fists and said, "Sir, what can I do for you?"
The middle-aged scribe looked Zhang Xiaofan up and down and said, "No, I'm just lonely on the journey, and I like my little brother. Come over and have a chat. I don't mind, little brother."
Zhang Xiaofan quickly shook his head and said: "No problem, sir, please sit down."
The scribe smiled and nodded, saying: "Come on, little brother, you can sit down too."
The two of them sat down. The scribe looked at Zhang Xiaofan and said, "May I ask your little brother's surname?"
Zhang Xiaofan grew up in Caomiao Village since he was a child, and was later taken in by the Qingyun Sect. Over the years, except for his fellow sects at Dazhu Peak in Qingyun Mountain, he has hardly spoken to outsiders. Of course, he was in the Dead Soul Abyss with the demon girl Baguio a few days ago.
The days when I was trapped were not included. He was talking to the scribe at this time. Somehow, he had some respect for this man in his heart, and then he said respectfully: "I don't dare, I'm Zhang Xiaofan, may I ask what your name is?"
?”
The scribe first recited: "Zhang Xiaofan," nodded, smiled slightly, and said, "My surname is Wan, and my cursive characters are written in Chinese."
"Ten thousand people are going!" Zhang Xiaofan recited it in his mind. This name sounded ordinary, but it gave people a feeling of being a warrior. Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but look at him. The faces of these thousands of people were gentle, but their brows were
The power seems to be innate, and it is extremely heavy. With this name, there is a vague intention to control thousands of people.
Thousands of people looked Zhang Xiaofan up and down, and said with a smile: "Forgive me for asking, is Brother Zhang a cultivator?"
Zhang Xiaofan was surprised. After he, Qi Hao and four other people came down the mountain, they all changed out of their Qingyun clothes and put on ordinary clothes for the convenience of the road. They looked no different from ordinary people. He didn't know who this middle-aged man was.
How did you get it.
He was surprised, and just wanted to ask the middle-aged man how he knew, but he saw the middle-aged man smile slightly, pointed to the north, and said: "Excuse me, Brother Zhang, but now the Qingyun Mountain Sect, the largest sect of righteousness,
Are you going to get off?"
Zhang Xiaofan was even more shocked. He couldn't help but stand up. Looking at the thousands of people going, he said in surprise: "Brother Wan, how do you know?"
Thousands of people smiled and waved their hands, saying: "Please sit down, please sit down."
After Zhang Xiaofan slowly sat down and thousands of people came to see him, he smiled and said: "I see that you are full of energy, little brother Zhang. You don't look tired all the way. You look at your young age, but you are better than many people in their prime."
In this world, the practice of Taoism is prevalent, so I think you must be a person with unique skills."
Zhang Xiaofan bowed his head and thanked him, but couldn't help but said: "Then how did you know about my sect?"
Ten Thousand People smiled casually and said: "Nothing else. I see that my little brother is so busy with his travels. He keeps looking north, with a look of longing on his face, as if he is returning home. In the north, the nearest and most famous cultivation sect is here.
It's the Qingyun Sect. Speaking of which, I made random guesses and made random nonsense, which made Brother Zhang laugh."
Zhang Xiaofan hurriedly said: "No, sir, you are so aware of everything. You and I have never met before, and you can see it at a glance. I really admire you, I admire you!" But he said these words from the bottom of his heart.
Ten Thousand People smiled slightly and said: "The Qingyun sect has been famous in the world for a long time in the cultivation of truth. It has a long history and profound Taoism. It is admired by people all over the world. My little brother has entered a famous sect at a young age. His future prospects are limitless.
!”
When Zhang Xiaofan heard the words "unlimited", his heart moved, and he inexplicably thought of Qi Hao from Longshou Peak. Finally, the shadow of Lin Jingyu flashed in his mind, and he shook his head and said: "Thank you, sir, Qingyun Sect."
The disciple is like a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger, but he is just a piece of rotten wood, useless."
Wanwan was startled for a moment, then laughed out loud and said, "I never thought that Brother Zhang, you could also tell jokes."
Zhang Xiaofan didn't want to argue with him on this topic, so he asked him: "Brother Wan, who looks so dusty, where are you going?"
Ten thousand people stood up leisurely, put their hands on their backs, looked up at the sky, and said: "This world is huge and boundless. I have traveled around the world, to the mountains and ancient swamps, wherever I want."
"Ah!" Zhang Xiaofan exclaimed and said, "That's it."
Wanwan glanced back at Zhang Xiaofan, and suddenly a strange smile flashed across his face, saying: "Brother Zhang is a disciple of Qingyun, so he must have advanced Taoism."
Zhang Xiaofan quickly shook his head and said: "No, no, I am an incompetent person in the Qingyun Sect. How can I say that the Taoism is profound?"
Wanwanqing smiled slightly and said, "Brother Zhang, you are so polite. I have a grudge to ask you, and I hope you can grant it, brother Zhang."
Zhang Xiaofan was startled for a moment and said: "Brother Wan, please tell me."
Thousands of people said: "I have admired masters like you since I was young, but unfortunately I don't have enough opportunities to get in. Moreover, I have dreamed of masters who can control magic weapons and travel to the nine heavens. For decades, no one has been able to do so."
I have no desire to obtain a magical treasure from the Immortal Family. Brother Zhang is a disciple of a famous family. I wonder if he can fulfill my little wish?" After saying that, he bent down deeply and made a big salute.
Zhang Xiaofan was speechless. Seeing the thousands of people coming to salute, he even panicked and hurriedly supported him. He felt really embarrassed. He hesitated for a moment. Seeing that the thousands of people were still looking at him expectantly, he sighed and said: "Don't be afraid.
Brother Wan’s joke, it’s not that I don’t want to show it to Brother Wan, it’s just that if the magic weapon is not in front of the public, I’m afraid it will be in the way…”
Thousands of people came and immediately said: "What's the matter? There is no magic weapon from the Immortal Family that cannot be put on the stage."
Zhang Xiaofan's face was slightly red. After all, he couldn't let go of his dignity. He pulled out the fire stick from his waist and handed it over. Seeing him hand over such a thing, thousands of people had a look of surprise on their faces, but then disappeared.
Take it solemnly.
Zhang Xiaofan saw his expression in his eyes and said with a wry smile: "Don't say it's you, even the people in my sect often laugh at me." After saying this, Zhang Xiaofan was suddenly startled and felt that he was having a hard time today.
It's strange that in front of this stranger, I seem to be willing to say anything to him.
The tens of thousands of people went there but didn't notice Zhang Xiaofan. They all focused on the fire stick. Originally, his face was solemn, but his eyes were still a little casual, but gradually, he seemed to see something. Not only did his face darken, but his eyes
He stared intently at this ugly black stick.
Zhang Xiaofan was watching from the side, and felt that these ten thousand people looked strange. He held a foot-long fire stick in front of him, looked at it carefully, held it with his right hand, and gently stroked the stick with the slender fingers of his left hand.
, clicked lightly, being extremely careful, he couldn't help but ask: "Brother Wan, is there something wrong?"
Wan Qiangru was awakened from his dream. After hesitating for a moment, he returned the fire stick to Zhang Xiaofan and said: "Brother Zhang, because I admire the immortal way, I have read some books in this field. I have some words to say.
Ask Brother Zhang for advice."
Zhang Xiaofan said: "Please tell me."
Thousands of people glanced at the fire stick and said, "Brother Zhang, does this magic weapon contain your blood essence?"
Zhang Xiaofan was shocked. Suddenly, the horrific scene in the deep valley behind Dazhu Peak flashed through his mind. Huo Di stood up, pointed at thousands of people and said, "You, what did you say?"
Ten Thousand People glanced at him and said slowly: "Brother Zhang, is this magic weapon two things combined into one?"
One of the secrets that Zhang Xiaofan had hidden deepest in his heart was now revealed by this person. This was an extraordinary surprise. He felt a buzzing in his head and was speechless.
Ten thousand people looked at Zhang Xiaofan's astonished expression, and they knew that what they had expected was good. He seemed to lower his head slightly, as if he remembered something, sighed vaguely, and said: "You don't know, the beads on this stick are...
, turned out to be a sacred object of the Demonic Cult.”
Zhang Xiaofan became more and more frightened, almost holding his breath, but there was a voice deep in his heart, as if he was sneering: "You should have known it, you should have known it, this stick is so evil, it is naturally a demon."
The evil thing taught.”
"What, what did you say?" Zhang Xiaofan gasped, staring at him, speaking every word.
"This bead is the relic of the evil-hearted old man, the founder of the Demon Sect, eight hundred years ago." Thousands of people said it, like nails driven into Zhang Xiaofan's heart one by one. "The name is 'Blood-devouring Bead'
.”
Zhang Xiaofan was stunned and held his breath, but there were thousands of thoughts in his mind, and there was always one image that lingered in his mind: the skeleton in the secret cave in the belly of Kongsang Mountain!
Thousands of people looked at him in shock, paused for a moment, and then said calmly: "Brother Zhang, you know the origin of this bead, but I wonder if you are still willing to know the origin of this black stick?"
Zhang Xiaofan was shocked and speechless. He just stared at the crowd of people. (To be continued)