Thanks to Lord Phoenix and brother yangzhigang for the reward.
A group of five people walked through the wild mountain trails for two days. The terrain gradually rose and the mountains became more towering. The relationship between Zhao Ran and Zhu Qigu also became more harmonious and intimate as they talked and laughed along the way.
Since "Pang" met Zhu Qigu, Zhao Ran's status has risen sharply, and he has obviously surpassed Tong Lao. Many trivial matters in life are taken care of by Tong Lao, which makes Hu Laoer busy with everyone in front of him. Zhao Ran is also happy to be free.
, just talking to Zhu Qigu.
Zhao Ran told Zhu Qigu about the story of classmate Xiao Yang and Miss Long. Zhu Qigu was sometimes sentimental, sometimes angry, sometimes happy, and sometimes shed tears. He couldn't help but complete the role substitution. The old boy on the side was very disdainful at first and often looked down upon him.
He made some sarcastic remarks or warned Zhao Ran not to deviate from the traditional ways, but Zhu Qigu drove them away with wide eyes. It was not until later when Zhao Ran mentioned that classmate Xiao Yang was showing off his talents under Xiangyang City that Tong Lao praised him, "That's right."
"Chivalry", when Zhao Ran talked about it again, he couldn't drive it away no matter how hard he tried.
The shortcuts guided by Mr. Tong are much faster than taking the official road. Although it is a remote path, everyone in this group has a mount, so the walking is not slow. There are many ravines and deep places that ordinary people cannot cross.
The cliff was not a problem in front of Mr. Tong. Cutting down trees and building a bridge was just a trivial matter, which opened Zhao Ran's eyes.
Zhao Ran had never walked this road and didn't know exactly where he was, but he heard from Zhu Qigu that he was about to leave the jurisdiction of Long'an Mansion and enter Xuanwei Division in Western Sichuan.
After walking for another half day, we came to a pass between two mountains, called "Jinghu Pass". Looking at the topography of this mountain, the two peaks are like pots, and the pass in the middle is like a well. The end is extremely dangerous. The Ming Dynasty arranged a
A thousand-household residence was originally guarded by 300 soldiers, but now the number has been increased to 600, which can be said to be impregnable.
The old child looks very different, Zhu Qigu rides a sika deer, Zhao Ran is a Taoist priest, Hu Laoer is wretched, Chun Niang is charming, and Ba Lang looks like a fool. This combination is very human at first sight. I have seen it many times by the Jinghuguan garrison.
The monks were not surprised. They just moved several heavy crossbows on the wall as a precaution. The defenders below the wall respectfully and slightly vigilantly stepped forward to investigate.
Both Tong Lao and Zhu Qigu showed their jade plaques - they were tokens of Taoist cultivators in the Taoist sect. Although these two were not affiliated with the Taoist sect and were casual cultivators, because they were registered disciples of Chuyang City, they also had
Zhao Ran took out the document, and the Hu family took out the road guide.
After the inspection, several sergeants became more and more respectful, moved Luzhai away, and invited them to enter the pass. When they got to the gate, Qianhu had already hurried down from the pass, and he followed leisurely.
A swordsman in black holds a big sword in his arms.
Qianhu stepped forward to greet him, his attitude was very low, but more like a business-like politeness, neither flattering nor flattering. Zhao Ran was right when he thought about it. This place was already close to the edge of the battlefield. People had seen too much, so of course they didn't care.
Strange.
After greeting Qianhu politely, Mr. Tong asked the black-clothed swordsman: "How many days have you been here, junior brother?"
The swordsman in black stretched out a finger. Mr. Tong nodded and said, "Then let's go."
After saying a brief farewell to the garrison Qianhu, the group passed through the pass and turned north. The swordsman in black was leisurely waiting at the end of the group.
The five people in front all had mounts, except for the swordsman in black, who did not, but he followed leisurely behind without lifting his feet or taking a breath, and actually did not miss a step.
Zhao Ran was very impressed, but also a little reluctant, and said to Zhu Qigu: "Sister, who is that? Doesn't he need to ride a horse? How about I discuss it with Mr. Hu, and I ride the donkey with him and let him get another horse.
The horse comes out?"
Zhu Qigu shook her head and sneered: "No need, he just likes to show off!"
Zhao Ran also sensed something was wrong and asked in a low voice: "Sister, is he also your senior brother?"
Zhu Qigu said: "Well, Fourth Senior Brother." Then she was speechless, and she had no intention of introducing him at all.
Zhao Ran said: "Fourth Senior Brother is very good at Taoism. I don't think he touches the ground. Is this a flying skill?"
Zhu Qigu snorted: "What flying skills? That's fake! If he could fly, wouldn't I be able to soar into the clouds and ride in the mist? You said he's 'not touching the ground'? That means he's not deep in the Tao of coaxing."
Zhao Ran was very interested. He turned around and looked carefully at the legs of the fourth senior brother in black. He quietly opened his eyes attentively, but he still couldn't see clearly, but he seemed to be able to see some clues - the fourth senior brother in black.
It seems that he has not moved, but the Qi movement in the area behind his feet is extremely violent!
After a sudden realization, Zhao Ran turned his head and smiled at Zhu Qigu: "Could it be that the fourth senior brother is running? His footsteps are moving too fast, and he can't even tell."
Zhu Qigu was slightly surprised: "Can you tell what's going on? Your qualifications are not bad! Yes, even if the fourth senior brother is running, he is not too tired to panic, but on the surface he must show a calm attitude..." said
He said with a look of disdain on his face: "He behaves like this, but some people do it. I don't know how many heroic young men admire and worship him, and I don't know how many young girls are obsessed with him. Hehe!"
Zhu Qigu dared to ridicule the fourth senior brother at will, but Zhao Ran did not dare to answer the conversation casually, so he had to interrupt: "Sister, in my impression, people who practice Taoism should fly into the sky and escape from the earth? But it seems that everyone I have seen - you
Neither Senior Brother nor Senior Uncle Da Zhuo and Xiao Zhuo that I have met before, um, nor the Great Master Refiner, have ever shown such a skill. Sister, can you fly? Can you also open my eyes?"
Zhu Qigu shook her head and said: "Cultivation in Taoism involves refining essence to transform into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit to return to emptiness, refining emptiness to combine with Tao. If you want to break away from the shackles and not be bound by the body, you can only break through the mystery of emptiness and reality.
Gradually understand. As for flying to the sky and escaping to the earth, there is no state of harmony. Don't talk about it. How can it be so easy? Even the master has only touched a little bit, how can you see it so easily?"
A few simple words made Zhao Ran fascinated, thought about it for a long time, and remembered it in his heart. So he asked again: "Sister, don't blame me for being rude, I'm just curious...Sister, where have you reached? Where is the senior brother? Where is the fourth senior brother?"
"
Zhu Qigu avoided answering, smiled, and said: "These things are not something you can understand, so don't bother guessing. Senior brother is not bad. He has practiced Taoism for eighty-three years and has a glimpse of the way to combine reality and reality.
Let’s touch the edge of the escape ground; as for Fourth Brother, it’s still far behind.”
Zhao Ran was shocked: "Elder brother is eighty-three years old? You can't tell, he's still alive and kicking..."
"He started his career when he was nine years old, and he is ninety-two years old this year!"
Zhao Ran thought for a while and asked cautiously: "Elder brother is so old? But I don't know that the Great Master Chu will live a long life this year? Sister, how does the Great Master Refiner take care of himself? When I saw him the year before last, he looked about forty or fifty years old...
…”
Zhu Qigu smiled: "What does 'longevity' and not 'longevity' mean? Master has just passed forty, do you think I like to mess with the old man?"
This age comparison made Zhao Ran very uncomfortable, so he blurted out: "Only forty? Mr. Tong is so old, how can he be his disciple?"
"What's so strange? On the road of spiritual practice, in no particular order, those who have mastered it are the masters! At that time, my master had just mastered Taoism and came down the mountain to walk in the Taoist sect. However, his realm was not high and his spirit had not yet been transformed. Due to some matters, he had a dispute with his senior brother. We made an appointment.
Competing in Taoism. At that time, the eldest brother was already a master in the trance realm. He thought that he could catch him with ease, but ended up competing... Later, the eldest brother became his master. He had a laid-back temperament and did not want to enter the Taoist sect, so he
Being accepted as a registered disciple..."
Zhao Ran was interested after hearing this, and quickly asked: "How did Senior Brother lose? What was the competition? Sister, please tell me... By the way, sister, you also played against the Great Refiner? Is it because you lost?"
Master?"
Zhu Qigu said: "How the eldest brother lost, he and the master have never said it, but every time the eldest brother mentioned it, he admired him very much. He said that if he hadn't worshiped this master, he might not be able to see the truth in his whole life.
A different way of doing things. As for me, I have never fought against the master, and of course I will definitely not be able to defeat him. I had other reasons why I became my teacher."
Zhu Qigu seemed to have remembered something, her expression was gloomy, and she didn't say any more. Zhao Ran knew that there must be a hidden secret, but he couldn't ask any more questions, so he had to pick up some other interesting things to tell her, which made her laugh again.
That night, we found a leeward place to rest in the valley for the night. We continued heading north the next day, getting closer and closer to Ye Xueguan. After noon, Mr. Tong led everyone down the foothills and along a small path.
Xi walked forward, and as he was walking, he saw Tong Lao suddenly reining in his horse and gesturing at the same time for everyone to stop.
Zhao Ran followed Zhu Qigu and asked softly: "What's wrong?"
Zhu Qigu rushed to the small hill a hundred steps ahead to the right, pouted her lips angrily, and said with a smile: "We've seen a good show."