Embrace the blade

Apart from his white hair, Jiang Li didn't show any other abnormalities, but he was not in good spirits.

After leaving the valley, Qi Zhaoxi hired a carriage and drove on the road day and night, not forgetting to turn around and say a few words to Jiang Li from time to time. I don't know how long it took, but one day, the bumpy carriage stopped, Qi Zhaoxi woke him up, Jiang Liqiang pulled up the curtain and looked, it turned out that he had come to Xugu again.

When the old man Xugu saw Jiang Li's appearance, he was so shocked that he could hardly speak. He twisted his white hair and looked at it for a long time, then said in admiration, "It's like you have been backlashed to such an extent, but you still maintain your sanity. I really haven't seen it."

He pulled Jiang Li's wrist again to feel his pulse, his expression gradually became calm, he pondered for a long time, and couldn't help saying: "Strange, strange."

Qi Zhaoxi couldn't help asking: "Senior, how is his condition?"

The old man Xugu looked at him, and asked back: "I think you also know a little bit about medical skills, have you checked Jiang Yunruo's pulse?"

"It happens every day, but it has always been like this, and it hasn't changed." Qi Zhaoxi said, "The junior only understands the rough and superficial, so please ask the senior to clarify."

"You don't have to be humble, it's the first time I've seen such a pulse." Old man Xugu said, "His current condition is not stable yet, maybe it's getting better, maybe it's getting worse."

Jiang Li was more and more confused by what he said: "What do you mean?"

"It's like a critical juncture in retreat and cultivation. It's up to you to get the Tao with one thought, or to fall into the devil with one thought."

Jiang Li nodded silently.

The old man Xugu was thoroughly aroused and urged Jiang Li to explain the matter carefully.When he heard that he was resurrected from the dead, the old man Xugu's beard stroking hand stopped suddenly, as if he had realized something, his eyes shrank suddenly, his lips fluttered for a while, but he couldn't speak.

Jiang Li stopped talking and asked, "Senior Zhong?"

As if woken up, the old man Xugu stood up abruptly, walked around the room twice, and suddenly asked: "The last time you came with Jiang Lanze, did you mention that Senior Brother Gu Si's body was not in the slightest?" Rot?"

"Yes, it looks like he's asleep." Jiang Li said.

The old man Xugu couldn't help but took two steps back, supported the table to stand firm, and said in a trembling voice: "That's right, that's right! To this day, Senior Brother Gu Si hasn't really died yet!"

Qi Zhaoxi realized something, and tentatively said: "You mean, Gu Si can also be resurrected from the dead?"

"Yes! What if resurrection from the dead is the key part of the "Longevity Formula"?" Xu Gu said, "So Senior Brother Gu Si stuck the dagger into his chest, but his body has been kept intact to this day. As long as he wants, he can still To be able to be resurrected today, 40 years later!"

However, Gu Si just fell asleep and didn't want to wake up. There is no Gu Shaoling in the world anymore.

Jiang Li was stunned, unable to recover for a long time.

"In this way, it is really difficult to refine the "Longevity Formula". Talent, savvy and chance are all indispensable." Qi Zhaoxi's gaze was a little more profound, "Does it mean that Gu Si has not woken up? Does it mean that he has refined it?" The last step of the "Secret of Longevity", even he didn't do it himself?"

"That's exactly what it means." The old man Xugu sighed, "The "Secret of Longevity" is an unfinished book. How to break through the key points and achieve perfection can only be explored by yourself."

Jiang Li nodded seriously.

"Stay here and practice in seclusion. I will use acupuncture to sort out your meridians and guide your true qi, which may be of some help," said the old man Xugu.

"Thank you, Senior Zhong." Jiang Li said.

"There is no need to say thank you. I failed to rescue your grandfather and father from the backlash. If I can help you, it will be considered worthy of Guiyun Villa's kindness to avenge my Taihua faction." Old man Xugu smiled slightly.

Qi Zhaoxi suddenly thought: "If Gu Si sleeps like this forever, wouldn't he really deserve the name "The Secret of Longevity"?"

The old man Xugu thought for a moment, then shook his head and said: "The resurrection from death depends on the breath of true energy in my heart, and that breath of true energy will always dissipate. Maybe after a hundred years, you and I will be buried deep in the spring. Brother Si will suddenly turn into a bone."

Thinking of this, he sighed deeply, stopped talking, and walked out of the room to prepare for Jiang Li's retreat.

Although the ominous situation is unpredictable, Qi Zhaoxi finally grasped the current situation. With some confidence in his mind, he turned to look at Jiang Li, and couldn't help laughing: "How dare you take the two brothers and sisters Meng Sifan to the Sunset Valley?" Are you really afraid that they will get the "Longevity Formula"?"

Jiang Li also smiled when he heard the words, and said, "The "Secret of Longevity" is not in the Sunset Cloud Valley, but here."

He stretched out his hand, and tapped on the long and thin scar on Buyijianjian's body.

Back then, when the two brothers Jiang Jingming and Jiang Xingzhou brought Guiyun's disciples to encircle their father Jiang Luming, the sword of no doubt broke in the fierce battle, and the "Secret of Longevity" was difficult to destroy. In the end, Jiang Jingming cast the "Secret of Longevity" into the body of the sword .

Qi Zhaoxi was taken aback for a moment, and then laughed outright.

People in the rivers and lakes competed for each other, studying the clues on the sword of no doubt, but they didn't know that the "Secret of Longevity" had already been held in their hands.

Jiang Li turned his head to look at him, and also smiled.The two laughed for a while, and gradually became quiet. Their eyes met, Qi Zhaoxi pulled Jiang Li into his arms, and gently rubbed his chin against the top of his hair: "I will always be with you during the retreat."

Jiang Li closed his eyes and leaned on his shoulder, saying, "I know."

The ten-day appointment has come, and the various sects reunited in the front hall of the Prajna Sect, waiting to discuss the matter of disposal. However, the most critical person, the new leader Meng Sifan, has not been there for a long time.

Everyone in Jianghu waited for a while, and couldn't help urging them. The disciples of the Tianmen Sect were even more anxious. While sending people to contact them, they apologized and said, "Eldest brother left the sect a few days ago, maybe something stopped him on the way. Please bear with me, everyone.”

"Even if there is something important, you should send a letter in advance to let so many of us wait? Leader Meng is too arrogant!" Someone said angrily.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry everyone." The disciple wiped the sweat off his brow, and hurriedly ordered someone to bring some more refreshments.

Everyone had to restrain their temper and continue to wait, but they didn't want to wait until evening.

The atmosphere in the hall is gloomy, no one has spoken for a long time, only the sound of cups clashing occasionally, the expressions of the heads of the various sects gradually become calm, even the Guangqin Sect Master Lin Shi, who has always had a favorable eye for Meng Sifan, also showed displeasure up.

The disciples of the Tianmen sect didn't even have the confidence to make amends, so they could only stick to the wall, pretending that they didn't exist.

With a bang sound, someone put the teacup heavily on the table, everyone heard the sound and saw Shen Shensi, the chief disciple of the Qingshan School, who scanned everyone's faces and suggested: "I don't think there is any need to wait any longer. , let’s end here for today.”

Everyone sighed, nodded in agreement, and someone asked: "What about tomorrow?"

"Should we continue to wait for the lord leader tomorrow, or wait for him to send a letter back?"

Countless eyes fell on the disciples of the Tianmen sect by the wall again. The disciples looked at each other and looked at you, but none of them dared to make up their minds.

At this moment of stalemate, a girl's voice suddenly sounded: "Why can't we elect a temporary replacement first? Is there any special rule in the Shanhe League?"

It was a blind girl who was asking Shen Zhiyan beside her. Her voice was very soft, but everyone present could hear clearly.

Everyone in the world is no stranger to her. Although she is the younger sister of the demon Yin Huaishu, she is a powerless girl who has never done anything bad. She is also blind. She looks weak and pitiful, and no one is embarrassed. He proposed to use her life to repay the debt, so when they heard the news that Shen Zhiyan broke into the fire and rescued her, even though some people felt resentful, they still praised the second son of Shen for his kindness.

Yin Huairou's words reminded everyone that although there is no precedent for the Shanhe League to act as a temporary leader, why not?

Everyone's eyes naturally fell on Shen Zhiyan beside her.

"It's reasonable. If you want to choose a candidate, I think it must be the Second Young Master Shen of the Qingshan School!"

"I also agree that Second Young Master Shen is a hero. We were in danger many times before, thanks to his help. That time when everyone outside Pingchuan Town was dealing with the Demon Cult, it was all under the command of Second Young Master Shen. I can trust his handling."

"Hey, during the competition in the ring, I felt that Second Young Master Shen should have won the position of leader. If Second Young Master was not humble, how could it be Meng Sifan's turn?"

There was a flood of voices, even if there were scattered voices of dissent, they were all drowned out.

Facing the expectant eyes of everyone, Shen Zhiyan hesitated and said, "I..."

"Knowledge!" Shen Shensi grabbed his arm and interrupted, "This is trust in you, don't let everyone down."

"..." Shen Zhiyan turned his head to the side, saw Yin Huairou's quiet smile beside him, suddenly thought of something, paused for a while, then looked back at the crowd, nodded and said, "Okay, then I won't refuse, just accept the order on the spot , I don’t have a clue, please go back to rest first, and tomorrow morning, I will come up with a solution, and then I will discuss it with you in detail.”

As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone felt relieved, and after sitting for a whole day, they were sore, so they said goodbye and left without saying anything.

In a blink of an eye, all the people in the front hall had dispersed, Shen Zhiyan walked out slowly, stood in front of the white jade railing, looked at the orange-red sun that was about to fall among the dark clouds, and was speechless for a long time.

There were light footsteps approaching behind him, Shen Zhiyan didn't turn his head, but smiled wryly: "Why do you have to be the leader?"

Yin Huairou said: "Perhaps brother thinks that only this seat is worthy of you."

"..." Shen Zhiyan lowered his head, suppressed the trembling in his breathing, and remained silent for a long time, Fang said, "That's all for now."

Yin Huairou smiled lightly and said, "I don't think Meng Sifan will come back."

Shen Zhiyan was startled, and looked back: "What do you know?"

"I don't know." Yin Huairou shook his head, "I guess."

Shen Zhiyan silently looked at her peaceful smile, and finally understood Yin Huaishu's words, this little girl was indeed much stronger than them all.

"The sun has set," he said finally, and then slowly walked down the long steps into the night.

Yin Huairou still stayed where she was, the last ray of afterglow falling on her face, she couldn't see it, but seemed to feel it.

Seeing this, a young disciple of the Qingshan Sect came up, wiped his hands on the front of his shirt, and said with a blushing face, "Miss Yin, if you don't mind, I... can I take you back?"

Yin Huairou turned his face to the side, smiled and said, "Well, thank you."

During Jiang Li's retreat days, snow fell in Xugu, Qi Zhaoxi sat cross-legged on the porch, listening to the movement in the room.

The snow powder has stained the withered grass in a thin layer, like a layer of fat that hasn't been spread evenly, gradually getting bigger, fluttering like fluff, and the snow has accumulated little by little, piled up on the green bamboo leaves, spreading It was white all over the place.

There was a sudden cough in the room, followed by a muffled sound of falling down, Qi Zhaoxi was startled, got up and rushed into the door, what came into view was first a pool of blood on the ground, and moving up, it was Jiang Li lying down On the bed, with a frown.

Qi Zhaoxi could hardly utter a sound, opened his mouth for a while, and then said awkwardly: "Senior, he...?"

Old man Xugu was sitting by the bed, taking Jiang Li's pulse, and said gently: "The pulse has returned to normal, don't worry, it's over, let him sleep well first."

Qi Zhaoxi took a deep breath, and then walked closer, staring at Jiang Li's calm face, his heart finally fell back slowly.

This sleep lasted for a long time, Jiang Li's white hair did not change, the old man Xugu speculated that maybe the "Longevity Formula" was refined like this, but no matter what, his pulse did gradually stabilize.

The wintersweet in Xugu opened, and Qi Zhaoxi folded a few branches and put them in a white porcelain vase. The mouth of the chime was sandalwood, the petals were like topaz, and the room was full of fragrance.

When Jiang Li woke up, the first thing he smelled was this fragrance. He felt like a big dream. Asleep by the bed, his tired face had a different kind of handsomeness.

Jiang Li looked at him, and slowly stood up, this movement, Qi Zhaoxi was awakened immediately, looked up, was a little dazed, couldn't tell if it was a dream or real, the room was quiet, and the wintersweet was faintly fragrant, Before he could speak, Jiang Li moved closer and kissed him.

Outside the window, it was snowing late at night.

Finish.

Thanks for reading.