ink soul

-lead-

The strings trembled slightly, and the last note fell slowly, finally falling in the empty dark room.

In front of him was a blood-stained soft gauze black hat, the glaring dark red made the corners of the eyes hurt.

Closed in deep clouds, living in a cold room.However, he must go to the dark room every day, calling for souls and asking spirits.

But Lan Xichen also knew clearly that under the statue of Guanyin, there are many restrictions, love, hatred, love and hatred are all sealed in the soil, how can the past all kinds of things break through the cage.

The cold moon is silent, and the deep clouds sleep quietly in nowhere.Walk back to the cold room along the white stone path, and lightly close the door.The loneliness that is so thick that it cannot be resolved makes people suddenly realize that it is a prophecy.For those who are cold, the heights are unbearably cold, except for the eternal loneliness, accompanied by the long night in the endless darkness.

The past and the past are like a dream of youth, but when the prosperity is exhausted, where should I gather the fragrance.

He took out a jug of wine from the hidden compartment on the shelf, filled a cup, and placed it on the window sill in front of the desk.Fu took out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone and laid them out on the case.Slowly grind the ink and write down the pen slowly.The candlelight is flickering, the black lines on the paper outline the outline of the figure, and the corners of the eyes and brows are all gentle and smiling.

The person who has never drawn before is now being traced carefully by the pen, as if the fingertips are lingering on the warm face, across the forehead, and then across the lips.

However, before the painting is finished, the painting is finally stopped.The people in the painting are lifelike, as if they are about to walk out.However, the eye sockets are empty, and there is nowhere to stare.

Suddenly, it rained cats and dogs.

Amidst the sound of rain filling the sky and the earth, as if he heard that person calling him, Lan Xichen suddenly turned his head.

-ink-

"Second brother."

Hearing Jin Guangyao's voice, Lan Xichen turned his head sideways.

"This cup of tea has been served for a long time. If you don't drink it, it will be cold." Jin Guangyao said with a smile on his eyes and brows, "But what's the matter? Second brother looked at the magnolia plant outside for a long time."

Hearing this, Lan Xichen shook his head with a smile, and slowly drank the tea in his hand. "It's nothing. It's just that the flowers bloom just right, and I really like them. But I'm not in the cold room, otherwise I'd like to draw a painting in my spare time."

At this moment, it was almost midnight, and everything was completely silent.No matter how lively and majestic it is during the day, the Lanling Jin Clan Immortal Mansion is peaceful and peaceful at night. All the halls with double eaves are silent silhouettes, sleeping peacefully under the moonlight.

The two sat opposite each other in the study room, outside the bamboo curtain were green pines, cypresses and white gardenia magnolias.Although they are prosperous, they are not crowded and spread over the whole garden.The branches and leaves of ancient trees are like canopies, and all kinds of white flowers are only scattered throughout the garden, so the scenery here is not as luxurious as other places in Jinlin Terrace.The fairy gate is not affected by the four seasons, summer snow and winter flowers can be seen in the fairyland, it all depends on how it is arranged.

This is a separate building in Jinlin Taichung, named "Blooming Garden", which is privately owned by Jin Guangyao, and only those with his approval can enter.Whether it is the name or the layout, it is very different from other places, and it is far away from the Fangfei Hall, the sleeping hall in the center of Jinlin Terrace, and lives in a secluded corner.Therefore, when it was first completed, there were quite a lot of discussions within the Lanling Jin Clan, some said that Jin Guangyao was extravagant and wasteful, and some said that Jin Guangyao was as arty as his mother who came from a disgraceful background.However, although Jin Guangyao had not become the Patriarch at that time, he was still the same as before, as if these rumors never existed.He sent only one letter, insisting on inviting Lan Xichen to come to Jinlin Terrace to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Blooming Garden.

In fact, there are countless grand halls on the Jinlin Terrace, and it is far less than a small private pavilion to hold the inauguration ceremony.So at that time Lan Xichen went to the meeting with a bit of curiosity, wanting to find out what is special about Blossom Garden.

As soon as he arrived at the Jinlin Terrace, Lan Xichen saw Jin Guangyao standing at the beginning of the two-mile long slope with a smile on his face.He walked over slowly, the closer he got, the more clearly he could see the smile on Jin Guangyao's face that fell into his eyes.Lan Xichen blinked his eyes as if feeling dazzled, only to feel that the sun above his head was emitting a radiant light, which seemed incomparable to the blooming Venus snow wave on the chest of the person in front of him.Afterwards, the two walked along the chariot road until they entered the Jinlin Terrace, where Jin Guangyao led him to a road that he had never walked before, leading to the Blossom Garden.

At the gate of Blossom Garden, Jin Guangyao stopped and said with a smile: "Second Brother, from now on, you and I don't have to go to the reception room next to Douyan Hall to talk." He seemed to have thought of something, shook his head, and continued, "That mess It’s best not to go. I’ve been thinking about finding a good place for my second brother in Jinlin Terrace, and I finally found it.” Before he finished speaking, he stretched out his hand and pushed open the door of the Blossom Garden.

When Lan Xichen saw this garden for the first time, he felt familiar and friendly.In particular, the view from the study room is exactly the same as the cold room where he lived in Yunshen.Except that there is no green bamboo surrounding the cold room here, the flowers, plants, trees and stone platforms and bamboo pavilions farther away are almost like home.

"How could Ah Yao just find a place for me." Lan Xichen shook his head with a smile, and said, "Big brother and Huai Sang will come here later, don't they also want to rest in the Blossom Garden?"

Jin Guangyao paused for a moment, then nodded: "Of course it is." He remembered something again, and continued, "Originally, I also invited Eldest Brother and Huai Sang this time. However, Eldest Brother's family has many affairs, so I can't get away. Sang originally wanted to come, but recently he has offended my elder brother for some reason, so he refused to let him come."

Lan Xichen smiled wryly, this was the routine that the three were most familiar with.Once Nie Mingjue's anger flared up, Jin Guangyao had no way to dodge it, plus Nie Huaisang who was always making troubles, only he, the smiling peacemaker, was always in the middle to mediate, and his words were the most useful.The few immortals who are famous all over the world really get together, but it's just like the ones who grew up with each other since they were young, full of fun.Although there were many twists and turns, fortunately, he never really turned his face.If the truth of this is known to others, I am afraid they will not believe it.

But even though it was the inauguration ceremony, there were no red tape or other people, only Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen were the host and guest, Jin Guangyao had a glass of wine and Lan Xichen a cup of tea, it was just a celebration.

Just now when Lan Xichen remembered the past, he lost his mind like this.The moon and stars are sparse, and the garden is clear and elegant.A cup of tea in hand exudes a lingering aroma, while Jin Guangyao corrects a few drawings with a vermilion pen on the opposite side, the tip of the pen brushes the paper from time to time, making a soft scratching sound.It wasn't until Jin Guangyao called out to him that he came back to his senses.

Lan Xichen came here this time because he received an invitation from Jin Guangyao to go to Jinlin Terrace to discuss the elimination of evil spirits.With all kinds of difficulties, watchtowers in various places were finally built like mushrooms after a spring rain under Jin Guangyao's busy mediation, and in many wild and remote places that no one had visited before, evil spirits were prevalent, and it was finally because of the arrangement of watchtowers that All the miserable beings saw a ray of dawn in the darkness that covered the sky and the sun, and hoped for a sliver of peace.

However, the three grand sights of the past are a thing of the past.After Nie Mingjue's sudden death, Yu Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao were the only ones who continued to stick to this responsibility, supporting each other, and at the same time taking care of the common people in the world.Because of this, the two walked around very frequently, and Lan Xichen gave Jin Guangyao a piece of the Jade Token that Yun Shen didn't know, and Jin Guangyao also allowed Lan Xichen to go up and down the Jinlin Terrace unimpeded.

Lan Xichen could always remember that when Nie Mingjue was still around, although Jin Guangyao was the famous Lianfang Zun everywhere, when he saw Nie Mingjue, he always liked to hide behind him.His smiling face is loved by almost everyone, but Nie Mingjue is the only one who is not accepted by Nie Mingjue. It seems that he can't get his elder brother to nod to him with all his strength, so he always responds to all scolding with helplessness and good temper. and misunderstanding.But now, Chi Fengzun passed away, and after Jin Guangyao succeeded to the position of Patriarch, it seemed that overnight, he no longer had the embarrassment he had before.Every time Lan Xichen participated in the clear talk meeting at Jinlin Terrace and saw Jin Guangyao at the top of the ninth step, he would feel that the young man who endured the humiliation finally gave birth to an inviolable aura and became an imposing figure. The fairy head admired by hundreds of schools.

However, Jin Guangyao was somehow different from other members of the Jin clan.There is almost no arrogance between his brows, and he is always gentle and smiling.When he stares into people's eyes, he will feel that smile is more clever and cunning, making people feel that what they say is very important to him from the bottom of their hearts, whether it is heavier than Mount Tai or as light as a feather, it is a big deal to him.

Although Jin Guangyao is in the position of Immortal Governor, Lanling Jin's such a prominent position is also recommended by hundreds of families, and it goes without saying that he has a heavy burden on his shoulders, but Lan Xichen, the head of Gusu Lan's family, does not easy.

At that time, the Wen family was domineering and tyrannical, forcing the Lan family to destroy the century-old fairyland.Since then, although the situation has changed and times have changed, it is not easy for the dilapidated Gusu Lan clan to recover to its current state after being severely injured.His father was seriously injured and died, his brother was injured and forced to teach at the Wen family in Qishan, and the Cangshu Pavilion caught fire. The earth-shattering changes occurred overnight, but he fled with the entire family's classics and music scores. Lan Xichen commented that those times were "the shame of his life" ".Therefore, after returning to Yunshen, Lan Xichen took over the ruined family from his uncle Lan Qiren, and worked day and night to regain the glory of the past.As for Lan Xichen's ascension to the position of Patriarch, there was no ceremony as usual.Only when the Zangshu Pavilion was completed later, the inauguration ceremony was held, and the guests from the Immortal Sect from all over the world were invited to celebrate together.

At the same time, as a famous clan in the immortal sect, the Gusu Lan clan has always had an excellent reputation.Lan Xichen has always urged everyone in the clan to rush to help the four directions, drive away evil spirits, and behave elegantly and uprightly. Even if his family is in danger, he has never slacked off on doing righteous things for a single day.

Therefore, for these years, as the patriarchs of the two major families, as well as Zewu Jun and Lianfang Zun among the three, Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao have been working day and night.Lan Xichen once joked to Jin Guangyao that the extremely strict routine of the Gusu Lan clan that he had cultivated since he was a child gradually lost its effect on him.

The campaign of shooting the sun is connected with the oath of the city that never sleeps, and it is connected with the encirclement and suppression of the mass graves.One after another, grievances and grievances, right and wrong, right and wrong, but it seems that they can't see clearly.However, after all the dust settled, it gradually subsided.Everywhere is recuperating, and there are occasional evils, but nothing unusual.Recently, Jin Guangyao's most important thing is the Watchtower Project, and this matter is not trivial, so he often invites Lan Xichen to Jinlin Terrace to discuss matters.After all, it was the most important plan of the High Immortal Governor, and he couldn't do without Lan Xichen by his side.Looking at the Lanling Jin family, there is no one who can take on the big job.Only my sworn brother can give me a lot of help.

Lan Xichen also had all kinds of calculations in his heart, although he was very worried about his younger brother Lan Wangji, but right now, he was powerless.After the siege of the mass grave, Lan Wangji dragged his sick body and forcibly left the mountain.A moment before departure, Lan Xichen stopped in front of him, but a thousand words came to his lips, but the moment he saw Lan Wangji's eyes, he finally kept silent.Those eyes were the same as Lan Wangji's worry and confusion when he told him that he wanted to bring someone back to Yunshen's unknown place during the private banquet at Jinlin Terrace back then, but there was an added layer of deep-seated despair.In the end, Lan Wangji just brought back a dying child from the mass grave, and then retreated all day long.And Lan Xichen couldn't, and couldn't just stay in Yunshen, even though his nature and blood made him feel unbearable.But some things, no solution is no solution.

Thinking of this, Lan Xichen felt apologetic.He came here to help Jin Guangyao get rid of troubles, but he lost his mind for a moment, and even said something about painting, which was really inappropriate.What's more, Lan Xichen hasn't painted for a long time after the great changes in his family.When he left home, he was still the leader of the Lan family who was shielded from wind and rain. Even if he fled, he still had a faint hope in his heart, hoping that the Gusu Lan family could turn danger into good fortune.However, after returning home after going through all kinds of dangers, he has become the suzerain of the Lan family who is carrying forward with heavy burdens, and he understands that the only way out is to revitalize the family with his own strength.Since then, not to mention whether he is in the mood to paint or not, he has piled up a mountain of affairs, which has taught him why there is no need to delay.So after drinking a cup of tea, he just said a sentence, and then wanted to apologize.

However, Jin Guangyao's smile on the other side was even stronger, that seven-point handsome, three-point alert fair face was filled with a smile that could not contain it at the moment, and all of them were gathered in his eyes, making the cinnabar between his eyebrows even more vivid .Lan Xichen froze for a moment, his fingers holding the teacup tightened, then he looked away and found a place on the table to put the teacup down.

But Jin Guangyao picked up the teacup, then removed the teapot, paper and pen from the table, and took a brand new pen, ink, paper and inkstone from the shelf next to it, and spread it out in front of Lan Xichen.Immediately afterwards, he slowly took off the soft gauze black hat he had been wearing all the time and put it aside, picked up an ink stick, and ground it with clean water.

"Although the second brother is a low-key person, the world doesn't know Mr. Zewu's superb painting skills, but I know a thing or two." Jin Guangyao said while slowly studying the ink, "I went to the cold room a few times before, and I was right in my heart. I am amazed by the four seasons of deep clouds hanging on the wall. Although I was afraid that my second brother would not want to talk about me, I never asked, but judging by the gentle brushwork and the distant artistic conception in that painting, it must be the work of my second brother. The words are as good as they are People, the same is true for painting. This kind of excellent work with outstanding skills, looking at all kinds of immortals, only the second brother can produce it."

Hearing these praises, even though Lan Xichen was always calm and breezy, his face was slightly hot.The earlobes were quietly dyed a light pink, and he clenched his hands into fists as if to cover up, and coughed lightly on his lips.

When it comes to dealing with people, Lianfang Zun is undoubtedly the most slick one.No matter what kind of person he is, he can remember different details about everyone with his photographic memory.Someone once despised this, saying that he was scheming.However, as the immortal governor of a hundred families, if he doesn't know how to get along with others, how can he be qualified for this position?What's wrong with rewarding people's ability and value because of their humble background?

"I've never asked my second brother for anything." Jin Guangyao said, paused for a while before continuing, "But I've known my second brother for so long, but I've never seen my second brother paint. It's really a pity It's rare that the second brother is interested, so he fulfilled my wish."

Lan Xichen had been watching Jin Guangyao melt away the ink just now, and now he turned his head to stare at Jin Guangyao after hearing the words.Outside the window, magnolia fragrance mixed with gardenia fragrance quietly sneaked into the room, and the lingering fragrance of green tea brought out a strong fragrance of ink, lingering around the body again and again, lingering and lingering.The blooming Venus snow wave on the chest of this person in front of him was actually compared to the smile on his face.But obviously the desk in front of him was very large, and Jin Guangyao's movements of rubbing the ink in his hands didn't stop, but Lan Xichen felt that Jin Guangyao was getting closer and closer to him, so close that the eyes of the person in front of him almost reflected his own reflection.

Without the shackles of the black hat, Jin Guangyao's usually neat forehead and temple hair were slightly messy and fragmented.And that face also lacked the sense of majesty it had when standing on the Jinlin Terrace, and there was only a faint smile on it.In those black and white eyes, Lan Xichen saw the moiré on his forehead, like a scar from a sword drawn from its scabbard, or like a piece of ten thousand year old mountain snow, Lingling pierced through the thick fog barrier.

Lan Xichen didn't know what his expression was just now, but at this moment, he also smiled slightly and nodded slightly.

It's been a long time since I painted, and as soon as I pick up a pen, Lan Xichen feels a bit of timidity and nostalgia.His father Qingheng Jun is a full-fledged elegant man, who knows everything about piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.Therefore, Lan Xichen, who admired his father, insisted on practicing, except for finishing schoolwork and going out for night hunting, he would always cultivate his body and mind in his living room.And when Lan Wangji got older, the Lan's Bibi would often write or draw together in the Library Pavilion, and occasionally had a hand-to-hand conversation.Looking back now, that period of time seems to have been a long lifetime, leaving only sighs and sighs.

"Second brother, have you figured out where to draw the four seasons?" Jin Guangyao saw that Lan Xichen was recalling the past, so he didn't interrupt, and only asked when he saw Lan Xichen tighten his grip on the pen again.

Lan Xichen wrote down a stroke, and the familiar feeling of the brush passing across the paper was conveyed to his fingertips. He suddenly felt at ease, and replied, "Here is Jinlin Terrace, and this painting is given to you again. All the good scenery is for you. I also hope that you, as an immortal governor, will walk the right way." In the end, it was full of earnest expectations and exhortations, and it was like spring wind turning into rain, and the words were full of warmth.

Jin Guangyao's smile froze slightly, and before he could answer, Lan Xichen continued on his own: "One scene in spring is Yunmeng Peach Lake. At that time, the peach blossoms were all over the place, like a pink lake, and the petals were sprinkled on the surface of the lake one after another. It’s spectacular.” He said, his hands kept moving, sometimes light and sometimes heavy, and he moved his brush like a swimming dragon. “Summer is the lotus pond in Gusu. Although the weather is hot, there is always a breeze, and the mind is calm and naturally cool. Stay in autumn. , is the Lanling ginkgo. The eyes are golden, simple and majestic, and people can’t bear to close their eyes." The landscape gradually emerged under his hands, showing a distant artistic conception with the world in mind. There is a little fiery red in the flying snow, which has a soul-stirring beauty."

Yunmengjiang clan, Gusu Lan clan, Lanling Jin clan, Qinghe Nie clan.The four great immortal families are all hidden in these four seasons, as if they are adding Mingzhi cinnabar to this small blooming garden.It seems to be paying tribute to the past years, and full of hope for the future.

Jin Guangyao stared at Lan Xichen's profile, and said nothing for a long time.Although he complimented people quite a lot on weekdays, he only appreciated Lan Xichen from the bottom of his heart.At this moment, the lights and shadows are flickering, and the garden is full of moonlight.The person in front of him is tall and tall, handsome and elegant, and he is concentrating on painting.The eyebrows are gentle and smooth, and because the heaven and the earth are being incorporated into the painting, there is a trace of chic and comfortable in the expression.It's like a god in the nine heavens, a fairy born out of the dust.

In this life, he has done many things.Right and wrong, clear and vague, most of them are hidden and clumsy but strategized.However, there was only one thing that he never exhausted, only felt that fate favored him and gave him clarity.Jin Guangyao often wonders if he had never walked up that mountain road on that rainy night, nor had he never lifted the young man with the cloud pattern on his forehead from the mud, would he have already fallen into a doomed situation? The abyss of evil, doing all kinds of bad things, and being insane.Or maybe, if he hadn't kept that person with good intentions in his heart at the beginning, would that person still have favored him, be gentle, mediate and defend him, and make suggestions for him.

But Jin Guangyao always felt that no matter what happened in the past, Lan Xichen would still be the one who caught the cup of tea he was handed to him on the Hejian battlefield and drank it slowly with a smile on his lips.

At this moment, Jin Guangyao seemed to be bewitched, and also seemed to see guidance, as if enlightened and awakened, he stretched out his hand, and slowly took the long, white hand with distinct joints, which was holding a pen and waving.

If I had met him earlier, everything would have been different.Everything is not, it can be better.

-soul-

"Ayao."

While the sleeves of the clothes were flying, the wind brought by the Yujian blew the sleeve robe into a full arc. Lan Xichen held the sword formula in his hand and looked sideways at Jin Guangyao.

"Second brother, what's the matter?" Jin Guangyao was still smiling, and Jin Guangyao's voice was relaxed.

"This time the situation is unclear, everything needs to be careful."

"I have a sense of proportion." Jin Guangyao nodded, and then said, "And I have sent someone to investigate first, and there is no special news back, so it should be fine."

Hearing this, Lan Xichen nodded his head, but when he turned his head and urged Shuoyue to gallop again, the worry on his brows still couldn't be concealed.

Previously, the two were discussing important matters in the cold room in Yunshen, but Jin Guangyao suddenly raised his eyebrows and took out a talisman from his bosom.On the bright yellow talisman was the Jin Xing Xuelang family crest of the Lanling Jin family drawn by cinnabar, which was now glowing faintly red.He made the formula with one hand, read a few words, and the talisman burst into flames.

"What's the matter?" Lan Xichen saw that he was frowning and said nothing, so he asked.

"A news came from a watchtower in the northwest that there was an unknown evil spirit, and the casual cultivators stationed there couldn't solve it, so they sent a message to the Lanling Jin Sect for help."

"Northwest? There are few fairy gates over there, I'm afraid the evil spirits are disturbing people too much."

"Yes." But Jin Guangyao thought for a while, and then said again, "Second brother, don't worry, I'll just take someone there right away. It's okay to talk about the unfinished business this time, next time."

But Lan Xichen shook his head: "There is nothing left and right. It is the job of the immortal sect to drive away evil spirits." After a pause, he continued, "Besides, Wangji has been busy running around with Mr. Mo recently. He was actually much happier, so he no longer worried about anything."

A trace of confusion flashed across Jin Guangyao's eyes, but he quickly hid it.Lan Xichen watched, only when he recalled the previous quarrel, he became silent.But Jin Guangyao stretched his brows immediately, stood up and said, "If that's the case, then let's go together." He took two steps, just as Hen Sheng was about to get out of his sheath, he turned back to stare at Lan Xichen, and added a few words, "I'm still going I have never hunted at night with my second brother. In the past, my elder brother disdained to be with me when I was there, and the three were just sworn brothers and never fought side by side. Later, I was promoted to the head of the family and sat on the position of immortal governor, but I no longer have the time and energy to go night hunting .”

Lan Xichen smiled regretfully, but he understood: "I know. Let's go."

The troublemaker was a rather wealthy merchant family in the Northwest.Because it is located at the hub of the east-west commercial road, the market is prosperous, and there are not a few people who make a fortune.However, when they arrived, they were still a little surprised.

It turned out that the owner of this family was from Gusu.When the Wen family rebelled, regardless of whether they were famous in the immortal sect or ordinary people, as long as they didn't go well, they would kill them all.This family was already a well-known businessman in Gusu, but because of rescuing some displaced monks, they encountered disasters and fled the family.The head of the family found out that his wife was already suffering from a disease, and she was exhausted and neglected treatment during the journey, and finally passed away after arriving in the northwest.The head of the family was distraught, but the whole family still had to be supported and educated, so he had to cheer up, but he did not remarry.Fortunately, hard work paid off, the owner's many years of business experience and ingenuity helped a lot, and the family business in the northwest was even bigger than the original one in Gusu, and the reputation was also excellent, known far and wide.

The owner of the house, surnamed Shen, took Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao around the house.Although it is located in the northwest, all the structures in the house are restored to the old houses in Suzhou, and there are many pavilions, terraces, pavilions, artificial mountains and waterside pavilions, showing a rare sense of agility and sophistication in a place where the folk customs are harsh and simple.However, the huge mansion is desolate and deserted. The head of the Shen family explained that the servants and the young and old in the family were bothered by evil spirits. In addition, the scattered cultivators stationed at the watchtower have been investigating, but there is no result. Therefore, the head of the Shen family So he sent the whole family to another place, leaving him alone here to help get rid of the evil.

After turning around in a circle, there is nothing unusual in the house.Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao bid farewell to the Patriarch of the Shen family and went to the guest room together.

As soon as he entered the door, Jin Guangyao said: "Patriarch Shen's complexion is not right, there is a faint blackness between his brows, obviously he is haunted by evil spirits."

Lan Xichen nodded: "That's right. However, looking at his demeanor, there must be something else hidden." He pondered for a moment, and then said, "Also, not all the places he took us through in this house are .”

Jin Guangyao took the teacup prepared on the table and poured a cup for Lan Xichen: "Let's do the investigation after dark. It's useless to think about it now."

Before the two came here, they already had a general understanding of the whole picture of the incident.All the old and young and the servants in Shen's family said that they heard evil spirits at night.There are always various voices floating from nowhere, sometimes like mourning and crying, sometimes like whispering, laughing and cursing are never fixed, and there are even singing.However, as soon as the day dawned, the voice gradually receded, and nothing happened during the day.This mysterious and unpredictable sound disturbed everyone sleepless at night, and as a last resort, Patriarch Shen asked Xianmen for help.

"Second Brother, does he already care about something?" Jin Guangyao asked after drinking his own cup of tea.

"Ayao must have made up her mind a long time ago, didn't she?" Lan Xichen asked back, but the smile on his face eased, "But I always feel that something is wrong. Let's see tonight."

Outside the courtyard wall is the busiest street in the city.At this time, the golden sun was sinking, and the setting sun shone in through the window lattice, casting mottled slanting shadows on the tables.The wind and sand in the northwest is strong, and the room that has not been cleaned for several days, there is a small flying dust, spinning and dancing in the air, and it is covered with a layer of gold by the sun, and it disappears from sight.The plants outside the window are rare with luxuriant branches and leaves, trembling with the wind, blocking the sunlight for a while, and then letting it in again.Fragments of light wobbled, sprinkled on Jin Guangyao's shoulders, and merged with Jin Xingxuelang's robe on his body, like a shimmering golden lake.

It is noisy outside the window but not noisy, it is the sound of people returning home chatting, mixed with hawking along the street and the rumbling of carts and horses.Lan Xichen lived in the deep mountains all the year round, and the Yunshen unknown place was as quiet as if he lived nine days high, without hearing a single human voice.Sitting in this bustling market place now, although there are house walls blocking the hearing, some vague and distant sounds are intertwined together, but it shows a sense of being in the world.He slowly rubbed the teacup in his hand, and for a moment he didn't want to open his mouth to break the rare scene.In front of him, Jin Guangyao didn't say a word, just stared at him with a smile on his face, as if showing a little satisfaction on his face, and as if he was afraid of being seen by others, he carefully adjusted the arc of his smile.

It was as if they had returned to the moment when they first met.At that time, Lan Xichen was still fleeing, and Jin Guangyao was still Meng Yao.One is far away from the homeland of the tribe, and the other has not yet recognized the ancestors.Although they don't know all the nature of each other, they all greet each other with smiles.No matter what Lan Xichen said, Jin Guangyao's answer was always good.Lan Xichen didn't speak, and Jin Guangyao stared at him silently.It seems that the face and eyes have become the annotations of the words, and there is no need to say a word.However, at that time, Lan Xichen was worried about the fate of the Gusu Lan clan, and Jin Guangyao was also focused on achieving something.They have never been intimate, and when they meet again in the future, they will go their own way, and there will be no chance for them to be as close as they were then.But from the beginning to the end, no matter how much other people say, Lan Xichen treats Jin Guangyao differently.Maybe it was the most embarrassing moment when we saw each other, so we have the habit of paying more attention to each other.Therefore, Lan Xichen knows all about Jin Guangyao's humiliation and suffering, and Jin Guangyao also understands Lan Xichen's compassion and helplessness under his calm and breezy appearance.

However, every time Jin Guangyao stepped down from the Xumizuo, the highest point of the Jinlin Terrace, Lan Xichen felt that the celestial governor of the Lanling Jin Sect, who was praised by everyone, would transform back to his three-legged figure step by step in front of his eyes. younger brother.There is no such thing as Lord Zewu and no Lord Lianfang.From a crushing defeat to being ranked among the top three, the hardships involved are self-aware.

Only him and his A Yao.

As night fell, the whole city fell silent for a moment.The temperature difference between day and night in the northwest is huge, so after the sun goes down, no one wanders around the city.Also because there are few convoys on the business road at night, even the restaurants and restaurants close their doors early, leaving only the lights from the windows of every household to illuminate the dim street.

However, when the appointed time came, the Patriarch of the Shen family did not show up.Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao looked at each other, then walked slowly towards the garden.The huge mansion was dead silent, and the house, which still showed a peaceful and peaceful scene during the day, unexpectedly revealed a chilly gloomyness at this moment.The carved beams and painted buildings in the garden are like ferocious monsters, entrenched beside the stone path, and the rockery is like ghostly shadows, watching their every move.

Jin Guangyao sent all the members of the Lanling Jin clan to guard the formation, and he was the only one left in the garden to investigate.When walking to a secluded corner, I suddenly heard a slight sound coming from the wind. I listened intently and found that it was a woman crying. Although it was extremely sad and sad, it was creepy at this moment.

This corner was visited by the Patriarch of the Shen family during the day when he took them to inspect the house, but there is nothing special about it except for the pile of rockery here.So at this moment, Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao walked quickly to investigate carefully.Without exception, all the talismans covered with mantras were pasted on the rockery, but at this moment there were bursts of crying, but the talismans did not move at all.The two knew that things were not easy, so they sped up their actions.

Not long after, Lan Xichen's voice came from a place to the west: "Ayao."

Jin Guangyao walked over immediately, and found Lan Xichen standing in front of a rockery: "Just now I went up to the stone pavilion on the top of the mountain to overlook this area, but I found that the size of this place does not match the one seen above, and there may be a secret room." Jin Guangyao nodded, then Together with Lan Xichen, he groped around on the rockery for a while, and after a while, he heard a crisp "click", and felt that the mechanism was activated, and the stone door opened in front of him.

A damp and rotten Yin Qi rushed towards the face from the stone gate, and the crying became louder in an instant.Shuoyue Hensheng was already out of the sheath, the two walked in slowly, but they were both startled when they saw the scene inside the cave clearly.

It is not surprising that the person curled up in front of the stone table is the Patriarch of the Shen family.Surprisingly, there is a portrait scroll on the wall, which is lifelike. The painting depicts a woman with her skirt dragging to the floor, with a graceful posture and a smile on her lips. However, the eye sockets where the eyes should be are empty, without pupils.There was no one else in the stone room, and the crying continued unabated.Although the Patriarch of the Shen family was curled up in front of the table, he kept mumbling about something.I leaned closer to listen, but turned upside down and couldn't speak.Right now, it seems that time has stopped here, there is no vision, only the mournful cry, accompanied by the man's deep and chaotic words.

Just at this moment, the members of the Jin family in Lanling, seeing that the suzerain hadn't appeared for a long time, came to this place. As soon as they entered the door, they were overwhelmed by the Yin Qi of Dasheng. Without thinking, they took out a handful of talismans and threw them at the scroll on the wall.Lan Xichen had a bad heart, but it was too late to stop it, and the accident happened suddenly at this moment.Before the talisman touched the scroll, it burned up in the air in an instant without leaving a trace.And the originally desolate cry suddenly turned into a heart-pounding howl of pain, which penetrated directly into the eardrum and was soul-stirring.

Lan Xichen's sleeve moved slightly, and a white flute appeared in his hand, it was the cracked ice.He quickly sent the hole flute to his lips, and the gurgling music poured out, like birdsong and wind, both of which were pure and elegant.A warm jade pendant hung from the cracked ice, which swayed gently with his movements, exuding a warm brilliance.The wailing that filled the stone room froze for an instant, but was suppressed immediately.

However, the members of the Jin clan who broke in were not of high cultivation, and they lost their minds amidst the wailing for a moment, and fainted aside.Only the Patriarch of the Shen family seemed unaffected, still chattering foolishly.

Jin Guangyao found an opportunity, he bullied himself, pinched a few immortal formulas, the green light in his palm exploded, he hit the ground, and a green magic circle was born from his hand.Lan Xichen stood aside with his sword in his hand, his nerves tensed.The candles flickered in the cave, the wind blew up, and the wailing stopped for a moment, the eyes of the two people flickered, and when they looked closely, they found a pair of tearful eyes floating in the air.

Anyone who is not a member of the immortal sect will be scared to death when he sees this scene.However, Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao just stared at the sudden change in front of them.Before Lan Xichen could open his mouth, Jin Guangyao went up to him with a flick of hatred.

At this moment, a shrill cry came from the side: "Xianchang stays!" The cry seemed to come from the bottom of his heart, and it made people tremble for no reason.

Jin Guangyao immediately stopped his sword, and Lan Xichen looked sideways.It turned out that the Patriarch of the Shen family was already awake, although his face was as normal as it was during the day, but the pain in his eyes was ready to come out.

"The Immortal keeps people." The Patriarch of the Shen family said again, but his voice was weak and trembling.Seeing this, Lan Xichen weighed in for a moment, then put away Shuoyue Cracked Ice, and went to support the Patriarch of the Shen family.Only Jin Guangyao still stood still, and the tip of Hate Sheng's sword was still pointing directly at the eyes in front of everyone.

"I thought that the elders who came this time would be like those before. They just came to have a look, and if they couldn't find out why, they would leave on their own. But Zewu-jun and Lianfang-zun were the ones who came. It's fine if I want to avoid today, but I really don't want to be separated from my wife one day." After the Patriarch of the Shen family finished speaking, two tears rolled down his upright face.

Lan Xichen understood.The wife of the head of the Shen family died of a serious illness when he arrived here. Although he had no resentment, but because of the strong relationship with the head of the family, there was still a half of his soul that did not want to leave, so he attached it to this portrait.Since then, I have met my lover every night, just like when I was alive.However, in the end, humans and ghosts have different paths, yin and yang are separated, the heaven and the earth have their own laws of operation, and as time goes on, this half of the soul unconsciously absorbs the yang energy of the living, so the family servants are harassed every night, but the owner of the family does not seem to be aware of it. .And this remnant soul has no intention of harming anyone, and it is different from ordinary evil spirits, so ordinary talismans have no effect.

"Since the dead wife is dead, even if you can't bear it, you should let her go. Why use your body to nourish your soul? If things go on like this, it will eventually lead to disaster." Jin Guangyao raised his sword and said, with heavy brows, as if there were thousands of words.

"Has the Immortal Chief ever tasted the feeling of parting from life and death? If not, then don't talk about it this time. In the days when my wife just passed away, I couldn't sleep at night in front of this portrait drawn by myself every day. Obviously the person in the painting The eyes are bright, and the smile is sweet, but I can no longer sit opposite me, how can I accept it?" The Patriarch of the Shen family recalled the unforgettable pain at the time, crying heartbrokenly, and those eyes in the sky, unexpectedly Also teary eyes hazy, shed a string of illusory teardrops. "Immortal Elder, if you were me, would you be willing to replace others with yourself, would you be willing to let the one you love live and let yourself die?"

This question was like a thunderbolt falling, upon hearing this, Jin Guangyao's expression changed drastically, he turned his head to stare at Lan Xichen for a moment, and stood there in a daze.His eyes were filled with panic for an instant, but he was immediately swallowed by a greater fear, and finally turned into a fierce, blurted out: "I will never let this happen. Otherwise, what is the point of me doing all this!"

Lan Xichen's heart skipped a beat when he heard the desperate and desperate atmosphere in Jin Guangyao's words.The next moment, Jin Guangyao seemed to come back to his senses, and continued: "And I, if I must die, I will never leave half of my soul in this world. If I should stay, I should stay, and if I should go, I should go. When you are done, you are dead and you should leave."

The stone room was empty, and Jin Guangyao's voice echoed on the walls before falling slowly.Lan Xichen bowed his head and remained silent.Although Jin Guangyao's words sound free and easy, they contain all sorts of unsettling meanings, and they are subtly different from what Patriarch Shen asked.However, upon hearing this, the Patriarch of the Shen family smiled miserably: "Yes. I thought it was the blessings of gods and Buddhas who pity me and love my wife so much. Now it seems that everything is because of me. Because I can't do anything to protect my wife, because I Wishful thinking to reverse the yin and yang. The people in the family are panicked, so desolate."

For a long while, there was silence in the stone room.Everyone had their own concerns, but in the end it was those eyes that flew in front of the Patriarch of the Shen family and circled around three times.Then, it gradually disappeared and was never seen again.Everyone raised their heads and found that the girl on the wall had vivid eyes, and it seemed that there was brilliance flowing in an instant, showing three points of coquettishness and seven points of gentleness.The portrait was finally complete and returned to calm, but the Patriarch of the Shen family seemed to be in a daze. He ignored the people around him and just stared at the scroll on the wall, motionless.

Under the moonlit night, he returned to Gusu from Yujian in the northwest, but he had nothing to say all the way.Jin Guangyao never had any communication with Lan Xichen again, he just silently made Hate Sheng half a step behind him.When he landed in front of the bamboo forest in the cold room where Yun Shen didn't know, Jin Guangyao stopped and said to Lan Xichen, "Second brother, today is a must, let me go back to Lanling first." After finishing speaking, he turned around and started to leave.

"Ayao." Lan Xichen called out to him, Jin Guangyao paused, but did not turn back.

"Do you know why I only paint landscapes and never people?" Lan Xichen didn't care whether Jin Guangyao would answer him, and continued on his own, "In painting, there is spirit in the strokes of the pen, and in painting people, it is even more devotion." Obsession is the most likely to change over time."

As Lan Xichen said, he walked slowly in front of Jin Guangyao.Jin Guangyao raised his head uncontrollably, staring at the person in front of him covered in moonlight. "Besides, drawing people into paintings is really impossible to paint a ten-thousandth of the agility of people." Lan Xichen's eyelashes trembled slightly, he pondered for a while, and then said again, "I don't want to, from now on I can only look at one picture. painting