A common tavern that connects all fantasy worlds

When her eyes were speechless, Yan Chixia struggled for a long time and finally opened her mouth: "Two Dao brothers... the 'world' you speak of, do you mean the one of the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds?"

Only then did the two senior brothers remember that there was another Taoist brother present.

Uncle Jiu shook his head, told Simu not to be excited to sit down and talk slowly, and then quickly explained to Yan Chixia, where the two of them are from, what kind of tavern is it, is Boss Xue a serious boss, etc. of.

After listening to the explanations of these two people, Yan Chixia didn't suspect anything else... These two people looked like people here, but their words and deeds, and the short hair exposed after taking off their bamboo hats were all out of place. In addition, the "historical "It is also completely different from here, and it makes sense to say that it is another world.

He sighed, and said: "The descriptions of the two Taoists are so lifelike, it would be impossible if you hadn't seen it with your own eyes. It's just that the town of the two of you has been peaceful for the past two years... My 'world' here has never been peaceful. No What order, as long as you pick up the knife to kill and be killed; there is no such thing as good or bad, anyway, everyone can sell everything for their own survival. Outside the city, there are overgrown grass and evil spirits, and inside the city are fighting and killing, life is like grass, Yin and Yang are reversed , Good and evil are chaotic, the sky and the earth are dark, and it is difficult to distinguish between humans and ghosts! The reason why I saw your unbelief, brother Lin Dao, is because most of the cultivators on my side are the same!"

"Brother Yan Dao, too?" Simu couldn't help asking.

"...Especially me."

Yan Chixia added a few sticks of firewood to the fire, and her expression was cloudy in the flickering firelight: "I was originally a headhunter in the Liangjiang Mansion. When I was young, I learned martial arts and Taoism. I felt that I had the ability to change the world, but it was a pity that I wasted my time." In 23 years, it is impossible to be alone. All I have seen these years is that demons are eating people, and people are eating people, gods? Where did the gods come from? How can you tell me to believe it?"

Uncle Jiu handed him a cigar, and asked again: "But I can see that Brother Yan, you carry a magic weapon with you, and you can still use Taoism. Why is that?"

"...We monks are probably like this. Since we don't rely on gods, we have to rely on ourselves. No one knows the formulas of the three teachings. What my master taught me is all based on the 'heaven and earth are boundless, and the universe borrows the law'."

It can be seen that Yan Chixia is pretty good after getting acquainted with her. Speaking of this, she jumped up deliberately, drew a Taoist talisman on her hand, and demonstrated the palm thunder for the two Taoists.

Just listening to his cry of "the world is boundless, the universe borrows the law", he really borrowed mana, and a beam of light exploded on a branch protruding into the courtyard with a bang, smashing it to pieces.

After demonstrating this, he took out the Diamond Sutra from his pocket and showed it to Uncle Jiu and the other two, saying: "If you can't borrow the Dharma, this is the last one. This Diamond Sutra was handed by a former eminent monk. Copying, focusing on the great wish of 'surviving the world's calamity', it also has the magic power to subdue demons and eliminate demons."

Simu asked a lot: "Didn't you say that gods don't work? Why do Buddhist scriptures work?"

"It's not that gods don't work... It's just that I lost confidence just like Lin Daoxiong, so I had to borrow ready-made things from other teachings. At that time, I thought that Buddhism cultivated the pure land of the afterlife and liberation, so maybe it would be useful? Later Only then did I realize it’s really useful.” Yan Chixia smiled: “I, a half Taoist priest, was originally useful for something, and I’ve been living well until now... The way of heaven and the way of humanity, the way of swordsmanship, I ask myself! So …Brother Lin Jiudao, why do you have to worry about this kind of thing? Just find the right path for yourself. If you feel that it is inconvenient for you to lose your mana, then I will teach you how to borrow the universe!"

Uncle Jiu waved his hands and smiled and replied: "Brother Yan Dao said, 'I ask for my own way', why do you want me to learn the method of borrowing the universe? When I figure out what to believe, I will naturally keep the clouds open to see the moonlight when."

Four Eyes also shook his head. After he understood what his senior brother was thinking, he didn't want to criticize him any more, but said: "I don't have the ambition of you two, it's fine to continue to be blessed by the gods."

Yan Chixia was silent for a while, then suddenly took out a book from her bosom, handed it to Uncle Jiu, and said, "Brother Lin Dao, although we met for the first time today, after hearing what you said just now, I I think you are a trustworthy person. This book was given to me by an elder in Kunlun Mountains. He said that if you understand this, you can enter the palace, but I am stupid and can’t figure it out. He also said that everyone reads this book in their own way. With comprehension, one can walk out of one's own 'Tao'..."

Looking at the senior brother taking the booklet with four eyes, frowning and opening it by the fire, he sighed secretly.

When the senior brother was in Renjia Town, he still said it wasn't Xianyuan... Isn't this Xianyuan here?Kunlun, that is a recognized fairy mountain. There seems to be a sect of monks in Kunlun in this world, and I don’t know which one it is?

He still has self-knowledge, and he didn't think about why this fairy fate doesn't belong to me.From childhood to adulthood, in terms of popularity, his four eyes are better than his senior brother, but when it comes to the level of magic power and behavior, it is the senior brother who is better.He would inevitably be a little jealous of other people who won the fairy fate; if Uncle Jiu won it, then he would only be happy and feel that he deserved it.

Yan Chixia herself also felt that the relationship with the two Taoist priests from another world had become much closer. She laughed, and was about to ask Uncle Jiu what the cigar was for and how to smoke it. heard something.

"The voice came from the front of the temple...too bad, it's Brother Xiahou!"

Chapter 36 Fragrance of the Crescent Moon

In a room in the backyard of Lanruo Temple, Ning Caichen was sweeping the dust off the bed with a twig with leaves.

This was supposed to be a bedroom for monks to live in. Not to mention the simple furnishings, it has been left unattended all year round and has become dilapidated.All that was available was a slatted bed, a table, and a rickety chair.

As a poor scholar who grew up poor and had to go to Beijing for exams, Ning Caichen has long been used to this kind of living conditions. The coarse cloth carefully collects the dust on the ground, pours it out of the open window, and then washes the rag when you go back to wash your face and feet, and you're done.

Although this is not completely clean, but if you live in this kind of temple that has been abandoned for many years, don't insist on being spotless.

But just when he turned his head and wanted to spread another layer of hay on the bed to sleep with his clothes on, he suddenly heard a few coughs coming from the window, which sounded like a woman's voice.

"Could it be that the ashes choked on people just now?"

Ning Caichen thought about it, and walked to the window again.His room is on the second floor, and outside the window is the dilapidated eaves of the first floor, a few feet wide and narrow, and beyond that are a few sparse bamboos in the backyard.Originally, he was thinking of pouring the ashes directly into the courtyard downstairs, and the strength he used might be a little bit stronger. Could it be that someone passed by in the courtyard?

When he came to the window and looked out, what he saw was a woman in white sitting on the eaves of the first floor, covering her face and coughing dryly.

She is tall and slender, with a butterfly wing-shaped high bun on her head, and waterfall-like black long hair that hangs all the way to her back, with enviable volume; at this moment, she is covering her face, unable to see her appearance clearly , I don’t know how I sat on this crumbling eaves.

"Oh, why are you sitting here, it's terrible to fall. Come in quickly."

Ning Caichen didn't think too much, fearing that the strange woman would fall, he quickly reached out to her.

The woman really grabbed his hand, borrowed her strength to come to the window and rolled into the house.I don't know if it was because he stayed outside for too long, the slender arms were so cold that he was startled.

With the help of the oil lamp lighted on the table just now, Ning Shusheng realized that half of the woman's face and the skirt of the whiter than snow clothes had already been covered with a lot of dust, no wonder she was coughing so hard.

He felt a little embarrassed, and quickly said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll go fetch water and wipe your face."

"Young master, you don't need it. My house is behind Lanruo Temple. There is a small river there. You just need to take me back."

The woman quickly persuaded, put down the sleeves she was wiping her face with, and showed a pretty face that Ning Caichen was stupefied with.

Even though it was stained with dust, this face is still so breathtaking... Of course, the straight thick eyebrows are not very soft, but they perfectly match her face; the skin is as white as milk, the lips are as red as peach blossoms, and the eyes are full of spirit. , curly eyelashes, and even slightly protruding rabbit teeth are just right. If this temperament is really increased, it is too seductive, and if it is decreased, it is too cool.

I don't know if it's because of the ashamed look on her face. At this time, the woman is still frowning slightly, and there is unavoidable traces of resentment in her eyes, and the eyes of Jianshui flow like waves.

Ning Caichen, who was facing this face, wanted to recite a poem, but if he had the ability to speak well, he wouldn't fail the ranking...

No, that's not what matters now.

He warned himself from the bottom of his heart to be polite and not to be rude, and quickly turned around to salute and said, "I will light the lanterns and send the girl home. This place is desolate, and there are bound to be wild animals. Girls don't want to go out at night by themselves..." And you climbed so high just now, it would be bad if you fell down."

"Don't blame me, my lord... The humble house is very close to here. I usually come to take a walk in the backyard of Lanruo Temple. I disturbed you today because of that painting..."

The woman pointed to the painting scroll exposed in Ning Caichen's bookcase, and continued: "It was originally painted for me by my father, and I didn't intend to live in Guobei County. I wanted to buy this painting back, but today I only found out that it was bought by the young master after asking, so when I saw it here, I was impatient and wanted to come up and say hello to the young master."

Of course, there are many loopholes in this statement. For example, if you saw a scroll from a distance, you would recognize it as your painting?Why don't you take the stairs next to the front porch instead of climbing up the back wall if you want to come and say hello?

But Ning Caichen didn't think about anything. Hearing what the woman said, he took out the scroll and handed it to her, pretending to be generous and said: "Since this was originally your painting, girl, it should be returned to the original owner... No, it didn't cost me much... By the way, do you dare to ask the girl's name?"

"My name is Nie Xiaoqian." The girl replied with fluttering eyes.

On the other side, in front of Lanruo Temple, Jiushu and Simu followed Yan Chixia and found Xiahou swordsman sitting on a tree stump bandaging his wound.

Seeing that he was fine, Yan Chixia breathed a sigh of relief, and said from the bottom of her heart, "Brother Xiahou, fortunately you are fine."

"Hmph, you don't need Yan Chixia's fake kindness...these people can't help me." Xiahou swordsman sneered.

Uncle Jiu and Simu, who were chasing after him, realized that Xiahou swordsman was surrounded by bloodstains, and there were already more than a dozen people with missing arms, legs, or heads lying in the surrounding grass.

The four eyes looked around carefully again, and whispered in the senior brother's ear: "Senior brother, I said, why did he bump into it... I used a talisman here before, and set up an eight-door golden lock array, and Guobei County Those who were chasing were trapped in the formation. It seems that this Xiahou swordsman broke in by mistake."

Sure enough, I heard Xiahou swordsman say again: "I was walking here, and suddenly I couldn't tell the direction, and these few people came to snatch me with swords like headless chickens, and they were all killed in a fit of anger. Yan Chixia, I know you know some magic tricks, do you dare to say that you didn't arrange the spells around here?"

"I want to embarrass you, brother Xiahou, do I still need to use spells?"

"You!" Xiahou swordsman got up angrily and drew his sword. Uncle Jiu hurried forward and persuaded, "Why are you two heroes? Let's go back to Lanruo Temple and stay overnight."

I heard Yan Chixia say that there are tree demons here, so for the safety of Xiahou swordsman, it is better to persuade him to return to Lanruo Temple.

Although Xiahou Swordsman didn't know that he was really evil, since he knew Yan Chixia and hadn't really turned his back on him for so many years, he should have done nothing bad except for his bad temper. It would be bad if he stayed in the wild and lost his life for nothing.Even the few people trapped in the eight-door golden lock formation had to rob him first before being taken care of. Even if he was left in Lanruo Temple, as long as he didn't approach or provoke him, nothing would happen.

As soon as Uncle Jiu finished speaking, Yan Chixia who was beside him also nodded, and said, "You can deal with these Jianghu people, Brother Xiahou, but if the old demon comes out, I'm afraid your sword won't work!"

Swordsman Xiahou couldn't control his anger again, he gritted his teeth and said, "My sword barrel doesn't work, you just have to try it!"

Taking advantage of the commotion over there, the four eyes quietly moved aside, and took back all the talismans pasted on the tree.He never thought of killing people, it was just that the pursuers in Guobei County couldn't find their way... But since there are monsters haunting them, it would be easy to kill people if they stayed in this formation.

While packing up the charms, he looked around.

At this time, it was nearly four o'clock in the night, and the area around Lanruo Temple was completely silent, even the sounds of frogs and insects had disappeared.A gust of wind rose from the ground, blowing the surrounding bamboo forests, causing the bamboo leaves to sway in the air.

The ancients said that "the night is quiet and the sky is depressed, and the ghosts cry and the road is side by side." It is surprising that there are no ghosts in this wild and desolate suburb!

It just so happened that Uncle Jiu persuaded Xiahou Swordsman, and a few people walked back this way, and he quietly hid the yellow paper talisman, leaned over to Yan Chixia, and asked in a low voice: "Brother Yan Dao, since you know this There are monsters harming people nearby, why don't you go?"

"...The human world is too complicated to distinguish right from wrong, how much better than here? If I didn't want to avoid the troubles of the world, I wouldn't come to Lanruo Temple specially."

Yan Chixia smiled wryly, and pointed to the Xiahou swordsman behind her: "Most people in the world are fascinated by fame and wealth, and a person like Brother Xiahou who wants to be 'No. [-] in the world' is already sober... There is no other shelter outside Lanruo Temple.

"In order to draw a clear line with the world, I have already decided not to be nosy, so that I can stay safely in Lanruo Temple."

The four eyes smiled and stopped talking.

The person who rushed out immediately to save Xiahou Swordsman when he heard the movement in front of the temple said that he had already decided to "not meddle in other people's business", who would believe it?

This Yan Chixia has a cold face and a warm heart, she is quite similar to her brother Lin Jiudao, no wonder the two get along so well.

The Xiahou swordsman was the same, he was quite dissatisfied with Daoist Yan, and was about to quarrel if he couldn't say a few words, but he was pulled by his kind words by Ninth Uncle, so he half pushed and half followed.Hearing that Yan Chixia said that he was seeking false fame, he immediately snorted coldly.You are a Taoist priest, of course you don’t need to fight for fame and wealth, but I am a mortal, if I don’t pursue anything, what’s the point of living?

Simu thought to himself, no wonder he didn't want to go home anymore, the people and things in this other world are so interesting!Even if it wasn't some fairy fate, he turned around and asked Boss Xue to see if he could become a regular customer and come to the tavern at any time.

Several people returned to Lanruo Temple and sat down in front of the fire. Yan Chixia lit a cigar like Uncle Jiu, and chatted with several people about why they came to Guobei County and why they came to Lanruo Temple.

Knowing that it was Ning Caichen who was coming to collect the bill, the bearded man smiled, shook his head again, and said, "It's a good thing that he didn't receive the bill. If he really got the money in Guobei County... then his life will be short. Hey. Even if he is not robbed and killed by those gangsters, he will be thrown into prison for any reason by the government officials, locked up for two years, squeezed out all the money, and then hacked under the false name of the wanted criminal. Yes Yes, has he fallen asleep now? I still have some wine and meat here, if you don't mind, we will share it together, and we will talk until dawn."

Uncle Jiu also thought it was okay, and immediately stood up: "I'll go and see him, and if he hasn't slept, I'll call him down together."

Chapter 37 Ghost Eye View

When I found Shusheng Ning, he was fascinated by the scroll.I don't know why Xiaoqian is so anxious, why she didn't even take this painting that is very important to her.

The painting depicts a woman who is washing her hair facing the clear stream, with silkworm brows, fair neck, and a smile at the corner of her mouth. She is a completely different Nie Xiaoqian from what she saw today.

Today she is also smiling at him, but how should I put it...

As Boss Xue in the tavern said to him when we met him for the first time, it was a kind of "business smile".

When Uncle Jiu came in, Shusheng Ning was talking to himself: "I don't know how much suffering she has gone through before she can't even smile sincerely."

"Her? Who is she?" Uncle Jiu, who wanted to tell him to go downstairs, was taken aback for a moment, and then noticed that the corner of the scholar's clothes was soaked again at some point, and water was still dripping down.

His eyes changed, he stepped forward to touch Ning Caichen's chest with his fingers, and asked, "Scholar, did you leave the temple just now?"

Ning Caichen smiled awkwardly and said, "No way, Uncle Jiu, you told me not to run around. It's just... oh, it's just that I want to get some water to wipe the bed so that I can sleep cleanly. Who knew that when I arrived at the temple Later, by the river, I found that I didn’t bring a bucket or a basin, so I just wet my clothes so that I could bring water back!”

Uncle Jiu shook his head and patted Ning Caichen on the shoulder: "You are so kind and simple, although this is a good thing... But it means that you really can't lie."

After speaking, he simply pushed the scholar downstairs, brought him to the front of the bonfire, and said to his four eyes: "I remember...you like to learn heresy things."

"What's heresy, brother, what you said is really ugly." Taoist Master Simu stood up and asked again: "What's wrong with you, this scholar?"

"He went out of the temple just now, and he may have seen other people, but he refused to tell the truth when he came back." Uncle Jiu said, "Scholar Ning, don't worry... you believe in our brothers, we will definitely not harm you , but you need to use some tricks to get some truth out of your mouth. Junior brother, don’t you know how to draw the 'True Speaking Curse'?"

His four eyes lit up, he pushed his glasses, and nodded reservedly: "Yes, I know this kind of curse. Putting on this curse, not only will you answer whatever you ask, even if you don't ask him, he will Said that he should tell everything about him from childhood to greatness and embarrassment. Last time I used this talisman, ouch... that piece of staff is terrible, performing peeing in front of everyone He Ni also said that he loved playing with this when he was a child."

Ning Caichen was frightened when he heard this, and hurriedly stopped him: "Wait, there's no need, right? At worst, I'll answer whatever you ask."

Uncle Jiu looked at each other with a smile, sat down with Shusheng Ning by the campfire, and asked, "Then tell us first, what happened just now?"

"Just now, I took a girl home and accidentally fell into the water. Her name is Nie Xiaoqian, and she lives behind Lanruo Temple."

Ning Shusheng said, and Yan Chixia, who was frowning, suddenly interrupted when she heard this: "After Lanruo Temple? There is a mass grave there!"

Originally, there was a normal cemetery behind Lanruo Temple. At that time, there were still monks practicing here. All the bones that could not be buried in their hometown were often entrusted here, and their resentment was appeased with the power of Buddhism.But then all the monks from Lanruo Temple ran away, and even the temple became a ghost fox dojo, so the cemetery was naturally abandoned and turned into a mass grave.

Yan Chixia doesn't usually go there, not only because there is nothing there, but also because he has made an agreement with the locust tree demon not to interfere with each other... That is the locust tree demon's hunting ground, and it is the base camp for collecting and controlling souls. Its body is also in the mass grave.

"Hero Yan, listen to me." Ning Caichen quickly waved his hand, "I didn't know at first, I thought she was just an ordinary girl, but then I remembered what you said, so I kept my eyes open. I took a closer look at the painting her father drew for her. The painting was signed many years ago...but she is still about eighteen or nineteen years old."

Simu sneered, interrupted him, and said, "...you still don't believe in ghosts?"

"...If you don't see it with your own eyes, who would believe this?" Ning Shusheng smiled wryly, "But she didn't harm me, but she told me not to look for her again. Hero Yan, you said that these ghosts were all killed by that old man. The demon controls, isn't it? They didn't do harm willingly, did they? If we rescue her, is it possible for her to get rid of the old demon?"

Anyone who knew him well enough knew that he had fallen into the same old habit of trusting others too much, even when he met a female ghost.But the female ghost named "Nie Xiaoqian" really didn't harm him, so why?

Speaking of Ning Caichen, Uncle Jiu and Simu both have the same understanding: he has the innocence of a baby, and the purity and kindness of a saint.No matter who it is, as long as there is still a little kindness in their hearts, it is impossible for them to have the heart to harm such a person.It seems that even though Nie Xiaoqian was a female ghost, even if she was forced to absorb the essence of the tree demon, she did not follow the trend. Perhaps Ning Shusheng's statement could be believed.

"Maybe they didn't do harm willingly, but after so many years, how many lives have been lost to them?" Yan Chixia said in a low voice, "There is a world for people, and a world for ghosts. Words will only hurt each other. Scholar Ning, let me advise you, as human beings, we don't have to pay too much attention to their ghost affairs."

"No, it's not." Ning Shusheng stood up instead, and retorted sternly: "We don't care about her, these female ghosts will harm more people in the future, and this Lanruo Temple will always be a ghost; now with Uncle Jiu and Daoist Four Eyes, help me, don't tell me you want to let that old monster stay here forever, Daxia Yan?"

"This..." Yan Chixia touched the beard on her chin, not knowing what to do.

He was about to be persuaded by this young and naive scholar...Damn it, he really enjoys helping others and can infect others with his will.No wonder he is so naive and still alive!

But the scholar didn't know that the tree demon was not so easy to get rid of.

"Since I came here, I have fought against that tree demon several times. Even if I tried my best, I was no match for it. It can't do anything to me, and I can't get rid of it, even with Lin Dao The strength of brothers and sisters cannot be guaranteed. What's more, behind the tree demon is the old Heishan demon who is in charge of the city of death in the underworld, so what can I do with my blood and courage?" said the bearded man , looked up and sighed.

"...Old Black Mountain Demon? Where did King Biancheng go?"

Uncle Jiu also asked suddenly, he heard something wrong in Yan Chixia's words.When will it be the turn of the "Black Mountain old demon" to take care of the City of Dead Dead?

"...No one knows." Yan Chixia shook her head, "I only know that the ghosts in the city of death are controlled by the old demon of Montenegro. Hidden ghosts, none of them exist! There is no reason in this world, even in the underground... Scholar, even if you rescued that 'Nie Xiaoqian', so what? Her reincarnation is just another experience in the world Painful; if she does not reincarnate, she will become a lonely ghost!"

[38. No. 38]

As he spoke, he couldn't restrain the blood in his chest, so he stood up and cursed loudly: "I also want to ask, what's wrong with our world! Good is not rewarded with good, and evil is not rewarded with evil. , Those who are alive are precarious, and those who are dead have no relief! What can we do?!"

Ning Caichen took a step forward, stared straight into the eyes of this rough and bold swordsman, and said word by word: "Even if you can't do anything, it's better than not doing it from the beginning. There are ghosts and monsters everywhere in the world. I can't control it even if I want to, but I'm such a stubborn person, at least I want to control what happens to me! What is the world, what is the world, what does this have to do with you and me! I only care about the present, I just want to save Nie Xiaoqian !"

"Bastard!" Yan Chixia scolded suddenly. Uncle Jiu and the others thought he was going to get angry, so they hurriedly got up to try to persuade him. Even Xiahou swordsman cast playful glances across the bonfire, but they saw that this man threw Ning Shusheng Hugged into his arms, wept loudly and said:

"Bastard, you really have a sense of justice, too much like me!"

Everyone stopped immediately, showing strange eyes, looking at the two men hugging each other.Ning Caichen also felt embarrassed, patted the "Hero Yan" whom he just met today on the back, forced a smile and said, "Hero, let's... let's discuss how we can save those innocent girls..."

Uncle Jiu looked up at the sky, and said to the others: "Before the fifth watch arrives, let's go back to the tavern. Brother Yan Dao, you said that the monster who controls the female ghost and harms people...is the locust tree Demon, right?"