Chapter 207 An Old Friend from Qingzhou Returns.

The third region, Jingzhou.

Carriages and horses from Quebec—now known as Qingzhou—were already on the road, their loads glistening with frost and dew.

A considerable amount of time had passed since the disaster was resolved, and with the evil spirits no longer causing trouble, the reconstruction of Qingzhou progressed smoothly, quickly returning it to its former glory, and even surpassing its former prosperity. This mountainous region, the desolate area bordering the two prefectures, was frequently visited by people.

Recently, distant countries have been in demand for fine silk fabrics, making trade routes even more bustling.

After navigating the mountain path, they finally found a place to rest. The group of people fed their horses and unloaded their cargo by the river. The merchant leading the group shouted proudly, "We're almost there! My daughters, eat well and ask the goddess to grant us strength! This is the last batch of silk!"

Her shouts were strong and clear, which drew murmurs and whispers from several people who were leading their horses to water.

"The shopkeeper is encouraging everyone again..."

"She always says the same few sentences."

Joking aside, the words weren't offensive. Since the temple's restoration, incense burned daily, and worshippers came and went in an endless stream. Forgotten history books were finally brought to the forefront, and true history, from its initial retelling to its oral transmission, flourished year by year, making Qingzhou more prosperous than ever. The deity in blue robes seemed to have truly returned to the mortal realm once more, protecting them with an invisible power.

It is an honor to be called the daughter of the goddess.

In the distance, several figures appeared on the other side of the field of vision.

The leader was dressed in a close-fitting outfit, with two ribbons fluttering over her shoulders. Her eyebrows were sharp, and her eyes were upturned, making her pupils appear even brighter. About a step or two behind her, a young man in white followed closely, his light blue hair ribbon fluttering gently in the desolate wind.

Further on, two people walked lazily. One was wearing a thick coat and looked unremarkable; the other had a different appearance, wrapped tightly in a long robe with a thick fur collar on one side.

These few people on the road looked like they were enacting the complete cycle of the four seasons, which was somewhat comical. But their faces all looked travel-worn, as if they had been on a long journey.

"They're really close."

Xi Mengsi quickened her pace in annoyance, squeezed next to Shen Lixia, and left the white-haired boy behind. "Prematurely gray hair, you must have a lot on your mind."

"Those jingling beads on your body aren't much better..." Shen Lixia thought to herself, smiling slightly, assuming it was just their usual bickering. Sure enough, a moment later, the boy who had been left behind caught up, taking two steps at a time, like a little tail afraid of being left behind, closely following behind Simmons.

At this moment, Qiao Yanshen suddenly asked, "What's your name? You can't keep calling me Holy Maiden."

If someone with ulterior motives overheard, it might bring trouble upon them. The boy lowered his head, fiddling with his white fingers that were tinged with red, and murmured, "Su..."

She paused for a moment before uttering the next word: "...Jiang. Just call me Su Jiang." Although they had come together, and because they were determined to carefully experience the path they had traveled, they did not use any magical artifacts. If they had horses, they rented them to travel, or they walked through mountains and rivers.

Several months have passed since I arrived here.

Su Jiang didn't talk much to them, mostly just silently following behind with her lips pursed. Xi Mengsi would occasionally tease her, which became one of the few times she was noticed. The other two were curious and polite towards her, but unfamiliar with the customs of the Garan people, they rarely tried to strike up a conversation.

She possessed an innate aura that kept people at a distance, like a porcelain doll emerging from the snow, unlike a child of the mortal world, more like a deity enshrined in a temple, looking down with pity upon all living beings.

Hearing her reply, Shen Lixia couldn't help but smile: "Did you choose that name yourself? It's a nice name. But we're not going to the snowfield next, so why are you following us, A-Jiang?"

The boy's heart stirred slightly at the call of "A-Jiang," and it took him a moment to recover before he stared intently at Shen Lixia, carefully observing her expression. Shen Lixia blinked and met his gaze without flinching, causing Su Jiang to look away.

What, did she say something wrong?

Su Jiang said in a low voice, "Anyway, you'll all go in the end..."

Shen Lixia asked, "How did you know?"

Su Jiang hesitated for a moment before speaking: "I know that True Monarch Mingji is dead. As her disciples, you have the responsibility to carry her belongings and return her to her roots. So you will definitely go to the snowy plains. At that time, I can guide you."

There, the frost and snow never melt, and the cold is overwhelming; even cultivators risk death.

That was the truth, but it was far too blunt. The atmosphere suddenly stiffened, and even Shen Lixia took a while to nod and say, "That's true." She felt a little awkward, not angry, just helplessly thinking—

The child's socialization level is somewhat low.

As they talked, they reached the group of caravan members who were scattered around. Some of them had already rested and were leading their horses back to the caravan. Shen Lixia, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted a few particularly conspicuous figures in the crowd.

A woman's physique is influenced by both innate and acquired factors, but if she is well-fed and healthy, she certainly wouldn't be as frail as some people describe in their writings—"too fragile to be grasped"—it's almost as if they've never seen a real person and are just figments of their imagination. Besides, since arriving here, the women she's met, while not all of them as tall, broad-shouldered, and robust as Yan Xueya, have all appeared to be of normal build. Such is the nature of humanity; there's no fixed expectation that anyone should cater to anyone else's desires.

But those people looked exceptionally thin, and their clothing was completely out of place for the season; although it was fur-lined, it was not very warm or cozy.

It looks utterly absurd.

Comfort is of course the priority for clothing. If the design is not very practical, it is no exaggeration to say that it is decorated with intricate carvings.

Shen Lixia gently tugged at Qiao Yanshen's sleeve and poked at the Simmons mattress. The two turned their heads in the direction she pointed, attracting Su Jiang's attention, who instantly showed a look of disgust.

“Those people…” She couldn’t quite describe the feeling, “They seemed very strange.”

Simmons couldn't hold back: "Good heavens, it's winter! Look at these people, they're all shivering. Why are they dressed like this? Did they never have enough to eat as children? That's why they're so thin and weak!"

They had never met, but Qiao Yanshen twitched his fingers, sighed softly, and said in a low voice, "Something unclean has infiltrated. But in their minds, they have probably never understood what a real person is like, so they let their imaginations run wild and created this disguise."

Because of the need for suppression, the idea of ​​valuing weakness from within is promoted, which naturally undermines the power of others from within.

Unfortunately, I've also encountered people who advocate for this kind of decadent freedom.

The other two were still somewhat confused, but Shen Lixia understood what she meant and couldn't help but laugh, "That's really despicable."

She walked briskly forward and called out enthusiastically to the merchants who were still resting nearby, "Gentlemen, would you like some water? Is this Qingzhou ahead?" Having come from Jingzhou, they naturally knew that Kuizhou had been renamed.

The women were quite friendly. One of them handed her a kettle and said, "Yes, are you going to Qingzhou? Where are you from?"

Shen Lixia answered truthfully, "That's quite far, to the Sixth Domain. I don't know which way to go, or if there are any post stations. We've been traveling since dawn and are looking for a place to rest and borrow some horses."

The woman picked up a dry branch from the side, walked to the riverbank, drew a few simple lines, and explained how to get there. Her explanation was concise and to the point, clearly indicating she frequently traversed these paths, so much so that even Su Jiang, unfamiliar with the area, understood. After she finished, the woman looked up and asked if they had any further questions. Shen Lixia shook her head, cupped her hands in thanks, and asked if they still had any.

After exchanging drinks, they filled the water jugs again at the merchants' hospitality. Some people, seeing that Qiao Yanshen and Su Jiang were exceptionally fair-skinned, assumed they were scholars and affectionately gave them dried meat wrapped in kraft paper, urging them to eat more.

Qiao Yanshen couldn't refuse, her ears turning red, but she finally accepted. She lowered her voice and asked the merchants, "Are those people from your caravan?"

The merchants almost immediately understood who she was referring to, saying, "They're just traveling with us temporarily, also heading to Jingzhou to transport silk. They looked pitiful, so we paid them some money, though not much, just to help them out along the way."

“You are all kind-hearted.” Qiao Yanshen nodded, thinking to herself that even kindness can be taken advantage of. The phrase “Ba’s daughter” that she had just heard had a somewhat prophetic feel to it. Seeing that everyone was getting up and knew they were leaving, she casually asked, “Where are you headed? Is it Jingzhou?”

"Ultimately, we're heading to the south, where people love the silk produced in Jingzhou. We'll go there after we finish delivering this batch of goods."

Southland...

Qiao Yanshen had a guess in his heart and nodded, saying, "Although we can't say that strangers on the road have malicious intentions, you should still be more careful."

After saying this, the group bid a brief farewell to the caravan and headed in the direction they had indicated. Faint shouts could be heard from behind, seemingly the captain reprimanding others for their inefficiency.

Shen Lixia chuckled softly, and spiritual energy gathered at her fingertips, transforming into tiny fireflies. Suddenly, they flapped their wings and flew over there, disappearing into the distance.

They found a post station along the route and rented several fine horses. Qiao Yanshen's horsemanship had improved by then, so he no longer needed to ride with anyone, though he slowed down a little. Shen Lixia deliberately lagged behind, letting Xi Mengsi and Su Jiang gallop ahead relentlessly, using the wind to carry her words to the white-clad youth whose clothes were fluttering in the wind:

"Senior sister is amazing!"

Qiao Yanshen looked up at her and smiled. The horse's hooves trampled over the withered grass, and the cold air rushed in from all directions. The weather was so cold, but because of the boy's heartfelt words, it became slightly warmer, as if it were early spring.

Their destination was the temple in Qingzhou.

Around noon, they finally crossed the mountain road and arrived in Qingzhou. The group tied up their horses and entered the city, and were astonished by the bustling scene. This was completely different from the desolation brought by the drought demon. People of all ages strolled through the streets and alleys, and even before reaching the market, one could feel the harmony and peace of the place.

This made it impossible to recognize the original path, so we had to ask around. Fortunately, after wandering around for a while, the surrounding scenery finally became more familiar, and we finally felt at ease when we entered the mountains and forests.

It's the same road.

But the mountains and forests were no longer as desolate as before; a clean road had been carved out, and there were even tire tracks. Since there were no rides available, they had to endure the hardship of walking.

"I never expected it to be rebuilt so well in such a short time..." Shen Lixia exclaimed. "The forest is lively now; back then, even the birds didn't want to come here."

"The temple must be full of incense offerings now. Sigh, coming back here reminds me of how I kindly saved my fellow Daoists, only to be called a fraud..." Simmons raised his hand, pretending to wipe his eyes.

Shen Lixia said bluntly, "You're a liar now too."

Heaven knows how many spirit stones this person swindled from the naive Su Jiang when they got bored on the road and started playing mahjong together.

If they were merely surprised before, upon arriving at the temple, they were left only with awe. The previously dilapidated walls and courtyards, now restored, were clean and sturdy, and expanded in several areas, giving them a somewhat Buddhist sanctuary feel. The planted trees cast dappled shadows, fish swam nimbly in the pond, and several calico and tabby dogs lay on the stone platform grooming themselves, swatting at the falling leaves. Pilgrims and temple staff greeted each other with nods, moving about in a steady stream.

Shen Lixia had a strange intuition.

—Ba will like this place.

Inside the main hall was a statue of the goddess, while in the side hall stood another small statue, its wings outstretched and its cloak fluttering, the memorial tablet bearing the inscription "Lord Lingguang." Shen Lixia blinked, surprised that Hua Ying was also involved, and not just in this one place.

Qiao Yanshen naturally recognized it as well. He gently touched her shoulder and pointed to the mural with a smile: "Look, they even carved a pair of sworn brothers."

She seemed to be using this to tease him on purpose, which made Shen Lixia awkwardly twist the corner of her clothes.

The mural depicts the goddess accompanying Lord Lingguang on his campaigns. Simmons, who had parted ways with them, also came to see the mural. Hearing Su Jiang's exclamation, she patiently explained the meaning of the images to her.

The Garan people collected countless documents and legends related to dragons, but rarely touched upon other gods. Su Jiang listened attentively, occasionally responding with a comment.

Shen Lixia rolled her eyes.

If we can't get along, why pretend to be mean all the way?

She was about to ask the old woman at the temple for some incense to properly pay her respects to her deceased friend when she suddenly heard a joyful and hoarse shout from not far away:

"Immortal Master!"

Shen Lixia turned around, and what came into view was the old man they had met when they first arrived at the temple.

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Author's note: The Nine Realms section will have slightly more elements of sexual warfare.

If you feel uncomfortable about anything, please let me know!