Chapter 3 Side Story 2 (3) The Bad Snake Steals the House...
This person is too overly friendly. They just met by chance, and he invited her to dinner.
Lu Yuanyuan politely declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm not hungry. I'll just wait outside."
In the mortal realm, she was always accompanied by attendants whenever she went out; after arriving in the cultivation world, Duan Lansheng always protected her. Now, this is the first time she is venturing into the world alone. Despite her lack of relevant experience, she still has basic precautions.
She wasn't annoyed by his rejection; she simply nodded thoughtfully and said, "What a pity."
pity?
What a pity?
Seeing Lu Yuanyuan's confusion, the other party smiled slightly and, like a lark singing, announced one dish after another: "It's a pity that the chilled sweet and sour pork with plum, crab roe tofu, passion fruit and cumin beef, golden grouper in stone pot, seafood shrimp porridge, and osmanthus braised duck I ordered are all going to be wasted because I can't find anyone to eat with me."
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
hateful.
From noon until now, she's only eaten a bag of roasted sunflower seeds. Having such a vivid imagination is a problem; just hearing the names of dishes makes her hungry. She was initially only five points hungry, but now she's ten. Her empty stomach churned and, quite unceremoniously, made a rumbling sound.
Just then, a raindrop pattered onto her boot. Lu Yuanyuan quickly pulled her foot back, the sound of rushing water filling her ears; the rain had suddenly intensified. Dense raindrops splashed onto the steps, and the autumn wind made the tavern's flag flutter incessantly. It seemed this rain wouldn't stop anytime soon.
The eaves were too narrow, and the splashing water droplets soaked the hem of her skirt, making it impossible for her to continue sitting on the stairs. Lu Yuanyuan had no choice but to stand up and back up the stairs, eventually reaching the same step as the other person.
After saying that, the other person said no more and stepped into the door first, as if he was certain that she would follow.
Lu Yuanyuan glanced at the sky, hesitated for a moment, and then went inside.
She didn't know when the Shushan disciples would remember her, who had fallen behind. She didn't want to get soaked to the bone before they even arrived.
If anything seems amiss, she'll come out.
The curtain kept out the cold wind and autumn rain. The tavern was brightly lit, a two-story wooden structure, and quite busy with customers. Waitstaff moved between tables and chairs serving dishes.
Great, it doesn't look like a shady business.
Lu Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the woman from before had sat down by the window, pouring tea into a porcelain cup while talking to the waiter.
Lu Yuanyuan walked over, pulled out a chair opposite her, and sat down. A cup of steaming hot tea was pushed in front of her by a slender hand.
The other person poured her some tea, then she picked up another cup and took a sip.
Lu Yuanyuan's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the hand holding the cup.
Wow... such big hands.
A porcelain cup of the same size looked like a child's toy in the other person's hands. But it wasn't a rough, fleshy hand; from the fingers to the wrist, it was fair and slender, very beautiful.
Lu Yuanyuan lowered her eyes, held the cup with both hands, and took a sip of tea. The refreshing aroma of the tea lingered on her tongue, without any unusual sensation. The warmth seeped through the cup, making her palms feel comfortable.
The dishes were served, filling the small square table with the names of the dishes the other party had just mentioned, their steaming aroma filling the air.
The other person ate very elegantly, always swallowing their food before speaking, but they didn't stop Lu Yuanyuan from talking while eating. They listened attentively without probing into Lu Yuanyuan's background, simply chatting casually about interesting anecdotes from the cultivation world. They were neither overly enthusiastic nor did they unconsciously dispel the awkwardness and restraint of strangers.
After eating and drinking her fill, Lu Yuanyuan touched her full belly, and her wariness lessened considerably.
However, she looked out the window several times during the meal, and even now, after finishing her meal, she still hadn't seen any disciples of the Shu Mountain Sect.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
Didn't anyone notice that one person is missing from the team?
They wouldn't just abandon her and continue on their way, would they?
The woman glanced in the direction she was looking and looked towards the door: "It's almost 9 PM. Is your companion delayed on the way?"
Under the lamplight, her profile resembled rolling hills, exuding elegance and grace. I realized then how high her brow bones were and how long her eyelashes were.
Lu Yuanyuan said dejectedly, "I guess so."
Do you have a place to stay tonight?
Lu Yuanyuan shook her head awkwardly but honestly.
She doesn't even have money for food, so how can she find a place to stay?
The other person looked as if he had expected this, and suggested, "I happen to be staying at this inn tonight. How about this, I'll get you a room too. It's so late, let's talk about it at dawn. You can also have the waiter keep an eye out for anyone coming back looking for you."
Lu Yuanyuan's eyes widened, somewhat incredulous: "Is that possible?"
"Of course, we've eaten together, so we're friends. How could I watch you sleep on the streets? Besides, everyone encounters inconveniences when they're out and about. It's just a small favor, don't worry about it."
Lu Yuanyuan's eyes flickered slightly.
He treated her to a meal and paid for her accommodation even though it was the first time they met. Are there really such kind and understanding people in the world?
The other person noticed her gaze and couldn't help but chuckle: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're not a scammer, are you?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Lu Yuanyuan realized she had asked a silly question.
If the person in front of you doesn't have bad intentions, and your kindness is taken for granted, you'll definitely be very angry. But if the other person is a liar, why would they readily admit to being a liar?
Unexpectedly, the other party did not show any disdain when faced with this silly question. Instead, their tone was as if they were making a promise: "I will not lie to you, and I will not hurt you."
"Then I won't be polite, thank you."
The woman smiled, beckoned the waiter, and asked him to prepare an extra guest room.
The waiter took the money and beamed, "Please wait a moment, sir, I'll get right away."
Lu Yuanyuan scratched her head, realizing that after chatting for so long, she still didn't know how to address this kind philanthropist, and felt somewhat annoyed at her rudeness. After the waiter left, she asked, "By the way, I still don't know your name."
To show her sincerity, she took the initiative to introduce herself: "My name is Lu Yuanyuan, Lu as in land and Yuan as in kite flying in the sky."
"A very nice name." The other person rested their chin on their hands, looking at her with a half-smile, and mimicked her speech: "My surname is Yin, and my given name is Xiaozhu. Xiao means cloud and Zhu means bamboo leaf."
Lu Yuanyuan had just taken a sip of tea to moisten her throat when she heard this, and she almost choked.
Yin Xiaozhu!
Isn't that the name of the senior disciple of Danqing Peak in Mount Shu?!
That day, Duan Lansheng warned her to stay away from her senior sister. She casually asked for her senior sister's name and kept it in her heart ever since.
No way, how could there be such a coincidence? She had just gotten alone and bumped into her elusive senior sister in this small town!
No, no, no, let's calm down first. What if they just share the same name as our senior sister?
With millions of people in the world, it's perfectly normal to have the same name. It's quite possible that this Yin Xiaozhu isn't actually the senior sister from Danqing Peak.
Of course, while there might be others with the same name, there can't possibly be another Yin Xiaozhu in the Shu Mountain sect. So, wouldn't it be enough to simply ask if she's a disciple of the Shu Mountain sect to confirm if she is indeed the senior sister?
What should I do? Should I ask?
In the brief interval between breaths, a storm of thoughts swept through his brain, making even non-existent hairs stand on end.
Yin Xiaozhu studied her expression and raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?"
With a "click," Lu Yuanyuan put down her teacup, swallowed the tea with difficulty, and said with a dazed look in her eyes, "N-nothing, I was just too thirsty and drank it too fast."
"Be careful next time." Yin Xiaozhu chuckled, stood up, and gently patted her back to help her catch her breath. At this moment, the waiter returned after finishing his business and handed two keys to Yin Xiaozhu.
The rooms are all booked.
Lu Yuanyuan patted her chest. After a period of intense struggle, she decided not to ask anything.
Duan Lansheng once said that his senior sister was a dangerous person, so it was right not to investigate her identity in depth now.
After all, if you're having such a pleasant conversation with someone over dinner and then suddenly turn hostile and run away, it's obvious there's something fishy going on.
If the other person isn't the senior sister, then at most she's overreacting. But if the other person really is the senior sister, her actions are just asking for trouble and will only arouse suspicion.
Anyway, we'll all go our separate ways tomorrow, and she's not wearing the Shu Mountain sect robes now, so it's better to avoid trouble. As long as we get through tonight peacefully, that's fine.
Lu Yuanyuan clenched her fists and followed Yin Xiaozhu up the stairs, pretending to be calm.
This tavern not only serves food, but also has an inn behind it for lodging, making it a one-stop service. However, compared to the bustling lobby, the inn building is much quieter, with no lights shining from any of the rooms.
The wooden staircase was narrow and dimly lit, creaking underfoot, making it difficult for two people to pass side by side. Yin Xiaozhu took the lead, holding the candlestick, but holding it at an angle, so that the candlelight illuminated not her own feet, but the steps in front of Lu Yuanyuan.
Yin Xiaozhu's eyesight seems to be excellent. She can see clearly in the dark without any light.
Unfortunately, this is a common trait among cultivators and cannot prove whether she is the senior disciple.
Lu Yuanyuan was lost in thought when she suddenly saw the person in front of her stop in front of a guest room: "You've arrived at your room."
The door was open, and Lu Yuanyuan looked inside. Although it was just an inn in a small town, the room was very clean. It wasn't large, but the bed was neatly made and the table and chairs were complete.
“I’m in the next room. You can come find me if you need anything.” Yin Xiaozhu handed her the candlestick, his voice gentle. “Get some rest.”
Lu Yuanyuan thanked him again, closed the door under Yin Xiaozhu's watchful gaze, and waited furtively behind the door, holding her breath and listening. Only when she heard the sound of the door in the next room closing did she breathe a sigh of relief and lock the door.
The lock on this door is so old; it doesn't feel very safe. Lu Yuanyuan looked around, then laboriously moved a chair over and placed it against the doorway, then weighed down the large vase in the corner onto the chair. To avoid Yin Xiaozhu hearing the strange dragging noises, she moved everything off the ground with great effort, like a thief.
I've heard that after becoming a Golden Core cultivator, not only will you have sharp hearing and eyesight, but you can also easily lift things much heavier than yourself, like an ant carrying a grain of rice.
I really want to form a golden core soon and experience what it's like to be a superhuman.
Lu Yuanyuan took a step back, looking at her masterpiece, and felt a little relieved. This way, even if someone sneaked in at night, it wouldn't be so easy; the vase falling over would wake her up immediately.
Below the window was a dark, cold alley. There was no foothold on the wall. Lu Yuanyuan glanced at it, then locked the window and went to sleep fully clothed.
The rain that fell that evening continued unabated, its sound accompanying her sleep. She didn't know how late it was, but the sky outside was still dark. She groggily turned over, then suddenly felt a strange sensation and opened her eyes.
The room was dark, without moonlight, and the furniture was indistinct. Lu Yuanyuan got up, wanting to light the candlestick, but before she could reach the table, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and covered her lips.
Sleepiness vanished instantly, and Lu Yuanyuan kicked her legs, letting out a few angry "woof woof" sounds, before being carried back to a secluded spot by the door.
The hand covering her face was icy and strong, its fingers dry, and her breath was concentrated on it. Just as she was about to open her mouth to bite, she heard a soft "shh" behind her ear.
That voice sounds so familiar... It's Yin Xiaozhu!
Why did she come in at midnight?
Could this guy really be a bad person?
At this moment, Lu Yuanyuan felt the hand on her lips loosen, slowly move down, pinch her chin, and gently turn her head towards the window.
At first, Lu Yuanyuan didn't understand why, but upon closer inspection, she noticed that the warm blood was flowing almost backwards.
This room has three windows, but only one can be opened; the rest are sealed-off decorative windows used to increase natural light.
Meanwhile, outside the closed stained-glass window closest to the bed, a humanoid creature, winged and footed, resembling a giant bat, hung silently. Its sharp fingernails gently and slowly tapped on the window, tearing a hole the size of a fist, but the sound was drowned out by the rain. Through the hole, a pale, bluish-white face covered in hard scales maliciously and subtly observed the scene inside the room.
What is that thing? How long has it been lying outside the window by her bedside?
She couldn't imagine how horrified she would feel if she were still lying in bed and opened her eyes to see this thing hanging upside down above her head.
So, did Yin Xiaozhu discover the danger before her and deliberately climb in to save her?
Lu Yuanyuan was covered in a cold sweat.
If Yin Xiaozhu hadn't arrived first, and she had rashly turned on the light in the dark, who knows if it would have aroused that thing to turn from stillness to movement and pounce into the house.
"Good things don't come true, but bad things do," she thought to herself. Just then, she saw the eyeball in the hole move slightly, roll around, and stare at her.
That thing is coming in!
In the darkness, rainwater, mingled with the stench of blood, poured in through the broken window. Lu Yuanyuan was pulled back, and in the pitch-black room, she could only see the monster's figure, severed in two and splattered with blood, by the light of the snow-white sword.
Although it was only for a brief moment, she still recognized it as a move from the Shu Mountain sect.
This person...this person is Senior Sister!
She stepped back, her waist suddenly bumping into something cold. In the nick of time, Yin Xiaozhu grabbed her arm, but stepping on the rainwater on the floor, they both fell to the ground, and she rolled right onto Yin Xiaozhu's stomach.
A loud thud sounded beside me, like the sound of porcelain shattering into pieces.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
Oh no, it's the vase she used to block the door!
Her head was still a little dizzy, but with someone pressing down on her, it didn't hurt. Lu Yuanyuan propped herself up and saw that Yin Xiaozhu had also sat up, his brows furrowing slightly.
Lu Yuanyuan's gaze fell, and she froze.
Just now, in the chaos, this hand covered her head. Now, a sharp shard of porcelain has pierced straight into the back of that hand, and dark red blood is gushing out.
If it weren't for this hand blocking it for her, the porcelain shards would have pierced her body.
Yin Xiaozhu's eyelids were also splattered with the monster's blood, a bright red streak, cold and eerily beautiful.
With her other hand still supporting Lu Yuanyuan's waist, she didn't cry out in pain when her hand was pricked. She looked away from the back of her hand and turned to the overturned chair and the shattered vase on the floor. She seemed to understand something and glanced at Lu Yuanyuan.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
She felt inexplicably guilty, mixed with a trace of remorse.
If she hadn't moved the vase, Yin Xiaozhu wouldn't have been pricked.
She thought Yin Xiaozhu was going to blame her, but the other person simply stood up, took her hand with his clean hand, and said succinctly, "Leave here first."
At the middle of the night, with such a commotion, the innkeeper and waiters couldn't have missed it. They must have guessed there was danger and dared not approach.
After leaving the inn, they walked along the eaves that provided shelter from the rain until they reached an alley, where they finally stopped.
The sky was already beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
Lu Yuanyuan, panting with her hands on her knees, looked back at the way she had come with lingering fear: "What kind of monster was that?"
"Bat demons are monsters that live in the Valley of Floating Pagodas. They usually appear in groups. This one must have flown out of the valley."
Lu Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, only one came.
If such terrifying things came in a large, dark swarm, the people of this town would be doomed.
At this moment, Yin Xiaozhu, who was standing next to her, gasped slightly. She came to her senses and quickly helped the other person up: "Your hand is still bleeding. Sit down quickly. Do you have any medicine on you?"
Yin Xiaozhu nodded.
"I'll sprinkle some medicine powder on you. Where do you put the medicine?"
Thinking of where the disciples of Mount Shu usually kept their medicine, Lu Yuanyuan reached into her clothes and rummaged around for a while, eventually finding several bottles of medicine. Whether it was her imagination or not, the other person seemed a little stiff when she touched them.
The fact that there were no words on the medicine bottle didn't stump Lu Yuanyuan; after all, she had learned from Duan Lansheng.
She pulled out the stopper, took a gentle sniff, and found the hemostatic powder. She sprinkled almost half a bottle onto Yin Xiaozhu's hand, then suddenly caught sight of something and froze: "Your eyes!"
Yin Xiaozhu was looking at her, and unlike before, her eyes were now faintly shimmering with a beautiful golden-green hue.
Like a magnificent gemstone forged in the fire.
Beauty is also eerie.
The Sect Master and his wife of Mount Shu are both human, so their daughter is naturally also human. But human eyes don't change color, so how could Yin Xiaozhu possibly have eyes like that?
However, considering the bloodstains on the other person's eyelids, Lu Yuanyuan instantly thought of a possibility: "Is the blood of that bat demon poisonous?"
Yin Xiaozhu seemed surprised by her words, and after a while, she slowly said, "...Yes, it's poisonous."
As he expected, Lu Yuanyuan panicked upon hearing this: "I knew it! What do we do now? Will washing it with water help? Can you still see clearly?"
"...It's too late. There's no antidote for this poison. We can only wait for the toxicity to dissipate slowly. During this time, I may experience temporary blindness from time to time."
"Blindness? It's too dangerous to be blind. Do you have any friends with you?"
Yin Xiaozhu shook her head.
Lu Yuanyuan came up with an idea: "What are your plans next? Are you going to the Natural Treasures Conference?"
Yin Xiaozhu said, "I'm not going. I'm just passing through. I have some important business to attend to elsewhere, and then I'll be going home."
Not on my way? That's troublesome.
Lu Yuanyuan had originally planned that if it was on their way, she could take Yin Xiaozhu to the Heavenly Treasures Conference. There, people from Mount Shu could offer assistance.
However, their destination wasn't there at all.
That's right. Fu Luan said that Yin Xiaozhu hasn't returned to Shu Mountain for several years. She probably has her own reasons for not wanting to see the people of Shu Mountain.
At this moment, Yin Xiaozhu suddenly said, "Just now I saw that you could distinguish the unique hemostatic powder of Shushan by smell. Are you a disciple of Shushan?"
Lu Yuanyuan: "!"
They've already been recognized; there's no point in denying it now.
Lu Yuanyuan steeled her heart and admitted, "I am a disciple of the Shushan Sword Sect. You must be the senior sister of Danqing Peak, right? I've heard your name before, but I thought it was just a coincidence during dinner, so I didn't ask you. But after seeing your moves just now, I knew it was you."
"You haven't even formed your Golden Core yet, so why are you stranded here?"
Lu Yuanyuan recounted everything that had happened to her that day: "...That's how it is. If they hadn't come back to find me, I was planning to find another way to get to the Spirit Treasure Realm. But now..."
Before she could finish speaking, a money bag full of spirit stones was stuffed into her hand, and she was stunned.
“Since you have something important to do, go ahead and do it. These spirit stones should be enough for your journey.” Yin Xiaozhu paused, then smiled faintly: “Don’t worry about me. I just sometimes go blind, but I won’t die.”
Lu Yuanyuan: "…………"
Logically speaking, she should have listened to Duan Lansheng, accepted the offer, taken the money, and left. But... but... Yin Xiaozhu was so considerate of her; if she just left like that, it would be too heartless of her.
Especially this purse. Her two legs were held back by the heavy shackles of her conscience, and this purse became the final lock, suppressing her.
Lu Yuanyuan took a deep breath, made her decision, pushed the money bag back into the other person's hand, and said loyally, "No, you can't see it now, but I won't abandon you."
People are multifaceted. Fu Luan once said that her senior sister was a beautiful and kind-hearted fairy. Now she felt that Fu Luan's description wasn't entirely untrue. Wasn't she herself a living example?
Yin Xiaozhu clearly didn't know her, yet she was so kind to her. This shows that although she and Duan Lansheng didn't get along, she treated those with whom she had no grudges quite well.
So, as long as Yin Xiaozhu doesn't know that she and Duan Lansheng have a good relationship, there won't be any conflict, right?
Sending Yin Xiaozhu off for a while will only take three or four days at most; she's unlikely to be kidnapped.
Yin Xiaozhu smiled slightly and agreed to her suggestion: "If that's the case, it would be perfect."
.
The next morning, as the sun rose, the town came alive again.
Breakfast stalls set up their stands, with tables and chairs laid out on the street. Baskets of steamed buns came out of the oven, each one plump and adorable.
In a corner, in an inconspicuous spot, Lu Yuanyuan pulled Yin Xiaozhu behind her and made her sit down: "Senior Sister, the chair is here. You sit and wait for me. I'll go buy you something to eat."
The person she pulled to sit down wore a hood and had a white silk handkerchief draped over his nose: "Thank you for your trouble."
Yesterday, Lu Yuanyuan called Yin Xiaozhu "Senior Sister," and she didn't correct her; she just continued to call her that. All that "Yuanjun" stuff is so awkward to pronounce; calling her "Senior Sister" is much more affectionate.
The stall was already quite crowded, and Lu Yuanyuan overheard people discussing the monster that had appeared at the inn the previous night. Apparently, the news had already spread.
However, this is the world of cultivation, where demons and monsters are much more common than in the mortal world, so they don't seem so strange.
Lu Yuanyuan squeezed to the front of the crowd and bought two baskets of hot three-delicacy buns.
Yin Xiaozhu trusted her quite a bit, entrusting her with his bulging pockets of money, not at all afraid that she would be greedy for money and run away with it.
"I never imagined that such a colossal vessel as the White Crane Boat would crash..."
Lu Yuanyuan thought she had misheard and suddenly froze. Turning around, she saw several people talking as they walked into the distance.
"I don't believe it either. That's a ship from Mount Shu. Everyone on board is a master at slaying demons. Would any monster really dare to mess with Tai Sui? If you said a monster ate one or two ordinary people, I would believe you."
"Then tell me, how did the White Crane Boat end up falling from the sky above Floating Pagoda Valley?"
“This is absolutely true. Yesterday afternoon, before it got dark, I saw a cultivator from Mount Shu land on the street on his sword, as if he was looking for someone. A little while later, he led a group of people and flew swiftly towards the direction of Futu Valley. I was sitting in the teahouse next door having tea at the time, and I heard them talking. It seemed that the White Crane Boat had encountered trouble and was urgently summoning the disciples who had disembarked to make purchases back to provide support.”
"What kind of monster is so bold?"
"It's definitely a bat demon. Those things always appear in huge groups. I heard that a lone bat demon was also spotted at the inn in town last night. I think it's very likely that it flew over from the direction of Floating Pagoda Valley."
...
Lu Yuanyuan listened blankly, and after digesting their words, a chilling feeling suddenly ran down her spine.
Could this be the reason she was left behind?
At the time, the people who came down to shop with her were all called back to provide support due to the sudden attack, and there was no time to find her who had fallen behind.
As a result, the white crane boat crashed in the Floating Valley.
She escaped death because she got separated from her companions.
That's right, the crash of the White Crane Boat doesn't necessarily mean everyone on board will die. As long as they know how to fly on a sword, there's a chance of survival. There were many outer disciples on that White Crane Boat like her, without a Golden Core or the ability to fly on a sword. However, the personal disciples bound to those people were all on the same boat; in a life-or-death situation, they would have someone to guide them. Only she, without Duan Lansheng by her side, was most likely to die when the White Crane Boat shattered.
One can't help but marvel at the unpredictable nature of fate. Her luck has never been great, yet at other times it's been incredibly good. At every major juncture in her life, she manages to escape danger; every time she faces a life-or-death crisis, she always manages to turn misfortune into good fortune. It's as if someone in the shadows is rewriting her destiny, bringing forth vibrant life from seemingly hopeless situations.
Lu Yuanyuan suppressed her emotions, picked up the steamed buns, returned to her seat, and told the other person what she had heard and heard.
Yin Xiaozhu comforted her, "Although the white crane boat capsized, the people on board are capable of protecting themselves, so there is no need to worry too much."
Lu Yuanyuan nodded and went to buy porridge. Remembering that the other person had started to lose their sight an hour ago, she hummed in agreement and laid out the buns and porridge: "Senior Sister, these are three-delicacy buns and multigrain porridge. The multigrain porridge contains he shou wu, which can nourish the liver and improve eyesight. Have some."
“Okay.” Yin Xiaozhu reached out and groped around on the table, like a blind man feeling an elephant. It took him a while to find the bowl. He then groped around with his other hand for a long time but couldn’t find the spoon. He looked a bit clumsy.
Lu Yuanyuan watched for a while, then couldn't bear it any longer and snatched the spoon away: "Let me feed you, otherwise it will spill on your clothes."
Yin Xiaozhu smiled slightly and readily agreed: "Thank you for your trouble."
Lu Yuanyuan scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it to her lips, caught it with one hand, and carefully offered it to the other person's mouth with the other. The porcelain spoon touched those red lips, pressed gently against them, and Yin Xiaozhu opened his mouth and swallowed.
The bowl of porridge slowly emptied.
Immediately, Lu Yuanyuan followed suit, and the two of them shared the steamed buns.
.
From that day on, Lu Yuanyuan began to follow Yin Xiaozhu.
According to the initial estimate, it would take her at least three days and at most five days to arrange for Yin Xiaozhu to return home. By then, the Natural Treasures Conference would still be ongoing, and she could ask Yin Xiaozhu for some travel expenses to reunite with Duan Lansheng.
Little did anyone know, Yin Xiaozhu had more than one thing to do and more than one place to go.
Lu Yuanyuan followed her as they traveled around the cultivation world, staying in each place for three or four days at a time. Upon arriving at each location, Yin Xiaozhu would go out on errands for several days in a row, but would always return to the inn within half an hour.
Aside from going out for a short while each day, Yin Xiaozhu seemed to have plenty of free time, taking her around to travel, enjoy the scenery, eat, drink, and have fun.
Lu Yuanyuan was a little curious about what Yin Xiaozhu was doing, and why he insisted on going out for a short while every day instead of finishing everything in one day, coming today and leaving tomorrow. Wouldn't that shorten his schedule and save a lot of time?
Because there were too many destinations, her initial five days turned into ten days, and then ten days turned into half a month. She didn't know when it would end.
He had boasted that he would take Yin Xiaozhu home, but if you asked when it would end, it would seem like he had gone back on his word and was urging her to hurry up.
So, Lu Yuanyuan asked Yin Xiaozhu if there was any way to send a message to the people of Shu Mountain. She couldn't be out of contact for too long; if the people on the White Crane Boat didn't know she hadn't boarded, Duan Lansheng might think she had died on the White Crane Boat.
Yin Xiaozhu said that although there was no postal service to send letters to Lingbao Secret Realm, the Natural Treasures Conference was still in progress, and she happened to have a friend who was going to attend, so she could ask the friend to deliver the letter.
Lu Yuanyuan quickly wrote a letter and asked Yin Xiaozhu to deliver it, so she had no more worries.
Actually, the days spent with Yin Xiaozhu were quite pleasant. Having been in the cultivation world for over a year, this was the first time she had traveled to such a faraway place, exploring this all-encompassing world. With Yin Xiaozhu, she didn't have to worry about where to go or what to do tomorrow; there were delicious foods and fun activities, and the variety of sightseeing was endless.
The novelties from all over the world dazzled her; she couldn't take it all in.
As she spent more time with Yin Xiaozhu, the initial wariness in her heart gradually crumbled. Every morning, Yin Xiaozhu would comb her hair, and when she was tired from playing at night, he would massage her. When she couldn't sleep, he would coax her to sleep. At the same time, he was also proficient in the Shu Mountain Sword Technique, and even though he wasn't a disciple of the Sword Sect, he could teach her things from the Sword Sect, so Lu Yuanyuan's studies were not neglected at all.
However, for some reason, Yin Xiaozhu liked to lift her up and have her sit on his lap.
Even the closest sisters rarely do this, right? Is it some kind of fetish they have?
Just like Yue Hong liked to climb over the wall to bring her food, Duan Lansheng liked to be her housekeeper. Everyone has their own little hobbies.
Furthermore, Yin Xiaozhu was a master of praise. If she slept in, Yin Xiaozhu praised her for being natural and unpretentious. If she got up early to practice swordsmanship, Yin Xiaozhu praised her for being self-disciplined and adorable. Every compliment was sincere and gentle, like a sweet, intoxicating drink. In short, in Yin Xiaozhu's words, it seemed she was perfect in every way, and everything she did was always right.
From this perspective, although Duan Lansheng and Yin Xiaozhu don't get along, they are still somewhat similar in some ways.
Does this mean that all disciples of Mount Shu have an elective course called "The Art of Boasting"?
However, it wouldn't be accurate to say that Yin Xiaozhu no longer needed her company. His eye condition flared up daily, preventing Lu Yuanyuan from leaving him unattended.
.
That day, the two arrived at a small town near the southern border. It happened to be the Lantern Festival, and the long street was bustling with activity. It was said that there would be lantern-lit boats to watch on the river after dark, and the second floors of the restaurants on both sides of the riverbank would become the best viewing spots.
As dusk settled, more and more people gathered at the windows on the second floor of the restaurant. Lu Yuanyuan finished her meal with Yin Xiaozhu and sat by the railing, eagerly awaiting the cruise ship. Suddenly, she noticed something, peeked out, then quickly pulled back, saying to Yin Xiaozhu beside her, "Senior Sister, you hold out your seat for now, I'll be right back."
Having said that, she disappeared into the crowd like a nimble fish.
Yin Xiaozhu subconsciously stood up, but still didn't follow. She lightly tapped the railing with her fingertips, and on the fiftieth tap, the familiar figure returned.
"I'm back!" Lu Yuanyuan, clutching something protectively in her arms, excitedly squeezed through the crowd and returned to her seat. Opening her palm, she held a bright orange lantern, proudly showing it off like a treasure. "Senior Sister," she said, "look! I never knew orange peels could be made into lanterns! This is the first time I've ever seen one. Have you ever seen one before?"
After waiting for a while, she noticed that the person in front of her was silent. She looked up in confusion and saw Yin Xiaozhu staring at the lamp in her hand, seemingly in a daze.
It was just a very ordinary little gadget, so she couldn't understand why Yin Xiaozhu was looking at it with such a fixed expression.
Does she like it?
"Here, this is for you." Lu Yuanyuan took the other person's hand, opened her palm, placed the small orange lamp on it, and said with a smile, "Of course, I'm just offering this as a token of my appreciation."
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but the other person's hand seemed to tremble slightly. The little orange lamp felt exceptionally light in those palms, and their fingers curled slightly, as if they wanted to hold on tight, yet were afraid of crushing a dream.
The crowd was bustling, and the warm yellow lights flickered faintly, enveloping everyone. They were so close that they could smell the warm fragrance emanating from Yin Xiaozhu.
Yin Xiaozhu took a deep breath before bending down to look her in the eye. His amber eyes reflected the light as he gazed at her, his tone incredibly earnest: "Thank you, Yuanyuan. I will keep it safe."
"As expected, you like this lamp."
"I like this lamp, and I like the sentiment behind it even more."
Lu Yuanyuan was surprised by what the other party said. She blinked slightly, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
After a while, she remembered what she was going to say: "Oh right, the boss just said he could engrave words on the lamp for me, but there were too many people, so I didn't let him. If I had known you liked it so much, I would have stayed downstairs a little longer."
What words would you like engraved?
"Let me think about it. Since I'm giving it to you, why don't I engrave your name on it?"
Yin Xiaozhu didn't answer. A small dagger slid out of her sleeve, and she picked up the small orange lamp, gently slicing the outside of the lamp with the tip of the dagger. Her hand was steady, and her strength was even, so she didn't break the thin and small peel.
After a short while, she stopped. Lu Yuanyuan curiously leaned over to examine it and was puzzled to find that there were no words carved on it, only two circles.
Lu Yuanyuan was puzzled: "Why carve two eggs on it?"
"These aren't eggs, they're two circles."
Lu Yuanyuan: "?"
"Haven't you noticed? When you pronounce your name quickly, it sounds a bit like 'Quanquan' (meaning 'circle')." Yin Xiaozhu asked with a smile, "How about we give you the nickname 'Quanquan'?"
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
She doesn't want to!
.
Time flies, and a whole month has passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Yin Xiaozhu suddenly told her that he was about to arrive at his home and invited Lu Yuanyuan to stay as a guest.
Although she had a lot of fun outings, Lu Yuanyuan hadn't contacted Duan Lansheng to let him know she was safe since that letter. Her intuition told her she needed to get back quickly once things were settled: "But..."
Yin Xiaozhu thought for a moment, then pulled her onto his lap and studied her expression: "Is Yuanyuan unhappy with me by her side?"
"I'm so happy, but I've been gone for so long. If I don't go back soon, I'm afraid Duan... I'm afraid my senior brother will worry."
“That makes sense. However, I was able to return home safely thanks to you this time, so how can I send you off right away? Besides, the journey back to the Spirit Treasure Realm is long, and you have no spiritual power. If you encounter trouble on the way back alone, it might be difficult to resolve. Why don’t I take you back?”
Yin Xiaozhu's words were not without reason.
At first, Lu Yuanyuan thought it would be over in a couple of days, never imagining they would travel such a long way together. As the saying goes, "He who walks by the river will eventually get wet," and the more they walked, the more monsters and demons they encountered. They did indeed encounter several monsters along the way, all of which were dealt with by Yin Xiaozhu.
Imagine if she were to walk the return journey alone; it would be very difficult for her to reach her destination safely.
However, Lu Yuanyuan still felt that something was not quite right: "But I just took you home, and now you want to take me back?"
If you give me gifts and I give you gifts, and the gifting goes on and on, won't everyone be giving gifts for nothing?
Yin Xiaozhu said, "I had to go to other places before, which is why it took so long. This time, I will take you back by flying on my sword. We won't go anywhere else along the way, and we'll go straight to our destination, which will shorten the time considerably."
Lu Yuanyuan's eyes lit up.
But then Yin Xiaozhu said that he had some things to do nearby. If Lu Yuanyuan was willing, she could stay here for a few days and he would entertain her before taking her back.
Lu Yuanyuan was already used to the other person going out to run errands every day, so she nodded and agreed to the plan. After all, although this option seemed to take more time, it was actually more reliable and faster to implement.
And so, Lu Yuanyuan settled down at Yin Xiaozhu's house.
Yin Xiaozhu's house was enormous, so large it could be described as a palace, hidden deep in a misty mountain. Only Yin Xiaozhu lived in this vast residence.
The houses are layered and stacked, quiet and elegant, and there is even a bamboo swing in the courtyard.
Lu Yuanyuan sat on the swing and found that the height was just right. If Yin Xiaozhu were to sit on it, the height wouldn't be enough to accommodate her long legs. She wondered what that guy was thinking when he designed it.
Since Lu Yuanyuan was a guest, she could simply lie down and enjoy herself after arriving. Sometimes, she felt a little guilty, since Yin Xiaozhu still didn't know that she had a good relationship with Duan Lansheng.
If Yin Xiaozhu knew, she might not hate her to the point of hating everything connected to her, but she certainly wouldn't treat her like a sister anymore. She was essentially deceiving others into believing she was being kind to them.
Lu Yuanyuan felt that she should do something to offset this guilt.
So, on this day, Lu Yuanyuan went to Yin Xiaozhu's room and offered to give him a shoulder massage.
Yin Xiaozhu was folding her clothes at the time. Upon hearing this, she seemed to hesitate for a moment: "You're going to give me a massage?"
"Yes."
"You don't need to do these things for me."
Lu Yuanyuan refused to give up, pressed herself in front of her, and looked up, saying, "You've pressed it for me so many times, I've learned how, so let me try."
Yin Xiaozhu met her bright eyes, and after a long while, he swallowed slightly and gave in: "Okay, you press it."
Lu Yuanyuan smiled.
This tactic never failed her. Back in Yong Kingdom, whenever they disagreed, as long as she looked at Yue Hong with wide eyes, letting him see her determination, Yue Hong would give in and agree to her request.
Whenever she looked at Duan Lansheng like this after arriving at Mount Shu, even the most hard-hearted Duan Lansheng couldn't keep a straight face.
Sure enough, as long as you are sincere and determined enough, and let the other party see it, Yin Xiaozhu will fall for it.
Lu Yuanyuan patted the bed happily, gesturing for Yin Xiaozhu to lie down on it. She had thought it over; sitting in a chair would only allow for shoulder massages, and they would have to change positions later, so it was better to just lie down on the bed from the start.
To make it easier to apply force, Lu Yuanyuan took off her shoes after the other person lay down and straddled him. For some reason, the person beneath her seemed to stiffen the moment her thigh touched his waist.
Lu Yuanyuan stopped and looked down again.
She wasn't actually pressing down on Yin Xiaozhu; she was just sitting astride him in a half-hearted manner.
Thinking of a possibility, Lu Yuanyuan suddenly felt apologetic: "Don't you like it when people ride on your waist? I'll get off right now."
Just as she was about to get up the way she came, she heard Yin Xiaozhu say, "It's okay, you can continue."
Perhaps because her face was buried in the pillow, her voice was a notch lower than usual.
Lu Yuanyuan said "Oh," and then confidently flipped back to her original position, rolled up her sleeves, and punched her shoulder and back.
After energetically finishing a round of hammering, it was her turn to turn over, so she told Yin Xiaozhu to turn over. Unexpectedly, the other party said it was time to stop and hurriedly sent her away.
When Lu Yuanyuan was asked to leave the room, she was still a little dazed. Hearing the door close, she turned around, looked at the tightly closed door, and was completely confused.
It's weird.
.
The strangeness continued into the night.
Every day, she and Yin Xiaozhu would eat together. However, on this particular day, it was already dark, and Yin Xiaozhu still hadn't appeared. She initially thought he was busy with other things, but then she remembered that he would always let her know beforehand, no matter what he was doing; he wouldn't just disappear without a trace.
Lu Yuanyuan thought for a moment, then ran to find her.
Yin Xiaozhu lived in a secluded courtyard, behind which was a hot spring with flowing water drawn down from the mountain. As dusk fell, Lu Yuanyuan saw that the door was closed, but there were sounds coming from the hot spring.
Although they were both women, and she had everything Yin Xiaozhu had, she had never tried bathing with her before. Not wanting to barge in, Lu Yuanyuan walked to the corridor outside the pool and asked loudly, "Senior Sister, are you taking a bath?"
No one answered.
That's strange. She clearly heard a sound coming from here just now. Could she have misheard?
Steam filled the air above the pool, and only the screen and hot spring rocks could be vaguely seen; it was impossible to tell whether anyone was there.
Let's try looking elsewhere.
Lu Yuanyuan turned to leave, but after a few steps, she suddenly heard a splashing sound, as if something had rolled into the pool. She abruptly stopped and walked back, asking in surprise, "Senior Sister, were you in there?"
Still no one answered.
The sound just now wasn't as simple as a small stone falling into the water. Could it be that Yin Xiaozhu got dizzy from soaking and slipped into the hot spring?
No, we still have to go in and take a look!
Lu Yuanyuan rushed in without hesitation, went around the screen, and saw a figure in the pool, surrounded by mist and water.
Sure enough, they fell into the water and passed out!
Lu Yuanyuan hurriedly squatted down, reached into the water, grabbed the other person's arm, and suddenly her eyelids were dazzled by something.
Is she seeing things? There seems to be a huge, black thing moving in the water...
With a splash, her hand, which had been submerged in the water, was suddenly grasped, and a wet person emerged from the water, strands of black hair clinging messily to her skin.
Water droplets rolled down her forehead, and her lips were as vibrant as flower petals, as if a beautiful ghost had come seeking water.
Her upper body, exposed above the water, was completely naked, and Lu Yuanyuan's gaze naturally settled on a certain spot.
For a moment, she froze, rubbed her eyes, and wondered if there was something wrong with them.
No, she wasn't mistaken.
The senior disciple of the Shushan Sword Sect is actually a man!
Moreover, looking further down, one can see that his legs are no longer human legs; from the waist down, they have transformed into a thick, long snake body. The dark scales shimmer with an alluring luster, coiling in circles at the bottom of the pool.
Lu Yuanyuan screamed and quickly retreated, pointing her finger at him, her voice trembling: "You, you, you're actually a man! Aren't you the senior sister of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect?!"
For a moment, she couldn't tell whether she felt more shocked or terrified. Then, thinking back on all these days how she had treated the other person as a confidante, anger surged within her, making her furious.
At this moment, she could clearly see that Yin Xiaozhu's eyes were glowing with a faint green light, just like they had been that morning. It was clear that it wasn't the bat demon that had made him like this; rather, his eyes were naturally capable of switching to this form.
Then, weren't all the things he said before just lies?
“I am, but I never said I wasn’t a man.”
After speaking, she strode aggressively towards the door. Once outside, there was no sound of her stopping her, only the sound of rushing water. Lu Yuanyuan stopped and turned around, only to find that the figure had vanished into the mist.
Lu Yuanyuan sensed something was amiss, raised her voice, and repeated, "I really am going. I'm not trying to scare you!"
There was no sound.
Lu Yuanyuan clenched her fists, swallowed hard, and turned back to look around more closely. She then noticed a large, long clump of stiff gauze next to the hot spring. It was semi-transparent but had a certain rigidity.
That's a snake's molted skin.
Yin Xiaozhu is shedding its skin.
I've heard that snakes are most vulnerable when they shed their skin. Yin Xiaozhu probably doesn't even have the strength to stop her from going out right now. What if he fainted again and drowned?
No, snakes can swim.
But... surely no snakes would swim in such a hot spring, right? It's not like we're making snake soup.
After hesitating for a while, Lu Yuanyuan still didn't leave. She carefully returned to the edge of the pool and saw the person lying motionless by the pool.
She crouched down and reached out to check his breath. The moment her hand touched his neck, it was gently grasped and pressed against his androgynous, beautiful face.
"I didn't mean to hide it from you, I was just worried that you would be afraid of me as a monster, so I didn't dare to let you know." Yin Xiaozhu seemed a little weak, and after speaking in a low voice, she slowly raised her eyes: "Quan Quan, don't be angry with me."
"Let her go."
At that moment, a cold yet familiar voice suddenly pierced the air from behind the fog.
Lu Yuanyuan shuddered as she felt the large hand holding hers tighten. Yin Xiaozhu's expression changed, and all the tenderness from before vanished.
Turning around, sure enough, it was Duan Lansheng.
He actually found his way here!
As soon as Duan Lansheng walked in, he saw her hand being pulled and pressed against Yin Xiaozhu's face, his icy killing intent intensifying. Lu Yuanyuan felt glared at, a look that seemed to say, "I'll settle this score with you when we get back." Immediately afterward, the two men started fighting right in front of her. Swords flashed and blades flew, accompanied by vulgar insults.
"You dare call yourself 'Quan Quan'?"
"Someone as dull and unromantic as you can't beat me no matter how many years you try."
The sky darkened, the sun and moon lost their light, and the house was destroyed. Presumably because the molting process wasn't complete, Yin Xiaozhu retreated first. In the end, Lu Yuanyuan was dragged back to Mount Shu by the icy-faced Duan Lansheng.
Before leaving, she clearly saw Yin Xiaozhu mouth the words "Wait for me" to her.
.
Back at Mount Shu, Lu Yuanyuan learned that Mount Shu had never received the letter she sent to report her whereabouts. Everyone else thought she had died in the crashed white crane boat, but only Duan Lansheng firmly believed she was still alive and even tracked her down to Yin Xiaozhu's lair.
Under Lu Yuanyuan's persistent questioning, Duan Lansheng revealed some information about Yin Xiaozhu. It turned out that the real senior sister had died long ago, and the current "senior sister" was her brother, who had taken her place after the real senior sister's death. This secret was known to very few people in the world.
So how could Duan Lansheng be so resourceful as to know that finding Yin Xiaozhu would lead him to her?
This time, however, Duan Lansheng refused to tell her the answer no matter what.
Not only did he refuse to speak, but after returning to Mount Shu, Duan Lansheng's face remained dark, like a towering iceberg unapproachable. It was rumored that his disciples had all been caught in the crossfire. Duan Lansheng was already very strict, but recently he had become extremely strict, causing everyone to tremble at the sight of him.
Of course, she was the most pitiful one. Duan Lansheng not only made her reflect on her actions behind closed doors, but also cut off her allowance, and wouldn't even let her eat three pieces of rice cake!
In an attempt to reconcile, Lu Yuanyuan chose a beautiful, sunny day and offered to give Duan Lansheng a back massage. Unexpectedly, Duan Lansheng frowned, his handsome brows furrowing as if a wary cat had caught a whiff of fish: "Where did you learn that? You didn't massage him too, did you?!"
Lu Yuanyuan dared not tell the truth and quickly shook her head: "No."
If Duan Lansheng found out that she had once ridden on Yin Xiaozhu's back, she would be finished.
Duan Lansheng's expression softened slightly, and Lu Yuanyuan took the opportunity to coax him, saying that she had learned her lesson and now deeply realized that when going out, one must be wary of handsome men with tails.
Duan Lansheng's expression changed slightly, and he said solemnly, "You think he's good-looking? How does he compare to me?"
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
Is his focus misplaced?
Seeing Lu Yuanyuan's pitiful expression, Duan Lansheng sighed, seemingly at a loss for what to do with her. He turned around, his face stern, and asked, "Will you still run around without my knowledge in the future?"
"No more!"
Lu Yuanyuan answered immediately.
This trip wasn't without its rewards. She learned how vast the sky is, how expansive the earth is, and how wonderful the outside world is. Of course, one must first be strong enough to succeed. Once she forms her golden core and can stand on her own, Duan Lansheng probably won't care about her so much anymore, right?
After this incident, Duan Lansheng became very strict with her. And Yin Xiaozhu, who disappeared that day after saying "Wait for me," never appeared again.
During breaks in her cultivation, Lu Yuanyuan would sometimes think of Yue Hong, and sometimes she would think of that little orange lamp.
While cleaning up the mess that day, she discovered that Yin Xiaozhu had also taken the little orange lamp with him.
Of course, she spent most of her time diligently cultivating. Finally, after countless days and nights, her hard work paid off, and she successfully formed her Golden Core, officially becoming a Golden Core cultivator.
That day, she packed her small bundle and ran away.
To be precise, she is now free to leave Mount Shu; the word "escape" is inappropriate. After waiting for so long, she can finally experience the carefree feeling of traveling the world alone with a horse and a sword.
As dawn broke, she boarded a ferry at the dock, contemplating the direction of her life.
Where should we go first?
By the way, she hadn't seen Yue Hong in a long time either. Why not take this opportunity to go to the mortal realm and see him?
In recent years, the war between the Yan and Yong kingdoms has never ceased. Her death, as a princess of Yan, has long faded from public memory. She knew that Yue Hong was still safe and sound, but she still wanted to personally inquire about his current situation.
Lu Yuanyuan found a place to sit down, propped her chin on her hand, watched the ripples on the water, and waited for the boat to depart.
She was in a rush to leave today and didn't have breakfast, so she's starting to feel a little hungry now.
The boat rocked slightly, as if another person had boarded.
She thought she was the only one who got up so early to take the boat.
Just then, a cloth bag containing snacks was handed to her: "Want some?"
Upon hearing the voice, Lu Yuanyuan almost jumped up on the spot. Turning around, she saw Yin Xiaozhu: "What are you doing here!"
He tied his hair up with a jade hairpin and looked much better than that day; the disheveled state after the skin peeling was no longer visible.
Yin Xiaozhu smiled slightly: "It's a coincidence that we're going the same way."
"I don't believe you! You're not allowed to follow me!"
Yin Xiaozhu sat down and said leisurely, "I'm going to the mortal realm. What about you?"
Lu Yuanyuan: "..." How come we're really on the same path?
Could it be that Yin Xiaozhu knew her destination was the mortal realm and was just repeating the answer?
No... impossible, how could this person know so much about her?
Could it really just be a coincidence? If so, kicking Yin Xiaozhu off the ship seems too domineering.
Lu Yuanyuan muttered, "Then, I guess I misunderstood you."
Yin Xiaozhu smiled as she watched her sit down again.
The time for departure had arrived. The boatman boarded the boat, untied the mooring rope, and used a bamboo pole to cut through the water. But at that moment, the boat suddenly shuddered, as if pulled by a force, and could no longer move.
It turned out that someone on the shore had stepped on the edge of the boat. Because of this one step, the large boat could no longer be rowed.
Duan Lansheng stood on the shore, stepping on the boat, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and said coldly, "Get down."
These words were spoken to the uninvited guest beside her.
Yin Xiaozhu's smile faded, and she stood up.
Another major battle is about to break out.
Unbeknownst to anyone, on the other side of the ferry crossing, outside the storm field, a small boat quietly left the port.
The trembling boatman was brought here, a large spirit stone was stuffed into his pocket, and he smiled again, working hard to propel the boat.
Lu Yuanyuan figured those two wouldn't finish fighting anytime soon. By the time they were done, the trip would be ruined, so she decided to set off first.
She placed one foot on the bow of the boat and gazed into the distance.
A gentle breeze blows across the river, and the sky is beginning to lighten.
Life is just right.
Author's Note: [Minor Ideas/Mini-Drama]
1.
Duan Lansheng: Who is more handsome, me or the Snake Lord of the North City?
2.
Stealing someone's home is a cycle. When foxes and snakes fight, the dog benefits.
Yue Hong (overjoyed): Happy New Year!!!
This concludes the full text.
May we meet again someday, though we're separated by vast distances. ︿(￣︶￣)︿
My next book is about my arch-enemy prince, it'll start this year, and I'm off with my little shovel!
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