The clues have been cut off.
After a long, long time, Yan Dan finally let out a long sigh: "This disguise technique is amazing, and this method of killing is also amazing."
Tang Zhou said in a low voice, "At least for now, we know that these things are inextricably linked to the Palace Master of Shenxiao Palace."
“Even though I know, it’s still the same as not knowing. Who is the Lord of Shenxiao Palace? What does he look like? How old is he? What is his purpose in doing this? I don’t know any of these things. Even if I had seen his true face, I wouldn’t be sure if it was a disguise or his real face. The only thing I know is that Shenxiao Palace is in a place called Mirror Lake Water Moon, and I’m afraid no one knows where Mirror Lake Water Moon is.” Yan Dan said softly.
Tang Zhou smiled slightly: "Forget it, don't think about it anymore. Since things have come to this, we have no other choice."
Yan Dan thought about it and realized that it was true. If others weren't in a hurry, she had even less to worry about.
"Actually, the blood-written note left by Miss Shen said she wanted to sever the thoughts of the person who killed her. If that person was the Palace Master of Shenxiao Palace, what thoughts did she want to sever?" Yan Dan asked thoughtfully. Tang Zhou interjected, "Could it be the Seven Luminaries Divine Jade?"
Yan Dan smiled and said, "Senior brother, you've become much quicker lately. People say that you become like those you associate with, and it's true."
Tang Zhou smiled and shook his head, then slowly walked back with her.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Yan Dan continued, "When I first met the Mountain Lord, I was tortured to death by him. After twenty years of training, we are now evenly matched, with the odds evenly split. So, you get smarter when you suffer more losses."
"The mountain lord you're talking about, is it the fish spirit who was with you last time?"
How did you know?
Tang Zhou smiled faintly: "The demons I've encountered before weren't even half as powerful as him. Such cultivation is quite rare."
As they spoke, they had already returned to the vicinity of the carriage. Liu Weiyang sat by the fire, the flickering flames reflecting on his face, making him appear somewhat melancholy. However, upon closer inspection, one would realize that he remained expressionless throughout. Yan Dan suddenly realized that Liu Weiyang's coincident appearance at this time might have been in Qing Shi Town before. Although this guess was bold, it couldn't be said to be entirely wrong.
She recalled what she had seen and heard about the Lord of Shenxiao Palace in the secret passage of the ancient tomb, and then turned to look at Liu Weiyang. She couldn't help but think, how could this young master Liu be so dense? Comparing such a saw-mouthed gourd to the Lord of Shenxiao Palace who could pretend to be anything is really too disrespectful to the Lord of Shenxiao Palace.
Yan Dan slowly moved a few steps closer and said softly, "Young Master Liu?"
Liu Weiyang turned to look at her calmly. Under his indifferent gaze, Yan Dan involuntarily choked, and cautiously asked, "Young Master Liu, are you also a cultivator?"
Liu Weiyang nodded slightly.
"Cultivation is divided into two sects and four schools, with duties including fasting and purification rituals, talismans, performing rituals to deliver the souls of the dead, alchemy, and so on. Alchemy is further divided into internal alchemy and external alchemy, and each stream is also divided into pure cultivation and yin-yang cultivation. Which one are you?"
Liu Weiyang slowly replied, "Neither."
"ah?"
Liu Weiyang dusted off his sleeves, turned around, and lay down to sleep.
Yan Dan suddenly felt that she was a fool for trying to get questions out of him.
The next day, as the sun rose, the group continued their journey.
"Young Master Liu, playing chess alone must be so boring. Why don't you let me play a game with you?" Yan Dan was secretly planning how to lose to him by two or three pieces, making him happy so that he would answer all her questions.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
"I put it here, but my hand slipped and I put it in the wrong place..."
Tang Zhou glanced sideways.
After the time it takes to drink two cups of tea.
"Sorry, I accidentally spilled my sleeve. Let me review this part."
Xu'er glanced sideways.
Another half-cup of tea time passed, and Yan Dan stared blankly at the chessboard where white pieces had occupied a large part of the territory, and slowly said, "Let's play another game."
As the sun set, Liu Weiyang picked up a chess piece with two fingers and placed it on the board with a snap, then began calculating how many moves he had won. Yan Dan broke down, crying to Tang Zhou, "He's too ruthless! He didn't leave me a single corner..."
Tang Zhou looked at her sympathetically: "Actually, my master and Brother Liu have played for ten years and never won a single game. You've only been playing for one day."
"Ten years? He could beat your master at chess when he was ten?"
Tang Zhou pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "I heard it from my master. I've only known Brother Liu for a year or two. But my master once mentioned that Brother Liu has made considerable progress in his cultivation, so his appearance hasn't changed much. He probably looks about the same as he did ten years ago."
The next day, in the bumpy carriage.
Liu Weiyang set up a chessboard and began playing against himself.
Yan Dan gritted her teeth and moved over, saying firmly, "I'll stay with you a little longer."
Liu Weiyang placed the box containing the black pieces next to her, indicating that he was letting her win the game.
As the sun began to set again, Yan Dan stumbled and collapsed to Xu'er's side, sobbing, "Your young master is too cruel! How can he play chess like that..."
Liu Weiyang picked up a white chess piece and tapped it lightly on the board, saying slowly, "I lost three fewer pieces than yesterday."
Xu'er smiled slightly and said, "Miss Yan, even my young master says you've improved. You know, in recent years, Young Master Tang's master has been losing more and more money."
On the third day, in a bumpy carriage. (Everyone: You dare say you're not deliberately padding the word count? Su: =口= Is it that obvious? I thought I was being very careful. Everyone: ...)
Liu Weiyang gently lifted the lid of the teacup, blew away the tea leaves floating on top, and slowly took a sip. At this moment, Yan Dan moved closer resolutely and said firmly, "Let's continue today."
Liu Weiyang raised an eyebrow, glanced at her for a moment, and then calmly took out the chessboard.
As darkness once again overwhelmed the setting sun, even the dark-skinned, mute coachman outside peeked in. "Snap!" The last piece landed, leaving the chessboard littered with pieces. Yan Dan lay sprawled on the low table, glaring at Liu Weiyang with resentful eyes. The latter counted the pieces on the chessboard once, then suddenly hummed in agreement, quickly counted again, and looked up, saying, "Shall we continue tomorrow?"
Yan Dan clenched her fist and said without hesitation, "Okay."
On the fourth day, amidst the jolting of the carriage (Su: I promise this time I'm not just padding the word count! Everyone: ...), Xiangdu City finally came into view.
Yan Dan suddenly realized why she had chosen to play chess with Liu Weiyang.
...It seems that we have strayed too far from our original goal.
"I plan to go home first and then come to visit my master in a few days. I won't be coming up the mountain with Brother Liu." Tang Zhou bowed to Liu Weiyang in farewell, then turned to look at Yan Dan. "Let's go."
Liu Weiyang walked past Yan Dan and casually asked, "Is your foot feeling better?"
Yan Dan immediately felt a dull ache in her ankle, and heard a crisp, pleasant "crack" in her ear. She immediately said, "It's much better now." If she dared to say it wasn't good, would he punish her again like that day? That way, she would become injured even if she wasn't, and a small injury would become a big one.
Liu Weiyang nodded and walked over.
Tang Zhou said calmly, "As far as I know, Brother Liu is probably not concerned about you."
Yan Dan said, "I know. He's like a gourd with a sawed mouth; he either doesn't speak at all, or when he does, it's definitely for some other purpose." She then added with a strange expression, "Tang Zhou, tell me honestly, is your master's place hard to find, and is the mountain path very steep?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Zhou nodded silently.
Yan Dan immediately stretched out her wrist, her expression pitiful: "Tang Zhou, please remove the restriction! I can't do anything without magic..."
"If you possess sorcery, I'm afraid you'll frighten my family."
"Then you just won't take me to your house."
"no."
"Tang Zhou, sometimes you have to be a little selfish. It's really too much for you to go to such lengths to uphold justice and personally keep an eye on me..."
"It's not hard at all, really."
"..." Yan Dan was very depressed.
Xiangdu, as the former capital of a dynasty, was no less prosperous than Nandu. Shops lined both sides of the four main streets, including teahouses, taverns, temples, and government offices, selling silks, satins, jewelry, spices, antiques, and rare treasures. The streets were bustling with people, a constant flow of vendors, their cries echoing through the air.
Yan Dan followed Tang Zhou through the bustling streets and turned into a quiet alley. A grand, secluded mansion stood before them. The main gate had red lacquered doors with copper rings, flanked by imposing stone lions. Above the gate was a gilded plaque bearing the words "Tang Mansion." She looked at Tang Zhou suspiciously: "Are you sure you're not mistaken? This is your home?"
Tang Zhou did not answer, but went straight up and knocked on the door.
Yan Dan thought of how servants in some wealthy families in the mortal world also took the surname of their master, and immediately understood. The red lacquered gate creaked open, and behind it stood a steward in brocade robes. Upon seeing Tang Zhou, he immediately said, "Young Master, you're back? Master and Madam have been thinking of you."
"..." Yan Dan became very depressed again.
"Cousin, it's good that you're back. Auntie talks about you every single day, I'm so tired of it." A bright, youthful voice came from behind, and a handsome young man walked past Yan Dan, playfully punching Tang Zhou on the shoulder.
Tang Zhou smiled slightly: "This time you've been away from home for a bit longer." He paused, then added: "You don't look like you just came back from the academy."
The boy said shyly, "Cousin, don't tell my aunt and uncle. The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon, and some of my friends want to try their luck in the dragon boat races, so I went to watch them at the riverbank."
"Don't worry, I won't say anything, but you should wash your face first." Tang Zhou turned his head and glanced at Yan Dan standing at the bottom of the steps. Yan Dan immediately stepped forward on her own.
The boy looked at her and smiled, asking, "Cousin, who is this young lady?"
Tang Zhou casually replied, "My junior sister is Yan Dan."
Yan Dan couldn't help but think idly, "He calls her his junior sister to his family now, but once he enters the sect and meets his real junior sister, who will she become? Could she be his cousin?"
The boy stared intently at Yan Dan, his mouth slightly agape, utterly shocked: "Cousin, I once asked you what your junior sister looked like. You said she had a face as black as charcoal, was incredibly strong, and was known as the Female Warrior. This... this Miss Yan is so different from what you described..."
Yan Dan couldn't help but think to herself, Tang Zhou's words were truly vicious.
Tang Zhou coughed lightly: "This is my cousin, Jing Ling."
Yan Dan lowered her head slightly and said with a smile, "Young Master Jing." She could swear to heaven that she would absolutely follow the rules of conduct for women in the mortal world, not showing her teeth when she smiled and not looking directly at others. As a result, Jing Ling blushed and stammered, "Miss Yan, you, you don't need to be so formal. Just call me Jing Ling."
Tang Zhou turned around and glanced at her.
While Jing Ling was quietly slipping back to his room, Yan Dan whispered, "Humans and demons are different. If we were to have an affair, we would be struck by lightning. I would never have any feelings for a mortal."
Tang Zhou smiled and said, "Is that so?"
"Miss Yan is an apprentice of Abbot Qiu? Life on this mountain must be too austere for a girl like you, right?" Madam Tang picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of fish in her bowl. She was clearly a woman from a wealthy family, with fair and delicate skin, and an air of elegance in her eyes and brows. The beauty mark at the corner of her eye added a touch of charm to her appearance.
Yan Dan glanced at Tang Zhou, who remained noncommittal as he ate his rice. Yan Dan could only make up a story: "The Taoist temple is located in the mountains, and the roads are difficult to travel, so it's not easy to go in and out. But my master said that when Heaven bestows a great responsibility, one must endure some hardship. Only by enduring what others cannot endure can one rise above others."
Uncle Tang nodded in satisfaction: "Well said."
"Where is Miss Yan from? Does she have any family?" Madam Tang asked gently, her eyes filled with a smile.
Yan Dan was captivated by the other person's gentle gaze when suddenly a thought struck her: according to the customs of the mortal world, if a man's parents asked about a woman's family and where she lived, they would either offer a betrothal gift or want to adopt her as their goddaughter. Neither option was something she could possibly accept.
“I don’t know who else is in my family. My master brought me back a long time ago.”
Madam Tang was taken aback, and immediately said, "Look at me, why are you asking this out of the blue? Miss Yan, don't be sad, birth, old age, sickness and death are inevitable."
Yan Dan smiled sweetly and said softly, "I know, besides, my family is just far away, and we will reunite one day." As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Tang's eyes suddenly reddened. She wiped her eyes with a silk handkerchief and reached out to pat Yan Dan's head: "You child..."
Yan Dan felt that the other person's hand stroking her hair was too gentle, and blurted out, "It's just like my mother..." Madam Tang smiled through her tears, looked at her with loving eyes for a long time, and slowly uttered a few words: "Then shall I be your mother?" Yan Dan was stunned.
Tang Zhou put down his chopsticks, his expression a mix of shock and something else: "Mother..."
“My child is a good person at heart. Although he can be a bit impulsive at times, he is quite considerate in dealing with people. He likes to keep some things to himself, but he is just too embarrassed to say them out loud.”
Yan Dan muttered to herself: From the moment we met until now, verbal sparring and veiled insults have been commonplace; he has never been embarrassed to say anything.
Tang Zhou couldn't help but say, "Mother, it's getting late, and my junior sister is tired. Let's talk about it tomorrow."
Madam Tang immediately said, "Yes, yes, I forgot. You traveled a long way back. Xiao Cui, take Miss Yan to the guest room and have someone prepare hot water. You should wash up and go to bed early." The last sentence was addressed to Yan Dan.
Yan Dan smiled obediently and said, "Thank you, Auntie." She wanted nothing more than to jump up and run far away, but she stood up, said hello, and slowly walked out of the hall.
She walked outside the hall and heard Madam Tang's gentle voice coming from inside: "Although Miss Yan's background is not a good match for you, her character and appearance are impeccable. I think you like her quite a bit."
She could swear to heaven, even a solemn oath, that she truly didn't intend to hear those words. Although her demonic magic was gone, her keen senses remained. The voice insisted on penetrating her, and she couldn't stop it. She glanced at the restriction on her wrist and thought that she'd better think of a way to escape quickly, otherwise, if this continued, she would truly be condemned to the fate of being separated from her human form and struck by lightning.
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