Chapter 13 How to defend against a zero-frame start
"A storybook?" Qingjue stopped watering the flowers.
He could almost imagine what the storybook would contain; it was probably content that couldn't appear on green software, and he didn't know if there was any anti-pornography campaign in this era.
……wrong.
Perhaps there are some metaphors about the main story in the storybook?
“Then I’ll go take a look,” Qingjue said, “Where is it sold?”
Qinghuan: "...?"
Although our immortal lord has been like this for a while, isn't this quirk a bit too much...?
A hint of disbelief appeared on Qinghuan's refined and gentle face.
But the Immortal Lord must have his reasons for doing this.
Qingjue originally wanted to go out and take a look while the children were taking a nap. He couldn't entrust this matter to others. However, he didn't expect that before he even stepped out of the Qing family's house, three little followers appeared behind him.
"You guys..." Qingjue was a little amused and exasperated; "Didn't you say you'd go to sleep obediently? Why did you come out?"
“...When I got up, you weren’t there,” Jie Zhoujian said, “so I came out with my junior brothers and sisters to look for you.”
Jie Zhoujian held Ruan Linglai, whose eyes were red and who couldn't see Qingjue, with one hand, and Wen Tianyu, who was still dazed but subconsciously looking for Qingjue, with the other.
It's true that children this age are especially attached to adults. Although most of the Qing family members, except for a few old-fashioned ones, like these children, Qing Jue himself spends the most time with them.
Qingjue felt that it was best not to bring a few kids along for this kind of thing, because it would be terrible if they saw something inappropriate for children.
"Master has gone out to take care of some things," Qingjue squatted down and said, "You all stay home and behave yourselves. I'll buy you something delicious when I get back, okay?"
The three children stood there, showing no intention of obediently leaving.
Finally, Jie Zhoujian hesitated for a moment before taking a closer look at the incantation, and then took the initiative to say, "Alright, then I'll take care of my junior sister and junior brother."
My sweet baby!
Qingjue glanced at Jiezhoujian with admiration, then left with peace of mind.
Ruan Linglai: "We must follow our master!"
Jie Zhoujian stopped him, saying, "We can't. If we go with them, it will cause trouble for Master." Besides, we can't leave Shuiyun Lake without using our swords.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Linglai's left and right brains clashed, and she stomped her feet and spun around in a state of confusion.
Wen Tianyu snapped out of his daze, focused his gaze on the distance, and pointed.
Qinghuan, who was passing by, was surrounded by three children.
"...Huh? Me? Following... tracking the Immortal Lord?"
He held one in each arm and sat on one of his shoulders.
It's not hard work, it's just a tough life.
He couldn't stand having two children staring at him; he clearly lacked experience in taking care of children and was the type who was very easily swayed by emotions.
Jie Zhoujian tried to stop him, but failed. Jie Zhoujian was also a little worried about Qing Jue leaving the house.
But actually, Qingjue sensed it when these people came out.
Sure enough, kids this age aren't very well-behaved.
But with Qinghuan following, there shouldn't be any danger. Let them follow; I'll find a chance to shake them off, and they should obediently go back.
Qingjue's appearance was conspicuous, but he concealed his aura the moment he landed and walked into the crowd, using a small illusion spell. At this moment, he appeared no different from an ordinary person to others.
Qinghuan brought her three children to the town, and as expected, she could no longer sense Qingjue's presence.
"You all stay with me and we'll head back after a short walk. We can't let the elders find out, understand?"
"I know, I know," Ruan Linglai was still the most lively of the three. "Quickly take us to find Master!"
"..." Qinghuan couldn't do it, so she decided to take the children around until they were tired, then she could take them back.
But children clearly have much more energy than he imagined.
Especially considering he has to take care of three children.
“Linglai! You can’t eat that! ...Yes, yes, this child has an eye problem, yes, yes...Where did he go during the day? He scared me to death…”
Qingjue had already inquired his way to a bookstore and learned that the nearest storyteller there, pen name "Xie Dingfeng," was selling storybooks so well that reservations were booked until next month.
Under Qingjue's kind words, the owner of the steamed bun shop next door showed Qingjue two pages of the storybook he had bought.
"I can only read two pages. It's not that I'm stingy, but Mr. Feng's storybooks aren't something everyone can buy. I just have a geographical advantage."
“It’s so popular,” Qingjue said, flipping through the first two pages. “I’ll have to take a good look.”
The book is called "Shuiyun Yao". The beginning is normal. The protagonist is a great immortal in the cultivation world who is based on himself and goes by the pseudonym "Shuiyun Xianjun".
This second page is different.
The scene takes a sharp turn for the worse. Shuiyun Xianjun is pinned down by his own disciple in a zero-frame sequence. The author's exquisite writing vividly depicts the intense and ambiguous tug-of-war between the two, creating a stark contrast with the dark and damp basement.
There are even pictures on the third page.
Qingjue silently closed the storybook, glad that she hadn't let the children follow.
Otherwise, at this rate of development, by the time he realizes what he's seen, it will be too late.
It seems like I need a pair of eyes I've never seen before.
"How is it? How is it?" the steamed bun shop owner said while kneading the dough. "Isn't it well-written? Isn't it particularly erotic and vivid?"
"Yes, yes..." Qingjue had seen his share of storms. In modern times, he had access to all kinds of novel reading apps, so this was nothing to him.
The most urgent task is to investigate the plot of this Mr. Feng to see if it involves any metaphors or prophecies.
Unfortunately, he couldn't continue reading this book. He returned the copy of "Shuiyun Yao" to the old lady, bought a few steamed buns from her family as a favor, and then turned and walked into the city's buildings.
The bookstore was not far ahead, probably similar to a modern publishing house. Qingjue noticed that there was no queue at the entrance of the bookstore; in fact, it was surprisingly quiet, completely different from the bustling place the proprietress had described.
Qingjue thought he had gone to the wrong place. He pushed open the door and saw a middle-aged man with a long beard sitting in the lobby writing calligraphy.
Could this be the legendary "Mr. Wind"?
“This gentleman is very distinguished, clearly a scholar,” Qingjue spoke first. “I would like to ask if the popular novel ‘Shuiyun Yao’ can be purchased here?”
The middle-aged man looked up at Qingjue, unsurprised, and said expertly, "Want to buy a book? Fill out the form first, write down your address clearly, pay the deposit, and then go back and wait."
I'm doing a pre-sale.
Qingjue: "So what number are we in now?"
"Conservatively for three months."
"..." Qingjue was a little too lazy to wait: "I can pay more, can you expedite the process and cut in line?"
The uncle waved his hand and said, "Don't even think about it. This month, countless people have already asked for more money. Even if Immortal Lord Wu Qing himself came, he would still have to wait in line."
“…Well,” Qingjue decided to try a different approach, “Could I ask this Mr. Feng who he is? I just read a short passage at a colleague’s place and found the writing to be superb. I’m very curious about where his literary talent comes from.”
“Ha, it’s only natural to be captivated by Mr. Feng’s writing,” the uncle said. “I’m the owner of this bookstore, young man. I’ve seen plenty of people like you. But Mr. Feng never shows his face. You readers should stay away from the author’s life and get closer to his works.”
The problem is that he hasn't seen the author's works, so he can only pay attention to the author's life.
However, the bookstore owner seemed unyielding, probably a seasoned veteran. Qingjue, fearing that being too obvious would arouse suspicion, casually filled in an address and asked as he finished writing, "How far can you deliver?"
"Our bookstore's main service is delivery, no matter how far, as long as the money is right."
"Okay, I'll pay extra, please deliver it here."
"...This...that's fine too, but who are you, young man?"
"Odd jobs".
"Oh, I see."
Qingjue was a man of action; he didn't want to actually wait three months.
Therefore, to see the contents of the storybook, one had to resort to some underhanded methods.
Let him nag me if he wants; he won't go back until he finishes watching "The Ballad of Water and Clouds" today.
On the other side, Qinghuan held Wen Tianyu, who was prone to getting lost, with one hand and kept an eye on Ruan Linglai with the other, while reminding Xie Zhoujian, who was following behind, to stay close to her.
We've been walking around all afternoon, almost finished exploring the city, and the three children still haven't arrived...
Only one was tired. Wen Tianyu yawned and looked up at Qinghuan.
So Qinghuan resigned herself to her fate and picked him up to put him to sleep.
"Senior brothers, look!" Ruan Linglai had never been out playing like this before in the Ruan family. She was well protected and was a sheltered young lady. "What's that!"
"That's a sugar painting," Qinghuan thought to herself, but smiled on the surface, "Does Linglai want one?"
"I want it, I want it."
"Then go and talk to the boss."
"..." Ruan Linglai only dared to speak to people she knew well. When she walked up to the stall owner, she hesitated and didn't dare to say anything for a long time.
"Little sister," the sugar painting stall owner said with a smile, "would you like to spin this one with the phoenix, or this one with the azure dragon?"
"I...I..." Ruan Linglai said, her hands behind her back, twirling her fingers in circles. Encouraged by Qinghuan's gaze, she said, "Phoenix...phoenix..."
"Okay, spin it now."
She was extremely nervous, and turned to look at Xie Zhoujian and Qinghuan. Xie Zhoujian stepped forward and said, "Junior sister, don't be afraid. We won't blame you if you don't become a phoenix."
That's amazing! Her senior brother has mind-reading abilities!
With the explanation of "daytime," Ruan Linglai felt confident and boldly began to work, the pointer spinning and spinning...
"Wait a minute," Qinghuan reached out and pressed down on the pointer that was halfway through its rotation, "Take it out."
“…Wh-what is that?” The sugar painting stall owner hid something underneath. “What is this young friend talking about?”
Qinghuan looked around at the people and said, "If you take it out now, compensate my junior sister with a phoenix, and promise not to lie to people again, I won't say anything."
"You, you brat, if you're not going to buy it, then leave! Don't get in the way..."
Qinghuan exerted force and broke the wooden pointer, from which something fell out.
“This is…” Jie Zhoujian picked it up and examined it. “Is it… iron?”
"The magnet is in his other hand," Qinghuan said, holding Wen Tianyu, her face darkening. "You even lie to children, and you still don't know how to repent?"
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