Snow on Earth
On New Year's Eve, snow began to fall from the sky, reflecting the moonlight and lights, which was very beautiful. The group did not need to use spiritual power to cover themselves, but lay on the top of the tower, letting the snowflakes fall on their faces and melt into water droplets.
Xu Shulou floated in the sky with the snowflakes: "Did anything new happen in the world of cultivation during my five years of seclusion?"
Bai Roushuang thought for a moment and said, "Sister, do you still remember the children left behind by the previous owner of Xuanwu Tower... I mean the children left behind by the fake owner? The children of the Third Young Miss and the Fifth Young Master who have a grudge against you."
"Of course I remember," Xu Shulou said with a smile, "I was in seclusion for five years, not five hundred years."
Bai Roushuang sighed: "They have all been killed."
"What?" Xu Shulou was stunned. "Who killed him?"
"The elders of Xuanwu Tower," Jiang Yan continued, "rumors in the martial arts world said that they killed people in order to curry favor with the current tower owner, Gao Ming."
Xu Shulou stretched out his hand to catch a snowflake: "It seems that Gao Ming has taken control of Xuanwu Tower."
She recalled the young man who lived in a narrow courtyard and sat in a wheelchair. His meridians were completely damaged, and being pushed into the position of the owner of the building was just a temporary measure... Five years ago, no one expected this day.
Xu Shulou sighed softly, wondering how far this young man could go in his limited life.
The sound of hawkers hawking their wares came from the street, and Xu Shulou landed on the street and bought the few remaining meals they had so that they could go home as soon as possible to reunite with their families on New Year's Eve.
She shared the food with her fellow apprentices who had suffered from the torture of dumplings, hoping that they would try more normal food and develop some reasonable taste.
Ji Ci took a sip of the hot mutton soup, then scooped a spoonful of cheese sweet potato mash: "It seems to be better than my dumplings."
"A little?" Bai Roushuang questioned his choice of words.
“…”
"I happen to have some things I need to buy, so I'm going to go for a walk in the city." Xu Shulou put on a red cloak to suit the occasion and held a lantern in his hand, smoothly blending into the mortal street scene.
Jiang Yan held a small bowl of rice wine and waved to her: "We'll wait for you here."
Xu Shulou smiled at his fellow junior fellow students, then strolled away holding a lantern.
In front of a roadside lantern stall, there was a little girl who couldn't guess the riddle and was about to cry. Xu Shulou passed by and whispered the answer in her ear. He saw her take the rabbit lantern handed to her by the seller, burst into tears and left with her family. Xu Shulou left some money for buying the lantern on the stall and was about to turn around and leave, but the little girl seemed to remember something and turned around to give her a hug.
The child was short and could only hug her legs. She looked up and smiled sweetly at her, revealing two missing front teeth. Xu Shulou was stunned for a moment before he looked up and touched the girl's head: "Happy New Year."
The child's parents pulled her away somewhat embarrassedly. Xu Shulou stopped and looked at their backs. The father had already picked up the girl with one hand and was holding hands with the woman next to him with the other hand. What a happy family they were.
There were children making a snow lion on the corner of the street, worrying about how to make a lion's tail. Xu Shulou stepped forward to help. He compacted a ball of snow, and with a few sharp cuts, he carved out a beautiful lion's tail, which he inserted into the lion's buttocks. He gradually lost himself in the cheers of the children and gave the lantern in his hand to them as decoration.
Passing by a wealthy merchant in the city, she watched the commotion, bought a few things, and then went back. On the streets during the New Year, many families went out to see the lights. In groups of two or three, adults held children's hands, and the children had smiles on their faces...
Xu Shulou walked among them. She was walking alone but she did not feel lonely because there was someone waiting for her ahead.
Turning a corner, the figures of her fellow junior students came into her sight. They were either squatting or standing, huddled in a row against the wall, making Xu Shulou want to put a bowl in front of them.
Oh, no need. The usually taciturn fourth junior brother Shan Yu has already made a bowl out of snow in front of him.
Xu Shulou stopped, took out a copper coin and threw it steadily into the snow bowl.
Everyone looked up and saw her, and gathered around her: "What did you buy, Senior Sister?"
“I bought a small building.”
"What did you buy?" Bai Roushuang thought she had misheard.
"A small building, a very exquisite one, three stories high, with carved beams and painted buildings, and all kinds of tables, chairs, beds and cabinets inside," Xu Shulou gestured, "I put it in the Qiankun bracelet. It's too big, so it's not convenient to take it out here to show you. From now on, you can camp outdoors anytime."
“…Where did you buy it?”
"In the city, it was just a coincidence that I happened to hear someone quarreling when I passed by," Xu Shulou said, "It started with a wealthy businessman who built a small building in his yard. Before he could hide his beautiful daughter in it, the neighbor came to his house and asked him to tear it down because it blocked the sunlight in the neighbor's yard. The wealthy businessman was reluctant to spend the money and refused to tear it down. It is said that they have been quarreling for quite some time and the stalemate continued. They even quarreled on New Year's Eve. I thought the small building was just what I wanted, so I asked the wealthy businessman if he wanted to sell it, and then I bought it and took it away."
The junior fellow students couldn't help but sigh: "It's great to have money."
Xu Shulou laughed: "Yeah, that's great."
Bai Roushuang asked curiously, "Without a foundation, can this small building stand?"
"Just go back and carve a spiritual formation. Don't you see that there are buildings floating in the air in Fandu City?"
“That’s right…”
The group chatted casually and gradually walked away.
Only the snow bowl piled up by Shan Yu remained quietly there - that guy actually remembered to take the copper coins in the bowl away.
———
Half a month after the New Year, everyone got together to eat a proper meal of glutinous rice dumplings that would not destroy people. Just as Xu Shulou was about to run out again, a letter from Xiao Ya was received on Mingyue Peak.
In addition to the time, the letter only had four simple words "see you at the old place". Xu Shulou couldn't help but wonder where this old place referred to. It couldn't be the small courtyard in Lingji Valley where they ate together in the copper pot. That would be difficult, as Wei Xuandao might not be very welcoming to her.
Apart from the small courtyard, it was probably the small town called Yongping near Lingxiao Gate. She, Xiao Ya and Xiao Ruzhuo had caught thieves and drank together in Yongping City.
Xu Shulou, who had been planning to go out, happily prepared to keep the appointment, and did not forget to go to the top of Mingyue Peak to pick up the weathered nameless painting.
When I flew to the top of the mountain, I saw Immortal Chang Yu punching the painting.
Xu Shulou was puzzled: "Master?"
Immortal Master Chang Yu looked at his disciple, withdrew his hand, and returned to his cold and aloof appearance. He stood with his hands behind his back and spoke softly, his voice like broken jade beads: "I had a chat with this painting in my spare time. It's a bit annoying."
"...Then you continue?"
"No need."
"Master, if you have fought enough, then I can take it away?"
Chang Yu nodded slightly with a proud look on his face.
Xu Shulou put the tragic painting in his Qiankun bracelet, flew a distance away, then took it out and asked, "How did you offend my master?"
"I thought that no one had talked to me for a while, so I reluctantly paid attention to that bastard. I was quite proud to show off the fairyland I created to him," the voice said angrily, "When I was proud of it, I accidentally said that I trapped you in it. As a result, he turned hostile and insulted my personality!"
Xu Shulou raised his eyebrows: "How did I insult you?"
The voice said in a muffled voice: "He said I was arrogant, saying that even children in the mortal world could imagine a fairyland that was higher than mine, and that... the so-called 'immortals' grew bigger the more they ate. Even the demons who prey on the weak don't have such simple logic. What does he know? This is obviously a very great idea. If he saw it with his own eyes, he would definitely be convinced by me..."
"Master rarely speaks like this. It seems that he is really angry." Xu Shulou smiled. "Will it hurt if he hits you?"
"It doesn't hurt that much, but it makes me dizzy, and it hurts my dignity."
"Is it more insulting than me drawing cow dung on you?"
“……”Fuck you.
———
Yongping City, Donglaishun Restaurant, Xu Shulou changed into a tight outfit with narrow sleeves, waisted and long boots, looking very much like a wanderer. She sat in the only private room on the second floor drinking, and soon waited for Xiao Ya. The emperor's daughter arrived very punctually, not a moment early and not a moment late.
"I'm sorry that I invited you so hastily and vaguely," Xiao Ya apologized first, "but it's hard to say it clearly in the letter."
"I understand." Xu Shulou nodded to show his understanding.
Xiao Ya raised her hand and set up a silent barrier in the private room before sitting down opposite her.
"Have you made any progress on the matter I asked you to pay attention to?" Xu Shulou asked softly.
"I'm not sure," Xiao Ya lowered her head, "I feel like something is wrong in Lingji Valley, but I'm not sure if it has anything to do with Uncle Zhang's incident. In fact, it's probably not related, it's just a little weird. After thinking about it, I think I should mention it to you. My third brother said..."
Xiao Ruzhuo? Xu Shulou pricked up his ears to listen carefully, but Xiao Ya seemed to be hesitant about what to say.
Since they met, Xu Shulou had never seen this proud woman show such an attitude.
She could see that Xiao Ya was very confused, so she didn't rush her and grilled the venison on the small charcoal stove provided by the store, turning it over and sprinkling some sauce on it from time to time.
The sizzling sound of the roasted meat and the wafting aroma would interrupt Xiao Ya's thoughts from time to time. She sighed and looked at Xu Shulou: "Fine wine, venison, and a red clay stove, you seem to be so relaxed."
Xu Shulou laughed.
Xiao Ya asked again: "Is it delicious?"
Xu Shulou silently shared the meat with her.
Xiao Ya did not refuse and ate the venison, continuing to sort out her thoughts, and then she heard the crunching sounds made by Xu Shulou on the opposite side.
"What is this?"
“Fried pears.”
Xiao Ya frowned slightly: "Fried pears? Will this be delicious?"
Xu Shulou looked up at her, picked up a knife and cut off a piece of meat that had not touched her lips.
Xiao Ya took a bite and said, "It's actually quite good."
Xu Shulou raised his eyebrows.
Xiao Ya ate the fried pear and said, "I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. Let me think about what to say. If this matter has nothing to do with Uncle Zhang, then I would be considered to have betrayed the secrets of my sect."
"I understand. After all, this matter involves your master, so you should be cautious."
While she was thinking, Xu Shulou did not disturb her, but poured himself another glass of wine.
Xiao Ya concentrated her mind, grabbed the wine glass, tilted her head back and drank it, as if to give herself courage.
Xu Shulou glanced at her and said faintly, "I'm like a eunuch who's responsible for testing poison for you."
Xiao Ya, who was full of thoughts, was choked: "Ahem...how can you say that about yourself?"
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