62 Bringing the Moon
Hua Lang turned around quickly, poured the scalding candle oil in her hand to the side and back, then she ran towards the exit.
The candle wax fell to the ground with a puff. When she realized that she had poured out nothing, a sword was pressed against Hua Lang's neck, stopping her in her tracks.
"Are you a retainer of the Wu family? Bring..." A familiar cold voice sounded, but before the words were finished, both of them stopped at the same time.
"you……"
Hua Lang felt a burning sensation on her fingertips. Without moving, she lowered her eyes and saw the candle wick, dragged out by the wax, had burned her hand. In the dim light, she saw a round, black ball on the ground, staring back at her.
Hua Lang let the flames dance on her hands as she softly asked, "Xie Hanjing?"
The long sword was suddenly retracted and thrown to the ground with a clang. Xie Han hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is it really Master?"
Hua Lang also found it incredible. After pulling Xie Hanjing into the cave where the eternal lamp was lit, she touched the spell set by Rong Cheng Yunxuan on her face, but could not find a way to break it for a while.
"It's me, the one on my face is...don't touch me first," Hua Lang pushed Xie Hanjing away and asked, "Why are you here?"
Xie Hanjing's expression seemed to contain a hint of anxiety that couldn't be concealed even by his indifference. When Hua Lang shook off his hand, his pupils widened slightly, as if he was at a loss.
Hua Lang shifted his gaze and looked at the coal block that had hidden itself. He thought that today's misfortune was probably caused by this man and this monster.
As expected, Xie Hanjing explained, "I came here looking for the coal to find my master, and to avoid the people outside, I accidentally entered here."
As expected, Hua Lang nodded. After asking him how he had obtained the Jing Ling, he confirmed that it was indeed Xie Hanjing. However, at the moment, the more important thing was how to deal with this matter.
She looked at Xie Hanjing and suddenly had an idea: "Come out with me."
Rong Cheng Yunxuan will come to support soon. There are only some guards outside. For those people, as long as Hua Lang says who Xie Hanjing is, then he is that person. This trick was learned from Wu Tingque.
After estimating the time, Hua Lang pulled Xie Hanjing outside. Looking at the messy stone chamber along the way, she asked, "Are you looking for something?"
Xie Han responded with a surprised "hmm", and suddenly asked, "Why is Master at the Wu family? At that time, Master asked me to wait, but didn't tell me when he would come to find me."
Hua Lang didn't know what he was thinking. Although she had no intention of concealing the cooperation, this matter could not be explained in a few words. If she was casually perfunctory, it would probably only make things worse.
"I naturally have a reason for doing this. I'll tell you in detail after we get out."
After pulling Xie Hanjing out of the wall of sound, Hua Lang turned around and saw that he looked obviously unhappy.
It was rare to see such an expression on his face. Hua Lang asked curiously, "What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"
"Master seems to be hiding many secrets."
"Really?" Hua Lang reflected on herself. Didn't she only have one secret, the system? Was that too many?
"Yeah." Xie Han nodded in surprise.
Hua Lang tried to reason with him, "Don't you have a lot of secrets too, such as your identity, what you want to do, and even what you were looking for just now."
Xie Hanjing blinked slowly, his eyelashes half covering his pupils. Could this actually be considered a secret? He pondered, "Master, what I was looking for in the stone chamber was a magical weapon hidden by the Wu family. It is said that it can... bring the dead back to life."
Hua Lang couldn't stand hearing this kind of talk lately. She patted Xie Hanjing's shoulder and said, "Don't listen to these rumors anymore. They're all Wu Tingque's doing."
"Who's in there!?" A loud shout suddenly came from outside the yard.
Hua Lang glanced at Xie Hanjing, and without dodging or avoiding him, he led him out the door in a swaggering manner, "It's me."
After sending the guards away, Xie Han was shocked and unhappy and said, "Master seems to be quite familiar with everyone in the Wu Mansion."
"Everyone in the Wu Mansion?" Hua Lang asked bluntly, "You want to ask Wu Tingque, right? I'm not familiar with him. He asked me to do something for him...that's all."
As they almost reached the gate, Hua Lang finally made the matter of cooperation clear.
After hearing this, Xie Han suddenly asked, "Then Master, do you want to cooperate with him?"
Hua Lang sighed softly, "If I wanted to cooperate with him for something, I would have moved all the treasures and secret manuals from the stone chamber."
Xie Hanjing suddenly stopped and said in a low voice, "Since that's the case, Master, let's escape."
Hua Lang was stunned.
Yes, she and Xie Hanjing both possessed Jingling, allowing them to easily traverse Zhongzhou's barrier. Furthermore, Rong Chengyunxuan was currently discontent with Wu Tingque's deception. With a little provocation, she might actually be able to escape Zhongzhou with Xie Hanjing.
And on the main line side, 001 has also disappeared.
With the right time, place and people, Hua Lang was shamelessly moved.
She also lowered her voice and said, "Are you sure? If we run away, we might be hunted down by the Wu family."
"Staying in Zhongzhou is also full of dangers," Xie Hanjing said solemnly, "However, no matter which path Master chooses, this disciple will protect you."
Hua Lang didn't know that he was so brave. Her impulsiveness subsided and she started to think about more practical issues.
"If you leave here, are you willing to abandon your original goal of cultivating the Tao?"
Xie Han's eyes moved slightly, as if he was a little confused. "...What is the goal of practicing Taoism?"
The two of them were standing on the territory of Tianhu's enemy. Xie Hanjing hadn't reacted yet. Hua Lang really wanted to knock his head open to see what was inside. She hinted, "What were you thinking when you first set foot in Qinglai?"
"I didn't think much of it," Xie Hanjing looked at the stunned Hua Lang and explained, "I embarked on the path of cultivating immortality only because my family elders asked me to do so."
Hua Lang vaguely felt that something was wrong. In the original novel, didn’t Xie Hanjing set foot in Qinglai to avenge the Sky Fox?
But the sky was already turning light, and Hua Lang noticed that the surroundings were eerily quiet. Now was not the time to say these words. If he continued, Xie Hanjing's identity would be exposed, and the two of them would probably be executed on the spot at the Wu family before they could escape from Zhongzhou.
"The main gate is just ahead. Let's talk about these things after we get out."
*
“…”
“…”
"Ahem." Hua Lang interrupted the silent gaze between the two.
Xie Han, whose escape plan was interrupted by Rong Cheng Yunxuan, frowned and said to Hua Lang, "Master, this man seems to be the weirdo I met in Sand City."
Hua Lang patted her heart, thankfully Rong Cheng and Yun Xuan hadn't discovered they were trying to escape. She feigned composure, "This is the Xuanyuan Envoy, as I told you before."
Rong Chengyunxuan on the opposite side snorted heavily, "One disciple is unreliable, and you find a second one. You really want to die."
Hua Lang felt quite embarrassed. He whispered to Xie Hanjing, trying to save face, "Don't be fooled by his big stature. He's actually only..."
Hua Lang made the number eight with his hands.
"So, he's just a kid, don't take what he says to heart."
Xie Hanjing was a little puzzled, "Eight years old? You can't tell at all."
Rong Chengyunxuan was dissatisfied when he saw how close they were. "What are you two talking about?"
After he finished speaking, he noticed that the two people who were whispering across from him were looking at him closely. This extremely strange feeling made Rong Cheng Yunxuan frown, "Now that you are Zhao Ming, there is something I must tell you."
Hua Lang knew when to stop, she sat up straight and said, "I'd like to hear more details."
Rong Cheng Yunxuan sneered and glanced at the two of them, "We in the Rong Cheng family have a rule that masters and apprentices are not allowed to teach or learn from each other privately."
After sitting upright for a long time, I heard this. This rule is probably still followed by those old antiques who are old enough to carve words.
Hua Lang twitched his lips and whispered to Xie Han, "Eight years old, but his heart is probably eight hundred years old."
Xie Hanjing immediately agreed with Hua Lang.
*
Hua Lang thought that Rong Chengyi's mansion would be as luxurious as the Wu family's, but as soon as he stepped through the door, he was stunned.
It is more like a mountain than a mansion.
There are countless ancient trees growing on the ground, and the emerald green covering the sky and the earth spreads out like layers of fans. Winding houses shuttle through them, and the courtyard walls are high, completely blocking the view behind.
Rong Cheng Yunxuan waved his sleeves, and the spiritual energy constructed a detailed map in front of the three people. Hua Lang then discovered that Rong Cheng's family was ridiculously large. Moreover, perhaps because of the magic, it seemed as if it covered the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Hua Lang could even see the snowflakes simulated by the spiritual energy on the map.
Rong Cheng Yunxuan pointed to the area covered with white mist at the far end of the map and reminded Hua Lang, "These places are forbidden areas. No one is allowed to enter without permission. The other areas are divided into three areas: mountains, rivers, and clouds. You will live here," Rong Cheng Yunxuan pointed to "clouds."
Hua Lang nodded, remembered it, and then pulled Xie Hanjing towards the "cloud".
Rong Cheng Yunxuan suddenly stopped the two of them. He folded his arms and said, "The Rong Cheng family doesn't have the custom of accepting disciples. So, even though you two are master and disciple, he can only be considered as Rong Cheng family's retainers. Retainers are not allowed to set foot in any area other than the 'mountain'."
After saying that, a barrier rose up, separating the two of them.
Hua Lang stared at Rong Cheng Yunxuan in disbelief, "I can't even decide where he lives?"
Rong Chengyunxuan nodded as a matter of course, "After my father comes out of seclusion and has him acknowledge your identity, you can then use your rights as the Zhaoming Envoy."
Isn't Rong Chengyunxuan's father the only god in "Xiandao"? Hua Lang doesn't think it would be good for a god to have a fake daughter. No, she must escape!
Xie Hanjing on the opposite side suddenly shook his head quietly. Hua Lang looked at the barrier spell he replicated and his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Okay, in that case, I'll listen to you for now."
*
Sitting in the courtyard, Hua Lang was bored. She didn't expect that Rong Cheng Yunxuan was even more harsh than Wu Tingque. He didn't even let her go out of the courtyard gate. Hua Lang even suspected that he had seen through her escape plan. The eight-year-old child actually had eight hundred thoughts!
She was thinking about something and couldn't continue reading "The Theory of Life". After all, if she wanted to rely on practicing this book to open the barrier and escape from the yard, she would probably have to practice for another eight hundred years.
She casually flipped through the pages of the book, and suddenly, Hua Lang stopped.
She turned back to a page in the middle.
The handwriting here has changed.
Hua Lang carefully read these lines of words, compared them with the handwriting in his memory, and finally confirmed that this was Murong Jun's handwriting!
Murong Jun's handwriting only appeared on this short page. Hua Lang guessed that the author happened to know her and specially invited her to write a page.
Thinking of this, Hua Lang became curious about the author of the book. There was no signature on the cover or the end of the book, so she continued to turn the pages.
Finally, at the end of the book, she saw a line of words:
"The Sky Fox is an outstanding creature. If I have the chance, I will definitely bring him to see Master."
She flipped the page and saw another line of small words, "Alin peeked at my face, luckily my father didn't find out..."
When he read the last page, Hua Lang finally realized that this book was actually written by Rong Cheng Yunwen!
How could someone with Yun Wen's talent cultivate the Way of Life and even write such a treatise? Furthermore, according to rumors, she has been slaying demons and monsters since she was young, so her focus must be on cultivating the Way of Killing. Could this book really have some secret?
Hua Lang considered and calmed himself down, then raised his head and met two round eyes.
It's a lump of coal.
Meikuai was holding a delicate bamboo branch in his mouth. Hua Lang was looking at the swaying bamboo leaves. She immediately thought of the bamboo forest in the "mountain" area on the map.
Hua Lang took the bamboo stick and stuffed it into the book.
She touched the coal and whispered, "Tell him not to go to the forbidden area."
According to Hua Lang's experience, for the male protagonist, exploring the forbidden area will often bring unexpected gains, but at present, there must not be any more accidents, not to mention that there is a god in charge of the Rong Cheng family, so such a trouble must not be caused.
The coal burrowed into the darkness and disappeared in a flash.
On the second day, it brought a bell; on the third day, it brought a whole red leaf... In the next few days, it brought small things from various areas for Hua Lang.
When he had nothing to do, Hua Lang would sit in the yard early, waiting for Meikuai to deliver the "news".
The familiar black ball jumped onto the table again, but this time, the coal had nothing in its mouth.
Hua Lang poked it in disbelief, and the coal block finally spit out a small, shiny seed.
Where did this come from? Hua Lang took the seed and was thinking about it when he suddenly discovered something different. There was a huge and strange power in this seed.
"...Sand City?"
Why did Xie Hanjing give Sand City to himself?
Hua Lang was about to ask a question, but when she raised her head again, the coal had disappeared, leaving her alone holding the thing, feeling uneasy.
Xie Hanjing inquired in "Shanchuanyun" every day. If his identity was discovered and he had no Shacheng to support him, wouldn't it be dangerous?
Until the evening, Hua Lang was already lying in bed, but she was still tossing and turning, fearing that she would hear any noise of catching monsters.
Tomorrow, she will make Coal bring the seeds back!
"clatter."
There was a sudden noise in the yard, but Hua Lang didn't pay attention.
“Da da!”
The moonlight entering the house suddenly dimmed, and a huge black shadow approached the window.
Hua Lang finally looked at the huge shadow that blocked the moonlight. Her heart skipped a beat and she quickly got up.
"Coal, what happened..." Hua Lang pushed open the window, but did not see the black ball. She suddenly fell silent and looked at the not far away. There was a tall figure sitting on the high courtyard wall.
The moonlight gilded him like a silver rim. He reached out and took the coal. He heard the window being pushed open but didn't jump down from the wall. He just sat there, looking at Hua Lang against the light.
"Xie Hanjing?" Hua Lang looked at him in astonishment. Thinking that someone might pass by at any time outside the courtyard, she hurried out of the house and ran to the wall and whispered to Xie Hanjing, "Come down quickly, be careful!"
Xie Hanjing shook his head at her, and the coal on his shoulder suddenly jumped towards Hua Lang. Hua Lang subconsciously reached out to catch it, but Xie Hanjing took the opportunity to lean over and grab Hua Lang, then put his arm around Hua Lang's waist.
When Hua Lang came to his senses, he found himself sitting on the courtyard wall.
Hua Lang gritted his teeth: ...
"Master, look."
Before Hua Lang could accuse him, Xie Hanjing pointed into the distance and changed the subject.
Looking in the direction he pointed, beyond the high walls ahead, one could see distant mountains emitting faint white flames, like pure white flowers blooming in the dark night.
With his back to the gentle moonlight, in the quiet night, his voice seemed to drift away. "Master, I have explored the route around here. We can finally leave here."
Hua Lang came back to her senses. She looked at Xie Hanjing's half-face illuminated by the moonlight, her eyes flickering slightly, "Have you really thought it through?"
Xie Han nodded in surprise, "Where does Master want to go?"
"Southern Xinjiang has a unique terrain and is not easily discovered. It's an excellent hiding place. But Master is from the north. If you don't like it, you can return to the north. Then, you can... build a wooden house... then..."
Listening to Xie Hanjing's voice, Hua Lang was torn between her conscience and her desires: if she escaped from Zhongzhou with Xie Hanjing, the predicament she was facing would be easily resolved; but if she chose to escape, she didn't want to see the hero forget his hatred, so now, was she going to lead him off track with her own hands?
Seeing Hua Lang didn't respond, Xie Han looked at her in surprise.
“…Master?”
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