The wood was burning, the black pot on the fire was red, the white rice in the pot was gradually cooked, and the bacon was tumbling. A bowl of lean meat porridge, without even sprinkling salt, had a very fragrant aroma. Xia Xiao's mind was tumbling with the porridge, and he gradually lost his mind. He was thinking about Shu Shuang, how smart and clever she was? But she left him, which was the biggest regret.

When one day Xia Xiao's hair turns white and he looks back, he will think of that quiet and lovely girl.

Xia Xiao looked up at the sky. Today passed quickly. As the aroma of the porridge became stronger, the day was over.

Ah Zhu kept pulling Xia Xiao's sleeve, and when he turned his head, she said:

"I want to eat that, do we have anything we can replace it with?"

"Senior, can you give us a bowl of porridge?"

Xia Xiao asked directly, which made Ah Zhu feel flattered. Normally, she would dare to do this, but she was impolite before, so she couldn't ask directly. However, she was secretly happy when she saw the fat monk nod.

"I'm sorry, senior. I misunderstood you before."

Ah Zhu felt that it was too late for him to apologize, but he still had to express his feelings.

"It's okay. When I was a traveling monk, I cursed in secret many times, not to mention misunderstandings. Every time the master found out, he taught me a lesson. Later, I became thick-skinned and said it out directly."

Ah Zhu was a carefree girl and asked him:

"Senior, why do you want to be a monk?"

“That’s a really sharp question.”

Xia Xiao smiled secretly, thinking that Ah Zhu was really talented, but this was just her. Shu Shuang, for example, would definitely discuss some Buddhist principles with this senior. But because she was there and had to focus on herself, she wouldn't say too much. But Ah Zhu didn't care about that, she listened to the senior attentively.

"This is a kind of belief. Many people in Tanghua Temple are like me, picked up from the dead or the garbage can. I grew up in Tanghua Temple and was deeply influenced by it. Although the old master in the temple let me choose my own path, I still stayed in the temple after I became an adult. Everyone has their own wishes. What do you want to do in the future?"

Azhu began to think deeply. This was not a simple question.

"I plan to become a practitioner in the academy, and then go home to spend the last moments with my grandma. When she is gone, I will repay her kindness."

This was the first time that Ah Zhu thought so far ahead, but her grandmother was gone, what should she do? She had been avoiding it before, but now she suddenly remembered that she still had a favor to repay. The fat monk asked her what favor she wanted to repay, and Ah Zhu said she wanted to go back to the academy and do something for the academy. Because she could practice cultivation entirely because of Hu Bugui, she had to do something. If there was no Hu Bugui, Ah Zhu would definitely not be a practitioner now.

Tonight's chat was quite pleasant, with all sorts of things to say and the bacon and rice porridge was delicious.

Xia Xiao and Shu Shuang finished their meal, rested for a night, and headed west the next day. Because Xia Xiao and Azhu could completely conceal their auras, the fat monk used his vitality to quickly bring them to the imperial court. Xia Xiao was very familiar with this area, but when he saw the grassland was barren and only had yellow sand, his heart sank suddenly.

Xia Xiao has not forgotten the pain brought by the last darkness. He can still vividly remember him sitting alone in the room, crying alone. Shu Shuang's figure disappearing in the darkness is always in his heart.

"Hey, we're going into town."

Ah Zhu pulled Xia Xiao, making her run a few steps faster, and her heavy heart felt better. After meeting the fat monk, they saw several towns, but they did not go in, but chose to hurry on. Now that they were at the royal court, they could finally have a good meal. She had been thinking about Gou Longbang's barbecue for a long time, but Xia Xiao was not in the mood to eat now. The expressions of these people were exactly as the fat monk said before, full of suspicion and contempt.

"Their eyes are so weird!"

Ah Zhu approached Xia Xiao, feeling a little scared, as these guys looked as if they wanted to skin her and eat her. As soon as Ah Zhu approached, Xia Xiao exhaled a heavy breath, looking a little impatient.

With one hand on the back of Azhu's backpack, although Xia Xiao looked unhappy, he still remained a gentleman, protecting Azhu, following the fat monk and the little monk, and walking slowly on the street.

Since the moment they entered the city, they had been staring at them strangely. More and more people gathered around them, surrounding Xia Xiao and the other three. As the imperial capital of the Goulong Bang clan, many people left the royal court every day, and many people came in as well. But foreigners were rare. For example, in the imperial capital of the Great Xia Dynasty, Yinxun, there were more than 50,000 people coming and going every day, but foreigners were rarely seen.

Finally, someone stepped forward from the crowd of Goulongbang clan. He was a tall middle-aged man. Like many Goulongbang clan members, his robe was mixed with animal skins, but there were special wolf patterns on it, representing nobility and the capital to be rebellious. His appearance made everyone around him shut up, and then he shouted to the fat monk:

"Who allowed you in?"

The fat monk let out a cry, straightened his back, and escaped with the token on his waist.

“It allowed me in.”

The wooden token was simple, with a crabapple flower engraved on it, and it made the man kneel on one knee. The crowd burst into whispers. This man was a member of the Goulongbang clan. A foreigner who could make him perform such a great ceremony, and who also had a crabapple flower token, could he be a practitioner from the Tanghua Temple?

They guessed correctly, because the man said loudly:

"A senior monk from Tanghua Temple is here, but you still don't want to show your respect?"

Hundreds of people did as they were told, and then the man explained to the fat monk.

"Excuse me, venerable monk. Please follow me."

The fat monk nodded in a pretentious manner, but said nothing. Silence is the most intimidating, and he had to make these arrogant people of the Goulongbang clan reflect on their mistakes. The fat monk turned around, looked at Xia Xiao, and motioned him to follow. This alone was enough for the man to arrange accommodation and food for them.

After walking a few steps, they got on a carriage. The imperial court of Gou Longbang clan was not as prosperous as Zhenxun, nor as distinctive as Yugu in the south. Therefore, Xia Xiao did not even open the curtains, but just asked the fat monk.

"Senior, they are so arrogant, yet they still respect Tanghua Temple. It's really rare."

"The Gou Long Bang clan has a special method of cultivation, so they have introduced a lot of wild beasts. The more wild beasts there are, the greater the possibility of them becoming monsters. Over the years, there have been travelers who specialize in wandering around the Gou Long Bang clan, and I am one of them."

This is why Gou Longbang respected Tanghua Temple so much, which was not unexpected. But it was the same for everyone. If it wasn't for the Zoushou Church stopping Nanshang's attack on Daxia, the people of Daxia wouldn't respect Zoushou Church so much.

"Don't be too restrained in Goulongbangshi, otherwise you will suffer."

When the fat monk reminded her, Ah Zhu was as curious as before and asked why. She was a mobile questioning robot, and the fat monk and the little monk were not surprised. They knew Ah Zhu's strong curiosity after spending the past few days together. But the fat monk thought for a while before saying:

"The people here are extremely arrogant. If you give in to them, they will think they are really superior."

Ah Zhu let out a long "oh". Outside the carriage, the man sitting on the shaft glanced at the carriage. It was strange that these four people came. Even the high monks of Tanghua Temple should not have lay disciples. But judging from the young man's eyes, he looked a bit like a Daxia person. It seemed that he had to stay in a remote place.

"Go to Lonely Cloud Tower."

"Sir, that building is so lonely, will it work?"

The driver lowered his voice, but the man stared at him, so he had to do as he was told. How could a small driver think of what the man was thinking? Even though they were both sitting on the shaft of the cart, looking at the familiar streets and roads, they were thinking very different things.

The driver wanted to get to the destination as quickly as possible, and then take a break from the busy schedule to drink two bowls of cold tea. Summer hasn't come yet, but it's really hot after being busy for half a day. But the man was thinking about the origins and purposes of these four people. Even if Tanghua Temple is beneficial to him, Gou Longbang, it is just a simple use of the relationship, and appropriate respect is enough. Do they really have to worship the monks of Tanghua Temple as living Buddhas? Dream on!