Extra 2: Theater Story: Borrowing Years (Part 1)
Bai Wuchang was waving his fan as he listened to Xinyi's report from behind, his face showing a gloomy expression.
"Interesting, interesting, she actually has two life-extending pills." Bai Wuchang said in a playful tone.
Ever since the incident in Liangcheng, he had felt something was amiss. According to legend, Fairy Tumi had refined five life-extending pills and hadn't made any more.
Back then, His Majesty had one, and then gave one to the Yuanqing Sect. The remaining three were then claimed by three great demon-killing clans in the mortal world. Although two were later taken away for His Majesty, the whereabouts of one remain unknown to this day.
When Xinyi reported the matter of the Supreme Sect to him earlier, he thought that the little girl was an orphan of the Qiao family, so he made many arrangements and set up a trap to lure her away, but he didn't expect that she would take out another life-extending pill in Liangcheng.
Could it be that Fairy Tumi refined more than five back then?
Or is Your Majesty hiding something?
Bai Wuchang suddenly put away his folding fan and frowned slightly, but in a moment, his brows relaxed again.
I don't think so. His Majesty had lived with Fairy Tumi for some time, and Fairy Tumi trusted him deeply. And His Majesty had told him about the Heaven-Returning Pill, so he certainly wouldn't hold back on the Life-Sustaining Pill.
It seems that this little girl is a bit strange.
Interesting, interesting. Since she is from Guyang City, she must be related to the Yuanqing Sect. How about...
Seeing that Bai Wuchang didn't respond for a long while, Xin Yiying frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "I have something else to report to the envoy."
Bai Wuchang said nothing when he heard this, but just waved the folding fan in his hand and started waving it by himself.
Seeing him like this, Xinyi knew he was waiting for her to report it, so she spoke in a deep voice, "A few days ago, I heard that in a village on the eastern outskirts of Guyang, there was a woman who was 140 years old, but had no cultivation at all."
Upon hearing this, Bai Wuchang folded his folding fan and finally turned his head, but he did not look at Xinyi.
"One hundred and forty years old? That's a bit unusual. What do you mean?"
"I was wondering, could it be that she used the life-extending elixir that made her live so long..." Xinyi still lowered her head.
Hearing this, Bai Wuchang pondered for a moment, turned his head, and opened the fan again.
Another life-extending elixir? Could it be that this life-extending elixir has become a casual snack? I've been searching for it for years, and now three of them appear?
He didn't know much about elixirs, but he had heard that some elixirs could only be taken by people with certain cultivation skills. However, this life-extending elixir was extremely rare, so he didn't know whether ordinary people could enjoy it.
Guyang City? It seems that there is something strange about this Guyang City.
However, since something unusual has happened, it wouldn't hurt to go and take a look, just as a pastime.
Thinking of this, he said to Xinyi, "I heard that the little girl is from Youranju in Guyang City. Guyang City is too close to Jiuque Mountain, so it's inconvenient for me to go there. Can you find out for me where she came from?"
Xinyi responded with a hum and then disappeared. Bai Wuchang, however, continued fanning himself. A moment later, there was the sound of a folding fan being folded up, and suddenly a flock of gray sparrows fluttered into the air, but Bai Wuchang had vanished.
…
"The reward is 10,000 taels of silver!" Maidong exclaimed, but he didn't read a word of the content above.
Lingxiang knew that only food and money could make Maidong give in. She had been competing with her sisters for more than ten years, and still no one was the winner.
Although Sixth Senior Brother calculated through divination that Maidong is one year older than her, she just doesn't want to admit it, right?
Even though it's the end of the year and the beginning of the year are still different, and I don't know exactly when my birthday is. How can I let this little girl take advantage of me?
"Yes, yes! Ten thousand taels!" Lingxiang said with exaggerated tone, "How many crispy chickens can you buy with this ten thousand taels? Oh! Not to mention crispy chickens, you can even buy the Xilailou in the city!"
"Oh my! This Xilailou has more than just delicious crispy chicken!"
Lingxiang was waving the notice around as she spoke, and Maidong's eyes seemed to be fixed on the notice, or to be more precise, on the three big words "Ten Thousand Taels".
Seeing this, Long Qi, who was packing his luggage at the side, took a glance and said with disdain in his heart: As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, these two people are really birds of a feather.
Just as Lingxiang was teasing Maidong in the courtyard, someone came in from the outer hall. It was a little girl. She was seen peeking into the hall, as if she was looking for something.
This scene happened to be seen by Long Qi who came out to get something. He took a look and frowned: This girl doesn't look like she is from nearby.
Although Long Qi had only been in Youran Residence for a short time, he was already quite familiar with Guyang City. Besides having Lingxiang pick up spiritual spring water for him, she also liked to ask him to run errands.
For example, if the store is short of common medicinal herbs such as licorice, atractylodes, and imperata root, he is asked to go to the herbalists to purchase them; or if someone has prepared pills or medicines and is asked to deliver them; or if someone suddenly wants to eat something but is too lazy to go, he is asked to buy it, etc.
After a few visits, Long Qi had gotten to know almost all the big and small people in Guyang City. He was particularly impressed by the shops in the downtown area in the south of the city. Whenever he came back with water, he would always hear people nearby say, "Hey! Isn't this the disciple Xiao Lingxiang picked up? He's been sent to fetch water again!"
Every time this happened, Long Qi could only smile and agree, but he kept complaining in his heart: Damn Lingxiang, I really don’t know what she said to others, and who she picked up!
Just when Long Qi was wondering whose little girl ran out, the girl happened to see him. The girl's face lit up with joy, and she was about to step into the hall, but she shrank back and hid behind the door, only revealing half of her head with two small buns, staring at Long Qi timidly.
This made Long Qi very curious. As he packed his luggage, he smiled and asked, "Little sister, are you here to look for someone? This is Youran Residence. I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place."
When the girl heard Long Qi mention Youranju, she actually showed joy in her eyes, but she still huddled at the door and asked in a low voice, "Are you the owner of Youranju?"
So she was looking for Lingxiang, but why would such a little girl be looking for Lingxiang? Could she be asking for medicine?
Long Qi was about to answer when Lingxiang emerged from the inner courtyard. Maidong had arrived, and she had intended to ask Long Qi to buy some food, but when she turned around and couldn't find him, she went out to see what he was doing, only to see the little girl at the door.
Lingxiang frowned for a moment, then returned to normal. She walked gently to the door, squatted down and said to the girl, "Little sister, is there something wrong? It's very sunny outside, why don't you come in and sit down and talk slowly?"
Hearing Lingxiang's words, Long Qi was puzzled: Tomorrow is October morning, and it's too late to put on more clothes, so why is she still complaining about the sun being too strong? Could Lingxiang be confused?
Seeing Lingxiang's kind face, the little girl boldly revealed her entire face. However, she did not step into the house. She just asked Lingxiang, "Are you the owner of Youranju?"
Seeing her like this, Lingxiang smiled and nodded: "Yes, it's me. Do you have anything to say? Come in and talk to me." Then she stood up and motioned the girl to go into the house.
When the girl heard Lingxiang say this, she was very happy. She was about to step in, but then she pulled her foot back.
Seeing her like this, Lingxiang smiled and said, "This house is very safe. There is nothing harmful in it. Since you have something urgent to do, please come in and tell me the details."
Seeing Lingxiang leaning over to invite her in, the little girl hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the house as if she had made up her mind. Seeing this, Long Qi became even more curious. Although she was still a little grown-up girl, her courage was too timid.
Just then, he suddenly smelled a fragrance. It turned out to be Lingxiang lighting the incense stick. It smelled a bit like agarwood, but not quite like it.
Lingxiang asked the little girl to sit anywhere, and she found a chair and sat down, then began to ask questions.
"Little sister, what's your name?"
The girl was originally looking around the room, and when she heard Lingxiang's question, she replied softly, "I don't have a name. My parents call me Taoniu'er."
Lingxiang nodded. She thought that she was a child from a poor family and was still young, so her family had not given her a name yet.
Maidong waited in the courtyard for a long time, but Lingxiang didn't come back, so he went to the outer hall to look for her. As soon as he entered the room, he smelled a strong scent of restful incense. Without thinking, he asked, "Why are you lighting soul-soothing incense at this time?"
But when she saw Tao Niu'er, she was stunned at first, then asked in surprise: "Huh? What is this little girl doing here?"
Lingxiang glanced at Maidong, then looked at Taoniuer: "Where is Taoniuer from?"
Perhaps because of the soul-soothing incense, Taoniu relaxed at this moment. She rubbed her clothes and said, "I'm from Yunluo Village in the east of the city. I often hear from the elders that the owner of Youranju is very powerful, so... so I want to ask you for a favor..."
Lingxiang looked at Maidong after hearing this. The latter nodded and found a chair to sit down.
"What trouble did Taoniu get into?"
Hearing Lingxiang's question, Taoniuer put down the hem of her clothes and rubbed her fingers again: "We...there is a monster in our village. Please, shopkeeper, save us!"
Hearing her say this, Lingxiang couldn't help but frown. When she came back just now, she had never heard of any monsters anywhere.
Lingxiang looked at Maidong, who also looked bewildered. While she was in the sect, she had never heard of any demonic activity nearby. Besides, even the villages on the outskirts of the city were protected by the Yuanqing Sect. What demon was so blind as to wreak havoc on Yuanqing Sect territory?
Seeing Maidong's expression, Lingxiang knew that she didn't know either, so she asked Taoniu'er, "How did Taoniu'er know that there was a monster haunting the village?"
When Lingxiang asked this, Taoniuer was at a loss for words. She thought Lingxiang didn't believe her, so she suddenly became excited, jumped off the chair, knelt on the ground and said, "It's true! I'm not lying! Several people have died in the village! Sister Shopkeeper, please help our village!"
Seeing her like this, Lingxiang hurriedly said, "Don't get excited, Taoniuer. I believe you. Get up quickly."
However, what made Long Qi curious was that although Lingxiang said this, she did not step forward to help Taoniuer up, which was a bit unlike her usual behavior.
"I'll go to Yunluo Village. If there really is a monster there, I'll help you capture it!"
Hearing Lingxiang say this, Taoniu was overjoyed and kowtowed to Lingxiang. Lingxiang saw this and said quickly, "Taoniu, please don't be like this, or I won't go. Get up and go back quickly. I'll pack up and go."
Upon hearing this, Tao Niuer quickly stood up, squatted down very obediently, and then jumped out of Youranju.
After seeing Tao Niu'er leave, Long Qi hurriedly asked, "Do you believe what this kid said?"
Lingxiang stood up upon hearing this and gave Maidong a look, who then quickly stood up and went to the backyard.
"Why don't you believe it, child? She's so anxious, and she said someone died in the village. I think something must have happened, but it might not be a demon."
"Then...what if it's a monster..." Long Qi suddenly thought of the incident in Liangcheng, and couldn't help but worry. What if Lingxiang encounters danger again like last time?
No! He has to go too!
So under his persistence, Lingxiang had no choice but to take him with her, and go to Yunluo Village with Maidong and the other two.
Near the village entrance, I saw several children playing by the stream. They seemed to be from the village. They were shouting and cheering and jumping by the stream. They looked very happy.
This doesn't look like encountering a monster, otherwise why would the family let the children play by the water?
Maidong was confused and looked at Lingxiang. Lingxiang also didn't understand. She shook her head and wanted to go forward and ask.
Just at this moment, one of the children suddenly started crying. The three of them hurried forward and saw one of the children falling into the water. His face was pale and a trace of blood was vaguely seen floating out from the back of his head.
Seeing this, Lingxiang quickly pushed Long Qi into the water and said, "Hurry up and save the child!"
Although Long Qi was unhappy, he knew that human life was at stake, and the child was also a child. He did not care about the cold water and quickly pulled the child ashore.
Lingxiang and Maidong stepped forward immediately. Maidong checked the wound on the child's head, while Lingxiang took the child's pulse. But strangely, the child's head was not even covered with a wound, but he was barely breathing and was obviously dying.
"It's drowning!" Maidong turned over the child's eyelids, lay on his chest and exclaimed after listening.
Long Qi couldn't help but wonder. Just now, he'd seen the child jumping around, how could he have fallen into the water in the blink of an eye? Besides, the water wasn't deep. Even if he'd fallen in and stood up, it wouldn't have reached his navel, so how could he have drowned? Furthermore, even if he'd fallen in and couldn't get out, how could he have drowned in such a short time?
"It seems that there is something strange about this village..." Lingxiang said as she reached into the river, scooped up a handful of water, placed her fist on the child's chest, then closed her eyes and twisted her fingers to make some gestures.
There was a flash of light on her finger as she was pinching the seal, and then streams of water flowed out from between her other fingers, forming a water film that wrapped around the child.
Lingxiang was muttering something, and Long Qi didn't know what she was doing. But after a moment, he saw a stream of black water coming out of the child's mouth and nose, as black as ink. Not long after, his face gradually turned red.
Then Lingxiang retracted her finger gestures, and the water film broke and fell to the ground. Only the black water turned into black gas and dissipated.
"What is this?" Long Qi was very puzzled.
But Lingxiang was very curious: "Can you see it?"
This was a strange question, of course he could see it, it was so obvious, what did the spirit fragrance mean?
At this time, Mai Dong frowned and said in a deep voice: "It's death energy. Someone is trying to kill this child..."
Long Qi was shocked when he heard this. What kind of person would actually want to take a child's life? This is too heartless!
At this moment, several people came running over from a distance. One of the women was crying out, "Gou Wa, my son!"
It turned out that a few children were frightened and ran to the village to find adults. The leader was the mother of the drowned child. The neighbors all called her Aunt Chang.
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