Chapter 39: First Snow, Fingers Closely Intertwined
Yue Ji's eyes were beautifully shaped, clear and dark, and even a little sharp when he lowered his eyes to look at people. At this moment, he slightly raised his eyelashes and frowned slightly, revealing a bit of fragility that made people feel tender.
Qi Qing almost wavered.
But when he thought about the plan of separate beds that had only been implemented for a few days, he tightened his expression, hardened his heart and turned his face away: "No."
He deliberately avoided the boy's disappointed gaze, pulled his hand back, and said in a calmer voice than expected: "You are not a child anymore, you should learn to sleep by yourself."
After a pause, Qi Qing added: "Be more independent and don't let others laugh at you."
Yue Ji said nothing and just watched him close the door.
After returning to the room, Qi Qing immediately felt a little regretful.
He stared at the candlelight in a daze, regretting that his tone was too stiff just now.
With Yue Ji's sensitive personality, he would probably ponder what he just said over and over again in his mind, and then come to the conclusion that the master no longer likes him.
But if he went back to explain that he didn't mean that, it would seem like he was trying to cover up his mistake. After all, he had no control over what Yue Ji thought, and there was no need for him to control it.
Qi Qingru thought about this, sighed deeply, and lay back on the bed, still feeling a little guilty, and did not fall asleep until midnight.
He was about to turn over when he suddenly sensed a very slight movement. His whole body tensed up instantly, and his right hand prepared to draw out the ice sword inconspicuously.
The question about the demon clan that Yue Ji asked before going to bed suddenly came to Qi Qing's mind. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that there was really something in the town...
……wrong.
This smell is a little too familiar.
Qi Qing was speechless for a moment. Perhaps the thing thought he was asleep, so it climbed onto the bed quietly and then carefully snuggled into his arms.
After the arch was completed, the other party felt that something was missing, so she pulled his arms around herself with familiarity, closed her eyes with peace of mind, and soon, her breathing became even.
“…”
Qi Qing almost laughed out of anger.
He thought that Yue Ji was pretending to be so aggrieved and would be more restrained tonight.
As a result, this person was quiet for less than half a day, and then turned around and started to act without saying a word.
How can this be independent? It was obvious that he was sure that he would not really abandon her.
Qi Qing gritted his teeth, opened his eyes and made an embarrassing arc.
The person in his arms was completely unaware and was rubbing against him unconsciously, sleeping very obediently.
“…”
Qi Qing really didn't want to admit that he had been soft-hearted.
When he woke up the next morning, his arms were empty, the quilt was neatly tucked in, and his shoes were neatly placed beside the bed. There was no sign that anyone had sneaked in.
Qi Qing quieted his face, pushed the door open and walked out, and happened to run into Yue Ji coming out from the next door.
The young man looked like he had just woken up. He rubbed his eyes and greeted him obediently: "Master, good morning."
He pretends to be quite convincing.
Qi Qing glanced at him, but didn't say anything even though the words were on the tip of his tongue.
The two went downstairs and had breakfast. Qi Qing asked the shopkeeper about the customs of the Thousand Lantern Festival.
The shopkeeper calculated and said with a smile, "The Thousand Lantern Festival here is to celebrate the end of a year of farming and store winter grain. In the next few days, the town will distribute rice wine and hold the Autumn Festival. If you want to join in the fun, just go to the Kitchen God Temple outside the town tomorrow. There will be plenty of rice wine. If you want to see lanterns, there are even more lanterns along the way!"
He pointed the way enthusiastically. The town was far away from human habitation, with simple folk customs and few outsiders, so people were particularly curious about Qi Qing and his apprentice. This allowed Qi Qing to appreciate the customs and culture of this secluded paradise.
Although this place belongs to the Middle-earth, it is close to Xiwuzhou and there is no snow all year round.
When some children heard that they were coming from far away, they gathered around and asked innocently, "Does it snow where you are? What does snow look like?"
Qi Qing said: "No."
Although the Tiandu Sect is not a famous or large sect, it has a large mountain protection formation. The four seasons in the sect are like spring, so there is naturally no snow.
Seeing the disappointment on the children's faces, he added: "But I have seen snow. Snow is white and falls like petals. When it falls on the palm of your hand, you can still see the hexagonal patterns."
The child's eyes widened. "A hexagon? A big one?"
Qi Qing stretched out his hand to gesture: "It's very small, probably only this much..."
Halfway through his words, he inadvertently noticed from the corner of his eye that Yue Ji was listening with a slightly distracted look, his eyes focused.
Qi Qing's heart moved, and he asked in a low voice: "You haven't seen snow either?"
Yue Ji shook his head.
He had been in Tiandu Sect for three years. There was no snow in the sect, and he rarely went down the mountain, not to mention that there was almost no snow at the foot of the mountain.
Qi Qing thought for a few breaths, then suddenly turned to the children and said with a smile: "How about this, tomorrow night on the Thousand Lantern Festival, you bring some rice wine and I'll make it snow for you, how about that?"
When the children heard this, they were so excited that they wished it could go on to the next day. They ran home and pestered their parents for rice wine.
Yue Ji stood aside and said hesitantly: "Will it really snow tomorrow?"
The boy rarely showed a somewhat ignorant look, with his face slightly raised, and actually looked somewhat naive and childish.
Qi Qing winked at him and said with a smirk, "Just wait and see."
This is the good thing about the Ice Spirit Root. Although he cannot make wind blow and rain fall as he pleases, it is more than enough to create an artificial first snow in a small area.
After returning to the inn, Qi Qing began to prepare.
He first set up a small formation in the room, and tentatively used his spiritual power to condense water into ice.
Yue Ji squatted beside and watched intently, his eyes full of curiosity.
Qi Qing fiddled with a few snowflakes for him to play with: "Here."
The boy quickly took it with both hands, moving very cautiously, fearing that the snowflakes would turn into water in the blink of an eye.
"Like it?" Qi Qing rubbed the top of his head. "If you want to see more, when we get back to the sect, Master will teach you the magic of making snow come true."
Yue Ji suddenly raised his eyes, his pupils were surprisingly bright, he responded expectantly, then lowered his head to look at the little snowflakes in his hand.
Seeing him like this, Qi Qing's heart softened.
So when the boy quietly sneaked into his bed again that night, Qi Qing hesitated for a long time, but still couldn't bear to kick him out.
Wait a little longer, he told himself.
By the time we get back to the sect, everything will be corrected in time.
On the day of the Thousand Lantern Festival, before daybreak, the aroma of sweet and sticky rice wine had already filled the streets and alleys, and the town was filled with laughter and joy.
Qi Qing started the live broadcast early and changed the title to [Click me to see the first snow].
A barrage of questions immediately floated across the screen.
[Is it going to snow? It doesn't look like the season over there, according to the host.]
【This is not a place where snow falls. 】
"Of course it's not snowing." Qi Qing raised his eyebrows and smiled: "So, I plan to make one myself."
The young man raised his chin and said with a bit of pride: "If anyone wants to make a wish, you can start thinking about it now. Artificial snowmaking will start at 6:45 pm tonight. No one will be allowed after this time!"
[Okay, okay, today is the wishing anchor. 】
[Will your baby go to see the snow? Make a little snowman for your baby to play with. ]
[If you want it to snow, I have a better way than magic. ]
Qi Qing was attracted by the last comment and asked, "What method?"
The barrage did not respond, and Qi Qing thought that the man was joking, but suddenly he received a private message from the backstage.
[The host can just write these two words on the palm of his hand. I will receive the call and it will snow.]
The attached picture showed two characters as complicated as talismans, with winding strokes. Qi Qing couldn't make out what was written, so he tried to copy it on the palm of his hand.
The other party popped up another message: [Write again at 酉时, don’t play now. ]
He frowned and pondered over the two words, and after a while his pupils suddenly shrank slightly.
These two words... why do they look a bit like "Qingnv"?
——In the legend, the god who controls frost and snow.
There was a knock on the door, interrupting his thoughts.
Qi Qing walked over and opened the door. Yue Ji was waiting outside, wearing a cloak trimmed with white fox fur.
This was the new clothes that Qi Qing specially went down the mountain to customize for him last year. He treasured it very much on weekdays, but he was willing to wear it today.
The young man stretched out his hand, and he still kept those snowflakes. The edges were a little melted, but they were still well preserved.
"Master, are we going out now?" he asked impatiently.
Qi Qing didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "It's morning now."
Yue Ji stared at him eagerly, as if he was hoping that night would fall in the next second.
Seeing this, Qi Qing suddenly remembered what the barrage said, and he twisted his fingertips around and used his spiritual power to rub out a small snowman with his bare hands: "Take this and play with it, this one is stronger."
It was a wrong decision. I used to work every day in Tiandu Sect and forgot that my spiritual roots could be used in this way.
Qi Qing was in a good mood and while Yue Ji was shaping the snowman, he casually made a row of snowmen on the table, stacking the round white jade balls on top of each other.
[It looks like Yuanxiao! I just received a sacrifice today, I want to eat it too! ]
[What is the cub pinching? It looks a bit like a human figure? ]
[No, I think it looks like Taihu stone, or... pufferfish? ]
Qi Qing looked down and saw the young man holding something in front of him with great interest: "Master, look, do you look like me?"
“…”
【……】
Danmu and Qi Qing were both silent.
Thinking of the ugly stand that Yue Ji had made for the alchemy conference, Qi Qing silently took the little snowman away.
It’s very well kneaded. Don’t tell anyone else that it was him who taught you.
After lunch, the master and his disciple went to the Kitchen God Temple outside the town as agreed.
The townspeople had already prepared rice wine and snacks mixed with wine. Seeing that they were outsiders, they gave them bowl after bowl of wine, and their enthusiasm was unstoppable.
After eating and drinking, Qi Qing was fine and could still drink, but Yue Ji's cheeks turned red and he seemed a little tipsy.
"Master..." The young man's voice was slightly hoarse, and he leaned towards Qi Qing unconsciously.
Qi Qing was afraid that he would get drunk, so he took him to the secluded corridor behind the temple to rest. Yue Ji sat obediently on the stone steps, counting the lanterns intermittently, waiting for the night to come.
As dusk deepened, outside the Kitchen God Temple, lanterns began to light up one after another, some darker and some lighter, with twin lotus flowers, auspicious clouds and auspicious poems painted on the lanterns.
Thousands of lanterns swayed in the night, making the entire temple seem as if it came from heaven.
There were more townspeople outside the Kitchen God Temple, with the elderly and children accompanying them, people moving between the lights and greeting each other warmly.
The children couldn't help but look for Qi Qing.
It's about time.
Qi Qing took a deep breath, dipped his hand in water, and wrote the word "Qingnv" on the palm of his open hand.
As the pen tip came to an end, a chill suddenly spread throughout the body.
He looked up and saw that beyond the distant mountains, the afterglow of the setting sun suddenly disappeared. Thick clouds gathered from all directions, covering up the faintly visible stars.
"Why did it suddenly get dark?"
"Look up at the sky!"
All the townspeople stopped and looked at the sky in surprise as it suddenly changed color.
A wind blew between heaven and earth, cold and chilly, blowing through the crowd and the lanterns like someone's whispers.
The next moment, the first piece of white light quietly fell.
Then came the second piece, the third piece... In the blink of an eye, snowflakes were flying all over the sky, drifting silently. Under the soft light of hundreds of lights, it looked like thousands of pear trees in bloom, or like stars falling endlessly from the sky.
"It's snowing! It's really snowing!"
"Look, mother, it's snow!"
The children cheered and the adults looked surprised.
Yue Ji stared blankly for a while, stretched out his hand, and a snowflake fell right into his palm.
It was different from the snowflake that Qi Qing gave him alone. It was a tiny yet unique piece among so much snow.
It was the first snow he had seen in his life.
After a long time, the young man withdrew his hand. His nose was slightly red from the cold, and he looked at Qi Qing with sparkling eyes.
Qi Qing was also looking at him, smiling and raising his eyebrows. Just as he was about to ask if it looked good, he suddenly felt his hand being grabbed.
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