weird
As dusk fell, the setting sun hung precariously above the bare branches. Orange sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, slanting across the ice and making the snowflakes sparkle.
At the edge of the pond, withered reeds swayed in the wind, casting long, dark shadows as they cut through the scorched earth.
"The population here is sparse." Sang Zhao sheathed his sword, pointing to the ground. "The rest of the journey is best undertaken on foot."
He used his scabbard to push aside the reeds in front of them, making their path easier. But as the blade grazed the withered reeds, the sword suddenly emitted a mournful cry.
"Fifty miles away is the place where the legendary Demon Lord was sealed. Perhaps it is because of this that your sword is like this."
This place is not suitable for human habitation, and Sang Zhao did not hide his doubts, "Since you know this place is dangerous, why not find another place to go?"
Lin Yun continued leading the way without stopping, saying, "We had nowhere else to go, so we fled here."
"This is a pretty good place, isn't it? Those people don't dare to come in." She managed to force a smile as she comforted Sang Zhao, who had misspoke.
The various difficulties encountered during this period were certainly not something she glossed over as she described.
As the setting sun dipped below the horizon, the crooked clock tower came into view.
The cracks in the rusty bronze bell were covered by green vines. When the children playing nearby saw Lin Yun coming back, they ran over quickly, their little hands covered in mud, and grabbed the hem of her clothes.
"Sister Yunwang!"
"Sister Yunwang, you're back!"
The crisp call startled Sang Zhao from his thoughts. He gazed at the girl surrounded by children, her hair cascading down, glowing with a warm brown light in the twilight.
"Lin Yunwang." He blurted out, but the moment the other turned around, the comfort he had prepared suddenly turned into a thorn stuck in his throat, and in the end he could only shake his head and say, "It's nothing, let's go."
A strong aroma of herbs wafted from the first house at the entrance of the village.
As soon as Lin Yun entered, he saw the person standing guard to the side and called out, "Uncle Liu."
Looking at the village chief lying motionless on the bed, she couldn't help but tear up. "How have you been these past few days, Grandpa Village Chief?"
"The same as always." Uncle Liu was a man of few words.
The children spread the news of Yun's return throughout the village, and soon the house was packed with people, three or four layers deep.
After feeding the village chief the Resurrection Pill, Lin Yunwang stood aside, leaving room for Sang Zhao to take his pulse.
Seeing that the village chief's complexion had improved, her unease eased slightly, and she was able to introduce Sang Zhao to the villagers, "This is Sang Zhao, a distinguished guest from the Immortal Sect. He heard about the village chief's situation and, feeling compassion, came to visit him."
Sang Zhao placed his hand on the old man's wrist pulse, and as his spiritual energy flowed through him, he encountered a strange obstruction—not like an injury or illness, but more like some kind of mark.
He withdrew his finger and said, "The pulse has stabilized; he should wake up tomorrow."
Lin Yun did not miss the fleeting surprise on his face.
Upon hearing this good news, the villagers began praising Sang Zhao for his youth and promising future, making him blush with embarrassment.
To help him out of his predicament, Yun asked, "Where is the physician who told me to go to the Jingyin Sect to seek medicine?"
“We originally wanted him to stay and thank him properly. But he kept declining, saying that the journey to get the medicine was long and would take a lot of time, and that he still had to continue treating and saving people.”
"If Grandpa wakes up tomorrow, we must find him and thank him properly." Lin Yun nodded to Sang Zhao and said, "Of course, we must also thank the Jingyin Sect for their medicine and assistance."
"Whether the medicine can be obtained depends entirely on you." Sang Zhao got up and walked to Lin Yunwang's side, standing still.
The people gathered inside the house lingered for a long time, making a lot of noise.
Uncle Liu slammed his large, fan-like hand heavily on the wooden table. "Aren't you going home to start a fire and cook? Are you all just standing there like door gods?"
The furrows between his brows deepened with his stern shout, and his muscles swayed with his movements.
The younger ones scattered first, while several older women pulled Lin Yun toward He Sangzhao to have a meal. The young immortal found it hard to resist their enthusiasm and had to decline, citing his role as a physician and the need to stay and look after them.
“Do you think I’m made of paper? I’m fine looking after things here,” Uncle Liu said again.
The creaking of the door hinges, along with the aroma of food, broke the awkward atmosphere as Aunt Liu entered the room carrying a willow basket.
"Old Liu, you're being stubborn again!" She placed the bowls of vegetables from the basket on the table one by one. "My lord, I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I brought a little bit of everything from each family."
"I don't have any particular requirements for food, but this is such a sumptuous meal, I'm sorry to trouble you."
Aunt Liu quickly waved her hand and said, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all."
She also pulled Lin Yun over to eat, saying, "Yun girl, go and rest after you finish eating. Don't worry your grandparents. We're here, you don't need to worry."
After Lin Yun finished eating, he and Sang Zhao were pushed out the door by Aunt Liu. "Go to Asheng's place and find a room to settle the immortal."
Night had fallen, and the moonlight gently fell on the small village. A few barks of dogs came from someone's courtyard.
The land of Shixi Village is not scorched earth; everything is full of life, and there is no unpleasant smell of blood in the air. It is tranquil and peaceful, like a paradise in a book.
After a short journey, Sang Zhao came to a conclusion.
"This way, please." Ah Sheng's courtyard was also at the entrance of the village, just a few steps away.
She pushed open the courtyard gate, which was unlocked. "If anyone passes by and needs to stay, we'll arrange for them to stay here. You can stay here without worry for the next few days." Sang Zhao didn't ask any further questions since she didn't mention the owner of the house.
There weren't many ornaments in the house, but they were all neatly arranged and free of dust. The newly pasted window paper had a bitter smell, as if the owner of the house had always been there, carefully tidying it up.
"I'll go get you a blanket. My yard is right next door," Lin Yun said, standing at the door.
"No need. The spiritual power of cultivators circulates throughout their bodies, which has the effect of keeping them warm."
"How is Grandpa Village Chief's health? There's no one else here." She had wanted to ask, but hesitated because there were others around. "If you have any concerns, please feel free to speak up. I trust you completely."
“I wouldn’t call it doubt,” he said, tapping his fingertips lightly on the scabbard, “but his condition doesn’t show any signs of illness or poisoning. It’s more like a nightmare.”
Lin Yun paused in her movement to light the oil lamp, the flickering flame reflected in her pupils.
nightmare
Although the village chief is nearly 100 years old, he is in good health and has never been known to suffer from nightmares.
Besides, would a normal nightmare cause someone to remain unconscious for such a long time?
It was incredible that his grandfather had been able to survive for so long while he was in a coma, even though he had managed to feed him some rice porridge and medicinal soup. Sang Zhao also felt a bit strange, and when he thought of the original effects of the Resurrection Pill, an ominous premonition crept up his spine, making him feel a little cold.
He wanted to share his suspicions with Lin Yun, but without any evidence, it would only cause concern. So he decided to wait until the investigation yielded some results before telling her. He wanted her to relax for the next few days, as she must have been living in fear ever since the village chief fell into a coma.
The night wind blew, making the paper windows rattle.
"Get some rest, see you tomorrow," Lin Yun said goodbye to him.
As he closed the door, Sang Zhao's hand trembled slightly as he made a hand seal. "Master, the Resurrection Pill really worked."
Lin Yunwang, who was outside the door, did not go back to his own house, but went to the village chief's house instead.
Seeing Aunt Liu there, she went up to her and begged to let her keep watch. Aunt Liu was much more easily swayed than Uncle Liu, so Lin Yun said a few soft words and acted pitiful, and Aunt Liu agreed.
Lin Yunwang, who was inside the room, looked at the old man on the bed and saw that his face was not as pale as before. "Fortunately, it has not yet come to a bitter end."
"However, it seems we've gotten ourselves into quite a bit of trouble, and I'm afraid it will affect the village."
The experiences along the way and the attitudes of the two venerable ones all pointed to the fact that Lin Yun was getting into some serious trouble, otherwise she wouldn't have sent someone back with her.
At this moment, she clearly recognized her powerlessness. The few sword techniques she had learned before were so insignificant.
And along the way, she was naturally afraid.
She feared she couldn't save the village chief's life and worried that the man's words were just empty talk; she dreaded the unknown challenges, after all, she had never set foot in such a remote area; she was also afraid of the snow-covered mountain peak, fearing that if she wasn't careful, she would fall into the abyss.
Hearing footsteps at the door, she stopped talking, lifted the curtain, and went out.
“Uncle Liu,” she said obediently.
"You silly child, didn't I tell you to go and rest? Why are you making your aunt stay up all night?"
“You know we started to worry about you as soon as you left. Now that you’re back, you’re not even resting properly and you’ve lost so much weight…” Seeing her eyes slightly red, he didn’t say anything more. “Sigh, you have your own ideas. It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back… Go back to your room and rest.”
Amidst Uncle Liu's nagging, Lin Yun returned to her courtyard. The house was exactly the same as when she left, without any dust, presumably cleaned up by the villagers.
Exhausted both mentally and physically, she fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay down on the bed.
Shixi Village is small, with only a few dozen households. As night deepens, all the lights are off. Sang Zhao walks along the street, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and the occasional bark of a dog.
He wasn't afraid; cultivators naturally possessed superior senses and the ability to see in the dark. However, the surrounding area was so desolate. Although it wasn't far from the nearest city, life there was still inconvenient.
Sang Zhao's robes brushed against the fallen petals scattered on the ground, but he seemed not to notice them, and walked straight past the peach tree in full bloom in the center of the village.
A few peach petals fell into the ancient well beside the tree, creating ripples.
Where can I find peach blossoms blooming in winter?
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