To be honest, after reading a few time-travel novels, I know that having Shen Yunhao come up with a few legendary couplets to stump others is one thing, but asking him to answer other people's couplets...
For a 21st-century STEM guy who was "bad at both academics and sports" since childhood, this is indeed a bit difficult.
You can't expect the first line of the couplet the other person comes up with to be one you know...
So when he came up with the second line of the couplet, before Ning Yuyao could even roll her eyes...
"Snap!"
A blinding bolt of blue-white lightning, about the thickness of a thumb, struck down from above the stone gate without warning, hitting Shen Yunhao precisely half a foot in front of his feet!
The ground was instantly scorched black, with wisps of smoke rising from it!
"Holy crap!" Shen Yunhao was so scared that he jumped back a great distance.
"You damn DJ! You're hitting people just because you're wrong?"
Ning Yuyao was also startled. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there was no further attack. Then she glared at him, her tone inexplicably carrying a hint of grievance: "Husband is talking nonsense again! When has Yao'er ever asked husband to chase after her!"
Shen Yunhao quickly smiled and stepped forward to hug his girl, "Just kidding... If it were Yao'er, of course I would pursue her relentlessly!"
“Really…” Ning Yuyao turned to look at him.
"Of course it's true..."
"Then..." The girl lowered her head, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes, "Brother Yunhao, would you... be willing to pursue Yao'er again? Just like before..."
"no problem!"
Shen Yunhao patted his chest, then held the girl tightly in his arms.
"Hmm? Brother Yunhao?"
"Hehe...I've won Yao'er over again!"
"..."
Seeing her husband's shameless act, Ning Yuyao wasn't angry. She just put on a helpless look and stepped forward to look at the first line of the couplet...
Yesterday cannot be retained, for to be retained will only lead to emptiness...
It means the past cannot be retrieved, and clinging to the past will only lead to nothing. So, what about the second line...?
She pondered for a moment, glanced at Shen Yunhao behind her, a flash of understanding in her eyes, and said loudly, "Tomorrow is still possible, but even if we pursue it, it is but a dream!"
Shen Yunhao's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "That's right, Yao'er! Excellent, excellent... But why were you looking at me just now? Haven't you already won me over?"
"Did you really... succeed?"
Ning Yuyao's eyes dimmed slightly, flashing with an inscrutable and complex expression, which made Shen Yunhao feel a pang of heartache.
He stepped forward and took the girl's hand.
"Holding hands, through thick and thin, until our hair turns white, my heart will remain the same... Yao'er, I may run far away, but I will always stay where you can reach me with a wave of your hand!"
Ning Yuyao stared at him blankly for a moment, then smiled gently.
"You can't escape, Brother Yunhao... You can never escape..."
Just then, the tightly closed stone door emitted a low rumbling sound and slowly slid open to both sides, revealing the deep valley passage behind it!
"This...it's open!"
The two exchanged a glance, both looking wary, and cautiously stepped through the stone gate.
After walking through the cracks in the rocks for a few minutes, the view suddenly opened up before me.
What lay ahead was not the exit one might expect, but a secluded valley surrounded by mountains and brimming with spiritual energy!
In the center of the valley, there is a huge, well-organized medicinal field, filled with rare and exotic plants that emit various precious lights and have a rich medicinal fragrance.
At the edge of the medicinal field, a thin old man dressed in coarse linen clothes was slowly loosening the soil around a strange herb with a small jade hoe, its leaves a vibrant green with golden veins.
He moved slowly and was completely still, as if he had merged with the valley.
But the moment Shen Yunhao and Ning Yuyao saw him, they felt as if they were facing a bottomless ancient well, with unimaginable power hidden beneath its calm surface.
Forget about the saying that reclusive masters are as common as cabbages; the old man in front of us is definitely a top-tier super strongman!
"Senior!" Shen Yunhao composed himself and respectfully bowed. "We two juniors have mistakenly entered your sacred land and disturbed your cultivation. We are truly sorry! We humbly request that you guide us out of this barrier."
The gaunt old man seemed not to hear, continuing to intently tend to his elixir.
After a long while, he slowly straightened up, his cloudy eyes sweeping over Shen Yunhao, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing: "What's the panic? In three days, the barrier will open on its own, and you'll go back to where you came from."
"Three days?"
Shen Yunhao was taken aback, but judging from the old man's expression, he seemed to have no ill intentions and was simply informing him.
At this moment, the old man's gaze lingered on Ning Yuyao for a moment, and his tone revealed a hint of appreciation.
"Not bad at all, it has that guy's vibe..."
The brief words didn't reveal much information, but Ning Yuyao instantly guessed who "that guy" was.
"Does Senior know Palace Master Shangguan?"
Shen Yunhao's expression hardened, and he couldn't help but swallow.
In the Guanghan Palace, the only one who can be called Palace Master Shangguan is the legendary Palace Master Shangguan Jingming!
Judging from his tone, this old guy is actually of the same generation as Shangguan Jingming?
However, in response to Ning Yuyao's question, the old man simply waved his hand and said, "I've heard of him, but I'm not familiar with him..."
Shen Yunhao: "..."
We're quite destined to meet. I've heard of her before, but I don't know her well...
But the old man's figure continued to appear the next moment.
"Your spiritual energy is weak and unstable. Although your cultivation is improving rapidly, it's like building a tower on sand. Your energy center is vulnerable. If this isn't addressed soon... it may leave lasting problems..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunhao's heart skipped a beat!
He naturally understood that the old man was referring to him, but... what was his intention in bringing this up all of a sudden?
Before he could ask a question, the young woman on the other side stepped forward, clasped her hands in a fist and said, "Senior, do you have a way to resolve this problem? This junior would be extremely grateful!"
"..."
Shen Yunhao opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.
Back in the Moon Palace, Ning Yuyao often pleaded with Nie Qingshuang for him, hoping to gain some opportunities or good fortune!
As far as Shen Yunhao knew, Ning Yuyao had never asked anyone for help with her own affairs...
Unexpectedly, even after leaving the Moon Palace, the situation remained unchanged.
Some people care about you more than you care about yourself...
The old man paused, his expression calm. "You were able to decipher my peach grove and answer the couplet on the stone gate, which shows you have some quick wit... I have a question for you. If you can answer it, I will bestow upon you a great fortune to resolve your ailment. What do you say?"
Shen Yunhao took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He didn't ask any nonsense like "What if you can't answer?" He solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Please enlighten me, senior!"
Only then did the old man smile faintly, showing some interest in Shen Yunhao for the first time.
He paused for a moment, then sighed softly:
"What is it that gets further away the more you seek it, and closer the more you abandon it?"
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