Chapter Four, there is a girl named Qingli
"But it is of no consequence," said the Taoist with a cold tone
Sigh... let's take it one step at a time
The vastness of the rivers and lakes, the remoteness of the ends of the earth; since one has arrived in this realm of immortals and heroes, one must inevitably venture into the bustling world of mortals to witness the elegance and charm of the figures within this realm
Why does this plot give me a sense of déjà vu from "The Legend of the Condor Heroes"? Lu Beixin thought to himself
Lu Bei felt a sweetness in his throat, but he forced himself to swallow it down
Well... In recent days, although Lu Bei is a guest, it is not appropriate to stay here without contributing, so he has taken on some tasks related to cleaning and purifying water
Lu Bei rose to his feet, and the Daoist Chongyun clasped his hands in salute, saying: "I am but a foolish young man, unaware of which words may have offended the esteemed immortal. If there has been any impropriety, I kindly ask for your understanding"
A crescent moon has unknowingly risen high in the night sky, while the mountain breeze gently brushes by, carrying with it the refreshing scent of the grass and trees, awakening Lu Bei
"Alas, why did Brother Lu leave?" Only the little girl Su Qingling, unaware of what had just happened, murmured as she watched Lu Beili's departing figure.
Lu Bei said solemnly: "Immortal, please save my life and take me in. I am deeply grateful. However, there is one more matter I wish to inquire about"
Lu Bei was somewhat displeased with Yun Dao Ren's inch-by-inch attitude towards him, but he could no longer afford to care about that.
Lu Bei was unaware that he had already offended the princess of the Fox Kingdom. In the blink of an eye, he noticed that the usually gentle and amiable Daoist Yun had lost his smile and wore a blank expression, causing a chill to run through his heart
Lu Bei learned from her that the woman before him was the eldest princess Su Qingli of the Qingqiu Fox Kingdom
Lu Beishu let out a sigh and said, "That's good, that's good"
Lu Bei stood on the stone steps for a long time, pondering: "Since Su Qingli has arrived, it seems that Qingling will be taken back to the Fox Kingdom soon. Therefore, I should also descend the mountain."
In his earlier years, Lu Xun, the father of his predecessors, traveled to Jingchu for study, where he once shared a journey with a scholar surnamed He. The two of them sailed on the rivers and seas, composing poetry and singing in harmony, displaying the spirited demeanor of young scholars.
The Cloud Daoist gazed intently at Lu Beidao and said, "Young friend, there is a matter I wish to inform you about."
Lu Bei glanced over and saw that Su Qingli, who had been silent all along, now had a chilling expression that sparkled like crystal jade, her cold eyes gazing indifferently at Lu Bei
From beginning to end, Lu Bei did not glance at the Fox Kingdom's Princess Su Qingli even once.
In the deep of night, within the Taoist temple, a single oil lamp flickers gently
Hearing Lu Bei speak of seeking the method for immortality again, dissatisfaction in his heart became increasingly difficult to suppress, and he thought to himself: "A mere human ant dares to speak recklessly of immortality?"
Lu Beixin thought, since ancient times, such marriage contracts have been the source of melodramatic plots, and it is uncertain what twists and turns might occur in her own case
On the day before the wolf demon appeared outside Wuliu Village, Lu Xun, the father of the previous incarnation, was planning to take Lu Bei to Lingling to visit the He family to discuss marriage matters. Little did he expect that before they could set off, the three of them would fall victim to misfortune
Lu Bei fell silent for a moment and said, "Immortal, in fact, I have come tonight with the intention of bidding farewell."
Lu Bei said: "Immortal, feel free to speak your mind."
After Lu Bei finished speaking, he said no more, and turned to walk out of the Dao Palace.
Unexpectedly, there was a fiancée with the surname He, who was far away on the banks of the Xiang River in Lingling County.
Such mortals, after a hundred years, are nothing more than a handful of yellow earth
In recent days, although the young girl Su Qingling still harbored some grievances against Lu Bei, she ultimately possessed the nature of a child. After Lu Bei's guidance, she also came to understand that the events of the previous day could not be entirely blamed on Lu Bei
Since entering the Dao Palace, Su Qingli, who has been whispering with Su Qingling while speaking with the Cloud Daoist, has not raised her head to glance at Lu Bei even once
Lu Bei looked up at the moon, his eyes shimmering with a cold light, seemingly lost in thought.
Su Qingli's expression grew even colder upon hearing Qingling's words, and she said to Su Qingling: "Younger sister, do not associate with such reckless and misguided paths in the future"
Lu Beisi pondered: "In the next couple of days, once that Su Qingling's sister arrives, I shall bid farewell to Daoist Yun."
At this moment, Lu Bei suddenly remembered something and hurriedly spoke up: "Immortal, I have one more matter to consult you about."
The immortal elder, the young one has awakened
Although the injuries are indeed troublesome, there is no longer any danger to life," said the Cloud Daoist with a slight smile
Since I have come to this world, I must traverse the green mountains while I am still young, wield my sword and sing into the azure sky, so as to not live this life in vain
The Cloud Daoist sighed deeply and said, "Young friend, please accept my condolences."
Upon thinking of this, Lu Bei couldn't help but smile to himself, then turned and strolled towards Qingling Temple
Lu Bei looked up at the cold moonlight and the starry sky, and although he was not someone who lamented the changing seasons, a sense of indescribable melancholy surged within him
On this evening, the Cangwu Mountain was still bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Lu Bei, as usual, stood on the steps before the mountain path, facing the cool breeze and with his back to the afterglow of the sunset, diligently sweeping the fallen leaves from the ninety-nine stone steps with a broom, lost in his thoughts.
The young girl Su Qingling, upon hearing her sister Qingli speak of Lu Bei in such a manner, wished to argue, but seeing the increasing chill in Su Qingli's expression, she could only remain silent
Although she was doted on by her parents since childhood, she held her elder sister in great awe. In recent days, despite spending day and night with Lu Beichao and feeling some subtle emotions in her heart, what prevailed was still the innocent nature of a young girl. Any fleeting romantic thoughts were quickly cast aside in the joy of seeing her family.
The Cloud Daoist, upon seeing the situation settled, said: "Since it is thus, I shall personally escort you down the mountain tomorrow"
Lu Bei smiled lightly, not taking it to heart
At this moment, Lu Bei, draped in starlight, stepped into the Dao Palace, the blue brick floor reflecting the dim moonlight, casting Lu Bei's figure in an exceptionally tall silhouette
Su Qingli glanced indifferently at the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy before her, did not respond to Lu Bei's question, and walked straight past him, ascending the steps directly into the Qingling Temple
A woman descended from a three-colored auspicious cloud, approaching gracefully like the wind caressing the willows. She wore a palace skirt that fluttered elegantly, her face as beautiful as jade, her brows resembling distant dark mountains, with a skin as cold as ice and bones as exquisite as jade. Despite her serene demeanor, a hint of charm subtly revealed itself.
Lu Beixin praised inwardly
The Cloud Daoist looked surprised and asked, "Oh?"
Recalling the memories of his previous life, Lu Bei felt a wave of confusion. He had thought that in this life, his parents and the villagers had been devoured by the monster, and that he would no longer have any ties of cause and effect.
"Lu Xiaoyou has arrived, please take a seat quickly," Yun Daoist said, sitting cross-legged on the cloud bed and greeting Lu Bei.
It is difficult to seek a fateful connection. Today, parting from this person, I fear there may be no chance of meeting again. If I do not voice the doubts in my heart, I will only add to my regrets in the days to come
Yet, a pair of crescent-shaped cold eyes, chillingly beautiful, evokes a sense of shame within one's heart, making one dare not to desecrate them
But for some reason, he is treating Lu Bei this way
Lu Bei walked out of the Dao Palace, and under the brilliant starlight, returned to his place of residence. Supporting himself against the bed table, he remained silent, and at some unknown moment, a faint blush like that of a plum blossom appeared at the corner of his mouth
The Cloud Daoist was about to speak, but was interrupted by Lu Bei waving his hand, saying: "Immortal, my parents were harmed by demons. As their son, I should also gather their remains and lay them to rest, allowing them to find peace in the earth. Although you do not speak of it, I too have the intention of returning home." At this point, Lu Bei, unsure if he was influenced by the remnants of his previous life’s memories, felt his voice grow increasingly somber.
"Immortal, is your injury feeling any better?" Lu Bei did not stand on ceremony, as he found a pear blossom wood chair to sit down and inquired about Daoist Yun's well-being.
Lu Bei collected his thoughts, his gaze clear and righteous, and replied in a clear voice: "I am Lu Bei. May I ask if the young lady is Miss Qing Li in person"
Lu Bei's expression was solemn as he spoke aloud: "May I ask, esteemed immortal, among the renowned mountains and rivers of the world, where might there be a sacred place for the human race to cultivate the Dao? I sincerely wish to pursue the Dao and seek a method for attaining longevity."
Fame and fortune are but fleeting illusions; only the true path of immortality can lead to everlasting life and vision
I wonder if the moon of Earth in a past life was rounder than in this realm
What a remarkable and extraordinary woman
In the era of the end of the Dharma in the previous life, the path to immortality was severed, and how many exceptionally talented individuals, throughout the long river of history, merely enjoyed a carefree existence for a hundred years
The moon of today is not seen by the people of ancient times, yet which year does the current moon illuminate for those of antiquity
At the moment when Lu Bei's determination to seek the Dao darkened, a graceful and exquisite figure approached Qingling Temple
Who are you? The voice is like a clear spring in an empty valley, calm and serene
During a banquet, in a state of inebriation, a scholar with the surname He jested that sixteen years later, if both of their wives bore sons, they would be brothers; if both bore daughters, they would be sisters; and if one bore a son and the other a daughter, they would become in-laws.
Being ignored
The Cloud Daoist pondered for a moment before speaking: "Young friend, Qingling is to return to her hometown with her sister tomorrow, and I must also recuperate from my injuries. Moreover, the Howling Moon Demon King may not know when he will cause trouble in Cangwu Mountain again. Therefore, I plan to seal the mountain for a hundred years to avoid calamity"
The reason is that Su Qingli had already developed a prejudice against Lu Bei upon hearing about the background of the Xiaoyue Demon King's provocation at Cangwu Mountain
Lu Bei turned his gaze towards the direction of the sound and was taken aback
"Human hearts are indeed greedy." A cold snort erupted beside Lu Bei's ear like a clap of thunder
These thoughts were also imprinted in Lu Bei's mind, clear and profound
The Cloud Man was conversing with a young woman, and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant during their discussion