coobybook Chapter 120 If we are bathed in snow together in the future, then we can be considered to have grown
Chapter 120 If we are bathed in snow together in the future, then we can be considered to have grown
Inside the hot spring pool, steam rises and mist swirls, creating a scene resembling a fairyland.
The hot spring water temperature was just right. As soon as I entered the water, I felt a warm current instantly envelop my whole body, dispelling the chill and bringing comfort and relaxation from the inside out.
Zhou Qingfeng and the old cripple sat side by side, each leaning against the stone steps by the hot spring pool, letting the warm water wash over their shoulders and necks. They talked in hushed tones, their conversation ranging from everyday trifles to reflections on life and cultivation.
Occasionally, the old cripple would impart some life wisdom or cultivation experience to Zhou Qingfeng in the tone of an elder, and Zhou Qingfeng would listen attentively, nodding in response from time to time, showing respect and trust for the old cripple.
The hot spring pool is surrounded by lush greenery, fragrant flowers, and birdsong, creating a tranquil and secluded atmosphere. Wooden benches, towel racks, and stone paths adorned with various flowers and plants are set up along the poolside.
As the body gradually adapts to the water temperature.
Zhou Qingfeng and the old cripple closed their eyes to rest and enjoy this rare moment of tranquility. The heat of the hot spring water penetrated their muscles, relieving muscle fatigue, as if an invisible hand was gently massaging every sore spot.
"Mr. Liao, you are a senior, and as a junior, I have something I would like to ask you."
"Well, what is it?"
"The plague demon is in my hands, how can I maximize its value?"
The old cripple removed the hot towel from his face and looked at Zhou Qingfeng with a smile: "Then it depends on whether you want to enhance your personal combat ability or improve your cultivation."
"If the goal is to improve personal combat ability, then controlling the Plague Demon is definitely the first choice."
"After finding blood demons and starving ghosts, and combining them with disaster-grade thousand-year-old Yin wood, disaster-grade mad god's shroud, and a thousand human skins as refining materials, we will forge the Three Calamities Annihilation Banner, which ranks first among disaster-grade magic weapons."
"With the help of this flag, you only need to wave it lightly to make all things wither, plagues run rampant, and wars rage endlessly. You will become a natural disaster, and wherever you go, living beings will be ravaged and all things will perish."
"If you take this flag and go to a pure world where there are no true immortal cultivators, you will be able to do so."
"Tsk, then you are a walking natural disaster, the source of world pollution, capable of slaughtering all living beings by yourself, causing the Heavenly Dao to be polluted and driven mad by the boiling turbid air, and falling into the five turbid evil world."
Zhou Qingfeng remained silent, according to "A Survival Account of the Border Area".
Cultivators in the Pure Qi World consume Pure Qi, which is equivalent to cultivators in the Turbid Qi World consuming Turbid Qi.
The cultivation realms of those who cultivate in the Pure Abode are Human Immortal, Celestial Immortal, and True Immortal.
These correspond to the Turbidity Realm, Calamity Realm, and Evil Realm of cultivators who practice the Turbidity Food Cultivation.
It is said that there are realms below the Immortal in the Food Pure World, but those are all realms of mortals. These mortals have only cultivated themselves into immortal beings, and they are top-grade cultivation resources for refining human pills.
Moreover, every two hundred years or so, at most three hundred years, a pure world will fall into an evil world.
This kind of information is completely inaccessible to lower-level cultivators, because the true nature of the world is kept secret by those in power. If lower-level cultivators knew this, they would all go crazy.
I bet they'll all rush headlong into the Food World, each one catching and eating immortal beings. Who would want to stay in their native land, enduring hardship and toil, working for the powerful and wealthy for a meager few thousand magic coins?
Of course, even if lower-level cultivators knew, it would be difficult for them to cross the 'borderland' battlefield and enter the Food Purity World. Even if some lower-level cultivators who were unwilling to be ordinary risked their lives to sneak across, they were few and far between and could not affect the overall situation of the Five Turbid Evil World.
The old cripple said slowly, "On the other hand, if you are not pursuing individual combat ability, but rather the improvement of your cultivation, then refining the Great Plague Foundation Building Pill is of course the best option."
"This Great Plague Foundation Building Pill can increase your mana by about a thousand coins at once, saving you thousands of days of arduous cultivation. It is extremely effective and also has the effect of cleansing your bones and flesh, increasing the efficiency of your bones and flesh in absorbing the plague's energy by 10%, and also increasing your maximum mana reserves by 10%."
"The market price is around one million French dollars, with occasional fluctuations, but not significant ones."
Upon hearing the old cripple's words, Zhou Qingfeng nodded slightly, having already made a decision on how to deal with the plague demon.
With a solid foundation, it won't be a problem for me to cultivate all the way to the Devouring Fiend Realm.
Cultivation speed is not a problem. You can earn merit and then enter the White Bone Foundation Building Tower to assist your cultivation. With the help of cheaper plague pills for nourishment, and by cultivating in seclusion in a down-to-earth manner, you can still make rapid progress.
There's no need to take the Great Epidemic Foundation Building Pill; it's not worth it, the cost-effectiveness is too low.
It would be better to gather all the materials for the Three Calamities Annihilation Banner and try to forge a powerful and invincible magical artifact.
The old cripple asked, "Has a decision been made?"
Zhou Qingfeng said, "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Liao. I now know what to do."
The old cripple patted Zhou Qingfeng on the shoulder with a smile: "You've been soaking for too long, get up and have some tea with this old man."
“Okay, Mr. Liao.” Zhou Qingfeng got up, picked up a towel from the towel rack by the pool, wiped himself, changed into his pajamas and sat down opposite the old cripple at the tea table. The old cripple poured Zhou Qingfeng a cup of tea.
Zhou Qingfeng took a sip of tea and smiled, saying, "Mr. Liao, we've known each other for quite some time, but I've always addressed you as Mr. Liao. I don't know your full name yet. Could you tell me?"
The old cripple glanced at Zhou Qingfeng and said, "There's nothing I can't say. My name is Liao Huaizhen. Huai means 'humble and open-minded,' and Zhen means 'to cultivate oneself through adversity.' This is the name my father gave me."
Zhou Qingfeng read it aloud, lost in thought. Looking at the old cripple's increasingly thinning hair, he casually remarked, "A fine name. Mr. Liao clearly comes from a scholarly family. Not only is he handsome, but he also has an air of elegance."
The old cripple pointed at Zhou Qingfeng with a smile: "You're just a smooth talker, but you're not wrong. I do come from a scholarly family. I wouldn't say I'm a genius, but I'm certainly well-read."
I don't know what the old cripple looked like when he was young, but now... well, it's hard to describe.
He's not ugly, but he's definitely not handsome.
It can only be said that time is a cruel butcher's knife, each cut hastening our aging.
Zhou Qingfeng smiled and said, "I heard from Mr. Liao that he has some old acquaintances here. Shouldn't we go and meet them?"
The old cripple took a sip of tea and said quietly, "I'm trying to avoid him, how could I dare to meet him?"
Upon seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng suddenly realized: "Oh, I understand now. So Mr. Liao owes a debt of love."
The old cripple shook his head and said, "It can't be called a debt of affection; it's just one-sided on the other party's part."
"To tell you the story, I once passed through Winter City and stayed there for half a year. I participated in the Ice Sculpture Competition, the Despair Slope Skiing Competition, and the Pride of the Gods Competition, winning three consecutive championships. I certainly made a name for myself."
"Unexpectedly, because of my excessive popularity, I was targeted by a wicked woman named Jiang Li, who insisted that I marry into her family. How could I possibly agree to that? Putting aside the matter of whether I should marry into her family or not, I already have someone in my heart and cannot tolerate any other woman."
"There's no other way, I'd better leave first and make my escape."
"Now that I'm revisiting this place, I probably won't run into her unless I make a point of seeking her out."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng laughed heartily: "Interesting, interesting. Now that Mr. Liao has mentioned it, I'm quite curious about this wicked woman, Jiang Li. What kind of extraordinary woman could make Mr. Liao run away so easily?"
The old cripple shook his head helplessly: "You, you... never mind, let's just have some tea."
"Alright, alright... have some tea."
Let's consider both sides of the story, focusing on one side only.
Ye Tingxiu and Lan Yue walked hand in hand into the bustling market to choose new clothes for winter.
Among the dazzling array of fabrics in the shop, they each chose their favorite brocade robes and silk skirts. Ye Tingxiu's dark robe accentuated his aloof temperament, while Lan Yue's emerald green silk skirt highlighted her gentle and beautiful appearance.
After changing into their new clothes, they sampled various delicacies at the bustling market: steaming hot mutton stew noodles, crispy and delicious candied hawthorns, and sweet and soft red bean buns.
The two shared a meal, laughing and chatting happily, as if Lan Yue had temporarily forgotten the troubles of reality.
The next day, they lingered in the entertainment districts, watching various acrobatic performances. The vivid and interesting shadow puppetry and the humorous puppet show drew cheers from them.
In the afternoon, they sat down in the teahouse and listened to the storyteller recount strange tales and legendary stories. As night fell, they strolled through the brightly lit streets, admiring the lanterns, solving riddles, and immersing themselves in this worldly joy.
On the last day, Ye Tingxiu took Lan Yue to the most famous jewelry shop in the city.
He carefully selected a pair of jade bracelets, which were emerald green and translucent.
Lan Yue put on the bracelet, lowered her eyes shyly and smiled, her heart filled with emotion.
As evening fell, heavy snow began to fall, instantly transforming the entire winter city into a picturesque scene.
Holding a bunch of red plum blossoms, Ye Tingxiu walked through the snow toward Lan Yue, his eyes firm and affectionate.
"Lan Yue, I know there are too many obstacles between us, but I cannot suppress the feelings in my heart."
"These three days together have made me even more certain that you are an indispensable person in my life."
"I offer this bouquet of red plum blossoms as my betrothal gift. No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, I am willing to spend it with you." Ye Tingxiu's words echoed in the wind and snow, every word filled with sincere love.
Looking at the determined man before her, Lan Yue's eyes welled with tears. She took the red plum blossom, nodded gently, and said in a barely audible voice, "I do."
The two embraced in the snow.
Lan Yue nestled in Ye Tingxiu's arms, holding a red plum blossom in one hand and catching snowflakes in the other, smiling softly: "If we can get soaked in the snow together someday, then we can be considered to have grown old together in this life."
The next day, everyone was ready to go.
At the moment of parting, Ye Tingxiu was naturally extremely reluctant to leave.
However, he was burdened with heavy responsibilities and could not linger, much less take Lan Yue with him.
After a brief embrace, Lan Yue approached Zhou Qingfeng: "Fourth Brother, may we talk alone?"
Zhou Qingfeng looked slightly puzzled, then nodded in agreement. He had no connection with Lan Yue, and their only common topic was Ye Tingxiu. Since Lan Yue wanted to talk to him privately, he guessed it was related to Ye Tingxiu.
The two moved to the cedar tree, and in a secluded place, Lan Yue took out the prepared envelope.
Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng asked, "What is this...?"
Lan Yue said calmly, "I hope you can pass on my will to Xiao Yezi at the appropriate time."
Zhou Qingfeng frowned: "I don't understand."
Lan Yue smoothed her hair, looked at Ye Tingxiu who was waiting in the distance, and smiled: "Fourth Brother, to be honest, I was tortured by Xing Cishu for the past two years and was covered in wounds. I lost my fertility and didn't have much time left."
"This time, I fear I may never see Xiao Yezi again, so I must leave him a farewell letter."
Zhou Qingfeng frowned even more deeply: "The injury is not a problem. Master Chen is proficient in medicine and can help you recover and prolong your life, and may even help you restore your fertility. It is not entirely impossible for him."
Lan Yue shook her head and smiled serenely: "A broken mirror can never be mended. Even if I use every means to restore it to its original state, I still can't get over the hurdle in my heart. I can't accept myself like this."
Zhou Qingfeng could tell that Lan Yue had already decided to die. It wasn't a question of whether she could be saved or not, but that she no longer wanted to live: "Old Ye loves you very much, I can tell. If you die, he will be very sad."
Lan Yue smiled slightly: "A moment of sadness is better than a lifetime of sorrow. I am already content to see him one last time before I die and to spend these ten days of happiness together. Why should I harm him for the rest of his life?"
"As his good friend, you wouldn't want to see him dragged down by a dirty woman like me, would you?"
Zhou Qingfeng fell silent, put away the envelope, and took out a bottle of longevity pills to hand over.
This bottle of longevity pills was found in Gao Shuai's storage bag.
"I will pass the letter on to you at the appropriate time."
"You don't need to belittle yourself like that. Love knows no social class or status."
"What you have experienced is not what you wanted."
"It's just that we are living in this turbid and evil world, and we are forced to suffer this hardship."
"What's rare is that you always think of Lao Ye and truly love him."
"In my eyes, you are a good woman and you are worthy of my husband, Lao Ye."
"If you change your mind, you can take the pill in the bottle, which can help you prolong your life and live. We will return after we finish our business. I will not hide anything from you. If Old Ye asks me one day, I will tell you the truth."
He did what he should do, giving her the elixir to survive.
If she wants to live, she will eat.
If someone is determined to die, no one can stop them.
Upon hearing this, Lan Yue smiled slightly, took the medicine bottle, and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Fourth Brother."
Zhou Qingfeng grunted in response, said nothing more, turned and strode back to the caravan, summoning his horse, Yi Ma: "Let's go!"
The group slowly made its way up Despair Slope.
Ye Tingxiu jumped onto the roof of the carriage, waved, and shouted, "Yue'er, wait for me to come back!"
"Little Yezi, take good care of yourself. I'll be waiting for you to come back!" Lan Yue stood under the cedar tree with a smile, waving goodbye as she wiped away her tears, quietly watching the convoy disappear into the vast snowy horizon.
She looked at the bottle of pills in her hand, casually tossed it onto the snow, and turned to walk deeper into the snowfield.
Inside the main hall of the city lord in Winter City.
A solemn and dignified atmosphere permeated the air, highlighting the city lord's supreme authority.
On the throne sat a white-haired man with a calm face and deep eyes. Time had etched its marks on him, but it could not conceal his restrained kingly aura.
This white-haired man is Jiang Xun, the ruler of Winter City.
His presence is like a giant rock standing in an extremely cold place, solid and unshakable.
Beneath the throne stood, on either side, the ruling officials and nobles of Winter City. Dressed in magnificent robes, their faces solemn, they faced the throne with reverence, the emblems of power and prestige gleaming on their garments.
Their gazes frequently fell upon the white-haired man on the throne, revealing reverence and loyalty.
In the center of the main hall, two unusual figures stood out.
One of them was Xing Cishu, the garrison commander of Gancaobao. He was tall and strong, wearing iron armor, and was heroic and imposing.
The other was Chai Ronggui, who claimed to be the leader of the Seventy-Seven Ronin. He was dressed in blue-scaled snake armor, and his face was etched with the marks of hardship and experience.
Xing Cishu, the garrison commander of Gancaobao, clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Lord of the city, Zhou Qingfeng must still be within the territory of Handong. If we send people to search for his whereabouts now, intercept and kill him to seize the treasure, then the Xiyi Treasure will belong to our Handong City."
Chai Ronggui echoed, "Lord Jiang, if you are willing to send men to search for Zhou Qingfeng and his group, I, Chai Ronggui, am willing to lead seventy-six brothers to help you reclaim the Xiyi Treasure."