On a summer afternoon, the cicadas chirp endlessly.

On the narrow bluestone road, pedestrians are in twos and threes, and the pace is leisurely and comfortable.

Living in this ordinary town, the days are like yesterday, a little boring, but quiet and peaceful.

There's very little new stuff in the town, and most of the fun stories come from the wine shops in the center of town. On weekdays, it is the most lively place.

The name of the wine shop is Qingping, which is not much different from the name of the town. In the afternoon, the bright red sun quietly sprinkled on the cornices of the pavilion, adding a bit of enthusiasm and uniqueness to this ordinary wine shop in front of you.

Except for the occasional aroma of wine and food, there seems to be nothing special in the wine shop. A simple counter and a few wooden tables and stools are neatly arranged, and in the only foothold of this business traveler and lodging, there are faces that are either long, delicate, serious, or cheerful, and they are chatting all over the world, telling about the recent excitement outside the town.

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"Man, another half a pound of beef in sauce. A burly man in the hall said loudly.

"Weller, wait a minute. I just heard a clear voice and agreed. After a while, I saw a young man in Mai coming out of the back kitchen with a bowl of hot sauce beef. The young man's name is Jingwen, he is the second shopkeeper of this wine shop, although he is dressed in sackcloth, his eyes are clear, very smart, and he is youthful and energetic when he walks.

"Guest officer, your beef sauce has arrived, please use it slowly. As Jing Wen spoke, another group of guests were ushered in outside the wine shop. All three of them came on horseback, with an old man with a stern face, an expressionless middle-aged scribe, and a young man in his prime and richly dressed.

"This group of people is either rich or expensive. Jing Wen said secretly in his heart, and stepped forward to take them to a secluded place in the store.

"Hurry up and bring all the good wine and meat in your store, I've been busy on the road for the past few days, and I haven't had a good meal or rest, but it's finally here." The young man in Chinese clothes let out a sigh of relief.

"No problem, it's coming soon. Jing Wen smiled at the young man in Chinese costumes. Moments later, the restaurant's signature dishes and local sake filled the table.

"Hu Ding, today is here to live and recuperate, tomorrow is the Western Ancient Sect's ten-year apprentice assessment meeting, you have to behave well. You have been smart since you were a child, and you should understand that our Hu family, in the eyes of ordinary people, may be regarded as a rich and wealthy family, but the real rulers are the major famous sects. If the Hu family wants to gain a firm foothold, there must be a cultivator. Grandpa has high hopes for you. The old man gently patted the young man in the costume on the shoulder.

"Grandpa rest assured, grandpa knows, will not disappoint your expectations. Hu Ding replied in a deep voice.

Although the conversation between the grandfather and grandson was not loud in the noisy wine shop, due to the secluded location, this conversation was clearly understood by Jing Wen in the corner. At this moment, Jingwen's heart was flooded.

"Xigu Sect, tomorrow's ten-year apprenticeship assessment, sect masters, cultivators. Jingwen's heart was full of shock. Although Jingwen had never seen the rumored cultivators, he often heard it from the mouths of pedestrians who traveled from the south to the north. Whenever a cultivator is mentioned, the eyes of the guests are full of envy and awe, and the rumored cultivators are like immortals who can fly to the sky and move mountains and reclaim the sea.

Hearing this conversation between his grandfather and grandson, his yearning for cultivation once again ignited in Jingwen's heart.

Jingwen wanted to know more about the Western Ancient Sect, and was always careful to eavesdrop on the conversation between his grandson and grandson. But it's a pity that until the grandfather and grandson have eaten and drunk enough and entered the guest room to rest, they never talked about anything about the Western Ancient Sect again.

Jingwen's heart was full of disappointment and regret.

"Jingwen, serve the wine. A deep, deep voice rang out in the wine shop. The owner of the voice is a middle-aged man, this person's surname is Zhang, he is a frequent visitor here, wearing an ordinary green shirt, and his eyes are very deep.

Three years ago. He came to the shop for the first time, asked for some wine, and sat there until the sun went down. Except for drinking, which is in a daze, it is like this for several days in a row.

Once, Jingwen was afraid that his body would not be able to bear it, so he kindly served him a plate of fried peanuts and rice. Jingwen smiled at the middle-aged man, and the middle-aged man surnamed Zhang nodded at Jingwen, which was considered to be an acquaintance.

Since that day, middle-aged people will order fried peanuts in addition to wine, and they will no longer sit as dry as they did in the past, and they will chat with Jingwen in their free time. Over time, the two became acquainted, and Jingwen called him Uncle Zhang.

"Uncle Zhang, is it the same?" Jingwen asked absentmindedly.

"Yes, as usual. Jingwen, how do I feel that you are a little uneasy today?" Uncle Zhang chuckled.

"It's nothing, Uncle Zhang, you haven't drunk yet, won't you get drunk?" Jingwen hurriedly defended.

"You kid, did you overhear the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, so you are in such a trance?" Uncle Zhang said softly.

Jingwen was shocked, "The place where Uncle Zhang is sitting is very close to the three people just now, could it be that Uncle Zhang also heard it." Jing Yun muttered in his heart.

"Judging by your expression, I must have guessed it. I might as well tell you, this matter, Uncle Zhang also knows, tomorrow is indeed the day when the Western Ancient Sect opens the mountain gate to accept disciples, and he will appear in the Yangliu Pavilion within an hour, holding the assessment token issued by the Western Ancient Sect, and someone will come here to meet you and go to the Western Ancient Sect for testing."

Glancing at Jing Wen, who was full of surprise, Uncle Zhang took a sip of his wine glass, and then said softly: "Yangliuting You know, after leaving Qingping Town, walk five miles to the west. I remember you telling me that you had been there when you were a child, but you were stopped by the pavilion guards and couldn't enter. ”

"Yes, yes, yes, Yangliuting, I know, I've been there. Jing Wen nodded again and again.

"Jing Wen wants to become a cultivator?" Uncle Zhang looked at Jing Wen with deep eyes.

"Yes, they can fly away, it's amazing. Jing Wen was full of envy and expectation.

"Okay, then Uncle Zhang will let Jingwen try it, whether you can pass it or not depends on your creation. While speaking, Uncle Zhang took out a palm-sized wooden plaque from his waist and handed it to Jingwen.

Jingwen hurriedly took it and carefully hid it in his arms, his eyes still wandering around from time to time.

"Stinky boy, thief, don't worry, no one here can hear our conversation. However, Jingwen, you remember that the person who answered will only appear at the hour of the hour, and you must not miss the hour, otherwise you will have to wait for another ten years. Uncle Zhang scolded with a smile.

"Uncle Zhang, don't worry, I'll leave early in the morning. It certainly won't be delayed. Jingwen stuffed the wooden card into his arms again, and said seriously.

"Well, remember. Okay, Jingwen go get busy, Uncle Zhang will drink for a while. Uncle Zhang took a sip of wine and said.

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Throughout the afternoon, Jingwen didn't notice the passage of time at all, and passed in excitement. It was getting dark, and the moonlight was beginning to emerge. The liquor store has also entered the closing time.

Uncle Zhang looked outside slightly distracted, and muttered: "The moonrise shines on the mountain first, and the wind moves the water first." is also like the sound of early cicadas, which first enters the ears of idlers. When I smell the sorrow, I listen to the nostalgia again. The sound of cicadas in Weishang Village, first listen to the similarity. Who listens to Qingping? After drinking the last sip of wine, Uncle Zhang stood up and looked at Jingwen, who was cleaning up the tables and chairs.

Feeling Uncle Zhang's gaze, Jingwen also raised his head and waved his hand at Uncle Zhang as before. Then Uncle Zhang walked away from the wine shop.

After the liquor store closed, Jingwen told the boss about tomorrow's leave. The boss is Jingwen's uncle, so he was inevitably talked about for a while, but Jingwen still successfully asked for leave.

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Jingwen family. A family of three sat around the dinner table.

Mother Ji Hui has a kind face. His father, Jing Hao, was wearing a short shirt and looked very athletic. His parents have a shop in the town and do a cloth business, although the family is not wealthy, Jingwen has lived a worry-free life since he was a child.

"Mom and Dad, tomorrow is Yao Bo's birthday, I made an appointment with a few friends to go to the county seat to celebrate his birthday, and we will set off together tomorrow morning. Jingwen ate a few bites of food and said to his parents.

"Yao Bo, it's been almost a year since his family moved to the county seat?" his mother sandwiched some vegetables for Jingwen, "You eat more vegetables, don't just eat meat." ”

"Well, in another month it will be a year. When I moved last year, he asked me to remember going to the county seat to see him. Jingwen ate and said vaguely.

"Have you asked your uncle for leave?" his father, Jing Hao, gulped down his meal.

"I said that, and my uncle agreed. Jingwen put another piece of meat into the bowl.

"Well, when you were a child, you used to go to his house for dinner, and this time I brought some gifts for my uncle and aunt. Jing Hao took out some broken silver from his pocket and put it on the table.

"Go to Yangliu Pavilion to participate in the entrance assessment of the Western Ancient Sect, don't tell your parents in advance, what a shame it would be if you didn't choose. It's never too late to choose it. Jingwen was so concerned in his heart.

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At night, Jingwen couldn't fall asleep over and over again in tension and excitement, and it wasn't until the early hours of the morning that he fell asleep in a daze.

In order not to miss the assessment tomorrow, the next day, before dawn, Jingwen turned over and got out of bed, touched the wooden card in his arms, and once again confirmed that he was not dreaming, so he rinsed and rinsed out the door. "I haven't seen you go to the wine store so actively, remember to buy something to eat and then go to the county seat. When I went out, I heard my mother Ji Hui's laughter and scolding.

After leaving the house, he went to Lao Wang's steamed bun shop on the street to buy a few hot meat buns, and Jingwen hurried towards Yangliu Pavilion, for fear of missing the assessment of the Western Ancient Sect.

Yangliu Pavilion is only five miles away from the town and is built in the ancient garden of the West. Jingwen walked briskly along the way, and soon arrived at the destination, Xigu Garden. Yi Qianwen has never understood why the Western Ancient Garden is guarded by guards. Now that I think about it, this place should be owned by the Western Ancient Sect.

At this time, the sky is getting brighter, and it is estimated that it should be the hour of the hour, and it will be the hour soon. Jingwen walked towards the ancient garden in the west a little nervously. At this moment, the sound of horses' hooves was heard not far away.

Da! Da! Da!

Da! Da! Da!

Jingwen looked up, and the corners of his mouth suddenly raised a chuckle, it turned out that someone he knew had arrived.