That night, Xuanji packed some clothes and prepared to go to Mingxia Cave early tomorrow morning.

He Danping wiped her tears while loading some delicious dry food for her, and said, "You have to practice diligently in the future...... Don't make your dad angry anymore. Stay alone in Mingxia Cave, don't think nonsense, don't be afraid, my mother will pick you up early. ”

Xuanji nodded sullenly in agreement.

Linglong first tied her loose hair into a bun, and said childishly: "Don't be afraid, Xuanji, I will go to the cave to accompany you in two days!" Wait for me! I take care of you. ”

He Danping was wiping away tears, but when she heard her words, she laughed again, and said softly: "Silly child, everyone can go to Mingxia Cave!" Xuanji, don't blame Daddy for being ruthless. The Mingxia Cave was set up by the ancestors to exercise their willpower, and it was specially prepared for disciples who were not good at concentration. Daddy let you pass, and it's for your good. As the daughter of the head of the house, not to mention that she wants to add glory to her father's face, at least don't embarrass him. Something like that in the martial arts training arena today, it can't happen again, understand? ”

Linglong didn't wait for Xuanji to speak, so she hurriedly said: "Daddy knows face!" My sister's health is obviously not good, and she is not suitable for practice, and he doesn't know that he is distressed! ”

He Danping frowned and said, "Linglong, you don't say a word!" What are you talking about daddy? ”

Linglong was not convinced, pouted and muttered to the side.

He Danping held Xuanji's hand and said, "It's cold and damp in the cave, remember to wear more." Your sixth senior brother will bring you food every day, and if you are sick, you must tell him so that we can take you down. "In the end, she is a mother, and she has a lot of chattering and explanations, all of which are trivial things.

It wasn't until a few little disciples came over to shout for dinner that she stopped talking, only sighed and touched Xuanji's head.

"Master, the master said that he had dinner in Xiaoyangfeng today, and by the way, he discussed with Uncle Heyang about next month's hairpin conference, and he won't come back tonight. Please take care of the teacher and the two sisters. ”

A disciple was talking outside the door, listening to the voice, it was the sixth Zhong Minyan.

As soon as Linglong heard that it was him, she opened the curtain with a smile and ran out, saying, "That little sixth son can eat with us today." ”

Zhong Minyan quietly grimaced at her, but did not speak. He Danping walked out with Xuanji in her arms and said with a smile: "You kid, Senior Brother Zhong is three years older than you!" It's not too big or too small! Min Yan, your senior brother and your master are not in the other courtyard, so let's call a few senior brothers to the house for dinner today, everyone is also lively. ”

Zhong Minyan replied yes with a smile, and then stood up straight. He was the youngest of the Min Zi disciples, and below him were Linglong and Xuanji. He is handsome, smart and sweet-mouthed, so the master and his mother like him very much, and Linglong pesters him every day to make trouble.

He saw Xuanji standing beside Shi Niang with a pale face, and there was no expression on her almost transparent little face, and he couldn't help but feel disgusted in his heart.

He doesn't like Xuan Xuanji, she is always expressionless, never smiling, like a wooden person. When I got closer to her, I couldn't help but become depressed, and the air became lazy and solidified. He himself was born with good speech and eloquence, and even the master could speak and move, but he just couldn't reason with Xuanji. She is very hateful, and when she listens, she nods again and again, you think she is so humble, but she turns around and goes her own way.

Zhong Minyan decided that she was deep in the city, and she was double-faced, and she never talked to her again. Or is it exquisite, little girl, it should be innocent and spicy, otherwise what is the difference with a puppet?

He originally turned around to call the senior brothers over for dinner, but suddenly thought of something, turned around again, and said lightly: "By the way, Master has a few words to convey to Senior Sister Xuanji." He said: Don't think about being lazy anymore, and reflect on the practice in the cave. Next time I check again, if you don't know Xuanming Fist, don't think about the hole. ”

Xuanji said "oh", still didn't react much, Zhong Minyan wanted to see her crying bitterly, which would be boring, so she had to leave.

As a result, Zhong Minyan's words made the atmosphere of dinner extremely heavy. Shi Niang's eyes were red, and she must have secretly cried again, even Linglong had a bitter face and didn't say a word. Zhong Minyan felt remorseful in his heart, so he secretly kicked the second senior brother Chen Minjue, asking him to make some jokes to improve the atmosphere.

Before the second child Chen Minjue learned art, he was a gangster who worked as an assistant to storytellers. Seeing that everyone didn't dare to speak, except for Shi Niang, who was the oldest of his seniority, he couldn't help but clear his throat, and deliberately said mysteriously: "Hey, we are going to send a big event recently, do you know?" ”

Linglong was the most clever, and hurriedly said, "I know!" It's next month's hairpin festival! ”

Chen Minjue touched his beardless chin with a smile, shook his head and said, "The hairpin flower conference is true, but do you know where the highlight of this hairpin flower conference is?" ”

Linglong frowned and thought for a while, and said, "The main thing? Isn't it true that the five major sects in the world each send elite disciples to learn martial arts and immortal methods from each other? The senior brothers of the Min generation have not yet reached the age of competition, could it be that the senior brothers have been selected? ”

Chen Minjue didn't speak, just shook his head, with that hateful and mysterious smile on his face, and the anxious Linglong really wanted to grab his collar and force him to say quickly.

He Danping said with a smile: "Your senior brother is a rare talent, but he is not old enough to participate in the hairpin flower conference. The one who has to be at least eighteen is the one who can do it. Minjue don't sell it, just talk about it. ”

Chen Minjue was not in a hurry, and asked first: "Then do you know why the hairpin flower conference is called the word hairpin?" ”

Zhong Minyan replied: "I know this. The winner of the martial arts competition will be personally put on a peony flower on his hairpin by the lord of Rong Valley of Dianjing Valley, so it is called hairpin. ”

Chen Minjue smiled: "Wrong! That flower is not something you can easily put on the hairpin if you win the championship! Otherwise, you saw that at the last hairpin flower conference, didn't Lord Rong Gu wear flowers to the winner of the floating jade island? It is important to know that this flower does not only refer to the peony flower, but also refers to the last challenge that the winner will face after winning the championship. ”

It was the first time for everyone to hear about this so-called last challenge, and they couldn't help but ask each other curiously, and even Xuanji looked at the second senior brother with round eyes. He Danping naturally knew that she was like a mirror in her heart, she just laughed, and she didn't say anything, so that the children could have fun.

Chen Minjue whetted everyone's appetite, and then said: "The so-called last challenge is to let the winner of the martial arts competition fight a big demon!" Of course, that demon had been caught by the seniors in advance, and most of the vitality had already been lost, otherwise how could ordinary disciples subdue it no matter how powerful they were? But you must not underestimate the ability of the injured demon, even if its vitality is greatly damaged, and its strength is only two or three percent, and few young disciples can defeat it independently. Otherwise, just learning martial arts, why should the hairpin flower conference be so grand? Since the beginning of this competition, no more than ten people can really put the peony hairpin. So, it's not as easy as you think! ”

Everyone sighed, and then they realized that the hairpin flower conference had such wonderful content. Linglong listened with relish, and asked in a loud voice: "Then the second senior brother, do you know what the demon of this hairpin flower conference is?" ”

Chen Minjue said: "This is not clear for the time being. But I heard that there was a tengu in Lutai Mountain before, which made the people miserable, and I guess this time it is this. ”

Linglong was full of fun, and only pestered Chen Minjue to say more, he sighed with a bitter face: "Little junior sister, I don't know how much more!" You might as well ask Shi Niang, she must know more about the hairpin conference. ”

He Danping nodded and said, "The second brother is right, if you can't defeat that demon, you can't make hairpins." At that time, your master also participated in the hairpin flower conference, he was the youngest, but he was very qualified, and he almost won the championship overwhelmingly. As a result, he also suffered a loss in the demon level and almost died. He still has that scar on his body! ”

"What kind of demon did Daddy fight against? Did he get peony flowers? ”

"That's a very famous demon, called Fat Relic. It has been entrenched in the northwest for three whole years, so that no rain has fallen there. In the end, your master and the elders of the other factions took great pains to subdue it as the finale of the hairpin flower festival that year. Your dad fought with it for two days and two nights, and finally won, and when he came out, he was all cracked and almost died. And then I ......"

She suddenly stopped talking, and her face turned slightly red. How can she say it to these juniors, and then she rushes over desperately, hugs him and cries. He grabbed the peony flower that was easy to get, trembled at her hairline, and said with a smile: "I wanted to say it for a long time...... Fragrant flowers with beauties. Now... It's time to find a flower that is worthy of you. ”

Alas, those sweet memories have gradually faded with the passage of time. Only in her heart, these precious memories are still so vivid, as if they happened yesterday.

After dinner, everyone chatted for a while, comforted Xuanji, and then retired to rest.

He Danping didn't know how many distressed tears she shed this night, how many worried words she said while hugging her daughter, she just hated that the night seemed to be very short, and the sky was dawning.

Xuanji carried a small package, opened the door, and saw several disciples of Xiatang and Uncle Yang standing at the door, all neatly wearing robes with red edges on a white background. We were ordered by the head of the family to send Xuanji Senior Sister to live in Mingxia Cave. ”

Pillow Xia Tang is in charge of the punishment of disciples who break the vows, and Yu Lei asked them to pick up Xuanji, which shows that he is selfless. He Danping had to cry a few more words, and then led Linglong who was crying to the side to the side, watching them tie up Xuanji with a gold rope and help him up on the black jade sedan chair.

"Xuanji, don't be afraid! Mother will pick you up soon! He Danping waved vigorously to her underground.

Xuanji rubbed to the side of the sedan chair, her face turned pale, but fortunately there was no sad and frightened expression. When she saw her mother and sister crying hard, although she was puzzled, she was also slightly sour, so she said loudly: "I will be fine!" Mother, sister! Don't worry about me! ”

As soon as the words fell, the black jade sedan chair rose into the air, and instantly became a black dot, and it could no longer be seen.

Regarding the legend of Mingxia Cave, Xuanji had only heard of it, but had never actually been there, so he didn't feel terrible about this punishment. On the contrary, she is glad that no matter what, it is better to be locked up than to be beaten. She doesn't want to be slapped by her father, that's what horror is called.

The mother packed two bags for her, one was clothes and the other was filled with dry food, and her sleeve pockets and chest were also stuffed with things, which were small toys that Linglong gave her to relieve her boredom. It's a pity that she is tied up now, and there is no way to take a closer look.

But it shows that the Xia Cave is on the Sun Peak. Sun Peak is the shortest peak of Shouyang Mountain, and strangely enough, there are not many trees here, but it is the place where wild beasts are infested the most, and there are many naturally formed caves. Mingxia Cave is the deepest and largest one inside.

The black jade sedan chair carried her, and within a moment came to the entrance of the Mingxia Cave. Xuanji stretched out his head to look out of the sedan chair, but saw that this was a flat land, surrounded by pines and cypresses, and the strange thing was that the land three feet in front of the entrance of Mingxia Cave had no grass, and the color was dark red like dried blood.

The four disciples of the Pillow Xia Hall dropped the black jade sedan chair, one of them loosened the tie for her, and the other carried her two burdens, got off the sedan chair, and then said, "Senior Sister Xuanji, we have to send you into the cave for a ride." ”

She nodded obediently, but didn't ask why she sent it, was she afraid that she would run away?

Who knew that when I entered the cave, I realized that there was a dark iron door in the cave, ten feet high, and the lock on the door was thicker than her thighs.

After opening the iron door and walking inside, the light had already dimmed, and the face could barely be seen within five steps. Xuanji looked around, but saw that the walls of the cave were covered with moss, and there were no bats as he liked, thinking that someone had regularly removed them.

After walking for a while, I suddenly heard the sound of water in front of me, and I thought that there was an underground spring here.

Xuanji never expected that there were so many famous halls in Mingxia Cave, not only was the entrance of the cave locked with an iron door, but after entering, he had to row a boat for a moment, and then he arrived at his destination. At this point, she couldn't see anything, and she couldn't see it when she put her hand in front of her eyes.

The four of them polished the flint and lit the torches, but they saw that a simple stone house had been built here, and the stone beds, tables and chairs in it were all primitive bluestone blocks. The so-called bed was nothing more than a flat stone with a layer of tidal straw on it, and there was not even a quilt.

The four of them left a handful of flints and a few candles for her, and said, "Then, Senior Sister Xuanji will meditate and cultivate here." I'm going to leave first. ”

Xuanji nodded indiscriminately, and the four of them put their burdens on the bed, seeing her dazed and lost look, they couldn't bear it, so they left the torch to her, and said, "Senior sister, take care!" I hope you will attain enlightenment soon. ”

After they left, the cave soon became quiet, or rather, dead silent.

Xuanji had never been in such a quiet and terrifying environment, as if she had stayed for a long time, her heartbeat had become thunder, and she could even hear the sound of veins and veins wriggling.

She was stunned for a long time, then turned around and walked into the stone house, first touching the straw on the "bed". As expected, it was wet at all, and I don't know how long it had been left out. She had to take a few clothes from her baggage and spread them on them, and tried to lie down, which was very uncomfortable.

She hasn't suffered much since she was a child, and now the environment is very different, and she finally feels wronged and wants to cry, but after thinking about it, she is alone here, even if she cries her throat, it is meaningless, so she has to sniff and continue to be in a daze. I don't know when my mother will come to pick her up, and now she really doesn't want to stay in this place, not at all.

I don't know how long later, she fell asleep in bed, and dreamed many strange dreams. Vaguely her father was going to beat her, but her mother protected her, and after a while, Zhong Minyan came from nowhere, looked at her mockingly, and said, "You deserve it, who made you lazy!" After speaking, he suddenly turned into senior brother Du Minxing, touched her head, and promised to say good things for her.

She was begging him to let his father let her out of the hole, when suddenly Linglong brought a bucket of water and poured it on her face, shouting, "You're daydreaming again, wake up!" ”

She shuddered, and suddenly woke up, and it was pitch black in front of her. It took her a long time to react, it was the torch that had burned out. It was easy to grope her way up to get up, only to feel that her whole body was cold, the cold was eroding her bones, and the moisture of the straw under her body was sent through her clothes, and her small body couldn't help but tremble, and she quickly found several clothes to put on her body.

There was no sound, not a single sound. This terrible silence and darkness is more unbearable than death. She curled up on the stone bed, but she couldn't suppress the trembling of her body, and she couldn't even tell if it was because of the cold or because of the fear of the boundless emptiness.

It was a long time before she remembered that the disciples of the Pillow Xia Hall had left candles and flints for herself. She fumbled in bed for a long time, finally found the flint, clicked a few times, and lit the candle. With the light, she felt a little more at ease, and shrank on the bed staring at the little orange flame in a daze.

There were only four candles, and she couldn't use them all the time, so by this calculation, she had to live in darkness for most of the day. In fact, you can ask Zhong Min for it, but this person has never had a good impression of him, and he will definitely not agree, so it is better not to say it at all than to open his mouth and bring humiliation on himself.

Time in the cave was frozen, not moving at all, and she didn't know how long it had been.

There is nothing to do, she usually has nothing to do and is in a daze all day, but if she is really left alone like this, she can't be in a daze. I had to take out the toys that Linglong gave her and look at them, but they were slingshots, muddy birds, and a small red rattle.

What's the use of this thing? It's really confusing.

In desperation, I had no choice but to continue sleeping. But the stone bed was so cold that she couldn't sleep when she tossed and turned on it, shivering with a strange sense of loneliness.

The rattle in his arms landed on the bed with a crisp sound. She grabbed it in the dark and held it in her hands. After a while, it will be turned slightly.

Knock knock, knock knock.

The little rattle makes a loud sound.

In such a dead and dark place, only such a small voice accompanied her.

She kept turning.

Knock knock, knock knock.

It seems to have seen a lively New Year's scene.

The elder brother beat the big drum with a drumstick tied with big red silk, while Linglong jumped behind her, patting her little waist drum. The air smelled of sweet red bean cakes made by my mother, and my father instructed the young disciples to take out the good wine that had been hidden in the cellar for a year and unpack it.

She actually likes the lively scene too. She likes to make a small splash of background color in a lively scene, rather than being ruthlessly culled out, and everyone forgets about her and ignores her.

Xuanji thought about it a lot, and finally fell asleep again, unable to remember these annoying and helpless things.