Qiao Baiyue's body was placed in the most secret place of King Qian's Mansion, and an ice spirit stone was also placed in his mouth to avoid body failure, coupled with the elixir that Tang Bangqiu took out, in this way, he could wait until Qiao Baiyue woke up in the future.

The two snake girls also woke up, and as soon as they woke up, they cried bitterly to see Qiao Baiyue.

Tang Bangqiu has also been staying beside the sleeping Qiao Baiyue, looking depressed, and the winning mother-in-law seems to be a little nervous, and she follows her every step of the way.

Lin Lan looked at the sleeping Qiao Baiyue for a long time before turning around and leaving.

Back in Xiyuan, he looked at Fan Qingyao lying on the bed and couldn't help sighing.

"All asleep ......"

Lin Lan slowly closed his eyes, and suddenly felt a little lonely.

Although he has long been accustomed to being alone, and he is also used to the people around him leaving him, habit does not mean that he can accept it.

"Meow."

A subtle meow sounded.

Lin Lan opened his eyes and saw the little black cat standing on his lap, looking up at him, as if sensing his mood, the little short legs were obediently put together, rubbing his hand with his head.

"It's okay, it's only temporary anyway." Lin Lan smiled and touched its head.

At this moment, the little black cat suddenly burrowed its head into his sleeve, as if looking for something, and then when it re-emerged its head, it was holding a white jade-like scale in its mouth.

Lin Lan was slightly stunned.

This is the heart scale that the dream snake gave him.

"Hey, do you want to ......" Lin Lan's face changed, and he wanted to stop it.

The next moment, he saw that the little black cat suddenly raised its head and swallowed this heart scale in the blink of an eye!

"You sword cat ......" The corners of Lin Lan's eyes twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but slap a violent slap on its head, "Why do you eat everything?" ”

The little black cat hurriedly covered his head with a pair of small short paws, and obediently shrank on his lap and did not move.

"Forget it, just eat it." Lin Lan sighed helplessly, "This time to change the destiny of heaven, you have a great merit, so it should be regarded as a reward for you." ”

The little black cat let go of its paws covering its head, and then meowed, stood up and rubbed its head against his hand.

"Where are you from?" Lin Lan stroked the cat casually and said softly, "Do you remember who your last owner was?" ”

I don't know what's going on, but when he talked about the previous owner, he felt that the little black cat suddenly stiffened, and his whole body was tense like a fried hair, and he seemed to be very nervous.

"Forget it, after asking so many times, you can't answer."

Lin Lan shook his head slightly, and asked again, "However, how did you come up with the idea of calling the empty dust over?" How do you know he's the reincarnation of a monk? ”

The little black cat looked at him innocently, as if asking: I'm just a cat, why are you asking me so much?

"I don't ask you." Lin Lan sighed helplessly.

Immediately, he closed his eyes and continued his cultivation.

……

Jotendai Prefecture Division.

The First Temple.

"Your Excellency."

Venerable Shaking Light suddenly walked into the hall, looked up at the white-clothed figure above him, and said, "Just now we found out that we lost the induction of the dream snake, according to the news of the Qianwang Mansion, the dream snake sacrificed herself to absorb the magic in order to save her two sisters. ”

"What?" Ji Shouzun suddenly turned to look at her, "This seat is helpless against the poison, how did she solve it?" ”

"It's the reincarnation of the monk that Chengyuan will try, empty dust." Venerable Shaking Light said: "Coupled with Lin Lan's supernatural ability to calm his mind, he forced out the medicinal power of the Divine Attraction. ”

"The Reincarnation of the Divine Monk ......"

Ji Shouzun muttered and said: "That is indeed possible, that day in the Jinluan Palace, the coercion I released with all my strength did not make Lin Lan have half a difference, with his help, as long as the dream snake is willing to sacrifice himself, it is possible to do this." ”

He took a deep breath and asked, "Is this news confirmed?" ”

"Absolutely." Venerable Shaking Light bowed his head and said, "Although she couldn't make the Dream Snake return to obedience, she became like this, and she can no longer reveal my Dayu's secrets, which can be regarded as a good result." ”

Ji Shouzun was silent for a long time before slowly closing his eyes and saying, "Okay, I know." ”

"Is the Lord Leader lamenting the loss of the Dream Snake?"

Venerable Shaking Light said softly: "It's a pity, she is very useful, but she is too stupid, but she has been exposed after all, maybe this will affect the current stable situation between Daji and my Dayu, it is better to treat her as a traitor, and be charged with rebellion, and nominally give Daji an explanation." ”

"It's very stupid, just like the guys in the Human Sect." Ji Shouzun closed his eyes and muttered.

Immediately, he slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Venerable Shaking Light with a cold look, and said: "But no one will hate such stupid people, it's just that they are not suitable for the current Dayu, and after Dayu is stable, people like them are truly reliable people to govern the country, not to mention ...... Don't forget, in terms of merit, she is the hero of Dayu. ”

Venerable Shaking Light was slightly stunned and said, "Yes, but Daji is ...... over there."

Ji Shouzun was silent for a moment, and sneered: "If Daji has any opinions, let them come to this seat." ”

As he spoke, he turned around again, looked up at the plaque above, and said, "Since she has been sacrificed, there is no need to defile her anymore...... You go and take out the Tianxin Jade and send it to King Qian's mansion. ”

"Tianxin Jade?" Shake Light Venerable was shocked and couldn't help but be stunned, she wanted to open her mouth to confirm, but found that the First Venerable was looking at the plaque above and fell silent again.

She replied slowly, "Yes." ”

The plaque reads—

Only when the heart is clear can the sky be purified.

……

The night was dark.

King Qian's Mansion West Garden.

In the dark, Lin Lan was immersed in tranquility and cultivated silently.

Suddenly—

"Lin Xiaoyou, can you come out and talk?"

An old, familiar voice suddenly came from outside the house.

Lin Lan opened his eyes.

Is it a national teacher?

He reined in his composure, stood up, and walked out of the house.

Under the cold moonlight, the frost was everywhere outside the house, reflecting the moonlight, and the old national teacher, who looked like an ordinary old man, was sitting on the roof at this time, holding a wine gourd in his hand, pouring wine all over the place, and his beard was stained with wine.

The old national teacher wiped the wine on his lips with his sleeve robe, patted the vacant seat next to him, and said, "Come up and talk." ”

Lin Lan was silent for a moment, floated up to the roof, and sat down next to the old national teacher.

"You seem to be a little more settled now." The old national teacher glanced at him and asked with a smile, "Succeeded?" ”

Lin Lan looked at him and said softly: "It's a success, but I don't like this kind of success very much." ”

The old national teacher handed him the wine gourd and said, "If you are not happy, drink wine." ”

Lin Lan glanced at it, took the wine gourd, tilted his head and poured a sip, and poured it like a long dragon absorbing water for a long time before stopping.

"Hey, don't drink so much if you want to drink it." The old national teacher took back the wine gourd distressedly, "This is a tribute wine that has been stored for hundreds of years, and the old man is usually reluctant to drink it." ”

Lin Lan wiped the wine from his lips and said casually: "Even if you are a cultivator, drinking too much will hurt your body, if you drink less, you may be able to live to be four or five hundred years old." ”

The old national teacher smiled and said, "If there is no wine to drink, why should the old man live to be four or five hundred years old?" ”

Lin Lan shook his head slightly, didn't say anything, just asked, "When did you know that I was a Sky Thief?" ”

"Guess what?" The old national teacher smiled.

"It should be a few days ago, after I entered the Tianyuan Secret Vault." Lin Lan said.

The old national teacher smiled, shook his head, and said, "The array spirit did tell me about you a few days ago, but I didn't guess it at that time. ”

Lin Lan was puzzled: "That's ......"

The old national teacher poured another sip of wine, then glanced at him with a smile and said, "It was four months ago, on the tenth day of the ninth month, the day of your entrance examination. ”

"So early?" Lin Lan frowned slightly and said, "Even if I behave unusually talented, I don't have to be a sky thief, right?" ”

"If it's just talented, I certainly wouldn't necessarily think you're a thief."

The old national teacher shook his head and smiled again: "Do you remember the second item of the entrance examination?" Let you put your ambitions on paper at that time. ”

Lin Lan was stunned, and suddenly understood.

"You threw away the piece of paper at the time, but I found it again." The old national teacher shook his head with a smile and said, "Except for the Heaven Thief who has been destined for heaven, who would regard such an unrealistic and shameful thing as his greatest ambition?" ”

Lin Lan fell silent.

"You're doing a great job."

The old national teacher said with relief: "The Holy Master left something outside the sky back then, that is, I hope that in the future era, there will be a Heaven Thief who can change the Mandate of Heaven, although you are not the first Heaven Thief to do this, but it is also very remarkable." ”

"Has any other Sky Thief done it before?" Lin Lan wondered.

"I don't know." The old national teacher shook his head and said: "Anyway, the Holy Master is not a Sky Thief, but he seems to know the Sky Thief, and I am also the successor of the National Teacher, so I know these secrets." ”

Lin Lan thought for a moment, and then asked, "What generation of national teachers are you?" ”

"Fourth generation."

The old national teacher smiled and said, "Although the old man is not very good, he is the longest living among the national teachers of all generations, I am more than three hundred and seventy years old, and I have been in this position for more than two hundred years. ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Lin Lan and said with a smile: "I heard that you told that dream snake today that you want to be the master of the human sect in the future?" Want to be a national teacher? ”

"I want to be the master of the human sect, but I don't really want to be a national teacher." Lin Lan said softly.

"Also, it can be seen that you don't have a strong sense of belonging to Dayu." The old national teacher bowed slightly, and then said: "But there will be it slowly, everyone comes over like this, how can the master of my human sect not be a great national teacher?" ”

"Let's talk about it." Lin Lan shook his head slightly.

The old national teacher didn't persuade much, but said: "The old man will try to hold on for a while, you hurry up and cultivate, if you can refine the great magic power before the old man dies, the old man will be blinded when he dies." ”

Lin Lan was silent for a moment and said, "I'll try my best, provided that I can live until then." ”

"That's right." The old national teacher shook his head and smiled.

Immediately, he sighed again: "Actually, the old man is still very grateful to you, no matter whether the old man can survive until that time, at least you helped the kid who Yue Xianzhi, he is about to break through in the past two years, even if he can't be the sect master at that time, at least he is the deputy sect master, and he can support a lot of time with this Chonghua array." ”

Lin Lan knows.

The more you offer it, the more you sacrifice it, the more you want to be the lord.

"Sect Master, I want to ask, my apprentice...... What's going on with her? Lin Lan said softly.

"Your apprentice...... Qiao Baiyue, ah......"

The old national teacher sighed and said: "She has been quite miserable in her life, when she wakes up, treat her well, her credit to Dayu is enough to rank in the top three." ”

Lin Lan looked at him and asked, "What is she doing in the Jingtiantai?" ”

The old national teacher glanced at him, was silent for a while, and then said: "It's okay to tell you, anyway, this country will depend on you in the future." ”

He pondered for a while and said: "You should understand, there is white and black in this world, Dayu is in terms of cultivators, on the surface, there are Chonghua Academy to educate people, Zhenqian Division sits in Chonghua, Fengtian Army guards the frontier, the worship hall guards the royal family, and the Jingtiantai Division is in charge of punishment, but it is impossible to maintain the future of a country by relying on these alone. ”

Lin Lan listened quietly.

"Jingtiantai, there is an existence similar to a secret agent in the dark, it is the secret envoy of Jingtiantai."

The old national teacher said softly: "They act in the dark, and they specialize in dealing with all kinds of shady things for Dayu, and those actions that are stained with blood and sin, and the behaviors that cannot be put on the table, are done by them. ”

He glanced at Lin Lan and said: "And your apprentice Qiao Baiyue, as the only dream snake in the world, is the most suitable for dreaming about the secret information of the enemy country, if you talk about strength, my Dayu is actually inferior to any of the three countries of Daji, Northern Qi, and Houchu, but part of the credit for the smooth operation of these years lies in Qiao Baiyue." ”

Lin Lan finally understood.

He was silent for a long time and asked softly: "The county lord said that she was miserable, and you also said that she was miserable, why is this?" ”

The old national teacher also fell silent.

After a long time, he spoke: "If you know, you may be very disgusted with Jingtiantai, in the future, when you stand on the high place of Dayu, working with Jingtiantai, I am afraid that it will also have an impact, are you sure you want to know?" ”

Lin Lan said slowly: "Sect Master, I have seen a lot of darkness, and I also understand that sometimes a country wants to survive, and it is indispensable to these insidious and dirty things. ”

“…… Yes, although you are kind-hearted, you are really mature. ”

The old national teacher bowed slightly, and then said: "Then I'll just say something, you've also been to the Dream Sea and seen those isolated islands, right?" ”

Lin Lan snorted.

"Those islands are everyone's heart." The old national teacher said softly: "If the dream snake wants to probe the memories of those people and find confidential information, it must either directly destroy that isolated island and kill those people in order to get the memories of those people, or it must dive into the deepest part of those people's hearts in order to spy on the memories." ”

He sighed and said: "The human instinct is to bury those painful and dark memories in the deepest depths, which is a kind of self-protection instinct, and if the dream snake does not want to kill people, it must forcibly endure those painful memories in order to dive into the deepest part of the human heart." ”

Lin Lan somewhat understood.

The old national teacher shook his head slightly and said, "I don't know how painful it is, but I only know that when she completed the task assigned by Jingtiantai at the beginning, her soul was torn apart, and her soul was almost scattered. ”

Lin Lan was stunned for a moment.

Soul torn apart?

In terms of pain, the torture of flesh and blood is not even ten percent compared to the pain directly transmitted on the soul!

The soul is torn apart in pain, what a terrible pain?

The old national teacher slowly closed his eyes, "Back then, I watched that child's soul was torn apart, and he turned into his original form and rolled wildly on the ground, hitting the walls and the ground with snake scales and blood, and broke free from a piece of tail, she kept begging to kill her, and I was thinking at that time, should I kill her directly and let her end this pain?" ”

He sighed, "But when the ruthless Ji boy was giving her the treasure medicine and mending her soul, he told her: 'You are dead, and your sisters are also dead', and in the end the stupid girl still survived." ”

Lin Lan lowered his head slightly, the moonlight left a shadow on his face, and he couldn't see his expression clearly.

He just asked, "And then?" ”

The old national teacher glanced at him and said softly: "It is a very painful thing to repair the soul, her soul is torn again and again, and repaired again and again, now I am afraid that it has already been covered with cracks and holes, although her will is also constantly tempering, but the soul is becoming more and more fragile, Ji Xiaozi asked her to serve Jingtiantai for five years, but she was afraid that she would not be able to hold on, but I didn't expect her to think about her sister in her heart, and she still survived." ”

He sighed and said: "Actually, Ji Xiaozi originally planned to let her go once in five years, but the group of thieves in Faguang Temple didn't know what was going on, and discovered her existence, and the bitter bald donkey set up this situation, causing Jingtiantai to dare not let her go, after all, they all know that she attaches great importance to her sisters, and even becomes her obsession, maybe she will switch to Buddhism." ”

Lin Lan was silent.

"Don't blame Ji Boy." The old national teacher sighed softly: "He is also a hard-working man, the pride of heaven back then, if it weren't for Da Yu, I'm afraid he wouldn't have become what he is now." ”

He couldn't help but think of the figure laughing miserably in the rainstorm in his mind, and he couldn't help but sigh again.

And Lin Lan didn't say anything, just said softly: "I know that there is no right or wrong, but my heart is not happy." ”

The old national teacher raised his head and poured a sip of wine, then slowly shook his head, "Who can be happy?" The old man has been depressed for more than 300 years, and he has never been happy in this life. ”

For the immortals, the years are not only written on the face, but also engraved in the heart.

Lin Lan sat without saying a word for a long time, then stretched out his hand and said, "Give me a mouthful." ”

The old national teacher glanced at him and handed him the wine gourd casually.

Lin Lan raised his head and poured a big sip again, then returned the wine gourd to him, wiped his mouth, stood up and said: "The first generation of national teachers has already made a demonstration, since there is no right or wrong in this world, only the pros and cons and strength are weighed, then there is no other way." ”

He jumped off the roof without looking back, leaving only one sentence: "I'll go back to practice." ”

……

……

It was as if everything had calmed down again.

This night passed peacefully, and finally came to the fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival.

Lin Lan didn't have any thoughts on festivals, he just cultivated silently.

Until night came, he glanced at the gradually darkening sky outside the window, and suddenly remembered what the Demon Heavenly Master and Qiao Baiyue had said before their deaths.

The day when Qiao Baiyue had the happiest time in the human city for the first time was the Lantern Festival, but she was finally taken home by her eldest sister, even if there were thousands of lanterns behind her, she still couldn't look back a few more points, and she finally hoped that someone would hang a lantern for her.

And before the Demon Heavenly Master died, he asked him to hang a fishtail lantern under the highest ginkgo tree in Chonghua City when the city was full of lanterns.

One of these two people is his apprentice and the other is his master, and Lin Lan naturally wants to fulfill her and his wishes.

Immediately, Lin Lan called the maid who was serving in Xiyuan and asked, "Where is the county lord?" ”

"Back to Gongzi, the county lord went out, saying that he wanted to hang a lantern for Miss Qiao." The maid said respectfully: "The county lord originally planned to call Lin Gongzi together, but seeing that you are cultivating, he didn't disturb you." ”

Lin Lan didn't say much, just said, "Take me out." ”

"Yes." The maid immediately walked up behind him, pushed the wheelchair for him, and walked towards the outside of the palace.

"By the way, where is the tallest ginkgo tree in Chonghua City, do you know?" Lin Lan suddenly asked.

"The tallest ginkgo tree?"

The maid thought for a while and said: "That must be Tianshi Street, Tianshi Street was still very prosperous back then, although it is colder now, there are still many people who go to play, and the county lord often goes." ”

Tianshi Street?

When Lin Lan heard the name of this street, he immediately thought of the Demon Heavenly Master.

When the Demon Heavenly Master gave this title, could it be because of this street?

Walking through the huge palace and arriving at the verandah of the Hanging Flower Gate, Lin Lan suddenly became curious: "By the way, I have lived in the palace for a few days, why have I never seen King Qian?" ”

"This ...... The slave and maid didn't know. ”

The maid said honestly: "Since the death of the county lord of Jingchu, the prince has rarely appeared. ”

"Jingchu County Lord......" Lin Lan nodded slightly.

He had long heard that the county lord of Pingle was born to the sister of this generation of King Qian, and King Qian had no children under his knees, so he regarded Tang Bangqiu as a daughter, but he had never heard of Tang Bangqiu's father, only that his mother was the county lord of Jingchu.

"By the way, how can the county lord of Jingchu call such a title?" Lin Lan asked casually.

"This ...... The slave and the maid did not know. The maid said cautiously: "But the slave maid heard from her mother, it seems that it is because when the county lord of Jingchu was young, he was sent to Houchu to live for a few years as a proton of Dayu." ”

"Jing Chu, Jing Chu......" Lin Lan suddenly said.

……

Soon, a carriage drove out of King Qian's mansion.

After a while, they rushed to Tianshi Street in Yinshufang.

Tianshi Street is really not deserted, you can still see lanterns on the street, there are many men and women passing by, and you can also see talented and beautiful women guessing word puzzles on the roadside.

After getting out of the carriage, Lin Lan didn't sit in a wheelchair anymore, restrained his quietness, looked up at the ginkgo tree in front of him, which was nearly thirty zhang high, and walked over slowly.

This tall ginkgo tree has long since lost its leaves after the harsh winter weather, and the tree is covered with frost, snow and ice.

Lin Lan watched silently.

Is this the ginkgo tree that the Demon Celestial Master didn't forget before he died?

I don't know what kind of experience the Demon Heavenly Master had in this Chonghua City back then, which made him become the person he was later, but he never forgot it until he died?

"Childe, I bought you the two lanterns you wanted."

After a while, the maid trotted after her, and said a little breathlessly, "One is a Pisces lantern, and the other is a basket lantern." ”

Lin Lan snorted, and after taking the Pisces lantern, he looked up at the tall ginkgo tree.

With a slight tap of his feet, he leaped up.

Immediately, he found one of the sturdy-looking branches, and after sweeping the frost and snow from the branches, he hung the Pisces lantern on it.

"Alright."

Lin Lan looked up at the Pisces lantern, silent, but sighed in his heart: "Master, the first thing you want me to do, I have already done it." ”

He stared at this Pisces lantern for a long time before he sighed, ready to change places and help Qiao Baiyue hang up the lantern.

That's when —

"Mr. Lin Lan?"

I only heard a familiar voice that was slightly hoarse from behind me.

Lin Lan turned his head to look when he heard the sound.

Today's Pingle County Lord was rarely dressed in white, looking a little like Qiao Baiyue's dress, and he was standing not far behind him, showing a shallow smile at him.

"County Lord."

Lin Lan bowed slightly, "I heard that the maid said that you might also come to Tianshi Street, but I didn't expect to really run into it." ”

"Mr. Lin knows Bai Yue quite well." Tang Wanqiu glanced at the lantern in Lin Lan's hand and said, "You even know that Bai Yue likes flower basket lights?" ”

Lin Lan snorted and said, "I've seen her previous experience. ”

"Looks like she's quite fond of you." Tang Bangqiu nodded slightly, then glanced at the ginkgo tree next to him, and said, "I just saw that Mr. Lin seems to have jumped down from this ginkgo tree?" ”

She looked up and saw a Pisces lantern hanging from a branch.

The next moment, her face changed suddenly.

"Pisces ......"

Tang Bangqiu stared at the Pisces lantern with shock in his eyes.

Lin Lan was slightly stunned and asked, "What's wrong?" ”

Tang Bangqiu suddenly looked at Lin Lan, took a step forward, grabbed his shoulders with both hands, stared at him with dead eyes, and asked as if he was crazy: "You! How did you know about hanging a lantern on this ginkgo tree? Do you know Yin Gongshu?? You must know him!

”

"Yin Gongshu? Who? ”

At this moment, Lin Lan's mind flashed the person who turned into light and dust.

"He claims to be a Demon Master!" Tang Bangqiu gritted his silver teeth and asked in a trembling voice, "You and him...... What exactly is the relationship? ”

Lin Lan frowned slightly, and then said, "He is my master." ”

"Your master?" Tang Bangqiu couldn't help but be stunned, and couldn't help but tremble and asked, "Others? Where is he now?? ”

Lin Lan was silent for a moment and said, "He's dead, no matter what grievances you have with him, he's already dead." ”

"Dead ...... Finish? ”

Tang Bangqiu was stunned, the hands that were holding Lin Lan's shoulders became weak, and his body seemed to have lost all his strength, and he knelt on the ground softly, muttering, "Dead...... How can you die...... How can it be...... Daddy......"

Lin Lan couldn't help but be stunned, and muttered, "Are you his daughter?" ”

Tang Bangqiu seemed to have completely collapsed, the whole person seemed to have lost his soul, and he sat on the cold ground with a white face, just muttering: "Dead...... He's dead...... Daddy is dead......"

"Hey, you're ......"

Lin Lan frowned, and was about to speak out to comfort-

"Boom!

”

At this moment, a terrifying coercion suddenly spread, as if the sky collapsed, and the endless coercion turned into an invisible force, instantly solidifying everything.

The clothes blown by the cold wind, the expressions on the faces of the passers-by, the flames jumping slowly in the lanterns, and the little frost and snow falling leisurely......

In this moment, everything stands still.

Lin Lan stared at Tang Bangqiu who was kneeling on the ground in disbelief.

At this time, patches of snow-white snake scales had already appeared on Tang Bangqiu's cheeks, spreading rapidly on her body surface, and her eyes seemed to have become the vertical child of a snake, and the child's hole was as hazy as a dream, looking at him faintly.

Lin Lan looked at this scene almost in despair, and shouted wildly in his heart:

"The terrible coercion on the Chengyuan Hall that day was not released by the Great Divine Powers, but ...... Tang Bangqiu!

！ ”

The next moment, it suddenly became dark in front of his eyes.

When the light was restored again, Lin Lan found that he had come to the boundless sea of dreams, and he was on an isolated island.

Immediately, a shadow overshadowed him.

A woman's voice mixed with the hissing of snakes echoed throughout the world of the Dream Sea:

"Yo, it seems...... I should call you junior brother. ”