There is a saying: small hidden in the wild, big hidden in the city.

On the Wuzhou Continent, most of the cultivation sects are concentrated in the deserted mountains and mountains, so for those young people who have just stepped into this path, this can be regarded as a kind of small seclusion, because only when they are in the mountains and forests, away from the hustle and bustle of the world, can they achieve meditation, self-cultivation, and self-cultivation in the true sense.

However, it would be a big mistake to conclude that all the practitioners in the world are people who do not care about the world and are far away from the red dust, because among the people in the market, there are also some cultivators who are not good-looking, and these people are often those who hide in the world.

To experience the various states of life for the sake of practice, and to find one's own peace from the hustle and bustle, is undoubtedly a higher level of cultivation for those who are new to the path of cultivation. Of course, there are naturally some cultivators in the market who are fundamentally tired of the boring time of cultivation and have returned to the long-term life, but this kind of person is still in the minority.

......

Since leaving the Lotus Sect in the early morning, Xu Yan and his party walked on the downhill road for a whole day before they could be regarded as completely out of the entire range of the Lotus Sect.

The Lotus Sect is different from other sects, it not only has the main peak with the strongest aura of heaven and earth, but also has thirty-two small lotus peaks, and the area is very broad.

As the saying goes, Wangshan runs a dead horse. Although in the area of Baishanzu, some people want to ride horses and gallop in it, which is equivalent to wishful thinking, but it does not prevent this sentence from being used to describe the difficulty of walking in these mountains. Often, a mountain peak in front of you seems to be close at hand, but it takes a long time to actually get to it.

Nearly three hours after leaving the Lotus Sect, Xu Yan could no longer see the existence of the main peak, and after six hours, even the entire Lotus Sect, including the thirty-two Little Lotus Peaks, had disappeared. It was only when they came to the fork in the road where pedestrians could rest and spend the night that they stopped to eat some dry food and water, and then began to prepare to camp for the night.

Xu Yan already knew the names and identities of all the people in the entire team at this moment, and they all introduced themselves to him during the day, among which the names of the three men were Zeng Yuesong, Huang Xuyun, and Liu Jieliang, among them, Zeng Yuesong and Huang Xuyun were ordinary elders from the Xiazi faction, and the two brothers Chen Qinghe were old acquaintances, Liu Jieliang was an ordinary elder from the Qiuzi faction, and the remaining two looked similar. Gu Xiaoqiao and Gu Xiaoshan, who are sisters, are both from the Chunzi faction, only the Dongzi faction, and no one went to participate in the six sects competition.

Xu Yan was not much surprised by this, after all, Wang Chu's Dongzi Sect was equivalent to the logistics faction of the sect, not only himself, but even most of his disciples were only good at alchemy, but their cultivation talent was very average.

Such as Qiu Yuanjin, a disciple of the Winter Character Sect with a certain cultivation talent, Xu Yan originally thought that Wang Chu was the darling of Wang Chu who was lucky, but he never thought that her true identity was simply a pawn that Zhou Xian had placed in the Winter Character Sect for many years, and the reason why she was thrown into the Winter Character Sect was probably just Zhou Xian's attempt to hide people's eyes, but Xu Yan didn't have the heart to care about these anymore, after all, people were already dead.

It's just very pitiful that Wang Chu, who regards Qiu Yuanjin as the inheritor of his mantle, still doesn't know this inside story, although after the spring hunt ended, he went to ask Xu Yan about the specific situation, but Xu Yan finally only told him that when he walked separately from Qiu Yuanjin, the latter was unfortunately killed, and it was too late to rescue.

The reason why Xu Yan didn't tell the truth that Qiu Yuanjin was a pawn planted by the Zhou family in the sect, and he didn't say that the other party died in his own hands, naturally it was to prevent Wang Chu from experiencing the complicated feelings of being secretly used by others in the grief of losing his apprentice, after all, the latter was still good to him before, and gave him a bag of pills before entering the mountain, even if this gift was suspected of using each other.

"Little junior brother, have you had dinner?"

Just as Xu Yan had just set up his tent and sat back on the edge of the fire, Chen Qinghe's voice was already ringing in his ears.

Xu Yan heard the voice, turned his head to look, and saw the two Chen brothers.

The one-armed Chen Qingshan, the reason why he went down the mountain with everyone on this trip, was that he planned to quit the sect, return to his own home, and no longer continue the path of cultivation, although Han Yu, the Taishang elder of the Xia Zi faction, wanted to personally accept him as an apprentice and let him practice the left-handed sword, but after some thought, Chen Qingshan still rejected his kindness.

When Xu Yan saw that it was them, he immediately stood up and replied with a smile: "I haven't had time to eat yet, I just set up a tent and am about to eat." Without waiting for Chen Qinghe to speak, Xu Yan continued to ask, "Senior brother, what's the matter?"

When Chen Qinghe heard this, he immediately replied with a smile: "It's not a big deal, the little junior brother might as well eat something first." ”

Xu Yan replied: "Don't worry, senior brother can just say something directly." ”

Seeing Xu Yan's insistence, Chen Qinghe hesitated for a moment, and after glancing at his younger brother Chen Qingshan, he spoke: " That's the case, because Qingshan was going home, so I'm going to send him back first, and by the way, I'll also go back to visit my parents, after all, I haven't been home for so many years, and I also want to stay at home for a while, accompany them, and then wait for you to arrive at Wangchuan City, and then I will go to Yong'an City with you, so on the itinerary, in order to be able to rush back earlier, Qingshan and I decided to take a shorter itinerary after crossing the Songyang Town outside the mountain, but it is not very easy to walk on the mountain road, so I will not go outside with the little junior brother。 ”

Xu Yan saw that he was a little embarrassed, but he shook his head with a smile, and replied with understanding: "This is human nature, I understand, that senior brother and senior brother Qingshan remember to be careful on the road, and I won't tell you, in fact, I also plan to go back to my hometown." ”

Chen Qinghe saw that Xu Yan also had this intention, and the embarrassment in his heart dissipated, and said with a smile: "So that's the case, then it couldn't be better, I thought that the little junior brother would not go home, then after arriving in Wangchuan City, the little junior brother must remember to call me, my home is easy to find, it is in the north of the city, I remember that in the entire north of the city, there is only my Chen family." ”

After Xu Yan heard this, he nodded with a smile and said, "Okay, senior brother, please rest assured, I will definitely call you then, but have you also told others about this?"

Chen Qinghe replied: "This is not yet, I am going to talk to each of them again after I finish talking to the little junior brother." ”

When Xu Yan heard this, he thought about it slightly, and then suggested: " I think it's better to be like this, the senior brother doesn't want to say it one by one, it's better to call everyone directly, let everyone get together to discuss, I think, the master and his old man let us go down the mountain two months in advance, it should have been considered that we have not returned to our hometown for many years, probably will choose to go back to visit, and if everyone does have this intention, then after the road separates, then you have to find a chance to reunite, since the senior brother's home is in Wangchuan City, then it is better to let everyone finally come to your home to concentrate, by the way, set a final time, if no one has caught up at that time, the first person will not have to wait any longerAfter all, the journey from Wangchuan City to Yong'an City is still quite long, and we can't delay everyone's trip because of a few people, but I don't know, everyone gathers at the senior brother's house, is it convenient?"

Chen Qinghe's heart didn't think about it as much as Xu Yan, but now after listening to the latter's plan and thinking about it carefully, he replied with shame: "It's still the little junior brother who thinks carefully and thoughtfully, I only thought about going home early, but I didn't think about it so much, so let's do it, besides, although my family is not very big, there should be no problem accommodating so many people." ”

After Chen Qinghe confirmed again in his heart, he continued: "Then the little junior brother will eat something first, and the senior brother will go and ask them to come here to discuss this matter." ”

When Xu Yan saw that after he finished speaking, he hurriedly walked away to call the others, and could only shake his head helplessly, a little crying and laughing.

Chen Qingshan, who was standing on the side and had never moved, saw Xu Yan's scene, and immediately explained with a wry smile: "Little junior brother doesn't know, although my brother usually looks very mature and stable, but his temperament is actually extremely affectionate and filial, especially after learning that he can go home this time, he has already talked to me more than a dozen times, I, I am really noisy by him and my ears are calloused." ”

Knowing such a fresh statement from Chen Qingshan's mouth, Xu Yan immediately couldn't help laughing, he never thought that Chen Qinghe still had such a side, but it was reasonable to think about it.

Although cultivators seem to be detached and alone, in their hearts, many people still attach great importance to affection and righteousness and respect filial piety.

The saint has a cloud: mourn your parents, give birth to me, and work hard. This was originally used to warn future generations to experience the hardships of their parents having children, and Chen Qinghe was only sent to the Lotus Sect to practice when he became an adult, so naturally the concept of home and parents is already deep-rooted.

Xu Yan invited Chen Qingshan to sit down together, took out the food prepared for him by the cardinal from his storage bag, and forcibly gave some to Chen Qingshan, while eating, he said with a smile: "Senior brother has such a character, Fang is a big husband." Cultivators are originally in the middle of the rivers and lakes, and it is often difficult to ensure their own life and death, so there are even fewer people who can still care about their families in such a realm, but this also shows that Qingshan has a good brother!"

Although Chen Qingshan's tone of voice when he commented on Xu Yan, he always felt a little weird, as if the other party was obviously several years younger than himself, but he used an older tone, but in any case, he was very happy that others could praise his brother so much.

Seeing Chen Qingshan only smiling on his face, and seeing the empty sleeves hanging down from his right shoulder, Xu Yan couldn't help but sigh slightly for him.

In such a good year, he lost his right arm, which is undoubtedly a cruel thing for him.

After Xu Yan hesitated for a moment, he still asked the doubts in his heart, and he asked Chen Qingshan: "Why did Senior Brother Qingshan refuse Elder Han's proposal, in fact, while your cultivation is still there, if you are willing to re-cultivate the left-handed sword, you can continue on this path." ”

When Chen Qingshan heard this question, his eyes couldn't help but flash a shock, but then, he smiled slightly and replied: " Originally, I also thought about whether to continue to practice, but after this broken arm, I realized that in the practice, life and death are so unpredictable and impermanent, this is not that I am greedy for life and afraid of death, but I feel that my parents are now old, there is no young person in the family, it is not appropriate, and when my father sent my brother up the mountain, I cried and cried to follow up the mountain, in fact, the family originally hoped that I could read the sage book well, and I dare not say that I must be admitted to the fame and glory lintel, but at least after the knowledge and experience are deep, there is no big problem in inheriting the family business, now think about it, my father's original decision was also carefully consideredIt's just that I can't understand it, but fortunately, it's not too late for me to turn back now, so I think it's better to take this opportunity to go home and worship filial piety, so that my brother can feel more at ease when he practices outside. ”

After hearing Chen Qingshan's words, Xu Yan no longer had any thoughts in his heart to persuade the other party to continue cultivating, and even in his heart, he couldn't help but think that there were many people who really grew up in an instant.

Compared with the childish Chen Qingshan before, there is no doubt that he has truly transformed between gains and losses, or rather, he finally has the courage to admit responsibility like a mature man.

So, Xu Yan just nodded to him in the end, and said with a smile: "I never thought that after this accident, it would be the fulfillment of Senior Brother Qingshan." ”

Hearing Xu Yan say this, Chen Qingshan's face was stunned, but then, the emotion in his heart, which was still a little fettered to the cultivation path, was completely swept away.

......

When Chen Qinghe called everyone over, Xu Yan finished dinner, then stood up and greeted them one by one, and then took the initiative to speak: "I bother you senior brothers and sisters to come over in person, the reason must be that Senior Brother Qinghe has told you, I don't know what different opinions the senior brothers and sisters have?"

Seeing that Xu Yan finished speaking, everyone was silent for a while, and Huang Xuyun, who was the first to react, hurriedly broke the silence and said with a smile: "I don't have any opinion on the proposal of the little junior brother, but Senior Brother Yuesong's home seems to be in 'Luoyang Town' further south of the sect, so if he goes home, it will be completely opposite to the direction of going to Zhongzhou, and the itinerary will be farther and farther......"

After Zeng Yuesong heard this, he directly interrupted Huang Xuyun's words, and said with a hearty smile: "Senior Brother Xuyun doesn't need to worry about me, I don't have any problems, it's a big deal that I just fly with my sword and catch up." ”

Hearing him say this, Huang Xuyun replied with a wry smile: "After walking with my senior brother for a day, I forgot that my senior brother is now a six-story cultivator. ”

Seeing that these two people had no opinions, Xu Yan looked at the rest of the people, among whom Liu Jieliang of the Qiuzi faction said in a flat tone: "I am on the same road as Senior Brother Qinghe, although I am not from Wangchuan City, but it is only twenty or thirty miles away from the city, so I will walk with them on the small road tomorrow." ”

Hearing this answer, Xu Yan nodded and looked at the pair of sisters again.

Gu Xiaoqiao, the older sister, saw Xu Yan looking at her, and replied with a smile: "My sisters and sisters can't join you in Wangchuan City. ”

Xu Yan was not surprised when he heard this answer, but just smiled and replied, "I don't know why the two senior sisters can't do it?"

Gu Xiaoqiao replied bluntly: "Because we are from Yumen Town, we can't go backwards and continue to return to Wangchuan City to join you, we can only wait for you to come to us along the way." ”

Xu Yan couldn't have expected such an answer, so he immediately cried and laughed, and then said: "So that's the case, then naturally the two senior sisters can't be allowed to take this wrong road, then wait for us to meet in Wangchuan City, and then go to Yumen Town to find the two senior sisters." ”

Seeing the group, the itinerary and route have basically been determined now, and the rest of Qiao Mu said with a wry smile: "I have no opinion, because I am from Songyang Town...... Well, I'll leave home early and go to Wangchuan City to meet Senior Brother Qinghe. ”

Gu Xueqing, who spoke last, said in a short tone: "I have no opinion." ”

After unifying everyone's opinions and not having any special circumstances, Xu Yan's heart couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, and finally, he asked with a smile: "Since there is no problem with the senior brothers and sisters, then let's determine a final date." ”

Hearing this question, the two Gu sisters, who had nothing to do with themselves, naturally did not have to participate, so in the end, Chen Qinghe, who knew more about the itinerary and had been to Yong'an City once, spoke: "It will take at least two months or so to travel from Wangchuan City to Yong'an City, in order to ensure that there is enough time on the itinerary and for the occurrence of accidents in the itinerary, then we will add another half a month and set the fifteenth day of the lunar month as the last day, how about it?"

Hearing his proposal, everyone naturally had no objections, and then it was decided, and as for the New Year, everyone could only pass on the road.

......

After everyone went back, Xu Yan also walked back to his tent, tonight, not only the whole night sky was as black as ink, but also the mountain wind was constantly blowing, obviously this was a sign of rain, and Xu Yan, who had already suffered this kind of loss once, did not dare to be willful anymore, so he also made sufficient preparations for himself.

When Xu Yan returned to the tent, he immediately took out the almighty pearl of the night, illuminating all the darkness, and sat down on the straw mat he had laid on the ground, and then he had time to look at the storage bag that the cardinal had given him before parting, most of which were food, but in a variety of styles, instead of the same layer of baked cakes before.

Xu Yan only took a brief look at it, and saw that there were bacon jerky, salted duck eggs, and a lot of pickled dried vegetables.

There is no doubt that these are foods that can be left out for a long time without easily spoiling, Xu Yan couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart, but it was warm, obviously it must have taken a lot of time for Cardinal to make these foods for him.

Immediately afterward, Xu Yan continued to look at the other items in the storage bag, and finally took out two very good objects wrapped in oiled paper from the storage bag.

"What could be in this?"