Chapter 1324

"Abbot, come, come, come, you old man, sit here, hey, it's nothing, you're a master, it's rare for you to come to Pingyang once, since we are both martial practitioners and scholars, we most respect elders with learning and cultivation, besides, Datong Prefecture is too far, usually we don't have much chance, Abbot, you old man have come, it's just the festival, Pingyang Temple will hold a Dharma assembly, let's do it for two or three days, spread Buddhist teachings, guide villagers to do good, and by the way help us attract festival tourists."

"Sadhu————Liang donor gifted me the scriptures of the Hanging Temple, naturally there is no disagreement————"

"At that time, I will lead the donation of incense oil to Pingyang Temple, then call on incense visitors to donate money, afterwards my money will be returned in full, the donors' money we three-seven split? Of course, seven tenths is yours, old man————ouch, madam, why are you hitting me? Eight tenths! Cannot be less, ouch, nine tenths? Cannot be less!"

"Hahaha, madam, you hit well, should hit, should hit! This brat, ouch, how are you hitting me, you hit wrong. Ashui is over there."

"Hehe, this isn't my nephew Huai Kong? Standing there doing what? Sit, can you eat meat? If not, sit at Table Chief Otter's table gnawing radish, hahaha, just joking, just joking, right, sit beside my elder martial brother, don't sit beside my elder martial sister, I'm not at ease."

Huai Kong: "————"

"Hahaha!" Liang Qu laughed loudly, patted Huai Kong on the back, waved to summon Otter Kai to serve dishes, first raised his cup, self-penalized one cup of sparkling orange juice, "All just joking, festival cleaning, no taboos, no taboos!

Come, eat, Zhang Xing, Zhang Jin, first time coming to Pingyang, don't be polite, I and the Dragon Elephant King are sworn brothers from different fathers and mothers, having come here, treat it as your own home."

"Crackle!"

Otter Kai served the fish chunks wrapped in batter, oil flowers burst open.

In an instant, the liveliness exploded and surged like the oil smoke in the pot.

People eating melon fruits, watching shadow plays, entering dreamlike games beside the mirage clams, playing cards with water beasts and merpeople, came from all directions and rushed in, taking their seats.

Ms. Xu nodded in apology.

Abbott Dian Xian lightly smiled, pressed palms together and slightly bowed, did not take these to heart, long ago at the Hanging Temple he grasped Buddha, inscribed characters leaving Buddhist verses, thus already knew Huai Wang's nature.

A sincere person, just as said.

Festival cleaning, no taboos.

"The Huai Wang household's festival is so lively, much more fun than at home, brother, let's come every year!"

Zhang Jin carried the little river otter to the table.

Zhang Xing glanced at the little river otter: "The Huai Wang certainly won't mind a few more people dining, but what use is it you tell me?

I can't decide, you need to tell your father, also, hurry up and eat, don't hold it, go wash hands quickly, the Huai Wang household has no one to bring you a water basin."

"I know, I know, where to wash, Long Yao sister! Where can I wash hands————"

Bioluminescent jellyfish floated and flickered, the dragon spirit gauze shifted light and shadow.

The Nayin conch played background music.

The little river otter carried a porcelain tray on its head, queued out of the kitchen, transported and served onto the table.

Once a year, the table the Third Prince fogs out grows larger and larger, the dish numbers grow more and more abundant.

The Yellow Sand River, Jianghuai, Blood River Boundary, East Sea, heaven and earth, rivers lakes seas, yang realm yin realm, running everywhere, this side ends, that side starts again, how could one not be weary?

But as long as familiar people are present, like trees rooted in soil.

Winter leaves fall, spring buds sprout.

Ease a bit, then continue growing.

"Hey, today's dishes, there's something to them." Xu Zishuai took a deep breath, "Is the boat boss only good at cooking fish? Hired someone? Which restaurant's chef, or is Zhang Da Niang not on holiday? Just now I didn't see any chef together."

"No hiring, I went to the frog tribe, heavily hired a frog tribe master chef, this year we change flavors." Liang Qu turned around, served tea and wine to master, Ms. Xu, Su Gu Shan and others one by one.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this world, even toads can stir-fry." Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhangsong sighed.

Xu Zishuai didn't care: "What's that, the boat boss a water rat still can steer a boat."

"Hahaha, the boat boss holds grudges, if it hears the elder martial brother call it a water rat, wait for it to have chili scattered in the dishes."

"No matter, it's stir-frying, can't hear."

Back kitchen stove room, the red-skinned toad held a water pipe, swayed, took a fierce puff, grabbed the iron wok, stir-fried over high flame, blazing flames soaring, glanced at the one who came back wind and fire from outside, broke chili, ground chili seeds, took chili powder, dumped it all into the liquor, the Otter Kai, red-skinned toad first scooped a large ladle to keep, lest later no chili powder, then with force on the webbed feet, the dish mound surged like a huge wave rolling back into the pot.

Outside the big table there are small tables.

Fat fish, "cannot move", fist, Third Prince climbed onto seats in turn, reached out to coax and snatch, wind sucked in, round head shook once to set utensils, waited for the four beasts to finish snatching, then stretched out chopsticks to pick vegetables.

Before the formal banquet.

"This year's congratulatory words?" Yang Xu asked smiling, he looked around, "Last year was me, by rights, this year should be Yu Shidi?"

Yu Dun embarrassed, solemnly remembered last year because of Yu Xu Entering Zhen Xiang, everyone's saying "one Entering Zhen Xiang per year": "Senior martial brother, ashamed————"

"No problem no problem." Xu Zishuai interrupted, "Originally it should have been Yu Shixiong's turn, but this year isn't an exception? The Dragon Elephant King has come, certainly he should speak, letting Yu Shixiong come instead would miss this opportunity, just right, delay one year delay one year."

Yang Xu laughed loudly: "Junior brother, you're not helping your Yu Shixiong, you want to take the chance to delay one year for yourself?"

"How could it be, I still have two years, I have confidence, still afraid this delay becomes three years, need to hold back a bit more."

Zhang Dragon Elephant didn't understand what everyone was saying, Liang Qu slightly turned sideways to explain the "allusion" inside.

Zhang Dragon Elephant suddenly realized: "You martial brothers sure have good feelings."

"Certainly, of course, mainly because the master and mistress are good, before teaching us such excellent martial brothers."

Yang Dongxiong and Ms. Xu both laughed in unison.

Ms. Xu took hold of E Ying's hand: "You praise me and your master, today there are no red packets, I can give all to E Ying."

"Hey, I'm not praising for this red packet, you underestimate people." While speaking, Liang Qu took out paper and pen, wrote and drew, muttering, "February festival, dry mother gave me no red packet, I am disappointed, make a note."

Uproarious laughter, bending forward and backward.

"Ouch ouch ouch, still noted me, you stingy thing!" Ms. Xu hurriedly untied the small red sachet at her waist, poured in broken silver, "Give you give you! This should do, right?"

"Good good good! Crossed out crossed out." Liang Qu quickly stroked out, both hands received, "I just knew, dry mother still loves me. Come come come, Dragon Elephant King, give me face! Cannot possibly be just coming to eat free rice?"

"Right right right." Already left the seat, also asked Ms. Xu for red packet Xu Zishuai raised his head, "I grew up listening to your stories, today fortunate, I must have you speak."

"Good! Fine scenery hard to meet, then————" Zhang Dragon Elephant stood, raised cup, "Wishing everyone auspicious new year, all things as desired, beautiful and satisfying life, martial way accomplished!"

The scene slightly stilled.

The little river otter placed down the porcelain tray.

Zhang Dragon Elephant startled: "What happened?"

Everyone looked toward Liang Qu.

Liang Qu reached up to virtually lift: "Too simple, Dragon Elephant King, best to come with a piece of poetry, add some elegance!"

We are all literati.

Yes, elegant!

Zhang Longxiang suddenly understood.

He thought for a moment.

He raised his cup again.

"Seasonal offerings reflect the pepper tray, cypress wine fragrance floats on the white jade boat. Raising cups to urge everyone to wish each other well, what words, but only hoping this year surpasses last year!"

Good! This is good!

Elegant, very elegant!

The crowd clattered and all stood up.

Zhang Xing and Zhang Jing siblings hurriedly put down their chopsticks and stood up together.

Cups clinked together, voices rose and fell.

"Seasonal offerings reflect the pepper tray, cypress wine fragrance floats on the white jade boat. Raising cups to urge everyone to wish each other well, what words, but only hoping this year surpasses last year!"

Ah—cough cough cough, cough cough cough.

Violent coughing drew everyone's attention; Xu Zishuai struggled to suppress the coughing impulse, pushed away the wine cup, and took a deep breath: "My heavens, Ashui, why is your wine so spicy? Did you put chili in it? Hey, chili seeds!"

They stared at each other, puzzled, looking toward Xiang Xiang Zhangsong at the small white dots on the table, the first to react, muttering: "I just said the boat captain holds grudges.

1

The sky was about to brighten, half-dark, half-light.

Faint purple light emerged from the horizon, unable to penetrate the water area; inside the Long Gong it remained pitch black, the foolish chicken jumped out of the chicken coop, came to the bubble's edge, poked its head out, choked on water, then desperately struggled, flapped, jumped out; after a moment, it poked its head out again, repeating this back and forth.

The crow's ears perked up then lay down, until once the foolish chicken struggled and ran into the water, biting and dragging it back.

Sleeping quarters.

Black hair spread out like water.

Long Eying leaned against Liang Qu's chest, her white serpent-like long legs lifted, she crossed her legs sideways, as if embracing a pillow.

Ordinary people embrace while sleeping, body temperatures similar; whether winter or summer, embracing like that, they would soon feel too hot; cultivators have much higher tolerance.

Liang Qu's realm is high, so he naturally needs less rest; he can go ten days or half a month without sleep and remain vigorous; conversely, Eying secluded herself for a month, then emerged from the underworld, having rested not at all, the whole person exhausted, and at midnight she would lie down to rest.

The great white serpent-like long leg pressed horizontally against his abdomen; Liang Qu reached out, from the knee upward, stroking all the way.

The dragon maiden's skin was like soft mutton-fat jade, that texture of white jade and fatty meat combined, softer and smoother than silk, always hard to let go of; finally his hand left her leg, moved behind to support her, fingertips catching the black lace trim half-slipping in—

Long Eying softly hummed, the great white serpent's legs intertwined and slid downward against the abdomen, both legs together and straight, then her whole body slightly turned over, from half-leaning to completely prone on Liang Qu, continuing to sleep.

This posture was actually more convenient; crossing over the shoulder, lifting the hair, one could see the undulations.

Liang Qu continued sliding downward, exposing half of it completely—

"Knock knock knock."

"?"

Long Eying reached behind her back, eyes closed, pulled the slipped half of the gauze undergarment back up.

Liang Qu helplessly withdrew his hand to cover Eying's ears, raised his head and shouted low: "Who?"

"Me."

Zhang Longxiang?

Liang Qu's eyes widened; it's not even dawn yet, why is he looking for him?

Doesn't everyone have a wife already?

"What is it?"

"Learn martial arts."

"6

"

"The New Year holiday allows only ten days of rest; yesterday was one day, nine remain, and there are gains; I don't know how long the seclusion will last, Huai Wang, or rather, we should hurry up, lest we delay the Yellow Shahe affairs."

"Here I come, here I come, ah—"

One's own choice, even if tearful, must be accepted.

The two great double red clubs of Dashun; he ranks only second, Zhang Longxiang ranks first.

All above have been informed; Liang Qu hopes Zhang Longxiang will go together with him to the underworld to reverse the current and charge forward.

"Ha hu ha hu."

Half the tail fell beneath the beam, the little lip dragon snored loudly asleep, suddenly the tail was seized by a large hand, the whole dragon slid down.

"Ah! Who? Who? Disturbing this prince's pure dream! Bold sycophant, eh, eldest? The sky isn't even bright yet—"

"Wake up!" Liang Qu slapped the third prince's face, "Tidy up, tidy up, time to work."

"Alright."

The third prince yawned, the whole dragon went limp, the hanging hemp rope flew up to the beam like before, sweeping the bedding.

Long Gong square, Zhang Longxiang in short attire, waiting a long time, saw Liang Qu come out holding a cup of hot tea, walking slowly, opening the door to see the mountain.

"How should I learn the heart-mind you spoke of?"

"This won't do; we must go to the quiet room." Liang Qu took a sip of the hot tea.

"Okay."

The two changed positions, standing to sitting cross-legged.

Zhang Longxiang did not understand, but he could endure.

Liang Qu stretched his neck: "Third Prince, done yet?"

"Here comes, here comes."

Little White Dragon flew in: "Good morning, boss, Dragon Elephant King!"

Zhang Dragon Elephant nodded slightly.

"Very well, now, Dragon Elephant King, inhale the good white mist, Dragon Elephant King, absolutely do not resist, just inhale."

"Understood! Huff-huff-huff~" The Third Prince spun once, opened his mouth, and spat out white mist.

In the white mist, pavilions, terraces, towers, and pavilions appeared.

"The clam spitting mist to create dreams is just for fun; truly entering dreams for cultivation still depends on my Third Prince—this is called utterly genuine! Dragon Elephant King, take a good look!"

Zhang Dragon Elephant heard these last words in his ear, then inhaled the white mist; a strong drowsiness surged in his heart—this third-party sleep method made him instinctively resist, he forcibly suppressed the discomfort, glanced around at the "River Stone" positions, and only then successfully fell asleep.

This mouthful of white mist was not going to the Cloud Immortal Island, nor was it spitting mist to create things, but rather a long-absent dream-entry cultivation!

On the other side, Liang Qu also inhaled similarly.

Whoosh——

Woke up again.

Splash.

The tide's crest rolled back and slapped the stone.

The Long Gong vanished without a trace.

Zhang Dragon Elephant found himself above the Great River and Great River, tide sounds surging, his field of vision's end shrouded in white mist; he glanced at his palms and backs of hands, clenched his fists, the sensation was incredibly real.

Is this——a dream?

Not at all, simply no different from the real world.

The dream-entry game in Huai Wang's fiefdom was all the rage throughout the Great Shun, seemingly like heroic fighting or something, inside it Zhang Dragon Elephant even had his own character role, each quarter he could even receive a dividend, not insignificant, but Zhang Dragon Elephant himself had never experienced it.

"Is this the feeling? Quite interesting."

Zhang Dragon Elephant raised his head, saw opposite a similarly flickering figure; the comer wore fish-scale armor, held a black-gold long spear, the three-foot spear blade revealed like a sword.

"Huai Wang?"

The fish-scale armored soldier lightly nodded: "It's me."

Zhang Dragon Elephant glanced around, clearly understood in his chest: "Originally so, if heart fire is stirred by others' hands, aiding its genesis, requires a critical point below, external pressure, only then is there a chance to arise; serious injury is trivial, death is also possible.

Your so-called mind's eye, being even higher than heart fire, is not merely simple pressure, not merely serious injury, but requires true death to possibly trigger? Or even not just one death? But humans cannot truly die—died, what realization to speak of? So you use dream-entry instead?"

E

31

Liang Qu gripped Fubo tightly.

Damn it, he didn't say anything at all.

Seeing this, Zhang Dragon Elephant had no hesitation; Liang Qu's posture fully confirmed his thought: "Then come! Repay the grudge of that one punch from before— the fiercer, the more real, will I comprehend faster?"

"Dragon Elephant King, shine bright!"

The fish-scale soldier raised his thumb.

Golden eyes ignited, all things faded, the world instantly turned black and white.

Above the Great River, Zhang Dragon Elephant's outlines clearly emerged, leaping, trembling.

Overwhelming momentum pressed down, as if thousands of blades pressed against his neck; Zhang Dragon Elephant widened his eyes, offering no resistance whatsoever.

In heaven and earth, dark gold flashed.

An icy spear blade suddenly scraped across the cerebral cortex; that bizarre, eerie, blade-exposed sensation, like a poisonous snake crawling along the spine, its tongue licking the skin, made Zhang Dragon Elephant's muscles instantly tense, but he forcibly suppressed it.

After the chill came intense pain, strong pain exploded from the center, surging out, his vision split in two; before him, the fish-scale soldier divided into two, then three, then four, increasingly many, phantoms overlapping, bleeding red, finally sinking into deathly still blackness.

"Ha!"

Zhang Dragon Elephant suddenly opened his eyes, gasped deeply, a faint blood scent in mouth and nose; moving his upper body slightly, a sticky uncomfortable sensation, clothes soaked through with sweat, sticking to his skin, the whole mat turned dark.

"How is it?" Liang Qu slightly excited, asked with concern.

Zhang Dragon Elephant raised his hand to support the throbbing blue veins on his forehead, spirit dazed.

How many years, how many years without this life-or-death feeling, that sensation of hair standing on end——

No matter how many crises, none can compare even a fraction to true death!

Just then, the third divine ability, Owl God Seizing Food, slightly changed, warm current spread to the limbs and hundreds of bones, relieving the discomfort brought by "death."

Zhang Dragon Elephant's expression solidified; after a long while, he deeply inhaled: "Is this really useful?"

"Yes!"

"Again!"

"Refreshing, Third Prince!"

On the other side.

Capital, Pill Workshop.

The furnace fire gradually died out, rich medicinal fragrance burst forth.

Fu Shuo raised his hand in a gesture, stored the pill into the box.

"The medicine is ready, hurry by fast horse, deliver it to Huai Wang."

Great Snow Mountain, the lake tranquil.

"Su He Baru" opened the treasure chest, biting cold frost spread throughout the room.

"Finally got it, ice marrow."