Chapter 159

Withered vines, old trees, evening crows; a small bridge, flowing water, a household. Ancient road, west wind, lean horse; the sun sets in the west, the broken-hearted person is at the end of the world. -- Ma Zhiyuan

On the official road leading to Aolai Cheng, a carriage was moving slowly toward the north.

The old driver turned his head to look at the sun and raised the horsewhip in his hand.

A moment later, he gently pulled the horsewhip back.

The old horse pulling the carriage had been with him for ten years; he couldn't bear to whip it.

Behind him, in the dilapidated carriage, the guest was humming a song he had never heard before in a low baritone.

"Stars flowing, traveling the same road with you, never having known each other, beginning to feel close, treating people with sincerity, life is like a dream, friends are like mist..."

Zhang Xingyu lay half-reclined in the carriage, softly humming an old song by Alan Tam, "Friends."

Yesterday's intoxication had dissipated, and today he would embark on the return journey alone.

Last night, in the inn lobby, the lights flickered.

Liu Dahu dragged Zhang Xingyu to drink in the inn for the whole night.

Liu Dahu said his father was a bodyguard, and he had liked playing with his father's big sword since he was a child. Once, his father escorted a guest on a long journey and never returned. His mother stood at the door waiting every day, but never saw his father's figure. Later, his mother died of illness, and before she died, she was still calling his father's name. Liu Dahu became an orphan and, by a stroke of luck, was taken in as a disciple by True Person Xuanling of the Yinghai Immortal Sect. He practiced on Yinghai Immortal Mountain for ten years, and after successfully establishing his foundation, he applied to go down the mountain for training. While training, he searched for news of his father. Sixty years had passed in a flash, and he had traveled through all the cities of Aolai Guo, but he had never been able to find any news of his father...

Zhang Xingyu said, "Brother, your life is better than mine. I've been an orphan since I was a child and don't know who my biological parents are. I was picked up and raised by my foster father from outside the town. Later, my foster father died too..."

"Brother, don't be sad!"

"Brother, stay strong!"

"Cheers!" The two clinked glasses three times in a row.

Liu Dahu said he was the chief disciple of the Yinghai Immortal Sect and also held the position of Inspector in the Immortal Alliance of Aolai Guo. This time, he was ordered to investigate a case of mysterious disappearances of disciples from various major immortal sects. Seeing that Zhang Xingyu was young, handsome, and possessed great treasures, he thought Zhang Xingyu was a disciple from a major sect out for training. Thus, the scene in the Tingyu Tower happened.

Zhang Xingyu said, "Brother, you are luckier than me. I am a student at the Nanhua Immortal Academy, born with a Hidden Spiritual Root, called a cultivation waste, and looked down upon by my classmates at the academy. However, I don't believe in fate; I tried every possible way and finally reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Unfortunately, my luck was bad this time, and I had my spiritual power sucked dry by that old hag, returning to square one."

"Brother, don't be discouraged!"

"Brother, keep it up!"

"Cheers!" The two clinked glasses three times again.

Liu Dahu said that this time, those who came to rescue from the Yinghai Immortal Sect included his Senior Uncle Xuanzhen, Xuanyu, and thirty-some senior brothers and junior sisters. The Palace Master of Peach Blossom was beheaded with one sword, the disciples of the sect were all slaughtered, and the evil Peach Blossom Palace had been destroyed. From various places in the Peach Blossom Palace, a dozen or so commoners and one Qingyun Gate disciple were rescued and had already been arranged to be sent back.

Zhang Xingyu said, "This time, it was all thanks to you and your junior sister coming to save me that I was able to escape with my life. I have a treasure that I would like to entrust to you to pass on to your junior sister, as a token of my gratitude for her saving my life."

"Brother, do you like my junior sister?"

"Brother, I do!"

"Cheers!" The two clinked glasses three times again.

Liu Dahu said that in his life, he valued loyalty the most and liked making friends...

Zhang Xingyu said, "I have a few good brothers; in the future, if there is a chance, I will bring them for you to meet..."

"Good, we must meet!"

"Yes, you are welcome to go!"

"Cheers!" The two men's glasses clinked together again.

When he woke up, the lights were out, the wine jars were empty, and Liu Dahu had already left.

The hunchbacked boss said that the Immortal Lord asked him to pass on a message when he left: "Take care, see you again if fate allows!"

"Take care, see you again if fate allows!" Zhang Xingyu thought to himself.

The sun set.

Seeing that they were about to miss the place to stay for the night, the old driver was a bit anxious.

He raised the horsewhip again, hesitating whether to whip it down ruthlessly.

Just as he was struggling internally, the guest's voice came from behind: "Forget it, old man. If we miss it, we miss it; let's just stay in the wild."

Riding the afterglow of the sunset, the carriage moved forward a bit more.

On the left side of the road was a lush pine forest, and the old driver suggested spending the night by the forest.

Beside the pine forest, a bonfire was burning.

Beside the bonfire sat a woman.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu's carriage, a smile appeared on the woman's pretty face.

Just as he got off the carriage, Zhang Xingyu saw the woman by the bonfire.

Meng Ruyan?

Why is she here?

"Fairy Meng, what a coincidence!"

"Hmm."

"Fairy Meng, thank you for saving my life the other day."

"Hmm."

"Fairy Meng, did you receive the gift I gave you?"

"Hmm."

This is the prelude to a conversation that will die.

Zhang Xingyu was somewhat speechless.

"Fairy Meng, did you also miss the place to stay and are spending the night here?"

"Hmm."

"Fairy Meng, are you also going to Aolai Cheng?"

"Hmm."

"Fairy Meng, you don't mind if we spend the night here, do you?"

"Hmm."

Zhang Xingyu was defeated.

Although he considered himself to have first-class eloquence, he was helpless when encountering a "Hmm-Hmm" girl.

He silently added dry branches to the fire and then took out a large pancake to toast.

This kind of pancake is a specialty of Xiaochuan Zhen, made by mixing five kinds of coarse grains and baking them.

At the time of parting, the hunchbacked boss insisted on giving him a large bag, saying it was to thank him for saving his grandson.

The pancake was heated, emitting a rich aroma.

Zhang Xingyu took the pancake, preparing to hand it to Zhang Kaixin, who had been shouting that he wanted to eat.

However, the next second, he froze.

Beside the bonfire, Meng Ruyan was holding a bag of osmanthus cakes in both hands, and Zhang Kaixin was stuffing them into his mouth in large chunks.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu handing over the pancake, Zhang Kaixin shook his head and said: "I don't want the pancake, I want to eat the osmanthus cake. The osmanthus cake is delicious."

Zhang Xingyu shook his head.

Out of politeness, he asked Meng Ruyan again: "Fairy Meng, do you want to eat a pancake?"

Meng Ruyan nodded.

Zhang Xingyu handed the pancake over.

Meng Ruyan did not reach out to take it.

What's the situation?

Zhang Xingyu looked at Meng Ruyan.

You should reach out and take it.

Meng Ruyan glared at Zhang Xingyu and looked down at her own hands again.

Zhang Xingyu finally realized.

"Fairy Meng, let me feed you! This pancake tastes best when eaten hot," Zhang Xingyu said.

Meng Ruyan did not answer.

Zhang Xingyu thought for a moment and handed the pancake to her lips.

Meng Ruyan took a small bite quickly.

Meng Ruyan's cheeks flushed, and her heart beat faster.

She had never been fed by a man, nor had she ever been watched by a man while eating.

She chewed slowly, her movements slight, trying to maintain an elegant demeanor.

After eating a small piece of the pancake, her cheeks were already flushed red, and her clothes were damp with sweat.