Chapter 193: Cat Winter

Breaking through seclusion is not an easy thing, even if the talent is high, one will encounter a bottleneck; this is the limitation of the Heavenly Dao on the human race.

And after half a year of continuous charging, the little Jianzhu, who was only one step away from the Boundless Realm, also encountered a bottleneck that could not be crossed.

In those few days, her mood was always very chaotic, and the small room used for calming the heart on weekdays had no effect at all.

Yan Shuyi knew that if she continued to cultivate like this, her Dao heart might become demonic because of this.

Just at this moment, the snow fell.

Lingzhou cannot see heavy snow, only a few scattered flakes.

But these few scattered flakes reminded her of this time last year, reminded her of her longest journey in the rivers and lakes, reminded her of going to see a strange man, reminded her of talking around the stove at night, and the winter morning of eating roasted sweet potatoes, so the little Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain was lost again...

"Ding Shijie Zhuo, you were indeed lying to me!"

"You can't talk nonsense, Cui'er, how did I lie to you?"

"You said the Jianzhu just went down the mountain to stroll around, telling me not to be anxious, but it has already been three days, and the Jianzhu hasn't returned yet. The Peak Master even came to ask me yesterday!"

"I didn't lie to you, the Jianzhu was indeed feeling depressed, so she went down the mountain to stroll around, it's just... maybe this stroll was a bit far."

"Then there must be a destination, Ding Shijie Zhuo, just tell me, where did the Jianzhu go?"

Zhuo Wanqiu stood on the peak and pursed her lips, thinking to herself where else could she go, the Jianzhu went to visit relatives.

When she was young, her mother always said that women are the most outgoing, and they will think of their husband's family all the time after getting married.

She thought that a woman of the little Jianzhu's status would definitely be different, but later she found out that the little Jianzhu was the same.

Ever since she reached the bottleneck period of charging the realm, she always said that the mountain was boring.

But in Zhuo Wanqiu's view, this is not that the mountain is boring, it's just that there is someone she wants to see in Shengjing.

Near dusk, the last slanting sun tilted its sunlight into the government office's institutional housing, making the small courtyard full of brilliance.

Xiang Kuangcheng rolled up his sleeves again and began to cook, the stove fire that had not yet been extinguished was ignited again, and a burst of conversation came from the main room.

"You broke through your realm?"

"Breaking through the realm is not a day's work, the process must be ups and downs. I encountered a bottleneck this time, so I decided to go down the mountain to travel 'aimlessly'."

"Can aimless stroll to here through streets and alleys?"

"Coincidence..."

Ding Yao was not angry, with a smile on his mouth, thinking to himself, whatever you say.

A girl came to Shengjing from thousands of miles away to look for him, and even arranged so many plays by herself. It would be a lie to say he wasn't happy, so he felt it didn't matter what she said.

Even if she said she came to Shengjing to kill him, Ding Yao might be able to puff out his chest and cooperate with her.

Yan Shuyi saw him always smiling and was a bit shy and angry: "You don't believe it?"

Ding Yao shook his head: "I didn't not believe it, I just haven't reacted until now. Seeing you sitting alive in front of me is like a dream."

Yan Shuyi was stunned: "You... often dream of me appearing in front of you?"

"If it's a dream, then it's not just in front of me."

"?"

Wei Rui walked into the kitchen with the washed vegetable leaves at this time, glanced at Xiang Kuangcheng who was stir-frying, and said: "Ding Young Master and his wife are really strange."

Xiang Kuangcheng looked at her: "How is it strange?"

"Just now at the door, Ding's wife forced Ding Young Master to say what a coincidence, and if he didn't say it, she would be angry, and then said it was a random stroll and met by accident. But I saw it when I came, she had been standing outside the door for almost half an hour, and there were all his footprints on the ground."

Wei Rui said softly: "Entering the house is the same, Ding's wife's eyes are always stuck on Ding Young Master, unable to move, but she has to be cold."

Xiang Kuangcheng thought for a while: "Maybe this is the majesty of the main palace."

Wei Rui was stunned after hearing this, then put on a cold look: "Cook well, ordinary strange man..."

"???"

Wei Rui turned around and came to the courtyard at this time, looked into the room through the door frame, and after setting her posture, planned to study seriously.

And Yan Shuyi in the room was indifferent, asking was a chance encounter, if Ding Yao didn't agree, that little jade foot wearing boots would kick his knee.

But those deep, beautiful eyes were just like what Wei Rui said, although feigning indifference, they were always stuck on the other party.

With the setting of the sun, the sunlight outside the window shone through the window lattice, making the eyelashes of the fairy in front of her shine brilliantly, and also making the smooth face that could be broken by a blow have an extra layer of halo, truly worthy of the four words "national beauty and heavenly fragrance".

Ding Yao looked at her for a long time: "How many days do you plan to stay in Shengjing this time?"

Yan Shuyi shook her feet, and said without thinking: "Shengjing is not interesting, much worse than my Lingzhou, it's just that the snowy days are worth watching, I will go back in a few days."

"Continue seclusion?"

"Hmm, if the Xuanjian Peak wants to be stable, and even if Lingjian Mountain wants to be stable, I need to cultivate to a higher realm."

"I sent you a letter a few days ago, why didn't you reply to me?"

"This Jianzhu is in a high position, and there are many letters coming and going every day. Do you think I have to reply to every one? Wouldn't that tire me out?"

Yan Shuyi's voice suddenly became pinched as she spoke, and it was only after a long time that she realized the tone was wrong, so she frowned and didn't intend to speak again.

Caught a cold, throat is uncomfortable.

Just at this moment, a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded, and the scholar Xiang stir-fried a few small dishes, which were on the table at this time.

So the two women who hadn't eaten sat at the same table, Ding Yao and Xiang Kuangcheng were drinking with the remaining oil dregs and peanuts, each looking at their own girl.

"Brother Ding."

"Hmm?"

Ding Yao turned to look at Xiang Kuangcheng, slightly stunned, thinking to himself that this scholar drinking with me is quite familiar.

Xiang Kuangcheng looked at his eyes and didn't feel surprised. This kind of thing where the brain is occupied and he doesn't recognize his friends, he has also had it.

The scholar took a sip: "Brother Ding, seize the opportunity, your residence is very big, and very empty."

Ding Yao: "..."

Wei Rui and Yan Shuyi looked at each other at this time, all a bit dazed.

For this sentence, it was not the first time Wei Rui heard it, but she still didn't understand what it meant, always feeling that it was a secret code between them, strange and strange...

Eating and drinking, the sun began to fall slowly outside the window.

Wei Rui and Yan Shuyi chatted while eating, asking where their home was, how old they were, how many people were in the family, although it was the first time they met, they didn't feel strange.

Yan Shuyi was actually a bit surprised, because she hadn't felt equal sisterly love for so many years, and didn't know why she would have a few more points of natural closeness to this woman in the secular world in front of her.

In this aspect, Wei Rui, who had learned piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting since she was a child and had seen all the plays of talented men and beautiful women, knew more than the little Jianzhu.

This natural closeness of theirs came from the fact that their hearts were sworn brothers.

This kind of relationship that does not involve family property disputes but is as close as brothers will bring them a kind of sister-in-law affection.

Besides this, Wei Rui also had a common goal of wanting to marry into Fengzhou with her sister in the future, feeling that she was a like-minded friend.

So before long, Wei Rui already called Yan Shuyi sister, and Yan Shuyi also felt that she spoke well, so she gave her a beautiful jade bracelet.

By the time the meal was over, the sky outside the window gradually darkened, and dusk was near.

Wei Rui got up, intending to go back.

She is not a cultivator, and she is a young lady in the capital, so it is easy to be criticized for staying in a single man's house at night.

"Shall we go back too?"

Ding Yao put down his chopsticks and looked at Yan Shuyi.

Lingjian Mountain little Jianzhu raised her eyes, thinking to herself that this Jianzhu will go back to the inn, and then her peripheral vision caught Xiang Kuangcheng clenching his fist and waving his arm toward the strange man...

Xiang Kuangcheng's current residence is not far from the downtown area. On the way back to Nishan, he would pass by several inns, one of which was where the Lingjian Mountain little Jianzhu was staying.

Yan Shuyi looked at this place and thought to herself that it was time to say goodbye.

But soon, she saw Ding Yao stop in front, looked at her with some doubt, and waved at her.

After pondering for a moment, the little Jianzhu followed silently, followed him onto the Nishan divine road, registered the fake identity of Zhuo Yao at the Zhangshi Yuan, and walked toward the courtyard.

However, when passing the Dengxian White Jade Terrace, Yan Shuyi walked straight toward Ding Yao's old courtyard in the outer courtyard, like a cat that knew the way home.

"Went the wrong way."

"?"

"After entering the inner courtyard, I changed the courtyard, and I don't live there now. Letting you register is because you can't enter the inner courtyard at will."

Ding Yao pointed to the forest of ten thousand hectares, then muttered to himself, thinking that this girl intended to go back with me from the beginning.

Little Jianzhu narrowed her eyes: "You walk in front."

"Don't know the way but still chest-thumping as if going home..."

Ding Yao whispered, then saw a pink fist raised, so he immediately brought her toward the inner courtyard from his heart, and came to the Immortal Residence.

Little Jianzhu stepped in, then looked around, and finally walked into the Zen room on her own, and when she looked up, she saw her own teacup placed on the lacquer-red wooden cabinet.

That was bought when she came here last time. When she left, she told Ding Yao to keep it well for her, and she would use it next time she came.

She thought Ding Yao had changed the courtyard when she went up the mountain, and the cup might not be kept, but she didn't expect it to be really there, and there was no dust on it.

She didn't tell Ding Yao when she came, so it was impossible for him to wipe it in advance. The only possibility was that he often cleaned the cup, waiting for her to come again...

Light the furnace, light the fire, boil the tea, roast the sweet potato.

Yan Shuyi took back her stool from the corner, which was still covered with the cotton pad she used last time, and then sat in front of the furnace.

She even knows how to find a place for herself.

Ding Yao raised the furnace at this time, sat the teapot on the furnace, and had a feeling of dreaming back to a year ago.

Yan Shuyi actually had this feeling too, as if she had never left since she came to Shengjing that time.

After all, she had been in seclusion for half a year, and there were no other memory points in her life. Looking back on the past, the most profound memory was still the winter night talk with this strange man.

At this time, Ding Yao poked the furnace a few times, saw the flames rising, and got up and sat on the stool to the right behind Yan Shuyi.

"When I came, I heard them say you broke through your realm?"

"Hmm, after returning to the Heavenly Academy, I went into short seclusion, and the realm was broken through a few days ago."

"Is it to participate in the Heavenly Dao Assembly?"

"It's not just for the Heavenly Dao Assembly, I just want to make myself stronger."

"When will the sweet potato be ready."

"It will take a while, you are not in a hurry anyway."

"Is Wei Rui Xiang Kuangcheng's sweetheart?"

"You use the word sweetheart a bit lewdly, it's more appropriate to say sweetheart..."

"How is Fengzhou?"

"The tax offerings have been reduced, and waiting for reclamation next year, life should be better."

Fire furnace, tea fragrance, both of them looked a bit dazed, chatting one after another, feeling that there was so much to say, but didn't know where to start.

Then while saying some fragments, while the eyes flowed, floating back and forth and bumping into each other, looking at each other for a long time.

At this time, Ding Yao pursed his mouth, and then reached out to the slender willow waist.

He had hugged her many times on Lingjian Mountain, but it had been a long time since they met, and he didn't know if this arrogant fairy would still let him hug her...

Yan Shuyi watched him reach out, gradually approaching her waist, narrowed her eyes slightly in silence, and then raised her arm slightly...

Subsequently, she tightened, and a burst of soft touch instantly filled her embrace.

The distance between the two was very close at this moment, the little Jianzhu's nose almost touched Ding Yao's nose, and her cheeks were a bit slightly red.

Ding Yao looked at her pretending to be calm: "What's wrong?"

Yan Shuyi looked at him, finding that he was wearing a look as if she should have been hugged by him, couldn't help but purse her mouth, then turned around, letting herself be hugged comfortably.

As early as the furnace fire was lit, Yan Shuyi had already taken off her boots and socks, two white and tender jade feet resting on the small stool, looking cute and small under the reflection of the furnace fire.

Her feet were cold since she was a child, and she liked to be close to this rising warmth.

And those jade feet were originally in a relaxed state when roasting fire, ten onion-white toes spread out crystal-clear and jade-like, but at this moment, they couldn't help but curl up slightly.

"Shopkeeper, it's already very late, the guests have all rested, shall we put up the boards?"

"Put up the boards."

"But... but there is still a guest who hasn't returned, should we send someone to look for her?"

"You mean the girl living in the upper room? It's okay, she said when she booked the room, she might not come back to live."

"There is such a guest..."

"Yes, there was one last year too, who paid but didn't live, and she looked a bit like this girl."

In the following days, Shengjing did not continue to snow, and the temperature rose slightly.

The sweet potatoes in Ding Yao's courtyard were consumed extremely quickly, and they still looked like they hadn't rested well. Every time they came out to cultivate the Dao at noon, they would yawn.

However, the aura around his body was becoming more restrained and deep.

He Lingxiu had seen him many times on the mountain cliff of the inner courtyard. Every time she saw him, she would think of the heat of the day he broke through his realm, and she would have the idea of wanting to try his length.

"Ji Shidi Ding's realm has stabilized?"

"Hmm, stabilized."

Between the mountain cliffs in the sun, Ding Yao slowly opened his eyes and nodded gently.

He Lingxiu said gently behind the mountain cliff: "The day you broke through your realm, I found your aura was very strong, and there is a lot of discussion in the academy about your current combat power. How about it, are you interested in sparring with me?"

"Forget it, men and women should not touch."

"?"

Ding Yao let out a long breath at this time, and the golden light in his eyes gradually converged.

He was not just simply stabilizing his realm, but also looking for the opportunity to fix the Dao. Through the visualization, many heart thoughts emerged, like a ball of tangled hemp, just like the people and things in this world.

Some of these heart thoughts are distracting thoughts, while others are Dao hearts.

Cultivators at this stage need to push aside the distracting thoughts and listen to the Dao heart in the depths of their hearts. This step is called drawing silk and peeling cocoons.

This is what every realm in the Upper Five Realms must experience, because cultivating the Dao itself is a matter that requires eliminating distracting thoughts.

Senior Brother Ban said that the opportunity for this matter requires timing, sometimes you can't be anxious, the more anxious you are, the less you can see each other.

Just at this moment, a Zhangshi Yuan disciple went up the mountain, carrying a sack on his shoulder, and two large black pots on his back: "Ji Shidi Ding, your things."

Ding Yao's eyes lit up after seeing him: "I didn't expect it to be delivered so quickly, thank you, Senior Brother."

He Lingxiu took a look: "Why did Ji Shidi buy pots?"

"To cook."

Ding Yao got up, put the sack into the storage gourd, and carried the black pot toward his courtyard.

He Lingxiu felt that she couldn't see through him. After staring for a long time, she turned and went to the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, and saw Chai Ze and Shi Junhao chatting in the tea pavilion with solemn expressions.

She listened for a while and found that they were not talking about big things, just about the brick wall of their own courtyard.

According to them, strange things happened in their courtyard these days, and the strange thing was that their courtyard wall didn't know why, it was getting shorter and shorter these days.

Cultivators pay attention to having nothing outside the body and don't care much about the outside.

But having said that, in fact, even if they are not cultivators, they will not care how many rows of bricks their courtyard wall has, unless the wall was built by themselves.

And the reason why they noticed it today is said to be because when they were standing in their own residence, they actually saw the bare-assed junior brother next door...

At the same time, Ding Yao had already walked into the courtyard carrying the sack and the black pot, walked toward the newly built stove, placed the two pots on it, and embedded them perfectly.

He just said he had craftsmanship, and he could build such a suitable stove even without drawings.

Then he threw firewood into the stove, ignited it with spiritual fire, and then opened the sack, took out the oil bottle, poured a little into the pot, and began to practice the pot.

After the pot was practiced, he took out the rice bag, poured it in and steamed the rice. After the rice grains gradually became loose and soft, he covered it with sliced bacon.

Before long, as the cooking smoke slowly rose, the fragrance gradually began to float in the courtyard.

Ding Yao continued to cut vegetables, put the meat slices and green peppers into the pot, and saw Yan Shuyi come out of the room, wearing a small flower-padded jacket, stretching toward the brilliant sunlight, and making an "ah" sound.

Seeing this scene, Ding Yao straightened up, holding an iron shovel and akimbo.

It's been several days, and the little Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain hasn't mentioned leaving. She is focused on three meals a day, sometimes quiet, sometimes noisy, as if she has forgotten who she is.

Yesterday Wei Rui invited her to play, and she bought a lot of things when she came back.

Like the hanging paintings in the Zen room, the gauze cover used to cover the dust, the good-looking teapot, and the small flower-padded jacket she is wearing now, there is a feeling that she has already married in and is planning for life.

Ding Yao has already determined that Yan Shuyi wants to come and cat winter with himself.

But since it's cat winter, she can't eat roasted sweet potatoes every day, so he picked up some bricks on other people's walls, built a stove, and planned to light a fire and cook in his own courtyard.

"Woke up?"

"Hmm, woke up..."

Yan Shuyi answered, and then couldn't help but yawn. She sat with Ding Yao around the furnace until very late every night, and even the lazy sleep became more. At this time, she turned her head, tilted her head and looked at Ding Yao stir-frying, thinking to herself that he could actually cook.

She hadn't seen such a thing before.

How to say cultivators, away from the secular, floating in the world, cooking is a low-class thing for them.

Who would have thought that a man who slashed a Soldier King with a sword, killed a demon general, and was discussed by people inside and outside Shengjing City, was wearing a coarse cloth apron and full of fireworks at this time.

But she didn't seem to have thought about it, who would believe that the little Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain would wake up from a single man's courtyard one day, and then be drooling a bit from greed.

Yan Shuyi walked over: "So fragrant."

Ding Yao stir-fried for a while: "It will be ready to eat in a while."

"Who taught you to cook?"

"Where I lived before, the cook didn't cook well, and my younger brothers and sisters and I would often steal some vegetables from the kitchen, climb over the wall to a broken courtyard next door and light a fire to cook by ourselves. At that time, the idea was very simple, always feeling that being able to cook meant being an adult."

Ding Yao looked at her after speaking: "Can you cook?"

Yan Shuyi looked up at him: "No, you will cook in the future."

"In the future?"

"I mean, I will come to stroll around in the future."

Yan Shuyi turned around calmly, walked to the door with her hands behind her back, set up a small square table in the courtyard, set the bowls and chopsticks, and began to wait for the meal.

The heart is quiet, it is indeed quiet.

But it seems like she doesn't want to cultivate the Dao anymore.

Feeling that if she were not the Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain, if she were not carrying the continuation of the Dao lineage, she would actually prefer this kind of life of one house, two people, three meals, and four seasons.

Yan Shuyi felt that this didn't seem to be calming the heart, but the fall of a fairy.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 194 =====