A carriage slowly rolled over the moss - covered stone steps. The hooves of the horses splashed through the muddy puddles on the ground, sending up wet sprays of water. Just as the ripples on the water were starting to calm, the two carriage wheels slowly rolled over. The cloth curtain on the carriage flapped in the wind, making a dull sound. Just as someone was about to lift the curtain, the carriage slowly stopped in front of the old temple.
The coachman in a gray cross - collared gown dismounted and took a couple of steps forward. Looking up, he whispered to the inside of the carriage, "Madam, we're here."
A soft "hmm" came from inside. Then, a slender hand lifted the curtain. First, four fair fingertips appeared, followed by the cuffs embroidered with patterns. Finally, the face of a young woman in a light - yellow silk robe with a row of white buttons on her chest emerged. Her light - pink rouge, small nose, and mist - filled eyes suddenly brightened when she lifted the curtain. A green butterfly hairpin was stuck on the left side of her shiny black hair. There was a small tear - shaped mole at the corner of her left eye, adding a touch of sadness to her delicate face. She reached out to hold the edge of the carriage. A white embroidered shoe with peony patterns carefully stepped onto the board, followed by the other. Finally, she turned sideways and stood on the damp stone steps.
Inside the teahouse, everyone's eyes fell on the yellow - dressed woman outside.
Some people were whispering.
"Is she the wife of that Xiao He?" the Taoist priest in a gray Taoist robe whispered.
The bald - headed man stared at the yellow - dressed woman for a while. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he whispered, "Do you mean that tragic - death Xiao He, the hall master?"
Reminded by him, the scholar quickly said, "Yes, yes, Xiao He, the hall master. It's a pity, so sad..."
What happened to Xiao He?
Su Xiaoliu looked up at Situ Qianyue. Suddenly, she remembered that he might not know either, so she lowered her head again.
Unexpectedly, Situ Qianyue whispered, "A year ago, Xiao He died a tragic death at Duanhun Langya while investigating the disappearance case of his disciples. This unjust case remains unsolved to this day, and no one dares to take it on."
Su Xiaoliu looked at Situ Qianyue in a daze. Who would have thought that he would lower his head, smile at her, and say, "My master is a martial - arts doctor. He told me all these things."
The handsome blue - dressed man also noticed the yellow - dressed woman. He sat up straight, and the amorous smile on his face gradually faded. He seemed to respect her very much.
The yellow - dressed woman walked in very gracefully. Everyone withdrew their gazes and lowered their heads to do their own things.
She glanced inside the temple and found there were no empty seats.
Just as Su Xiaoliu was about to speak, she heard the handsome blue - dressed man beside her say, "Moxin, sit here."
The yellow - dressed woman called Moxin turned her head, nodded slightly, and walked over. The wings of the green butterfly hairpin on her head fluttered gently with her steps.
Everyone still kept their peripheral vision on her. Su Xiaoliu was filled with curiosity.
Who on earth was this woman named Moxin? And who was Xiao He?
Inside the old temple, the voices were much quieter than before, as if everyone was deliberately lowering their voices.
Su Xiaoliu stared at the woman named Moxin and momentarily forgot what she was doing.
This woman seemed to be about the same age as her, but there was an indescribable elegant air about her. She was Xiao He's wife. Since Xiao He was dead, why didn't she remarry?
The young boy who was stuffing pastries into his mouth suddenly stopped. He looked up at Moxin and said in a childish voice, "Lady Xiao, are you also going to the Pingshan Assembly?"
A low murmur immediately rose in the teahouse.
The yellow - dressed woman gave a gentle smile. Her beautiful eyes seemed to see through everything, and the tear - shaped mole at the corner of her eye was faintly visible. She lowered her head and whispered, "Yes. Is Jiang Chong also going with the North Star Lord?"
The young boy named Jiang Chong's eyes curved into a smile, and he nodded, "Yes!"
When the people around heard Lady Xiao address this amorous young master as the "North Star Lord", the murmur became even louder.
A wealthy man with a fox - fur collar around his neck looked at the blue - dressed man, holding a wine cup in his hand, and said, "The North Star Lord? One of the four star lords of the Tianci Cult? He has quite a background..."
The bald - headed man in a black robe continued, "The four star lords of the Tianci Cult are all among the top in martial arts. With the Tianci Sword to uphold the prestige, even the cult leader values them highly."
"Moxin, why don't you go with us? It's too dangerous to travel alone. There are quite a few people who know you. Traveling together can provide some protection." Ignoring the whispers of others, the blue - dressed man reached out to pick up the teapot to pour a cup of tea. But as soon as his hand touched the handle, he stopped, as if he remembered the previous incident with the bugs. He withdrew his hand and looked at Lady Xiao.
Lady Xiao gave a faint smile and politely said, "Moxin is used to traveling alone. I don't dare to trouble the North Star Lord."
The blue - dressed man hesitated to speak. After thinking for a while, he suddenly looked over here and waved at Su Xiaoliu, who was about to be in a daze.
Su Xiaoliu walked over. The blue - dressed man looked up at her and smiled, "Bring another pot of warm tea."
Su Xiaoliu nodded. Just as she was about to turn around, Situ Qianyue had already walked over.
He placed the teapot in his hand on the table and said in a pleasant voice, "The tea is ready."
Su Xiaoliu looked up at Situ Qianyue and found that he was looking at her with a cute expression, waiting to be praised.
"Good job," Su Xiaoliu raised the corner of her mouth, stood on tiptoe, and patted his shoulder. Then she pulled him back.
Lady Xiao looked up at Situ Qianyue with a calm expression. Her gaze fell on Su Xiaoliu's face beside him. Suddenly, she was stunned. After a moment, she came back to her senses, quickly withdrew her gaze, and said nothing.
Su Xiaoliu frowned, full of doubts. Why did Lady Xiao look so dazed when she saw her?
The blue - dressed man picked up the teapot, poured a cup for Lady Xiao, and then one for himself. An old man beside him swept all the pastries that the young boy Jiang Chong had scattered on the table into a bowl and placed it aside.
"This tea is really biased. The previous pot was simply tasteless," the blue - dressed man said with a chuckle, pinching the teacup.
Just as Su Xiaoliu was about to get angry, Situ Qianyue stopped her. He smiled at the blue - dressed man and said, "This pot is more expensive than the previous one."
The blue - dressed man gave Situ Qianyue a meaningful look, half - smiling.
Situ Qianyue still smiled calmly.
"Shopkeeper, bill," someone called out from a distance.
Su Xiaoliu ignored them, turned around, and walked over with a smile.
In the desolate outskirts, the sun was shining brightly. An old man and a young boy were walking on the grass - covered plain.
An old man with a white beard in front was holding a long spear. His wrinkled face was full of sharp eyes. A dark - green headband was tied around his head, and he walked very fast.
A young boy of about seventeen or eighteen years old behind was carrying all kinds of boxes and packages on his back. Compared with the empty - handed old man in front, he seemed to be on the verge of being crushed.
The young boy's long hair was tied up with a white strip. He had a very handsome face, with high - set starry eyes. His red lips under his nose opened and closed as he gasped for breath. The things on his body made him stagger as he walked, and he kept complaining.
"Master, I really can't walk anymore," the young boy stopped, supporting his knees and breathing heavily.
Hearing this, the white - bearded old man frowned, turned around, took a few steps, and stood beside him. He placed the long spear horizontally and gave the young boy a hard whack on the buttocks.
"Keep walking!"
The young boy's features wrinkled in pain. Just as he was about to say something else, seeing the white - bearded old man glaring at him, he quickly carried all his things and walked forward.
When he walked in front of the white - bearded old man, the young boy dared to turn back and say, "Master, my feet hurt!" His sword - shaped eyebrows knitted together.
The white - bearded old man followed with the long spear in his hand. As he walked, he scolded, "You're so young but have so many problems. I'm an old man, and I don't complain like you!"
The young boy had a look of helplessness on his face. He thought that if he didn't have all these luggage on his back, he could also walk as easily as his master.
"Master, what's so fun about the Pingshan Assembly?" the young boy asked the white - bearded old man beside him while carrying his luggage.
The white - bearded old man turned to look at him and scolded, "You only think about having fun all day. You're good - for - nothing! Did your parents give you to me just for me to take you to play?"
Seeing that his master was about to raise the long spear again, the young boy quickly shut his mouth and didn't dare to say another word.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly saw an old temple in front. Although the temple was old, it was very clean. There was also a sign with the character "tea" hanging on the door.
"Master, there's a teahouse. Let's stop and rest," the young boy looked at the white - bearded old man with an inquiring look on his face.
The white - bearded old man glared at him fiercely and cursed, "You want to rest after just walking a few steps? You're so young, but you've already learned to be lazy!"
The young boy frowned with a bitter face and murmured, "We've been walking for half a day..." As he spoke, his eyes accidentally swept into the teahouse.
The white - bearded old man just turned his head, and his gaze also fell into the teahouse.
In front of the long table, a young woman in a light - pink silk dress was propping her head up, seemingly lost in thought. Her slender eyebrows were slightly knitted, her face was as rosy as a peach blossom, her almond eyes were full of spring charm, and her small diamond - shaped lips were gently pursed. Although her features were not extremely beautiful, she had a delicate and charming aura.
The old man and the young boy were both stunned at the same time.
The young boy was the first to react. He looked at the white - bearded old man beside him, who was staring blankly, and stammered, "Mas - Master..."
The white - bearded old man was awakened by his call. He turned to glare at the young boy, hooked his arm with the long spear, and dragged him into the teahouse.
"Shopkeeper, bring a pot of tea!"