Qin Zhao leaned against the earthen wall of the dilapidated courtyard, with the faint glow of dusk still pressing under his eyelids, but his ears had already become perky. The wind passed through the dead branches of the crooked neck jujube tree, bringing down a few yellow leaves that fell onto his shoulders without moving. He didn't dust either.
The withered flower in my arms is still there, with a musty smell mixed with a putrid odor, like a piece of rotten meat stuck in ointment for three days, lingering. He closed his eyes and rested his fingers on the dark pattern on his left wrist. The treasure trove was buzzing just now, but now it's quiet, as if it's dead.
He knew in his heart that this silence was not a good thing.
Just like the stuffiness before the rainstorm, the dog doesn't bark.
Sure enough, there was a "thud" sound on the wall, and a few tiles shattered, falling down with a clatter and hitting the pile of broken pottery jars in the corner of the courtyard. The movement was not small, but not panicked, as if deliberately stepping on them for you to hear.
Qin Zhao's eyelids twitched and he didn't open his eyes.
The sound of footsteps landing, light, steady, with a rhythm, not the kind of tiptoe that explores, but clearly telling you: I'm here, how do you love me.
The sole of the boot ran over the broken tile, sparking.
Next, there was the sound of metal mopping the floor.
Zila
It's harsh, but not long, like someone slowly scraping a stone slab with an iron rod until the roots of your teeth turn sour.
Then, a shadow slanted in, covering half of his face.
Qin Zhao finally opened his eyes.
There is a girl standing in front of me, her silver hair tied into a high ponytail with broken star chains, dressed in silver soft armor and a pleated short skirt, and her lightning bead boots still emitting small electric arcs, crackling. She was holding a long spear in her hand, with the tip pointing towards the ground. The spark she had just sparked was pulled out by it.
"Brother Qin --" she said, her voice was sweet and soft, and the ending was raised enough to hang deep-fried dough sticks. "I'll teach you how to practice."
Qin Zhao stared at her expressionlessly and said, "Get lost
Oh, what's so fierce about it? "Ji Xue tilted her head and smiled with dimples, her eyes shining terrifyingly." They came over the wall on purpose. Look, they didn't even get their shoes dirty
She raised one foot and shook it as she spoke, and the sound of thunder beads jingled, truly spotless.
Qin Zhao sneered, "Then turn back and don't pollute the air here
Ji Xue didn't get angry, but took a step forward. The Thunder Spear followed suit and the tip of the spear headed straight towards his throat!
Hurry up!
Faster than the three poisoned arrows in Arrow Rain, almost as soon as the thought came to mind, the cold light had already reached three inches in front of my throat.
Qin Zhao did not hide.
He didn't even blink.
Just a faint purple flashed through the depths of the pupils, the dark lines on the left wrist were slightly hot, and the treasure trove began to hum again. This time it was not vibration, but restlessness, like a hungry dog smelling the scent of meat.
The thunder spear stopped.
Just a little short of his Adam's apple, the cold wind swept his neck hair straight up.
Ji Xue blinked her eyes and her smile remained unchanged: "Don't be so fierce, I'm here to protect you
Protection? "Qin Zhao sneered," Are you using this thing to protect me? Or should you first ask if it agrees
He spoke and suddenly took action, grabbing onto the body of the Thunder Spear!
At the moment when my fingertips touched the metal, a tingling sensation surged upwards along the meridians, like a swarm of ants crawling into my brain along the bones. His brow furrowed, and his divine sense instinctively shrank into the sea of consciousness——
Boom!
He knew that the door in the sea, which was never easily opened, suddenly shook.
A light and shadow appeared through the crack in the door.
It's not a weapon, not a martial art, not some amazing secret technique.
It's her smile.
The smile of 'Ah Xue' when delivering flowers on the street corner, tiger teeth, sweetness, and pretending to be tender, is all there.
But the laughter in this light and shadow is different.
More wild, more crazy, with a bloody aura of the battlefield, as fierce as being able to laugh and drink after chopping someone.
The light and shadow condense and never disperse, hanging deep in the treasure trove, as if nailed to something.
Qin Zhao's breath froze.
This is not the first time he has encountered something that can make his treasure trove react.
Deadly Dagger, Gold Card, Poison Arrow.
But no one has ever been able to make the treasure trove take the initiative with just a 'smile'.
This thing does not swallow cultivation or plunder power, it specifically targets "Zhi Zhen".
And now this smile... what kind of precious thing is it?
A ridiculous idea flashed through his mind: Could it be that his aesthetic standards have been downgraded?
Hey, have you caught enough? "Ji Xue shook her halberd lightly," If you keep touching, I'll be charged
Qin Zhao let go.
The thunder spear slid back into her palm, and she trembled gently. The tip of the spear left a charred black mark on the ground, and sparks splattered in all directions.
What do you really want? "Qin Zhao stood up, half a head taller than her, his eyes lowered." In the middle of the night, he climbed over the wall, used a halberd to compare people, and said something about protection - do you think I'm a three-year-old child? Or do you think I'm easy to deceive
"Ouch, who is three years old?" Ji Xue stood on tiptoe and poked him in the chest, "I came here because I saw you were hurt. You see, your arms are wrapped like Zongzi, and the blood is leaking out. I still don't deal with it. It's really stubborn."
Qin Zhao lowered his head and looked at her fingers.
That fingertip was white and tender, like a freshly shelled egg, but the force from that moment could shatter the bluestone.
He suddenly smiled and said, "Do you feel sorry for me? Did you use that spear just now to make a hole in my throat to bleed and detoxify me
Where is it! "Ji Xue withdrew her hand, backed up behind her, and pretended to cough twice." I'm testing your reaction speed. Real enemies don't say hello in advance
Oh? "Qin Zhao squinted his eyes," So you're the enemy
I'm not! "She immediately retorted, then leaned closer with a smile." I'm an ally, a future comrade in arms, maybe even... um... "She trailed off, deliberately not continuing.
Save it, "Qin Zhao turned around and walked into the house," I don't accept child labor, nor do I raise idle people
Hey wait! "Ji Xue jumped up to him with a leap, and the halberd landed on the ground." You won't let me in? I brought a gift
A gift? "Qin Zhao sneered," Another withered flower? Or the one with a tracking mark
Ji Xue was taken aback for a moment, then clapped her hands and said, "Wow, you're so smart! But this time it's not flowers, it's intelligence
Speak up
The Broken Life Palace will send extra personnel tonight, and the target is you, "she raised a finger." Three groups of assassins, two bright and one dark, the bright one is the scapegoat, and the dark one is said to be able to silently cut your neck
Qin Zhao listened calmly and said, "And then what? Are you telling me this to exchange for a gold card, or do you want me to owe you a personal debt
Neither. "Ji Xue shook her head, her eyes sparkling." I want to walk with you
Let's go? Where are we going
Aren't you going to Chengnan Old Street tomorrow? "She tilted her head." I heard there's an auction there where you can find good things. I'll accompany you and protect you, it's so cost-effective
Qin Zhao stared at her and said, "How did you know I was going to the old street
Guess. "She blinked." Can't you
Okay, "Qin Zhao nodded," but you have to promise me one thing
You say it
Don't pretend to be silly anymore, "he said with a sharp gaze." You're not Ah Xue, nor are you a fan. If you really want to follow, show some real skills. Don't keep calling me 'Brother Qin' or 'someone else' all day long. It makes me goosebumps
Ji Xue was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing and said, "Oh, you're quite difficult to handle
I'm not difficult, "Qin Zhao turned around and pushed open the door, the wooden door creaking." I just hate acting
Coincidentally, "Ji Xue followed up, dragging the ground with a halberd and sparks all the way," I hate it too
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly raised her hand and the thunder spear swept out!
Not towards Qin Zhao, but towards the half collapsed courtyard wall behind him!
Boom
A black shadow exploded, with broken bricks flying randomly and smoke and dust filling the air.
When the dust settled, there was a charred talisman lying under the wall, with smoke still rising from the edge.
Tracking Curse. "Ji Xue withdrew her halberd and kicked the talisman paper," Someone buried this in your yard about half an hour ago
Qin Zhao lowered his head and looked at the talisman, sneering, "It seems that not only the Death Palace wants to kill me
There is also a third party, "Ji Xue nodded," and they understand the rules better than the Broken Life Hall - they don't directly attack, only keep an eye on them
Do you understand any rules? "Qin Zhao kicked the talisman paper into the soil." Do they think I don't know
Why don't you dismantle it? "Ji Xue was curious.
Keep it, "Qin Zhao clapped her hands," let them see, let them report, let them feel like they've won
And then what
And then? "He turned around, his mouth curved," I'll treat them to a big meal
Ji Xue smiled. This time, she didn't pretend to be tender or sweet, just a pure and somewhat fierce smile.
Qin Zhao recognized the sea, and the smile of light and shadow trembled suddenly, as if ignited by something.
His heart skipped a beat.
This doesn't feel right.
It's not danger or excitement, but a kind of familiarity.
It's like his intuition at the moment when his opponent finally revealed a loophole at the negotiation table in his previous life.
He knows that this woman has a problem.
But what's the problem? He still can't catch it.
Are you really not letting me sit in for a while? "Ji Xue held the Thunder Spear and blinked her eyes." It's cold outside
Cold? "Qin Zhao glanced at her." You're dressed like a mobile power station, are you still cold
That's just the appearance! "She stomped her feet, and the thunder beads exploded." You're very fragile inside, okay
Qin Zhao was too lazy to pay attention to her and walked straight into the dilapidated house. He sat on the lame stool and took out the withered flowers from his arms, placing them on his lap.
Ji Xueda followed in without hesitation, sitting on the threshold with her thunderous halberd against the wall, tapping its handle with her fingertips in boredom.
Have you been keeping this flower all along? "She tilted her head and asked," Don't you mind getting dirty
Dirty? "Qin Zhao rubbed the flower stem," It's much cleaner than some people
For example, who
For example, those mice who dare not show their faces and only hide in the dark to stick talismans
Ji Xue laughed out loud and said, "You really... don't show any mercy at all
Emotionally? "Qin Zhao looked up," I even snatched my life back, how can I still talk about emotions
The wind outside is strong, causing the door panels to sway and creak.
The crooked neck jujube tree in the courtyard has leaves rustling as if applauding.
The two fell silent for a moment.
Ji Xue suddenly looked up and said, "Qin Zhao
Hmm
Do you believe in fate
I don't believe it, "he answered decisively," I only believe in what I can grab
What if fate comes knocking on the door
Then grab it, "he raised his hand and pressed his fingertips against the dark mark on his left wrist," swallow it together with your life and luck
Ji Xue looked at him and suddenly smiled.
It's not the sweet smile you pretended to have just now, nor is it the crazy smile during battle.
This smile was very light, very faint, but it made Qin Zhao recognize the light and shadow in the sea, and suddenly solidified it.
His heart skipped another beat.
This smile
Why does it look more and more like her?
Hello. "Ji Xue suddenly stood up and walked up to him, bending down and staring into his eyes." Did you... actually recognize me
Qin Zhao remained still and asked, "What do you recognize
Recognize that I am not an ordinary person, "she lightly tapped his forehead with her fingertips." Your gaze was not right from the beginning. What are you waiting for me to do
Wait for you to make a mistake, "he looked straight at her," and then kick you out
Oh? "She kept moving forward, almost touching him with her nose." So, what did I do wrong now
Qin Zhao didn't move.
He could smell the faint smell of thunder and fire on her body, mixed with a faint fragrance, like the first clear forest after snow.
He suddenly remembered something.
In his past life, he was skiing on a snowy mountain and fell into a snow pit, almost suffocating. Just when his consciousness was blurry, someone picked open the snow and pulled him out.
The man's face was covered in snow and he laughed wildly, saying, "Mr. Qin, your physique is not suitable for outdoor sports
Later, the woman became his personal bodyguard and died in an explosion three years later.
He remembers her smile.
It's exactly the same as it is now.
Qin Zhao's pupils shrank.
Ji Xue noticed and smiled even more clearly, "What? What did you think of
I thought you should get out, "he suddenly stood up and pushed her away." You're not allowed to appear here again tonight, otherwise I can't guarantee that the Thunder Spear will really pierce your throat next time
Ji Xue was pushed and stumbled two steps, but she held onto the door frame before stabilizing herself.
She didn't get angry, instead she laughed and said, "Okay, I'll go
She turned around, grabbed her halberd, dragged the ground out, and sparks flew all the way.
She suddenly stopped at the entrance of the courtyard and didn't turn back.
Qin Zhao
If you have anything, let it go quickly
Do you have something hidden in your treasure trove that is difficult to see
Qin Zhao's spine stiffened.
How did she know about the treasure trove?
But he remained expressionless and said, "You dream too much
Is that so? "Ji Xue chuckled lightly." And whose was that smiling shadow just now
Qin Zhao did not answer.
She didn't wait for an answer, lifted her foot and stepped across the discharge door, her figure disappearing into the night.
The wind has stopped.
The door panel no longer shakes.
Qin Zhao slowly lifted his left hand and rubbed the dark lines on his left wrist with his fingertips.
The treasure trove is still shaking.
That smiling shadow is still there.
He cursed softly, 'Damn it.'
This woman is too wicked.
He is not afraid that the enemy is strong, but he is afraid that the enemy is strong and his mother understands him.
He lowered his head to look at the withered flowers on his knees, and the mold stains were gray green in the moonlight.
In the distance, the sound of a watch rang out.
once.
Two times.
He suddenly pinched the flower and stuffed it into his arms.
Then he stood up and walked into the courtyard, looking up at the sky.
The clouds cracked open, revealing a few stars.
He stared at the brightest one and murmured
What do you really want... Ji Xue