The night wind carried the dusty dust, swirling at the entrance of the market. Qin Zhao stepped into the mud pit with one foot, and his boots splashed up half a foot high with a "pop" sound. He didn't stop, nor did he look down. He just parted the wine jug to his waist, and the hem of his black gold robe swept over the wet bluestone board, like a lazy black dragon.
The front stall had already been set up halfway, and the steaming hot breakfast pot was emitting white smoke. Several vendors selling talisman paper were shouting loudly, but no one noticed the man with the words "Don't mess with me" on his face walking over. In front of the spiritual grass stall in the corner, there stood a vendor dressed in coarse cloth, holding a rosewood tray with a red velvet cloth on it. On the cloth lay a grass that was green all over and had lightning patterns on its leaves - the fifth grade Thunder Grass, the core material for refining the Breaking Realm Pill.
Qin Zhao's footsteps paused, his gaze fixed on the grass.
As soon as he took a step, there was a light and agile sound of footsteps behind him, dada, dada, dada, as if stepping on the beat. Then someone patted her shoulder from behind, with varying degrees of force and a hint of coquettishness.
Oh, Brother Qin, are you here to grab the goods so early
Ji Xue tilted her head and leaned closer, shaking her ponytail. The lightning birthmark on her right eye flashed past in the morning light. She changed into a silver soft armor and short skirt today, her boots adorned with lightning beads shining brightly, and she was holding a long stick that dragged down the ground - although it was a stick, everyone could tell that it was the appearance of the Thunder Spear not fully unsheathed.
Qin Zhao didn't even lift his eyelids and said, "Get lost
Tsk, is your temper up again? "Ji Xue walked around in front of him, her hands behind her, and tiptoed forward." He came early specifically to accompany you in grabbing grass. How considerate
I don't need you to accompany me, "Qin Zhao pushed her away and walked forward." I can handle it myself
Oh... "Ji Xue spoke in a long voice," So what are you going to do? Do you want to swipe your card? Or are you going to reason with this uncle? Say, 'Uncle, I'm very rich, please sell me'
Qin Zhao ignored her and walked straight to the stall. He habitually touched the dark mark on his wrist with his left hand and shook it with his right hand - "pop!
The golden card hit the edge of the wooden tray, shaking the thunder grass leaves three times.
The spirit grass trafficker lowered his head and his face changed instantly. This is not an ordinary contract order, but the highest level "Supreme Thirty Six Orders" of the Qin family, which can exchange top-level resources throughout the country and even give three points to law enforcement officials.
But he quickly sneered and pushed the gold card back, saying, "Ha, little devil, do you think just holding a card can scare me? This grass has already been reserved
Qin Zhao's eyebrows twitched as he asked, "Who
Who do you care who it is! "The trafficker straightened his chest and raised his voice." Just you two little devils? Do you dare to come and steal the fifth grade spirit grass? Do you know which line is behind this grass? The deputy envoy of the Broken Life Palace personally came to ask for the price yesterday, and you said I can sell it to you
Several vendors around immediately shrank their necks and retreated when they heard the three words' Broken Life Hall '. An old man selling talismans even closed his stall and left, muttering to himself as he walked, "Damn it, steal things from that kind of person
Qin Zhao stood still and lightly tapped the word "slag" on the wine pot with his fingers. He didn't get angry and didn't pull out his card again. He knew that if there was really power behind such a small character, a gold card might not be able to withstand it. But he's not afraid either - what he's afraid of is Ji Xue starting to get involved again.
The next second, he heard a crisp sound of metal coming out of its sheath.
Ji Xue smiled and pulled out the Thunder Spear. The entire weapon instantly unfolded, and the tip of the spear exploded with lightning, illuminating the entire booth in a gruesome white. She leaned on her halberd with one hand and flicked her hair to her ear with the other. She blinked and said, "Uncle, please interrupt
The smugness on the dealer's face froze.
The fifth grade spirit grass belongs to us, "Ji Xue said in a relaxed tone, as if ordering." You can choose to hand it in now, or wait until I nail you to the wall before handing it in
The air was quiet for a moment.
Then with a 'thud', the trafficker's knees softened and he knelt down on the ground, holding his head in both hands: 'Don't! Don't make a move! I'll give it! Can't I give it?'
He trembled as he picked up the thunderous grass, his fingers trembling as he handed it over. Ji Xue didn't even look, she lightly picked up the grass with the tip of her spear, and it flew steadily. Qin Zhao reached out to catch it.
Qin Zhao lowered his head and looked at the green grass in his palm. As soon as his fingertips touched the leaves, the depths of the sea of knowledge suddenly shook with a buzzing sound. A warm energy surged upwards along the meridians, and a dark purple light flashed uncontrollably through the left eye pupil, as if something had been ignited.
The treasure house starts automatically, devours the essence of the Holy Grass, and the Holy power feedback comes like a tide.
He quietly stuffed the grass into his sleeve and looked up coldly at the trafficker, saying, "Don't scare people with the Broken Life Hall next time. They don't care about your mess anymore
After speaking, turn around and leave.
Ji Xue put away her thunder halberd, transformed back into a long stick and carried it on her shoulder. She jumped two steps to catch up with him and suddenly leaned close to his ear. The warm breath brushed against his earlobe and slid over: "Brother Qin -
Qin Zhao instinctively turned his head.
Don't use money to smash it next time, "she said with a smile." Use me to smash it~I'm much better than a gold card, at least I can hack people
Qin Zhao suddenly stopped and pushed her to the bottom of the nearby wall with a backhand, with considerable force but not really. He stared at her with icy cold eyes and said, "How many times have I said, don't get so close? I don't need you to act, let alone act
Acting? "Ji Xue leaned against the wall and looked up at him, her eyes shining absurdly." I didn't act. If that spear was delayed by half a shot just now, you would have to explain the law to that trafficker for half an hour now. Do you know what the cultivation world hates the most? It's not killing and setting fire, but being poor and stubborn
I'm not poor, "Qin Zhao snorted coldly.
Yes, you're so poor that you only have cards left, "Ji Xue rolled her eyes." And every time you shake your card, your expression is like that of a nouveau riche entering a luxury store for the first time, afraid that others won't know you have money
Qin Zhao squinted his eyes and said, "Can you try saying one more sentence
Just give it a try, "Ji Xue stood up straight and patted the gray on her soft armor
Qin Zhao remained silent.
He really doesn't want to rely on her. He also knows how twisted he is now - he clearly wants to walk around the world alone, but every time he encounters a tough situation, the first one to rush out is always this girl who calls him a 'scumbag'.
But he can't recognize it.
Once recognized, they lost.
He turned around and continued walking forward, his pace accelerating as if trying to shake off something.
Ji Xue followed slowly behind, her boots clattering and humming an unknown tune. Passing an old man selling Tomatoes on sticks, she threw a stone, took a bunch, and chewed while walking. The sweet and sour juice almost dripped onto Lei Zhu's boots.
"Hey, do you want to eat?" She held Tomatoes on sticks close. "The last one came, and the boss said he would give it to me. Thank me for maintaining market order."
Not eating. "Qin Zhao didn't even turn his head.
"Oh, I refuse to feed you, right?" Ji Xue bit off a hawthorn, her cheeks bulging, "then you refuse to talk? For example, I tell you now, when you gathered grass just now, your eyes were purple, just like when I poked at the sea in the tavern last night."
Qin Zhao's footsteps paused slightly.
I'm not blind, "Ji Xue chuckled lightly." Something inside your body is moving, and it's aimed at the spear I just had. It likes violent scenes, doesn't it? The fiercer, the more excited it is
Shut up, "Qin Zhao whispered.
"Don't tell me if you don't tell me." Ji Xue shrugged and put the last Tomatoes on sticks into her mouth. The bamboo stick dangled in her mouth. "Anyway, I don't really want to know. I just think you are tired of pretending."
This is like a needle, lightly pricked.
Qin Zhao did not turn back or refute. He just raised his hand and touched the faint golden crack on the left eyebrow bone. It's a bit hot there, like someone touched it with a soldering iron.
He knew she was watching.
He knows she understands everything.
But he still said the same thing - shut up.
The two of them walked through the end of the market, one in front and one behind, and the crowd gradually became sparse. Ahead is a dilapidated old alley, with blue bricks peeling off, large areas of wall peeling off, and several withered vines hanging from broken windows swaying in the wind. In the depths of the alley, a half collapsed courtyard can be faintly seen, with a tilted door plaque and the outline of the character "Qin" faintly discernible.
The old residence of the Qin family.
The thing he's looking for is inside.
Qin Zhao finally stopped and stood at the entrance of the alley, his gaze sweeping around. After confirming that no one was following, he whispered, "Let's go
Then take a step into the shadow.
Ji Xue chewed on bamboo sticks, followed with a smile, and walked lightly like going on an outing. As she passed by him, she suddenly reached out and flicked the jade plaque around his waist, making a crisp sound.
Ding - New mission unlocked: infiltrate abandoned houses and search for childhood shadows. "She imitated mechanical sounds," Reward: unknown, Risk: may meet ex partner
Qin Zhao glanced at her and said, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll stuff you into the treasure trove as a decoration
Okay, "Ji Xue's eyes lit up." Remember to put me in a prominent position and take a look at me every day to ensure a happy mood
What a pleasure, "Qin Zhao sneered," if you put it there, it will only take up space
Oh? Who do you want to put it on? "Ji Xue tilted her head." Is that grass in your sleeve? Or the word 'scum' engraved on your wine pot
Qin Zhao ignored her and quickened his pace.
Ji Xue giggled from behind, and Lei Zhu's boots stepped on the gravel road, da, da, da, as if counting down some disguise that was about to collapse.
The alley is getting narrower and the sunlight is cut into slender light strips by the high walls on both sides. The wind blows in, carrying the smell of decaying wood and damp soil. Crows could be heard calling from afar, one after another, as if mocking someone for revisiting their hometown.
Qin Zhao walked ahead, placing his hand on the side blade of his boot, ready to pull it out at any time. His breathing was steady, his heartbeat was also flat, and only the dark lines on his left wrist were slightly warm, as if reminding him that some strength had begun to awaken.
Ji Xue fell behind by half a step and stopped talking. She just silently watched his back, watching the flowing cloud dark golden armor flicker in the mottled light and shadow, watching him crush the dead leaves at the bottom of his boots every time he lifted his foot.
She knew he didn't want her to see vulnerability.
But she also knows that there are some things that cannot be avoided.
For example, the secrets in the old house.
For example, the grass he hid in his sleeve was not meant for alchemy at all.
But rather to feed the invisible treasure trove quietly expanding in his sea of knowledge.
She lifted the corners of her mouth slightly without making a sound, but quietly tightened her grip on the halberd.
Ahead, the gate of the Qin family's old mansion stands quietly, with a scent of aged dust seeping through the cracks.
Qin Zhao stood in front of the door, lifting his hand to push it open.
The wooden door creaked and slowly opened, raising a cloud of grey mist.
He took a step forward.
Ji Xue followed closely behind, and as soon as her boots touched the threshold, she suddenly turned around to look at the entrance of the alley.
The sunshine is just right.
Wind rolls and leaves fall.
She smiled and whispered something, but no one heard her.
Then he lifted his foot and disappeared behind the door.