Chapter 23: On the way

After a few words with the shopkeeper, Shi Xuan took Ding Mingde back to his small courtyard. Although he was talking about Bingzhuye, Ding Mingde was tired and hungry all the way, and now he was full of food and drink, and he was sleepy. After chatting with Shi Xuan for a few words, he couldn't stop his eyelids.
Shi Xuan smiled knowingly when he saw it, remembering how he had gone to class after all night, and hurriedly took Ding Mingde to settle in the left wing.
When he returned to his room, Shi Xuan did not immediately begin to visualize. Instead, he closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, seeming to be cultivating or practicing. In fact, he let go of his spiritual sense and watched the entire yard vigilantly. Looking at him, Shi Xuan didn't dare to be careless, and if someone came, he might get more news.
It's a pity that the owner of that gaze did not come to explore the courtyard of Shixuan at night. The entire courtyard was only the sound of Ding Mingde's snoring and the sound of cicadas on the sycamore in the courtyard, which made the night seem peaceful and quiet. Shi Xuan was on guard for an hour, then put down his guard and began to visualize. During this period of time, whether on the road or at the inn restaurant, Shi Xuan has never relaxed the practice of visualization, and can feel the strength of his soul every day. He has entered the peak of the soul-strengthening stage, but unfortunately he still did not touch it. To the threshold of the soul out of the body period.
The moonlight is like water, and the night breeze is cool. After Shi Xuan's visualization is over, he sits in front of the window and looks at the night scene in the courtyard, listening to all kinds of subtle sounds. This feeling is like being independent of the whole world, quietly observing this world. For Shi Xuan, everything is actually like a dream, but now that he is here, all he can do is move forward.
For Shi Xuan's current cultivation base, daily sleep is still very necessary, especially if he is going to Tongxuan Mountain tomorrow, he needs more energy. Originally, Shi Xuan had already arranged a specific itinerary, but the appearance of Ding Mingde made Shi Xuan put Shuanghu Village at the top of the itinerary. Because he didn't know much about it, he had to be extremely alert. After relaxing for a while, Shi Xuan went to bed.
Sleep well all night.
The sky was pale and the breeze was refreshing. Shi Xuan ordered two breakfasts after training in the morning and then woke Ding Mingde. Tongxuan Mountain is fifty miles northwest of the city. With Shixuan's footsteps, a few hours will be there, but if you bring Ding Mingde, who is a weak scholar at first glance, it is likely to have to go for a day. So wake up Ding Mingde early, and then, whether it is walking or hiring a carriage, time will be more abundant.
In the courtyard, under the sycamore tree and next to the stone table, Ding Mingde was sitting opposite Shi Xuan. He looked like he was not awake, but although his character was a little nerdy, he did not have any conceited mentality. He understood that he was just ignoring Shi Xuan. The rice and the house are very coordinated, and I get up after washing.
"Brother Mingde, I have arranged for Xiao Er to call a carriage so that we can reach Tongxuan Mountain in Shen Shichu. Should we be able to make it in time?" Shi Xuan asked.
Ding Mingde said with some gratitude: "Brother Ziang, you have to worry too much. According to my cousin, the butler will wait for me at Yuhua Pavilion for an hour during the Youshi, which is completely in time."
After the meal, Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde carried their luggage on their backs and went to the counter to pay for the shop. Shi Xuan gave the shopkeeper an extra two taels of silver. The shop Xiaoer flushed gratefully, and respectfully led Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde to the side entrance of the inn.
As soon as I walked out of the side door, I saw a relatively simple carriage. Both horses seemed to be older horses. The coachman was a somewhat loyal middle-aged man. Shi Xuan and Shi Xuan came out and hurried forward. He nodded and said, "Master two, this is going to Tongxuan Mountain. I, Zheng Daniel, are not boasting. I have been on this road for almost 20 years. It is safe and fast to ride in my carriage."
"Well, Xiao Er already told you just now, as long as you make a good time for this trip, not only will the car cost two taels of silver, but I will also give you fifty taels of silver." Shi Xuan still has some spare money, and it's here. In the current stage of the day after tomorrow, you only need to eat enough food to make up for your energy every day. You can also hunt in the wild, and the need for silver is not as high as in Xia'an.
"It must be, the two masters can rest assured, rest assured!" Zheng Daniu was delighted to see that his income far exceeded his imagination. Then the two of them got into the carriage, sat on the frame, and raised the whip in his hand.
Zheng Daniu really didn't brag. Although the carriage bumps are inevitable, it is much better compared to the carriages that have been taken before. It is evident that Ding Mingde's face is pale and not spit out. Seeing that Ding Mingde didn't have the energy to speak, Shi Xuan chatted with Zheng Daniu.
It is indeed a person who has driven a carriage to Tongxuan Mountain for 20 years. Although many of Zheng Daniu’s words did not let Shi Xuan get more news, they also confirmed some things that Shi Xuan had inquired about before. For example, Tongxuan Mountain does indeed go there every year. Some people are missing, although it is said that they were eaten by wild beasts, but only a few can find the bones. For example, Tongxuan Mountain often hears sounds like tiger roars at night, and it is rumored to be caused by that monster.
As soon as noon arrived, Zheng Daniu saw the sun shining brightly, and said to Shi Xuan: "Master Shi, I have already walked for most of the distance, and I will be there in another hour. There is a tea shop in front of me. It is now in the afternoon. It is better to go. Drink some tea there, eat some food, and rest before leaving."
Shi Xuan looked at Ding Mingde, whose face was pale, and thought for a moment that there was not much distance left, then nodded: "Then go and rest. It happens to be in the afternoon."
The carriage walked for another quarter of an hour, and saw a simple tea shop appearing on the side of the road. A small pavilion is used as a kitchen, and there is a large pergola outside. Five or six square tables are placed at random, and a banner with the word "tea" is hung, which is the whole tea shop.
When their carriage stopped at Shixuan, a petite middle-aged aunt came out from the tea shop with a little gray hair. She said to Shixuan, "A few guest officials want to drink tea. A large pot only costs ten. Wen, we also have bacon, smoked chicken and rice here."
"Then come a big pot of tea, and then cut the bacon and smoked chicken into a plate, and fill with the rice. Isn't this enough? Even more money is a reward." Shi Xuan looked at Zheng Daniu and Ding Mingde, and then gave it to the proprietress A tael of silver said.
"Enough! Enough! A few guest officers sit down slowly." The lady boss saw the more generous customers, very hospitable and authentic.
Maybe it’s because in August, the weather is hot, not many people are willing to go far to worship Buddha, there is only one customer at one table in the whole tea shop, this customer is very burly, just sitting there is a lady boss almost tall, thick eyebrows Big eyes, beard, can't tell the specific age, wearing an old robe, full of holes and stains. On the table was a huge sword, which was twice as wide as the sword used by ordinary people in the rivers and lakes, and it was five points longer. In addition, there was a large pot of tea, a plate of bacon, and a few steamed buns that seemed to be brought.
In addition, there is a curtain surrounded by the edge of the woods behind the tea shop, and there are several sturdy guards around. This is the family of the rich and powerful.
Zheng Daniu took some food and tea and went back to the carriage to enjoy. One was looking at the carriage, and the other was that he felt that he was not worthy to sit and dine with Shi Xuan.
Shi Xuan originally planned to have lunch with the three of them, but Zheng Daniu insisted on his own. Shi Xuan couldn't force it. They and Ding Mingde ate bacon with tea and casually chatted about Ding Mingde being a Xixi banquet.
Although Ding Mingde was a little dizzy from the bumps before, he still regained his energy when he saw the food, and talked about future arrangements with joy while eating.
At this time, the burly Taoist stood up, he was nine feet tall (about 0.23 meters per foot), almost a head taller than Shi Xuan, took his giant sword, and walked slowly behind Ding Mingde, with no face. He nodded towards Shi Xuan with an expression. Shi Xuan didn't know what he wanted to do, but just looked at him vigilantly. Between the steps of this tall stranger, he could tell that he was a master and his specific realm. , Shi Xuan hasn't seen that ability yet.
When Ding Mingde was talking about Xingtou, he suddenly felt a shadow covering his head. Shi Xuan on the opposite side also smiled and looked behind him. He hurriedly turned his head and saw that the burly Taoist stood behind him like a mountain pressing on the top, involuntarily facing Shi Xuan. The direction shifted.
The burly Taoist said with a cold expression: "A certain family is also going to Shuanghu Village in Tongxuan Mountain. I heard that the two are fellow travelers, so I came to get acquainted." People seem to be very arrogant when dealing with people.
"The Daoist commander is reasonable, and Dao-Left meets, it is destined, I don't know the name of Gao's name?" Shi Xuan said guardedly.
"A certain family is not a Taoist priest, but this robe is loose and comfortable to wear. A certain family's surname is Yan, and the master named it'Giant Sword'." Yan Jujian still looked blank.
This master’s name was really bad enough. Shi Xuan slandered a few words before introducing:
This is Mr. Ding Mingde Ding. This time I went to Shuanghu Village of Tongxuan Mountain to serve as a western feast. Poor... in Xia Shixuan, Ben I was going to visit Tongxuan Mountain, and I happened to run into Dingxiongtai. As soon as I saw it, I went with him."
Yan Jujian looked at Shixuan and Shi Xuan carefully, and said in a meaningful way: "A certain family went to Shuanghu Village of Tongxuan Mountain to find an old person."
Yan Jujian didn't ask for the consent of the two of them, and sat down on his own. Shi Xuan took a look at the purpose of this tall stranger and didn't stop it. After the greeting, Yan Jujian began to ask Ding Mingde about Tongxuan Mountain. Although it was a side attack, he did not seem to be very good at talking with people, so Shi Xuan could feel it clearly. Only a nerd named Ding Mingde could not see it. When I came out, I am very happy to meet a new friend, and I am very happy to answer questions. Shi Xuan muttered to himself, could it be that he also came to seek immortality for the truth?
When Shi Xuan in turn wanted to ask Yan Jujian about Tongxuan Mountain’s Shuanghu Village, he found that this tall stranger basically answered Shi Xuan’s questions with "unknown", or he would just answer directly. Ignore.