6kv Chapter 102 Aunt Qin, Aunt Qiao'er, Happy New Year!
Chapter 102 Aunt Qin, Aunt Qiao'er, Happy New Year!
Gu Qingwan opened her eyes.
That moment.
The morning light seemed to freeze.
That's not waking up.
Two sealed, crystal-clear worlds were suddenly pushed open by an invisible hand, revealing the boundless blue sky behind them.
The left eye, like the sunrise.
Deep within the pupil, a miniature "sun" symbol was slowly rotating.
The light it emitted wasn't dazzling, but rather a warm, golden hue, like melting beeswax, forcefully bathing the entire eye in a strange "golden blue." The golden light flowed across the azure background.
That was at the break of dawn, when the first rays of light pierced the azure sky.
The right eye, like the moon setting at dusk.
The "moon" symbol rotates in reverse, radiating a silvery-white brilliance like autumn water.
The white color wasn't cold or aloof; instead, it carried the unique warmth of jade, turning the right eye a "silver-blue" hue.
It was like a deep, silent snowy night, with only the moonlight spreading over everything.
This breathtaking phenomenon lasted only a few breaths.
As Gu Qingwan's soul floated out of her body, the two breathtaking blue skies began to recede inward like a tide.
The shimmering light of gold and silver no longer surged forth, but gently receded, disappearing into the depths of the pupils.
The rotation of the "sun" and "moon" symbols gradually slows down.
Finally, it froze in time and quietly disappeared.
At this moment, Gu Qingwan's eyes were no longer the inhuman crimson they had been before.
Those were eyes that held the light of autumn water, clear and lively.
Clean.
bright.
It was as clear as the sky after an autumn rain, when the last trace of dust had been washed away.
It was as calm and still as a deep well in an ancient temple that had remained unchanged for a thousand years, without any ripples.
She looked at Lu Yuan.
Keep your gaze fixed, unwavering, unyielding, and unblinking.
So quietly and completely, she carried Lu Yuan's image into her own world.
As the runes faded, those black eyes gained an unprecedented vitality.
In the deepest recesses of those eyes, Lu Yuan saw the tranquility of someone who had survived a catastrophe, and a barely perceptible tenderness hidden at the very bottom. His chest tightened, and a thousand words welled up at his lips, finally settling into a heartfelt sigh.
He took a deep breath and, gazing into those exquisitely beautiful, cool eyes, sincerely praised them:
"It's fucking gorgeous!"
Gu Qingwan: "?"
The afternoon of the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Lu Yuan and the old man, master and apprentice, were both fast asleep on the warm kang (heated brick bed) in their room.
The entire Zhenlong Temple was quiet and peaceful.
Very few people came to offer incense; most flocked to Fengtian City.
The town of Qixia at the foot of the mountain also quieted down, with only the occasional sound of firecrackers, too distant to disturb the sweet dreams of the master and apprentice. The first day of the Lunar New Year is a day of taboos; everyone wants good fortune and avoids anger easily.
Everyone wishes me a Happy New Year, and I'm afraid that if I do anything bad today, it will affect my luck for the whole year.
Of course, there are always exceptions.
"Damn it!"
"That idiot! He's fucking infuriating!!!"
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable was furious inside the house, cursing and swearing.
Song Yan stood to the side, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable was furious.
In the past, he would have turned around and left immediately, refusing to put up with this humiliation.
But alas!
Regarding the matter of the Ghost-Controlling Liu family, the old man requested the decree of the patriarch!
Now that Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable can't leave, he can only hold his nose and stay to help that "idiot"!
"He's right?!"
"He's not wrong at all! If he wasn't wrong, why isn't he the Celestial Venerable now?!"
"How come it's me who's been elected Heavenly Venerable four times in a row, and about to be elected for the fifth time?!"
"What did he do back then change?!"
Crane-Patrolling Celestial Venerable paced back and forth in the room, muttering curses under his breath. He seemed to be talking to Song Yan, but in reality, he was talking to himself.
"Nothing the hell has changed!!"
"And they keep insisting they're right!!"
"I thought that after all these years, as he's gotten older, he'd have some reflection on things!"
"Idiot!! A hopeless idiot!!!"
"ass!!!"
Song Yan, standing to the side, lowered his head even further, afraid that the Heavenly Venerable Crane Patrol might start cursing and then turn his anger on him.
"Pack your things!"
Finally, Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable waved his hand sharply and shouted decisively.
"Tomorrow, we're heading back to Fengtian City!"
Upon hearing this, Song Yan felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly responded.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, night fell.
Inside the warmly lit side hall.
Lu Yuan and the other two had just finished eating; Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable did not attend this meal.
As Lu Yuan tidied the table, he glanced at the old man who had run off to write talismans again and couldn't help but say:
"How many days do you want to store?"
"How many days are you planning to be gone?!"
The old man didn't even raise his head and said:
"It's hard to say exactly how many days, but it's always good to have extra."
"We can't just come back halfway through and continue drawing, can we?"
At this point, the old man suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Lu Yuandao, who was clearing the table:
"After you finish dealing with those places for raising evil spirits, go back to the temple."
"Don't go out until I get back, unless it's something really important."
"When you're at the temple, don't use these talismans. Write them yourself. Only write talismans if you absolutely need to go out."
Lu Yuan looked at the old man with a serious expression, then said while tidying up the table:
"I don't care about anything else, but you have to wait until the Celestial Venerable Ceremony is over before you leave!"
The old man looked at Lu Yuan with amusement at these words:
"What?"
"Could they really help me win a Celestial Venerable title?"
Lu Yuan raised his head with a smug look on his face and said:
"What else?"
"All that hard work I did those days, was it all for nothing?"
As for Lu Yuan's words, the old man shook his head with a helpless smile and said:
"Whatever you want."
"However, I definitely have to wait until the Celestial Master Ceremony is over before I leave."
"After all, I need the people from Tianlong Temple to help me find someone. They are participating in the Celestial Master Ceremony, so they naturally don't have time to help me right now."
In response to the old man's words, Lu Yuan couldn't help but curl his lip and say:
"I'm telling you, what's Old Crane-Summoning Celestial Venerable doing?"
"We're both so old, and we're practically brothers, can't we sit down and talk things over?"
"Especially since you're begging them for a favor."
The old man grinned at these words, said nothing, and turned back to continue writing the talismans.
The only sound in the side hall was the soft scratching of a pen tip across yellow paper.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yuan finished tidying up the things on the table and prepared to take them back to the dining hall.
Behind me, the old man's voice drifted out softly.
"I just wanted to make him angry."
"I'm angry that he lacked backbone back then, switching allegiance to another sect for the sake of a mere title of Celestial Venerable..."
Ok?
Lu Yuan paused, turning around in a daze.
The old man was also looking back at him, a smile on his face, but his eyes were far away.
"I'm not going to say anything more."
"It's an old almanac from so many years ago."
Lu Yuan stood still, blinked, and ultimately didn't ask any more questions.
He carried the bowls, plates, and the remaining dumplings, then turned and headed towards the dining hall.
When she returned after putting down her things, she ran into Song Yan.
Speaking of which, this was the first time Lu Yuan had seen Song Yan since the first day of the Lunar New Year, and Lu Yuan quickly bowed in greeting.
"Happy New Year, Senior Brother."
When Song Yan saw Lu Yuan, he was clearly taken aback for a moment, and then smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.
"Junior brother, Happy New Year."
Lu Yuan straightened up, noticing the fine sweat on Song Yan's forehead and his hurried appearance, and couldn't help but ask curiously:
"Senior brother, why are you in such a hurry..."
Before he could finish speaking, Song Yan waved his hand helplessly and lowered his voice.
"Don't even mention it. Master is furious. He said he's going back to Fengtian tomorrow, and I'm helping him pack his things."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood.
Good guy.
I just arrived on New Year's Eve, and I've only stayed for one day at most, and now I have to leave.
It seems that this time, the Heavenly Lord Crane Patrol has really been angered.
Lu Yuan pondered in his mind, then asked aloud:
"Is my senior brother/aunt inside?"
"Yes, I'm here." Song Yan nodded.
"Then you go ahead with your work, senior brother. I'd like to have a word with my senior uncle."
After saying this, Lu Yuan didn't linger and headed straight for Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable's house.
Lu Yuan actually quite liked his hot-tempered and sharp-tongued senior brother.
He's not a bad person, just has a fiery temper.
What's more, I just spent a lot of time with my master this morning helping Qingwan break the evil spell on her eyes.
This relationship, both emotionally and logically, shouldn't be allowed to end with someone harboring resentment during the Lunar New Year.
Besides, Lu Yuan always felt that although these two fellow disciples argued fiercely, they actually cared about each other deep down.
Thinking of this, he paused, then suddenly turned back to the dining hall.
A moment later, Lu Yuan came out of the dining hall and went straight to the front of Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable's house.
Standing at the door, he first cleared his throat, lowered his voice to convey the respect and obedience expected of a junior, and then raised his hand to knock on the door.
"Uncle-Master, it's me, Lu Yuan."
The room was deathly silent.
The suppressed anger emanating from the crack in the door was like mugwort that had been scorched by the sun all day in the sweltering heat of summer—pungent and stifling, making it hard to breathe.
Lu Yuan waited for a moment, but received no response, so he simply pushed the door open himself.
There were no main lights in the room, only a dim old kerosene lamp lit on the kang table.
The tiny flame swayed back and forth in the cold wind seeping in through the window cracks, stretching the shadows on the wall into varying lengths.
Crane-Patrolling Celestial Venerable sat cross-legged on the kang (heated brick bed), his face facing the mountain shadow of the Black Carbohydrate Palace outside the window, his back straight like an old spear stuck in the ground.
"Master Uncle".
Lu Yuan moved closer to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and without any hesitation, found a stool and sat down, placing a bowl of steaming dumplings on the kang table. "These dumplings are freshly made for you; they're still warm."
"Knowing you didn't eat dinner, I brought you a bowl especially for this occasion."
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable stiffened for a moment before slowly turning his head.
His gaze was hard and unyielding. He first glanced at the bowl of steaming dumplings on the kang table, then looked up and stared straight at Lu Yuan. He didn't speak or touch his chopsticks, just watched, waiting for Lu Yuan to continue.
Lu Yuan rubbed his slightly cold hands, a smile spreading across his face. The smile carried his usual nonchalant attitude, yet also revealed his utmost sincerity.
"Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, Uncle Master. According to the old rules in our area outside the Great Wall, it's not acceptable to hold a grudge on the first day."
"If this anger were to fester, it would take a whole year to build up; it's simply not worth it."
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable let out a cold snort from his nose.
"Am I going to hold a grudge?"
He suddenly raised his voice, his neck stiffening like a victorious rooster, and roared towards the side hall.
"I just think this place is too shabby and small!!!"
"You've lowered my status as a celestial being!!!"
"Who am I?! I am the supreme Celestial Venerable!!!"
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable's voice was incredibly loud, as if he was afraid the old man in the side hall wouldn't hear him.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan could only force a smile and nod enthusiastically repeatedly:
"You are a true Celestial Venerable, a mere stomp of your foot outside the Great Wall would send all the Taoist sects trembling in fear!"
"But don't let our Zhenlong Temple's shabby appearance fool you; its simplicity has its advantages—it's peaceful!"
"There are none of those pretentious New Year's greetings from Fengtian City, nor all that backstabbing and scheming."
"You can just relax here on the warm kang (heated brick bed), listen to the mountain breeze, and admire the snowscape, stealing a few days of leisure from your busy life—how wonderful!"
As Lu Yuan spoke, he got up, picked up the fire tongs at the end of the kang (a heated brick bed), and gently poked at the firewood in the kang firebox.
A spark crackled and popped, instantly warming the room a bit more.
He sat back down on the bench, leaning slightly forward, and lowered his voice, conveying a sense of intimacy as if they were whispering secrets.
"Besides, if you're angry with my master, just ignore him!"
"You did nothing wrong, he's the one who's wrong!"
"But by leaving, it makes it seem like you're in the wrong!"
Upon hearing this, the Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable, whose face had been full of anger, suddenly brightened up, and half of his stubbornness dissipated instantly. He looked at Lu Yuan eagerly, as if he had found a kindred spirit.
"Right?!"
"Right, right!! That guy's got something wrong with his head, isn't he!!!"
Lu Yuan chuckled, but didn't respond to that, instead steer the conversation in another direction.
"Senior Uncle, it's no use just me thinking about this!"
"You have to make everyone outside think that way!"
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable was taken aback and looked at Lu Yuan with a strange expression.
Then Lu Yuan said again:
"Think about it, if you really leave tomorrow, what will people outside say?"
"They'll definitely say, 'Look at that! Even with his own junior brother, Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable didn't get to celebrate the New Year properly; he was kicked out on the first day of the Lunar New Year!'"
"Does this sound good when it's passed around?"
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable was taken aback, and his expression changed slightly.
Uh……
Before Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable could ponder further, Lu Yuan quickly added:
"If this lie gets out, it won't affect my master at all. He's just the abbot of a small, run-down temple; he doesn't care about saving face." "But for your reputation as a dignified Celestial Venerable, isn't it a little... well, you know?"
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable valued his reputation above all else, and after Lu Yuan's words, he fell completely silent.
Lu Yuan glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and saw the muscles in his jaw tighten and loosen repeatedly. The resolute determination to leave had already softened. Lu Yuan seized the opportunity and put on a sincere face.
"Uncle-Master, please listen to me and stay here until the fifth day of the new year."
"The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is called 'Po Wu,' which is a big day. In the areas outside the Great Wall, we have a custom of 'sending away poverty on the fifth day and welcoming wealth to open the market.'"
"When the time comes, we'll stew a fresh fish from the first day of the river, steam a bowl of eight-treasure rice, and have a good meal to send away all the bad luck and bring in the God of Wealth and good fortune."
"Once the fifth day of the lunar new year is over, and you've had your fill of rest and energy, you can return to Fengtian in style and glory. That would be a truly smooth and successful journey, full of momentum, wouldn't it?"
At this point, Lu Yuan paused, looking at the slightly tired shadow on Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable's profile outlined by the light.
His voice softened involuntarily, carrying the pleading tone typical of a junior.
"Besides... Uncle-Master, you went to so much trouble to help Qingwan break that evil spell. I remember it all." "As your nephew, I can't possibly let you leave this New Year with such a bad attitude!"
"We're family, no matter what we do, we're still family."
The room fell completely silent.
Only the occasional crackling of the oil lamp wick and the barely audible sporadic sounds of firecrackers from the far distance outside the window remained. The Crane-Patrolling Celestial's gaze lingered on the bowl of dumplings, which were no longer steaming, for a long time.
Perhaps it was Lu Yuan's mention of the issue of face that struck a chord with him.
Perhaps the belief that setting off on the first day of the Lunar New Year is related to one's fortune for the whole year made him hesitant.
Or perhaps, it's simply because of the phrase "We're family."
After a long pause, he finally reached out and picked up the chopsticks.
He picked up a dumpling, put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, and mumbled indistinctly:
"The fifth day of the lunar new year...it's the fifth day of the lunar new year."
"I won't stay even one more day!"
Hearing this, Lu Yuan finally felt relieved and grinned.
"Okay~~"
"Whatever you say, we'll do it!"
He didn't forget to fan the flames.
"For the next few days, don't pay him any attention, and don't give him a friendly look!"
"Anyway, he'll still have to come running to you for help with those last ten cases."
These words actually made Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable laugh.
He ate dumplings while grinning, as if he could already see Li Xiuye humbly begging him.
"You little rascal, you're really adorable!"
Crane-Patrolling Celestial Venerable tapped the rim of the bowl with the tip of his chopsticks, and said in a deep, muffled voice:
"Bring another plate! This one bowl isn't enough for anyone!"
"Done!"
Lu Yuan immediately stood up, his face beaming with smiles.
"I'll get you a new mat right away!"
After saying that, he turned and walked out of the house.
Thankfully, they managed to persuade him to come down.
He didn't know about the old stories of these two old children, and he couldn't offer any advice.
Of course, even if you knew that they were both angry and thought they were right, you couldn't persuade them, and you shouldn't try to persuade them.
But at the very least, we can't let people come to help us during the Chinese New Year and then leave feeling resentful.
Looking ahead, if things can be eased, then so be it; if not, then just like Lu Yuan said, neither of them should both pay any attention to the other.
As I said before, they are family after all, and these two fellow disciples are not at the point where they would fight every time they meet.
Anyway, let the Heavenly Venerable Crane Patrol have a good New Year, and let him leave on the fifth day of the New Year.
Ugh……
Being an apprentice is really not easy.
Just as Lu Yuan reached the door, he saw Song Yan running back, panting, wiping the sweat from his forehead and grinning widely.
"Alright, Master!"
"I loaded all those boxes onto the cart; it was exhausting!"
Inside the house, Crane-Patrolling Celestial Venerable, who was eating dumplings, didn't even look up.
"understood."
"Unload it again and take it back."
"Let's go on the fifth day."
Song Yan: "????"
As Lu Yuan passed by the completely petrified Song Yan, he patted him on the shoulder with sympathy and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
oh~~
Being an apprentice is really not easy!
For the next few days, Zhenlong Temple was unusually quiet.
Lu Yuan has been resting and recuperating, and he is now almost fully recovered.
The relationship between the old man and Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable has visibly improved considerably.
Although the two still didn't talk much, at least they were able to sit at the same table to eat again.
These peaceful and tranquil days passed in the blink of an eye until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
It's time to set off.
The remaining few places where evil spirits reside must be thoroughly cleaned up.
After cleaning up, they returned to Fengtian City to prepare for the upcoming Heavenly Venerable Ceremony.
Logically speaking, Lu Yuan should have headed straight for those places where evil spirits were raised.
However, it would be unreasonable not to visit my two aunts in the city during the Lunar New Year.
Therefore, when passing through Fengtian City, it is still necessary to enter the city and stay for a day.
The next day, we set off again.
The sixth day of the lunar month, early morning.
Inside the side hall, the morning light was faint.
Lu Yuan carefully placed a large bunch of newly bought candied hawthorns on the tray in front of the coffin; the bright red fruit stood out vividly in the cool light. "Today I'm going back to Fengtian with my Uncle-Master He Xun."
"I'll probably be back in about a month, around the time the Celestial Master Ceremony ends."
He paused, then lowered his voice even further.
"Don't rush to use the evil magic on your tongue. Let faith slowly wear down its foundation first, and then you'll have a better chance of success."
"I still need to find you some good materials for future use to extend your tongue; this will take time."
"You stay put and wait for me to come back."
"If I encounter any problems that I can't solve, I'll call you, so don't worry."
After saying that, Lu Yuan raised his head.
Gu Qingwan floated above the huge coffin.
She wore a jade-white dress, her long hair tied up with a matching ribbon, which made her aloof and otherworldly face appear even more ethereal. Lu Yuan's gaze lingered on her for a moment, and he sincerely admired her:
"You look really good in this outfit."
"When I come back next time, I'll buy you the most fashionable clothes in Fengtian City."
Gu Qingwan gazed at him quietly, her eyes, now clear again, like autumn water, like cold stars, reflecting Lu Yuan's figure clearly and completely. For a long time.
She nodded very lightly and very slowly.
A syllable that was almost inaudible yet incredibly clear escaped from her lips.
"……good."
Outside the gate of Zhenlong Temple, the snow had not yet melted, and the cold wind was biting.
Lu Yuan bent down and sat in the luxurious carriage that Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable was riding in.
He lifted the carriage curtain and waved to the old man outside, who was wearing a tattered Taoist robe and had a somewhat hunched posture.
"Go back now. Don't worry about the rest of the Nourishing Earth. Just rest well."
"Nothing serious will happen. Even if something does happen, we still have the Grandmaster and that other person, so don't worry."
Upon hearing this, the old man outside the car window habitually pursed his lips.
Good guy!
In his disciple's heart, that little girl's status was already on par with his own ancestor!
The old man ignored Lu Yuan and instead looked behind Lu Yuan, his gaze landing on the upright figure deep inside the carriage.
If nothing unexpected happens...
After the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony and the Heavenly Venerable Ceremony conclude, my senior brother will probably go straight back to Tianlong Temple.
After all, this whole thing really turned out pretty ugly.
Then who knows when the two of them will meet again.
Is this going to be another five-year Heavenly Venerable Ceremony?
But the next Heavenly Venerable Ceremony, five years from now, will not be held in Fengtian City.
Speaking of which, the old man is sixty-four this year, and the Crane-Patrolling Celestial Venerable is sixty-seven...
Who knows when we'll meet again, or even...
Countless thoughts churned in his mind, eventually turning into the cold mountain wind, which made the old man's eyes sting.
The old man slowly and solemnly bowed to the Crane-Patrolling Celestial Venerable inside the car.
His hoarse voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.
"Senior brother..."
"Take care of yourself."
Inside the car, the Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable's figure stiffened almost imperceptibly.
He remained silent, not responding immediately, and the air in the carriage seemed to grow heavier.
Finally, he turned around and looked out the car window at his junior brother who had been stubborn his whole life.
Time has left deep marks on both of their faces.
"I will send someone to investigate the matter you asked me to do immediately after the Celestial Master Ceremony."
"I'll let you know as soon as I get any news, so don't worry."
Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable's voice was deep and steady, as if he had suppressed all his emotions.
He paused for a moment, and finally let out a long sigh.
"Junior brother..."
Take care of yourself too.
The carriage started moving, its wheels crunching over the snow as it slowly drove away from Zhenlong Temple.
The old man stood there at the mountain gate, like a stone tablet eroded by wind and snow for thousands of years, motionless.
His gaze followed the receding convoy until it completely disappeared at the end of the mountain road, becoming a blurry black dot. For a long, long time.
A barely audible sigh dissipated into the chilly air.
The seventh day of the lunar new year, early morning, Fengtian City.
The Zhao family mansion.
Lu Yuan led Wang Cheng'an and Xu Erxiao to stand in the front yard, at the entrance of the main hall.
With a perfectly measured smile on his face, he bowed slightly to the two mature and beautiful aunts in the hall.
"Aunt Qin, Aunt Qiao'er, Happy New Year!"
In the main hall, Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao'er had been waiting for a long time. Both of them were dressed in their finest attire, and their mature and beautiful aura almost filled the hall. In particular, the love in their beautiful eyes as they looked at Lu Yuan was like spring water, almost overflowing.
"Okay, okay~ Happy New Year to you all too~"
The two men stood up with smiles and handed out red envelopes, one to each of the three men, without any bias.
However, when it was Lu Yuan's turn, the style of the conversation suddenly changed.
Aunt Qin extended her slender finger and gently tapped Lu Yuan's forehead, her voice sweet and reproachful:
"You little rascal~"
Aunt Qiao'er, standing to the side, was even more direct, her beautiful eyes gleaming as she softly complained:
"Why are you so late?"
"I miss Auntie so much."