the way was still there. We walked over to take a closer look and discovered it was something like a corpse."This isn't a corpse, corpses have bones! This is just a shriveled human skin suit!" I frown...Zong Daochang saw our astonished expressions and said in a low voice, "The rope that bound me was only my outer robe. It was difficult to untie in the darkness, so I took some extra time to free myself... And although Shen Dao friend left on her own, she didn't remove the rope."

Rope

“The people who came to rescue her from the Shen family, used a rope to pull her up. It took two people working together, and I saw it very clearly.” Master Zong smiled, “But the rope wasn’t taken away or casually discarded.”

"I untied my hands and put on my Taoist robes. Then, I pulled on the rope and climbed up. The rope was tied to the nearest dead tree... It seems that Shen Dao-you didn't make a clean break; he left me a way to climb up."

It's really good, I was completely engrossed in this juicy gossip.

It wasn't just me and my brother eating melons, at first Xiao Shanming was buried in his meal, chewing slowly. When he heard this, he forgot to move the food in his mouth.

“But when I was tidying up my clothes, I realized the little Buddha was missing. I specially went back down to look again, but I couldn’t find it… I searched all the way back, but I still couldn't find it… It wasn't until the landlord of the small inn where I lived called me on my phone and told me that the old man in my room had smashed the window and jumped from the second floor to the alley that I had to give up looking for the little Buddha and rush back to chase that strange old man.”

"Shen Qingrui must have been observing you nearby at the time, because she knew you were going after someone." I added.

Zong Daochang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, Shen Daoyou is not a bad person. He just has a bit of a temper. I don't feel like we have any grudges... I'll just inform my junior apprentice and ask him to go to the Shen family to report and request the return of the little Buddha."

"Luckily, Miss Mu, you are reasonable and righteous. You even came to pay respects with Daoist Shen in person. What grudge could there possibly be that we can't let go of" Grandmaster Zong smiled magnanimously.

He doesn't smile often, but when he does, it looks much better. Without that gloomy and serious expression, he's pretty warm too.

“Since nothing unspeakable happened, let's not worry too much. Let's eat first. We'll stay at Guishan Gate for a day or two. You go and get along with Daoist Shen... After going down the mountain, it's more convenient to have another friend. When transportation is inconvenient, Daoist Shen can even mobilize a helicopter to help you.” My brother nudged Master Zong with his elbow.

Here's the translation:

A look that says, "Brother, that's all I can do for you."

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Xiao Shanming, only now realizing something was amiss, mumbled to himself, "Senior brother, you're not this kind to us... Why are you so patient with Shen Qingrui... Could it be that you..."

I slipped a piece of plain meat to him and said in a serious tone, "Kids shouldn't meddle in grown-up affairs, eat more food, so you can become smarter."

"I'm about the same age as you!"

But my little Qiao is already a mother, her status is different. Little brother~ you'll understand when you meet your soulmate~~~

》》》

I sat on the bed, looking through my pocket notebook from the first page.

When the moon was at its zenith, Jiang Qiyun appeared by my bedside, leaning down to kiss the back of my neck.

"What are you looking at" He sat beside me and glanced around, "Which Taoist temple is this again"

"The masters of Zong Dao Chang's lineage, their school has a deep connection with the Northern Black Emperor. They specialize in subduing demons and exorcising evils. The old Daoist showed me notes compiled by his school." I pointed at the miniature notebook.

This book has a lot of ancient Chinese texts on it, which makes my eyes tired. Just as Jiang Qiyun arrived, I shoved the book into his hands.

"Why don't you tell me a story, Your Majesty You're so used to reading ancient texts anyway..." I yawned.

Jiang Qiyun slightly frowned: "You're already sleepy and you don't sleep, what story are you still listening to."

He was sitting on the bed, so I naturally lay in his lap and hugged his waist.

"It's not fatigue, it's tiredness... I don't even know who messed with me last night and told me to sleep well, hmph..."

Jiang Qiyun, upon hearing this, chuckled softly and looked down at me. As he moved, his long hair slid from his shoulders, falling to my cheek.

"...Once or twice you said it's tiring, you're so delicate" He chuckled softly.

I buried my face in his stomach, playing ostrich. This isn't about the number of times, is it Sometimes, when love is intense, even a kiss can make my legs go weak.

"The year of Xuanhe... " Jiang Qiyun's clear voice softly began to recite the contents of the small book.

His personality wouldn't lead him to tell stories, but what he read out sounded so real.

No matter how strange and absurd, no matter how bizarre and indescribable it may be, as he lowered his eyes and softly recited the words, I felt like listening to ethereal and enchanting fairy music—both vague and vivid.

I don't know when I fell asleep, just like that, nestled against his legs. He held my head with one hand and a book in the other, his voice echoing near and far as he told me "stories."

Those stories related to the demonic realm sound so distant, yet I have actually seen quite a few…

The chaotic corpse demon, only a demon with instincts, the swift little demon as fast as lightning, the charging warrior with blood-red eyes, and lastly, the Demon Lord Hei Di whose true face has never been seen.

I drifted off to sleep in a daze, as if transported into the fantastical stories he used to tell, resulting in dreams filled with bizarre and surreal imagery.

Jiang Qiyun once said that dreams are glimpses of the divine consciousness, and there's no need to force interpretations. When the time is right, one will naturally understand the karmic connections within the dream.

But the white moonlight, as pale and cold as frost in my dream, I can't figure out what it means.

The old woman said that dreaming of the moon could be good or bad. Jiang Qiyun didn't delve into it further, he just accompanied me quietly, allowing me to sleep soundly by his side.

Indeed, he was almost there every night.

This kind of feeling can't be described in just a few words.

Most celestial gods act freely and without restraint. Even if they are bound by something, it is only limited to their divine duties or cultivation precepts.

They pursue a state of freedom from mental constraints and emotional entrapment.

But Jiang Qiyun's companionship to me has long surpassed the scope of a celestial deity's compassion. As long as there is nothing important, he will come at night and stay with me until dawn.

"Hmm…" I felt him press his lips to mine, moving me onto the pillow.

"Qi Yun..." I reached out blindly to touch his face.

He leaned in, letting me touch him. It was his familiar features, even with my eyes closed, I could perfectly picture his face in my mind.

"Sleep now... These demons and monsters sound rather dull..." He whispered in my ear, "If you have time later, I'll take you to Xuwai Mountain at the back to see for yourself..."

I hummed and fell asleep.

Dreamland... I dreamt of the little building at home, dreaming of Yu Gui Nuan playing boisterously. Lan Xi sat on the cushion, surrounded by a pile of toys, watching her older siblings with excitement on her face.

It seems like he's missing home. After having a child, he misses home even after just a few days away.

In a daze, the small house vanished. The ground and the sky transformed into a vast cosmos, dark and filled with stars.

Each person in the house disappeared one by one. She chased a little ball and when she picked it up, turned around, and found everyone gone. She stood there blankly, as if about to cry.

Don't be afraid, Yugui. This is just a dream, Yugui

I woke up suddenly, my whole body trembling. Jiang Qiyun tightened his grip on my hand immediately —y had paid her respects at the mountain gate, she had walked all the way up the mountain. However, her cultivation was not yet complete, not enough to become an immortal, so she couldn't see the full...