Chapter Thirty-Six Life

  The young man's name was Ding Yan, a fallen scholar-official, and the child in his arms was the orphaned son of his younger sister.

  Yang Lao Han knew that Ding Yan's sister was killed by bandits, and he only managed to survive because of good luck encountering a Jianghu knight. Because his hometown no longer existed, he brought his sister's child and moved to Qiushui Town.

  "Brother Ding, come to my place tonight and sit for a while. I have two jars of old wine that have been stored for over 20 years. I've never had the heart to drink them..." Old Man Yang said generously.

  For this young man, Old Man Yang had a good impression. In addition to the other's identity as a scholar, he was a person of great reputation and prestige. As someone who used to be a bodyguard, Old Man Yang naturally knew that people with great reputations had much higher social status than them, and it was said that they could even meet officials without kneeling. Therefore, Old Man Yang didn't dare call him "young fellow", but instead addressed Ding Yan as "Brother Ding".

  Ding Yan nodded and smiled in agreement.

  This long-lost tranquility gave him a feeling as if he had returned to his previous life, comprehending the moment of enlightenment.

  It has been more than a week since I moved into Qiushui Town. During this time, many neighbors have gotten to know Ding Yan. Among these neighbors, Old Man Yang is the one who knows Ding Yan best.

  Back in the house, Ding Yan casually closed the door.

  Walk along the bedside.

  On the bed, the child is still fast asleep.

  Ding Yan walked over, stretched out his right hand and placed it on the child's head, separating a strand of yuan force that slowly merged into the child's body.

  When Ding Yan discovered the child, he already knew that the child had contracted a rare disease caused by the invasion of yin evil energy into his body. Due to the lack of radical treatment, the child's body was extremely weak, making it very difficult to rescue him. It is impossible to expel all the yin evil energy at once because these energies have taken root in the child's body, and sudden expulsion would easily harm the child's body.

  For this reason, Ding Yan had no choice but to separate a strand of yuan force every day and seep it into the child's body, slowly refining that breath.

  After the yuan force in the child's body completed a cycle, Ding Yan withdrew his right hand.

  He let out a sigh.

  He then walked over to the table, ground the ink on the inkstone, picked up his brush and began writing.

  Every single word, Ding Yan wrote with great care, one stroke at a time, all in regular script.

  Words are like life.

  Every word is a realization, the previous life's words are just relying on this set of calligraphy to enter the period of spiritual transformation. Now that I write it again, apart from memories, there is another kind of feeling. Faintly, DIngYan seems to feel that his realm has improved slightly.

  Ding Yan put down his brush and picked up the wine jug on the table, taking a swig.

  Wine is bitter.

  Bang, bang, bang......

  A knock at the door.

  Ding Yan walked over and opened the door.

  Outside the door, the cold wind howls, and before one is aware of it, autumn has already arrived.

  "Uncle Ting, Grandpa Yang asked me to come and call you over." It was a small child outside the door, about six or seven years old.

  Born with a tiger-like head and brain, two long strips of nasal mucus hanging from his nose.

  The child's name is Xu Zhu, the son of Wang Shu next door, who is just six years old this year. The little guy likes Yang Lao Han the most and will run to him whenever he has time, because Yang Lao Han has traveled all over the world and knows many stories. Yang Lao Han himself is also getting older, and since he doesn't have a partner, he can't help but feel a bit lonely. Although Xu Zhu is just a child, for Yang Lao Han, he is also the only one who will listen to his ramblings, so he likes this child very much too.

  Ding Yan touched Xu Zhu's head and revealed a faint smile.

  As he looked at Xu Zhu, he suddenly remembered the dog on the nameless island. That little furry kid who also loved listening to stories.

  Yang Lao Han's home was very simple, except for a bed, there was only a table and a few stools. When Ding Yan walked in, Yang Lao Han was sitting at the edge of the table, smoking a pipe.

  "Brother Ding, you've finally arrived." Old Man Yang pulled Ding Yan down to sit.

  The dish on the table was very simple, just a plate of green vegetables.

  After all, Old Man Yang wasn't rich either.

  Yang Lao Han poured a full glass of wine for Ding Yan, then raised his cup and took a gulp.

  "Ah......" Old Man Yang let out a long sigh.

  "Grandpa Yang, I want some too!" Xu Zhu said from beside him.

  Children are always curious.

  "This stuff is not for kids." Old Man Yang said with a smile.

  "Why?"

  "If a child drinks it, they won't be able to practice martial arts anymore and can't become a great hero in the future." Old Man Yang deceived.

  Xu Zhu heard this and a disappointed expression appeared on his face.

  Ding Yan smiled as he ate the green vegetables on the table, listening to the conversation between Yang Lao Han and Xu Zhu.

  "How is it? Brother Ding, this wine isn't bad, right?" Yang Lao Han saw that he had been ignored by Ding Yan and hastily asked.

  Ding Yan nodded slightly.

  "Haha, I told you, this wine was bought by me when I was escorting a caravan in the north of the desert, it's estimated to be worth more than 20 taels of silver for just one jar." said Old Man Yang.

  Ding Yan drained the cup in one gulp.

  As for money, Ding Yan didn't have any concept of it. The money on him was also borrowed from the treasuries of some government offices he passed by when searching for his hometown.

  "By the way, Brother Ding, have you heard? The entire Ma gang is dead. I heard from someone that they died mysteriously, and each person had a tendril growing out of their body." Old Man Yang said in a hushed tone to Ding Yan.

  "En." Ding Yan nodded.

  "You say this wisteria can grow into people's bodies? In my opinion, it must be that the gods are displeased with their actions and have taken action to punish them." As he spoke, Old Man Yang took another sip.

  "Immortal......" Ding Yan fell silent.

  "You say why the immortals don't come out to manage this chaotic world? The various countries are fighting for hegemony, wars are continuous, and I don't know how many people have died on the battlefield. Maybe in the future, even pillars will go to the battlefield..." Old Man Yang sighed.

  Yang Lao Han's "pillar" was actually Xu Zhu.

  "Perhaps gods have their own matters to attend to as well." Ding Yan said.

  "Enough, enough. What the immortals are like is none of our business. Ah, Brother Ding, do you think that pillar has the potential to study? Is it possible for him to take the imperial examination and become a scholar?" Old Man Yang asked.

  If one becomes a Xiucai, he will no longer be eligible for recruitment. Because in the laws of Zhao Guo, it is clearly stipulated that Xiucai is a literary person who can serve as a teacher, accountant, and respond to recruitment orders on the border.

  "With effort, it's always possible." Ding Yan nodded.

  "Why don't I go talk to Zhu's father and let him come read with you?" said Old Man Yang.

  Xu Zhu, who was standing beside him, looked bitter.

  "I'm not going to learn those things! In the future, I want to learn martial arts and become a great hero!"

  Ding Yan agreed to "go."

  ......

  It was already late at night when I returned home.

  Walking to the window, Ding Yan pushed open the window, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, sat down cross-legged, and his consciousness gradually left his body. After becoming a loose immortal, his consciousness could approach the illusory nine heavens, although he couldn't enter them, but he could absorb the aura outside, to slowly expand his own immortal awareness.

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