Refugee shelter
Qiu Qiu had a moment where her mind went blank.
How is Master? And the sisters? What calamity has befallen the people in town?
Lian'gou'er was gone too, and now no one could tell her what to do. Lu Gugu wasn't even a cultivator, so there was no way to discuss it with her.
"Autumn girl?"
The old lady looked at her, with a mixture of fear and anxiety in her eyes, as well as a look of longing and dependence.
Qiu Qiu was very young, but after all, she was a real apprentice, and at this time, Lu Gugu hoped that she could make up her mind.
Qiu Qiu stood up.
She can't be weak, nor can she be stunned.
"Auntie, come with me."
Qiu Qiu walked ahead, her calmness gave Lu's aunt some courage.
There was still someone who could take charge, and Lu Gugu seemed to have taken a tranquilizer, wiped the water from her face, and followed Qiuqiu.
Qiu Qiu entered the courtyard of Yu Xia Zhen Ren. Everything in the house was just as it had been before, just like when Master was still around. Because Yu Xia Zhen Ren hadn't expected to be delayed this time, everything except for the sword and feather duster she had brought with her were all still in the house.
Qiu Qiu directly entered her master's house, opened the box and took out the paper kite used for transmitting messages. She had seen her master use it before, and he had also taught her how to use it.
"Miss, who is this message for?"
Qiu Qiu released several paper kites in a row, all of which were people her master had mentioned, including Fang Zhenren and the Xiushan Sect of the Liusha Sword Sect.
With just Autumn's entry-level skills that can't even be counted as half a bottle of water, both Master and Senior Sister suffered unexpected losses, she definitely won't be a match for her.
Is it human or a monster? Were the people in town kidnapped, killed, or... eaten?
Autumn sends shivers down one's spine.
"Lu aunt, you gather your things and hide with Yu aunt first. There is a restricted area at the back of the courtyard, set up by Master, where you can hide for ten days or half a month without any problem."
"What about you? Aren't you going with us?"
"I'd also like to go down the mountain and take a look."
"Girl, you can't go."
Qiu Qiu knew what she was going to say, and Qiu Qiu was also afraid.
But perhaps she could find some clues that Lu Gugu couldn't discover, and maybe Shifu and the sisters were in danger.
Lu's aunt couldn't agree no matter what. Autumn is still a child even if she's actually older, let alone that she has only been studying Taoism for a few years and just started learning sword fighting a few days ago. Something must have happened to Zhenren and Jingxin! If something happens to Autumn too, then their lineage will really be cut off.
Qiu Qiu had just entered the Taoist temple and was unclear, but Lu Gugu had been on the mountain for a long time. She said with conviction: "Qiu Niang, if there were really people here, they would definitely say so too. Let's tidy up the books in the house and hide ourselves well. It's okay to retreat for now, we'll definitely get our revenge in the future!"
Listen, all the words of revenge have been spoken. Although no one has seen the living or the dead, Lu's aunt has already determined in her heart that Yu Xia Zhenren and others are probably dead.
She was dazed just now, but once she accepted the fact, she immediately thought of the most important thing.
In the mortal world, incense is emphasized, while in the Taoist school, inheritance is emphasized. Yu Xia Zhen Ren's lineage only has Qiu Qiu left, she must live on.
This is now Grandma Lu's biggest and only goal, she also tells herself that she must achieve it.
Qiu Qiu found she couldn't persuade Lu's aunt.
"Didn't the girl already send out a distress letter? Although Xiuyuan Mountain is thousands of miles away from us, as long as the sect receives the letter, someone will come. At most two days, and if it's fast, it'll be just one day." Lu Gugu didn't say another word, opened up the乾坤袋 (Qiankun bag) to pack things inside, then picked up Autumn in her arms and strode towards the back.
Lu's face was flushed with great unease and abnormal excitement. She had become dizzy, excessive fatigue and fright putting her mental state in a half-awake, half-dazed condition.
The soft and warm child in her arms, outside is pouring rain, great danger... they may lose their lives.
Just like those years.
The landlady had already forgotten that the child in her arms was actually Qiuqiu, she thought she was holding her own daughter. She was seriously ill and the rebels would soon find their hiding place. She was very hungry, the child was also hungry, so hungry that they didn't even have the strength to cry.
She wants to protect her children, even if she has to sacrifice herself, just to let them live a peaceful life.
This conviction gave her unexpected strength, Qiū Qiū originally could have gotten rid of her, but now she found it very difficult to do so without hurting her.
Lu's aunt first took her to the restricted area, where Lu's aunt also knew how to open the mechanism array. After putting Qiuqiu down, she left again, of course, without forgetting to lock Qiuqiu inside. Qiuqiu tried several times but couldn't open it.
Proposing a ban was Qiuqiu's intention, but she didn't expect to tie herself up in knots.
It wasn't long before Lu Auntie came back, and she brought Yu Auntie with her. Yu Auntie obviously already knew that something had happened, and she also looked shocked.
They are now in a place dug out of the mountain wall, which was set up by Yu Xia Zhenren as an escape route. Since it is used for temporary refuge and hiding, it is not a big place, but this small piece of land has multiple restrictions, at least seven or eight that Qiuqiu knows about, and some she doesn't know about. Even if enemies with powers far beyond Yu Xia Zhenren's come, there's no need to be afraid. Firstly, the opponent can't find their location, secondly, even if they knew they were hiding here, breaking through the restrictions without harming them wouldn't be an easy task. With that time, they could wait for reinforcements to arrive.
Lu's aunt helped Yu's aunt sit down and opened all the restrictions.
This was a small stone room with glowstones on the walls for lighting. After Lu finished all this, she slowly sat down against the wall as if exhausted.
Qiu Qiu looked at her helplessly.
Lu's aunt calmed down and poured water for her, then poured another cup of water for Yu's aunt.
"Don't worry, miss, we're safe here... nothing should happen."
Although she was comforting Qiuqiu, her last sentence revealed a hint of unease in her heart.
Qiu Qiu shook her head.
She wants to go down the mountain, and Lu Gugu and Yu Gugu may fight to stop her.
Things being so, Qiuqiu also sat down and carefully thought over this matter.
It started with someone coming down from the mountain to ask for help, saying that there was a water monster causing trouble and hurting people. Autumn had only heard it from Lu's aunt, but hadn't actually seen anyone come down from the mountain. But presumably the person who came wasn't fake, as Master had lived here for so many years and could tell if they were local or not. And since the one who came was an official, the possibility of them being fake was even smaller.
Besides, under the master's nose, even if there were some small monsters at the foot of the mountain, it was impossible for them to become a big deal in a short time. Autumn thought so at that time, and other people on the mountain, including Yu Xia Zhenren, also thought so. Therefore, at first, Yu Xia Zhenren only planned to let Jing Xin go and handle this matter, and Jing Yi followed along to gain some experience.
Things had been going on normally until now, and such things had happened before, although Qiuqiu hadn't seen them, but Lu Gugu and others had experienced them more than once.
If the child were still here, with her intelligence, she would have been able to see even more things.
No, it's better she isn't here. After all, going back to Fang Zhenren is safer for her than staying here.
"Miss? Autumn miss?"
Qiu Qiu raised her head and Lu aunt touched her head with a worried face: "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking about this matter." Qiuqiu and Lu Nainai said a few words: "I'm young, I don't have much experience, Auntie, think again about this matter, is there anything unusual?"
Lu's aunt couldn't calm down and think about it at this time, Qiuqiu said so, she reluctantly thought for a moment, but didn't think of anything unusual.
The rain outside grew heavier and heavier. Autumn should have been used to the changes in temperature by now, but she felt a chill run down her back.
Lu's aunt sat down beside her and wrapped her arms around Qiuqiu: "Lean on me and rest for a while, young lady."
Qiu Qiu didn't refuse. At this time, having someone to comfort each other with body warmth isn't a bad thing.
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It's been so hot these days that I'm dizzy, and to make matters worse, the tooth I had filled before is acting up again. I've been putting it off for two days now, but tomorrow I have to go see the dentist... Ugh, I really don't want to go. Every time I get my teeth checked, I feel like I'm going to die from the torture...

