Food: 54

  Shier brought back food for Qiuqiu. When he opened the box, there was just a bowl of rice and a bowl of soup, simple to the point of being outrageous.

  But the intention is not so simple. The rice is roasted meat rice, and the soup is chestnut bok choy soup.

  This was Qiuqiu's favorite food in the past, and Lu Gugu often made it for her.

  Because on the mountain, it's impossible to make anything too complicated for meals, just catch some wild game, roast the meat, and lay it flat on top of steamed white rice. The soup is also made from materials found on the mountain, wild chestnuts that are particularly small but extremely fragrant and tender, although peeling them can be a bit troublesome. Lu's aunt has the patience to slowly peel them by hand, taking half an afternoon to peel just one bowl of chestnut kernels. Then take some cabbage hearts, wash them clean, and make a bowl of soup with them.

  Qiu Qiu didn't rush to eat, first picked up the ladle and scooped a spoonful of soup to taste. This flavor was so familiar that it almost brought tears to her eyes.

  "Was it done by Aunt Lu? Have you come down from the mountain?"

  "Yes, I had someone bring it down from the mountain. Aunt Lu specially sent it over." Xi'er looked at her with tears welling up in her eyes as if she was eating something extraordinary, not just ordinary white vegetable soup.

  Autumn fat meat is not just one or two days, since I went up the mountain, in someone else's territory, there is no Lu aunt to give her food. Her own energy is limited and she can't take care of these things.

  Since Master disappeared and the child left, Qiuqiu felt that her life was dry and tasteless, without any flavor or color. If she had to say there was one, it would be a dull gray tone.

  The dishes are definitely made well and put into boxes, still steaming hot like they just came out of the pot.

  "How's Aunt Lu? How's Aunt Yu's body? Last time I came down the mountain, I originally wanted to take some time to visit them, but... was diverted by that ancient painting and didn't have a chance to take care of it."

  "Everything is fine, they also heard that something happened on the mountain and are very worried about you."

  Qiu Qiu nodded, her eyes brimming with tears as she took a sip of the soup and ate a mouthful of rice. The roasted meat was marinated to perfection. It was cooked just right, tender and fresh. Lu Gu Gu must have put in a lot of effort. As for the soup, the cabbage hearts were almost melting into it, and the chestnuts were so soft they didn't need to be chewed. The aroma of chestnuts and the sweetness of the cabbage wafted out of the soup. Qiu Qiu ate her rice clean, scraping the bowl until it shone, and drank every last drop of the soup.

  After eating, I feel better.

  "Pick up the bowls and dishes," he told her. "I'm taking you out for a trip."

  "Huh? Where are you going?"

  Qiuqiu hastily gathered her things, and the child naturally took her hand. Qiuqiu only managed to grab an umbrella before he hurriedly led her out the door.

  Although Qiū Qiū had been to Xiū Yuán Mountain for a while, she was not familiar with the situation on the mountain. Lián Huā Fēng was somewhat better, and she only knew one road leading to the Cáng Shū Lóu from the main peak. As for Huáng Zhǎng Lǎo's place, she had never been there before, but Chī ěr seemed to have walked through it many times, pulling her out of the door and along the qīng shí road all the way east.

  Old Huang's place isn't small. At first glance, it looks similar to other places on the mountain - except for a few tall chimneys.

  She held an umbrella in one hand and pulled Qiuqiu with the other. Watching her staring at the chimney, he stopped his steps to wait for her.

  Qiu Qiu hastened her pace and continued walking forward.

  It's probably because of what Jinglu Shixiong said that there is indeed geothermal heat here, so it feels drier and warmer than other places, which is very different from Lianhua Peak. The purpose of those chimneys is self-evident.

  "Where are we going?"

  "Dispose of the demon that devours one's heart."

  "Ah……" Qiuqiu's footsteps were small. Unbeknownst to her, she was pulled down by the child and quickly took two steps to catch up: "Are you going to dispose of it now? Didn't you say that many sects were invited to discuss together? How can you dispose of it so quickly?"

  He picked it up again without explaining.

  Qiu Qiu didn't necessarily need an answer either. Matters like this were naturally left to the masters and elders, who were far above someone as insignificant as him. There was no room for them to intervene.

  But Shǎo'ér's face is quite big, such things are generally not available for ordinary disciples to watch, but Shǎo'ér can get a quota and even bring her along.

  The end of the road was a stone platform that looked ordinary, similar to the Zhi Xing Tai. Climbing up the steps, there were eight stone pillars in the middle of the platform, forming an octagonal shape. Although the snow around was thick and heavy, there was not a single flake on this platform, and the ground was clean and dry. When Autumn stepped on it, she could feel the uneven carvings. Autumn looked down and saw that there were some inscriptions carved on the ground, but she didn't understand their purpose.

  On the other side of the stone stage, there were not a few people standing. From a distance, it was hard to see clearly, but from their figures and attire, Qiuqiu could make out that one of them was the real Zhu Qing, the leader of the sect. As for the others, she couldn't quite recognize them.

  Qiu Qiu held her breath and restrained herself, she didn't dare to be too casual in this situation. She asked Xiǎo ěr in a low voice: "When will it start? Where's that demon?"

  "You can see it right away."

  Qiu Qiu turned her head to look towards the center of the stone platform, but still didn't see anything.

  But it changed in an instant.

  Zhu Men Yu Qing Zhen Ren raised his arm, and the stone pillars in the field suddenly lit up. The red light grew stronger and stronger, and the stone pillars seemed to be burning.

  "This formation has not been activated for over 380 years." Xiǎo ěr said in a low voice, as if muttering to himself, but Qiū Qiū knew he was saying it for his own benefit: "I heard that back then, they caught a nest of unsealed dream demons, and Miǎo Shān True Person used this formation to eradicate them. Since then, there have been no more rumors of demonic creatures."

  But nearly four hundred years later, this formation was activated again.

  Perhaps this world will again fall into a great chaos like it did hundreds of years ago.

  This is really not good news.

  It is better to be a dog in peaceful times than a human being in chaotic times - In chaotic times, people's lives are as cheap as grass and weeds, and they can lose their lives at any time and place for various reasons or even without reason.

  Qiu Qiu couldn't help but clench Xia Er's hand tightly.

  Eight stone pillars shot out red light converging into a point at the center, that red light was too bright and dazzling to look straight at.

  However, Qiuqiu still noticed that at the point where the lights converged, a black shadow slowly emerged.

  That is the Heart-Eater Demon.

  It struggled in the air, darting left and right, but those red lights intertwined to trap it, making it impossible for it to escape. The more violently it moved, the more fiercely the red lights danced.

  Qiuqiu heard a mournful cry.

  The sound was unbearably harsh and piercing, and even when she covered her ears with her hands, it still pierced into her brain like a needle. The cry was filled with bitter hatred, resentment, and fear, as if a sharp drill was constantly drilling into her head.

  He glanced at her, and a soothing gentle force came from the clasped hands of the two. Qiū Qiū calmed down, feeling that the sound was like being separated by a layer of glass, still uncomfortable, but not as piercing as before.

  The Heart Devil was like a part of the red flames, burning entirely.

  Although it has no physical form, the red flame can cause fatal damage to it.

  "Is the Heart-Eating Demon a very formidable demon?"

  "It's written in the book, its ability is above average among magical creatures."

  Above... then there must be something even more terrifying above it.

  This one demon alone has caused such a huge disturbance for our sect, and it took several True Person elders joining forces to capture it.

  If even more and even more powerful demons come, can the sect cope with it?

  The red light grew stronger and brighter. The sound emitted by the Heart-Devouring Demon, however, was much weaker than before, clearly a last-ditch effort, and would soon dissipate into nothingness.

  Just then, several gray shadows suddenly emerged from the shadow of the stone platform. The reaction was quick, and with one hand, he threw away the paper umbrella. The sword light flashed in the air like a burst of flames, and the sound of clashing metal rang out, already blocking one of the gray shadows.

  Qiu Qiu's movements were much faster than her thoughts. She quickly dodged and stood behind the child, with their backs against each other. Qiu Qiu also drew out her sword.

  Even if she can't help him much, she won't make trouble for him. It's good that she can do her part.

  At the same time, Qiuqiu also saw the golden hoop on her arm.

  The bright green light shines directly from the carved patterns on the arm ring, shining so brightly that it is dazzling.

  Shi Xiong of Jing Hai said is not wrong. This bracelet can indeed play a warning role - it's just that by the time you see this light, it may already be too late.

  How can there be so many demons appearing suddenly? Where did they come from? Are they all Heart-Eating Demons?

  It's too late to think about that now, Yu Qing Zhen Ren and the others have all drawn their swords. Flying swords of various colors streaked across the sky, leaving behind trails of light that intersected with each other, looking like a fireworks display on a festive day, with fleeting shadows darting in and out, making it hard to keep one's eyes focused.

  This dazzling flash of light, however, revealed a cold and sinister murderous intent.

  Yu Qing Zhen Ren looked completely unflappable. Even if those demons had been lying in wait here all along. But - Qiu Qiu suddenly thought, hadn't Yu Qing Zhen Ren also anticipated this? Had he even taken the initiative to deal with the Heart-Eating Demon ahead of time just to lure out the snake from its hole?

  They shouldn't have come if they knew it was going to be so dangerous. Qiuqiu is quite self-aware, at her current level she's not a hindrance, but she can't really help much either. Shi'er still has to divide his attention to protect her, it's like bringing a huge burden.

  Sword lights intersect and overlap, but gray shadows are also magical and elusive.

  Autumn and Autumn narrowed their eyes, not daring to relax, but after that one move earlier, they didn't know if those demons looked down on the two of them as small fries or focused on Yu Qing Zhen Ren instead. The two people were on high alert, but Autumn's sword did not swing out again.

  Qiu Qiu lowered her head slightly, feeling that something was not quite right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

  He pulled her into his arms and held her close, shielding her from harm.

  The uneven feeling underfoot...

  Qiu Qiu pursed her lips and said softly: "There is an array method."

  The inscriptions on the stone pedestal must be useful, Qiū Qiū could feel that the patterns were like they came alive, winding and walking around. This feeling was both mysterious and made people feel uneasy.

  This spell should be used against those demons.

  Having understood this point, Qiuqiu was no longer as afraid as before, but still did not relax her vigilance.

  The masters and elders had long been prepared, but they certainly hadn't taken into account the unintentional intrusion of these two. Qiuqiu was not willing to be cannon fodder with Shi'er in this place, and dying like this would have no value at all.

  PS: Spent a day on the road, left at 9 am, flight delays, controls, transit delays and so on... Finally arrived at the hotel... Met my beautiful editor at home... The roommate is also very cute and easy to get along with. Relieved.