Chapter 9 Ah Bao

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  Buzz!

  A faint hum, almost simultaneously, a faint light burst from the tip of the evil-warding pen placed on the inkstone, like a miniature lightning bolt, disappearing in an instant...

  Chen Jianchen, who was standing by the window with his back to the room, knew nothing about it.

  After sending off Wang Fu, he always felt uneasy in his heart. He couldn't find the Taoist priest and returned home feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles. The reason for this was not only partly due to his concern for Wang Fu, but more because of his doubts about the origin of that peach blossom - Chen Jianchen wanted to get to the bottom of this matter, in case things were as bad as he imagined, dangerous, so it would be better to prepare early rather than losing his life in a muddle.

  Outside the window, at the edge of the sky, the sunset is like blood.

  Qian Jun suddenly turned around and came to the desk, picked up the brush that was placed on the white paper spread out on the table, and wrote a big word:

  "Chaos!"

  Its characters are like dragons flying and phoenixes dancing, bold and free-flowing, with great momentum, completely different from the ordinary, mediocre, and rigid regular script.

  Since he got used to writing with a brush, Chen Jianchen deliberately used his reading time to practice calligraphy. His interest in practicing calligraphy far exceeded reciting the Four Books - it was impossible for him to change his study habits in a short period of time, so he might as well practice his penmanship first, which could also be considered a useful skill for making a living.

  In the Tianyun dynasty, having good handwriting was a great advantage. If one became a famous calligrapher, they would be revered and admired everywhere.

  "What's been disturbing my mind, today is a day with many worries..."

  Chen Jianchen nodded in agreement, let out a sigh, put down his brush and walked out of the study.

  "Liu Xian, it's almost time for dinner, where are you going?"

  Hearing the noise, Mo San Niang poked her head out of the kitchen and asked.

  "Mother, I'll go out for a walk and come back..."

  He had already stepped out of the gate and went straight out of the village without stopping.

  The sun sets behind the western hills, with a half-sky of red clouds. The sky is filled with a hazy atmosphere.

  Chen Jianchen arrived at the stream outside the village, looking up at the sky with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, a timid voice came from beside him: "Liu Xian Ge, what are you doing here..."

  Chen Jianchen was taken aback, and then he saw a girl wearing a blue coarse cotton jacket standing three steps away from him. The girl's eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as a painting, fresh and elegant, although she didn't have any luxurious or expensive adornments on her, but it made her look even more like a lotus flower rising out of the clear water, clean and simple, just like a jade-like lotus flower standing upright.

  Ah Bao...

  Soon, a name emerged in Chen Jianchen's mind - Ah Bao was a 13-year-old girl living at the end of Jingyang Village. She had lost her parents early and was all alone, which made people feel sorry for her. In their childhood, Chen Jianchen and Ah Bao often played together with water and mud, having a somewhat affectionate relationship. However, as Chen Jianchen gradually embarked on his academic path, their relationship gradually became distant and eventually severed ties.

  In the past, Chen Jianchen was a typical bookworm, with a bad temper and a tendency to be narrow-minded. Apart from reading books, he ignored everything else. On the other hand, Abao would secretly come to the private school where Chen Jianchen studied every now and then, listening from afar to his clear and melodious voice as he read, and she would become completely enchanted.

  Of course, Chen Jianchen was completely unaware of these things at that time - even if he had noticed, he wouldn't have shown any expression.

  After Abao's parents passed away, her life was very miserable. She had no relatives, no land, no skills, and could only make a living by picking up firewood on the mountain and gathering wild fruits. Her family's house had long been dilapidated and uninhabitable, so she lived in a small temple at the back of the village. Usually, the villagers would take pity on her and occasionally send her some firewood, rice, oil, and salt to help her out.

  The poor man's child is early to take charge, Ah Bao is indeed illiterate, but he is simple and honest, and understands many principles. With a clever personality and natural beauty, she has grown into a flower-like girl. Now she is still young and cannot be considered for marriage, if she grows up for another two years, she will probably find a wealthy family to marry into and escape her difficult life.

  In recent years, some matchmakers have come over to take Ah Bao away to be a child bride for others, and the objects of these matches are even from big families in Jiangzhou City. But for some reason, Ah Bao has consistently shaken her head in refusal, and would rather endure her days alone in silence...

  As soon as she met Chen Jianchen's gaze, the girl hastily lowered her head, her two small hands nervously rubbing the hem of her clothes, stuttering: "Oh, this... I forgot you're now a scholar with honors, I should call..."

  "Let's just call him Liu Xian Ge, I think it sounds good."

  Her words were immediately blocked by Chen Jianchen.

  Ah Bao suddenly lifted her head, her black and white eyes wide open. When her gaze met Chen Jianchen's, she quickly dodged away, her face flushing red as she didn't know what to say - it seemed like she hadn't spoken a word to Chen Jianchen in many years. Although they were from the same village, their lives had taken different paths, and they seemed to be separated by vast distances.

  Looking at his tattered and worn-out cotton-padded jacket, Chen Jian asked: "It's so cold outside, why did you run out?"

  Although it cleared up today, the air was dry and cold. By now in the late afternoon, a north wind had started to blow, blowing against Abao's body, she shivered slightly, like a flower shrinking in the wind.

  When Chen Jianchen asked, Abao was still habitually nervous and only replied in a low voice after a while: "Just now, I don't know where a Taoist priest came from and came to the Land Temple... I was a little scared, so I ran out."

  Her voice was soft and gentle, Chen Jianchen almost didn't hear clearly, first reacted with an "oh", then suddenly a spark: "Taoist? What kind of Taoist?"

  After saying a couple more sentences, Abao's emotions gradually relaxed, and he explained: "Hmm, it was a middle-aged Taoist priest with a beard... He was also holding a bamboo sign in his hand, which had some words written on it, but I don't know what the words were."

  Chen Jianchen suddenly asked: "Is he carrying a wooden sword on his back and holding a bell in one hand?"

  A Bao scratched his head and thought for a moment before saying, "It seems like he was carrying a sword on his back, but I didn't see any bells... I didn't get a good look before I ran out."

  Chen Jianchen thought for a moment, thinking that this Taoist priest was probably the one from Lao Mountain. It's really ironic that he couldn't find him no matter how hard he searched outside, but instead, the other party quietly came to the village without making any noise. But what is he trying to do here?

  For this Taoist, Chen Jianchen does not have too many substantial wishes at present, just wants to find him and ask clearly about some things. As for whether the other party is a legendary outsider, it can only be known after meeting and understanding, and then a more detailed response plan will be formulated.

  Thinking of this, Chen Jianchen was afraid that the Taoist would run away again, and immediately pulled his legs to walk towards the back village, rushing to the Land Temple. Abao didn't understand, but followed closely behind without any hesitation.