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　　夜深，屋外蟲鳴，喧鬧入耳。那是另一個世界的戲臺，黑夜是它的幕，升起的月亮是拉開帷幕的無形的手。
　　那是個微小又浩大的世界，也有一場一場人類看不懂的悲歡離合。
　　柳延抱著懷裡發懶的蛇，想他也曾是那個世界的一員，另有別樣繁盛的一生。但此刻他卻在自己懷裡。
　　“你不要怪我。”柳延無聲地說。
　　
　　——不要怪我。
　　明知道他已經是一條本真的蛇，該有蛇的生活，卻絕對不會放手，固執地將他鎖在身畔日夜廝守，也許就這樣，要鎖他一生。
　　總是想著，即使他是條蛇，若是對他好些，再好些，他即使再不通人情，也會領會一些，或許一生都為此駐留。但許明世的話卻始終在腦海裡迴響，如幽靈般揮之不散。
　　“他總是會離開的。”許明世說。
　　他總是會離開的，因為他是一條蛇。人類的感情再深重，在他眼中也只是飼養，那人對他再憐愛，在他眼中，至多也只是飼主。是飼主，而非親密相伴的情人。所以他會在需要時去找雌蛇，也會為此永遠離開。或許今年不會，明年也不會，但總有一天，他會遇到合心合意的雌蛇，然後與它相伴，在樹叢草葉裡追逐，在枝頭間穿梭，共同分享一頓美味，養很多很多小蛇。
　　這一天暫未到來，卻終究會到來。
　　柳延無聲地，一遍一遍地說：“你不要怪我。”
　　
　　強逆意志的禁錮和束縛並不美好，充滿殘忍與暴力，壓迫與剝奪，即使有許多理由，動作再輕緩，都是溫柔的兇殘。
　　這樣的經歷他自身體驗過，那是上一世的時候，那時候他叫季玖。
　　但柳延明白，將來會有一天，他將不折手段地斬絕他的退路，讓他只能留在自己身邊。
　　那代表著，他看上的，自己要毀掉；使他流連忘返的，自己要殺掉。
　　擁有三世記憶，柳延知道自己是殺過人的，殺伐決斷，鐵血無情，他的手上沾滿血腥。他從來就不是良善之輩，關於這一點，無論第一世還是第二世他都這樣肯定的自我評價。他害過人，譬如他還是沈清軒時他害過的沈楨；他殺過人，譬如他是季玖時從皇子伴讀到將軍的過程裡踩出來的血路；三生三世，記憶中白骨累累。他是骨子裡透出的一股陰戾之氣，在必要時這樣的兇殘就會展露出來，仿佛舔血的劍，見血方可收鞘。
　　但他遇上了伊墨。一隻冷情卻非無情的蛇妖，他的出現仿佛地殼深處的岩漿經過千千萬萬年的演變形成的一塊絕世的玉，被他遇到，就那麼溫良地嵌在他的心口上，化去了他許多戾氣和惡性。
　　於是他也淡然起來，學著做一個真正靜怡善良的人。
　　他從未想過，自己有一天會將這冷酷的一面用在伊墨身上。
　　
　　那是他的伊墨。千年修煉，洗淨鉛華，有著很長很長的年歲，卻返璞歸真像一個小孩般的伊墨。
　　當他自己也會用一雙返璞歸真的眼睛觀望世界時，他想要走去抱著這個孩子，牽著他的手。然後一直一直往前走。
　　只要這樣想一想，心底就變得柔軟起來，心臟都仿佛融成了一灘水，任何苦痛和仇怨，都在這樣的柔軟裡化成了煙。
　　就是這樣柔軟的心情。
　　現實卻要他作出殘忍的事，將這樣的美好粉碎毀滅，要將這從未害人的蛇逼到絕境，逼到無路可走。這樣他才能繼續牽著他的手，即使那已經是傷痕累累的一雙手。
　　“你不要怪我。”
　　他只能一遍又一遍，無聲地在心裡重複再重複。
　　他知道來日黃泉路上相見，伊墨一定不會怪他，伊墨不僅不會責怪他，或許反而會自責成了蛇後給他增添苦惱，然後他會抱著他，說一些撫慰的話。
　　想到這一點，心中的撕裂感就更深更濃，簡直要把他吞噬掉。
　　還有什麼比要將掬在手心裡的珍愛摔碎更讓人痛苦的呢？他緊緊抿著唇，將痛苦一遍遍的在心中翻攪，直到把心臟揉碎化成肉泥。
　　這些痛苦無人可訴，所以他只能將自己蜷縮在漆黑被子裡，摟著一條無知無覺、仍在發懶的蛇，長久的沉默。
　　也只能沉默。
　　
　　仿佛失語的沉默裡，他又堅持過一天，在黑暗中迎來新的一天的晨曦微光。
　　屋外早起的鳥兒已經忙碌起來了，院子裡傳來沈玨掃地的聲音，竹枝的掃帚擦過地面“刺啦——刺啦——”，一聲又一聲。
　　柳延靜靜躺在床上，知道自己要一直堅持下去，他沒有半途而廢的權利。
　　他必須堅持下去。
　　
　　——如果有一天，我們還能在一起，我想和你肩並著肩，在這樣最普通不過的早上，一同沐浴晨曦。然後我就可以用我的妙語生花，像講述一個故事、一段傳奇一樣，將所有經歷過的講給你聽。
　　然後你會擁住我，就像我擁住你一樣，相視而笑。
　　於是那些苦痛和掙扎，都被笑容釀成了蜜糖。
　　
　　他一無所有，最後僅有的，只剩堅持到底的意志。
　　正是這樣的意志，所以在一夜未眠後，面對端著熱水送來的沈玨時，他依然面帶微笑。
　　沈玨將洗漱要用的物什擺放好，站在一旁道：“爹動作快些，我留了些鮮湯下來煮面，就剩最後一點。手腳慢了一會又叫許明世搶走了。”
　　柳延穿戴好了，聞言輕笑一聲，“有功夫給我留湯，還不如去林子裡轉轉，還能再摘一簍蘑菇。”
　　“我待會就去摘，”沈玨揚揚眉：“我就是不樂意慣著那老頭兒，最近肚皮是越來越大了。”
　　“盡說孩子氣的話，他胃口好你應該高興才對。”
　　“是啊，我高興得很。”沈玨頗有些無奈地道：“等他把肚子撐破，暴食而亡的時候，我可不知道該有多高興！”
　　“當真飯量這麼大了？”柳延正蘸著茶水洗眼，聞言放下手道：“那還是讓他少吃些，年紀大了腸胃本身就弱，少食多餐才是正道。”
　　“我說了，他聽嗎？”沈玨嗤了一聲：“你去說。”
　　“行，一會我去說。”柳延應著。
　　“那我去了。”沈玨惦記著廚房裡那些事兒，走到門口了又拋下一句：“洗完放著，一會我來倒水。”
　　“你當我七老八十了嗎？”柳延好氣又好笑，“洗臉的盆都提不動了？”
　　“我樂意。”沈玨頭也不回地答，三個字甩出來，語調神態都與伊墨無甚兩樣。
　　
　　他確實是樂意，一片孝心，真摯熱忱。卻不知道柳延有多少不放心，就是因為他的太樂意。
　　戀家是人之常情。太戀家，戀到除家之外，什麼都不放在心上，將來會如何呢？
　　柳延想，當初是他將沈玨託付給伊墨的，卻沒有料到今天這種情景。不由得想起上一世這老妖蛇要給皇帝熬月子粥時的模樣，不過是一百多年來孩子頭一回跟別人在一塊兒，就把他氣悶至如斯地步，大可以想像沈玨如此戀家，是誰造成的。
　　少年戀家，理所應當。沈玨卻早已長大，終有一天，他的生命將不再以他們為中心。
　　但柳延不知道，沈玨的中心將會在哪裡，有什麼能在他們離世後，羈絆住他的孩子，讓他有所依傍地走完剩下的路。
　　柳延甚至不知道，能不能在有生之年看到孩子覓到新的依傍。畢竟蛇的年歲太短，而他也只想活那麼長。
　　
　　他的擔憂，沈玨絲毫不知，在廚房裡搶下許明世的碗筷後，沈玨忍不住惱了，道：“你就這麼想死嗎？！”
　　許明世一臉無辜：“你做的飯好吃。再說我是客，多吃你點飯怎麼了，從未見過這麼小氣的主家。”他一臉皺褶，老態龍鍾，兼之嘴角臉頰都油光淋淋，還要頂著一張髒兮兮的老臉裝無辜，這模樣實在與年輕時的儀錶堂堂沒有一絲關聯，甚至扭曲的厲害。
　　沈玨忍不住揉了揉額角，道：“你若積了食，躺在床上起不來，我可不伺候你。”
　　“哪個要你伺候，反正我孤家寡人，病了等死就是！”許明世蠻橫地說。
　　愈老愈不講理。沈玨這回叫他氣得不輕，砸鍋摔碗的心思都有，偏偏又做不出這樣的舉動來，只好瞪著他，瞪了許久對方那張老臉沒有一絲要羞愧的意思，沈玨只好甩門走了。
　　
　　木門“砰——”地一聲被甩上。沈玨這回是真動了氣，索性就離開了院子。柳延聽得吵鬧，又聽見摔門聲，曉得是沈玨方能做出的舉動，一邊奇怪許明世為什麼存心招惹他，一邊想著木門該修了。這時許明世抹著油乎乎的嘴就過來了。
　　他偷嘴什麼不好，大清早正是調理腸胃的好時候，他偏偏要去喝昨晚剩下的一鍋雞湯，油膩厚重，也難怪沈玨會生氣。
　　沈清軒養沈玨的時候，儘管有伊墨呵護，但幼年遭災，身子骨比常人就嬌弱許多，所以時常調理。沈玨也一併學了許多飲食之道，自打照顧他們開始，對飲食方面也就格外用心，總是小心翼翼，不願意出任何差錯。對許明世，沈玨也不偏心，一併好生照顧。
　　偏偏許明世，也不知中了什麼邪，非要用此挑釁，也難怪沈玨會甩門。
　　這可真是好心被當成驢肝肺了。
　　柳延端著木盆，剛想問許明世到底是為什麼，結果老頭兒手指上白光一閃，甚是欣慰地自語了一句：“總算趕走了。”
　　木盆落在地上，熱水嘩啦一下鋪開，黃土被打濕，柳延閉眼倒地前只來得及想：到底是沈玨喊過叔叔的人。
　　所以知道如何能輕易激怒他。
　　許明世堪稱輕快地將柳延擺平，將他放在院中的竹椅上，還拿了件外袍給他蓋上，很歡快地道：“兄弟，早上太陽不錯，多曬曬身體好。”
　　可惜柳延聽不到，只能毫無意識地趴在石桌上曬太陽。
　　小計謀得逞的許明世老臉笑成了一朵花，進了主家的臥房，一把掀開柳延未來得及折疊的被子，對著被子裡那條蜷成一團睡覺的大蛇打了個招呼。
　　大概是他笑的太瘮人，察覺危險的黑蛇也不再發懶，抬頭看了他一會，立刻就要下床去找柳延。可他再快也只是一條蛇，哪裡是老道士的對手，一個術法就擋住了去路。許明世身手敏捷地把黑蛇抓在手裡，這個舉動讓黑蛇很是猶豫，畢竟這麼長的日子，早已混熟，所以咬不咬是個難題。
　　“別咬我，請你吃東西。”
　　許明世捏開他的嘴，將早已準備好的藥一下子就塞了進去，其出手迅捷靈敏，動作如風，根本沒有老人的遲緩，快到尋常人根本看不清。黑蛇現下只是最普通不過的一條蛇，立刻就著了他的道，那東西進了食道，頓時就融化了，他想吐都吐不出來。
　　他還沒來得及表示任何對強行灌食的不滿，頃刻就與柳延一樣，什麼都不曉得了。
　　
　　等沈玨消了氣趕回來時，一切已成定局。
　　柳延伏在石桌上，昏睡不醒，身後房門大敞著，裡面金光四射，絢爛到刺眼的地步，他立刻就朝屋裡沖過去。
　　那金光卻仿佛結成了一座堅壁，將他彈了回來。
　　“許明世！”
　　此情此景，沈玨頓時明白過來，本能地大吼一聲，卻知道一切已經來不及。
　　
　　“緣生緣滅，大道自然，不必掛懷。”
　　身後突然傳來聲音，沈玨驟然回頭，門外不知何時站著一白須老仙，氣質超然，眉眼熟悉。沈玨認識他，是他施法讓爹爹恢復三生記憶，也是他帶走父親。
　　“你來做什麼？”沈玨問。
　　“來收他魂魄。”老仙看得出他對自己的厭惡，卻微笑道：“他要你父親做人，代價是魂飛魄散。然他有事未盡，這魂魄還散不得，我自然是來替他重凝魂魄。”
　　老仙說著眨眨眼，突然有了許多快活的模樣，“那就是他將來的事了，跟你有甚好交代的？”
　　沈玨愣了一下：“重凝魂魄，那他下輩子還能做人吧？”
　　“那就不是你的事了，”老仙說，“總之他還在，哪能讓他這麼輕易沒了，他砸了我一壇酒還未討回來呢。”
　　沈玨聽了，也不知想了些什麼，良久方道：“也不知道還能不能遇上。”
　　老仙目光停在他臉上，又緩緩移開，看著那籠罩在金色光芒裡的屋子，道：“施法完結還有些時候，還有一事，倒是與你有關。”
　　“嗯？”
　　“小蛇兒囑託過的，你若將來無處可去，可來我門下修行。”
　　“父親說的？”
　　“我與他是千年道友，他有所托，我自然不好推辭。來日你想好了隨時可來找我，去哪裡找，你也知道。”
　　“我不會去的。”沈玨斷然拒絕，等了等突然又道：“我這裡倒是有一熟人，松樹修成的精，樹本無心，修行本就艱難，他卻兩百多年就修成人形，可見根骨奇佳，你願不願意收去？”
　　老仙一時未答，沈玨以為他不願意，見狀就不再說什麼。
　　“也罷，那松樹精我也知道，這件事結了，我就帶他走。”老仙說，“至於你，來日想來我還會收你。”
　　他如此做派，由此可見坦蕩，沈玨對他的惡感減輕許多，笑了笑，輕聲道：“我才不修行。做妖有什麼好，你做仙，有意思嗎？”
　　老仙沒料到他會這樣一問，詫異之下回過神，立時“哈哈”大笑起來，朗聲道：“我倒覺得有意思得很。”
　　“哪裡有意思了？”沈玨問。
　　“至少可以幫幫你們這些堪不破的小妖精，不是嗎？”
　　沈玨頓時無話可說。
　　
　　正說話間，那刺目的金光漸漸消退，逐漸暗淡，老仙擺擺手不再閒談，不知從哪裡取出一塊黑色小布來，那小布在他手中變成一個口袋，他伸手進去掏出一件不知是何材質的緋紅八卦爐，朝著上空拋起。紅爐的陰陽魚旋轉著，在金光徹底黯淡下去之前，沈玨似乎看見隱約一些白影，被吸入爐中。
　　“好了。”老仙將東西收回口袋，又將口袋折疊成巴掌大的黑色小布，一副終於忙完了的樣子，愜意地仰頭望瞭望天空，“我該走了。”
　　“多謝。”沈玨說，鄭重地做了個揖，躬身行禮。
　　“免了，”老仙道：“來日再見，我請你飲酒，那時不要推辭就好。”
　　沈玨雖然覺得他這話沒頭沒尾，卻也點了點頭。
　　
　　老仙笑了笑，看著那房門大敞的木屋，忍不住沖著那寂靜的屋子吆喝了一聲：
　　“小蛇兒，所托之事皆已做到，你我緣盡於此。將來如何，自己修了！”
　　那屋子裡一時並無人聲，直到老仙已經走遠，沈玨方聽見一道久違的聲音，懶洋洋的語氣回道：
　　“知道了。”

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Late at night, the insects outside the house chirped, making a noise that reached my ears. It was the stage of another world, the night was its curtain, and the rising moon was the invisible hand that drew back the curtain.

It is a tiny yet vast world, with joys and sorrows that humans cannot understand.

Liu Yan held the lazy snake in his arms, thinking that he had once been a member of that world, and had a different and prosperous life. But now he was in his arms.

“Don’t blame me." Liu Yan said silently.

——Don’t blame me.

Even though she knew that he was already a real snake and should live the life of a snake, she would never let him go. She stubbornly locked him by her side and stayed with him day and night. Perhaps, she would lock him up for the rest of his life .

I always think that even if he is a snake, if I treat him better, even if he is not understanding, he will understand something, maybe he will stay here for the rest of his life. But Xu Mingshi’s words always echo in my mind, like a ghost that can’t be dispelled.

“He will always leave." said Xu Mingshi.

He will always leave, because he is a snake. No matter how deep the feelings of human beings are, in his eyes, they are just feeding. No matter how loving that person is to him, in his eyes, he is at most just a feeder. A feeder, not a lover who is always with him. So he will look for a female snake when he needs it, and he will leave forever for this. Maybe not this year, or next year, but one day, he will meet a female snake that suits his heart, and then he will accompany it, chase it in the bushes and grass, shuttle between branches, share a delicious meal together, and raise many, many little snakes.

This day has not yet arrived, but it will come eventually.

Liu Yan said silently, over and over again : “Don’t blame me."

Confinement and bondage against one’s will are not beautiful; they are full of cruelty and violence, oppression and deprivation. Even if there are many reasons and the actions are gentle, they are still gentle cruelty.

He had experienced this himself in his previous life, when he was called Ji Jiu.

But Liu Yan understood that one day in the future, he would use any means necessary to cut off his escape route and force him to stay by his side.

That means, he will destroy what he likes, and kill what he is obsessed with.

With the memory of three lives, Liu Yan knew that he had killed people. He was decisive, ruthless, and his hands were stained with blood. He had never been a kind person. Regarding this point, he had affirmed his self-evaluation in both the first and second lives . He had harmed people, such as Shen Zhen, whom he had harmed when he was Shen Qingxuan; he had killed people, such as the bloody path he had trodden in the process of being a companion to the prince and a general when he was Ji Jiu; three lives and three worlds , there were countless bones in his memory. He was a sinister aura in his bones , and such cruelty would be revealed when necessary, like a sword that licked blood and could not be sheathed until it saw blood.

But he met Yi Mo, a cold but not ruthless snake demon. His appearance was like a piece of peerless jade formed by the magma deep in the earth’s crust after thousands and thousands of years of evolution. When he met him, he just gently embedded himself in his heart, eliminating much of his hostility and malice.

So he became calm and learned to be a truly calm and kind person.

He never thought that one day he would use this cold side of himself on Yi Mo.

That was his Yi Mo. After thousands of years of cultivation, Yi Mo had washed away all worldly desires and was very, very old , but he had returned to his original nature and was like a child.

When he himself would look at the world with a pair of natural eyes, he wanted to go and hold the child, holding his hand, and then keep walking forward.

Just thinking like this will make your heart soften, as if your heart has melted into a pool of water . Any pain and hatred will turn into smoke in such softness.

It’s such a soft mood.

Reality required him to do something cruel, to shatter and destroy such beauty, to force this snake, which had never harmed anyone, into a desperate situation, with no way out. Only in this way could he continue to hold his hand, even though it was already a pair of scarred hands.

“Don’t blame me."

He could only repeat it over and over again, silently in his mind.

He knew that when they met in the underworld in the future, Yi Mo would definitely not blame him. Not only would Yi Mo not blame him, but he might even blame himself for adding to his distress after turning into a snake. Then he would hug him and say some comforting words.

Thinking of this, the feeling of tearing in his heart became deeper and stronger, almost swallowing him up.

What could be more painful than to smash the treasure in your hands? He pursed his lips tightly, stirring the pain in his heart over and over again until his heart was crushed into pulp.

He had no one to tell about his pain, so he could only curl himself up in the dark quilt, hugging an unconscious and lazy snake, and remain silent for a long time.

I can only remain silent.

As if in the speechless silence, he persisted for another day and greeted the dawn of a new day in the darkness.

Outside the house, the early birds were already busy. In the yard came the sound of Shen Jue sweeping the floor. The bamboo broom scraped across the ground with a “swish-swish" sound, one after another.

Liu Yan lay quietly on the bed, knowing that he had to persevere and he had no right to give up halfway.

He has to hold on.

——If one day, we can still be together, I want to stand shoulder to shoulder with you , bathing in the morning light together on such an ordinary morning. Then I can use my witty words to tell you all my experiences, just like telling a story or a legend.

Then you will hug me, just like I hug you, and we will smile at each other.

So all the pain and struggle were turned into honey by the smile.

He had nothing left, and all he had was the will to persevere.

It was this kind of will that made him still smile when facing Shen Jue who brought him hot water after a sleepless night.

Shen Jue put the things he needed for washing up in place, and stood aside and said, “Dad, hurry up. I saved some soup for cooking noodles, and there’s only a little left. If you’re slow, Xu Mingshi will snatch it away again."

Liu Yan dressed up and chuckled when he heard it, “If you have time to save soup for me, you might as well go for a walk in the woods and pick another basket of mushrooms."

“I’ll go pick them later," Shen Jue raised his eyebrows, “I just don’t want to pamper that old man. His belly has been getting bigger and bigger recently."

“You are just kidding. You should be happy that he has a good appetite."

“Yes, I am very happy." Shen Jue said helplessly, “When his stomach bursts and he dies from overeating, I don’t know how happy I will be!"

“Does he really eat so much?" Liu Yan was washing his eyes with tea. He put down his hand and said, “Then let him eat less. His stomach is weak when he’s old. Eating small and frequent meals is the right way."

“I told him, will he listen?" Shen Jue sneered, “You go and tell him."

“Okay, I’ll talk to you later." Liu Yan responded.

“Then I’ll go." Shen Jue was thinking about the things in the kitchen. When he reached the door, he said, “Wash it and leave it there. I’ll pour the water later."

“Do you think I’m old?" Liu Yan was angry and amused, “You can’t even lift the basin to wash your face?"

“I’d love to." Shen Jue answered without turning his head. His tone and expression were almost the same as Yi Mo’s when he uttered those three words .

He was indeed happy, with a heart full of filial piety, sincerity and enthusiasm. But he didn’t know how much Liu Yan was worried because he was too happy.

It is natural for people to be homesick. But if you are too homesick, to the point of not caring about anything else except your home, what will happen in the future?

Liu Yan thought that he had entrusted Shen Jue to Yi Mo, but he had not expected such a situation today. He could not help but think of the old demon snake ‘s appearance in his previous life when he was going to make confinement porridge for the emperor. It was just the first time in more than a hundred years that the child was with others, but he was so upset. It is easy to imagine who caused Shen Jue to be so homesick.

It is natural for young people to love their families. However, Shen Jue has grown up a long time ago, and one day, his life will no longer revolve around them.

bind his child after they passed away, allowing him to walk the rest of the way with something to rely on.

Liu Yan didn’t even know if he could see his child find a new companion in his lifetime. After all, the life span of a snake is too short, and he only wanted to live that long.

Shen Jue had no idea of his worries. After snatching Xu Mingshi’s bowl and chopsticks in the kitchen, Shen Jue couldn’t help but get angry and said, “Do you really want to die?!"

Xu Mingshi looked innocent: “The food you cooked is delicious. Besides, I’m a guest, so it’s okay if I eat more of your food. I’ve never seen such a stingy host." His face was full of wrinkles and he looked old. His mouth and cheeks were greasy, but he had to pretend to be innocent with a dirty old face. This look was completely different from his handsome appearance when he was young, and it was even severely distorted.

Shen Jue couldn’t help rubbing his forehead and said, “If you have food accumulation and can’t get up from the bed, I won’t serve you."

“Who needs your service? I’m alone and I’m just waiting to die!" Xu Mingshi said arrogantly.

The older you get, the more unreasonable you become. Shen Jue was so angry this time that he wanted to smash the pot and bowl, but he couldn’t do such a thing. He could only stare at him for a long time, but the other person’s old face didn’t show any sign of shame, so Shen Jue had to slam the door and leave.

The wooden door was slammed shut with a bang. Shen Jue was really angry this time and simply left the yard. Liu Yan heard the noise and the door slamming, and knew that it was something Shen Jue could do. He wondered why Xu Mingshi deliberately provoked him, and thought that the wooden door should be repaired. At this time, Xu Mingshi came over with a greasy mouth.

There was nothing wrong with him eating secretly. Early in the morning was a good time to regulate the stomach, but he insisted on drinking the leftover chicken soup from last night. It was greasy and heavy. No wonder Shen Jue was angry.

When Shen Qingxuan raised Shen Jue, although Yi Mo took care of him, he suffered a disaster in his childhood and was much weaker than ordinary people, so he often took care of him. Shen Jue also learned a lot of dietary tips. Since taking care of them, he has been particularly attentive to their diet, always careful, and unwilling to make any mistakes. Shen Jue was not partial to Xu Mingshi and took good care of him.

But Xu Mingshi, for some unknown reason, insisted on using this to provoke Shen Jue. No wonder Shen Jue slammed the door.

This is really a case of my kindness being taken for granted.

Liu Yan was holding the wooden basin and was about to ask Xu Mingshi why, but the old man’s fingers flashed with white light and he said to himself with great relief: “Finally he drove him away."

The wooden basin fell to the ground, the hot water spread out and wet the loess. Before Liu Yan closed his eyes and fell to the ground, he only had time to think: After all, he was the person Shen Jue called uncle.

So I know how to easily anger him.

Xu Mingshi easily dealt with Liu Yan, put him on a bamboo chair in the yard, and covered him with a robe. He said cheerfully, “Brother, the sun is nice this morning. It’s good for your health to get some sun."

Unfortunately, Liu Yan couldn’t hear anything and could only lie unconsciously on the stone table basking in the sun.

Xu Mingshi’s old face was full of smiles after his little trick succeeded. He entered the master’s bedroom, pulled open the quilt that Liu Yan had not had time to fold, and greeted the big snake that was curled up and sleeping in the quilt.

Perhaps his smile was too creepy, the black snake, sensing danger, stopped being lazy, looked up at him for a while, and immediately got out of bed to find Liu Yan. But no matter how fast he was, he was just a snake, and he was no match for the old Taoist priest, who blocked his way with a spell. Xu Mingshi quickly caught the black snake in his hand, and this action made the black snake hesitate. After all, they had been familiar with each other for so long, so it was a question whether to bite or not.

“Don’t bite me, please eat."

Xu Mingshi pinched his mouth open and stuffed the medicine he had prepared into it. His moves were swift and agile, like the wind, without the slowness of an old man. It was so fast that ordinary people could not see it clearly. The black snake was just an ordinary snake, and it was immediately caught by him. The thing entered the esophagus and melted immediately. He couldn’t spit it out even if he wanted to.

Before he could express any dissatisfaction with the force-feeding , he became like Liu Yan, knowing nothing.

By the time Shen Jue calmed down and rushed back, everything was already a foregone conclusion.

Liu Yan was lying on the stone table, unconscious. The door behind him was wide open , and a bright golden light was shining inside, so bright that it was blinding. He immediately rushed into the room.

The golden light seemed to form a solid wall, bouncing him back.

“Xu Mingshi!"

In this situation, Shen Jue suddenly understood and yelled instinctively, but he knew it was too late.

“Fate comes and goes, the way of nature comes naturally, there is no need to worry about it."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. Shen Jue turned around abruptly. Outside the door stood an old immortal with a white beard . He had a transcendent temperament and familiar features. Shen Jue knew him. It was he who cast a spell to restore his father’s memory of three lives, and it was also he who took his father away.

“What are you doing here?" Shen Jue asked.

“Come and collect his soul." The old immortal could see that he hated himself, but he smiled and said, “He wants your father to be a human being, but the price is that his soul will be scattered. However, he has something to do, so his soul cannot be scattered. Naturally, I am here to help him condense his soul."

The old immortal blinked his eyes and suddenly looked much happier. “That’s what he will do in the future. What do I have to tell you?"

Shen Jue was stunned for a moment: “If he can recondense his soul, then he can still be a human in his next life, right?"

“That’s none of your business," the old immortal said. “Anyway, he’s still here. How can we let him disappear so easily? He smashed a jar of wine from me and I haven’t gotten it back yet."

Shen Jue didn’t know what he was thinking after hearing this. After a long while, he said, “I don’t know if I can meet her again."

The old immortal’s gaze paused on his face, then slowly moved away, looking at the room shrouded in golden light, and said, “It will take some time for the spell to be completed. There is one more thing that is related to you."

“Um?"

“Little Snake told me that if you have nowhere to go in the future, you can come to me to practice."

“Did your father say that?"

“He and I have been friends for thousands of years. If he asks me to do something, I naturally cannot refuse. You can come to see me anytime you want in the future. You also know where to find me."

“I won’t go." Shen Jue refused flatly. After a while, he suddenly said, “I have an acquaintance here. He is a spirit that was cultivated from a pine tree. Trees are originally heartless, and cultivation is difficult. However, he has cultivated into a human form in more than 200 years. It can be seen that his roots are extraordinary. Are you willing to take him in?"

The old immortal did not answer for a while. Shen Jue thought he was unwilling, so he stopped talking when he saw this.

“Well, I know the pine spirit too. Now that this matter is settled, I will take him away." The old fairy said, “As for you, I think I will take you in again someday."

His behavior showed that he was open and honest. Shen Jue’s dislike for him was much reduced. He smiled and said softly, “I don’t practice cultivation. What’s so good about being a demon? Do you think it’s interesting to be an immortal?"

The old immortal had not expected him to ask such a question. After coming to his senses from his surprise, he immediately laughed out loud and said, “I think it’s very interesting."

“What’s so interesting about it?" Shen Jue asked.

At least I can help you little goblins, right?"

Shen Jue was suddenly speechless.

As they were talking, the dazzling golden light gradually faded and dimmed. The old immortal waved his hand and stopped chatting. He took out a small piece of black cloth from somewhere. The small cloth turned into a pocket in his hand. He reached in and took out a scarlet Bagua furnace made of unknown material and threw it into the sky. The Yin-Yang fish in the red furnace was spinning. Before the golden light completely dimmed, Shen Jue seemed to see some vague white shadows being sucked into the furnace.

“Okay." The old immortal put the things back into his pocket, and folded the pocket into a small black cloth the size of a palm. He looked up at the sky with a look of satisfaction as if he had finally finished his work. “I should go now."

“Thank you." Shen Jue said, bowing solemnly.

“No thanks," the old immortal said, “I’ll treat you to a drink someday, so don’t refuse then."

Although Shen Jue felt that his words were incoherent, he still nodded.

The old immortal smiled, looked at the wooden house with the door wide open, and couldn’t help but shouting towards the silent house:

“Little snake, I have done everything I asked of you. Our relationship ends here. As for the future, it is up to you to cultivate it yourself!"

There was no sound in the room for a while. It was not until the old immortal had gone far away that Shen Jue heard a long-lost voice, which replied lazily:

“knew."