Longevity, starting from traveling and telling stories

Chapter 114: A Warning to the World: Du Shiniang

The next day, the sun was still shining brightly, as if it had never changed.

The group has arrived at the flat ground outside the gate at the foot of the mountain, ready to go.

At this moment, everyone's attention was attracted by a handsome man with a figure like a pine tree. He was Jin Quan. He walked towards them amid the envious and respectful gazes of the disciples.

Soon, the disciples' attention was drawn to a figure in white on the other side. However, when they saw the rugged bearded man beside her, their eyes were filled with confusion. Could it be that all beauties love beasts and beards? Everyone subconsciously touched their chins, wishing they could grow longer.

Seeing Li Xianglian coming, Jin Quan immediately stepped forward and said with a smile: "Junior Sister Li, everything is almost ready! Let's go down the mountain quickly, or you and I can use Riyuan and Yueshuang to fly down together?" He also deliberately emphasized Riyuan and Yueshuang's tone to show that they have a special relationship.

Li Xianglian was now completely focused on the bearded man beside her. Her expression was absent-minded, and she replied in a perfunctory tone, "Brother Jin, the scenery along the way is nice. I want to walk down the mountain. If you're in a hurry, you can go to Huangyan Town and wait for me.

Originally, since Li Xianglian had just broken through the Foundation Establishment Stage, flying a sword would not be a big problem. However, she knew that Ye Beixuan was in the Qi Refining Stage and could not fly a sword, so naturally, it was more comfortable for her to come with some Qi Refining Stage disciples on foot or in a carriage.

"Okay then, I'll go there on foot too." Jin Quan said a little frustrated.

Going up and down the mountain, the geniuses from various immortal palaces were all enjoying the mountain scenery. Although the war had left the mountain riddled with holes, who would still remember whose bones were buried here after it was covered with flowers and grass for several years?

After crossing mountains and rivers, the group finally arrived at Huangyan Town, which was located on the edge of the Lost Sea, until dark.

Because there were so many people, everyone went to find an inn to rest. They planned to rest here for a day and then gather at the ferry to head to Luoxian Island.

After everyone left, only Ye Beixuan, Jin Quan, Li Xianglian and a young monk from Putuo Temple - his Buddhist name was Jieyan - were left.

When Ye Beixuan first heard this name, he was stunned for a long time. After asking the reason, he learned that it was his master who asked him to give up worldly affairs.

At this moment, the young monk who had quit smoking said, "Amitabha, now everyone is from the three major sects. Today, I have the good fortune to know that there is a home-like inn here. It feels like coming home, very nice."

Inn? How could a monk know about this? A Flower Monk? Ye Beixuan's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Master, you seem to know a lot about this? I wonder if this inn is crowded."

The young monk had a calm expression and spoke in a rather proud tone, "I've traveled the world slaying demons and monsters, so I know a bit about them. There was once a shameless ghost in Huangyan Town. The local city god couldn't subdue it, so I helped to subdue it."

"It is said that the wine in that inn is very good."

Ye Beixuan and the others were speechless. It was indeed the Flower Monk.

Jin Quan listened to Jie Yan talking about the Home Inn, and immediately smiled at Li Xianglian beside him and said, "What do you think, Junior Sister Li? Let's rest here for one night and continue our journey tomorrow."

Li Xianglian turned her head to look at Ye Beixuan, and seeing that he did not seem disgusted, she nodded calmly.

Before setting off, several of them had already entered the city in plain clothes, looking like young masters from wealthy families among ordinary people. Of course, apart from quitting smoking, he still looked like a monk and couldn't change it.

After the few people made the decision, they went to Home Inn under the guidance of the monk who quit smoking. On the way, Li Xianglian consciously put on a veil. Her beauty was a trouble, but even so, passers-by stopped to watch. Fortunately, she was born in an ordinary family and had long been accustomed to it. If she were replaced by a woman who was not involved in the ordinary world, she would probably have already drawn her sword.

After a while, they arrived at the door of Home Inn. This inn was indeed luxurious. There were restaurants, teahouses and even a red house in the front yard alone, while the backyard was quiet and elegant, specially set up for wealthy people.

It is divided into four large courtyards, east, west, south and north. Each courtyard has more than a dozen rooms, and the decoration is extremely luxurious. Several people chose the north courtyard and lived in one room each. After going back to rest for a quarter of an hour, Hua Heshang Quit Smoking couldn't help but knock on the door and said he wanted to eat. Helplessly, several people ran to the restaurant in the front yard to see if they could have something good to eat. In the words of Quit Smoking, there were almost no birds on the mountain, which was why he liked to go out to fight monsters.

The restaurant was packed with people, all enjoying the food. The little monk quit smoking and called the shopkeeper over. It seemed that the two were old acquaintances. Could it be that the shameless ghost came from this inn?
Ye Beixuan bit his itchy lips, his mind full of thoughts, and he almost wanted to tell stories again. As soon as he arrived in this kind of environment, he started to want to tell stories. He really couldn't change this professional habit.

"Snap!" A gavel rang out, and at that moment, a storyteller on the desk straightened his clothes and gently waved his folding fan.

"." Li Xianglian looked at Ye Beixuan with strange eyes, and the latter coughed lightly.

"Everyone, I'm the storyteller from Home Inn. My surname is Zhou, and my name is Boran." He then began to narrate: "Today, I would like to bring you an exclusive story called Eighteen Touches."

"Che, this thing again."

"Boring, I've heard it all so many times."

Everyone booed. Although there were a few new customers who liked to listen every day, the old audience did not buy it.

Zhou Boran's face was filled with embarrassment, and he could only say sheepishly, "Everyone, I'm just a storyteller, not a writer. Please bear with me as this story is limited."

"Why don't you tell it?" Li Xianglian suddenly moved closer to Ye Beixuan and whispered softly, "I haven't listened to your story like this for a long time."

"Okay!" Ye Beixuan thought for a moment and felt that it would be a good idea to do something fancy. Last time, Jin Ping Mei was discontinued, so this time he could change to the five stories of the same type, San Yan Er Pai. They are not much less "pornographic" than Jin Ping Mei.

He slowly walked towards Zhou Boran and whispered a few words in his ear. Zhou Boran looked puzzled and asked, "All the money belongs to me?" "It belongs to you."

"Okay, then you come." Zhou Boran put down his folding fan, gavel and clapboard, and walked aside to wait for Ye Beixuan to start talking. He wanted to listen to what book the other party could talk about. He didn't believe there was any story he hadn't heard of.

"Hmm!" As usual, Ye Beixuan slammed the gavel, and the clang of the clapperboard immediately attracted everyone's attention. He coughed lightly and said, "Everyone, my surname is Ye, and I am a friend of Mr. Zhou. I am not very talented, but I heard that you all scoffed at the Eighteen Touches, so today I will tell you a story called Du Shiniang."

"It's not some vulgar thing again! I'm used to hearing that. If you say something good, I'll definitely reward you."

"that is.."

The people in the audience echoed.

Bang! There was a muffled sound, and the audience immediately fell silent.

"Everyone, listen to me." He then slowly opened his folding fan, revealing the Eighteen Touches pattern on it. A cold gaze met him. Li Xianglian was staring at him coldly. Ye Beixuan quickly closed the fan and coughed awkwardly. "There's a story about a wealthy young man named Li Jia. One day, he met a girl named Du Mu in the teaching office. Because she was the tenth child, she was also called Du Shiniang. It was said that this Shiniang was a stunning beauty, as beautiful as a flower."

"The two fell in love at first sight. They were happily together day and night, spending all day together like a married couple. Details of their relationship are omitted in 100,000 words." (From "Stories to Warn the World: Du Shiniang's Anger and the Sinking of the Treasure Chest")
"Skip your mom. Tell me the details."

"Isn't this just a story from a brothel? It must be another alternative version of the Eighteen Touches. It's boring." Someone began to shake his head.

Seeing that the audience was a little anxious, Ye Beixuan felt a little depressed. The audience nowadays! Why are they so anxious? So he suddenly changed his tone and said: "What a pity..."

This sudden transfer made the audience's eyes light up. Ye Beixuan knew that he couldn't hook it anymore. If he didn't say anything, they would probably be gone. So he began to tell the story of how Li Jia's family eventually fell into poverty and was driven away by the brothel owner.

At this moment, a woman in white next to her pursed her lips, and her eyes were filled with mist, as if she felt the same way, because she was Zhang Piaopiao, the famous prostitute at Rujia, and she was also facing the same situation.

When she talked about how Li Jia couldn't raise enough money to redeem Shi Niang, she cried even more.

"And Li Jia was lucky enough to be taken in by his good friend Liu Yuchun, so he didn't have to sleep on the streets."

"This Liu Yuchun is a righteous man." Someone said this, and everyone nodded in agreement. Unconsciously, they had been immersed in his story.

"When Shi Niang saw that Li Jia could not raise any money, she held him in her arms and comforted him with soft words. This showed the true nature of this woman." He then began to tell how Liu Yuchun was moved by Du Shiniang and generously gave his own money to Li Jia.

"But the madam actually changed her mind and refused to let Shi Niang redeem herself. Shi Niang had no choice but to threaten her with death. The madam had no choice but to agree because she thought: If she died, she would be worthless. In the end, Li Jia and Du Shiniang finally became free." Ye Beixuan slowly breathed a sigh of relief and finished speaking in a quite happy tone.

"Good, good." Everyone applauded with satisfaction at the happy ending.

Li Xianglian smiled slightly. Compared to Peach Blossom Fan, she was much more satisfied with this ending.

"Oh Amitabha, there is indeed true love in the world." The monk who quit smoking drank a large bowl of wine, his tone a little tipsy.

However, just after everyone finished applauding, the atmosphere suddenly fell into an eerie silence, and even the sound of a pin drop could be heard clearly.

Because their eyes were all focused on Ye Beixuan's slightly sad expression, he slowly said, "But Li Jia believed the slander of others and wanted to sell Shi Niang to someone else for one thousand taels."

At this point, everyone fell silent.

Seeing everyone silent, Ye Beixuan pinched his nose and imitated Du Shiniang's tone. His funny look made everyone hold their breath. He sneered and said, "The person who devised this plan for my husband is a great hero. My husband's fortune will be restored, and I will not be burdened by luggage if I change my surname. It is a plan that is based on emotion and ends with courtesy. It is truly a plan that is convenient for both parties. Where is the fortune?"

Everyone looked sad, and Li Xianglian was even more disappointed, but her expression became gentle when she looked at him. At least he was not a heartless person.

Ye Beixuan sighed at this point, "Shi Niang's wholehearted devotion to this relationship has brought her disappointment and determination towards Li Jia to a climax. Perhaps this is what it means when hope grows, disappointment grows!"

"Finally, Shi Niang threw away the treasure chest and jumped into the surging river."

"Bah, such a heartless person." Someone in the room angrily punched the table, causing the dishes and chopsticks to fly, showing how furious he was.

After finishing the book, Ye Beixuan walked quickly towards Li Xianglian. They had almost finished eating and stood up to go back.

There was a lot of shouting and cursing from the back.

However, just as they walked a short distance, they heard someone shouting, "Master! Master!"

"Huh?" "I'm not Tang Monk, why call me Master?" Ye Beixuan turned around and saw Zhou Boran following him breathlessly.

(End of this chapter)