Hot flashes

The Taoist temple was small, with some dilapidated eaves and peeling paint on the walls. However, the courtyard was spotless, free of weeds and fallen leaves on the stone steps, as if someone regularly came to clean it.

Zhou Heng stood at the door for a long time.

Then he went inside.

There was an old tree in the courtyard, its leaves mostly fallen, sparse and scattered. Under the tree was a stone table and several stone benches. On the table sat a tattered palm-leaf fan, its purpose unknown.

He walked to the stone bench and sat down.

As soon as I sat down, I felt as if all my strength had been drained, and I leaned against the stone table.

My eyelids are getting heavier and heavier.

He struggled to open his eyes and glanced around.

Still no one.

Forget it...

He lay down, pressing his face against the cold stone tabletop. His consciousness grew increasingly blurred, until he sank into darkness.

I don't know how much time passed.

My eyebrows are a little itchy.

Zhou Heng frowned; the itch was still there. He groggily reached out to touch it, but found nothing.

He opened his eyes.

A face was right in front of me.

A boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old squatted in front of him, staring at him intently. The boy was extremely handsome—with delicate features, well-defined facial contours, a straight nose, and clear, bright eyes.

Zhou Heng was stunned for a moment.

It wasn't because the boy was good-looking.

It was because of his clothes.

He was dressed in a short, dark brown outfit, with the cuffs tied, a belt around his waist, and black boots. His hair was tied up and held in place with a hairpin. He looked exactly like a young swordsman straight out of an ancient costume drama.

When the boy saw him open his eyes, he suddenly darted back and hid behind a pillar.

Zhou Heng blinked.

Half a head peeked out from behind the pillar, a pair of eyes looking this way. There was curiosity, nervousness, and a little bit of barely concealed excitement in that gaze.

Zhou Heng slowly sat up.

He looked at his hands, then at his surroundings. A Taoist temple, a young man in ancient costume.

A thought struck my mind like lightning.

cross?

He was completely stunned, sitting there motionless for a long time.

The boy peeked out from behind the pillar a little more, and seeing that he didn't move, he became bolder and peeked out a little more.

Zhou Heng spoke with difficulty.

"What dynasty is this?"

His voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like his own.

The boy paused for a moment. Then he spoke.

"Great Zhou".

Big week.

never heard of that.

He then asked, "What's the reign title? Who's the emperor?"

The boy said, "In the seventh year of the Jianyuan era, the emperor's surname was Xiao."

Zhou Heng's vision went black.

It's still a fictional dynasty.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again.

He looked up at the boy.

The boy had already emerged from behind the pillar and stood three steps away, looking at him.

Zhou Heng asked, "What's your name?"

The boy looked at him, his eyes shining.

"My name is Xiao Jue."

Zhou Heng nodded.

My name is Zhou Heng.

Xiao Jue.

He silently repeated the name to himself. It was a good name.

Just then, my stomach suddenly made a loud noise.

goo—

Zhou Heng froze.

Xiao Jue looked down at his stomach, then looked up at his face. Then his eyes suddenly lit up, even brighter than before.

Are you hungry?

Before Zhou Heng could answer, Xiao Jue had already taken a step forward.

"I'll go get you some food!"

He turned and ran.

After running a couple of steps, as if remembering something, she turned back and looked at Zhou Heng with a serious expression.

"You wait for me here, don't go anywhere!"

Zhou Heng nodded blankly.

Xiao Jue glanced at him again to make sure he nodded before turning and continuing to run. As he ran out of the courtyard gate, he almost tripped over the threshold, stumbled, and rushed into the woods without looking back.

Zhou Heng sat there, staring at the disappearing figure, and remained in a daze for a long time.

Were people in ancient times always this enthusiastic?

Xiao Jue ran back all the way.

He ran incredibly fast, his feet barely touching the ground. Branches brushed against his face, but he paid no heed to the pain. Grass tripped him, but he didn't stop. Only one thought occupied his mind—

He found an immortal.

He truly is an immortal.

An hour earlier, he was catching rabbits in the woods behind the mountain. He didn't catch any, but suddenly he saw a white light. The light descended from the sky, so bright that he couldn't open his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, there was a person lying on the ground.

Wearing strange clothes, with short hair, its face buried in the ground, it remained motionless.

Xiao Jue's first thought was that it was a mountain spirit.

He drew the short knife from his waist and slowly approached. Hiding behind a tree, he moved closer step by step. Closer, even closer, until finally he could see the face clearly—

He was stunned.

It's not a spirit or monster.

In those stories of spirits and monsters, the spirits and monsters are all incredibly ugly. They have blue faces and fangs, pimples all over their faces, and slanted eyes. But this person is different.

This person is very good-looking.

His face was covered in mud, and blades of grass were stuck in his hair. His eyes were closed, and it was unclear whether he was dead or alive. But even with mud on his face, he was still incredibly handsome.

It's not a spirit or monster.

If it's not a spirit or monster, then what is it?

Xiao Jue thought for a long time, and then suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.

Hermit.

This is an immortal.

His hands trembled with excitement. He had encountered a celestial being descended to earth. What an incredible stroke of luck!

He didn't dare approach, so he hid behind a tree and watched. He waited for a long time, until the man woke up.

Xiao Jue followed him from a distance.

He saw the man walk out of the woods, along the mountain path, and arrive at the abandoned Taoist temple he often visited.

He waited a long time, until the person seemed to be asleep, before he dared to slowly approach.

That person looks beautiful even when they're asleep.

His brows were relaxed, his eyelashes were long, casting a small shadow beneath his eyelids. His lips were slightly parted, his breathing even. The mud on his face had dried, cracking into small patches.

Xiao Jue squatted down in front of him.

He couldn't resist reaching out to touch the face. His fingers had barely touched the eyebrows when the man suddenly moved.

Xiao Jue was startled and quickly shrank back, but it was too late.

The man opened his eyes and met his gaze.

Xiao Jue hid behind a pillar, his heart pounding. But his eyes couldn't help but keep looking in that direction.