Fairy, I'm going to control you tightly!

Ji Nanbei simply shook his head.

"I have confidence."

Zhang Qingmiao: You have no confidence whatsoever!

Zhang Qingmiao really didn't want to discourage Ji Nanbei.

But in her view, that was absolutely impossible.

Ji Nanbei was saying that becoming a Daoist couple with the princess of the Eastern Continent Immortal Dynasty was much more reliable than being with Xiao Jingxi.

However, only Ji Nanbei and Xiao Jingxi knew this.

The only thing separating the two of them from getting married was meeting each other.

It was clear that Ji Nanbei could not be persuaded.

Zhang Qingmiao also fell silent, which was unusual for her.

Covering her face, Zhang Qingmiao shook her head repeatedly.

We can only let Fellow Daoist Ji hit a wall once.

Given Fellow Daoist Ji's mindset, a setback would likely only be a source of growth for him!

Ji Nanbei naturally wouldn't explain too much to Zhang Qingmiao.

Zhang Qingmiao remained silent, while Ji Nanbei initiated a conversation.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I've always had a question, though it might be a bit offensive. Would you like to hear it?"

Zhang Qingmiao looked up, appearing quite puzzled.

"Fellow Daoist Ji, what is there between us that we can't say? We are dearest friends and brothers."

Ji Nanbei: Hmm! (Alert)

Well, you're a money-grubbing hermit!

cough cough.

"Why does Fellow Daoist Zhang always seem to have so much to say? He hardly ever stops talking. Doesn't he get tired?"

Ji Nanbei actually wanted to say, "Why are you such a chatterbox?"

However, out of politeness, the wording was still somewhat euphemistic.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qingmiao burst into laughter a few times.

"This matter... it's not exactly a secret, Fellow Daoist Ji. Let me tell you a story."

Then, Zhang Qingmiao told a story with a smile.

As mentioned before, among the four continents, only the Eastern Continent and the Western Xia had unified dynasties.

Dongzhou is the Eastern Continent Immortal Dynasty.

The Western Xia refers to the Western Xia Dynasty.

The southern barbarians live in deep mountains and dense forests, rarely inhabited. The northern lands are even more desolate, inhabited only by uncivilized barbarians and a group of monks.

Unlike the Eastern Continent Immortal Dynasty, the Western Xia Dynasty was never very stable.

For a time, there was even a period of regional separatism, where the emperor of a dynasty was less powerful than a local warlord.

That was probably more than a decade ago.

Within the Western Xia, war raged on and flames of conflict spread everywhere.

The people were no longer just displaced; they were waiting to die every day.

The local tyrants and feudal lords who occupy a region may change every day.

At times like these, no one cares about the life or death of ordinary people.

Zhang Qingmiao... was born into the direct line of the Daoist sect.

In her youth, Zhang Qingmiao, as an ordinary person, tried every means to survive in the war-torn Western Xia territory.

The conflicts within the cultivation world are terrifying.

The aftershocks of a great cultivator's battle can easily wipe out an entire area.

In a single battle, an entire village could be wiped out.

This is under the condition that those great cultivators are not targeting anyone.

Amidst the strife, some utterly shameless individuals threatened to massacre entire cities to harm their enemies.

In the Western Xia Dynasty at that time, let alone ordinary people.

Even cultivators of average cultivation level find it difficult to remain unscathed; they can't even protect themselves.

And mortals

Mortals who can't even fast from grains will die from the cold of the earth and the scorching heat of summer...

Their situation is self-evident.

At that time, Zhang Qingmiao was just an ordinary person from Western Xia.

As a child, Zhang Qingmiao wandered around with a group of refugees.

Let alone ordinary food.

Sometimes, they can't even find wild grass to eat.

When Zhang Qingmiao was young, she even witnessed scenes where the bark of trees within a thousand miles had been gnawed off.

Some people eat clay because they are extremely hungry.

That stuff can fill your stomach, but it can't be expelled.

Some people died from being bloated.

Such is the miserable state of mortals.

Zhang Qingmiao is quite lucky.

Because my family collected medicinal herbs when I was young, I knew how to identify some plants and judge their growing environment.

There's always something to eat.

Although they were hungry, they managed to survive.

Moreover, among the fleeing crowd, there was an ordinary older sister who took great care of her.

Zhang Qingmiao didn't even know the other person's name; she just called her "elder sister."

During their escape, the eldest sister often told Zhang Qingmiao stories.

It could be her past experiences, the history of Western Xia, or the legendary cultivators.

In short, they talk about everything.

Zhang Qingmiao knew that her older sister often spoke to her in order to soothe her emotions.

At least, there were some sounds around me; I could no longer hear the distant roar or the deathly silence.

The sound of people's voices around you always makes you feel more at ease.

The eldest sister often talks until her mouth is dry.

Fortunately, the Western Xia had many lakes and rivers, so at least it did not lack water.

Zhang Qingmiao once said that she was not afraid and that her older sister did not need to nag her so often, thus saving her sister some effort.

However, the eldest sister simply shook her head.

"People can only speak if they are alive. People always need something to think about, otherwise it is difficult to survive in this chaotic world. While I am still alive, I want to say more, so that I can at least feel that I am still alive."

That's what my older sister said.

Later, Zhang Qingmiao also developed a talkative habit.

Because living is really not easy.

Every day when I open my eyes, I have to say something.

Speaking makes me feel alive.

In order to still be able to speak, one must continue to live.

And then...

In those chaotic times, the Daoist sect began to descend the mountain to spread their teachings.

In the past, Taoist sects would not actively descend the mountain to spread their teachings.

Those who have a heart for the Dao, those who are destined to follow the Dao, will naturally have the perseverance to ascend the Dao mountain, enter the Daoist sect, and cultivate freedom.

However, in the midst of chaos, a Taoist priest carried a sword and came down the mountain on his own.

It's not about preaching; it's just about wanting to do my part to make life a little better for the people, saving as many as I can.

Later, Dao Zong simply opened his mountain gates and went down the mountain to spread his teachings.

Zhang Qingmiao was indeed destined to be a good candidate for cultivation, and she was also lucky to have met the Celestial Master.

After that, he was taken in as a disciple.

By the way, Zhang Qingmiao wasn't always called Zhang Qingmiao.

Qingmiao is a Taoist name.

However, she herself couldn't remember her own name, only that her surname was Zhang.

Once you join the Daoist sect, you no longer have to worry about how to survive every day.

However, his talkativeness remained.

And that's where the story ends.

It sounds like the ending was pretty good.

However, many things were left unsaid.

Ji Nanbei could hear many unspoken implications in his words.

However, Ji Nanbei did not pursue the matter further.

For example, what happened to the eldest sister in the end?

In fact, even without asking, Ji Nanbei roughly knew what the outcome would be.

Why reopen old wounds?

Zhang Qingmiao finished recounting her past with a smile, then clapped her hands.

"Alright, I can hardly shake my habit of talking too much, so please bear with me, Fellow Daoist Ji. Oh, right, I've already told Fellow Daoist Ji everything, so why don't you tell me about your own affairs as well?"

Ji Nanbei nodded, just about to say something.

But at this moment.

The surrounding spiritual energy, which had been drifting gently, suddenly became restless.

The turbulent Zhuiying River seemed to stand still for a moment.