The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 640 - 364: Harvest Festival
Ning Xiaoxian thought to herself that a woman should be loyal to her own husband. The Nangong Family was nearly wiped out by the schemes of the Ling Family, and Nangong Zhen’s return to fulfill his vow of revenge was not necessarily wrong. After all, the world is so savage, revenge and grudges are the mainstream practices, unlike people living in a society ruled by law and justice who could seek recourse through laws and righteousness. However, Nangong Zhen’s methods were too ruthless. Yet, as someone who faced Heart Demons during Crossing Tribulation, it is possible that he harbored regrets for the past. Perhaps this was his retribution.
Changtian said leisurely: "To invite the Sixth Layer Heavenly Tribulation, Nangong Zhen must have killed more than just these few hundred." This Sect Leader, ruthless in his youth, appeared to have committed numerous killings.
She couldn’t help but recall the sentence Nangong Zhen left in the Jade Scroll: "I, regret!"
He had regrets; thus, the Nangong Sect Leader she later saw in him was kind and benevolent. But what use were regrets? Even though he dedicated the latter half of his life to the service of Guangcheng Palace, the blood on his hands was indelible.
With the death of Nangong Zhen, centuries of grievances and feuds were finally washed away by the wind and the rain.
Thinking of this, her heart suddenly stirred. What about Changtian and Yin Jiu You then? Was their hatred truly so deep that even thirty thousand years could not extinguish it?
With two powerful bodyguards by her side, the next two days should be worry-free indeed. This year, Hachaer Basin had abundant rainwater and sunshine, making for a good harvest with excellent fruits and vegetables, hence Nian Family Village’s Harvest Festival was exceptionally grand.
The celebration would last for two days and two nights. The residence of the Ling Family was well located, just above the large square. After having Tu Jin move a chair under the osmanthus tree, she could overlook the festivities from there.
Bonfires, singing and dancing, worships of gods and ghosts. Ali watched intently by her side, and Ning Xiaoxian, amused, pinched her increasingly smooth cheek and said to Qi Zai, "Go down with her for a walk, don’t lose her." Ali cheered, kissed her on the cheek with a smack, and then toddled off, with Xiao Bai the White Bird following her like a shadow.
Their group had encountered non-stop events recently, and Ali had stayed in the God Demon Prison for about half a month, which must have stifled her. Now that they had a chance to live peaceful and joyful days, how could Ning Xiaoxian not let her out for fresh air?
"So they brew wine in this village?" The days here were long, nights short, and the sunshine plentiful. Rainwater wasn’t excessive, and the fruits grown here were as sweet as honey. By the end of September, the grapes were already covered with white frost. At the grand Harvest Festival, the center of the grounds had seven or eight huge barrels, each about three meters in diameter. Many young men and women entered barefoot, dancing while stomping out the juice from the grapes. Occasionally young men and women entered the middle of the grounds, and oftentimes flushed young men and women, arm in arm, quietly walked into the darkness beyond the bonfire’s light.
The joy on the square directly seeped into everyone’s hearts. The simple happiness of mortals. Sitting under the osmanthus tree, Ning Xiaoxian smiled as she watched the men and women dancing jubilantly below, and said to Changtian, "After I rescue you from the God Demon Prison, shall we go dancing too?"
He laughed deeply, his voice as rich as wine: "As you wish. Wherever you want to go, we will go."
While speaking, a young man walked slowly towards them from a distance, his face flushed. She didn’t turn her head, but with her expanded Divine Sense, she could recognize that this was the guy who had stood outside her window in the afternoon.
The young man saw her almost entirely shrouded in darkness, only her eyes shining like morning stars. The flickering bonfire reflected in her dark pupils, making her face seem even more lovely and serene. Osmanthus petals, carried by the breeze, softly fell on her black hair and shoulders, adding a touch of loneliness. With admiration in his heart, he couldn’t help but step forward, wanting to pick them off for her, but Tu Jin stepped sideways to block him.
She waved her hand lightly. Even though Tu Jin had his back to her, he stepped back into the darkness as if he could see.
She smiled and said, "Is there something you need?"
The young man looked at her smile, his face reddening even more, but he mustered the courage to say, "Would you... dance with me?" According to local customs, at the Harvest Festival, a young man who fancies someone can ask for a dance. If the other party agrees, it signifies a hopeful match.
Hadn’t she already refused him that afternoon? She was slightly surprised but still shook her head.
He became a bit anxious, raising his voice, "If you’re willing... I would accompany you to see the autumn’s Feng Valley, the winter’s Snow Mountains, the spring’s peach blossom forests—wherever you want to go, we’ll go there!"
The words spoken by this young man were identical to what Changtian had just said! She looked at him in surprise, her eyes wide, and then heard a muffled grunt from Changtian, obviously very annoyed.
He wasn’t jealous because this mortal lad was in no position to compete with him. But the words the boy spoke were just too...
Seeing her smile, the young man thought he had a chance. He also noticed her soft, tender hands resting on the blanket, and in his elation, he reached out to pull her towards him. In that instant, she caught a glimpse of eager flames in his eyes, filled with something called "joy."
She was no longer the naïve girl who had just left Shallow Water Village. Whenever they were in the throes of passion, Changtian would also look at her with the same expression, and she was certain she wouldn’t mistake it.
The young man’s hand didn’t reach his target because when he was still a foot away from her, he suddenly encountered an unseen barrier. Her protective magic tool had activated, gently but resolutely blocking him outside the protective shield.
He was clearly startled, not expecting such a delicate and pretty girl to be an immortal. He looked up at Ning Xiaoxian only to see that her smile had faded, and she said, word by word, "I can’t stand up, I can’t dance... you should go."
The young man stared at her in disbelief, then it dawned on him: that’s right, every time he had spied on her these past few days, she had always been leaning on a lounge chair, never standing up. No matter how beautiful a girl was, if she was disabled, how could she be a partner to share a lifetime with? His face flushed, he apologized, and quickly turned to leave.
It didn’t take long for her to spot the young man again in the crowd; he was already dancing with a slim and cute girl. Soon, the girl whispered two sentences in his ear with a flushed face, and the two of them, hand in hand, snuck into the darkness at the edge of the forest. Before they disappeared, he glanced back at the osmanthus tree under the Ling Family, as if he could still see those bright eyes.
"The men and women here are really open and generous," she said, her face flushed. These young men and women sneaking into the forest are almost certainly going to rollick under the cover of heaven and earth. The customs here are truly bold.
"If you could be a bit more generous too, I would be endlessly grateful," Changtian teased, "Do you still remember the day before yesterday, you were..." His voice rose in her ear, sounding like the whisperings of lovers, making her face blush and her ears turn red.
They talked for who knows how long until Changtian’s voice became a bit hoarse: "Come in."
He had repeatedly invited her into the God Demon Prison these past few days, but she had refused, afraid of succumbing. Yet, at this moment, her head felt heavy and foggy, and just thinking about him made her throat parched with thirst, so she unhesitatingly slipped inside.
Tu Jin looked at the empty chair and couldn’t help but touch his nose, pretending he knew nothing and saw nothing.
Once Ning Xiaoxian entered the bottom level, she suddenly fell prostrate on the Black Stone ground. Today was only the seventh day, and in theory, her legs should still be weak, but after one glance at Changtian, she somehow wobbled to her feet and slowly moved towards him.
That glance was shy and timid. Changtian’s golden eyes narrowed involuntarily; something seemed a bit off about this girl. Seeing her slowly approaching the Demon Transformation Spring without intending to stop, he quickly waved his Black Robe and used a movement technique to sweep her over to him in the air.
Her current body couldn’t withstand the Divine Power of the Demon Spring.
"Girl, you..." He had just spoken when he realized she was reaching out her little paw and tearing at his Black Robe with considerable strength.
Where did this girl get such energy? Changtian, even if a bit slow to realize, now knew something was off about her. He gently sniffed the air and detected a faint sweet scent. The fragrance was noble and elegant, but his acute sense of smell stripped away its guise and identified it unquestionably as drugs!
Even though she was physically weak now and her resistance was low, she had been sitting under the osmanthus tree the whole time with Tu Jin standing guard; when had she fallen into someone else’s trap? And who could have been bold enough to drug her?
(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to cast your recommendation ticket or Monthly Ticket on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
