Chapter 114 Why Did the Water Flow? (1/2)
The incantation went by like running water, which left no mark.
Shen Lian could not remember a single word, but he seemed to lose himself. He was trapped in a dream.
It was an odd space, there were wind, thunder, lightning, sun, moon, and star, which were interchanging.
The six phenomena were interchanging as if it was encrypting the message of Dao on heaven and earth.
Shen Lian was confused and unable to think. During the final dragon roar, everything disappeared and then he woke up.
It had been many years since he last had a dream, as he used the state of concentration as a substitute to sleep.
This dream, however, was grand and colorful and odd to an extreme. He could still feel the impact of the dream – it was an indescribable feeling. It was akin to happiness, despair, or perhaps, loneliness.
The sun rose from the east. Ruoxi woke up earlier than Shen Lian. He smelled pancakes and congee.
It seemed that sometimes a kid could just grow up all in a sudden.
Shen Lian did not give much thought to the dream last night, but he attempted to remember how it felt like waking up from the dream. The seed for the power of Taixu Strategy was about to germinate as if it was planted in the spring soil.
He was eating the congee and pancake earnestly. It was the first time Ruoxi tried cooking but they were edible. Ruoxi was a bright kid. She had become extremely perceptive under Shen Lian's nurturing.
If she were to learn swordcraft, it was likely that she would be better than ninety-nine percent of the swordmen out there. If she were to do something else, she would be the crème de la crème.
However, in cultivation, mere talent was not sufficient.
It required affinity, techniques, and most importantly, luck.
Ruoxi looked at Shen Lian earnestly as he ate the food she prepared. She looked more concentrated than when she was practicing writing. Shen Lian's expression had changed as he noticed the little girl's expression. While the food was just alright, he looked as if he was enjoying it fully.
Once he finished, he asked Ruoxi, ”Do you want to go on a trip tomorrow?”
The little girl asked, ”Where to?”
”A temple in the mountain. It is called Xiangji Temple,” Shen Lian replied.
”Is it fun?”
”I've never been there, so I don't know.”
”I want to go.”
”Okay.”
The daily conversations between this pair of adult and child had always been this plain and boring. The two were not aware of it. Ruoxi enjoyed the crowd, but she did not like to be a part of it.
The crowd and the hustle and bustles were just like fireworks during the festive season. She liked to be alone, or simply follow her brother at somewhere quiet. She would be satisfied to just be able to watch the fireworks from afar.
She was easily satisfied because she demanded little. With that, she had little problems in life. She did not know about the bad blood she inherited, and Shen Lian too would not tell her about it so she would not seek revenge. From this aspect, she was in a much better position than Bai Shaoliu.
It was the third time Shen Lian met Bai Shaoliu. He looked less cold than before as he attempted to squeeze out a smile.
Shen Lian laughed, ”Have you ever smiled in front of a mirror?”
Bai Shaoliu did not understand why Shen Lian posed the question. He shook his head and answered, ”No.”
”I feel that if you smile at a mirror, it can help you with your guts.”
”Why?”
”Because your smile looks scary.”
It was obviously a joke, but it was not a funny one. Bai Shaoliu then stopped smiling.
It was perhaps because he had been expressionless for a while, and hence his facial muscles were rather stiff. The smile was not completely removed from his face and it looked even more awkward.
After a short silence, Shen Lian then asked, ”So why are you here?”
Bai Shaoliu replied, ”I am here to thank you for saving my life the other night.”
He took out a fabric. There were pictures and words on top of it.