The setting sun hanging in the western sky had been hidden by the clouds at some point and disappeared. It was shrouded in gray clouds and a little drizzle started to fall at dusk.

The old man and Shen Kuang, who were sitting opposite each other under the eaves, had been silent for a long time. When they looked up, the slightest drizzle had fallen lightly, and they were still speechless.

Nan Qiao, who was playing with the children in the room, also heard the sound of rain outside. She walked slowly to the eaves, followed by the children. The children stretched out their hands to catch the rain falling from the eaves, smiling happily.

Nan Qiao looked out from the rain curtain. Opposite him was a young man and an old man sitting opposite each other. They were also looking here. The old man was looking at the laughing children, while Shen Kuang's eyes were on her. The two nodded. Signing, everyone smiled.

I can hear the rain falling in silence, and I can see the clouds closing as I walk.

The summer rain comes and goes quickly. After all the outpouring, the sky is brand new and only half of the fiery red sunset remains.

When talking to the old man, Shen Kuang asked about the safety of the others, and the old man said lightly that everything was fine. After knowing that Jiang Ning and the others would not be in danger, Shen Kuang finally relaxed his worries.

————

There is only one empty house in the village, but fortunately the room is large. Although it is one, there are two small compartments that can accommodate two people.

Since the children became familiar with Nan Qiao, their vigilance towards Shen Kuang has also weakened a lot. Especially Xiang'er, who seemed not to be afraid of Shen Kuang from the beginning, and even started to have sex with Shen Kuang in the future. We chatted several times.

After a simple dinner, night fell quietly.

On the way, Shen Kuang and Nan Qiao, who were returning to the house side by side, walked like this without speaking.

Perhaps he felt that this atmosphere was a bit strange, so Shen Kuang took the lead and spoke: "Senior told me that the others will be fine, so Miss Dugu doesn't need to worry."

"Um?"

Nan Qiao, who had been distracted, could only react when she heard Shen Kuang's words. She hesitated for a moment, and then turned her head to look at Shen Kuang.

"Call me Nan Qiao!" she said softly.

Maybe he thought this was not a bad statement, so Shen Kuang nodded and said, "Yes! Miss Nan Qiao."

From the moment she saw Shen Kuang until just now, Nan Qiao's heart had not calmed down. But when she heard Shen Kuang call Miss Nan Qiao, Nan Qiao felt very calm for the first time.

She didn't turn her head to look at Shen Kuang, she lowered her head and was silent for a long time, and then she said softly: "I'm sorry for what happened in the past."

Perhaps in the eyes of others, the things that happened between the two of them in the past did not require an apology. But in Nan Qiao's view, these three words were not just a simple apology, but more akin to smoothing out the strange relationship between the two. statement.

It was also because she liked Shen Kuang that she felt the need to say this even more.

Hearing Nan Qiao's words, Shen Kuang paused, turned his head and looked at Nan Qiao, and said slowly: "Miss Nan Qiao actually doesn't need to apologize."

Nan Qiao shook his head: "There should be. I always feel that it shouldn't be like this between us. We may not be friends, but we are not enemies either."

After saying that, Nan Qiao added: "Right?"

She wasn't sure either.

The two of them continued walking forward slowly, their backs looking particularly different against the moonlight.

"Yes." Shen Kuang replied softly.

Although this apology seems a bit abrupt to Shen Kuang, if you think about it carefully, if you consider it from Nan Qiao's perspective, it may be necessary.

"We should be considered friends. We wouldn't know each other without fighting." Nan Qiao added.

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One sentence brought their memories back to the past, and they couldn't help but smile. Nan Qiao suddenly thought of the shackles of his fourth sword, and thought of his master's words later, and now he had more insights into the Red Dust Sword.

Nan Qiao responded: "The kind that doesn't tell the winner, my friend."

"If I have a chance in the future, I will definitely have a good discussion with Miss Nan Qiao." Shen Kuang said with a smile.

"That's settled."

"It's a deal."

————

Nan Qiao didn't know what the word "like" meant. Sister Ciyin, who knew a lot of things, couldn't explain it because she had never really liked someone. Nan Qiao thought about these two words while thinking about Shen Kuang, and she felt You don't have to tell that person if you like someone. Liking is a matter of one person, but falling in love is a matter of two people.

The night sky in the mountains is beautiful, especially tonight. Shen Kuang and Nan Qiao sat side by side in front of the house, looking at the bright moon and stars in the sky.

"Did Senior tell you about the other children?" Nan Qiao asked softly under the moonlight.

Shen Kuang nodded and said: "Senior said those children are all naturally born mountain spirits and ghosts, because the existence of the sword spirit allows them to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and they can transform with the strength of entering the Taoist realm."

Nan Qiao thought for a while and then said: "They are very cute and kind."

"Well, they are all good kids."

Ordinary practitioners would probably have felt worried and afraid when they heard about mountain spirits and ghosts. Shen Kuang and Nan Qiao are not ordinary people. Their knowledge and vision are beyond the reach of ordinary people. So there are no preconceived notions.

At this point, Nan Qiao did not go further in this direction. Shen Kuang nodded lightly. Both of them knew what would happen next.

The moonlight is beautiful, but it can't be so consistent, that's all.

Compared to Jiang Ning, Shen Kuang felt that the relationship between him and Nan Qiao was more dull. Shen Kuang never paid attention to Jiang Ning's previous statement that Nan Qiao liked him. In fact, it didn't matter whether it was true or not. It's not important. It's not that he doesn't like her at all, it's just that he doesn't think their relationship should be about love.

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The dawn is beginning to shine, and the sky will be bright. Young people practice swordsmanship consistently.

Shen Kuang didn't practice for too long today. He practiced swordplay in the morning. Maybe he thought it was interesting because he had never seen it before, so all the children were attracted. There were even children who imitated Shen Kuang and practiced like that. But soon, they The old man called me back because it was time for class.

Time passes quickly in the mountains, and three days pass by in an instant.

The children had classes during the day, and Shen Kuang and Nan Qiao would sometimes listen outside the door. Shen Kuang was not much of a scholar, so he could only listen to the classics and meanings from the old man's mouth at a loss. Whenever the old man quoted scriptures and told stories, Only then did Shen Kuang, who was as interested as the children, prick up his ears and listen carefully.

Nan Qiao, who was capable of both literary and martial arts, would often frown and ponder for a long time about the old man's teachings, so that later on, Nan Qiao already regarded the old man as a real school teacher in his heart.

Since the first night, Shen Kuang and Nan Qiao would sit under the eaves every night, looking at the stars and talking. There was no fixed topic, they just talked about whatever came to mind. The two chatted a lot and also talked. Very happy.

The old man taught much less time than before, and the children knew it. When the teacher taught, they listened more carefully than usual. No one talked about these things, let alone asked the teacher why. The old man

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He saw it all, but he didn't know what to say. He shouldn't talk about sadness when parting.

What is meant to come will always come, and what is meant to go cannot be kept.

That day, the old man sat across from Shen Kuang again. The old man told him a lot, and the more he talked to the end, the more Shen Kuang knew what had happened.

"Some people say that all feasts in the world must come to an end, and others say that we never meet again in life. What do you think?" The old man asked Shen Kuang this question as if he was testing his disciple's academic skills.

There is not much ink in the young man's stomach, he doesn't have much reason to explain, let alone gorgeous words, he only has the purest thoughts in his heart.

The young man thought for a long time and finally said: "Fate."

Shen Kuang only said one word, and the old man smiled, looking at Shen Kuang and knowing that there was more to come.

Shen Kuang said slowly: "Master once warned me not to dwell in the past, let alone get lost in the future. The road ahead is long, and never judge the success or failure of this journey based on the current results. Destiny comes and goes. , fate gathers and fate disperses, what is supposed to come will always come, and what is about to go cannot be kept, just wait slowly. Many of the principles I know were taught to me by my master, and I have always abided by them."

The old man looked at Shen Kuang with satisfaction: "You have a good master."

Shen Kuang smiled slightly: "Although the master is sometimes unreliable, he is a gentleman."

Hearing this, the old man laughed, but there was a bit more sadness in his smile.

————

It is not difficult to recognize the master of Fu Xuan Sword. With the participation of the old man, Shen Kuang sacrificed a drop of blood and dropped it on Xiang'er, who transformed into an ancient sword. When the drop of blood melted into the sword body, Shen Kuang suddenly felt A familiar feeling came from the bottom of my heart, it was about Xiang'er. Shen Kuang looked at the little girl, and Xiang'er happened to be looking at him.

Seeing this scene in front of him, the old man grinned as if he had completed the heaviest mission.

That day, dark clouds once again covered the sky, and drizzle fell. Suddenly, a breeze blew by, but it couldn't bring any brightness.

The old man slowly closed his eyes in front of his desk and never woke up again.

At that moment, a surge of soaring sword energy came out of Xiang'er's body and shot straight into the sky. The next second, the sword energy disappeared and returned to calm.

Before he died, the old man spent most of his cultivation to help Xiang'er conceal his aura. These cultivations could also help Xiang'er break through to the master realm as soon as possible. The remaining half of his cultivation was to protect the location of the village. The old man used a hiding technique. Cover up the secret, quietly erase this place, and disappear from ordinary people's sight, so that they can't see through the mystery here.

The children seemed to feel the difference in their teacher. They all gathered around the teacher and called him one by one. However, the teacher who had been with them for many years would never speak again.

The children burst into tears. Shen Kuang and Nan Qiao stood behind them, bowed in unison, and did not get up for a long time.

————

From the moment he got to know him, the young man always adhered to his own rules and did not ask about the identity of the old man. In Shen Kuang's eyes, perhaps even the master could not compare to this old man.

Xiao Li, this is the old man's name for the master. Although Shen Kuang cannot know the past story, he knows that the old man must have a connection with the master and the master's sect, Xuanji Mountain. Therefore, when the old man emerged, Shen Kuang told the master on his behalf. The old man kowtowed.

It was not until the end that Shen Kuang asked the old man's name.

The old man only had two simple words: Yan Ren

Shen Kuang had never even heard of this name, but he had already remembered it firmly in his mind.

(End of chapter)
Chapter completed!