Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Crimson Frost Bridge.

The aftermath of the battle had completely destroyed the bridge, leaving the surrounding area riddled with potholes and in a state of utter devastation.

Ye Xiaozhou was injured, her long hair was loose over her shoulders, and there were some burn marks. Blood was flowing from her shoulder, staining her red dress even darker.

As expected of someone in the Nascent Soul stage, they have many ways to protect themselves.

Even with her and her senior brother working together, they couldn't easily kill him; he almost managed to escape by leaving his body with his nascent soul.

Fortunately, her senior brother's Taoist magic was able to suppress the soul, and with the addition of the hundred or so explosive talismans, she was able to "harvest" the soul.

Although she was seriously injured, she seemed to be in a good mood.

I was sitting by the river, watching a slightly comical scene unfold beside me.

Shen Anzhi stood before the mess, bowing repeatedly towards the empty space, offering thanks and apologizing.

"I apologize for disturbing your peace. It was my fault. May you all rest in peace."

"Thank you for your help. When I get back, I will definitely burn more paper money and recite the Rebirth Mantra more often..."

"I had no choice but to summon you all here; it was not my intention... I will use it in a different place in the future..."

Shen Anzhi was also somewhat disheveled; his white shirt looked like it had rolled several times on the ground. He hadn't expected the Ji family's explosive talisman to be so powerful.

His breathing had weakened considerably, which worried Ye Xiaozhou. But he had been standing there rambling on for a long time, and it seemed that nothing was wrong.

"Senior brother, are you still alright? Should we go back to the Star-Picking Tower to recuperate?"

Shen Anzhi shook his head seriously and said:

"I don't think I'm up to it."

After saying this, he plunged into the river under Ye Xiaozhou's gaze.

Ye Xiaozhou cursed as he pulled the man ashore. "It's only been a few days, how come my senior brother seems to have become much weaker?"

It shouldn't be.

She probed Shen Anzhi's meridians and spiritual energy.

Wow, that's impressive!

Senior brother has become stronger. Even with internal injuries, he can still restrain a Nascent Soul cultivator. It seems that he has accomplished what Master asked him to do before he left the mountain.

Ye Xiaozhou sat next to the unconscious Shen Anzhi, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

Just then, a Taoist figure appeared in the void.

As soon as Ji Daoting appeared, he immediately released his divine sense to scan the surroundings, but he could not find his granddaughter.

However, the residual spiritual energy fluctuations around here are clearly from the Ji family's explosive talisman.

Ye Xiaozhou, who was below, glanced at it, chuckled, and offered to tell him:

"Your granddaughter and my junior sister went on the run together!"

Ji Daoting was so angry that his eyebrows twitched. If he hadn't been worried about the two people below who were either injured or lying down, he would have thrown down two more explosive talismans!

It appears there were no casualties tonight.

It was an ending that satisfied everyone.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

My name is Xiao Liuzi.

He was a beggar.

But every time Grandpa heard me say that I was a little beggar, he would get very angry and say that I was not a beggar.

I asked, "Then what am I?"

Grandpa didn't answer for a long time before finally saying, "You are my good grandson."

I don't think there's anything wrong with being a beggar. Although my clothes are a bit tattered, I sometimes don't have enough to eat, and I might freeze in the winter, I'm usually very happy.

Some of the kids in Beixuan City dislike me, while others don't. I even have a few good friends!

Oh right, my grandfather's name is Lao Laizi (Old Lai).

I'm eleven years old now, and I know this name isn't a compliment, but everyone calls him that, and Grandpa himself is used to it.

Grandpa said that when he was begging, he passed through a deserted village and wanted to come in to find an iron pot to cook some hot food. He found me there. I was only two years old at the time and was crying because I was so hungry.

I asked Grandpa where he found me, and he said he saw me among a patch of red flowers.

How beautiful!

From then on, I stayed by my grandfather's side.

My grandfather was an old beggar.

I am a little beggar.

Grandpa was banging on a bowl in front of me, and I was crying beside him. Grandpa said I was a lucky star, and that he had been begging for more money ever since he found me!

We've been to many places.

When I was six years old, my grandfather brought me to Beixuan City. He said that the harvest was good and there were few natural disasters, so there must be many kind people here!

And so, we stayed here for four or five years.

But as I grew up, my grandfather got old.

He used to be very fast and never got caught stealing, but that's no longer the case. Fortunately, there are many kind people in Beixuan City, so even if he gets caught, his grandfather won't be beaten.

A while ago, we tried to steal someone's wallet at the Longevity Inn but were caught!

Especially that lady leaning against the second-floor railing, she hit me on the head with an apple and immediately spotted my purse. Humph, it's all her fault for being so nosy.

It's also my fault. I was so scared that I called out "Grandpa" and almost didn't make it.

Fortunately, my grandfather was clever and said that I was a disciple of "Zhaixinglou".

They were really fooled.

But before leaving, the girl who threw the apple at me took the sign. I didn't understand. It was clearly mine. Why did Grandpa give it away to someone else?

Grandpa told me that the older sister was helping us out of a predicament.

Otherwise, someone will come and steal our things at night, and might even take my life.

I was startled!

Okay, I don't blame her for throwing an apple at me.

At night, neither my grandfather nor I could sleep, fearing that someone might cause trouble and we wouldn't be able to kowtow and beg for mercy in time.

Ultimately, it turned out that we were overthinking it.

That evening, apart from a young man in white clothes who had poor eyesight wandering around the nearby alleys looking for someone, no one else was seen at all!

You ask me how I know he has bad eyesight?

Haha, that big brother walked through the same alley at least five times!

Our good days will come soon.

Suddenly, a group of fools appeared in Beixuan City. They especially loved to give their money to beggars.

Many of these people were holding books in their hands.

Grandpa also said that reading makes people smarter...

I don't think they're that smart. Even if I read the book, I wouldn't give my money to someone else!

Today, we saw that older sister again. I heard that she is now a disciple of Zhaixinglou.

I'm so envious.

I still remember that day at the Longevity Inn. As soon as Grandpa said I was a disciple of the Star-Picking Tower, none of those people dared to stop us!

My sister told my grandfather that I shouldn't have to continue being a beggar.

I don't understand.

But Grandpa seemed to understand.

At night, Grandpa asked me if I wanted to become a disciple of the Star-Picking Tower.

Of course I want to!

I'll be a little immortal, and Grandpa will be an old immortal. We'll live forever together, and maybe we'll be able to eat chicken legs every day.

Grandpa's face was full of wrinkles as he smiled. He said that he had begged for money today and would use it to make me a decent set of clothes. Two months later, he would send me to participate in the disciple assessment of the Star-Picking Tower.

new clothes!

I have never worn new clothes.

Grandpa has passed away.

I know he must have gone to the cheapest clothing store in Beixuan City. My grandfather and I have been inside many times, but we never dared to touch anything. My grandfather always said that when he had money, he would buy me a new outfit.

So I know where that shop is.

Once you cross the Crimson Frost Bridge, you'll be there!