How many times rose flowers

"My poor children... What crime did my old lady do!" After hearing the cause and effect of the incident, the old lady cried again.While comforting her mother, Ms. Zhang thanked Jixue and others.

"Madam, do you know her?" Ah Jiu asked the old lady, remembering what the ghost said.The female ghost lowered her head obediently, not daring to raise her head, as if she was afraid of something.

"I don't know... I don't know..." The old lady was strong and calm, shaking her head.

"Old witch, you are so cruel that you don't even want to recognize your former daughter-in-law!" The female ghost suddenly became angry and wanted to break free from the bondage of the rope.

"Are you...'Alan'?" Miss Zhang's sharp eyes recognized the identity of the female ghost.She had a look of disbelief on her face.

"You know her? I hope Miss Zhang can tell the truth about the cause and effect." Jixue bowed to Miss Zhang.

"The fairy master doesn't have to be like this. I will fully cooperate." Miss Zhang looked at the appearance of the female ghost, and every detail of A Lan's life emerged in her mind.

In the huge woods, the little girl A Lan curled up in a corner, waiting for someone to come and take her away.The sound of beasts came from time to time in her ears, and she closed her eyes in fear.

"Little sister, why are you here?" A voice woke her up.She opened her eyes, and there was a handsome young man in front of her.

"I... I got lost. I don't know why, but I came here. You... can you take me away?" Alan said in a voice that was almost pleading.

The boy nodded, and wanted to lead her out of the woods, but a snake suddenly appeared behind him.The snake spit out the letter and crawled towards them.

"Little sister, don't be afraid, I will protect you." The boy took out the knife he carried with him and stabbed the snake in a panic.

The snake was injured, and its movement speed slowed down a bit. The boy hurriedly pulled Alan up and fled out of the woods.The forest was on a barren hill, and in desperation, they came to a temple that had not been inhabited for a long time.

"Thank you. Thank you. What's your name?" A Lan looked at the boy in front of her with her innocent eyes.

"Me? My name is Zhang Su, serious Su. What about you?" The boy was panting, and wiped the sweat off his face with the handkerchief he carried with him.

"My name is Alan. Zhang Su, I will definitely repay you." Alan's tone was so firm for the first time.

"Okay, I'll wait for you." Zhang Su didn't think about it, just agreed.

Later, servants of the Zhang family found them and they were saved.After being saved, A Lan, who had no father or mother, decided to enter Zhang Mansion and become Zhang Su's maid in order to repay him.

They got along day and night, and the two fell in love with each other. When Ah Lan was 15 years old, Zhang Su proposed to his mother, Mrs. Zhang (later the old lady), to marry her.Mrs. Zhang did not agree, but locked A Lan into the woodshed.

After Ah Lan, who didn't know the truth, was imprisoned in the woodshed, she was treated harshly by the servants, and she only had a bowl of sour porridge every day.Occasionally Zhang Su's younger sister, Ms. Zhang, would come and give her a steamed bun. She told her about herself and Zhang Su, hoping she could help.

After waiting for a long time day after day, Zhang Su never came to visit her.Ah Lan was bullied in the dark woodshed, and finally one day, Miss Zhang brought her news of Zhang Su.

She was overjoyed to hear the news about Miss Zhang, but it seemed like she had been poured cold water on her.Miss Zhang told her that Zhang Su was getting married to the daughter of the second largest family in the town.

Alan could no longer restrain the impulse in her heart, she desperately wanted to find Zhang Su and ask him for clarification.She made the most daring move in her life—she quietly ran out of the woodshed.

The mansion is covered with red silk and satin, and the word "Xi" in the mansion is very ironic to her.This was the day Zhang Su got married.The hall was full of guests and the whole house celebrated.

"Zhang Lang!" Ah Lan ran towards Zhang Su with all her strength.Zhang Su looked extraordinarily dazzling in his red auspicious suit.

"It's not true, is it?" Alan was almost hysterical.She didn't want to accept and couldn't accept this fact.

It's a pity that before Zhang Su could say a word, Mrs. Zhang dragged him to the carriage to meet the bride.Mrs. Zhang glared at her fiercely.

She lost her mind and walked aimlessly in Zhang's mansion.Tears fell down.

She was sent back to the woodshed, where she was beaten again.Zhang Su never came to see her.

After a long time, probably a few months later, she was released suddenly.She couldn't be happier.But the person who let her out stepped on her with wooden shoes condescendingly.

"You vixen, you don't want to snatch him away."

Ah Lan understood who she was, she was Young Mistress Zhang, Zhang Su's wife.But, she just sneaked out and took a look at him, why did she treat her like this...

Several burly servants beat her severely.She lay dying in front of Zhang's mansion—Alan was thrown out by those people.

She didn't wait for anyone. The 15-year-old's life ended on that night of hunger and cold.

Not long after Ah Lan died, Grandma Zhang also passed away due to illness.The Zhang family ushered in such a catastrophe.

So far, Ms. Zhang's narrative has come to an end.The old lady didn't say anything more, she seemed to acquiesce in everything.Jixue and the others fell into silence.

At this time, the female ghost A Lan suddenly struggled violently.Jixue recited a formula, and she just returned to calm.

"It's your own fault." Ah Jiu's voice was like a whisper, but it was still caught in Ji Xue's ears.

"This matter is not that simple." Ji Xue whispered to Ah Jiu.

"Madam, can I use the technique of empathy to read her memory?" Jixue turned her head and asked the old lady.

"Why? Does the immortal think that there is something hidden in this case?" Miss Zhang asked in confusion.

Jixue said nothing, just nodded.The old lady also acquiesced to her statement and agreed.

Jixue chanted the magic formula, and after a while, she came to a chaotic space.That was A Lan's consciousness space.

"Who are you? Are you here to catch me?" A Lan asked.

"Miss Alan, I'm here to find the truth for you. Please tell me how you became what you are now." Jixue said in a slow tone.

"I, I don't know. There is a person who gave me this, and he said that as long as I make a wish on this, it will come true. I can't remember what I wished." Alan said submissively, she was obviously What was the stimulus.

Jixue took the bamboo slips in A Lan's hands with all kinds of strange formulas written on them, looked at them carefully, and a memory belonging to A Lan appeared in her mind.

"Do you want revenge?" a voice asked.His voice had obviously been modified with a voice-changing formula, and Jixue couldn't tell his identity.

"I, I don't want to." A Lan said.This answer was beyond Jixue's expectation.

"They killed you, and they made you homeless." That voice was still bewitching her mind.

"What, what do you mean?" Alan's eyes flashed with doubt.

"They, for their own benefit, killed your father." The voice continued.

"How is it possible, how is it possible?" Alan couldn't believe it.

"You must still remember the epidemic back then, right? Your father developed the antidote, which was originally intended to be provided to the poor for free. But then your father died suddenly, and it was Zhang who sold the antidote at a high price." The voice lingered in my ears , wandering in my mind like a nightmare.

"Don't say it, don't say it." Alan closed her eyes in fear.

"Don't you want to take revenge for killing your father? I can help you." The owner of the voice handed her the bamboo slip, "Make a wish on it, it can fulfill all your wishes."

"I want, I want all the men of the Zhang family to be buried with us!" The hatred in Alan's eyes was burning like a raging fire, and the hatred had already confused her mind.

The memories came to an abrupt end here, and Jixue saw the truth of the matter, but did not feel the joy of solving the case.Because she heard A Lan's words, the voice begged bitterly: "If those things were really done by me, please kill me, I don't want to hurt anyone anymore."

"..." Jixue fell silent.She didn't know whether to agree to Ah Lan.The empathy skill dissipated, and she returned to Zhang's residence, A Lan was still tied to the ground.

Alan's physical body is about to dissipate, she is a dead ghost after all, only her soul remains in the world.Jixue read a verse for her, and she disappeared here.

"Master Immortal, did you just let her go like this?" The old lady said indignantly, "The grievances of my Zhang family have not yet been settled!"

"Madam, God knows what happened a few years ago. Alan has been saved and will not cause trouble and harm others. Please don't pursue it anymore." Jixue said firmly.

"Okay, okay, you so-called upright sects of the immortal sect say that you want to eliminate harm for the people, but you are actually here to exploit us." Thinking of the money she entrusted with the task, the old lady couldn't help feeling angry.

"I'll return the silver to you. Let's close this matter." Ah Jiu took out a bag of silver taels from his sleeve and handed it to the old lady.

When the old lady saw so many silver taels, she couldn't help being overjoyed for a moment, and after a few words of chatter, she really didn't want to pursue more than a dozen lives of Zhang's family.Jixue and his party also left.

"Ah Jiu, I will find a way to return these silver taels to you." Jixue said while walking on the road.

"No, no, no. I didn't tell you before, but I'm actually the daughter of a wealthy businessman in Lin'an. The last thing I need is money." Ah Jiu said half-truthfully.

"Didn't you say..."

"I'm still a famous person, so I must hide my identity when I go out."

"These silver taels, I..."

"If you really want to pay it back, tell your head for me to reduce the tax at the Xiuyuanmen boundary."

"OK then."

Walking to the entrance of Chaoling Town, Jixue and his party parted ways with Ah Jiu.It was the beginning of sunset, and the sun was shining on the edge of the mountains, the breeze was not dry, and the farmhouse started another busy day.They talked and laughed, looking forward to a good harvest.

……

After returning to Xiuyuanmen, Jixue immediately reported to Elder Xiang Yao.Elder Xiang Yao was not at her residence, so several senior brothers and sisters took her to the main peak, Jingluan Peak, because Elder Xiang Yao was discussing matters with the head of the sect and several other elders in Jingluan Peak.

Jixue waited outside the door for a while, and Tong Chuan's disciple led her into the meeting hall.Elder Xiang Yao sat solemnly without saying a word.

"Jixue, a disciple of Nianhua Peak, see the master, master, all the elders." Jixue bowed in a polite manner, and stood at the entrance of the meeting hall, showing no intention of moving.

"What are you doing standing by the door, come closer. Uncle Sect Master has something to ask you." Ling Yunfeng's Elder Zhao He said.He is the elder of Xiuyuan Sect second only to the head of the sect, so he naturally has a high position and authority.Now, he is sitting on the side of the head.

"Disciple obeys." Jixue approached a little closer, the expression on his face was still indescribably cold, like a pine tree standing firm in the cold snow.

"Jixue, I heard that you met a ghost in Chaoling Town, are you injured?" Head Liu tried his best to show a friendly look, suppressing the anger in his heart.

"Thank you for your concern, the master. The disciple was not injured." Jixue's calm look surprised the elders. Didn't ordinary little girls cry when they saw Li Gui and never go again?

"But I heard that you returned the entrusted silver and let Li Gui go without permission. Is there such a thing?" Head Liu slammed the table angrily.

"Leader, please forgive me, Jixue has already saved her soul before letting her go, she will not cause trouble and harm others again." Jixue's tone was neither humble nor overbearing.For a moment, Elder Xiang Yao's eyes overlapped with the shadows of her and that old friend.

"Nonsense! My Xiuyuanmen have been famous all the year round. If you do this, you will destroy the foundation of my Xiuyuanmen." Seeing that this was indeed the case, head Liu was furious, and stood up while leaning on his crutches.

Jixue said nothing, but stared at Head Liu with determined eyes.Head Liu was depressed and coughed violently.

"Xiang Yao, is this the good disciple you Nianhua Peak taught?" Elder Zhaohe sternly reprimanded Jixue while helping head Liu to calm down, "Kneel down!"

Jixue fell on deaf ears.She didn't seem to have heard Elder Zhaohe's words, but she said firmly, "This matter was done by me alone, it has nothing to do with Master, and it has nothing to do with the disciples of Nianhua Peak. If the elder wants to punish, punish me alone."

"Come here, Jixue, a disciple of Nianhua Peak, contradicted the sect master and punished him with twenty lashes," Elder Zhaohe said.In an instant, Jixue was escorted out by several strong disciples.A group of disciples gathered around and whispered.

"Elder Zhaohe, I asked Jixue to do this matter, so it should be..." Elder Xiang Yao spoke silently.

"Shut up!" Master Liu scolded.He coughed a few more times, then stopped talking.

It was a burning pain to be whipped one by one on the body.Jixue gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound.After beating for a while, some elders couldn't bear it: "Jixue is a girl after all, isn't Elder Zhaohe's action too heavy?"

It's okay if you don't say this, but as soon as you say it, Elder Zhaohe took the whip and slapped Jixue hard.A piercing pain hit, and Jixue gasped.She didn't cry, and she didn't cry out for pain. Elder Zhaohe used his spiritual power and continued to swing the whip. When he was about to whip again, the pain didn't hit.

A junior brother rushed forward and took the whip for life.Jixue looked up, and that person was Niangui.

"In Chaoling Town, Senior Sister saved my life and Chi Mu's life. I have thick skin and thick flesh. This whip is insignificant." Niangui smiled reluctantly, but couldn't hide the weakness of being whipped. A whip contains the spiritual power of Elder Showa.

"Elder Zhaohe, the Xiuyuan sect expressly stipulates that spiritual power must not be used when whipping disciples. Have you forgotten?" Elder Xiang Yao seemed to be asking a question.Obviously, everyone already knew the result - Elder Showa did it on purpose.

After being reprimanded by the sect leader, Elder Zhaohe gave Elder Xiang Yao and Niangui a hard look, and left with his arms folded.It was Chi Mu who ran forward with a few disciples and helped Jixue and the two back.

Back at Nianhua Peak, Jixue was ill due to injury, and because of Elder Zhaohe's face, only Elder Xiang Yao came to give her medicine, and Chi Mu and Nian Gui could only visit her secretly.

A month later, Jixue's injury had almost recovered, and Elder Xiang Yao came to visit her again.

"Jixue, the sect has a mission, and I will take it for you as a teacher. You can leave early tomorrow morning, and bring your old age and Niangui with you." Elder Xiang Yao's black eyes were filled with indeterminate emotions, and she seemed to have something on her mind .

"It's a long way to go, Jixue, you have to take care of yourself." Elder Xiang Yao confessed.

"I will live up to my master's instructions." Jixue responded and drank the bowl of soup.There was a bitter taste in her mouth, and she suddenly felt uncomfortable, wondering if it was because of the imminent parting.

But she knew that leaving at this time was the best choice, so she did not refute Elder Xiang Yao's words.Somehow, she suddenly thought of a poem:

After many years, it should be a good time for a good time.Even if there are thousands of customs, let alone tell anyone ([-]).

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⑴From Liu Yong's "Yu Linling · Chilling Cicadas"