Outside of Deadwood, on the ancient path leading west from Dawang Village, Zhou Yixian and Xiaohuan walked slowly.

  A pair of bright eyes looked around, only to see that the ancient road was overgrown with weeds and desolate. Having walked out of Dawang Village for a long time, not even a shadow of a person could be seen.

  Looking far into the distance, all that can be seen is that this place is in a desolate wilderness, with no mountains in any direction. The sky is high and the grass is long, and from time to time the wind blows across the fields, causing the lush green grass to roll like waves, which is also quite beautiful, making one's heart feel expansive.

  Xian's voice came over lazily from beside him, saying, "What are you looking at?"

  "Grandpa, when I came here the other day, I was in a hurry and didn't take a closer look around. Today's weather is great, doesn't this place have a nice view?"

  On Monday, Xian looked out at the open fields outside the ancient road, and it was indeed a refreshing sight. However, he immediately muttered to himself: "It's just a patch of wild grass, what's so great about it? If it were made of gold, then...".

  "Grandpa!" Xiaohuan called out, interrupting him, and glared at him with a bad temper, saying: "How can you think about money all day? It's a pity that your name has the word 'Xian' in it, how vulgar!"

  "Vulgar?" Zhou Yixian was furious, saying: "You dare to scold me as vulgar? I am a transcendent being, renowned throughout the world, a living Buddha who brings blessings to the people and ferries the masses..."

  Xiao Huan stared at him, and Zhou Yi Xian's voice became smaller and smaller under his granddaughter's bright eyes, until he finally raised his head, snorted, and said: "You little girl don't know the severity of Grandpa?"

  Xiao Huan snorted and turned away, shaking her head. Zhou Yi Xian was ridiculed by her granddaughter, feeling a surge of frustration in her heart, she let out a long sigh: "How did I ever meet you? If only I had known earlier, I would have left you to cry to death on the side of the road!"

  Xiao Huan stuck out her tongue and smiled: "Isn't that you being kind to Grandpa?"

  Xian glared at Xiaohuan on Monday and said in a bad temper: "Good-hearted ghost, I've raised you so big, and you're always annoying me!"

  Xiao Huan wasn't afraid, nor was he angry. It seemed like he had heard these words many times before. He walked closer to Zhou Yi Xian's side, his eyes rolling around, and suddenly said: "Huh? Grandpa! Why did you want to take me away in the first place?"

  On Monday, Xian was dazed, actually he and Xiaohuan were used to being casual, where would they really get angry, but at this time, hearing Xiaohuan ask this question, it brought up a few past events, his face had a melancholy look, lightly sighing, saying: "In those years in Heyang City, I saw you as a 2 or 3-year-old little girl lying by the side of the road, starving and on the verge of collapse, even your crying voice was hoarse, at that moment my heart softened, so I picked you up."

  At this point, he suddenly stared at Xiaohuan and said: "At that time, you were young and clever, and you immediately stopped crying. It made me think that I really had a fate with you, and once I had this thought, I couldn't let it go."

  Xiao Huan made a face at him, reached out to grab Zhou Yi Xian's clothes, and coquettishly smiled: "Grandpa, isn't this good intentions? In the future, there will definitely be good rewards. Ah! Look, all these years, I've helped you read fortunes for people every day, how much money have I earned for you?"

  Xian nodded subconsciously on Monday, and smiled with her eyes open: "Hmm, that's also...". Suddenly waking up, she turned her face and scolded: "What is it? Nonsense!"

  She covered her mouth and giggled, after a moment, as if thinking of something, said: "Hmm, Grandpa, what did you go to Heyang City for back then? Isn't that just at the foot of Qingyun Mountain? I remember you've always been unwilling to get close to there. In all these years, it seems like only ten years ago, because of that Qingyun disciple named Zhang Xiaofan, we curiously followed and took a look, but didn't get close."

  On Monday, Xian's face was slightly dim, and he sighed, saying: "It's still the spirit tablet of your father who hasn't seen you before, in the city of Heiyang. That year, I was on his memorial day, standing in front of his grave for a long time, and when I came out, I saw you on the street, my heart was sad, looking at you pitifully, so I adopted you."

  Xiao Huan listened and was also silent for a while. After a long time, he said: "Grandpa, it's been ten years since we last went to see Father."

  On Monday, Xian's heart slightly calculated and nodded: "Not bad, another ten years have passed in the blink of an eye." Saying this, he sighed bitterly and said: "Forget it, anyway we don't have anywhere to go for the time being, let's go to the city of HeYang and take a look at your father!"

  Xiao Huan immediately nodded and said, "Okay!"

  Xian waved his hand on Monday and said, "Let's go! This desolate wilderness is suffocating."

  The two of them walked forward, and as they walked, Xiaohuan eventually shook off the sadness, being young and lively, and having put those old things behind her. She looked around at the scenery, and when she turned back, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, and said to Grandpa: "Grandpa, look behind us."

  Xianyi was stunned on Monday, and Qidao asked, "What's wrong?" As he spoke, he looked back.

  Xiao Huan Dao: "That stray dog Taoist seems to be following us?"

  On Monday, Xian'er took a closer look and indeed saw the wild dog following them from afar, walking slowly and keeping a distance. At this moment, they suddenly stopped and looked back, and the wild dog also seemed to be stunned, stopping in its tracks with a hesitant and slightly awkward expression on its face, then stood aside and looked up at the sky.

  Xian looked suspicious on Monday, staring at him for two seconds before turning to pull Xiao Huan and continue walking forward, saying in a low voice: "What is that guy following us for?"

  "Who should I ask if you ask me?"

  On Monday, Xian suddenly stared at Xiaohuan and said, "That guy must have had a dirty mind, wanting to take advantage of you?"

  Xiao Huan was startled and her face turned red instantly. She scolded: "Grandpa, how can you say such a thing!"

  Xian hummed on Monday and said: "Why can't I say it, nowadays the world is like this, bad people are rampant, and you look pretty, it's hard to say!"

  Xiao Huan gave him a sideways glance and said, "In my opinion! In the past, Ye Dachang was indeed in the demonic sect, his reputation wasn't great, but I've never heard of him harming women. On the other hand, rumors of him killing people, setting fires, and committing daylight robbery are numerous."

  Xian's face turned pale on Monday, and he suddenly became tense, saying: "That guy won't think of robbing us two poor devils, will he?"

  Xiao Huan snorted and said: "It's hard to say, besides, Grandpa, the silver on your body is probably more than that of a poor egg!"

  "Hush! Don't speak so loudly," Xian hastily whispered, looking around cautiously with furrowed brows. "This is a perfect spot for robbery, let's hurry and run!"

  Xiao Huan was taken aback, but then saw Zhou Yixian reach into his bosom and pull out a yellow paper talisman. It seemed he wanted to use his "ancestral master's secret transmission" escape technique to slip away quickly. She couldn't help but feel both angry and amused, and hastily grabbed hold of Zhou Yixian, saying: "Grandfather, wait a moment."

  Xian glanced back on Monday and said, "That guy is following us again, what are we waiting for?"

  "Grandfather, your Earth Escape Technique may be a secret art passed down by our ancestors, but after escaping into the earth, we can't control where we come out. I'll tell you, we're not far from that Dead Marsh right now. If you accidentally drill into it, we'll truly be doomed."

  Xian was stunned on Monday and muttered: "Our luck can't be that bad, right?"

  Xiao Huan gave him a sideways glance and said, "Do you think your luck is good or bad?"

  Xian thought for a moment and then said very firmly: "Not good!"

  Xiao Huan smiled and said, "That's settled then, so we can't take any risks." As she spoke, she leaned in close to Zhou Yi Xian, her eyes gesturing to her left hand, and whispered, "Grandfather, you forgot, I still have this bottle of protective treasure that Po Er Jie gave me. Besides, that wild dog Daoist isn't some kind of powerful demon master, it won't be difficult for us to deal with him."

  Xian lowered his head in contemplation, then let out a long sigh and said, "What you said is true. Alas! I don't know why, but these past few days I've been on edge, my mind restless. It seems that seeing too many powerful cultivators in the Dead Marshes has made me overestimate even that wild dog."

  Xiao Huan smiled and said, "Besides, that wild dog Taoist priest doesn't seem like a bad person either. Didn't he lend us an umbrella back then?"

  " Humph!" Zhou Yixian snorted, "What's with you? We lent it to you. I almost got soaked to death in the rain, and you're still so calm. You're really unfilial."

  Xiao Huan stuck out her tongue and smiled: "Grandpa, I did offer to accompany you, but you refused."

  Xian hummed again on Monday and walked forward, muttering to herself: "Anyway, you and your unfilial father are the same, always making me angry every day, so disobedient!"

  Xiao Huan smiled and shook her head, following after him.

  Behind the ancient path, a wild dog heard laughter coming from ahead, furrowed his brow, changed his expression, but still followed.

  Between heaven and earth, the wind passes through the desolate wilderness, making a mournful sound.

  After walking for nearly half a time, Zhou Yixian felt a bit tired and pulled Xiao Huan to say: "Take a rest."

  Xiao Huan nodded and walked over to a large bluestone by the side of the road, patted it and said: "Grandfather, you sit here!"

  On Monday, Xian nodded and leaned the bamboo pole with a white cloth hanging from it that read "Xianren Zhilu" against the bluestone, sat down on the stone, and couldn't help but gasp for breath. He shook his head slightly and said, "Lately, I always feel like my body is not doing well. Just walking such a short distance and I'm already panting?"

  Xiao Huan was just taking out the water bottle from his bag, when he heard this, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes, and he walked over to hand the water bottle to Zhou Yixian, saying: "Grandpa, have a drink!"

  Xian nodded on Monday, took over the kettle, raised his head and drank a few mouthfuls, let out a breath, then turned his head to look back, and indeed saw another figure standing far away.

  Xian looked at it for a while, suddenly smiled, and didn't bother with it anymore. She handed the water bottle to Xiaohuan, but when she turned her head back, she was stunned. Xiaohuan was sitting beside her, and somehow, there was a bright red ice sugar gourd in her hand, which she was savoring with relish.

  On Monday, Xian shook his head and said with a serious tone: "I'm telling you, Xiao Huan! You're not even looking at yourself, how old are you now? Why are you still like a little girl, loving to eat this candied hawthorn?"

  Xiao Huan gently spat out a small seed of ice sugar gourd towards the side of the road, and smiled coquettishly at Zhou Yi Xian, saying: "But someone loves to eat it!"

  Zhou Yi was stunned, and sighed: "More than a decade ago, in that river city, among so many pastries and snacks, why did I end up buying this candied hawthorn just for you from a small alleyway street vendor?"

  After finishing speaking, she shook her head and sighed incessantly. Xiaohuan smiled but didn't speak, lightly savoring the delicious food in her hand. Perhaps influenced by the bright red appearance of the candied hawthorn, her lips seemed to have also added a touch of brightness.

  On Monday, Xian sat for a while and felt his strength gradually recovering. He planned to call Xiaohuan to continue on their journey, but as soon as he turned his head, he suddenly caught sight of a pair of human feet in front of him out of the corner of his eye.

  On Monday, Xian was shocked and thought to himself: Could it be that this careless mistake allowed the wild dog to take advantage of the situation and launch a sneak attack? It seems that one really can't trust the words of a young girl. I have been traveling the world for over a hundred years, could it be that today I will fall down like a turtle or capsize in a ditch?

  As he was indulging in wild thoughts and just about to call out to Xiaohuan, he suddenly heard the person in front of him speak in a gentle and calm tone, saying: "Are you still fortune-telling for people?"

  On Monday, Xian and Xiaohuan both stood up, looked up, and saw a middle-aged man in front of them. He had thin eyebrows, a square face, elegant eyes, bright and piercing eyes, a full forehead, and an air of majesty that was not angry but powerful. He wore a Confucian robe with a pale purple jade pendant at his waist, which was delicate and transparent, with a hint of auspiciousness, very beautiful, and absolutely not ordinary goods.

  His temples were flecked with white hair, which made him look more worn out than he actually was.

  Xian's face suddenly turned very strange, he stared tightly at the person in front of him, under his sleeve, a pair of hands were clenched into fists, only on his face, after the astonishment, there was a hint of excitement, a hint of joy and a hint of worldly vicissitudes.

  Xiao Huan's gaze shifted from that person's face to her grandfather's, and suddenly found that Zhou Yi Xian's complexion seemed not quite right. Just as she was about to say something, Zhou Yi Xian suddenly said: "Xiao Huan, go aside for a moment, wait for Grandpa to call you over again."

  Xiao Huan was taken aback, this was something that had never happened before. But seeing Zhou Yixian's serious face, it didn't seem like a joke, and looking at the two of them, they seemed to be old acquaintances. She responded with a sound, turned around, casually tidied up her luggage, and walked away.

  She walked and walked, occasionally turning her head to look back, only to see Grandpa and the middle-aged man still standing face to face, seemingly still not speaking. She had a few worries in her heart, that middle-aged man she had just met for the first time, but in a short moment, somehow she felt a little intimidated by him, and a sudden inexplicable fear arose in her heart.

  For over a decade, she had been following Zhou Yixian's side, never knowing that Grandfather would actually know someone with such immense power!

  She was thinking to herself, her mind in a daze, and hadn't even realized she had walked quite a distance when suddenly she saw another figure in front of her. She hastily stopped herself, almost colliding with the person. Taking a closer look, it turned out to be Yeodog Doryeong. Hastily, she said: "I'm sorry, Master."

  Unexpectedly, the wild dog's face was also very unsightly at this moment, with a look of shock flashing on his face, his eyes staring straight ahead, full of fear and dread.

  Xiao Huan was shocked again, and followed his line of sight to see that the wild dog Taoist was also looking at the same middle-aged man. It's unknown who this person is, but he can make the wild dog Taoist so afraid?

  Xiao Huan thought to herself and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Dao Zhang, who is that person? Do you know him?"

  The wild dog's owner shuddered, seemingly coming back to his senses, but the fearful look on his face didn't diminish. He glanced at the little ring beside him and muttered: "Don't you recognize him?"

  Xiao Huan nodded and said: "Yes! I also saw this person for the first time today, but it seems that Grandpa knows him. By the way, do you know him? Who is he?"

  The stray dog's mouth twitched, as if it was about to say something, but somehow, it suddenly fell silent again, its eyes fixed straight on the middle-aged man in front.

  Xiao Huan furrowed his brow, instinctively feeling that the stray dog's reaction was somewhat strange, with a mix of fear and now seemingly a few more parts anger!

  Zhou Xian and the middle-aged man stood shoulder to shoulder on the ancient road, gazing out at the desolate wilderness.

  A gentle breeze blows by, and the white hairs on my temples seem to be telling stories of the passing years and the ups and downs of life.

  "It's been many years since we last met, hasn't it?" The middle-aged man said suddenly in a light tone.

  Xian gazed into the distance on Monday, her expression complex, and after a long while, she said, "It's been several decades, I suppose!"

  The man smiled faintly and said, "Are you okay?"

  Xian was silent for a long time on Monday, then said: "Wandering the world, playing among humans, can't say it's good, can't say it's bad."

  The man seemed to be somewhat moved, turned his head and looked at Zhou Yixian, saying: "Are you still blaming me in your heart?"

  Xian sighed and shook his head, "You didn't wrong me, why blame you?"

  The man smiled and said, "Actually, it's not bad for you to be like this. Let go of your worries and travel freely around the world. Now that I think about it, these are indeed the carefree days of an immortal, and it's not unworthy of having a 'Xian' character in your name."

  "Look at me, if you want to live a life like mine, what's difficult about it, old friend?"

  The man suddenly heard Zhou Yixian say a sentence "old friend", and he couldn't help but pause for a moment, but then smiled and looked into the distance, saying slowly: "I am different from you."

  "You are naturally different from me. From your youth, you have always placed great importance on power and status. I reckon that even now, you still can't let go of it."

  The man's eyebrows furrowed, and a flash of anger seemed to flicker in the depths of his eyes, as if no one had ever dared to speak to him like that. However, when he turned around to look at Zhou Yixian, he only saw his white hair, which made him appear much older than himself. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and the anger also disappeared without a trace.

  "You look so old!"

  "On Monday, Xian shook his head and said: 'I'm already old, but you've achieved great things in your cultivation, it's not like...'. He paused for a moment, then continued: 'About your daughter, I heard about it, you...'"

  The man's face turned gloomy for a moment, then he slowly shook his head, blocking Zhou Yixian's words. Suddenly, he said: "In our younger years, you once used the 'Tiangang Shen Suan' to calculate my fate at the foot of Huqi Mountain, do you still remember?"

  Xian was dazed on Monday.

  The man looked up at the sky and said slowly, "I still remember very clearly. You were young and vigorous back then, and you told me straightforwardly that my destiny was too strong, and I would be punished for my crimes against my wife and children. If there was no way to resolve it, I would inevitably lose my wife halfway through life and have no children to inherit my legacy. Now, everything has come true." As he spoke, his voice gradually became desolate.

  Xian lowered his head on Monday, and after a while, he suddenly raised his head and said bluntly: "Now we are all half-buried in the ground, I also have something to say to you directly."

  The man seemed slightly surprised and said, "You speak."

  Monday Fairy stared at him and said, "When I said those things earlier, it was all nonsense to deceive you. Since childhood, I've been annoyed by fortune-telling and divination, how could I have the patience to learn? As for that Tian Gang Shen Suan, of course there's such a thing, but how would I understand it? So those words earlier were just me seeing your smug face and couldn't help but say something on purpose. Don't take it to heart!"

  The man's body shook, seemingly never expecting such words to come out of Zhou Yixian's mouth. After a long while, he suddenly shook his head and burst into loud laughter, his laughter so intense that he eventually doubled over, where was the dignity he had when they first met?

  In the distance, Xiao Huan and Ye Gou were both staring blankly.

  After a while, the man slowly stopped laughing, his expression gradually recovering its cold dignity, but in his eyes, there seemed to be a few more threads of sorrow.

  Xian quietly gazed at him on Monday.

  They stood shoulder to shoulder for a long time, and then Zhou Yixian said faintly, "How did you end up here?"

  The man looked at him and said, "You're not from around here, are you? What do you say?"

  Zhou Yi hummed and said, "You're going to Dieze, aren't you?"

  "That man said with a smile: 'Exactly, I'm going there. How about you? Don't want to take a look? Old friend?'"

  On Monday, Xian raised an eyebrow and said, "You have a bad reputation. If I walk with you, people will be surprised. It's better for me to keep my distance from you."

  The man looked at Zhou Yixian, suddenly choked with laughter, and then said: "At the end of the sky and the ancient road, it's hard to meet old friends. You and I meet today, and who knows when we'll meet again? Take good care of yourself."

  Zhou Yi snorted and said, "I'm still living a good life, I don't want to die yet. But you have more enemies than the foxes on Fox Qi Mountain, so take care of yourself!"

  Xiao Huan stood by the side of the road for a long time, suddenly saw Grandpa and that man walking together towards him, hurriedly went forward to meet them, and walked to Grandpa's side. The middle-aged man glanced at Xiao Huan with his eyes, then fell on the wild dog Dao Ren behind him.

  The wild dog's face changed color and slowly lowered its head.

  That man looked at him a few times and suddenly said: "You are the wild dog Taoist beside Gui Lian, aren't you?"

  The stray dog's face showed even more fear, hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Yes."

  Xiao Huan stood beside Zhou Yi Xian and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Grandfather, who is he?"

  On Monday, Xian had not yet responded. The middle-aged man seemed to have heard even this small voice and turned around, smiling: "How come, little girl doesn't recognize me?"

  Xiao Huan was shocked and shook her head in dismay.

  The man smiled slightly and said: "You can call me Wan Ren Wang!"

  Xiao Huan was taken aback.

  The man took a deep look at Zhou Yixian, suddenly swung his sleeve and turned to walk away with big strides, without looking back. With each step, he had an air of disdain for the world, slowly spreading out.

  The crowd behind him saw the figure walking along the ancient path towards the Dead Marsh, and suddenly heard the person singing loudly: "The road to the sky is far away from the beginning. The thoughts of children are always foolish. The sky is high and the sea is wide, eight million feet, all living things are crawling. The stars are countless, the moon is bright, the sky is cold, cold as frost. How ridiculous that all things are like straw dogs, who can cover the rain and who can turn the clouds?……

  The song is ancient and unadorned, though not soft and pleasant to hear, yet it has a bold and powerful meaning in its desolation.

  Everyone sees only the vast sky above, the ancient road ahead, the gentle white clouds, and the desolate wilderness. That person walks with hands behind his back, exuding an unspoken air of untamed pride.

  The singing voice gradually faded away, and he was already gone far away.