Fast Wear: A Different Life

Chapter 244 Qinling Sacred Tree (3)

Ji Xiao's parents lived with her in the old house for a full three months, and only brought her back to the city three months later.

In this life, she is still called Ji Xiao, and her nickname is Xiaoxiao, only because Taoist Qingyuan on Mount Qingcheng once predicted that after Ji Xiao follows her mother's surname, they will welcome a new life in a few years.

Therefore, Ji Xiao still kept her original name. In this way, Ji Xiao's generation finally broke the fate of the Qi family's succession of several generations, but Ji Xiao was still the darling of the two families.

However, Taoist Qingyuan also said that when Ji Xiao was three years old, she must follow him to the Taoist temple on the mountain to practice. This seemed to be the fate specially arranged for her by the heaven here, and only in this way could the old Qi family have a second bloodline.

So Ji Xiao spent her third birthday in the old house, when more than a dozen people from both families gathered together to celebrate this special day for her. Because of this, Ji Xiao's grandparents, two uncles and aunt, and four older cousins ​​all came to attend her birthday party.

In addition to Ji Xiao's relatives, even her master, Taoist Qingyuan, came. On that day, Ji Xiao offered tea to Taoist Qingyuan in the presence of her family, called him master, and then left home with her master in the early morning of the next day.

From then on, Ji Xiao began her life of monasticism. After thirteen years, she returned to the secular world when she was sixteen years old. During this long period of time, except for the Spring Festival and the final exams at school, she could go home to visit her family. The rest of the time, Ji Xiao accompanied her master in the mountains to practice meditation.

During these ten years or more, Ji Xiao learned a wide range of subjects, including not only authentic Taoist theories and martial arts, but also various miscellaneous arts such as playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, and the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches.

Although Ji Xiao had dabbled in this type of skills before, re-studying it this time not only helped her deepen her memory, but she also gained different insights in the process. Therefore, Ji Xiao's attitude towards learning is extremely focused and diligent.

Until Ji Xiao's sixteenth birthday, it was the spring equinox again. The spring rain was like silk outside, drizzling, but the room was warm and filled with strong family affection.

Today, relatives from both families gathered together again to celebrate Ji Xiao’s birthday.

In the living room, the elderly grandmother and grandma sat on either side of Ji Xiao, holding her hands tightly and saying lovingly, "My dear, now that you are back, you don't have to go back to the mountains anymore."

"That's right, my dear. Go stay at your grandma's house for a few days. I'll ask your grandpa to make you something delicious."

"Okay, I won't go back this time, and I will take the college entrance examination this year." Ji Xiao first answered her grandmother's words, and then said to her grandmother: "Then grandma and grandpa will not go back today, I will go back with you in two days."

"That's right, mother-in-law, you guys should stay here today and stay for a few days before going back."

The grandmother looked at her grandson who had finally returned from practicing in the mountains for more than ten years, and after a brief thought, she nodded and agreed.

After that, the night fell and the lights came on. After the whole family finished their lively dinner, they dispersed. Some sat together in groups of three or four to play mahjong, some watched TV programs attentively, and some chatted about family matters. At this moment, Ji Xiao was sitting next to the two elderly people, chatting with them.

At this moment, Ji Xiao's mother, Ji Kexin, came over with two fruit plates filled with fresh fruits, smiling. "Come, have some fruit to quench your thirst."

As it was the beginning of a new semester, the school was too busy to leave, so Ji Xiao's mother didn't rush home until dinner time. After dinner, she immediately went to chat with her aunt and others, so Ji Xiao didn't have a chance to talk to her mother.

Now seeing her mother coming over, Ji Xiao quickly stood up, held her mother's hand tightly, and took her to sit on the double sofa on the other side of the living room.

After sitting firmly, Ji Xiao said seriously, "Mom, from today on, you should live here and don't go back to the county town."

Hearing her daughter say this, Ji Kexin couldn't help but feel a little surprised, and asked with a puzzled look on her face: "Why? Although the old house is far from the school, I can sleep a little longer in the morning if I live in the county town."

Ji Xiao gently stroked her mother's hand and explained softly, "Because you have a baby in your belly now! It's more convenient to take care of your body if you live here."

"Okay." Ji Kexin thought about it and agreed, because to be honest, she is not young anymore, and Ji Xiao had set up a formation in this old house a few years ago, so living here is good for both the mother and the baby.

In the days that followed, Ji Xiao was either staying with the two elderly people, practicing or reading. In short, she was never idle. It was not until the college entrance examination that Ji Xiao went to the city, and she did not return until after the exam.

After the college entrance examination, Ji Xiao did not leave home as soon as other students did, but chose to stay at home for another month. After all, she was going to Beijing to study and would also need to participate in military training, so she decided to stay at home to spend more time with her family and then leave for Beijing a month in advance.

When Ji Xiao received the admission letter from the Department of Philosophy at Kyoto University, everyone except herself was proud and happy for her.

At the same time, Qi Heng handed a key to her.

It turned out that when Ji Xiao was three years old, Qi Heng bought this courtyard house when he went to the capital.

At that time, after Qi Heng finished discussing work matters, he went out to buy souvenirs and happened to see someone selling the property at a very reasonable price, so he bought it without hesitation and changed the name on the property certificate to Ji Xiao.

After that, Qi Heng specially invited professionals to carefully repair this five-courtyard courtyard, and the entire project took as long as three years. (Story needs)

Not only that, all the furniture in the courtyard is made of imported high-quality solid wood, and each piece exudes a simple and elegant atmosphere. And each room has been specially designed and renovated according to Ji Xiao's personal preferences, striving to make her live comfortably.

Now, Ji Xiao is finally going to Beijing to study, and this courtyard house has undoubtedly become her warmest harbor in a foreign land.

This place is full of her family's care and love for her, and also witnesses Qi Heng's deep fatherly love for Ji Xiao. I believe that in this new environment, Ji Xiao will not feel lonely alone, because every item here contains the family's full love for her.

However, until the moment Ji Xiao stepped out of the house, Qi Tiezui remained silent and did not leave a single word for her. The reason can be traced back to his early years, when he resolutely rejected the invitation of the Buddha to join the army, and then quietly hid his whereabouts and fled to the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, where he lived an ordinary life, married and raised children.

Everyone in the Nine Gates outside mistakenly believed that he was dead, and he himself had no intention of letting his only granddaughter get involved in the affairs of the Nine Gates. However, all things in this world are often beyond human control, and the wheel of fate has been turning since the beginning.

Fate is unpredictable and things are hard to predict. Sometimes, we try our best to avoid certain things, but in the end we find that no matter how hard we try, we can't escape the arrangement of fate.

Qi Tiezui had hoped to protect his granddaughter from the disputes and dangers of the Nine Gates, but he probably had not expected that some things were already destined and could not be avoided.

As the old saying goes: "What is coming will come." Even if he chooses to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests and tries to draw a clear line with the past, the trajectory of fate will still connect them together.

Perhaps this is the wonder of life. We can never predict what will happen in the future, we can only face difficulties and challenges bravely and work hard to change.