The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Ever since Lin Qingyan left, Wang Zhenhuan had always thought he had become a cold person. Until he met Daoist Xuanyangzi, their brief acquaintance seemed to have used up all the luck he had in his life.

Then, the departure of Daoist Xuan Yangzi chilled his heart once more. Now, more than a month has passed, and although he has learned to let go, he still finds it difficult to let go.

Wang Zhenhuan was not at all surprised by the collapse of the courtyard wall. He believed that ninety percent of his current achievements were due to the teachings of Daoist Xuanyangzi.

He withdrew his hand, looked up at the bright moon in the sky, and the moonlight shone brightly upon him. In an instant, all his pretense crumbled. His eyes gradually softened.

The coldness on his face melted away, and his heart softened. He had to admit that he couldn't resist the gentle crescent moon, just as he couldn't suppress the longing that was gradually welling up in his heart.

He misses Lin Qingyan!

I wonder how she is doing on Gezao Mountain. And whether she, like him, has embarked on the path of cultivation?

If Master Xuan Yangzi were still alive, would he be by my side to carefully guide me?

The moon cannot speak, and naturally it does not respond to him. He watched the moonlight spill across the earth and suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. He had thought the moonlight was only shining on him, but it turned out it was also reflecting on others.

Wang Huanzhen sighed, lowered his head, and turned back into the hall. Often, even if the ending is unpleasant, meeting again is already a blessing in disguise. This was true for him and Xuan Yangzi.

It was already the fifth watch of the night (3 AM). Wang Zhen had finished packing his things, extinguished the fire, bowed to the statue of the City God, and then walked south along the main road under the moonlight.

Last night, his inner demons flared up, and he nearly killed the old man. The refugees all witnessed it, and if they followed the group again today, they would surely be filled with fear. If they encountered a checkpoint, their identities would inevitably be exposed.

So Wang Zhenhuan decided to set off alone!

His decision wasn't made on a whim. Ever since Master Luo Puzi advised him to think things through before he left, he had always weighed the pros and cons before making any decision.

The refugees' fear of him, as mentioned earlier, is only one reason. Secondly, he has now broken through to the True Realm and understands the art of manipulating spiritual energy, giving him the ability to fight back even in the face of trouble.

Moreover, it's already winter, so if we set off earlier, we might be able to catch the Shangqing Dharma Assembly. We could broaden our horizons then and see if there's an opportunity to receive ordination.

Although he now possesses spiritual cultivation, he has not yet been ordained and therefore cannot summon spirits or control ghosts, making him a half-baked Taoist. Wang Zhenhuan pondered as he walked, the early winter weather already turning somewhat cold.

Fortunately, he was now protected by spiritual energy and did not find it unbearable. Although it was early morning, the moonlight was bright, and his hearing and eyesight were sharp. His travel speed was not much slower than during the day.

Without the burden of the refugee caravan, he actually felt his speed had increased considerably. The Realm of Heaven and Earth was located on Tokyo West Road, connecting to Huainan East Road. Wang Huanzhen was traveling in this direction.

Originally, I planned to go to Yingtian to resupply, but after meeting Xuan Yangzi, a series of events kept me moving forward. Now, although I had finished eating the fruit I brought when I left the mountain.

However, he still had a few taels of silver, a few dozen copper coins, and a gold ingot on him. This money was enough for him to go to the next town and buy some food and dry rations. So Wang Zhen was not in a hurry.

As long as he can reach the next town today, that's all that matters. Although tonight's journey was full of twists and turns, and he experienced for the first time what inner demons meant, fortunately, he turned misfortune into blessing. Not only did he break through his cultivation level, but he also mastered how to control spiritual energy.

Walking along the deserted official road, letting the bright moonlight bathe him, his previous jealousy vanished. He understood that although the moon wasn't his.

But at this moment, it at least truly illuminated his path forward. Human lifespan is finite, and double armor represents the limit of that lifespan. But the beauty of life is boundless; he, with his limited lifespan, is awaited by the eternal beauty of life. What right does he have to be envious?

One must always look forward; this was the first lesson Wang Huanzhen learned on his journey south. Regardless, life had to go on, and he had to personally fulfill the promise he made to Xuan Yangzi.

Wang Zhenhuan walked for two hours, and after Chenshi (7-9 AM), he finally saw a fairly large town at the end of the road. From a distance, the town was bustling with people coming and going.

He looked around and found an old man carrying a load on a shoulder pole. With a smile, he cupped his hands in greeting and asked, "May I ask, sir, does this town have a name?"

"Huh? We don't have any haystacks here? Speak louder, I can't understand what you're saying." The old man pointed to his ear, frowned, and approached Wang Zhenhuan, shouting loudly.

Wang Zhenhuan was startled by his loud voice. After seeing his actions, he put his mouth close to his ear and asked, "Old man, what's the name of this town?"

"Hey, you should have said so earlier! This is Xiayi, and Yingtian Prefecture is not far ahead. Young man, where are you going?" the old man asked loudly.

The loud voice attracted the attention of passersby. Wang Huanzhen hurriedly took out a copper coin from his pocket and handed it to the old man. Then he kept responding to the old man's words.

"Yes, yes, um, right, right..." she said, turning to walk away. As she left, she could hear the old man shouting behind her, "I don't want your money! Why would you give me money?"

Although the old man didn't seem to mind his disheveled appearance and was willing to talk to him, he was still very grateful. However, the old man's enthusiasm was really overwhelming for him.

Xiayi is considered a large town, bordering Huainan East Road to the south, and further south is Bozhou. Wang Zhenhuan pondered for a moment, then nodded; it was roughly the location he had anticipated.

He planned to go to town first, find a place to stay, buy some dry food, and set off again the next day. His plan was good, but after visiting four or five inns, they all told him they were fully booked after seeing his condition.

Left with no other choice, Wang Zhenhuan had to find a place to take a bath. He was not allowed to enter this place at first, but they only reluctantly agreed after he took out some silver.

Money really can make the devil turn the millstone. After washing up, he simply tied his hair into a bun and refused the shopkeeper's offer to wash and shave him.

Although he now possesses spiritual energy, it's best not to be too ostentatious. Before leaving, the innkeeper introduced him to a secluded inn.

The inn was tucked away in an alley, quiet and half the price of other places. Wang Zhen didn't hesitate and checked in immediately. Seeing his generosity, the innkeeper promptly arranged a superior room for him.

After the innkeeper left, the waiter who led him to the room suddenly turned around and whispered mysteriously, "Sir, remember to lock the door at night. Don't open it if anyone knocks."

Wang Zhenhuan was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Why?"

"Someone just died in the Huai River, and it's been haunted around there these past few days..."