Finally, they arrived at the hotel. Niannian suddenly felt a sense of relief.
She wasn't sure if it was because the space inside the car was too small and enclosed, making her feel stuffy.
Or if it was the inexplicable dullness that made her a bit uncomfortable.
The hotel arranged by He Qing was a rather characteristic homestay. The decoration style and layout were very locally flavored.
It was the first time in Niannian's life that she saw what a kang was like. Lying on it, she felt her whole body was warmed up, so comfortable that she didn't even want to get up.
"Niannian, do you want to go out and make a snowman?"
Shen Weixun changed out of his slightly damp clothes. Looking at the rather thick snow outside, he asked with a smile.
It rarely snowed in their place. Even if it did, it wouldn't be heavy. Usually, it would snow at night and melt away the next day, leaving nothing behind.
So, in all her years, Niannian had never experienced making a snowman.
She only knew about it from story - books.
Rarely coming to the north, Shen Weixun still wanted to let the little bun experience it.
Niannian was lying on the window, looking at the white expanse of snow outside. She nodded like a pounding garlic.
"Yes, yes, yes! I want to play!"
"Put on more clothes!"
Niannian ran out excitedly. She only put on half of her shoes, just like a runaway husky.
Shen Weixun chased after her with clothes in his hand. The scene was really lively.
They played for the whole afternoon and made three snowmen. Only then did Niannian return to the room reluctantly.
Mainly because she was hungry.
If she weren't hungry, she might have played outside until the end of time.
During dinner at night, Niannian finally couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked, "Master, why do you have such a big problem with Brother He Qing?"
Daoist Qingyun, who had just taken a bite of the steamed bun, was almost choked by the little bun's sudden question. He quickly took two sips of water and said, "Really? I don't. Kids, don't wrongly accuse people!"
"Something's wrong. Very wrong."
Liu Chuchen squinted his eyes and looked at Daoist Qingyun suspiciously.
"Yeah, Master, this is also your first time meeting He Qing, right? I think he's a nice guy. You kind of made it hard for him during the day."
Mu Yanchen actually began to agree.
Shen Weixun didn't even need to say a word. His contemptuous look said it all.
Being looked at by his own disciples one by one with such looks, Daoist Qingyun got angry: "What's wrong with you guys? Are you all questioning me because of an outsider?"
"No. He's been kind enough to play the host, arranging things for us. Your attitude is really not appropriate."
Mu Yanchen said something fair.
It was just that the most unreliable Zhang Zicheng wasn't there. Otherwise, Daoist Qingyun would have been completely criticized by now.
"Master, just tell us. If you really don't like Brother He Qing, I won't talk to him in the future."
Niannian still had a sense of right and wrong in her heart.
If her master didn't like that brother and didn't want them to get along with him, the little bun would definitely stop talking to He Qing for her master.
She could tell what was more important and who was more worthy of cherishing.
"Yeah. Otherwise, it'll be so awkward when we meet. He's going to invite us to dinner in a couple of days. Will you act like this at the dinner table? If you really have a problem, just say it. None of us will talk to him. We'll decline his invitation so that neither side will feel uncomfortable when we meet. I'm just wondering. At your age, why are you so coy, like a little girl?"
Sure enough, Liu Chuchen was the most venomous - tongued. With just a few words, he could make Daoist Qingyun furious, but he was absolutely right.
Daoist Qingyun had to suppress this nameless anger. He couldn't vent it at all.
"Alright, alright. Stop criticizing me, you brats!"
Daoist Qingyun threw down his chopsticks, pouted, picked up a bottle of beer, took a sip, and sighed slowly: "Well, it's not a big deal. I've attended this so - called exchange conference before."
"At that time, most of the people who attended this exchange conference were those with backgrounds. It was basically just a competition for rankings among a few noble families. I had no background. I participated in the individual competition. Since they couldn't beat me in the magical fight, they ganged up to exclude me."
"These people just can't stand others being better than them, especially someone like me who self - taught. Their families spent so many resources on them, but they still couldn't beat me. So they got angry."
"It's all out of jealousy!"
"Finally, during the individual competition, they wrongly judged me as violating the rules and made me lose. They gave the first place to someone else. After I made a fuss, I left directly. Since then, I've never attended any such stupid conferences again."
When he was young, Daoist Qingyun also had his youthful pride.
Although his temper had gradually been smoothed out over time and he didn't care about everything so much and didn't get angry easily anymore.
But when faced with such unfairness, he still felt uncomfortable deep down.
He Qing's parents participated in the same competition with him back then.
They were also among those who looked down on him.
So when Niannian said she wanted to participate in this stupid conference, he strongly opposed it.
Originally, he wanted to persuade the little bun not to go either.
But Niannian was too stubborn and didn't listen at all. Her mind was completely attracted by this metaphysics exchange conference.
Later, he thought about letting Niannian go and see the world. Maybe she would come back discouraged and give up this idea in the future.
But then he thought, what if his little disciple was secretly manipulated and bullied to tears?
What if they ganged up to exclude his little disciple?
He just couldn't bear it.
This time, he agreed to come and was going to support Niannian.
He hoped they wouldn't play any tricks.
Otherwise, he wouldn't mind causing another big fuss.
"Ah? But Brother He Qing said that there would be many people without sects and many self - taught amateurs coming to participate."
Niannian recalled He Qing's words and was a bit confused for a moment.
She naturally believed her master's words, but He Qing didn't seem to be lying either.
"Who knows? Maybe over the years, no one as outstanding as me has appeared in the Taoist sect, so they've let their guard down. I think those self - taught amateurs are just amateurs after all. It was already a miracle that someone like me appeared. So when I stopped participating, they just relaxed."
Daoist Qingyun pouted. In his mind, those amateurs who attended the exchange conference out of boredom were just foils for those noble - family disciples.
Just as red flowers need green leaves to set them off to show their beauty, these noble families were the same.
If there were no bottom - ranking people, it wouldn't be good for anyone to be the last one if they fought among themselves.
"Master, you're so narcissistic."