Chapter 80 Chapter 80: Cold

As the evening approached, the snowflakes fell and became larger, and the biting cold wind swept in from all sides, and the dilapidated Jingwu Temple seemed to be an empty place that could not be sheltered from the wind and frost at all. The door panel of the main hall has long disappeared, and the raging cold wind carried snowflakes from the empty dam and rushed into the main hall without any scruples, throwing the fire that had ignited in the main hall tottering. At this time, the people in the village are all tightly gathered around the fire to keep warm, and the fire emits the sweet smell of sweet potatoes being roasted.

This alluring fragrance did not whet the appetite of the adults, and everyone's heart was empty and chilly at this moment. Master Zhang Yao and Zhang Ziheng haven't come back yet.The people in the hall are not only worried about Bai Xiaoyang who ran away alone, they are even more worried about Zhang Yaoye and Zhang Ziheng who went out to look for Bai Xiaoyang. Outside the ruined temple, there were strange and strange barking of wild dogs from time to time.This voice roared in the cold wind and snow, high and low, like a lost soul moaning and crying, it was creepy to hear. Heizi curled up under the threshold of the main hall, listening to the movement outside with his ears open, as soon as there was a wild dog barking outside, he would lift his head buried between his legs, and open a pair of dark eyes to be alert. Staring intently at the empty dam outside.

The atmosphere in the hall became more and more silent and depressing as the sky darkened. Even the children before Chunqian were nestled in the arms of their respective adults, their childish faces shrouded in sad. The heart that has lost its backbone is scattered and flustered, and everyone is surrounded by a growing sense of fear. Granny Yao said to Zhang Ziqiao, "Ziqiao, why don't you take a few people outside to see Lord Yao and the others?" Zhang Ziqiao put his hands into his sleeves and looked out of the dark hall, shaking his head like a rattle. Fifth Aunt said: "It's better not to go out, it's already dark outside, if something happens again, it will be even more troublesome."

Granny Yao no longer insisted on her opinion, only tears rolled in her eyes. Fifth Aunt said again: "Tonight, everyone will gather around the fire to warm up the fire. Be vigilant. Even if you want to sleep, you will sleep in different shifts. This temple doesn't even have a door panel, and it's leaking through the walls. Yes, it’s not clear what wild animals might come in in the middle of the night.” Aunt Fifth's words made everyone's hearts hang again. Granny Yao felt the fear in everyone's heart, and quickly said to the fifth aunt who was outspoken: "Fifth Aunt, don't talk about it. Although this temple is not closed, there are always Bodhisattvas secretly protecting us. Don't be afraid, everyone."

As soon as Grandma Yao finished speaking, Heizi, who was curled up under the threshold, suddenly stood up, barking twice vigilantly towards the outside that had been completely drenched in the cold night. Everyone was familiar with and sensitive to Heizi's cry, so Zhang Ziqiao said first, "Master Yao and Brother Ziheng must be back." Hearing what Zhang Ziqiao said, Granny Yao showed a gleam of joy on her face, she got up and walked out of the hall.But there were two coughing sounds outside, not Zhang Yaoye's voice, but a stranger's coughing. Granny Yao, who had just taken two or three steps, was taken aback and stopped.

Heizi fell silent when he heard the cough, and wagged his tail towards the dark outside. When everyone was wondering, Zhaofeng appeared outside the main hall. The appearance of Zhaofeng immediately opened up everyone's hearts, and their eyes were full of kindness and eagerness. Zhaofeng shook the snowflakes on his body, stomped his feet, and then stepped into the threshold. Heizi looked at Zhaofeng with shiny black eyes, and wagged his tail in favor of Zhaofeng. Zhaofeng bowed down, patted Heizi on the head, and said, "Good eyes, I recognized me right away, hehe..." Granny Zhang's heart that had been suspended just now also fell, and she said to Zhaofeng: "The old man is here, come here and warm yourself by the fire."

Zhaofeng looked at the people in the hall, and first asked: "Where is Yao Ye?" Granny Zhang and Aunt Fifth looked at each other, hesitated to speak, and couldn't hide the panic on their faces. Zhaofeng immediately guessed that something must have happened.In a flash, he realized that Bai Xiaoyang was missing, so he asked again, "Where's Xiao Yang?" The expressions on the faces of Grandma Yao and Aunt Wu became more and more flustered, their eyes were evasive, and they just refused to answer Zhaofeng's words. Knowing that something must have happened again, Zhaofeng's expression became no longer relaxed. He looked at Granny Yao and said, "Grandma Yao, what happened? Why isn't Xiaobai with you?"

Granny Yao still wanted to avoid Zhaofeng's questioning eyes, but Zhaofeng stared at her anxiously and urgently.Finally, Granny Yao said in a low voice, "Xiaobai left alone. Master Yao and Ziheng went out to look for her, but they haven't come back yet." When Zhaofeng heard this, his mind was a little dazed for a moment, and he said, "Walk alone? Where did you go?" Granny Yao helplessly shook her head at Zhaofeng, and tears welled up in her eyes again. "How long has it been since Xiaobai left?" Zhaofeng asked again. "It's been more than an hour." Grandma Yao said.

Zhaofeng frowned vigorously and said, "How could such a thing happen?" Grandma Yao said, "We didn't know that Xiaobai was so angry, he left as soon as he said he would, and he didn't even call me to say hello." Zhaofeng had no time to ask Bai Xiaoyang why he left, and said anxiously, "Tell me quickly, which direction did she go from?" At this moment, Chunqian stepped forward and said, "Grandpa, I know where Sister Bai came from. I will show you the way to find her." Zhaofeng didn't dare to hesitate, and quickly said: "Okay, take me there quickly."

Without saying a word, Chunqian ran out of the hall with his feet loose.Zhaofeng didn't dare to neglect, turned around and quickly followed out.Heizi let out a low bark, and jumped out of the threshold, blowing like the wind into the dark snowy night. Yao's mother-in-law trembled her lips, clasped her hands in front of her chest, and muttered in a low voice: "Amitabha, Bodhisattva bless, Amitabha, Bodhisattva bless, don't let anything happen again, Bodhisattva bless, Amitabha..." Everyone in the hall stared blankly at Granny Yao, their hearts seemed to have fallen into an ice cellar...