(twenty one)
After leaving the rented oxcart at a small post store and telling them that someone would pick it up later, Yuan Fengzi and everyone else slipped into the outskirts of the mountains and trees.
They followed Yuan Fengzi and Ayu all the way, first walking back to the mountain hut where Run Wentao had stayed, and then they found another way and turned to a more uninhabited corner of the world. If you don't have absolute trust in others, approaching such a desperate place is undoubtedly asking for death.
Although the boundary of Cangzhou is a plain, it does not mean that the terrain is not complicated: there are high and low soil slopes one after another, which are enough to bury many treasures tightly.
The hollow road made of rough rocks and sand and mud still had traces of wet erosion by running water, but now it became the only way for them to climb mountains and ridges. Because compared to those more rugged places, this dry depression is more like a road.
The old blacksmith leading the way wielded a hoe that was used to carve out a path through the mountain. With one step, he dug a small pit that protruded outward to serve as a ladder, so that those who came after him could go up the mountain without much effort.
For Yuan Fengzi, although he may have not set foot in dangerous places for a long time due to his old age, he is still familiar with the roads. In comparison, the three foreigners really pale in comparison.
Murong Yan's figure was not clumsy, but she had not traveled much or suffered much, so every time she took a step on the slippery and soft mud, she had to slow down before taking the next step. In the end, she still had to bow to her limited life experience, accept the kindness of the little girl in front of her, Ayu, and support her small but rough palm that did not match her age before she dared to continue with confidence. Walk.
Bai Feng, who was left at the end, had to take care of Fu Wentao, who had just regained his strength, and also pay attention to the reckless "Miko" in front of him. He was also more relaxed than Yuan Fengzi and A Yu.
What awaited them in front seemed to be nothing more than overgrown dense forests, mountain passes with overlapping mountains, and strange insects and beasts that were rarely seen in the world.
Now, they only need to take care of the road under their feet, and do not have to think about how to evade pursuit, escape from fighting, or escape from the malice of the world, which is also a pleasure. Yuan Fengzi spent nearly half of his life living like this. Perhaps because of this, people can see a particularly different temperament in him.
Even though Yuan Fengzi is an old man with a gray beard, and his neglected sideburns and haphazardly braided long beard make him look even ruder than ordinary villagers, there is always a kind of indifferent and wise temperament that lingers around him all the time. His every move.
The group of people had never stopped since they set out, and finally reached the end of the depression when the sun was setting. A piece of flat land in a mountain col appeared in front of them. It looks like there used to be a lake there, but for some reason it became what it is today.
Now there are white patches of miscanthus growing there, just like the ones in the Yuan family's mansion. Maybe the miscanthus in the mansion was transplanted from here.
They carefully jumped out of the sea of miscanthus and moved forward slowly in the cool breeze. The wind blew the white miscanthus petals flying all over the sky, and coupled with the sudden coolness in the mountains, it looked like a light snow suddenly fell from the sky.
The further we walked into the opposite hillside, the stronger the wind became. Sometimes it was enough to confuse people's eyes, like a natural barrier, preventing strangers from moving forward. Only Yuan Fengzi moved forward against the wind with his thick arms. Although he never said a word, his eyes never left the front.
He seemed to be looking for something in that vast white ocean. Relying on his past memories and keen senses, he quickly walked straight to a place, and immediately called his little granddaughter to pull up the miscanthus and hoe it all. Among the piles of weeds, there was actually a ceramic Buddha statue hidden.
After Yuan Fengzi got the Buddha statue, he shouted to the people behind him: "Follow me quickly, the hillside opposite is your destination!"
After walking like this for a while, everyone finally came to a pothole. The entrance to the cave was obscured by thorns and miscanthus growing wildly beside it, making it difficult to discover.
Yuan Fengzi opened the way first and led everyone into the cave. After passing through a dark journey, a huge stone gate suddenly appeared blocking the way.
The old blacksmith used the Buddha statue in his hand as a key, used the firelight of others to find the location of the mechanism, stuck the Buddha statue on the door, and then turned it three times to the left and two times to the right, and the door was opened.
I originally thought that the cave would be filled with moisture and the atmosphere would be weird, but unexpectedly, except for the darkness, it was actually the same as the outside of the cave.
"I used to come to this imperial mausoleum often, so it is quite popular." Yuan Fengzi explained with great effort: "And the imperial mausoleum is divided into two floors above ground and underground. We only live on the ground, so we don't have to worry about disturbing our ancestors. .”
After Yuan Fengzi said that, he walked to a pothole, slowly opened the creaking wooden door, and invited everyone in.
This is an ordinary bedroom, but what is unusual is that it was built in an imperial tomb. In addition to the bed and bedding, it even has a bronze mirror and a bathtub. These delicate things must have been prepared by Yuan Fengzi for his granddaughter Ayu. But it is a pity that there is only one place in the entire tomb where people can live.
"This bedroom was the old man's temporary residence in seclusion in the past. Now let it be used by the girls, right?" Yuan Fengzi looked at the two young men behind him and said, "You two, just come with me. Everyone has worked hard all day. , it’s time to have a good rest.”
After getting his grandfather's order, Ayu familiarized himself with the water containers on the familiar road and went to the second underground floor of the imperial mausoleum where groundwater was stored to get water. He also tacitly ordered Murong Yan to start cooking and ignore the men for the time being. It's our business.
I saw Yuan Fengzi, Bai Feng and the injured Fu Wentao walking around in the mausoleum until they came to a strange place. Then they slowed down and slowly lit the lamp on the roadside.
"Why...I heard the sound of weapons being exchanged?" Fu Wentao murmured, "Is it because I think about it day and night?"
"Hahaha... Silly boy, you heard it right." Yuan Fengzi said with a smile: "Look in front!"
I saw this strange place gradually illuminated by firelight, and rows of hanging weapons were displayed in front of me. They were swaying slightly due to the cool breeze that passed by from time to time, fighting each other, making the so-called sound of swords clashing.
"This place is the old 'Sword House'." Yuan Fengzi said, going to rekindle the fire that had been extinguished for a long time. "It's a pity that it has been abandoned for too long. I wonder if it can still be used..."
"Senior, are you really the rumored master swordsmith 'Yuan Fengzi'?" Bai Feng asked in surprise: "Why do you want to live in seclusion here, hiding your merit and fame?"
While Yuan Fengzi was lighting the fire with some difficulty, he replied: "Since Mr. Bai wants to know, why not tell you... Before his family fell into decline, the old man was once a man who admired the 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' and was loyal and brave. Among them, I especially like drinking and forging iron. In addition to playing with the drunkards all day long, I would hide at home and forge iron and forge tools. Until one day, I found that the sharp blade I forged with my own hands actually chopped off the heads of my family members..."
"Old senior..." Fu Wentao looked at the old man's back with emotion and asked, "Then you will never make swords again?"
"Haha... Since then, I have been anonymous and doing the most humble things to survive. I thought I could let go of everything in the past and live an ordinary life from now on." After Yuan Fengzi spoke for a while, he suddenly turned around and said sternly Looking at the two younger generations, he said: "It's a pity that I can't let go of my own character. I sold everything and opened a blacksmith shop in the abandoned mansion, pretending that I only forged some kitchen knives and farm tools for the people in the village. To make a living, in fact, I just couldn't help what my heart wanted. Later, in order to avoid the court's eyes, I moved the sword house to the imperial mausoleum of my ancestor!"
After finishing speaking, Yuan Fengzi turned around to light the fire for the forge with a sense of resentment. Unexpectedly, it was on fire at one o'clock this time. There was a smile on his face and he said: "I don't need to drink wine. But the iron-forging thing has been going on since I can remember, how could I leave it behind?"
The fire in the forge suddenly rose up, illuminating the dark tomb, making the row of rusty weapons gleam. For the owner of this sword house, the forge is like his life. It will probably not stop burning completely until he is destroyed one day.
