Let's say that after Liu Ruyan rode a horse for half a day, he came to a place called "Immortal Residence".
This is a slightly remote town market. The entire market has only one long street, located in the hinterland between two mountains. Although the place is small, it does not seem deserted. The long street is dotted with a row of shops, large and small, selling various daily necessities, as well as some operating pharmacies, pawn shops, blacksmith shops, teahouses, noodle shops, restaurants, and more than a dozen inns and restaurants.
Every market day, villagers from nearby villages would come early. The whole street was bustling with people, and various hawking sounds came and went, making it very lively.
Liu Ruyan had been galloping for a long time and felt a little hungry. Seeing that the market was extremely lively, she reined in the horse and led the horse to the long street. While holding the horse, he looked around. At this moment, it is lunch time, and all the inns are full of people. The shops are doing good business, and customers are coming in and out one after another.
As he walked, he came to the door of a restaurant called "Zui Xian Lou", thinking about going inside to have something to eat, which would also be a good time for the horses to rest and feed some food. He tied the horse to the horse post at the entrance of the store. This hotel has two floors, the environment is clean and elegant, and there are many guests seated there.
As soon as he walked to the door, the waiter who was busy at the counter came over with a smile: "This guest, please come in quickly," he said, nodding and bending, and led Liu Ruyan to a dining table by the window. He wiped the greasy towel on his shoulders randomly on the table: "What would you like, sir? We have roast chicken, smoked duck, braised beef, boiled live fish, braised pig's trotters..." He said in one breath There were so many dishes that my little eyes almost narrowed into slits.
Liu Ruyan hesitated slightly and said: "Bring me a plate of braised beef, a plate of fried peanuts and two steamed buns, and a pot of roasted knives."
"Okay, sir, please wait a moment." The waiter shouted, bowed, turned around and left quickly.
Liu Ruyan took off his sword and placed it on the table. He looked around casually. It had been several months since he last went down the mountain with his master. This time he came down the mountain alone without his master. He seemed to have less worries. Without the supervision of his master, he felt more free and carefree. If he wasn't in a hurry to bring Hua Mei back, he would have wanted to wander around at the foot of the mountain and stay a little longer. He thought to himself: "I haven't seen Hua Mei for several months. Has she changed her appearance? Has she lost weight or gained weight? After being apart for so long, will she miss me and the master?" Thinking of this, he couldn't help but A smile appeared on his lips.
The wine and food were quickly served on the table, and the waiter said with a smile: "The wine and food are here, please take your time, sir." This boy looked like a familiar waiter, and he treated guests politely and warmly. The waiter was about to turn around and leave, but he stopped him: "Wait a minute, waiter! I have a foal tied in front of the door. Can you feed it for me? I'll be on my way soon."
The waiter agreed and asked someone to lead the horse to feed it in front of the store.
Liu Ruyan suddenly felt that everything outside the mountain was fresh, and her mood felt much better.
He poured the wine and ate slowly.
When I was young, a young man in white clothes walked in from the door of the store. He looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was holding a three-foot long sword in his hand. He had a bun on his head and a green silk scarf tied around his waist. Hanging on the side are tasseled red knots and a small round kettle.
The young man walked into the shop slowly and looked around. When the waiter saw a customer coming, he hurriedly greeted him and greeted him warmly. The young man seemed to have turned a deaf ear to the waiter's greeting. He walked straight to the middle of the hall, glanced around, and said to the waiter: "Second servant, is there a private room upstairs?" He said, looking at Liu Ruyan. He looked at it and then looked away. A look of embarrassment appeared on the waiter's face, and he smiled along with him: "My guest, unfortunately, the private room upstairs has been booked. How about you and this gentleman share a table together?" "
The young man dismissed it and said coldly: "Why should I sit at the same table with others? It's too noisy here. I can't eat sitting here."
The waiter saw that this young man was not being harmonious, and showed a bitter look on his face. He stayed there in a daze, not knowing what to do.
Liu Ruyan looked up at the scene in the hall, then started eating and drinking alone. The young man then turned to look at Liu Ruyan, paused and said, "Well, since it's inconvenient, just sit here instead!"
The young man came directly to the opposite side of Liu Ruyan, pulled out the bench, sat down with a straight face and said to Changshan: "Waiter, bring me a plate of braised beef, a plate of peanuts and two steamed buns, plus a pot of braised beef." knife."
Liu Ruyan was startled as she listened, thinking: How come the dish this boy ordered is exactly the same as mine? It was really strange. After thinking about it for a while, I stopped paying attention and drank the wine in one gulp.
The waiter was stunned at the entrance of the hall. Hearing the young man's words, he hurriedly ran over, nodded and bowed with a smile, then shouted and turned around to leave.
The young man put the sword on the table, looking a little awkward, and looked around. From time to time, he glanced at Liu Ruyan, who was drinking and eating meat in front of him, with an indescribable expression on his face, as if he was a little embarrassed.
The food and wine were quickly served on the table, and the young man also poured the wine on his own. He looked up and drank a glass, looking up out of the window from time to time.
Two strangers sat across from each other at a table, minding their own meals. They felt a little awkward with each other. This was a place away from home, and it was hard to say anything.
The young man ate meat and drank wine slowly and leisurely, and he didn't look hungry.
He glanced at Liu Ruyan from time to time and thought to himself: "This young man, his clothes are dusty, but he has beautiful eyebrows and looks like a talented person! He is really handsome."
Liu Ruyan seemed to have noticed something, and raised her head, her eyes met for a moment, and then she looked away. Both of them felt a little flustered and awkward. It's really uncomfortable to sit and eat with a complete stranger.
Liu Ruyan thought to herself: "This person in front of me is so strange? He always looks at me secretly!" Just as he was thinking about it, his hand suddenly slipped and the wine glass fell to the table with a clang, and all the wine in the glass poured out. After sitting at the table, he saw this and quickly apologized to the young man: "I'm sorry for shocking you. I'm really sorry!"
The young man panicked for a while, then calmed down and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." He quickly took out a white handkerchief from his clothes and wiped the spilled wine stains.
He stretched out his hand to wipe it, and Liu Ruyan saw that the handkerchief was clearly a woman's. She couldn't help but feel startled again, and it suddenly dawned on her: "It turns out that this handsome young man in front of him is actually a womanizer!" She felt embarrassed and felt at the same time. funny. "He is obviously a woman, why is he wearing men's clothes and pretending to be a man?"
Although his face was calm, he secretly knew that something was fishy. Then I thought, what does other people wear have to do with me? It's better to mind your own business!
The young man saw Liu Ruyan staring at his handkerchief, as if he noticed something, and immediately spoke: "What are you looking at? Why are you so cautious?" After saying this, a faint blush appeared on his delicate face. His eyes flickered with slight panic.
"Oh, nothing! I didn't see anything!" Liu Ruyan said. When he asked, Liu Ruyan started to panic.
The young man spoke again: "Seeing that Your Excellency is a little panicked, I thought you saw something you shouldn't see?"
Liu Ruyan's hand holding the vegetables suddenly stopped, and she smiled slightly and said: "Your Excellency, you are worrying too much. I really didn't see anything! I didn't see anything." She couldn't help but feel secretly happy in her heart.
The young man filled another glass of wine, looked at Liu Ruyan and said seriously: "I think you are very impressive. Can you please have a glass of wine?" He seemed to have noticed that the young man in front of him could tell that he was a woman disguised as a man. That's why he showed such a panicked look.
Liu Ruyan also looked at him and said with a smile: "It's my great honor! Please!" As they spoke, the two raised their glasses and drank together.
Liu Ruyan raised her eyebrows slightly and said slowly: "Looking at your beautiful features and excellent temperament, I like you very much. I am lucky enough to meet you today. May I ask your name? We are destined to meet each other, why not make friends?"
The young man chuckled and said, "That's great, I feel very honored!" He smiled with a woman's voice, completely exposing himself. By the time he realized this, it was already too late.
He continued: "You must have noticed that I am a woman!" He smiled softly: "Forget it, I don't tell secrets in front of people. Since you have seen through, I don't need to hide it. My surname is Luo and my name is Xiangxue. I wonder what your name is?"
Hearing this name, Liu Ruyan was startled and said in a voiceless voice: "What did you say your last name was?" He seemed to remember something and his eyes widened.
The young man smiled and said: "My surname is Luo, and my name is Luo Xiangxue!"
When Liu Ruyan heard the name, she suddenly felt that it sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before, but she couldn't remember it for a while.
He frowned and thought, then suddenly realized and smiled: "Oh, oh, you are... the girl I met in the Crescent Bay Tea Garden that day?" He murmured, "Luo Xiangxue, Miss Luo ,Oh it's you!"
Luo Xiangxue couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, I also remembered, you are the young master who picked tea!"
Seeing each other's true colors, the two young men laughed together.
Both of them felt the wonder of fate in the world. They had met once in the tea garden that day. No wonder she looked familiar to Liu Ruyan, but it was only a brief encounter and they passed by in a hurry, so they didn't have a deep impression. .
Liu Ruyan said leisurely: "Yes, I am the tea picker, Liu Ruyan!"
The two of them couldn't help but feel excited, and they had the surprise of "meeting an old friend in a foreign country"!
Liu Ruyan immediately cupped her fists and thanked her: "I would like to thank you for your generous gift! Although you and I only met once, I will always keep your kindness in mind!"
Luo Xiangxue smiled and immediately picked up the wine bottle and poured a glass for Liu Ruyan. She also poured it for herself and raised her glass: "Young Master is too polite. It's nothing to worry about. It's a trivial matter! Come, let's meet again. Have a drink!"
The two of them raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp!
Unknowingly, the two of them drank all the wine in the pot, and there was not much food left. Luo Xiangxue was in a high mood and wanted to order another pot, but Liu Ruyan persuaded her to stop.
Liu Ruyan politely declined: "Miss Luo doesn't know something. I have something important to do when I go down the mountain this time. I won't hide it from the girl. In a few days, it will be my master's sixtieth birthday. I am doing this on the master's order." Go pick up my junior sister!"
Luo Xiangxue's eyes lit up and she said, "Oh, that's it! I wonder where the young master is going to pick up his junior sister?"
Liu Ruyan said: "Have you ever heard of Mingyue Peak in Cuihua Mountain?"
Luo Xiangxue pondered for a while, then frowned and said, "A long time ago, my little sister seemed to have heard from my father that there was a Red Qin Residence on the Mingyue Peak of Cuihua Mountain. It was an elegant and interesting place!"
Liu Ruyan was quite surprised, smiled slightly and said, "Young lady also knows about Hongqinju?"
Hongqinju is a pavilion built by Xu Feng, a great hero who was famous for his benevolence and righteousness in the world. After he retired from the world, he brought his family to Mingyue Peak of Cuihua Mountain to build a pavilion. It stands proudly on the cliff of Mingyue Peak, with magnificent momentum and scenery. Magnificent and extremely dangerous. The entire courtyard is divided into upper and lower floors and is laid out in a traditional nine-square grid. It is a place of escape with excellent Feng Shui.
Luo Xiangxue's eyes flashed, and she said faintly: "I also overheard dad talking to one of his friends. Then why should it be built on a cliff? Isn't it very dangerous to get there?"
Liu Ruyan said thoughtfully: "I think Daxia Xu had his own intention in choosing such a place to live in seclusion. I heard from the master that the name Hongqinju was taken from Mrs. Xu's name!"
Luo Xiangxue chuckled and said, "Oh, if that's the case, then Daxia Xu must love his wife very much. Their relationship must be very deep!" She chuckled, her eyes sparkling with crystal light, full of fascination. It seemed as if she was not telling someone else's story, but her own.
The two of them chatted freely like this. Unknowingly, they had been chatting for almost three hours. All the guests in the hall had dispersed, but they were still talking freely and their thoughts were still unfinished! It was as if I suddenly met a close friend and had endless topics to talk about.
The shopkeeper, who was fiddling with the abacus at the counter, glanced up at them from time to time, thinking: These two people have already eaten all the food and wine on the table, why are they still sitting there talking, why do they have so much to talk about? if? I was wondering, so I asked the waiter to come forward and ask if I need more food and wine? The waiter ran over and asked with a smile and a bow: "You two gentlemen, do you need some food and wine? Our restaurant has..."
Before the waiter finished speaking, Liu Ruyan waved and said, "We've had enough wine and food, so there's no need." The waiter responded and was about to turn around and leave, but was stopped again: "Wait a minute, why don't you pack me two steamed buns and a roast chicken." After saying that, he glanced at Luo Xiangxue and smiled sheepishly.
Luo Xiangxue couldn't help but smile, thinking: This Mr. Liu is really good at eating! This is what I'm thinking, but I can't say it out loud, but I can't help but feel funny in my heart!
Liu Ruyan looked up and looked out the window. The sky was blue and cloudless. The towering green and black peaks behind the long street looked majestic and majestic. The number of pedestrians on the street had gradually become less and less, and only the sound of hawking could be heard one after another. There was a gentle breeze, and several willow trees outside the hotel swayed slightly with the wind. The weather is really sunny today, which makes people feel comfortable!
Suddenly, Liu Ruyan seemed to think of something in her mind, and asked: "Miss Luo, there is something I don't know, and I don't know whether I should talk about it or not?"
Luo Xiangxue frowned slightly, opened her eyes and said, "Master, do you have any questions? You might as well just ask!" She looked at Liu Ruyan quietly.
Liu Ruyan pretended to be naughty and rolled her eyes, and said slowly: "Young lady is obviously a girl, why are you dressing up as a boy?"
Luo Xiangxue's face turned red and she lowered her head slightly, looking a little embarrassed. She pondered for a while and said: "I rarely go down the mountain. I heard that there are many thieves down the mountain. I am a girl who is alone outside and it is very inconvenient, so I thought of this method. Disguise." After saying that, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle.
Just as he was talking, the waiter ran over quickly carrying the packed steamed buns and roast chicken.
The waiter saw that the two were chatting happily and seemed inconvenient to interrupt. As he stood there, Nuonuo's words came to his lips and he didn't know how to speak.
Liu Ruyan glanced at him and said sternly: "Second brother, do the math. How much silver is there on the table?"
The waiter then walked quickly to the counter and said a few words to the shopkeeper, then ran back, bowed and said: "Two guests, are you two getting married together? Or separately?"
Liu Ruyan raised her eyebrows and said sternly: "Oh, of course we will tie the knot together! Quickly calculate, how much? I have to be in a hurry!"
The waiter smiled and said: "Sir, the total is one, two or three cents!"
Liu Ruyan fumbled around in her breast pocket, then took out a small half of silver and handed it to the waiter. The waiter nodded again and bowed before leaving.
When Luo Xiangxue heard this, she hurriedly waved her hands and said: "Young Master Liu, I can't do it, I can't do it, how can I let you spend money on me? I'd better settle it myself!"
Liu Ruyan said seriously: "Today you and I are destined to meet again. It is a rare fate. Miss Luo, please stop being polite!"
Liu Ruyan said: "Miss Luo, today you and I met unexpectedly. This is fate. Besides, you gave me such generous gifts that day. I don't know how to thank you?"
He said leisurely, "We meet again today, how about we make friends?"
Luo Xiangxue smiled and said, "It's a great honor for me to be friends with Young Master Liu!" She blinked, "That's it, we are friends from now on!"
That day, I met Liu Ruyan by chance in the mountains. I saw that he was extremely handsome, his conversation was refined, and his gestures were elegant and graceful. Immediately, a good feeling arose in my heart. Now, I don't want to meet here again. This is not God's arrangement. What is it?
The two of them had a very happy conversation today, and in her young and budding heart, she was already a young girl with the beginning of love. Liu Ruyan said that she was willing to make friends with her, and she was naturally willing to do so.
Liu Ruyan rolled his eyes, looked at her and said sternly: "That's great! I made another friend today, so happy!" He paused and said, "Why don't you and I swear here today to be friends for the rest of our lives?" How about being a good friend who will never change?"
Luo Xiangxue grinned and nodded.
Immediately, the two borrowed the hotel's sacred table, and both knelt in front of the sacred table and swore:
Liu Ruyan looked at the throne of God and said seriously: "Your Majesty, Bodhisattva, today I, Liu Ruyan, would like to become close friends with Miss Luo. We will share blessings and share hardships. I ask Bodhisattva's wise eyes to bear witness!" After that, he looked with a smile. He looked at Luo Xiangxue and nodded.
Luo Xiangxue also looked at the Bodhisattva and said seriously: "Your Majesty, Bodhisattva, today I, Luo Xiangxue, would like to become good friends with Mr. Liu. We will share blessings and share hardships. I ask Guanyin Bodhisattva to bear witness!" After saying that, he also turned around and smiled. He looked at Liu Ruyan.
The two kowtowed three times and made vows in front of the divine case.
This pious scene stunned the shopkeeper who was doing the accounting at the counter and the waiter who was busy in the store! Two strangers became friends just because they sat at the same table and had a meal together. This was the first time this happened in a restaurant. It was really strange. In this world, when There are really all kinds of people! However, looking at the two of them, they must be sincere in their sworn vows, and I couldn't help but feel happy in my heart!
After the sworn vows, the two walked out of the inn. Seeing that Liu Ruyan was about to leave, the waiter brought over the horse that had been fed in the manger!
Liu Ruyan looked at Luo Xiangxue and said thoughtfully: "I wonder where Miss Luo is going?"
Luo Xiangxue smiled and said: "To be fair, Master, I sneaked down the mountain this time, and my parents don't know yet!"
"Oh, that's right. Why did that girl run out secretly? Your parents will be very anxious if they can't find you." Liu Ruyan looked at her anxiously.
Luo Xiangxue suddenly darkened her face, pouted and said quietly: "Young master, you don't know something. My father and my mother ask me to learn piano and practice every day. If I am lazy even a little bit, I will be scolded. You don't know, I am annoyed." It's so annoying." She let out a long sigh: "So, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I ran out secretly."
Liu Ruyan looked at her, showing worry, frowning and said: "Girl, a girl is alone at home, it may be dangerous, girl, you must be more careful!"
Luo Xiangxue murmured: "Don't worry, young master, I have learned martial arts from my parents since I was a child. I can still handle ordinary gangsters. I will stay at the foot of the mountain for two days, wander around and then go back." She thought for a long time. : "Master Liu is going to Hongqinju, there is still some distance to go, so please be more careful along the way! We will meet again in the future!" After that, he smiled brightly.
Liu Ruyan led the horse, and the two of them walked slowly towards the south of the long street, talking as they walked.
Unknowingly, we arrived at the end of the long street. Outside was a long official road that extended into the vast distance!
Liu Ruyan said: "Miss Luo, I'm on my way in a hurry. You must be more careful!" He hugged her fists and said sternly, "Goodbye, we'll see you later!"
Luo Xiangxue hesitated a little, her eyes moved, she hesitated to speak, she seemed a little reserved. After a while, she smiled again, clasped her fists, looked at Liu Ruyan and said quietly: "Young master, take care! We will see you later!" After that, Standing there, staring blankly at Liu Ruyan.
Liu Ruyan turned around, climbed on the saddle and mounted the horse, pulled the reins, and the white horse raised its head and neighed, then started walking slowly. Not far away, Liu Ruyan suddenly pulled the reins again, turned to look back at Luo Xiangxue, her eyes flickering, and shouted to Luo Xiangxue: "I wonder where I can find the girl?" The horse hit him. Sneezing and pacing back and forth.
When Luo Xiangxue heard the sound, she couldn't help being startled and shouted loudly: "South of Zhongnan Mountain, Wangyou Valley under Zixia Peak, by Baiyun Lake!" After the voice fell, she waved to him.
After hearing this, Liu Ruyan stopped talking and turned the horse's head. The horse suddenly flipped its hooves and flew away quickly!
