The long night has passed, and a wisp of fish belly white appears on the horizon. This is the quietest time before dawn.
The mountain wind is biting, the birds are chirping, and the air is filled with a chilly chill. Gu Zhi woke up early and saw that Xu Feng was still sleeping soundly next to him. He couldn't bear to be disturbed, so he quietly got out of bed and went to the yard to practice Tai Chi alone. He stood under an ancient tree on the edge of the cliff and watched the rolling white fish maw on the mountaintop in the distance gradually brighten and swell. In front of me is the surging sea of clouds, which is as misty as a dream.
He stood tall, took a deep breath, slowly stretched his body, raised his arms above his head, gradually bent his legs, then stood upright on one foot, his eyes were firm and focused, like the eyes of an eagle, staring into the abyss. .
The sky is getting brighter, and a fiery red sun has climbed up among the peaks, and the rays of rays are shooting out. The eagle spreads its wings, the monkey fishes for the moon, and the lone wolf looks at the sky. Each style is understated but vivid. He has been doing this kind of morning exercises for more than ten years, but as his health has deteriorated in recent years, the frequency of his morning exercises has begun to decrease, from once a day to once a week. The morning in the mountains is extremely quiet, with only the birds fluttering and chirping in the woods.
The colorful rays of light shine on the thatched cottage, bright and peaceful. Just when Gu Zhi was immersed in Tai Chi and reached a state of selflessness, Liu Ruyan's voice came from behind: "Second uncle, why did you get up so early?" He opened the door and hurried over to Gu Zhi. He watched Gu Zhi dance a set of Tai Chi moves with some curiosity. Seeing him dancing slowly with each move, Liu Ruyan's mouth showed a smile. He came to Gu Zhi's side, and Gu Zhi immediately stopped and stood still, his mouth Li took a deep breath, then turned around and said, "Good morning, Yan'er! Why don't you sleep more?" He looked at Liu Ruyan with a smile, and the wrinkles on his face were squeezed together, making him look very old and kind.
Liu Ruyan smiled and said: "I talked with Brother Xu late at night last night. We talked a lot. He said that you always wanted him to go down the mountain and wander around in the rivers and lakes, but he didn't trust you to stay alone in the mountain. He asked me to leave him alone. You come down the mountain, second uncle, and you come with me!" He hesitated, observing the change in the expression on Gu Zhi's face.
Gu Zhi smiled faintly and said: "Yan'er, I don't want to implicate you. Liujiazhuang's great revenge has not been avenged, and Yumei's whereabouts are unknown. The burden on you is too heavy, and my second uncle can't help you. How can I do it again?" I'll implicate you!" His eyes suddenly flashed, his face became solemn, and he sighed, "Oh, it's time to tell you this secret! Yan'er, come with me!" A deep look appeared on his face. sad.
Gu Zhi turned around and walked around a mountain path outside the yard and walked straight to the back door of a side house. Liu Ruyan looked at the hut next to the cliff with a bit of surprise. He remained silent, but felt nervous in his heart. This was a small house hidden in a recess of the cliff. Gu Zhi opened the door and saw that the light in the house was dim and the furnishings were extremely simple. There was only a small wooden table and a few small stools. A silver-sheathed sword hung on the south wall. , it may have been untouched for a long time, and the sword was covered with dust. There was a strong musty smell in the dim light. There was even a spider web in the corner, where spiders were waiting for prey.
Gu Zhi looked serious and brought Liu Ruyan to a rough stone cabinet in the corner. He frowned and said, "Yan'er, your parents have been gone for twenty years. One day twenty years ago, your father suddenly found me." , said some strange words. At that time, I thought he was in a bad mood or encountered some kind of pressure. I tried my best to comfort him, and he gave me many medical books from Liujiazhuang for me to collect. I I didn't understand his intention at the time. I asked again and again, and he finally said that if something bad happened in Liujiazhuang one day, these books should be kept. I never thought that an accident would happen in Liujiazhuang a month later! The incident happened suddenly, and I was also the second Genius knows that Liujiazhuang was full of blood overnight! Alas..." He said, slowly closing his eyes and falling into deep sorrow.
After a long time, he continued: "Later, I realized that your father gave all the books to me because he had already anticipated that something bad would happen. Alas, it was only my fault that I was stupid at the time and failed to notice his abnormality. Waiting for us to catch up By then, the yard of Liujiazhuang was in a mess, all the corpses had been cleared away, and the ground was stained with blood. So I went to the village chief to inquire, but he didn't know anything about it. Later, we looked around for clues, but still found nothing." He said. The lid of the stone cabinet was opened, revealing a thick stack of books. The title pages of the books were yellowed and some were in dilapidated shape, apparently due to erosion by insect eggs over time. The writing was marked with the words "Yellow Emperor's Medical Scroll". Liu Ruyan's face was startled, and her heart was shocked, and an inexplicable sadness surged into her heart. He slowly stretched out
He rubbed his hands on the pages of the book, which was a treasure his father had left behind for his entire life.
Gu Zhi looked solemn and said quietly: "These are all the books your father asked me to keep. He loved Qihuang's art all his life, but it was a pity that he died young and his superb medical skills could not be passed down. I hope you can pass on your father's As medical skills continue to develop, these are your father's relics. Now I give them to you, so you can keep them!"
Liu Ruyan stared at these books and felt a surge of sorrow and sorrow in his chest. He stroked the books back and forth with his hands, and suddenly he knelt down in front of the stone cabinet, holding the stone cabinet with one hand, his face was sad, and his eyes were crystal clear. Flashing, he cried out sadly: Dad...Mom...Why did you leave just like you said? If there is a spirit under the spring, tell the children the whereabouts of the little sister through dreams. How can I find her? Brother, who harmed our Liujiazhuang? "The shouts were loud and full of sorrow and pain, and tears could no longer hold back from flowing out.
Gu Zhi patted his shoulder gently and sighed: "Your father has saved many lives throughout his life! But he doesn't want to end up like this. If you can inherit his legacy, that would be great! Jianghu How dangerous it is, it’s better to marry a wife as soon as possible and live a stable life!”
Liu Ruyan raised her head, with tears on her face, and murmured, "Second uncle, do you know who my parents' enemies are?"
Gu Zhi hesitated and said slowly: "I haven't been able to track down the murderer behind the scenes for so many years. I'm sorry for you, uncle!" He frowned, as if he suddenly remembered something, and his eyes lit up. "However, there is someone who may know something about that year. The secret of the tragedy. Yes, you might as well go and meet him!" He was thinking, trying to think of something.
Liu Ruyan was startled and asked hurriedly: "Second uncle, please tell my nephew quickly, who is it? Where can I find him?" He looked at Gu Zhi eagerly.
Gu Zhi took out the dry cigarette bag from his waist, untied the bag and took out a purple clay pot cigarette stick, touched some tobacco leaves, lit them with fire pleats, and started smoking. After exhaling a long breath of smoke, he said in a deep voice: "Your father was an honest man with an excellent reputation during his lifetime. He ran Liujiazhuang at the foot of Huashan Mountain for many years and made some friends. His friends often came to Liujiazhuang to get together, except for scholars. Farmers, industrialists, merchants, and some wandering wanderers. As far as I know, their relationship is very good. There is a middle-aged man named Wang Gang who has a close relationship with your father. He lives in Yaozipo, northern Shaanxi. He is a An authentic medicinal merchant. I first met your father because he came to sell medicinal herbs door-to-door. Later, he gradually became acquainted and became a very good friend. But the strange thing is that one month before the incident in Liujiazhuang, that person never appeared again. ." A look of worry appeared in his brows.
Liu Ruyan thought thoughtfully and said, "Second uncle, do you think the matter at Liujiazhuang has something to do with him?"
Gu Zhi looked serious and said slowly: "It's hard to say, and he is just a merchant selling medicinal materials. He should not have anything to do with the affairs of Liujiazhuang. Besides, they usually have a very good relationship, and I have never heard of him. What a holiday!" He stroked his beard and said, "In this way, I will edit a letter and you can present it to him. I am sure he will not refuse. When you see him, you will say that he was introduced by the Eagle of Huashan. I share it with you. Although we don’t have much of a friendship with him, we have met him several times.”
Liu Ruyan nodded thoughtfully, and then asked: "Second uncle, how to get to Yaozipo in northern Shaanxi? There is something I don't know whether to talk about or not?"
Gu Zhidao: "If you have anything to say, just say it!"
Liu Ruyan said: "You always ask Brother Xu to go down the mountain, but you insist on staying on the mountain. Now you are seriously ill. If we all leave, who will take care of you? I have thought about it again and again, and you still follow me down the mountain. Go to Zhongnan and live with my master and my sister. After I avenge my parents and find my little sister, we will never be separated again." He thought about the long road ahead, and his heart was filled with worry. His eyes were full of eagerness, but there was also a hint of sadness that could not be concealed. He didn't know whether it was for the old second uncle in front of him, or for his own bizarre and bumpy fate. Read the book
Gu Zhi asked him to move the scrolls left by his father down the mountain. He should have inherited these things. He originally thought that Gu Zhixing might know the secret of the Liujiazhuang massacre, but he never thought that he didn't know about it either, and he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when he thought about it.
Liu Ruyan said: "Second uncle, I want to start down the mountain immediately. That senior Wang has a close personal relationship with my father. If we can find the senior Wang you mentioned, we may be able to solve the mystery of Liujiazhuang. Is that okay?
Yichi, can I leave this afternoon? "
Gu Zhi pondered and nodded and said: "In that case, my second uncle will not force you to stay. The road to northern Shaanxi is difficult and dangerous, so you must be extremely careful! I will repair the book immediately. When you find Wang Gang, you must hand it to him in person. He will read it You will understand." He patted Liu Ruyan's shoulder lightly, "Second uncle promises you and will go down the mountain with you. But second uncle can't harm you. As long as you can find my little sister, second uncle can close his eyes even if he dies. ." His eyes were filled with tears, showing sadness.
He immediately turned around and went to the study room in the back room to get pens, ink, paper and inkstones. At this moment, Xu Ziyi came out of the back room and saw Gu Zhi going in. He hurriedly asked: "Master, I didn't see you when I got up. I was about to look for you. You are a big boy." Where have you been? By the way, I haven't seen Brother Liu. Senior Xu has also gotten up. I just saw him going to the pine forest in the back mountain alone, but Brother Liu has disappeared!" He looked a little nervous and hurried out. , almost met with Comrade Gu Zhi.
Gu Zhizhan smiled: "Ruyan is in the stone room at the back. He should be coming over. Oh, by the way, you can pack some clothes and travel expenses later. After breakfast, we will go down the mountain."
Xu Ziyi was startled and said: "Oh, what did he do in the secret room? I thought he left without saying goodbye! Master, did you agree to go down the mountain with Brother Liu? If this is the case, then I can feel relieved when I go out. .”
Gu Zhi nodded slightly and said: "Brother Liu insists on persuading you, but it's hard to refuse your kindness. Besides, if I live in the mountains, I have to bother him to go up to the mountains to deliver medicine to me. It's really inconvenient. I spent the whole night thinking about it. It's better to let him go down the mountain. It's important to treat the disease first, so you can go without worrying about me. If you find a girl you like in the future, remember to bring it to your master for a look. By the way, I will stay here from now on. Nanshan. I also want to meet Yan'er's master, Master Nanshan. I haven't seen him in many years, so I will pay him a visit now."
