That day, the two people met in Moon Bay, and the past was still vivid in their minds, just like yesterday.
Liu Ruyan smiled with gentle eyes and said softly: "Xiangmei, if you hadn't given me the fresh buds that day, I would have left empty-handed! Thank you! How could I forget!"
Luo Xiangxue smiled sweetly, curled her lips and said, "My father asked me to go to Shilipo to sell tea that day, otherwise we wouldn't have met! Brother Liu, do you think this is our fate?" There was light in her eyes, and she was looking forward to it. happiness.
Liu Ruyan joked: "So you also believe in fate? What exactly is fate?"
Luo Xiangxue tilted her head and thought for a while, then said: "My mother said that fate is a very magical thing. It can allow you to meet the people you want to see and get what you want! Well, actually I don't understand either. By the way, we Go find Uncle Chu quickly."
Liu Ruyan glanced at her and suddenly said: "You have been away for so long, don't you miss your father and mother? They will definitely miss you. Now that you have returned to Zhongnan Mountain, you should go back and see them."
The smile on Luo Xiangxue's face faded, showing a trace of sadness, and murmured: "Yes, I also want to go back to see them, but I am afraid. I am afraid that if I go back, my father will lock me up. Never let me come out again, or it will be difficult for me to see you again!" She raised her eyes and looked at Liu Ruyan, her eyes full of resentment.
She suddenly thought of something, stood up from the stone, and said, "By the way, this is only a dozen miles away from Cuiyun Lake in Fengqi Valley. You haven't looked there before, have you? Maybe Uncle Chu went there?" Let’s go take a look now.”
Zhongnan Mountain has a vast territory with numerous peaks and canyons. Although Wolong Valley is only ten miles away from Fengqi Valley, Liu Ruyan grew up in Wolong Valley and rarely visited other areas. He was not familiar with the surrounding terrain.
Liu Ruyan suddenly opened his mouth, patted his head, and said suddenly: "Master rarely leaves Wolong Valley, and I have never seen him hanging out with any friends on Zhongnan Mountain. The Fengqi Valley you mentioned, I really I haven't looked for it, but the master didn't say what he was going to do when he went up the mountain, and even the flower girl didn't know." He sighed quietly, with a sad look on his face. ap.
The mountain wind was freezing, and the two of them walked towards the place where the horses were tied. The two horses swung their tails leisurely and paced. All the way north from this mountain road, deep in the jungle ten miles away is the Fengqi Valley. Below the canyon is It is Cuiyun Lake with rippling blue waves.
When they came to the horse, they each took off their reins. The mountain wind blew on them, and their clothes were flying. They each stepped on the saddle, reined in the horse, turned the horse's head, and galloped towards Fengqi Valley.
The two men and horses galloped on the open mountain road for a long time, and came to the foot of a steep cliff shaped like a hook. Suddenly, they saw a winding road, and a blue lake appeared in front of them. The lake was green and rippled in the mountain wind.
Luo Xiangxue reined in the reins, pointed at Bihu, and said to Liu Ruyan: "Brother Liu, this is Cuiyun Lake! I used to play in the lake when I was a child."
Liu Ruyan suddenly realized that he had heard her say earlier that her home was by the Cuiyun Lake. He smiled softly and said, "Xiangmei, I remember you told me that your home is at this Cuiyun Lake." Lakeside, you are already home, you should go back and take a look! Your parents will definitely miss you."
The two of them led the horses and walked around the lake. Luo Xiangxue pointed to a dense bamboo forest in front of Fengqi Valley and said, "Brother Liu, look, my home is in that bamboo forest." She pointed towards Liu Ruyan smiled brightly, and when she arrived at the door of her house, she was a little hesitant and couldn't take a step forward.
Liu Ruyan seemed to see the doubts in his heart, and said quietly: "After being away from home for so long, your parents must miss you very much. Come in and see them. I think I won't go in. I'll look around here. Master!" He smiled at Luo Xiangxue, his smile as bright as the spring breeze.
Luo Xiangxue's face instantly showed a trace of displeasure, and she said angrily: "Brother Liu, I want you to accompany me in so that I can introduce you to my parents! I think they will definitely like you." She winked. His eyes were bright and gentle like autumn water.
There was a hint of shyness on Liu Ruyan's face, and she said rather embarrassedly: "Xiangmei, I think it's better not to go in. You've been away from home for a month, and your parents will definitely be worried about you. If I If I follow you in again, they might get angry when they see me, thinking that I kidnapped you.
Go ahead, if this happens, I won’t be able to argue! ” He looked at Luo Xiangxue seriously and analyzed the situation at hand for her.
Luo Xiangxue's dark eyes turned, thinking: "Well, what you said seems to be reasonable. Look, you look shy, like a young girl waiting to be married, hehe... I am the first one. I see you are so shy." As he said this, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and burst out laughing so hard that his branches trembled with laughter.
After she finished laughing, Liu Ruyan said, "Am I shy? No, right? I don't want to embarrass you because of my appearance. But tell me, if your parents ask about our relationship, you How should I put it? Besides, what would they think when a big girl is accompanied by a man?"
Luo Xiangxue curled her lips, deliberately showing an indifferent look, and said, "You worry too much. In fact, my parents are not unreasonable people, let alone evil spirits. I will introduce you to them as my friend." , they will never make things difficult for you."
Liu Ruyan suddenly sighed and said, "I'll go look for the master nearby. Maybe he's really here." He looked at Luo Xiangxue, "If your parents don't let you out anymore, just stay at home! You A girl is not safe outside, so she should spend more time with your parents."
Luo Xiangxue pouted and said disapprovingly: "I used to miss them when I was outside, but now when I get to the door of my house, I don't have the courage to go in. You don't know, my father has a bad temper. He must be angry with me. You might even break one of my legs!" She said with a sad face and a deep sigh.
Liu Ruyan joked: "Even if I break one of your legs, wouldn't there be another one? Besides, the broken leg is still attached! If they don't come to see you happy, how can they be willing to beat you? Come in quickly, Give them a surprise!" He smiled maliciously.
Luo Xiangxue rolled her eyes at him, looked a little angry, and yelled coquettishly: "Brother Liu, you are so bad, you are making fun of me no matter what, huh, I know what you are thinking, you don't want me to follow you anymore, You want to get rid of me, right? Humph, give up this idea, I am determined to follow you for the rest of my life!" After she said the last sentence, her handsome face turned red, looking shy, and she turned her face to one side. For a long time, he didn't dare to look back and meet Liu Ruyan's eyes.
The wind blew in the bamboo forest, making a rustling sound, and the yellow bamboo leaves rolled and fell. There was still no trace of people around, and it was a desolate scene.
Three quarters of the afternoon has passed, the grass is floating in the silent valley, insects are chirping, the sun is shining on the blue lake, creating sparkling waves, like thousands of fish tumbling, and the wind is filled with the sweet fragrance of water plants.
Luo Xiangxue looked at Liu Ruyan and said faintly: "Brother Liu, please promise me first not to run away quietly alone, but to wait for me. I will come out after I go back and take a look! You must wait for me!" He said affectionately After taking a look at Liu Ruyan, he finally turned around and walked slowly towards the bamboo forest. After taking a few steps, he looked back at Liu Ruyan, took a longing look, and then walked quickly towards the bamboo forest.
Liu Ruyan watched her enter the bamboo forest. It wasn't until her slender figure disappeared deep into the bamboo forest that he turned and walked towards the lake. As he walked, he thought about where the master might go. The empty mountains were silent, the valleys were deep and the woods were secluded. What should he do? How can I find a master? Thinking like this, I feel confused.
He looked around and saw a stone pavilion with a hanging corner on the east side of the lake. A red flag was placed on the eaves of the pavilion. The words "Wangshan Pavilion" are written on it, and the flags are particularly eye-catching in the sun. Liu Ruyan walked quickly towards the mountain pavilion.
The sun shines on the stone pavilion, and the wind blows the red flags, showing a bit of desolation. Liu Ruyan came to the stone pavilion. An iron door was ajar, and intermittent coughing could be heard from inside. It turns out there is someone in the pavilion! This was the sound of a man coughing, one after another, as if he was seriously ill.
Liu Ruyan's heart trembled, and she thought to herself, "Could it be that this person lives in Shiting? Is this his home?" He hesitated at the door, thinking that it would not be inconvenient to disturb him. The people inside seemed to have seen him, and suddenly said "Young man, where are you going?" The man's voice was hoarse, with a tight breath, and he kept coughing as he spoke.
Liu Ruyan said: "I am passing by here to find my master. Please don't blame me for disturbing you!" He looked at the iron gate of Shiting with a calm face.
The man coughed intermittently, and then said: "We are destined to meet each other. Why don't you, young man, come in to talk?" The iron gate did not open.
When it is opened, no one can be seen inside.
A smile appeared on Liu Ruyan's face, and he muttered: "Then it's better to be respectful than to obey!" He stepped forward, and the iron door slowly opened, and a thin man wearing a white robe sat in the pavilion with soft tiger skin. Slumped up, his face was pale, his eye sockets were sunken, his hair was sparse, and he looked like a living zombie.
At a glance, Liu Ruyan couldn't help but be shocked. This man was skinny and skinny, and his hands were like withered bamboo. He looked horrifying. It was obvious that this man was suffering from a very serious disease.
Liu Ruyan pretended to be calm, the surprise on her face fleetingly disappeared, she clasped her fists at the slim man and said, "Liu Ruyan, what do you call me?"
He paid attention to the man's facial expression. His body was motionless, as if he was nailed to a soft cave.
This stone pavilion was originally hollow. The four pillars were made of bamboo pieces tied with straw to form four walls, which could also provide protection from wind and rain. The small pavilion was just a house with no windows on the walls. The light in the house was dim and the furnishings inside were extremely simple. A wooden table was placed next to the man, with a stick of sandalwood burning on it. The fragrance was lingering and refreshing.
A faint smile appeared on the face of the slender man. He stretched out his arms like withered bamboos in an inviting gesture, and gasped: "Liu Shaoxia, please sit down!" His eyes were dim, as if he had been tortured by a long-term illness. drained his passion for life. After saying this, he began to cough violently again, and he was out of breath, as if he would lose his breath at any time.
Liu Ruyan asked doubtfully: "I see that you have a bad cough, but you are infected with the cold?" He moved his eyes away from the man and looked to other corners of the room. He felt that the man in front of him was by no means an ordinary person, but this The appearance is really pitiful and scary.
