At night, Xingqing's iconic towering city gate slowly closed under the rising moon. Above the city wall, the light of torches illuminated the faces of every city guard. Outside the city wall, the water of Changyang River looks like a black ribbon in the moonlight, with some waves like long ribbons fluttering in the wind.
The city wall was so high that the defenders couldn't see clearly what was under the wall, they could only see darkness.
In the woods not far away, a man with a serious face was holding the five horses he bought at the Xingqing City Horse Market during the day, and he was hiding behind a huge pine tree. Surrounded by dense pine and cypress trees, a layer of pine needles on the ground is thick enough to sink into one's ankles. From time to time, the roar of birds of prey can be heard piercing the night sky.
There was a strange atmosphere in the woods at night. The man had a sword tied around his waist and a sword on his back. He led a few horses and slowly headed towards the tall pine city wall.
Not long after walking, he arrived at the edge of the woods. Between the woods and the city wall was an open plain, a battlefield where the bodies of countless soldiers had been buried.
He rubbed his tired eyes and looked at the city wall. The torches on the city wall are connected together, like a hanging fire dragon, showing off its power.
Xu Huaigu stared at the city quietly, his anxiety clearly revealed.
As time passed, a few small insects crawled onto his cheeks, and he wiped them away along with the sweat with a vigorous wipe.
Behind the city wall, there was singing and dancing in Xingqing City. Those who are able to afford it will light lanterns and hang them on their doors to ward off evil spirits and drive away disasters. Wealthy people's houses are full of candles and children are playing.
Huang Shan was busy in the courtyard of the Yi family. The large courtyard was deserted. There were no candles or lanterns, only wildly growing weeds and shrubs. In this world of sparkling prosperity, Yifu is like a hermit monk.
Huang Shan took out a firecracker and lit the fireworks that had been prepared. Suddenly, the gorgeous missiles flew out of the copper tube and sparked light green sparks. He watched the missiles explode into colorful flowers above his head, adding even more charm to this coquettish celebration.
Yiyun was beside him. She didn't look at the fireworks, but asked him: "You look excited?"
Huang Shan took it for granted: "Of course, tonight is a rare event in the history of Xingqing, and I want to be remembered in history."
Yiyun was a little confused: "Aren't you afraid of death?"
Huang Shan raised his head and looked at the fireworks, his face full of longing and said: "My master once told me that the last thing wild cultivators should fear is death. Wild cultivators like us were born like duckweeds without roots, catkins in the wind, and wherever the water flows. Wherever the wind blows to the west, it will not go to the east. Killing people, setting fires, killing the same kind, and then dying in a certain fight. This is the destination of our wild cultivators."
He lit another box of fireworks and continued to look at the sky, "What is death? If your head falls off, it means death? At least not for us wild cultivators. Master said that death does not mean that the heart is pierced by a sword, but that you are gradually forgotten by people. Disappearing in the rolling dust of history, like a duckweed stranded in a place where no one cares about, a catkin floating in a certain land and being trampled by others, that is death."
He finally stopped looking at the fireworks, lowered his head and glanced at Yiyun, and said, "But my master died in a very sad way. He was slapped to death for offending someone he didn't want to offend. I'm probably the only one who still remembers my master." The face and name are gone. If I die tonight, my master will be truly dead."
Yiyun's thoughts were chaotic, as if she had just met this wild cultivator who claimed to kill without batting an eyelid. It took a long time to say something: "Then don't die. If you die, no one will remember your master."
Huang Shan didn't answer, lit the last box of fireworks, and jumped over the wall.
Yi Yun looked at the fireworks in the sky, which were gorgeous and bright. There were countless residents watching at this time.
The fireworks went out in the blink of an eye, but they were reflected in the hearts of many people, and she had some understanding.
Life is as gorgeous as summer flowers, this is the way that Huang Shan, a wild cultivator, pursues.
Fireworks rise, which is Huang Shan's signal to start action.
Xu Huaigu took a deep breath and tightened the reins of several horses. The horses neighed uneasily, raised their front hooves, and hesitated a little.
The soldiers on the city wall looked happy when they heard the roar of the fireworks, and turned their heads to enjoy it.
Someone said: "I don't know whose family is having a happy event. It's quite grand. It must be a wealthy family."
Another person patted him on the shoulder casually and teased: "Hey, you kid, don't think about being a rich girl. Just stay in the army for a few more years, save more money, drink less wine, and you won't have to worry about finding anything." She is not an ordinary woman, so my brothers will definitely pool their money to buy you a few barrels of fireworks, so that you can show your face!"
"Hahaha, are you just paupers? If you are really serious, you might as well give me some gold and silver, it will be more affordable!"
The soldiers chatted casually, hooked each other's shoulders, and relaxed their guard.
Xu Huaigu stood up slowly, stretched his sore calves, and looked at the fire dragon. He couldn't see what was going on on the wall, so he could only guess that their attention was drawn. He forcibly pulled the horses that refused to move forward and quickly moved towards the city wall.
It was deathly silent, with only the sound of shoe soles rubbing against dust, the pounding of heartbeats, and the sound of fireworks exploding.
It was open on all sides, without any cover, and he didn't know if he had been exposed. This feeling made him very uneasy. As a monk, he was more accustomed to ambushing in the dark, and the situation at this time was intolerable to him.
Sweat continued to ooze out, and he could not retreat. He could only silently remind himself that Yu Qin was still waiting, and then overcome his fear and move forward.
Step after step, we are almost there... A horse suddenly raised its head and neighed uneasily: "Hello~"
He gritted his teeth, looked pale, suppressed the thought of shrinking in his heart, and continued to move forward without raising his head. A soldier looked under the city wall suspiciously. He seemed to hear a horse braying? But it was dark under the city and nothing could be seen.
The night wind blew over Xu Huaigu who was lying under the wall. He leaned against the city wall, breathing heavily. The sweat soaked his coat and stuck to the yellow ash on the city wall. He had no time to care.
There is a blind spot under the wall. Due to the obstruction of the tall city wall, the soldiers cannot see.
He couldn't help but imagine what the city would be like. How would Zuo Qiuxun and Huang Shan execute their plan?
Different pictures flashed through his mind, and he had a lot of thoughts. Looking at the moon in the sky, he bowed his body, clasped his hands, and silently prayed to the moon.
