"Sir, I heard rumors that this fog ghost on this stretch of road is not easy to deal with!" The merchant surnamed Li was still frightened. "It has been causing trouble here for more than a few months. Previously, the Nanhua County government invited experts from the temple to come, but they failed to control it. It’s done, the mountain fog started after the heavy rain, and it happened to be convenient for the fog ghosts..."
"Yes, and it's dark and the roads are slippery..."
"Why don't you, sir, wait until dawn tomorrow and then look for it on a sunny day?"
"Sir, if you go, Chen is willing to go with you!"
Everyone said something to each other, and most of them wanted to persuade Song You not to go.
There is concern in it, and I'm afraid there is also the idea that Song You doesn't want to leave easily, but even the latter is human nature. But there were too many words. Song You didn't know what to reply for a while. He continued to stare at the fire for a few seconds, but decided not to reply one by one. He only said to the escort surnamed Chen:
"The escort should stay here."
This can be regarded as an expression of attitude.
The escort surnamed Chen is a fastidious person, with credibility and courage. Such a person deserves respect no matter what his abilities are.
But after saying this, Song You didn't want to say any more.
After a while, the drizzle stopped.
Song You stood up directly, pulled a piece of firewood from the fire, and walked into the fog alone under the watchful eyes of the merchants and escorts.
At this time, the night is lonely, the cold rain has just stopped, figures are flickering in the fog, the cold wind is rustling, and even the weeds are on guard. The only one who moves forward without fear is that figure.
Everyone was admiring and worried at the same time, but there was no other way. They had to huddle next to the fire and stare worriedly into the depths of the thick fog. They didn't know whether they were looking forward to the little gentleman coming back or were afraid that another fog ghost would appear in the fog. .
Not long after, fire burst out in the fog.
Then there was the sound of a ghost howling, like a shrill cry or a violent howl, which made people's scalp numb.
"hiss!"
Goose bumps appeared on the arms of the merchants, and the hairs on the bumps stood up one by one. They were a little more worried about the young gentleman.
However, no one dared to investigate.
The only bodyguard surnamed Chen who had the courage could not abandon everyone and get into the fog.
Soon, the sound stopped abruptly.
I don’t know how long it took, but there was another movement nearby.
Everyone stretched their necks and stared unblinkingly into the fog, their hearts in their throats.
I saw that the fog in front of me was so thick that it couldn't be dissolved. It was like a morning in the mountains in winter. A sudden mountain wind blew, and the mountain fog flowed with it. It seemed that those tiny particles could be seen under the firelight, in this hazy dream-like state. In the scene, a figure walked slowly out of the fog.
The man was young and handsome, wearing simple Taoist robes, and his expression was as calm as ever, as if he had just done something insignificant.
It wasn't until he entered the pavilion and sat down in front of the fire again that he said again:
"The night is still long, everyone should take a rest early."
Everyone looked at each other, and the merchant surnamed Li took the lead. The others stood up one after another and bowed deeply.
The flames crackled, and the young gentleman had closed his eyes.
The merchants couldn't sleep for a while. As they looked at each other, the scene just now came back to their minds - the young gentleman turning back in the heavy fog, his figure gradually turning from blurry to clear, as if he was carrying hope. Maybe some people will never do it in this life. I can't forget this picture.
…
This night is either long or short.
The mountain breeze carried the fog, and the chill was disturbing. I woke up several times throughout the night. I obviously didn't sleep well, but I still couldn't fall asleep. Song You woke up when it was just dawn, but all the other merchants couldn't sleep well, and there were many who couldn't sleep all night.
The dew is heavy in the morning, the air is moist, and you can smell the smell of earth and vegetation, making it just as suitable for practice as the evening.
Although Song You woke up, he continued to sit cross-legged with his eyes closed.
I can hear the sounds around me.
The dew bent the waist of the weeds, and then dripped down along the arc of the bend, hitting the bluestone and breaking into pieces. There are squirrels active on the ancient cypresses, and there are birds getting up early in the woods.
The bodyguard surnamed Chen whispered to the merchant surnamed Li that his younger brother was a good escort man with high martial arts and dared to fight and kill. It was just the first time he saw a ghost and he became frightened for a moment, which led to his poor performance. He hoped that Mr. Li would Merchants don't care.
I also heard a merchant surnamed Li whispering with other merchants, discussing how to collect money to thank Song You, but they were entangled in how much money they should pay, wanting to be generous but also wanting to be careless.
Mud, flowers, grass and dew, everything in the world and people's hearts are all about cultivation.
When he opened his eyes again, the merchants had rekindled the fire, boiled water in a small pot, and respectfully brought a bowl to Song You.
Song You didn't refuse.
In the past, he went down the mountain from a Taoist temple to solve a problem for nearby villagers. The villagers were also so respectful. But he understood a truth many years ago -
Sometimes it’s actually a sign of generosity to accept someone’s kindness, not to mention thank you.
"call……"
It was a cold morning in the mountains. I blew a breath into the bowl, and a layer of white mist suddenly spread along the edge of the bowl. The pancakes were so dry that they had to be cooked with water. It would be nice to have a bowl of hot water after a night in the mountains.
One sip will warm your throat to your lungs.
The businessmen were talkative, and they exchanged a few words during breakfast, and Song You got to know them better.
I previously knew that they were Yizhou tea merchants, and that Yizhou was an important node in the tea-horse trade. Now I learned from them that although the imperial court's guide price for purchasing tea in various places has not changed in recent years, the specific local prices are The price is getting lower year by year, so many tea merchants are forced to have no choice. Some choose to transport the tea to Yidu and sell it to tea horses. Others take the risk and go to Yidu to sell to traders who specialize in collecting tea for the western countries. .
As for which category they were, they didn't say, and Song You didn't ask.
This group of merchants also wanted to invite Song You to go with them to Yidu, probably because they wanted to repay the favor of saving their lives last night. But Song Xing always walked as he pleased, he could stop wherever he wanted, and leave whenever he wanted. If he had to travel in a team with them, it would be a drag on them as well as on himself, so it was very straightforward. He refused and asked them to be careful along the way and not spend the night in the wilderness again.
After drinking water and eating solid food, it was time to part ways.
What’s interesting is that after eating, the bodyguard surnamed Chen took his junior brother to the woods to dig up some less wet firewood, cut it into sections and put them in the corner of the pavilion. This made up for the amount burned last night, and maybe dried it. In two days, it was done.
Song You watched from the side, thoughtfully.
Then the merchant surnamed Li took out a small money bag and handed it to him respectfully as a thank you gift.
Rather than being respectful, it's more about being fastidious.
Monsters and ghosts are not uncommon in this world, and there are many people among the people who catch monsters and exorcise them. Some temples also undertake this kind of business. It is not a strange industry, so paying money has become a normal thing.
A calm person does not stick to trivial matters.
When Song You took the money bag and put it in his arms, the merchant surnamed Li and everyone behind him breathed a sigh of relief.
"We Wushan tea merchants have a shop in Yidu, just in Xicheng. Just ask about Wushan tea shop. Sir, if you can find a place in Yidu, whether you want to find a guide or to do something, please feel free to come and find us. us."
"Walk slowly."
Song You's tone was soft and cold.
"Don't pass, sir."
"Sir, please don't go..."
The merchants loaded up their goods and left in a hurry.
I lost some distance yesterday, I have to make up for it today.
For a time, only Song You was left in the pavilion.
At this time, the sun came out, and suddenly it illuminated the blue sky. The light rays came diagonally from under the clouds, as if they had shapes, wisps. At first, there was no warmth on the face, but soon it became warm. .
It seems to be good weather again.
"Yidu..."
Song You looked up at the sky, murmured in a low voice, packed his bags, and continued to set off.
Don’t worry about traveling thousands of miles, the wind will come.
I saw ancient cypress trees on the road as if they had been washed by water, with water droplets hanging on their branches, crystal clear, and a drop would fall down from time to time. There is still morning fog in this morning. From a distance, the clouds are quietly accumulating in the valleys of the mountains. From a closer look, they obscure the green cloud corridor, making the ancient road endless as far as the eye can see. They gradually dissipate in the morning light.
This section of the road will no longer be haunted by fog ghosts.
