Master Kong was startled.
I have long known that this cat is extraordinary and has become a spirit even if it is not a god. When I discussed with it this morning, it completely understood human speech, but now it was the first time to hear it speak.
A cat actually spoke.
The enunciation is clear and the voice is pleasant.
There is a huge gap between knowing and actually seeing.
Master Kong was astonished, and after carefully studying these words, he felt a little proud. When he looked at the wooden sculpture without eyes in front of him and the talking cat, he fell into deep thought again for some unknown reason.
"Why don't you engrave your eyes when you wait for the imperial edict?"
The young gentleman's words reached his ears.
"Why doesn't it have eyes?"
The clear voice moved Master Kong even more.
"It already has charm without dotting the eyes, so why bother dotting the eyes again?" Master Kong finally put down the carving knife.
"You already have charm without dotting your eyes, why not do it again?" Song You followed his words, but his voice was very soft, with a questioning tone.
"..."
Master Kong was silent for a long time, and then he said: "Sir and Empress Sanhua are both extraordinary people, so I will tell the truth to you."
I saw him offering his hand to Song You, and then to the calico cat.
"I deceived you two last night. In fact, it is true that wood carvings come to life. It happened when I was forty years old. However, I am just a craftsman. Although this miraculous skill can bring fame, it is not like this Skills are contrary to the harmony of nature. If used casually, people will walk around and dogs will bark, and there will be trouble."
"I see."
Song You nodded lightly.
In fact, he knew it last night.
It's just that the old gentleman treated him well, gave him chicken soup, kept him overnight, and said he would give him wood carvings. Such courtesy was so great. After knowing that the old gentleman was unwilling to disclose the matter, how could he do it for growth? Why is it that the old gentleman is in too much trouble because of his knowledge and practice?
As for this morning, it was the fate between Sanhua Empress and him.
"Besides, when people have seen strange things, they will inevitably be afraid of Lao Chan, fearing that he will look like a monster." Master Kong continued, paused for a moment, and couldn't help but sigh, "So since then, the things carved by Lao Chan have always been They don’t even light their eyes after hearing the aura, and if outsiders come to visit from afar, they all say it’s just three people becoming a tiger, it’s just a misinformation.”
"What the master said makes sense."
Song You nodded and paused: "But there is one thing that Song doesn't agree with."
"Please say."
"It's true that the master is a craftsman, but there is no need to belittle oneself." Song You said to Master Kong, "The master's skills are already divine. With this magical skill, he is no different from a god."
"Sir, be careful! There is a god in your head!"
"..."
Song You just smiled.
If this old gentleman really has this ability, even if he is just a mortal, how many of the gods in the Heavenly Palace and the Buddhas in the Western Heaven can compare with him?
"Master, please click your eyes."
"Don't be afraid, sir."
"The master is joking. Song is also a stranger from the mountains. He knows all the wonderful skills in this world. Each of them is the ultimate achievement of extreme talent and half a life's hard work." Song You said while holding his hand, "Having this magical skill shows that the master has achieved the highest level." This group is already at the top of the world, Song can only admire and admire it, so how can he feel fear?"
"Sir is truly an immortal."
Master Kong then stabbed the wood with his knife and carved the eyes.
This wood-carved cat came alive before your eyes as it was vivid and full of charm.
There is nothing magical about the whole process, as if it is alive in itself, and Master Kong just awakened it with a carving knife. Just like the previous carving process, as Lady Sanhua said, it was as if the lifelike wooden cat itself was hidden in that piece of wood, and Master Kong just used a carving knife to find it.
Even with Song You's way of doing things, he couldn't see anything.
When the carving knife stopped, the wooden cat immediately became alive, twisting its head and looking left and right. It was a little stiff at first, but soon moved freely. After looking at all the people in the room, it suddenly He jumped off the wooden pile and ran out like lightning.
"It ran away!"
Empress Sanhua exclaimed.
"Stop it!"
Master Kong also shouted hurriedly.
Only Song You remained calm and said towards that side:
"Please come back."
The wooden cat stopped immediately, with its back facing this way, but turned its head to look.
When he saw that the person calling him was Song You, he turned around and walked over slowly, just like a real cat hearing the call of an acquaintance.
This cat is really alive.
Song You has sensed its vitality and its desire for freedom.
In just a few breaths as it walked over, you could even see some parts of its body gradually turning from wood to hair. One by one, different colors were faintly visible, and it seemed that it would soon turn into a... A tabby cat that is hard to tell apart from the naked eye.
Song You reached out and touched the wooden cat's head, feeling the texture of the wood from his palm. He looked at the wooden cat with an expression of enjoyment and opened its mouth silently. He only looked thoughtful.
What I am thinking about is a question that I have been thinking about for many years and have not found an answer to.
What kind of world is this?
…
An hour later.
The wooden cat is no different from a real cat and cannot be distinguished by the naked eye.
I saw that this cat is very similar to Sanhua Empress. I think Master Kong had his own ideas in mind even though he was carving the cat in the shape of Sanhua Empress. Apart from its appearance, there is almost nothing about this cat that resembles Sanhua Empress. Even its strong desire for freedom was actually given by Master Kong.
The status of a carpenter is considered high among craftsmen. After getting involved in art, he is sought after by literati and refined people, and his status is even higher. But in this era, in the final analysis, he is just a craftsman.
Coupled with various other constraints, such as worldly vision and inner morality, Master Kong's skills are magical but cannot be used at will.
Maybe he also wants to have his own world in his heart.
Because of this, Song You thought twice and did not take the cat back. I originally wanted to send it back to Fulongguan to be with its master, but I gave up and released it back to the forest behind the bamboo hut.
"Go find your world."
Song You whispered goodbye to the cat.
Master Kong stood behind him, staring at him in trance, without any intention of stopping or reluctant to give up.
Song You seemed to hear his thoughts.
Your freedom is my freedom.
Seeing it go away and entering the forest as it wanted, he turned around and raised his hand to Master Kong again: "The wonders I saw and heard today are truly the best in my life. Song's trip was not only worthwhile, but also a wonderful one." I have gained a lot from my own practice, so I would like to thank you, Master, and please accept Song’s gift.”
One person is not in a hurry and bows deeply.
One person woke up and helped him in a panic.
"I've disturbed you for a day. I'm grateful for the Master's hospitality. Now that I'm satisfied, it's time for Song to return." Song You paused, "As for the cat, Master, don't worry. Song has already made up for it." It lacks aura, and even if a master whose cultivation is no weaker than Song's and who is proficient in it comes back, he will no longer be able to tell that it was once a piece of wood."
Master Kong was stunned when he heard this.
Song You just smiled and handed over his hand again:
"Farewell."
So I took the cat with me and never looked back.
I just came here yesterday and started the return journey. However, although this trip was short, it was extremely wonderful.
If you ask what is wonderful, it cannot be put into words.
Song You himself also pondered all the way.
Still thinking about that question.
There are thousands of paths to spiritual practice, but all of them lead to the same destination. In the end, they are just a glimpse into and touch on the essence of this world. Just like the masters of Fulong Temple from generation to generation, in fact, each has his own ability, and even the methods he practices are different. There is only one thing that is the same from generation to generation, which is going down the mountain.
Why go down the mountain?
It is to see famous mountains and rivers, to find strange people and strange things, to eat, drink and have fun, to conquer demons and slay demons, to see peace and tranquility, to lament the misery of people's livelihood, and to observe the world.
…
When we arrived at Yidu, it was already dark.
Song You entered through the North City Gate and ate a bowl of noodles on the way. He passed by a pork shop and saw that there were some miscellaneous things left, so he spent a few more pennies and bought a small piece of pig iron for Empress Sanhua. People in Yidu don't like eating this stuff very much, and it sells very cheaply, but Empress Sanhua quite likes it.
Returning to the small courtyard, I stayed up all night again.
I didn't do anything else, but I felt something vaguely in my heart, so I sat cross-legged under the yellow plum tree in the courtyard, feeling the aura of heaven and earth, thinking about what was in my mind, and capturing those ethereal things.
Before I knew it, the night passed.
When Song You opened his eyes, it was already early the next morning.
Look up at the sky and pause for a moment.
"It's the autumnal equinox."
Divide means to divide equally.
During the autumnal equinox, the days and nights are almost equal in length all over the world, the yin and yang are both strong and weak, and the aura of the world is harmonized to achieve a perfect balance. It is an extremely mysterious time.
Last night, Song You managed to capture the beauty between heaven and earth, as well as the harmonious and mysterious aura.
Turning around and looking——
At the door of the bedroom, a calico cat was sitting upright in front of the threshold. There was no expression on it. It just looked straight at him. I don't know how long it was looking at, and I don't know what it was thinking.
Are you wondering about this person's behavior?
"Miss Sanhua."
Song You thought and waved towards it.
The calico cat immediately seemed to have revived. He stood up, bent over, raised his buttocks, opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, stretched for a long time, and then slowly walked towards him.
"do what?"
the calico cat asked lazily, his voice very pleasant.
"How did Sanhua Empress sleep last night?"
"Miss Sanhua didn't sleep last night."
"Why don't you sleep?"
"Why don't you sleep?"
"I dont want to sleep."
"I want to see when you go to bed."
"I see."
Song You smiled and nodded, then raised his hand and spread it out. A trace of spiritual energy floated in his palm. It was a very clean grass yellow color, like a shooting star. There was something mysterious in it, extremely mysterious.
"Ms. Sanhua, would you like to transform into a human form?"
"The Sanhua Empress has not cultivated enough to be able to transform into a human being."
"Ms. Sanhua, do you want to transform into a human being?"
"Ms. Sanhua thinks so."
"I will give Empress Sanhua a little blessing, and I also ask Empress Sanhua not to dodge, and to understand it carefully."
Song You waved his hand casually, and the meteor-like aura in his hand flew towards the calico cat, clearly visible even in broad daylight. If it were night, it would definitely be more beautiful.
"Miss Sanhua doesn't hide...
"Hey! What's going on?
"It hid by itself!!"
Then the calico cat unexpectedly jumped to the side, and Meteor also turned a corner, chasing after it, and finally disappeared into the center of its eyebrows.
Song You looked helpless.
