The Yin Mountains in the Northern Desert stretch for thousands of miles, and under the domes there is endless grassland. Adjacent to Yinshan Mountain, there is an inconspicuous hill, which seems to be superfluous and superfluous, so it is named "Yushan Mountain".
The Yinshan Sect is the largest sect in Mobei, with many talented people and a great reputation. The Yushan sect is a small sect. It has been in alliance with the Yinshan sect for hundreds of years and has been protected by it. It can be regarded as calm and peaceful.
It's spring again, when the flowers are blooming, the grass is growing, and the orioles are flying, Xinghuayuan, where the Yushan Sect is located, is bustling with activity. Mobei is originally cold, but this place is located in a mountain depression, warm and humid. Apricot flowers bloom in season, and the mountains are covered with white snow and covered with silver.
On this day, there was a happy event in the house, and the house was crowded with guests. It turned out to be the "whip-holding ceremony" of the second young master. Relatives and friends from hundreds of miles around came to congratulate him. There was a rush of traffic and the house was packed with people.
In the middle of the hall, a ten-foot-high ceremony platform was set up. Lai Yihong, the leader of Yushan, was sitting in the center, full of energy and energy. The people sitting on both sides were all gang deacons, country squires, wealthy men, and extremely luxurious.
After the drum music, a young man in brocade clothes made a gorgeous appearance. He is thirteen or fourteen years old, with white teeth and red lips, handsome appearance, and a slightly shy expression. After giving a great gift to my father, a family member brought a brocade box. My father took out a riding whip, three feet long, woven with five-color silk ribbons, with a gold handle and jade buckle. It was very precious.
"My son from Mobei is good at riding and shooting. The whip-holding ceremony shows that my son has reached adulthood. He has a seat in the ancestral hall and can attend the hall to discuss affairs. I am extremely happy for my father!"
He lightly clasped the young man's head with the handle of the whip: "One clasp will bring good fortune and longevity, two clasps will bring peace and auspiciousness, three clasps..." Before his father could finish speaking, the young man said, "Three clasps, I will become an upright and upright man!"
All the guests laughed together and the atmosphere was very joyful.
"My father also carefully selected ten horses for you as a gift." In front of the stage, servants led the horses one by one. Their coats were of different colors, but they were all extraordinary. The audience watched the excitement and sighed and praised.
In the back corner, next to the Moon Gate, there is a pair of young men in white standing under the apricot tree. The young master looked sulky, "The second son of a common concubine is so expensive to mobilize troops with three courtesies and six rituals, but my eldest son, who is a legitimate son, has never been treated with such courtesy. Father is really partial!"
The woman next to him hurriedly advised him: "Husband, please keep your voice down! Everyone knows that my father prefers his second brother. If this word reaches his ears, he will inevitably scold you again!"
"I'm going to argue with my mother. In what way is Laidi inferior to that bastard? Why did my father criticize me so harshly?"
"Absolutely not, one more thing is worse than one less thing..." The two of them muttered in a low voice and gradually moved away.
The ceremony on the stage was still going on, and Lai Yihong spoke earnestly: "When my son grows up, he can dabble in horseback riding, archery, music, chess, calligraphy and painting. My father has specially chosen a few servants to accompany you."
At this time, five servants in green clothes filed in. They were about the same age as the young man, and they were all handsome. "These five servants will take care of your daily life from now on. Give them a name!"
The young man saluted his father, "Thank you for your love, father! Let the four of them be named after the four peaks of Yinshan Mountain, 'Dragon, Tiger, Cloud and Rain'. As for you..." He turned to look at the last servant, who was a little thin, but his eyesight was bright. Teeth, very handsome.
He was at a loss for words and couldn't think of a good name. The father hurriedly came to the rescue: "Don't worry about the name of the servant. Since he is the fifth person, let's call him Lai Wu!" Everyone agreed, and the young man had no choice but to accept it.
While he was talking, the housekeeper Lai Xing stepped forward quickly and whispered in Lai Yihong's ear. Yihong nodded and said with a smile: "My child's gift actually alarmed the Lord of Yinshan Mountain and sent him a congratulatory gift. I am really grateful!" At this time, someone The messenger presented a brocade box, and Lai Yihong opened it. The smile on his face suddenly froze, and he remained speechless, as if he was petrified.
The guests didn't know what was happening and looked at each other. The butler hurriedly smoothed things over: "It's getting late, please envoys and distinguished guests come to the table with me!"
Everyone left, but Lai Yihong was still in a daze. Ting Shu stepped forward curiously and saw five black arrows in the box. They were very delicate and she liked them.
"Father, the Lord of Yinshan gave this gift just in time for the child to learn riding and shooting. Why is father worried?"
Lai Yihong also calmed down now. He gently stroked the boy's head and said, "Since my son likes it, that's very, very good!"
When night falls, the guests disperse and the "Shu Garden" in the backyard is brightly lit. After the "whip-holding ceremony", the second son Lai Tingshu also had his own courtyard, which was named after him. At this time, he was excitedly assigning tasks to the slaves: "Lailong and Laihu, you are responsible for raising the horses, Laiyun and Laiyu, you are responsible for taking care of the courtyard, and as for Laiwu, just be a little book boy by my side."
After the distribution was completed, everyone dispersed, with only Lai Wu standing beside him with his hands hanging down. Ting Shu was playing with the antiques on the shelf in the room, and suddenly said: "Now that I have established a new family, I should thank my father and mistress. This is the only etiquette."
When the two of them left the "Shu Garden", Lai Wu led the way with a lantern. Occasionally he met a maid and servant bowing to salute, Lai Tingshu was very proud and proud.
When they arrived at the central courtyard, they heard low cries in the distance. The second young master was a little surprised and stopped to listen carefully. The cry was from Mrs. Cui, the mother-in-law of the main house, who choked with grief, "My lord sent me a token today. Thinking about the beginning of the disaster, I feel extremely sad."
The father sighed and said, "I had known that this disaster was coming, but I was at a loss when it came!" The two of them sighed, and the mistress started crying again. The father was a little annoyed, and reprimanded in a low voice: "Ignorant women know how to cry! Fortunately, time It’s still long, just wait!”
Ting Shu thought in his mind, judging from the situation, it must be related to the gift from the Lord of Yinshan Mountain. What is the deep meaning? When he was thinking about it, Lai Wuyan said: "Sir, if I don't want to disturb you at this time, you should go elsewhere!"
The two came to the west courtyard, and Ting Shu called "Mother" and rushed in. Mother Xu was very happy to meet and ask questions. Next to him was a little girl of eleven or twelve years old, with long flowing hair and a pair of bright eyes that were unparalleled in beauty.
She was very curious when she saw Lai Wu, "What a handsome little brother, just like the person in the painting!" She pinched Lai Wu's cheeks with both hands, and Lai Wu's face turned red with embarrassment. Xu scolded in a low voice, and the girl let go.
Lai Wu lowered his eyelids and occasionally glanced at the girl. His ignorant heart was riddled with holes by those beautiful eyes.
After coming out of the west courtyard, Ting Shu did not forget to teach Lai Wu: "That is my sister Lai Xing'er, the apple of our family's eye. If you dare to look at her more, be careful, I will chop you into pieces and feed you to the dogs!"
Time flies, spring is beautiful and autumn is fruitful. Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye. The grassland is turning yellow, which is when the livestock are fat and strong. Lai Tingshu practiced literature and martial arts every day, or galloped on the grassland. He was really free and happy.
During this period, there were no changes in the family, and there was no trace of the disaster that his father had mentioned. He gradually forgot about that incident. He and Lai Wu were inseparable and no longer separated. Sometimes they would talk loudly and get along very happily.
In the afternoon of this day, they were speeding on the grassland. There were towering mountains in the distance, and a valley stretched across their eyes. The rocks were piled up and extended to the depths of the grassland. From a distance, it looked like an obvious scar.
"Master, we can't go any further. I heard someone said it's called the Sleeping Dragon Cave. There are strange beasts there and it's very dangerous!"
Lai Tingshu smiled contemptuously and said: "I have martial arts skills, and I am not brave enough to be brave. How can I be afraid of danger?" He rode forward, and Lai Wu had to follow behind.
"Master, I would scold you if I knew it!"
"Will my father blame me? What nonsense!" The two continued to move forward, but the rocks were so rugged that they could only abandon their horses and walk.
Further forward, the valley becomes narrower, and the peaks on both sides stand steeply, shaped like circling giant dragons. There is a gold plaque with "Forbidden Land" on it, and the inscription is a black eagle spreading its wings.
"Master, this is the mark of the Yinshan Sect. You must not cause any trouble."
Ting Shu disagreed, "This young master would even take a look at the Lord of Yinshan Mountain. What's so scary about this small forbidden area?" He walked a hundred steps forward and reached the end, where there was a huge round hole with no bottom.
"It's just a hole in the ground that's so mysterious! Will there be any surprises if we go down for a walk?"
Lai Wu was shocked when he heard this: "Young master, you can't do that! If you lose a hair, why don't you beat me to death?"
Ting Shu's face sank, "Who in the house doesn't know that I am very good at martial arts, how can this little thing trouble me?"
He picked up a stone and threw it down. There was no sound. It seemed that the depth was really bottomless. In fact, he was also very scared, so he had to find his way down the steps: "It's getting late today, let's explore the way first, and then go down another day."
Ting Shu cautiously stepped forward. The hole was like a monster's mouth, with a faint and weird breath leaking out. He was nervous and his feet softened, and he slid directly in. With quick hands and quick eyes, Lai Wu flew forward and grabbed the arrow pot on his back.
The young master was so frightened that he screamed: "Don't let go, I'm going to die, and you won't survive!" Lai Wu gritted his teeth and insisted. He was so thin that he couldn't support it at all. The two of them slowly slid into the cave. At the critical moment, Suddenly a black shadow flashed...
When Ting Shu woke up, he saw Lai Yun waiting beside him.
"How did I get back?"
"Master, are you awake? The master just left. He said that you were saved by a passing knight. You are so blessed!"
Ting Shu's head hurt a little. He struggled to sit up and asked, "What about Lai Wu?"
"The master blamed him for not taking good care of the young master and wanted to beat him to death. Thanks to Miss Xing'er's plea, he was able to save his life. Now he is recuperating in the backyard woodshed!"
Ting Shu felt guilty and ordered someone to send Lai Wu medicine for the sore. He recalled what happened and found out that someone came to rescue him in such a remote place. He couldn't think of any other reason except that he was lucky and lucky.
Thinking about it again, I felt a little uneasy. Would his father scold him for trespassing in forbidden areas? For several days, my father looked kind and did not mention it. He was extremely proud, it seemed that this precious baby's status could not be shaken at all.
A few days later, Lai Wu recovered from his injuries and returned to the house to serve. Ting Shu asked someone to give him a hundred taels of silver as compensation, but Lai Wu refused, "If you really want to reward me, can you let me say a few words from your heart?"
Ting Shu nodded in agreement, and Lai Wu hesitated for a moment and said, "Young Master, I hope you can become a truly strong man like the eldest son!"
Ting Shu was a little confused and said displeasedly: "I am extremely intelligent and have a photographic memory. I never slack off in studying literature and martial arts. Moreover, everyone says that my martial arts and literary talents are on par with my elder brother!"
"Master, please wake up! Your martial arts skills are not even showy. Those who practice martial arts with you are all acting, just to make you happy. Also, the poems you wrote are not worth mentioning at all... "
