The sun, which had been twisting and burning in the sky just a moment ago, as if announcing the end of the world, fell into the gap between the distant forest and the sky in an instant, seemingly without any hesitation, leaving only the thick clouds to cover it. twinkling stars.
Li Mo walked alone on the dark and deserted path.
snap——
After just a few steps, there was a wet feeling under my feet. Countless small puddles left by the rain were hidden under the fallen leaves. If I didn't pay attention, I would step on them. The rain soaked my shoes, making me feel uncomfortable all over.
"It would be nice if someone could help me."
Li Mo brushed away the muddy water that had splashed on his trouser legs, and pulled his shoes out of the mud puddle over and over again.
He looked around and could barely see a signboard a little further away. When he rushed to the signboard impatiently, he realized that the signboard had been blown to pieces by the wind.
Li Mo brought the oil lamp closer to the signboard. What was originally written on it could no longer be seen clearly. Only the arrow marked with red paint was particularly conspicuous.
The evening wind was blowing in the direction pointed by the arrow. Li Mo used an oil lamp to shine for a long time before he found a path leading out, and there was a series of footprints on the path that did not belong to him.
"Thank you for finding a place like this."
Li Mo followed the footprints for a long time, and the slope of the path became steeper and steeper. It was not until he was out of breath that he reluctantly reached the end.
In the boundless darkness, a faint light appeared.
Under the small light, a bright world appeared that was somewhat shabby and lonely. A somewhat downcast figure was sitting alone in the light.
Next to the figure is a long-standing wooden house, which is where the ranger here lives. Beside the house are neatly stacked chopped firewood and some flower pots made of old bottles.
There are some small yellow flowers planted in the flower pots, and the plump flowers are swaying quietly in the evening breeze.
Li Mo secretly watched the young girl from behind, and inadvertently recalled the scene he had seen in the crowd of people at the Jade Fox Shrine that day.
I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but it seems like everything is back to where it started.
The scene in front of me seemed familiar, just like when I met her in the shrine that day, she was huddled in the corner inconspicuously, no one paid attention to her, it could even be said that no one knew she existed.
Even the young forest guard who was doing things in an orderly manner didn't know that the old forest guard who had lived here for a long time actually had such a daughter when he met her.
There is nothing more heartbreaking than this.
Li Mo had once done what was called a "mourning reporter" job, conveying the news of the deceased's death to the relatives and friends of the deceased. The feeling was simply more uncomfortable than dying himself. He did not want to do this job again. twice.
So at first he said: "I am a wicked person, how can I have the tenderness to care for people's hearts." Then he pushed the matter to the young forest ranger.
And the young man also completed the task "excellently". He told his daughter, "Your father is dead," as rigidly as reading out an official death certificate, while smoothly handing the old man's ashes into his daughter's hands.
"That damn guy."
Li Mo couldn't help but cursed when he recalled this incident. Now the feeling that was more uncomfortable than his own death became heavier. This must be his punishment for evading responsibility.
But if he goes to find her now, will she forgive him? Will you still talk to me?
Not only did he fail to keep his promise to bring the old man back safely, but he also cremated the old man's body on his own initiative. Even though he was worried about her and didn't want her to see the old man's last miserable appearance, he still acted on his own initiative after all. .
If she could cry and make a fuss, if she could come up and slap him hard, with the kind of voice that was so clear and moving that it could linger for three days, he wouldn't feel as guilty as he does now. .
But in fact, when she learned the news about her father from the ranger, she just nodded without saying a word, and then left quietly when no one was paying attention, without even a simple complaint.
Li Mo was a little intimidated, it was more terrifying than when the black army rushed towards him during the war, and the young girl was the same, sitting there motionless for a long time.
From a distance, you can still see the small wooden box she held in her arms, with small flowers woven from white handkerchiefs tied on it, which became listless because of the tears.
"It seems that it's not the time yet, let's wait a little longer..."
Li Mo felt a little dizzy and wanted to escape, but just as he was about to flee, the fire went out, and the small bright world was simply submerged in the blurry night.
cut--
At that moment, the light in Li Mo's hand shook violently, and his red eyes turned around in the dark night, running towards the old man's daughter.
When the light in his hand illuminated his daughter's figure again, Li Mo breathed an inexplicable sigh of relief.
Through the flickering light, she could barely see that there was still a pot on the stove in front of her, but the pot was filled with fallen leaves. It looked like no one had been back for a long time.
The dry wood cut in half was used as two chairs and placed on both sides of the stove. She was sitting on one of them, but she still just sat there huddled, without even raising her head to look at Li Mo.
However, her body trembled slightly, probably because she was startled by the sudden noise she made.
Great, even if she knew of his existence, she didn't run away. This may mean that she is not so hateful in her eyes.
...
I guess so.
"sorry."
Li Mo said a little stiffly. However, the other party had no intention of paying attention to him.
"I know you don't want to talk to me now, and I don't dare to ask for your forgiveness, so even if you just listen..."
She still didn't pay attention to herself, but she went far beyond Li Mo's expectations without covering her ears.
"Old man... Your father, I am the one who makes my own decisions..." Li Mo paused as he looked at the small wooden box tightly held in his daughter's arms, "If you want to blame me, I deserve it, otherwise you can fight first How about I vent my anger?"
"I obviously promised to bring your father back, but it's all because of my lack of ability. If I can be used more..."
"Ah, I heard that the relationship between you and your father is not very good. I understand that. My relationship with my mother is also the same. As the saying goes, all parents in the world are the same."
"Although it's spring, you'll still catch a cold if you blow the wind at night. Please don't sit here, okay? Or you can wait until I light the fire."
"When your father and I were together, he told me a lot about you. It's incredible, that old antique can actually talk so much. I have a very good memory and remember them all. Do you want to listen to it too? "
...
...
"sorry."
Li Mo kept chattering a lot, but it was as powerless as the forced smile on his face. His daughter was still silent in her own world, not paying attention to him for a moment.
After all, the words still only come back to the original sentence of "I'm sorry."
"sorry."
Li Mo said it again.
He himself didn't know why he had to repeat a sentence several times. He was obviously a villain, and it was obvious that he could not be compassionate and gentle, but why was there still a moaning sound in his head.
This was probably a punishment for myself who came despicably to beg for forgiveness despite knowing that she had done something unforgivable.
Li Mo lowered his head in shame, but soon he pretended to smile again, as if he was afraid of disturbing the child who had just woken up from a nightmare, and whispered softly:
"I'll be right next to you. If you need anything, just call me."
Li Mo pointed to the distance, and then carefully placed the old-looking oil lamp next to his daughter.
He stood up, intending to step aside, but at the same time...
Bang, bang——
The motionless figure was caught off guard in front of him and fell straight down.
