Back to the Future Sword of Sichen

"Auspiciousness" is what those people at the foot of the mountain call it; "auspiciousness" can be a celestial phenomenon, or it can be plants, animals, or people.

They can make things around them develop in a good direction, such as making a city have good weather and making a dry river flow again.

Our "Ge Tian" clan is called this. However, people at the foot of the mountain will not call us "Ge Tian" or "Xiangrui", but "Mie Mengniao" or "Yuren".

I am the first "Ge Tian" born in the Central Plains. Unlike other tribesmen, they were forced to migrate here because of war.

"Hey! Yan Ping!"

Looking back, a figure fell between the dense leaves, an old acquaintance.

He raised his head and sighed, "Compared to the hustle and bustle of the busy city, the days in the mountains and forests are really leisurely."

"Is this really true? Compared with the noise of the city, which one is more disturbing to people's peace?"

He lowered his head, presumably thinking. But after a moment, he replied: "Judging from your temperament, each of you should have its own disturbing features."

"So what do you think?" I asked.

"Let me tell you... I can see many new things at the foot of the mountain that I have never seen before, and I can also hear many interesting anecdotes that I have never known. Although the life in the mountain is leisurely, it is not as fulfilling as life at the foot of the mountain."

Even if we are of the same race, our personalities and hobbies are different, just like the locust tree that covers us. Even leaves grown from the same tree have different shapes and veins.

"But to be honest. People under the mountain often have some novel creations. If you learn these things, they may come in handy in the future."

"Indeed." I said. I couldn't deny this. The brick and brick technology learned from the people under the mountain prevented our nest from being soaked by rain.

"Yan Ping... I want to find a chance to tell you everything I have to say."

I watched his smile disappear little by little, becoming exactly the same old-fashioned and serious expression as the fellow member of the same family who called himself "Teacher" in the tree next door.

It seemed that he had indeed gone to the ancestral hall and looked at the "bones" of his dead compatriots.

"Goodbye, Yanping." He handed me a dark brown walnut shell. I don't know which skilled craftsman carved it - on this walnut shell, which was only the size of a thumb, there were carved shapes of gurgling water, flying birds and animals, and woods. Lush scenery.

"This was given to me by a carpenter, and now I give it to you."

"Why?"

“Is it because you don’t want to leave this land that you don’t want to leave it?”

"No, I just can't find a reason to leave."

"From this point of view, according to what "Teacher" said, "the time has not come yet." Sooner or later, you will have to go down the mountain. This walnut carving should be regarded as a souvenir from me. After I leave, you will be the only one left in the tribe. Come on, help take care of our nest."

"I wish you all the best," I said.

"I'll lend you some good words!" He flew up in the wind, his figure getting smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared behind a cloud.

I don't understand why they joined the world and why they came down from the mountain. Is it because we are willing to help other races that look similar to us? Or is it because of the bustling city, the drunkenness, singing and dancing that made them sink?

I still can't find the answer, so I might as well take a break in the sunny weather.

……

Seasons change, day and night rotate. The streams still flow day and night, the birds still sing, and the beasts still roar, as if time has not moved forward.

"Yan Ping, long time no see."

I lowered my head and looked at the old "Ge Tian" under the tree. He is like a dead tree that is thin and lacks leaves in the cold winter wind - the feathers on his body can no longer support him through another winter.

"Bone picker? What do you want from me?"

"I just came to see you, but you still have no plans to go down the mountain." He coughed, and a gray-black feather fell from his body.

"Based on the current situation of the clan, I'm afraid the responsibility of picking up the remains for the clan will fall on you in the future."

The bone picker was carrying a box behind him. Every time he coughed, there would be a slight friction sound in the box behind him.

"Is it an old acquaintance of mine this time?"

"No. If you want to come and see, go to the ancestral hall."

He flew away, hiding in the silent winter. The following spring, I found the bone picker in the ancestral hall. He was sitting in a coffin and had turned into white bones.

There was a flute placed beside him. I read his "bones" and learned that he met a musician after coming down the mountain. I could also learn a lot about the flute from his "bones".

There are countless "bones" in this ancestral hall. I don't understand the reason why they went down the mountain. In the end, they just turned into white bones.

And this ancestral hall still needs someone to take care of it, so just stay here and look at their "bones".

……

The mountains and forests change, and the four seasons are normal. The birds and animals have changed for several generations, and the stones by the river have been washed smooth and flat by the water.

I have seen some of these "bones" stored in the ancestral hall. Some are gossips, some are unsightly, and some brought back the skills of the people in the mountains. I also learned piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

But I think the world we learn from their "bones" is far more real than what we see with our own eyes. Just like a frog at the bottom of a well who doesn't know the sky is high and the sea is vast outside the well.

I have never understood what motivated them to rush into the world, but the knowledge and technology they brought back could not be continued for the race.

Why are you doing all this?

No one could give me the answer. I suddenly received a feeling in my heart, or it was a telepathy. At this time, all the tribesmen would fold their wings and bow their heads in silence in the same direction, while the bone pickers would flap their wings and fly in that direction.

Now that I am the only one left in the clan, I can only bear the responsibility of being a bone collector.

Fortunately, the place where he "feathered" was far away from the city, which avoided the panic of the people at the foot of the mountain. Just imagine what it feels like when a person suddenly falls down in front of you and turns into bones?

The Miemeng bird is born as a fly, but after death it instantly turns into bones.

The sky is high and the sea is vast. We are born to fly, and we have seen countless scenery while flying. And generations of bone pickers have been touched by these scenery, so they keep flying down the mountain.

I wiped the dust off the bones. He probably wanted to return to the clan but it was too late.

Why exactly? Why did you go down the mountain to help them build bridges, houses, and cities... Was it to verify the knowledge you learned, or was it because you were charitable and willing to help other races?

I didn't realize that I had been staying in this locust tree for who knows how many years. Other tribesmen once lived here, but now only this silent old friend, the locust tree, was left to accompany me.

However, recently, I don't know who spread the rumor that there is an "immortal" living in this locust tree and playing music from time to time. Many people come here to pray.

This is not my fault, although I have been practicing singing and playing music recently. But the final reason is that people need some unrealistic fantasies to satisfy their inner desires.

There is only one person here today, a good-looking scholar...well...he has been here several times...

I think his "bones" are upright, so he must be an upright man, and he seems to have a great sense of righteousness.

But as hard as he is, his life will be rough and rough, and he may die young as a result. He has been coming to pray for the past few days, just for peace of mind so that he can pass the imperial examination smoothly.

Now, he was kneeling on the ground again, clasping his hands together with a jade pendant in his palms. As if feeling guilty, he looked around and sighed after making sure no one was there.

"I pray... that the people in this city may live a healthy life... that the floods will stop and that the harvest of grains and rice will be great..."

I can't figure it out. It's all other people's business, so what's the benefit to me? But if he thinks so, he might be able to become an admonisher after successfully passing the imperial examination.

He muttered for a while, then stood up and solemnly placed the jade pendant in his hand on the root of the tree.

"I don't have anything valuable on me, so I just put this jade pendant here to show my sincerity. If my wish comes true in the future, I will come back and restore it."

He turned and left, and I picked up the jade pendant. This prayer is somewhat mixed with my cause and effect. I will help him put away this jade pendant. When the time comes, he will really come back to fulfill his wish and be prepared, right?

It’s just that I never saw him again. Maybe he really died young as I thought.

Until I met a person who had almost the same bones as the scholar.

This man at the foot of the mountain has only a short time, but he doesn't waste it. Are he going to risk death, and have to break his head and shed blood to say something that is not true?

I didn't understand why they did this. A few days later, the jade pendant broke, which confirmed my opinion.

They are just like my people - why they entered the world, why they went to death, they did what they knew they couldn't do, and they died silently because of what they wanted.

I repaired the jade pendant and hung it on the bone flute. I thought it was time to go down the mountain. I needed an explanation and an answer.