startled autumn

It was the first time Shen Zhiqiu heard the sound of the blade piercing through his own flesh.

Very light, very fast, very painful.

Where does it hurt?Shen Zhiqiu couldn't figure it out.

The peach blossoms are in full bloom, just like a girl's first make-up, when the breeze comes, it turns red like rain, following Shen Zhiqiu's gaze, caressing Fang Hezi's sword, his shoulders, and his eyes.

Shen Zhiqiu raised his hand to touch him, but found that he was too far away.

Fang Hezi frowned, and smiled speciously: "I'm leaving."

Shen Zhiqiu felt numb from the pain in the abdominal wound, but when he heard Fang Hezi say that he was leaving, his heart still clenched unconsciously.He opened his mouth, wanting to ask where you are going, but in the end only a burst of fishy sweetness welled up his throat.

He felt that he might not be able to stand up anymore, but he still had an inexplicable persistence. He didn't want to fall in front of this person.

Fang Hezi didn't give him this chance, and leaned straight towards Feng Qiujian who was standing beside him.

Only then did Shen Zhiqiu understand why Fang Hezi hurt him.

Shen Zhiqiu was seriously injured, and still stretched out his hand to touch Fengqiu's sword. Seeing this, Fang Hezi sighed: "Sure enough, the sword is more important than me..." After finishing speaking, Fang Hezi snatched the sword lightly, and held Fengqiu's sword tightly. In his hand, the blade was still brilliant red.

Shen Zhiqiu lost all support, lost all strength, and knelt down on both knees.

Fang Hezi was about to leave, but heard a shocking call from afar: "Zhiqiu!"

The owner of the voice is Mi Lin.Beside him was He Li, and those three outsiders with excellent martial arts.

Fang Hezi said unluckily, took a step back and set up his position, but found that the three people had already stood in three directions, forming a state of catching a turtle in a jar, he looked down at Shen Zhiqiu: "You are very lucky."

He Li had already rushed to Shen Zhiqiu's side and touched his big chest, but he didn't dare to draw his sword rashly for him. Mi Lin beside him was already very angry, and angrily cursed at Fang Hezi: "He protects you with his life, you don't like this!" Do you still have a conscience for him?"

Fang Hezi smiled and said, "If there are more people protecting me, will he be one less?"

As soon as he finished speaking, several men in red clothes with veiled caps walked out of the forest. Their heights were extremely fat and thin, and their appearance was even more unrecognizable. There was a sharp iron claw on their right hand, and when they appeared, they appeared like the three sword-wielding men. The outsiders began to fight, but they were not defeated for a while.

Seeing this scene, Shen Zhiqiu's bandaged right hand became inexplicably hot, reminding him how stupid Fang was. He never knew that Fang Hezi was always followed by these men in red. It turned out that Fang Hezi didn't need him to save his life, but He is self-indulgent.

Fang He looked down at He Li and raised a contemptuous smile: "He Li, you still have some brains, but it's a pity that you couldn't share the points with others, otherwise you might be the one who wins now."

He Li glanced at him coldly: "What kind of a person are you, but you are just a swindler who dares to speak nonsense."

Fang Hezi raised his eyebrows and lowered his voice, like a ghost whispering at night: "I found the token of Hezhou, He Li, you really lost this time."

He Li's expression froze obviously: "What do you mean?"

Fang Hezi: "The crane screams for nine days, but it appears when it encounters blood."

He Li: "What do you want?"

Fang Hezi smiled and said: "You can't kill me anymore, why don't we each take a step back."

He Li: "You can go, leave the sword behind."

Fang Hezi continued to laugh and said, "What qualifications do you have to bargain with me? Do you dare to let Shen Zhiqiu use this sword again?"

He Li thought for a moment, then said disgustedly: "You are carrying a sword, get out of here."

Lying in He Li's arms, Shen Zhiqiu was in a semi-comatose state, and could only vaguely hear their conversation, and heard He Li scolding Fang Hezi for rolling with a sword, so he struggled to raise his arm in Fang Hezi's direction , moving his lips vigorously: "Don't..."

don't go.

Fang Hezi heard it, and probably thought he was going to say don't take the sword away, so she smiled softly: "You refused to give me the sword, so I have to get it myself, Zhiqiu, don't blame me."

Fang Hezi's voice got farther and farther away, and Shen Zhiqiu gradually couldn't hear it clearly.

He thought, Fang Hezi finally didn't lie to him this time, she really left.

When Shen Zhiqiu woke up, three full days and nights had passed.

He was lying in Youming's room, surrounded by a strong smell of medicine. A young man was sitting not far away reading a book, and looked up at him from time to time. Seeing that he woke up, he didn't show much joy. With a faint cry, the city lord woke up.

Shen Zhiqiu recognized this boy, he was about 13 years old, his face was as handsome as snow, but his stature was small and thin, he looked only ten years old, he was You Ming's young apprentice Ning Banque.

Ning Banque practiced sword and studied medicine with You Ming since he was a child, so he inevitably got some bad habits of You Ming.

Hearing his apprentice's voice, You Ming also walked into the room steadily, then checked Shen Zhiqiu carefully, took a pulse again, and said to Ning Banque: "Pick up the medicine for me, it's time to change it .”

Ning Banque yawned and answered lazily.

Shen Zhiqiu couldn't bear it any longer, and fell asleep again.

When he woke up again, Shen Zhiqiu's clothes had been changed into new ones, and Ning Banque was still guarding beside his bed, looking bored. Seeing that he woke up, he opened his mouth to him again: "How dare you I can still..."

You Ming just pushed the door open and entered.

Ning Banque happily changed his mouth: "Master!"

You Ming asked: "What nonsense were you talking about just now? Who are you talking about living?"

Ning Banque smiled and said, "I'm praising Master for his superb medical skills! The city lord is your friend, and I definitely hope he survives."

"I don't know who indulged your temper." You Ming patted his head and let him go out to play.

Shen Zhiqiu couldn't help but bend his eyes when he watched their master and apprentice playing around.

Seeing him laughing, You Ming rolled his eyes angrily: "You were stabbed half of your life, yet you can still laugh?"

Shen Zhiqiu didn't want to say more, but asked with difficulty: "He... He Li?"

You Ming: "I'll call him."

Only then did Shen Zhiqiu know that He Li had been waiting for him to wake up.

When He Li entered the room, he didn't ask any more questions about Shen Zhiqiu's body, but just sighed: "I have failed your father's trust."

Father?Shen Jianxing?He Li actually knew him?Shen Zhiqiu's heart was shaken, and his eyes were fixed on He Li.

He Li knew that he must be full of doubts, so he explained: "Your father once saved my life. Before that, he wrote to me that he was about to leave Yancheng. He didn't worry about you being alone at home, so he said that if something happened, Let me help you once anyway, I promise."

"When I first arrived in Yancheng, I learned about the deeds of that fake Fang Hezi. He became your friend, flourished in Yancheng, and made many enemies for you. I met him alone to test him out. he."

"I have been to Hezhou, and I have seen the real Fang Hezi. Naturally, I recognized him as a liar at a glance, and advised him to leave as soon as possible. Unexpectedly, he is so thick-skinned that he is not ashamed. Instead, he acts even more high-profile. Fang Hezi's name became more and more popular, so I had no choice but to send a letter to Hezhou, asking them to send someone to deal with this matter."

Only then did Shen Zhiqiu know that the three plainly dressed men with superb swordsmanship were real Hezhou people.

He Li: "Before now, I didn't know what the liar's purpose was. I thought he was just trying to take advantage of the situation. It wasn't until I was in Peach Blossom Forest that I realized that what he wanted was Fengqiu Sword."

This is exactly where Shen Zhiqiu was most puzzled, he moved his lips, his voice was hoarse: "Why?"

He Li: "The crane roars for nine days, and it appears immediately when it touches blood. You should have seen it, right? The nine-day red crane seal on the Fengqiu sword."

Shen Zhiqiu nodded.

He Li sighed: "If I had known that your father had engraved it on the sword, I would never have hurt you with this sword, and exposed my identity in vain."

Shen Zhiqiu: "Then... what is it?"

He Li said vaguely: "That is a token leading to Hezhou."

Shen Zhiqiu opened his eyes wide, staring at He Li without blinking.

But He Li ignored him, and said to himself: "There are strange forces behind that liar, and he threatened you with the Nine Heavens Red Crane Seal, so I have to let him go, Zhiqiu, don't mind, the Fengqiu Sword is in your hands After all, it is a hot potato, if he takes it away, take it away, the scabbard is still in your hand anyway."

Shen Zhiqiu couldn't understand why he couldn't hold the Fengqiu sword this time, and why the scabbard was more important than the sword?

He Li: "Your father doesn't allow me to tell the truth here."

Shen Zhiqiu asked, "Where is he?"

He Li tightened his lips and kept silent: "I can't say."

He Li pressed the corner of the quilt for Shen Zhiqiu, and there was a little softness in his eyes. Shen Zhiqiu used to think that he was a villain who sowed discord and rejected him a lot, but now everything shows that He Li is right, and he is his own. His father's friend had a loving feeling towards him, thinking of this, Shen Zhiqiu suddenly felt ashamed.

He Li: "That liar is just a hypocrite, now that his goal has been achieved, he probably won't come again; those three gentlemen from Hezhou have found out the truth, and have already left Yancheng to hunt down that liar." Pause , "I was a wandering swordsman, now that everything is over, I should go."

Knowing that he had made up his mind to go, Shen Zhiqiu had no choice but to thank him sincerely.

He Li left, and Shen Zhiqiu dreamed of Fang Hezi in a coma that night.

Fang Hezi still had long sleeves fluttering, with a noble appearance, standing in the peach blossom forest, her smile melted like the first snow.

Shen Zhiqiu heard himself say to him: "Fifteen, don't leave, I will protect you."

Fang Hezi blinked and smiled slyly: "Really?"

Shen Zhiqiu: "Really." Afraid that he might not believe it, he hastily emphasized, "You are my friend."

Fang Hezi lowered his head and smiled softly, "Okay, I won't go."

……

It really was just a dream.

But when Shen Zhiqiu opened his eyes, Fang Hezi was actually sitting beside his bed.

Fang Hezi gently traced his eyebrows with her fingertips, she didn't take back her hand when she saw that he woke up, but lightly tidied up the hair that fell on his cheeks, Fang Hezi smiled lightly, as usual:

"woke up?"

Shen Zhiqiu felt that this was more like a dream than a dream.

But he was awake after all.

Shen Zhiqiu: "What are you doing back here?"

Fang Hezi completely exposed his identity, Yancheng people would not be willing to be a believer of a liar, not to mention the Fengqiu sword is already in his hands, Shen Zhiqiu really can't think of the reason for his return.

Fang Hezi smiled and said, "Come and see you."

Shen Zhiqiu's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe it.

"I lied to you."

Fang Hezi raised his eyebrows, and his smile subsided in an instant.

"I'll... give you a ride."

After hearing such terrible words, Shen Zhiqiu's expression softened.

Fang Hezi was a little surprised when he saw that he regarded life and death as nothing, "You don't want to ask me why I killed you?"

Shen Zhiqiu said indifferently: "If you don't tell the truth, why should I ask?"

"This time I will tell the truth." Fang Hezi's spirit of immortality disappeared in an instant, leaving only a bit of killing blood and a bit of ruthlessness. , so as not to leave future troubles."

Shen Zhiqiu said coldly: "Even if you lied to me, I will not kill you."

Fang Hezi patted his forehead, as if laughing at his innocence and stupidity: "Zhiqiu, you are really stupid, don't you think I'm the only one who wants to kill you?" After a pause, "You You are my friend, if you are destined to die, I would rather you die by my hands."

Shen Zhiqiu was unable to tell whether what he was telling was the truth or a lie, so he had to keep silent.

At this time, someone pushed the door and entered, it was Ning Banque.

Shen Zhiqiu was surprised: "What are you doing here!" He was afraid that Fang Hezi would kill Ning Banque to silence him.

But Ning Banque just glanced at him lightly, those eyes were like spots of paint, black and impenetrable.

Fang Hezi smiled happily: "Zhiqiu, how do you think I got into Youjia?"

Shen Zhiqiu suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and looked at Ning Banque in surprise, only to see him walk up to Fang Hezi, standing quietly.

Shen Zhiqiu: "Where's Youming?"

He didn't expect Ning Banque to become Fang Hezi's man.

Ning Banque was expressionless, as if he was referring to a stranger: "He fell asleep, I gave the medicine myself."

Shen Zhiqiu remembered that You Ming had shown off to him this morning, and Ning Banque wanted to make soup for him.

Fang Hezi glanced at the sky outside the window, and said calmly, "I should go."

Ning Banque stepped forward and handed Fang Hezi a wooden box. There was only a small black pill in the wooden box. Fang Hezi picked up the pill and stuffed it gently into Shen Zhiqiu's mouth. The pill melted in the mouth , the taste is sweet and bitter.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt this time."

Shen Zhiqiu knew that he was lying again, because his whole body was in pain, especially in his heart, which made him almost faint.

In his final waking state, he asked Fang Hezi: "What the hell are you..."

It's a pity that he couldn't ask, and Fang Hezi couldn't answer him.

When Shen Zhiqiu was on the verge of death, he still thought of Fang Hezi. He smiled at Yan Yan's face, and his icy sword. Likes and sorrows are all up to him, and life and death are no longer involuntary.

Shen Zhiqiu opened his eyes, and there was a hazy white light in front of him.

The bright light gradually dissipated, and there was still a smell of medicine in the nostrils. It was You Ming's room.

You Ming was beside his bed with a tired look on his face. Seeing that he woke up, he couldn't force himself to smile.

Shen Zhiqiu didn't know why he didn't die, but when he saw that You Ming was still alive, he couldn't help but feel joy, and squeezed out each word from his lips with difficulty: "Are... all right? And Ning..."

"Like you, I slept for a day and a night." You Ming said with a wry smile, "Queer is gone."

Shen Zhiqiu used to be too difficult for water, seeing that You Ming didn't want to ask more questions, so he naturally didn't ask any more questions.

Shen Zhiqiu asked again: "Where's Mi Lin?" He hadn't seen him since Peach Blossom Forest.

You Ming frowned tightly, and replied solemnly: "You are injured, Mi Lin will take care of Yancheng for you temporarily, something happened in Yancheng yesterday, Mi Lin is too busy..."

Shen Zhiqiu pursed his lips: "What happened to Yancheng?"

You Ming said nothing.

Shen Zhiqiu: "...you take me to see Mi Lin."

Shen Zhiqiu is a martial arts practitioner, he has internal strength to protect his body, and with You Ming supporting him, he can get out of bed and walk slowly.As soon as he traveled home, it was already night, but he could see the flames rising into the sky in the distance, and the air was filled with the smell of decay.

It was a big fire, and the night sky in Yancheng was so bright that no stars could be seen.

The hottest place of the fire was his home.

You Ming: "Yesterday, there were a few strange men in red clothes who set fires everywhere. The Shen family burned first, and then the fire got bigger and spread, and Mi Lin led people to fight the fire all day..."

Shen Zhiqiu knew that it was Fang Hezi's person.

When they found Mi Lin, Mi Lin was instructing people to fetch water, his face was smudged, his clothes were torn, there was a little burn mark on his exposed arm, and his face was full of anxiety.

When Mi Lin saw the two of them, he was startled and said, "Why are you here?!"

Shen Zhiqiu's face was pale, but he bit his lower lip until it bleeds, and said softly, "It was Shiwu who did it..."

Mi Lin: "Don't mention him again."

Shen Zhiqiu: "It's my fault..."

Mi Lin had been working for many days and was in a very bad mood, so he flew into a rage: "Yes! Of course you are wrong! If you hadn't believed in him and indulged him, how could Yancheng have come to this? Do you know how many times you have bullied him these few days? Do you know how many houses were destroyed by the fire? Do you know when Ji Zhao left..."

Shen Zhiqiu: "Ji Zhao?! What happened to her?"

Mi Lin sneered and said: "You only know to be friends with your fifteenth, do you know that when Ji Zhao left, she waited for you outside the city for a whole day! From sunrise to sunset, where have you been?! "

Shen Zhiqiu deeply felt that he was very wrong.

Mi Lin wanted to punch him, but seeing that he was in a trance, he couldn't do it anyway, so he could only kick the wooden barrel beside him to pieces: "Shen Zhiqiu, you really have a problem with your brain, you called him ten Five, you are so ridiculous, a liar, you have to keep it in your heart..."

You Ming shouted: "Mi Lin!"

Mi Lin was stopped by You Ming, calmed down a little, turned around, and refused to talk to Shen Zhiqiu any more.

In the middle of the night, a sudden heavy rain fell, and the fire was finally extinguished.

Shen Zhiqiu felt that everything in him was burned up.

He recalled the past and found that all he had done from now on was to trust Fang Hezi.But because he believed in Fang Hezi, too many misfortunes and crimes were born: Yancheng's situation was over, and he had to apologize to the surrounding factions; The people suffered countless losses; Shen Zhiqiu lost half of his life, was robbed of the Fengqiu sword, and lost his childhood sweetheart.

All kinds of things in the past made him ashamed.

You Ming persuaded him: "You are also deceived, there is no need to be like this."

Shen Zhiqiu has made up his mind: "Mi Lin is right, if I hadn't trusted others, why did this happen? I can't absolve myself of the blame."

You Ming: "You have been seriously injured and your health is not good. I will not allow you to imprison yourself for a year anyway."

Shen Zhiqiu said with a smile: "It's just facing the wall and thinking about the past."

You Ming: "You have lost your internal strength, how can you survive the hardships in prison?"

It is also said that the sect who was bullied by Fang Hezi came to Yancheng to ask for an explanation, but Mi Lin made many apologies to no avail, but the other party acted like taking advantage of the fire, and refused to let it go no matter what.

Shen Zhiqiu had just recovered from his illness, so he resigned from the position of city lord in public, and resolutely abolished the internal skills he had practiced in the previous 17 years. He declared that he would think about it for a year, and then he would leave his hometown and never set foot in Yancheng again.

Seeing that his mind was firm and extraordinary, everyone stopped their flags and drums, and dispersed like a bird or a beast.

You Ming: "Do you really want to do this?"

Shen Zhiqiu sighed: "I practice swordsmanship, I can't feel ashamed in my heart, you can help me."

You Ming knew he couldn't persuade him, so he had no choice but to personally send him to the prison in Yancheng.

Yancheng Sky Prison, where there is no light from the sun, no visitation, has always only locked up serious offenders, but it has not locked anyone in for many years, Shen Zhiqiu spent a year here alone, every day except for the person who delivered the food, there was no one else Can't see it either.

During this year, Shen Zhiqiu was in prison and thought of many people.

Among them is Fang Hezi.

It's just that he can't understand why someone can tell so many lies, and he doesn't understand why Fang Hezi can be so sincere when deceiving others, and even more sincere than deceiving others when harming others, like the poisonous The wooden box is elegant and beautiful on the outside, and the inside should not be approached by strangers.

Fang Hezi made the mistake of lying to him, and Shen Zhiqiu made the mistake of believing him.

Shen Zhiqiu thought, since they are all wrong, at least I can't make the same mistakes again and again.

one year later.

You Ming took Shen Zhiqiu out of prison, only to see that Shen Zhiqiu was wearing white clothes, looking very thin, and the gloomy look between his brows turned into a sword-like heroic spirit again.

You Ming returned Feng Qiujian's scabbard to him, as well as his original saber.

Shen Zhiqiu took the sword and held it in his hand, feeling a lot more at ease in his heart, and said with a smile: "I'm leaving."

The first level of swordsmanship is his only pursuit now.

He decided to leave Yancheng and travel around until he achieved great success in the way of swordsmanship.

Shen Zhiqiu stood at the city gate, waiting for Mi Lin to see him off.Ever since the quarrel around the fire that night, Mi Lin hadn't spoken a word to him.

He waited from sunrise to sunset until Mi Lin's figure appeared on the city wall.

Mi Lin shouted to him: "Take care!"

This is for Ji Zhao.

Mi Lin shouted again: "Zhiqiu! I regret it, I still want to be friends with you..."

Shen Zhiqiu smiled at him, "You have always been my friend."

Mi Lin stood on the tower, shedding tears.

Shen Zhiqiu also turned around and stepped into the strange world step by step.

Unexpectedly, the past is like smoke, even if it is thousands of miles away, it can still blow into the night with the wind, making people wake up from a big dream.