[Hidden] legend

1.

Ever since Zhang Xiaofan moved to the back mountain, his room on the Big Bamboo Peak has been completely occupied by Rhubarb and Little Hui. A monkey and a dog go here to look for food during the day, but mostly go back to sleep at night, because of Ding Yin's bamboo hut. There was only one bed in the room, and the two men slept comfortably, so it was really impossible to make room for Rhubarb.

Da Huang is the oldest guy on the Big Bamboo Peak besides Tian Buyi and Suru, and he is also liked by his master. He usually swaggers in the Big Bamboo Peak and is very spiritual. These days, maybe he saw Xiaofan's leg injury, or maybe he knew Ding Yin He is a very old monster. He never occupied the bed with confidence like he did on Dazhufeng. After eating and drinking enough to bask in the sun, he wagged his tail and went back to the front hall. It was even better than the disciples of Dazhufeng and Tian Buyi. .

Xiaohui also ran back and forth every day, and sometimes helped Xiaofan bring things from Dazhufeng, maybe the ingredients in the kitchen, maybe the candles in the grocery store, and once, it was the one that Zhang Xiaofan put in the corner of the bedroom. A black iron rod.

Xiao Hui probably picked it up casually from the house while playing with Da Huang, a monkey and a dog chased it for more than half a hill and then entered the yard, making a lot of noise, even knocking over two stools in the yard, Ding Yin went to the mountain to cut wood and was not nearby, Zhang Xiaofan thought they were noisy, so he came out with a cane and yelled at them, threatening not to give him food, and then the two crazy guys dropped the short black black iron stick .

In order to avoid those two guys making trouble in the yard again, Zhang Xiaofan carefully went down the steps to pick it up, only then remembered the things that had been forgotten for more than half a year.

Ever since Ding Yin told him that this thing seemed to be connected with him by blood, Zhang Xiaofan didn't want to touch it anymore, now seeing this thing in the cold winter, the iron rod that just fell on the snow was icy cold, it made his heart sink even more As soon as it was cold, he didn't want Xiao Hui to touch it again, so he quickly took it back into the room with a cane.

Hot water was burning on the stove, it was already on at this moment, and the lid was pushed against the lid with gurgles, Zhang Xiaofan entered the room, and put the iron rod by the stove, but before he could lift the kettle down, the other side Stretched out a furry gray paw, trying to steal the black stick out.

Zhang Xiaofan picked up the kettle and yelled at him, Xiao Hui was startled, his paws only touched the edge of the iron rod, the round thing rolled down, Xiao Hui immediately jumped away, and the end of the iron rod hit Zhang Xiaofan's right foot.

Zhang Xiaofan's right leg is injured, it's hard to move, naturally he can't avoid it, in fact the height is not high, it's just that the iron rod was just placed next to the stove, the fire is burning, the iron rod must be very hot too.

Zhang Xiaofan almost fell down, fortunately Ding Yin prepared a chair next to the stove for him to keep warm, supported him in time and did not get hurt again, Zhang Xiaofan was shocked, he sat down to look at his right foot that was hit.

There is some pain, but it's just the pain of being hit by a heavy object, not the pain of being burned.

Xiao Hui seemed to know that he had caused trouble, so he didn't grab the iron rod anymore, and leaned over to please Xiaofan and pushed the iron rod towards Xiaofan, then dodged far away, as if he was afraid that Zhang Xiaofan would hit him with a stick.

Of course Zhang Xiaofan couldn't beat it, he was just attracted by another thing, the stick that Xiao Hui pushed over just now didn't seem to be hot at all, it didn't burn the monkey's paw.

He tentatively reached out to touch the iron rod, the tentacles were cool without any heat.

Zhang Xiaofan wondered inwardly, he simply picked it up and poked the red-hot charcoal in the fire tentatively, he didn't expect this thing to be one foot long, it looks like iron, but it doesn't transfer heat at all, it won't burn your hands at all , It is much easier to use than other iron pliers and wooden sticks.

Zhang Xiaofan touched the dim bead on it, stroked the dark red seam with his fingers, and murmured: "I didn't expect you to be ugly, but it's not without some advantages."

He looked at the dark red bloodshot thing, and remembered Ding Yin once said that he had cast a spell to cut off the blood sacrifice that day, but he didn't expect that although he saved himself, he couldn't completely cut off the connection.

It was Ding Yin who saved him.

Was Ding Yin in that valley at the time... the deep pool was overgrown with weeds and rocks, he didn't notice that there were other people there at all, he only remembered that he was very scared, that miasma filled the air and black mist surrounded him, The blood was withdrawn from his body little by little, he could even hear the sound of his heart beating slower and slower, he felt that death was on the verge of death, he felt the killing and blood.

And then...then, the blood suddenly stopped flowing from the body, and there was even a warmth flowing in, making the frail heart beat a little bit more vigorously, and even the fear of death seemed to be a little weaker—like That night when Ding Yin gave him exercises to heal his wounds, the coldness in his body was dispelled by the other party's inner breath and filled with warm power... Zhang Xiaofan belatedly remembered that the two kinds of warmth were indeed the same.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaofan lowered his eyes, unconsciously rubbed the dark red part like coagulated blood on the iron rod, he didn't realize how hideous it looked.

He was in a trance, but the door of the house was suddenly pushed open by Rhubarb. The sound of Ding Yin rubbing the snow off the soles of his shoes on the steps made him turn around. He: "What is a person thinking? His eyes are about to melt."

Zhang Xiaofan felt a little guilty for no reason, he quickly avoided his gaze, and lowered his head to get the hot water: "No, it's nothing, I'm about to make tea."

2.

Tian Linger came over in the evening, she was very happy, and said that her father agreed to wait until New Year's Eve to have a simple New Year's Eve.

Dazhufeng practiced painstakingly for a month, and Hetian Buyi's free-range apprentices looked a thousand miles away. Tian Linger complained again and again. She was only 16 years old. After so much suffering, I often hear my brothers talking about the things at the bottom of the mountain, and I yearn for it very much. When I get the opportunity, I will act like a baby to Tian Buyi and Suru, saying that the Dazhu Peak is so clean that I don’t have any popularity. To cheer up a little bit, he also said that Xiaofan's leg injury will heal at that time, and he can cook many delicious dishes.As a result, Suru nodded first, and Tian Buyi naturally had no objection.

Zhang Xiaofan is also very happy, he hasn't celebrated the New Year for a long time, although he probably can't set off firecrackers and put up Spring Festival couplets like ordinary houses, but it should be nice for everyone to get together for a relaxing day, so that the seniors won't be bored all day long a good thing.

Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help being a little worried, the dishes are relatively monotonous in winter, and on New Year's Eve, he doesn't know if he can make a meal that will satisfy everyone.

Tian Linger didn't mind at all, she just approached Xiaofan and begged: "As long as you don't let me eat the food cooked by other senior brothers every day, then I will be thankful to your senior sister." After finishing speaking, she pinched Zhang Xiaofan again "Tsk, I really should have strongly recommended Senior Ding back then, but my father still said that there is no such reason, hmph, when he sees you, he will definitely regret his great reason."

Zhang Xiaofan looked embarrassed, he hid for a while, covered his cheeks and said, "Senior sister, you mean I've become fat? It's okay... Maybe it has something to do with not being able to walk."

Tian Linger was amused by the innocent eyes of the younger brother, she leaned back and laughed, then shook a new red purse on her belt, and asked triumphantly: "Xiaofan, do you think this looks good?"

Tian Linger always likes to wear light red clothes, amber scarlet silk is tied around her waist, she is already very pretty, and with a red purse dangling around her waist, she is even more lively, Zhang Xiaofan is honest Nodding: "Senior Sister looks good in anything she wears."

The praised Tian Linger's eyes turned into crescents, and she said briskly: "I embroidered this by myself. It's hard to carry the cool beads when it's cold, so it won't hurt to put them in your purse. Look, my female red It's good too, isn't it?"

The Cool Bead was Qi Hao's gift to his senior sister that day, Tian Linger has been carrying it with her since then, Zhang Xiaofan saw her happy, recalled what the senior sister said that night, he had complicated emotions but couldn't say anything, so he reluctantly pulled the corners of his mouth : "Well, senior sister's female celebrity is as good as senior wife."

3.

"Brother Ding, can you make sky lanterns?" In the middle of the night, Zhang Xiaofan made the bed, and asked Ding Yin as usual.

The latter paused when he heard the words, hesitated for a while before nodding and said: "Yes, why, didn't you do it when you were at home?"

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head while undoing the development belt: "Mother used to do it, she always thinks I'm clumsy and poked her lamp paper, so she won't let me do it."

Ding Yin smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said: "Okay, I can teach you, and then you can teach your senior sister and do it with her."

Zhang Xiaofan was startled for a moment, having reflected Ding Yin's meaning, he lowered his head and stammered: "I, I didn't want... Brother Ding, you..."

Ding Yin closed the fire door, covered the stove lid, put the iron rod that Xiaofan used as a fire stick aside, and walked to the bed very calmly: "Isn't it? Then every time you see your senior sister What are you missing with the cool beads on your body? You are almost 16 years old, isn't it normal to like someone?"

Zhang Xiaofan's ears turned red, but he still shook his head: "I'm not...Senior Sister, she likes Senior Brother Qi, I'm just her Junior Brother, I have no other intentions..."

Ding Yin took off his coat and sat on the bed, thought for a while and said: "It's your own mood to like someone, it has nothing to do with whether the one you like likes others, don't you want to try to win?"

Zhang Xiaofan pursed his lips, shook his head and said, "I just... feel... a bit awkward."

"I entered the mountain at the age of 12, and my senior sister was one year older than me. The other senior brothers, like the senior senior brother, were already a hundred years younger. The senior sister always felt that they were old-fashioned and liked to be with me. On weekdays, the senior brothers joked with me. , she is also facing me, I know that the senior sister treats me very well, in Dazhufeng, she protects me the most, but... the longer the time, the more I feel... It seems that even if two people get along face to face all day long, It may not be possible to really understand each other. Senior sister treats me so well, but still..." As time goes by, it seems to be getting farther and farther away...

Zhang Xiaofan sighed lightly: "Maybe I like Senior Sister... I feel a little lost because she cares about others. I don't know about the rest..."

Zhang Xiaofan finished speaking in one go, feeling that he was really a little bit nagging, he didn't hear Ding Yin's response, so he carefully looked up at him, only to find that Ding Yin was squinting his eyes, looking at him quietly.

He was a little embarrassed, and moved his body a little: "Brother Ding... What are you... looking at me like?"

Ding Yin shook his head, and said in a warm voice: "I just think, you are such a delicate boy, if it were someone else, you would probably take these things as likes."

Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help being curious: "Then, does Brother Ding know what liking should be like?"

Ding Yin couldn't help laughing, moved to the side of the bed and spread the quilt to cover him: "You are asking the wrong person, if I knew, I wouldn't be the only one now."

Zhang Xiaofan seems to understand, and he doesn't want to get entangled in this: "However, Brother Ding still has to teach you how to make the sky lantern."

The smile on Ding Yin's face faded a little, and he said lazily while lying down: "Understood, but it's okay to teach, and then you can only put on the lamp you made yourself."

Isn't that wasteful?Zhang Xiaofan frowned: "Why?"

Ding Yin closed his eyes, and said in an ethereal tone, "Because I'm not lucky, none of the sky lanterns I sent out has ever been realized."

Zhang Xiaofan stared, a little wanting to laugh, but somehow felt that this sentence was mixed with helplessness, he had nothing to say for a while, but Ding Yin opened his eyes again, and touched Zhang Xiaofan's arm who was still sitting in a daze with the back of his hand: " Don't sleep anymore?"

Zhang Xiaofan came to his senses, leaned forward and blew away the flames on the table, then straightened his hair and lay down.

After a while, Zhang Xiaofan asked in the dark: "Brother Ding, during the Chinese New Year, will you go to the front hall together?"

Ding Yin was silent, and only after a while did he quietly answer: "If I haven't left by then, maybe I will."

Zhang Xiaofan blinked his eyes slowly, and stopped responding.

After a while, he felt that the people around him were falling asleep, so he carefully covered the quilt up, and gently moved the corner of the quilt with his uninjured leg, and then hid his nose under the quilt .

Ding Yin opened his eyes, looked at him in the dark, and asked in a hoarse voice: "Is it cold?"

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head, there was a fire and a warming spell in the room, and the doors and windows were closed, his limbs were just a little cold due to lack of activities, and he would be fine after a while when he fell asleep.

But Ding Yin got up and moved to this side, and then pressed his quilt under Xiaofan's quilt: "This is near the stream, and the house is not as thick as the front hall, it's been colder these two days .When you have repaired the third floor and the foundation is solid, you should not be afraid of the cold by then."

Ding Yin's quilt was extraordinarily warm, and the outside was pressurizing his own preservation temperature, Zhang Xiaofan hurriedly moved a little closer to Ding Yin's side, afraid that the other side would patronize him, and the other side would not be covered tightly.

Ding Yin felt that the other party was approaching, and he didn't mind. After tidying up the quilt on Xiao Fan's side, he lay down again, said good night, and prepared to rest.

Zhang Xiaofan was next to him, his nose was still hiding in the blanket to keep warm, the warmth quickly eased the chill on his body, and he couldn't help saying another word in a low voice.

"...When the time comes, I'll make a sky lantern and help Brother Ding put one up, is that okay?"

-TBC-

The author has something to say: ① There are several scenes of setting off sky lanterns in Shushan Mountain, but I think Ding Yin’s sky lanterns have not been realized [Brother Ding, you are out of luck~]