Sad Li

Zhang San Xiaoxiang

The Xiaoxiang River turns for three thousand miles.When Meng Fanghui and Han Jin returned to the Xiaoxiang School, the first month was coming to an end, and logically speaking, it should be warmer, but there was no sunny day along the way, and finally it started to rain even more ignorant of the current affairs, and it was wiped out. Everything that might be a little loose.

This is not spring rain.Spring rain is of course also cold.But the foundation is gentle, and anyone who has been brushed knows it.The permafrost is nothing but a crust on the surface.The rain also contained bits of ice that failed to turn into snow.Along the way, the two of them almost lacked interest in talking, and minimized the meaning of being inseparable. Han Jin went back to sleep earlier than Meng Fang every day.Of course, this is only temporary, the longest interval between him not touching women in the past seven or eight years has not exceeded one month.

Meng Fanghui tactfully praised this, and Han Jin couldn't help feeling a little ashamed when he realized that he was a person who knew restraint in Meng Fanghui's mind anyway.He vaguely understood that the depression caused by seeing Wang Huaijue hadn't dissipated, and thought that Meng Fanghui might have rekindled hope for his character because of this.The more ashamed Han Jin decided it was better not to say anything.

The Xiaoxiang School has been in existence for more than a hundred years. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and it is full of spiritual energy. There are many outstanding talents among them.But when the two of them walked all the way, no one was seen, the door was half open, and no one came out to greet them. The location was originally remote, and it was even more silent like a tomb.

The two stood in the yard, looking at each other.Meng Fang replied: "I obviously went to the letter first. What happened? Did you go out to watch the temple fair together?" She shouted: "Ayue! Xinxin! Little button! Who else is there? Brother came back from a long distance, Why don't you come out and take a look."

After calling out a few times, a real stunned young man came out, said hello to Meng Fang first, and then looked straight at Han Jin.Meng Fang asked him back: "Where is the room for the guests?"

Leng Touqing didn't think about it. "Gone."

"What's missing?"

"When it's gone, it's gone."

"That's it." Meng Fang turned to look at Han Jin. "It's okay, you can live with me."

Lengtouqing shouted: "Yes, yes! The entire row of east chambers is empty!"

Meng Fang replied: "Then trouble me to clean up first, let's go to see Master."

Lengtouqing said: "Master went out the day before yesterday. During the Chinese New Year, there was nothing but eating and sleeping. Master was so bored that he said he wanted to go out to get some fresh air. I went to the north of Dongting to find the old chess fairy. I guess I won't be able to come back within ten days and a half months." .”

Han Jin coughed. "Then what, should I say goodbye..."

Meng Fang snapped back, "What are you saying goodbye to? Is this how Xiaoxiang treats guests!" Seeing Leng Touqing bowing his head in silence, his eyes were red, and his tone softened again. "This is Han Jin, senior brother's old friend. We haven't seen each other for many years, and he came to stay for a few days by chance. You should give your senior brother some face."

These words were a bit heavy, she rubbed her eyes in a daze, and ran away without saying a word.Han Jin smiled wryly, "It seems that I'm not very popular."

Meng Fang returned to the old god and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, with me here, I won't let you be bullied."

Although he was an undisputed big brother in Xiaoxiang, his intuition told Han Jin that this was the first time Meng Fang had the opportunity to play this kind of hooded role.Meng Fang did what he said, and immediately took him to the room where he was staying, and personally checked whether there was any dust on the window sill and whether the quilt was thick enough, and he almost tried the poison for dinner. His thoughtful behavior made Han Jin feel very nervous , secretly felt that instead of this, it might be better to be ignored or resented by Xiaoxiang's disciples, and the more because of Meng Fang's response, the more resentful Xiaoxiang's disciples would be. He always felt that there was a scorching gaze that was sharper than a hidden weapon hidden in the dark, which made him immediately decide not to step out of the house unless necessary.

It was nearly night when the rain stopped.It's not too early to be dark, but it's still not refreshing, not to mention the clouds and stars, it's a kind of cloudy and malicious darkness.Meng Fang ate home-cooked food and took a bath again. She felt a little better, opened the door, cleared her mind, and walked outside.

Most of the younger brothers and sisters have already fallen asleep, only the window of Zhu Yue's room is still lit.Meng Fang walked in, and Zhu Yue was working at his desk without raising his head.Meng Fang lingered in front of his desk for a while, making lamp shadows from all directions, and finally had to ask: "What is this?"

Zhu Yue still didn't look up, his pen was scribbling wildly on the densely packed words. "Account."

"do you need my help?"

Zhu Yue couldn't bear to look at him. "Please turn right, take three steps, and sit down. This is the greatest favor you can do to me."

"Oh." Meng Fanghui followed suit, but even Zhu Yue knew that the account would not be settled, so he threw away the pen and waited for Meng Fang to reply: "Is there nothing going on at home these two days?" .”

"The years are quiet." Zhu Yue dismissed him with an outline, and suddenly frowned. "Except for one thing—Xinxin's Shuiyun Sword is becoming more and more unsightly."

Meng Fang replied: "You can teach her well."

Zhu Yue said: "I don't have the ability to teach her well."

Meng Fang smiled back, and the tails of her eyebrows that spread from the brow bone almost disappeared under the flickering candlelight. "It might be like this at the beginning. If you take a fresh picture, they will get tired after two days. It's not the first time. Besides, I'll be old in two years."

"Listen, this is human speech." Zhu Yue said. "Since you are ruthless, you still want to be tireless all your life! People can't be tireless all your life, so you just treat it as if you don't work hard enough, and tell yourself that luckily you haven't been tempted! You're thinking of you as an empty-handed white wolf. Look at this face! "

"Ah Yue!" Meng Fang interrupted him. "Even if I can't settle the accounts and can't help you, you can't say that about me."

He frowned, obviously a little annoyed.Zhu Yue stood up and handed him the teapot, the tea was completely cold.

"Then you get married."

Meng Fang supported her forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Where..."

"Just treat me as a fart, you won't take it to heart anyway." Zhu Yue waved his hands numbly. "It's not a day or two since you've been sick, but at least you're not seriously ill—what did you bring him back for?"

Meng Fang returned to sit upright. "Look, Ah Yue, back then, Han Jin and I—"

"Don't mention the past to me." Zhu Yue was very sensitive about the past, and he was furious when he mentioned it. "What's the matter with Jin Jian being exterminated? What's the matter with him assassinating Xie Huaide? The old man is looking forward to the stars and the moon and looking forward to your return. He received the letter first, couldn't eat lunch, and left in anger. Unfilial!"

"Oh, you know everything?" Meng Fang turned bitter, and was ready to tell the truth. His language organization was messy, and he thought he was smart in many places without revealing it. Zhu Yue wanted to beat him several times. Don't interrupt.After Meng Fang finished explaining, she asked him, "What do you think?"

"I think he should."

"Hey, Ah Yue, how can you say that! If it weren't for Han Jin, the martial arts world might still be in fear of being dominated by the demon sect."

"That's why he's running amok? Do you have to be offered to him every day? We are a small temple in Xiaoxiang, and there's no room for a big Buddha. It's troublesome enough to make offerings to you!"

"I know you don't want to see him." Meng Fanghui said quietly. "But you also know in your heart that his nature is not bad. Although it is his own fault to be in this situation today, it is always unbearable to see him fall down. I will heal his wounds, condemn him, and pay him back. You are innocent. Ah Yue, you are just afraid that I will suffer. Do I seem to be a person who will suffer? "

"I don't think you will suffer, but I often think you will go crazy."

Meng Fang laughed back. "How crazy! Save you from disliking me all day long and not thinking about making progress. You have to think this way: wicked people will suffer from wicked people. It's hard for me to pull myself together, you should applaud me."

Seeing his confident appearance, Zhu Yue was so angry that he was full of anger, thinking that everyone in Xiaoxiang was responsible for a bad debt, full of bitterness. "Do you still remember five years ago, when we went to Yueyang, we met the Baisha Gang seeking revenge on the way?"

"Oh my God, Ah Yue, you are going to praise me again." Meng Fang said painfully. "You should still scold me."

Zhu Yue ignored him. "The old man is in retreat, and I haven't mastered my swordsmanship yet. You fought bloody bandits alone, dragged a wounded leg and retreated from the Bao Xiaoxiang faction. From that day on, you have always been my senior brother. I don't care if he is Lao Shizi's No. [-] in the world or No. [-] in the world." Seven, if someone dares to make you unable to step down, I will tell him to repent."

"What are you talking about, someday I won't be your senior brother, do you still want to deny it?" Meng Fanghui said briskly. "Hey, anyway, Ah Yue is too good-hearted, Rao can't beat me, and he's always afraid that I'll be bullied..."

Zhu Yue scolded: "Get out! Heal your broken leg first, and then talk to me about everything else! Did you take the medicine for two months after going out for two months? After all, you are taking this medicine and I am taking it. I should tuck it in my bag and poison you to death!"

The rain is not in vain for the past few days, and the next day finally cleared up. Before that season, I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t dare to look up. At this time, the icing on the cake is swarming up. The wet white walls and black soil can’t hide it. momentum.Han Jin got up early and sat down for a while, knowing it well, looked up and saw a drop of water dripping from the eaves tiles, and remembered Meng Fang's return to last night: There are arrangements for tomorrow, you wait.But this time he didn't see the mountain, so he struggled mentally and decided to go to the mountain. Fortunately, it was only a few steps to Meng Fang's residence, and he could pretend that he didn't meet anyone else when he lowered his head.

Meng Fang's return to that residence is a major manifestation of Xiaoxiang's hierarchical system. There are dozens of disciples in Xiaoxiang. He lives in a small courtyard with a separate door. The word "Fanghua" is chiseled on the stone plaque.Although the conditions were considered generous in comparison, Han Jin still felt that the yard was so small that it was difficult to turn around. There were only mossy stone paths and a few white plums planted in front of the window.

Han Jin looked inside, and as expected, Meng Fang was trying the new Shengxuan he had brought back, so he got playful and knocked on the window.Meng Fang kept turning back and said, "The water is rolling."

Han Jin went in shyly, and sure enough, the lid of the tea pot that was burning on the small red clay stove was tumbling.Meng Fang didn't say a word, so he picked up and poured a glass of white water for each of them, thinking that this wine would be suitable for the occasion; but he was not a picky person, so he dragged a stool and sat down with ease, holding the water to watch Meng Fang write. .

I can't understand the words, Meng Fang replied that he understood three points, but now the other party is the host and he is the guest, and Meng Fang returned to his hometown, so there was more ambiguity, and he didn't dare to have three points. grasp.He remembered how long ago when he first met, Meng Fanghui had a quiet personality at that time, with a little coquettishness that was spoiled by a small family (he has experienced it now).Not everyone wants to see him, but no one is too busy to deal with him.What's more, even if Han Jin just watched from the sidelines like this, he couldn't help but lament that the deceased was like a husband, which is deplorable to ordinary people and hateful to Meng Fanghui.But he didn't feel any pity; when he was young, he didn't say anything else, only the bones were shocking, and they were so clear that they couldn't be seen.Now everything has softened, which is very suitable for his peaceful mood at this time.

After watching it for a while, Han Jin spontaneously praised it. "Xiao Meng, you look really good-looking."

Meng Fang got used to it naturally, and didn't raise her head. "Thank you." After a while, he suddenly realized and couldn't help smiling. "This is the first time you've said that to me."

"Really, for the first time?" Han Jin took the opportunity to look at him up and down, back and forth, left and right, and Meng Fang felt uncomfortable just looking at him. "We got together back then, didn't I say that?"

Meng Fang nodded affirmatively. "Everyone said it, but you didn't."

Han Jin exclaimed: "Look! It's so commonplace! Don't remember those who praised you, just remember that they didn't praise you!" Before Meng Fang could reply with a smile, he said, "It's possible. I was not convinced at that time Tight, I don't want to say good things about you in person."

"You don't have to now."

Han Jin was at a loss for words and didn't know how to answer, so he thought for a while that it's better to forget it, why should you envy such a embarrassed No. [-] in the world!But it’s better not to say this, if you can say it or not; from Meng Fang’s clear eyes, he saw the unspoken pleasure and tastelessness at the same time, like flower petals falling in wine, the momentary coldness flutter.After Meng Fang finished writing, she threw the paper away. "Come with me."

Han Jin was willing to go with him, but it was still necessary to ask: "Where are you going?"

Meng Fang made a fool of herself. "You'll know when you go."

He took the lead to open the way, looking at his back, there was nothing unusual.Han Jin quickly walked a few steps to keep up, feeling carefree in his heart.He knows that the current situation is difficult, because it is completely inconsistent with his nature, and it is absolutely impossible to last long, so it is even more precious.There is a limit to this, too much is too much.Having said that, at this moment, together with Meng Fanghui, from the Xiaoxiang sect where she lives in seclusion to the small town where people live in fireworks, it is obviously not a bad idea to take more walks.

But things were not quite right as they walked through the town, which was still quite lively, and the scenery gradually became deserted, only the river was flowing not far away.Meng Fang stopped in front of a temple.

"It's here." He looked up at the words Jiangxun Temple on the plaque, and motioned for Han Jin to enter.

"...Xiao Meng." Han Jin merged thousands of words into six words. "It's better to ask for others than to ask for yourself!"

"I know you don't believe this." Meng Fang replied as a matter of course. "It's all here."

Han Jin thought that if he hadn't been tricked by you, I would have come, but Meng Fanghui had obviously planned it long ago, and stepped across the high threshold with no hesitation. The smell of incense choked him and sneezed. I have never been to this kind of place, and my heart is cold for a while.

"Xiao Meng." He still wanted to die. "I don't even have incense money, the Buddha will not bless me."

"Then you need to worry about it?" Meng Fang said casually, leading him around the main hall. Behind the east chamber, across the courtyard, there is a row of low houses, which are the residences of laymen who come to the temple to clean up.Han Jin was disheartened, pointing where to go, and finally reached a room in the northwest corner, Meng Fang knocked on the door back, but when there was no movement, she gently pushed it away.

The interior is dim, with light slanting in through the window lattice, and the interior furnishings are plain and simple, if not crude.Several futons were placed on the ground, and an old woman was sitting on the futons, with a few strands of gray hair scattered around her ears.

Meng Fang called back: "Mother."

Han Jin was so embarrassed that he couldn't be more embarrassed. Meng Fang said in a hurry, "I'll bring a friend."

The old woman still had her eyes closed, but asked, "Is that number one in the world?"

Han Jin wanted to run away, but it was too late, so he saluted politely: "Auntie."

The old woman opened her eyes.Han Jin suddenly felt a very subtle but very natural hostility, which made him shudder; at the first moment, it was like a needle that suddenly disappeared under the meridians.Meng Fang didn't notice anything when she came back, she dragged him into the room and sat down with two futons.He was very relaxed. When Han Jin thought about this, he really couldn't be without resentment.After the first glance, Meng's mother stopped looking at him, and only looked at Meng Fang and complained: "I'm thinner."

Meng Fanghui had been prepared for a long time. "Why am I thin? Mom, you are dazzled. Also, eating vegetarian food here every day, how can you not be dazzled. You live here, every morning and evening, when you see either monks or good men and women, I would say that it is better to talk to the neighbors in the neighborhood every day." Playing cards can also relieve boredom."

It was definitely not the first time he said this. As expected, Mother Meng glared and said, "I've been here for ten years, so there's nothing inconvenient! You're in the sect anyway, so you don't live with me. Meditating and reciting scriptures is very rewarding, and there are many people to talk to. When I die, you come here to read a few more scriptures for me, it will be considered your filial piety."

Meng Fang replied: "That will take another 100 years." Without waiting for Meng's mother to answer, he rushed to say: "This time I came to see my mother, and I have one more thing to ask. My friend first won the favor of the owner of Qingji Villa. Palm injury, and then the Wang family..."

Meng's mother said: "I don't understand your Wang family and Li family! Please come here, I am a son to diagnose the pulse."

Her tone softened, and Han Jin stretched out his left hand tremblingly.Mother Meng put her two fingers together and closed her eyes slightly, her frown was the same as that of Meng Fanghui.Han Jin thought it was interesting, so he glanced at Meng Fanghui from the corner of his eye, but Meng Fanghui had already got up and was about to slip away. He probably expected that the treatment would be over for a while.Han Jin panicked for a moment, and wanted to beg him to stay. Although he boasted that any woman in the world could handle it when he was drunk, this situation was obviously not one of them; , what is so embarrassing.

After Meng's mother examined this one, she changed another hand.Han Jin knew the benefits of chanting scriptures only after living like a year, but he didn't understand Buddhist scriptures, so he could only recite the three-character scriptures over and over in secret.After finally having both hands examined, Meng's mother took a deep look at him.

"It stands to reason that you win." She frowned. "I don't know why, there is still a faint turmoil in the meridians... Anyway, I hope it's my old body's carelessness. Your foundation is extremely solid, so there shouldn't be any serious problems."

Han Jin bowed deeply. "Thank you, Auntie."

"Don't be too happy." Mother Meng snorted as if she couldn't understand him being so proud. "Within one month, you can't use force."

Han Jin bowed again. "The juniors have written it down."

He walked out of the guest room and went back to the monastery.In the first month, the incense was very strong, and there were quite a few people. The monks sent them to us, and they were all faces. Han Jin wandered aimlessly for a while, and saw Meng Fanghui in the side hall dedicated to Guanyin.The latter was fascinated by the ancient Avalokitesvara statue. Han Jin looked at him and knew that he was not thinking about anything.

Han Jin stepped forward to stand side by side with him, Meng Fang turned her head. "It's over?"

"It's over."

"What did my mother say?"

"It's over."

Meng Fang laughed back. "I knew this injury was nothing to you." He reached into his sleeve and took out a piece of jade, handed it to Han Jin and said, "Here you are."

Han Jin is a master of goods, secretly startled when he saw it, and said with a smile: "It's so heavy."

Meng Fanghui didn't understand, and just said: "Yes? I asked the abbot of this temple to consecrate this emerald. It happened to be you. I think you have a bad luck recently, or you can change your luck."

Han Jin laughed: "You really believe in everything." After all, he didn't really care about people who are used to spending money, and since Meng Fanghui gave him a gift, he accepted it, because it was easy to repay. "Have you finished visiting this temple? Although it's not big, the layout is very well-designed. There is also a garden in the northeast corner, with many pine trees and strange rocks. When I was young, I often stayed for several hours."

Han Jin said, "You can show me around." In fact, he has no interest in this place at all.

Meng Fang replied: "Take a look around by yourself, I'm going back."

"Little Meng?!"

"Ah." Seeing the grief and indignation on Han Jin's face, Meng Fang quickly explained. "Actually, the more you stay here, the better. The two masters Hui□□xian are tall, virtuous, and approachable. If you are interested in asking them for advice, you will be enlightened. If I am by the side, it will be in the way. You Do you still remember the way back? If you don’t remember, just ask. Tomorrow we may go to see Master to discuss future plans, or even go to Baidi City... Actually, I am afraid that you will get bored.” He said with a smile. "We've been on our way for the past few days. We live and eat in the same place, and I don't have any red sleeves to spice things up. I'm afraid you'll be impatient, but it's just that you can't talk about it because of your feelings. Jiangxun Temple is a good place, just for peace of mind."

Han Jin stared at him and sneered, "You are so thoughtful."

"I've always been thoughtful." Meng Fanghui walked past him, and was stingy about saying goodbye, as if he really believed that Han Jin would return to the Xiaoxiang School spontaneously in the near future, and it might be too late. They can't make it to dinner, and tomorrow the two of them will continue to run around, maybe to investigate the trend of the Demon Cult, or to clean up Han Jin's stigma; Didn't expect to see him again.

Back in Xiaoxiang, it was Shen Shi, and the scenery was out of the sun's beautification, and I was a little worried.Xiaoxiang disciples practiced swords in the sword training hall according to the rules, and only Zhu Yue was outside the house, trimming his knot incense.Meng Fang staggered over and asked him if there was anything else to eat in the kitchen.

"Did you eat outside?"

"Eat." Meng Fanghui seemed to have to be reminded to remember, instead of going to the kitchen, she just looked at Zhu Yue. "The children are working hard, why don't you take care of them?"

Zhu Yue said angrily: "I'll take care of you! Someday I won't take care of you! Eldest brother, it's you or me! You're the shopkeeper who throws his hands away!"

"Naturally, Ah Yue is going to be the head of the sect." Meng Fang replied with a face that had nothing to do with her.Zhu Yue glared at him, threw the scissors away, and Zhu Mingjian came out of its sheath with a bang. "What's the point of taking care of the little one every day, why don't you come and feed me the sword."

Meng Fang smiled back and said, "Come on."

He also holds Fanghua.The two brothers and sisters, getting along day and night, have been immersing themselves in each other's moves, they are very familiar with each other's moves, and they can go through hundreds of rounds in a blink of an eye with their eyes closed.Zhu Yue also knows that this kind of practice is gradually no longer necessary; after practicing a thousand times, Zhu Yue will become more and more like Zhu Yue, and Meng Fanghui will become more and more like Meng Fanghui.And he even gradually lost the idea of ​​defeating the opponent.

This is not to say that he is sure that he will reach or even surpass Meng Fanghui's height one day, because he is still young and has a bright future.

Meng Fanghui is unchanged.Everything in this river and lake is changing, changing rapidly, sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat, but Meng Fanghui neither advances nor retreats.

The first time you see his sword, his sword will always be that way.And if you want to ask how his sword came to be like this, the only person who knows is Zhao Yiping who watched him grow up.

When Zhu Yue entered the school, Meng Fanghui had been worshiping under Xiaoxiang's sect for five years.He couldn't know, and didn't want to know.

He just wanted to look at such a sword.See him till he dies if you can!

Like the fiery red beak of a phoenix, Zhu Mingjian pointed at Meng Fanghui's left arm.Meng Fang swiped her long sword back, and slashed his wrist with her backhand.Zhu Yue let go of his hand and let the sword fall to the ground.His hands were hot, as if burned.He and his sword were in a state of rivalry. Meng Fang couldn't understand this state. Seeing that Zhu Yue had stopped, she lowered her sword too.Fanghua's sword body is so transparent that the impurities deposited in it can almost be seen.

"I still can't guard against your trick." Zhu Yue said. "But if someone can guard against it, how do you deal with it?"

"Turn around like this." Meng Fang turned her left hand slightly. "Then stab him under the arm..."

"Why not stab his throat?"

"Because it may be blocked, and it will be formed to counterattack."

"I didn't ask you how he responded." Zhu Yue interrupted him. "What I'm asking is why don't you stab your throat?"

"Because it is difficult to succeed, I told you." Meng Fanghui said calmly. "What I can't do, it's not that I don't want to do it, it's that I can't do it. Ah Yue, you think too much. I told you a long time ago that I'm not a scourge. If you want to win me, don't be afraid of me... ……”

Zhu Yue's face became hot, and he scolded: "Who's afraid of you! It will happen sooner or later!" He wasn't really provoked, after all, he was too familiar with this trick, so he just followed Meng Fang back to put on a show.Meng Fang took back the sword and sheathed it, with smile lines still in the corners of her eyes.

"A Yue, I don't want to use the sword anymore."

There was a rumble in Zhu Yue's mind, as if he had been worried that a hidden worry for a long time would be exposed suddenly, so he stepped in front of him regardless of 21. "What do you mean?"

His voice was so stern that Meng Fanghui was taken aback and choked back what she wanted to say.Seeing his hesitant to speak, Zhu Yue became more and more angry. "You can't become number one in the world, why don't you just abandon the sword? Only the number one in the world is a human? Only the sword of the number one in the world is a sword? Are we, the tens of thousands of people who are not high or low, not worthy of using swords at all?"

"Ayue." Meng Fang looked back at him dumbfounded. "I'm not that..."

He felt that Zhu Yue's way of thinking was really strange, and was about to explain, a Xiaoxiang disciple ran over and shouted "big brother and second senior brother", holding a letter in his hand and saying: "I was at the door just now, someone handed it to me. Say yes I want to give it to Han Jin." He was still a little clever, and said without waiting to ask: "The man looks very ordinary, and he doesn't seem to know martial arts. He is probably just a messenger."

Meng Fang answered the letter, only glanced at the cover, her expression changed drastically.Before Zhu Yue had time to step forward to take a look, Meng Fanghui had already opened it quickly, scanned the contents in a hurry, and then put it into his arms with the seal. "A Yue, I'll go out for a while."