All your life is gentle

After sending off Third Master Wu and Luo Miao, Zi Shi lay down on the table: "Zi Zhou, Zi Gui, it's getting late, go to sleep."

Zigui didn't move.After looking at him for a while, he suddenly said, "Brother, I know why you are sad."

Um?Zi Shi raised his head and rested it on the back of his hand.

"Wu Sanye and Brother Luo, they are sad for Hualao Yingxiong. They heard that they might win the battle, so... they are not very sad." The girl expressed her intuition with difficulty, "But brother, you are different. What do you do for me?" Sad for all of us, even... for all of us." Pause for a moment, "I think, you are still worried, worried about us... becoming, becoming ruthless people."

Zi Shi straightened his waist: "Why does Zi Gui think so?"

"Because...because..." There was a trace of confusion in the girl's eyes, "Today, when it comes to things like arson and murder, how could I, how could I feel happy... and a little...happy..."

When Zizhou heard this, he was instantly as if covered by ice and snow.His intuition was not as fast as his sister, but his rational pursuit was more profound.I didn't realize it before, but now that I understand Zigui's meaning, I immediately hit the essence directly, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Kids grow up really fast.Started to investigate human nature, to torture the soul... Zi Shi sighed.

Looking at Changsheng, the latter was bowing his head in thought.

"Zi Zhou, do you still remember what elder brother Changsheng told you when you came down from Xianshuling?"

"Yes. Brother Changsheng said: "If you are able to kill but not addicted to killing, you are a gentleman. ""

"Tell Zigui what you mean."

What's the meaning?This sentence is really easy to understand, isn't it the literal meaning?Zizhou was puzzled.

"So you didn't understand." Zi Shi said flatly.

"Brother...?"

""Be able to kill" means to strengthen your body, "not to kill" means to keep your heart."

Stand up and look out the window.It happened to be a dark day at the end of the month, with no stars and no moon, and it was pitch black.The oil lamps in the room were extraordinarily bright, reflecting the walls as white as snow.

"In this world, the weak prey on the strong, and the strong are respected. It is especially obvious in troubled times: you can't kill, you can only be killed. The mediocre pray to God for help, and live in the cracks. Those who are not willing to give in have to devote themselves to becoming strong in order to make a living. Those." Laughing, "Of course, some people are born ambitious and belong to the different category, so it's a different story."

He suppressed his smile and continued: "The vast majority of them will fail and break their bodies to pave the way for others; there will always be some who will succeed and eventually reach the pinnacle of power. However, the charm of power violence is that it It makes you happy, makes you excited; it also makes you greedy and unsatisfactory; eventually it becomes its captive and rots at its feet. Therefore, those who are "capable of killing" often inevitably become "killer" in the end , lonely, not a good death."

Zi Shi originally didn't plan to go deeper.The pond is so big, there is no need to train the fish to become giant kuns; the forest is so tall, there is no need to train the birds to become great rocs.Consciousness ahead of me is both painful and lonely.And possibly, unfortunately.However, the words didn't stop when they reached their lips, and slipped out inadvertently.Or, it was a few listeners who were too cooperative and seemed to be deeply touched, pushing him to go further.

"Zizhou and Zigui, you two are learning literature and martial arts, making rapid progress, and achieving a little success. Compared with ordinary people, you can be regarded as entering the ranks of "capable of killing". What Zigui mentioned today is "capable of killing" Is it the pleasure of “killing”? Once many people taste this pleasure, it will only motivate him to speed up on the road of “killing”. But you two intuitively sense the danger, stop and reflect on yourself-this is a great good, It's also great wisdom. As long as, in the days to come, you don't forget that this moment has happened, then," Zi Shi looked at his younger brother and sister smiling, with a gentle but firm tone, "no matter what step you take on the road of "being able to kill" , throughout this life, you will keep your heart and never sink.”

Keep your heart and never sink.

Zi Shi's voice was not loud, but his words were like piercing gold and stones, hammering into the hearts of the three listeners with each hammer.

It was extremely quiet in the house.However, in the eyes of those with a heart, it seems that a violent storm is sweeping in, with lightning and thunder, and the sky falls and the earth shatters.

When the storm gradually subsided, Changsheng heard Zigui ask softly: "Brother, can you tell me, what...is it considered "not bloodthirsty"?"

Zi Shi shook his head: "What should be killed and what should not be killed; what kind of knife should be used to kill, and what kind of killing should be done - this ruler is in your own heart."

"So, brother," Zi Zhou let out a sigh of relief, "The most difficult thing is actually to find this ruler. And, make good use of this ruler."

"But...thoughts will change..." The girl was in a dilemma.

Changsheng suddenly replied: "It's okay. When you change, remember to ask your own heart carefully. If your heart is vacillating, you must think twice and act cautiously. If you have no complaints or regrets in your heart—" Looking at the dark night outside the window, he whispered a word When you come out, you have the power to open mountains and crack rocks, "If you have no complaints or regrets - you should go all out and go forward!"

Zi Shi smiled: "You are still talking about the strong." Shaking his head, "That's the only way to go. The strong keep one's heart, originally it is a matter of the parties concerned, and there is nothing to do if the people next to them have opinions. Only in this way, the more If you are capable of killing, you must always remind yourself not to become a murderer."

Knocking on the table, he summed up his statement: "Looking at the past and present, people who are able to kill but not addicted to killing are all benevolent, wise and courageous. The rain beats the wind but the blue clouds do not fall, and the sails do not fall when they drift with the current." There are also many bones under the feet, but they can be burned into relics; the blood in the palms is also stained, but they can be buried in fertile soil and condensed into jasper. One hand kills demons and demons, and the other hand saves all living beings. In the end, great mercy is achieved with great ruthlessness. Awe-inspiring Standing between heaven and earth, truly immortal."

——In this realm, language is redundant.

The four stayed silent for a long time.

Finally, Zigui said, "Brother, we've gone to bed." When he walked to the door, he turned around again, "Brother, I know that you don't want to kill whether you can or not, but there is no way...don't be sad OK?"

"……it is good."

Looking at their backs, Zi Shi sighed silently: These two children are truly the most precious treasures in the world.Such a character is enough to become the source of pure soul and the pillar of the sky.

I thought: better than me, great.

Turning around, he said with a smile, ""Since ancient times, I have known that soldiers are not warlike". This girl turned to comfort me."

Changsheng's mind has been oscillating on "great ruthlessness, great compassion", and now he came to his senses: ""I can kill but not addicted to killing", when I told Zi Zhou at the beginning, it was just a vague shadow, and I just said it casually. Out. I have never thought that you can break out so many ways..."

Stop and look at him—what kind of soul is wrapped in this beautiful and weak body?Vast and ruthless as a desert; lonely and sharp as an ice peak; gentle and generous as a grassland, deep and pure as the sky.

What kind of person does he need to be worthy of him?

Zi Shi still smiled: "That's what you say, but it's easier to know than to do... That is to say, let's set up an idea for the two of them. Most people can't do it, and there's no need to do it—don't talk about doing it." I can’t even think about it.” Sighed, “So they don’t have such troubles at all.” “Slay demons with one hand, and save all sentient beings with one hand”—in this process, it’s all about your own heart. This You two, hard times are ahead!"

Well?Changsheng was speechless: "You are the big brother..."

Compassion appeared on Zi Shi's face, and he said slowly: "Life is a sea of ​​suffering. The worst pain is getting lost in the sea of ​​suffering. The pain of struggle, no matter what, is better than the pain of being lost."

Feeling dizzy for a while, she reached out to hold the table.In just a few hours, I used my mind too hard, and my emotions fluctuated too much, and I was a little bit overwhelmed.

"Don't talk." A pair of arms stretched out to support himself.

Suddenly she couldn't stand anymore and let him hold her. She let her hair bun loose, took off her clothes, removed her shoes and socks... and lay down on the bed, lying in his arms.

Changsheng wrapped his left hand around him, and used his fingers as a comb with his right hand, inserting it from his forehead into his hair, and slowly downward.Slowly increase the strength and stop at the waist along the spine.

One click, another click...

He said to him in his heart: "Zi Shi, you have relieved me of the pain of confusion, so let me bear the pain of struggle for you. If you see the pain, then don't watch it. If you don't want to kill, leave it to me to kill." .Slay demons and eliminate demons, save all sentient beings, and return you to a peaceful and prosperous world. At that time—”

"Hmm..." Zi Shi felt in a daze that he still had something to say, but his brain had stopped.The eyelids drop little by little, and gradually the moon is lost, and the fog is lost.Those hands are warm and stable, pulling away the slightest trace of fatigue, weaving clouds and dreams of black sweetness, wrapping themselves in the depths of tenderness.

Feeling the person in his arms falling asleep, Chang Sheng gently pulled himself up and sat up, resting his head on his lap.The jade-colored sleeping face was hidden in the blue silk like a cloud, like a clam pearl hidden in the deep sea, at this moment, it was shining brightly on the palm.

With slightly trembling fingers, he brushed aside the hair on his forehead, and pressed his palm against his cheek: "Zi Shi..." There was a lot of entanglement in his heart.

What will make him unbearable is not necessarily the final outcome, but the cruel process in the middle.Those processes that are destined to be bloody and stormy, those processes that are full of thorns and ups and downs, will break his body and bones, and will make him wither and lose his vitality...

——This is my peerless treasure, where should I hide it?

Where can I hide so that he will not be harmed?

Zi Shi opened his eyes, the sun was shining brightly outside the window, and the shade was everywhere, it was already noon.

He propped himself up, his arms were limp, and he fell down again, only to find his head landed in the socket of Changsheng's shoulder.

"We... just slept through the night like this?"

"Otherwise, where do you think such a comfortable pillow comes from?"

"That's right." Put it back up again, "Come over here."

"what?"

"I pressed it all night, is it numb?" She twisted her neck, "I'll sleep on the other side."

"Hey! You really love me." Changsheng patted the place where it feels best with a "snap".After the corporal punishment was over, I was in a good mood, "Don't move, the numbness is over. I went out and came in several times, and some people slept like piglets, and they couldn't even wake up."

"Isn't it because the pillow is too comfortable..." Lie down again, arching, satisfied.Pursing his lips, he closed his eyes.

Changsheng hugged him to his side again.Suddenly my heart trembled, and I was stabbed twice.Shivering again, he sprinkled a handful of sugar.After a while, it was marinated into candied fruit.

——He finally, finally couldn't leave me...

This habit has been implanted in the bone marrow and penetrated into the internal organs, even if a sharp knife can't get it off.

Only in this way, I can finally go.

If I can go with you, if I can take you away, if... I am not me, and you are not you...

You said that there are no ifs in the world.

Zi Shi, I'm sorry.

I have no choice but to you.I have no choice.

"Zi Shi."

"Ok?"

"After entering Fenglan Pass, don't run around, just go to Xijing and stay."

"I heard that places like Chili Mountain and Xizhao Lake in the southwest of Shuzhou are as beautiful as fairyland on earth—"

What kind of mountains and lakes in a few corners, where can I find you?

He bowed his head and kissed him on the forehead: "Don't run away. After more than a year, the bones of the body have been tossed and the foundation has been tossed, so you need to take good care of it. Doesn't it mean that the road to Shu is difficult to climb to the blue sky? I'm afraid you won't be able to climb it. Besides, the human world Fairyland, beauty is beautiful, food and drink, which one should not be done by yourself? Planting in spring and harvesting in autumn, wearing stars and wearing moon, weeding and plowing fields, carrying hands on shoulders..." He raised his hand in front of him, "See for yourself , is it this piece of material?"

"Hey, how do you call it "Is it this piece of material"? The saints in the past also plowed acres..."

"That's the way to attract people, and there are boys waiting for you. The sage said: "The big hermit lives in the city, and the little hermit lives in the marsh." ""

"Hmph, the sage also said that "the great hermit hides in the imperial court"!"

"Forget it. After all, the wartime is not unusual. The Xijing court and Xirong... sooner or later will go to war head-on. At that time, the situation between the court and China will be complicated, and the future is unpredictable."

"Then what did you say to Zi Zhou's elm bump that "the one who calculates the temple wins"? It made this kid full of ambition..."

"Are you unreasonable? You, the eldest brother, came to the conclusion that he is "the country is easy to change, but the nature is hard to change." At the beginning, I said that, it was not to coax him to follow him wholeheartedly, so as not to make trouble halfway. Besides, At his age, it will take several years before he has the time to think about this issue..."

Changsheng stopped to think about it carefully, and said: "He has a straight temper. He is not stupid after all. In fact, he has made a lot of progress this year. In case... in the future, if he catches up with the opportunity, it's okay to run into a wall in the officialdom. With you This big brother is watching from the side, and he can always protect himself. As for you... if you are really willing to "retire", you can be an official." I thought: With his temperament, most people will pretend to be stupid in front of him and take up an idle job Sanli, maybe you can live a stable life.

Zi Shi leisurely interjected: "If you talk about Xijing, it must be a big tank of muddy water right now, and it's just a chance to fish and mix things up. However, I didn't want Zi Zhou to go to this muddy water before, but it was because of other reasons." Pause, "Don't ask, I'll tell you later." Sigh, "It's a pity that things in the world are most afraid of forcing, and children are always pressured and twisted. I also figured it out. It's better to make the best use of the situation than to force it. Take one step at a time, let it go."

She raised her face and gave him a sideways look: "Obviously you are unwilling to be lonely, okay? Don't rely on our brothers. I don't know who said "will do something."

"How long has it been so old and rotten, but I remember it so clearly..."

Zi Shi thought: When is he going to reveal his wealth and background?The family of a rich merchant in Jiyang, whose ancestral home is Tongcheng.The rich man surnamed Gu in Tongcheng had heard of several households, but unfortunately he didn't pay much attention to them.The mother's side is probably from a wealthy family in Beijing - I don't know what his mother's maiden name is, otherwise you can guess it... By the time you get to Xijing, you should know all this, right? ...What on earth is he planning?

Suddenly I want to ask: What about you?When you arrived in Xijing, what did you do again?

He raised his head, put his chin on his chest, and called out suddenly: "Changsheng." The other party seemed to be completely immersed in his own thoughts, his eyes were full of tenderness, but he had no focus.A pair of hands rubbed back and forth on the back as if unconsciously, lingering repeatedly.The scar on his back was itchy and tender, Zi Shi tilted his head and fell down again.Then he swallowed the words that followed.

I just heard him say softly as if talking to himself: "Under the feet of the Son of Heaven, it is finally more peaceful. Finally, I don't have to worry about hiding in Tibet all the time; I don't need to see dead bodies flying everywhere; I don't need to talk about murder, arson, plots and traps... Eat well every day, eat well, and eat well." Sleep, don't get sick..."

what happened to him?Panicked for no reason, sat up and looked at him: "Changsheng?"

The person who was called woke up suddenly, his chest was sore and astringent.Withdrawing his wandering gaze, he raised his hand to caress his cheek: "Be obedient. It's been too hard for more than a year. I really can't make any more troubles. You...we..." He stabbed him cruelly, "Let's go to Xijing Only when the city is prosperous can there be a chance to grow. If you really went to a poor country, what would you exchange for food like you?"

Hearing the word "we", Zi Shi suddenly relaxed.Smiled: "That's right. Sigh, I'm used to eating rich people in the autumn wind, and I forgot to be self-reliant." Blinking her eyes twice, she buried her head in his arms, and said sadly, "Aren't you willing to support me anymore?"

"Just be angry with me..." Chang Sheng pressed his right hand between his chest and abdomen, his liver hurt.

That one didn't know that his joke was full of bruises and internal injuries, so he patted his belly: "Speaking of eating, I'm hungry."

"Wash up. Save the meal and warm it in the kitchen. I'll bring it in for you."

The day for looting food is set on the eighth day of June.The disciples of the Baisha Gang also got in touch with the Red Head Miao Village.Not only Wu Sanye and Luo Miao, everyone in the village was very busy.

Since they came up with their idea, the four of Zishi and Shi didn't mention this matter anymore, they practiced their exercises every day, reviewed their books, and stayed idle.Zizhou spared all his spare time to copy hundreds of pages of "Sage's Family Words" for Xu Tingran, and told him to remember to work hard.The little boy nodded heavily with red eyes.

Early in the morning on the sixth day of June, the four followed Mr. Wu and Luo Miao to the riverside.

Eighteen is barely a pier.The shallow grooves chiseled along the rock pattern are used as steps, almost straight up and down.Wooden stakes were nailed into the crevices of the stone, and iron chains were fastened to act as guardrails.Even in the area with the slowest water potential under the steps, there are dark tides everywhere and white foam flying everywhere.Looking around, the river is rolling, the turbid waves are surging, and even the rocks, cliffs, and sky seem to be shaking and shaking together.Standing on the shore for a while longer, I feel chills and palpitations. I dare not open my eyes until I hold on to the iron cables of the plank road. I can't imagine how thrilling it will be to be in the middle of the river.

Untie the bamboo raft tied to the stake and hang it down with a hemp rope.Luo Miao got on the raft, tied the cables, and waited for the others to come down.Wu Sanye pointed to a big reef in the middle of the river, and said, "Did you see that? That rock is called "Come to me". If you want to cross the river, you have to hit it straight, and you can use the force of the vortex around the rock, Bypassing it and reaching the opposite bank smoothly. Although many people know this trick, when we really reach the middle of the river, nine out of ten people will be timid and soft-hearted. If you hesitate a little, the ship will be destroyed and people will die."

The four looked at the stone with a lot of emotion.Such an experience, I don't know how many boatmen have exchanged their lives for thousands of years.The torrential water in front of me has swallowed many warriors who broke through the beach, causing their corpses to sink to the bottom of the river and their souls to return to the waves.

I heard Wu Sanye say: "Crossing the beach and crossing the river, in the final analysis, rely on courage and kung fu, rely on the secrets passed down from generation to generation, and also rely on God to take care of you. No matter how capable the boatman is, he dare not guarantee it. Say nothing is lost."

His expression and tone became extremely serious, and he looked at the four of Zishi: "You really think it over? After getting on the raft and getting into the water, there is no turning back. I just point the pole, and Sanshui will steer behind me. I can’t get on you—it’s not uncommon for people to fly out in the middle of the river when the raft crossed the river in the past. Some people tied themselves to the raft in a stupid way. This trick is too dangerous, and it’s easy to choke on the water. The bamboo raft is on its side It turned over, and there was no life left. There was once a man who was tied to a raft and crossed the river. As a result, when he reached the middle of the river, he was so frightened and frightened that he died of fright because he couldn’t move.”

Pause, slow down the tone: "If you are willing to stay, Mengjin welcomes you very much this time. In a few days, if the girl will find a way to send Xiaoran to Yuping Peak "Chenxiang Jingshe" to avoid it, or you Can……"

The two older ones looked at each other and shook their heads together, slowly but firmly.

Zi Shi thought to himself: If he stays, is it free to eat and live with his hands and watch others bleed and die?Once you step in, you can't pull it out again.Looking up at the turbulent waves in front of me, a heroic spirit suddenly arises in my chest: I have already arrived here, how can I retreat in fear of difficulties?Whether it's manpower or destiny, if you don't make a breakthrough, how will you know?

Turning to look at their siblings, the twins nodded at their eldest brother.

So he bent down deeply: "The kindness of the third master, the juniors and others will be grateful. However, since this is the end, let's not give up halfway. No matter what the consequences are, the four of us will never complain."

Third Master Wu was silent for a moment, then clapped his hands fiercely: "No complaints. Good!" Saying that, he went down first.

Zi Shi re-tightened the burden on his back, and helped Zi Gui and Zi Zhou tidy up.When crossing the river, I couldn't bear the weight, so I left behind everything I could not carry.Mrs. Xu sent a bag of silver taels, but Zi Shi didn't refuse, and put them into Chang Sheng's and his own bags respectively.

When he put down the small iron pot, Zigui's eyes were wet. "Don't leave, don't abandon, don't lose, don't fall." ——At the critical moment of life and death, we can't take care of a pot after all.

Changsheng suddenly untied the long thick hemp rope from the stake, wrapped one end around his waist, tied a knot, and said, "Just in case. The four of us will not fly out together." He picked up the leftover Duan, give Zi Gui a circle, but also tie a knot.Then came Zi Zhou.

Brother Changsheng's move obviously meant to live and die together, and the expressions of the two children were dignified and sacred.

Finally, he walked up to Zi Shi and saw him giggling at himself: "This is really a grasshopper on a rope..."

"Never forget nonsense at any time." While scolding him, tie it carefully.

The two little ones over there are examining each other's burden knots.Zi Shi whispered softly: "Longevity." He lowered his head, "You... don't you have anything to say to me?"

Changsheng's hand froze.

"Life and death are unpredictable... It dragged you to this point."

The long-lived hand rested on his waist.

"Zi Shi, look at me."

The two pairs of eyes looked into each other's hearts.Unobstructed and unfathomable.

"I just want you—to remember this moment forever."

Laughing: "Forever...it's hard to say in the next life, but in this life...it's probably fine..."