seven relics

Two days later, it was the day for Quan Suya to go down the mountain. When Lian Jiangyue went downstairs to wash up in the morning, it was not yet full light, and she saw Quan Suya pouring water into the water tank with a bucket, her face flushed , The collar of the sports vest on his body was wet.Quan Suya caught a glimpse of Lian Jiangyue, greeted him warmly and resoundingly, and was in great spirits.

Lian Jiangyue couldn't hide her surprise, the younger junior sister has only been a beginner for two years, her family is in the Northeast, her parents are local gold and silver craftsmen, and she and Master Bian are old friends.Going back further, they can still be regarded as fellowship.According to Master Bian, the three of them are the last successors of the master swordsmith Zhan Lu Xianren, and it is for this reason that he is willing to accept such an overage disciple as Quan Suya.When Quan Suya kowtowed to Teacher Bian to pay homage to teacher tea, she already had her own personality and habits, not to mention other things, just the morning and evening routines in the mountains, it has been two years, she still hasn't adapted, and she is always the last one in the morning You have to be the last one to sleep at night.When Master Bian lost his temper, she became obedient, but after a while, she showed her true colors again.Seeing her getting up so early today, Lian Jiangyue thought to herself, she was probably scolded by her master again yesterday.

But Quan Suya said: "Senior brother, don't think about it! I've been very good lately. I have to go down the mountain for several months before I can come back. I just don't want to be scolded by the master before I leave!"

At this time, Master Bian came in from the outside, followed by Xingshan and Bian Shizhen and his wife. After saluting in the water tank room, they went to fetch water together.Lianjiang Moon Water Tank had the least amount of water left, and it took two extra trips to fill it up.

The Bian's family eats casually for breakfast, and eats before everyone is ready. After eating, each goes about his own business, and then gathers again at lunch.

When Lian Jiangyue was sitting in the patio having breakfast, only Bian Shizhen and Quan Suya were left at the table.There was a radio on the table, playing the morning news. There were three people at the table, and no one said a word.Quan Suya seemed to have something to say, holding the bowl in both hands, sipping the soy milk in the bowl, her eyes turned to the right to look at Bian Shizhen, and then to the left to look at Lian Jiangyue. said nothing.

Lian Jiangyue was eating white porridge with pickled melons, listening to the news, this early in the morning, it wasn't some female president of Xiangyi Group who wanted Yiyi to suddenly get seriously ill and was sent to the hospital, it was some generation of Beijing opera master Yu Dongxuan who secretly died at home in a courtyard in Beijing , What else is there? At the exit of Sujiahang and Jiaxing, a courier truck overturned. Please be careful to avoid the drivers. You haven’t heard a piece of news that can make you happier for a long time.Quan Suya said suddenly: "Why is it either a dead person or a dead courier..."

Bian Shizhen put down the bowls and chopsticks in his hand, and looked at Lian Jiangyue.Seeing that the elder sister seemed to have something to say to herself, Lian Jiangyue hurriedly put down the bowls and chopsticks, sat upright, and listened attentively.

Bian Shizhen said: "Master has gone to meditate, Xingshan and Youzhi have gone to the workshop to burn the stove, you should bring Suya to the patriarch to offer incense sticks."

Quan Suya blinked her eyes and lowered her head.Lian Jiangyue nodded repeatedly and agreed.

After Bian Shizhen finished speaking, she took her bowl and chopsticks and went into the kitchen. After a while, she came out and went outside Bian's house.

As soon as she left, Lian Jiangyue hurriedly finished the porridge in the bowl, and Quan Suya finished the soy milk with two gulps, both of them got up, washed the dishes, and took some fruits, incense sticks, and a box of matches from the kitchen , took a flashlight, and went out.

On the way to Jingxiang, Quan Suya chatted with Lian Jiangyue, she said: "I'm not good at learning, I'm not qualified enough to help in the workshop, third senior brother, why are you sent to the frontier when you come back?"

Lian Jiangyue said: "I haven't been back for a while, it's time to offer incense to the ancestors."

Quan Suya laughed, and the brothers and sisters stepped onto the cobblestone path.Spring has already come to the mountains, the vegetation is new, and there are many purple or yellow wild flowers blooming on the side of the road. Quan Suya stretched out her hand to pick them, and asked: "Senior brother, the relics your father gave you must be very valuable, right?"

"It's just a sword."

"That's your sword, haven't you always wanted a sword of your own?"

"I want a sword I can strike myself."

"Then you fight!"

"There are so many things to do in the workshop, what's the matter if I make myself a sword?"

Quan Suya was picking wild flowers, glanced at Lian Jiangyue, and said with a smile: "Oh, you are afraid that Eldest Sister will be angry."

When she said this, one hand reached out to a cluster of blooming golden cherry blossoms. Lian Jiangyue saw it, stretched out her hand, and grabbed the flower before she touched the cluster of white flowers.Quan Suya's hand was on the back of his hand, she was startled, her eyes widened, she stared at Lian Jiangyue, seemingly puzzled, then looked at Lian Jiangyue's hand, her confusion completely turned into Angry, he kicked the golden cherry trees on the side of the road cursingly: "What are these thorny flowers growing on the side of the road for? It's not harmful!"

Lian Jiangyue persuaded her, saying: "Hitting it won't help." He spread out his palm, which was pierced with a few thorns and bleeding.He picked at the thorn and said: "You are also wrong, you have to watch the road when you walk."

Quan Suya muttered: "Call me."

"Even if it's too late, you're the one who got stabbed."

"I'm going to be scolded to death by the master." Quan Suya helped Lian Jiangyue pick the thorns, lowered her head and said aggrievedly: "Master said that our hands are more precious than swordsman's hands."

Lian Jiangyue touched her hair: "You don't tell me, I don't tell you, no one knows about the injury in the palm, but if you feel guilty, then go down the mountain to buy insurance for the brother's hand this time." .”

Quan Suya laughed, held Lian Jiangyue's hand up and raised it up, and looked it over in the sun to make sure there was no burr before putting it down.

The two walked for another ten minutes, and entered the dark cave behind the waterfall that Lian Jiangyue passed through last night.With flashlights on, they picked up the remains of melons and fruits, offered incense to the gods and Buddhas, and presented fresh flowers and fruits.

When Quan Suya picked up those fruit cores and skins, she said: "This cave is really magical. These melons and fruits will not stink or attract flies when placed here."

Lian Jiangyue said: "This is also one of the reasons why Master chose to build a hut here. The mountain is humid, but once you pass through this cave, all the moisture seems to be sucked away. Now there are many machines that can assist in dehumidification. , There were no such technologies in the past few decades, and forging and smelting should avoid humidity."

While talking, there was an angry voice from behind them: "Ah Yue!"

Quan Suya took a flashlight to take a picture, Lian Jiangyue took a look, and saw a thin man with a black face, very black hair, and a short stature, walking like flying, stepping on a beam of white light projected by the flashlight on the ground, walking towards them .He was wearing short-sleeved shorts and a pair of plastic slippers. He didn't turn on the flashlight, his hands were behind his back, and his face was beaming.

Lian Jiangyue recognized him and hurried over to salute: "Master He, you are here."

This person is Master He Xiaoshuhe who ordered a pair of Butterfly Swords.

As He Xiaoshu approached, the wrinkles on his face became clearer, which made him look a bit old.He patted Lian Jiangyue, looked at Quan Suya, and his voice was still clear: "This is your little junior sister, it's the first time I've seen you." He announced his name: "Foshan He Xiaoshu!"

There were echoes in the cave.

Quan Suya clasped her fists, her volume rose unconsciously, her expression became serious, and she said word by word: "Panjin Quan Suya, who studied under Pingyang Bian Rugou!"

He Xiaoshu pointed forward: "Go, find your master!"

He walked in front, followed by Lian Jiangyue and Quan Suya.This eloquent little junior sister actually showed a little shyness when she saw a stranger, she walked with her head down, she was silent, Lian Jiangyue and He Xiaoshu chatted one after another.

Lian Jiangyue said: "I was lucky enough to feast my eyes on the knife that Eldest Sister gave you yesterday. It's a good knife."

He Xiaoshu spoke mandarin with a strong accent, and said: "First, I'll talk to your master, why don't you ask Ah Yue to do it, he will 'quench the light and embrace the moon', your senior sister is not ready yet, your master will tell you, you He went away on business and didn’t know when he would come back. He said, Xiaoshu, what you want is urgent, and you don’t go out to hack and kill with this pair of knives. , I listen to him."

He continued with a smile: "Someone in my family has a grandson! Haha, that brat caught a knife when he was catching Zhou. I just want to give him a pair as a first-year gift."

"That's great, congratulations."

He Xiaoshu sighed, although the smile was still on his face, but his brows were slightly frowned: "It's my daughter-in-law who heard that, her nose is crooked, alas, she doesn't know how many gold bracelets this pair of knives are worth ah!"

At this time, the three of them walked to the door of Bian's house, the door was open, and they went in.Master Bian's father was sitting alone in the courtyard, reading a book and drinking Kung Fu tea.There are two long wooden tables in the patio, and there are many books drying on the tables.

The two teachers and fathers met each other with joy on their faces.Bian Rugou stood up with a smile, and cupped his fists. He Xiaoshu also cupped his fists with a smile, and said, "Master Bian, Xiaoshu is here to bother you again."

Bian Rugou made a "please" gesture, handed the book in his hand to Lian Jiangyue, and said, "Suya, go and call Shizhen over here."

Quan Suya turned and ran away.Lian Jiangyue used the tea set on the table to make a cup of tea for He Xiaoshu, and Bian Rugou signaled him to sit down too. After he sat down, he looked at the book Mr. Bian gave him. It was written by Taoist Muzhu. Seeing Demons and Demons" is the only written record that the teacher said last night that mentioned the Crying Rain Sword.Lian Jiangyue hurriedly flipped through it.

He Xiaoshu chatted with Bian Rugou, and said, "I've traveled to several places this time, have you heard about Lao Jiu?"

Bian Rugou said: "There was a funeral, I didn't go, firstly because I didn't have a deep friendship, secondly because I saw some old men and women, but it just made me sad."

He Xiaoshu let out a long sigh.Mr. Bian stroked the wooden table and said, "In the past half a month, I have heard about several funerals one after another. It's not that I'm disobedient, but I just didn't expect that the gate of hell is so close."

Lian Jiangyue heard the words, followed by a burst of sadness, the book couldn't be turned anymore, she just held it in her hand.

He Xiaoshu patted the table and laughed, probably wanting to ease the atmosphere, and said: "Come and sit with me when you have time, while everyone is still breathing, see you and talk more, I am with these young people There is nothing to talk about. At our age, chatting is just reminiscing about the old days. However, when I talk about the past, my son will frown. He said, listening to you, it’s better to watch TV dramas. I said, Well then, let's watch together, the TV series where your uncle is a martial arts instructor is on the air, let's watch together.

"He doesn't want to look at those, he said, they fight so fake. He just sees flying spaceships to fight in space, and some agents go to snatch nuclear weapons. I'm surprised, isn't it fake? He said, it's fake, But they are interestingly fake, unlike martial arts movies that seem to tell you it’s true, that’s fake, and it makes people angry when you watch it.”

Bian Rugou laughed when he heard it, and He Xiaoshu laughed too, but his thoughts of pity for Jiangyue were still stuck on the words of Master Bian's lamenting life and death, and he couldn't laugh.

Master is old...how did Master suddenly become so old?He seemed to be a different person when he got old, his temper became milder, and he laughed more. From last night to now, he hasn't seen him lose his temper once.

Perhaps, facing death frequently, people will really be crushed soft by death.Nothing changes a person more than the touch, the proximity of death.This is about the same reason as "a person who is about to die, his words are also good".

When Lian Jiangyue was thinking about this endlessly, Bian Shizhen came in from the outside, her sleeves rolled up to her arms, and her head was covered with sweat. When she saw He Xiaoshu, she greeted him and said, "I'll get you a knife." !"

Bian Shizhen went to the backyard, and He Xiaoshu looked at her, and said to Bian Rugou, "You just bring Mingming and Shizhen to Foshan for fun, stay for a few days, and what you do is not a rush Business, I think, you are really trapped in this mountain," he asked, "Is it true, have you ever been to Guangdong?"

Bian Shizhen turned his head and smiled at He Xiaoshu, and said: "I'll let it go, business is going well these days, and I'm too busy, please persuade my dad, we don't need him to help the family now, we can handle it, I told him to walk down the mountain more, or go out to the yard more. Now, he can't wait to stay in the room every day, and he almost refuses to leave the door. He doesn't go anywhere, and he doesn't know what to invite He went out to the mountains once, you see, if it wasn't for drying books today, it would be another day for him to be an otaku in his room!"

She walked into the backyard while talking and laughing, and her figure disappeared.

Bian Rugou smiled and drank tea.Lian Jiangyue was watching tea for the two elders on the sidelines, silently, a little surprised in her heart, before the elder sister wanted to talk to the master like this, she might be scolded again - I am afraid that the elder sister would not dare to talk to the master So talk.Now the master smiled and said nothing. It seems that the master's state of mind has indeed changed a lot since he left.

After drinking a few more sips of tea, He Xiaoshu got up, walked to the two wooden tables where the books were drying, picked up a book, flipped through a few pages, and said, "What kind of books are these drying?" Ah, Taoist Muzhu..."

Bian Rugou turned sideways, looked at He Xiaoshu, and said, "They are all idle books."

"I haven't heard of it, I haven't read it, but Master Bian is more knowledgeable." He Xiaoshu shook his head and put down the book in his hand.

Then Bian really came out, holding a wooden box, and presented it to He Xiaoshu.He Xiaoshu took the box, patted her with a smile, and returned to Bian Rugou.He put the wooden box on the table.

Bian Shizhen said: "Look at it, or should we go to the dojo?"

He Xiaoshu waved his hands, didn't look at her, but looked at Bian Rugou, said in a soft voice, with a tentative tone, "This time I'm passing through Yangzhou, a friend asked me to send a letter."

"Friends from Yangzhou?" Bian Rugou's voice also softened, his eyes froze, his smile disappeared, and his face became calm and pretentious again.He waved his hand and said: "Ah Yue, it's true, you all go to work," he also specifically told: "It's true, you should pay close attention to where you are."

Bian Shizhen was still standing where he was, feeling a little lost. Hearing Mr. Bian's father's words, he cheered up, called Lian Jiangyue, and left Bian's house.

The two of them entered a yard next to Bian's house. As soon as they entered the yard, there was a large room with the door open, and the heat wave was blowing out. There were two rooms on the left and right sides, and only one door was open at the moment.This is the workshop of the Bian family.

Bian Shizhen led Lian Jiangyue to the room with the door open, the room was cold and the light was insufficient, and two lights were still needed to be turned on during the day.When the two entered, Quan Suya was sitting inside, holding a goose feather in one hand to remove a piece of gold leaf from the interlayer of two layers of black gold paper.On the big table in front of her were three stacks of black gold paper, a bamboo knife, a palm-sized square bamboo frame made of bamboo strips, and a wooden box.

Bian Shizhen ordered: "Ah Yue will help you get the gold leaf."

Lian Jiangyue went to help Quan Suya, took out two finger cots from the wooden box, another goose feather, put on the finger cots, turned over some black gold paper and put them on the table, took the goose feather and picked up some gold leaf scattered on the table on the paper.Bian really walked out.

Quan Suya took a look, and asked Lian Jiangyue: "Should I still be sent to the frontier?"

Lian Jiangyue smiled.Quan Suya said: "Senior brother three, what exactly is 'Quenting the moon'? I asked the master, but the master always said that I hadn't arrived yet, and I didn't understand. I asked the fourth brother, and he said it was very challenging. He also said that the master only realized it after he knew the destiny. He also said that you became enlightened ten years ago. I asked the elder sister... When I asked, she got angry. I guess, did you forge the sword under the moonlight on a full moon night? What’s so special about the sword made this way? It absorbs the essence of the sun and the moon?”

Lian Jiangyue said: "It has nothing to do with the moon, it's just because the moon has the effect of attracting the tides, and the sword or knife made with the technique of 'quenching the moon' can control the opponent's hand to a certain extent." arms."

"What do you mean? Is it mixed with a magnet? Magneto sword?"

"What?"

"Oh, you don't know even if you say it, you go on, you go on."

Lian Jiangyue continued: "You knew it when the master taught you, but this skill has no practical value now, and now you still come to the master to make swords, either for collection, or movie props, museum restoration, They are basically not used for actual combat, and the sword made by 'Quenguang Lanyue' is a sword with killing intent. Such a sword will not return to its sheath without seeing blood."

Quan Suya shivered, "Sounds so evil," she then changed the subject, and said, "According to me, the elder sister's temper is getting worse and worse, and she is getting more and more delicate. Master will take you to an expo. She is sulking, Master asked you to guide those college students who come to practice, she is also angry!"

Lian Jiangyue said: "Elder sister is also angry when she sees you. Which one of us is not a human being? We started running errands in front of the stove before the table was high. You didn't come to apprentice until you were 15 years old. You were asked to touch gold foil in the first year of apprenticeship. What do you think?" When you go down the mountain, you go down the mountain, and you can walk for several months."

Quan Suya stuck out her tongue: "That's because I am very talented. Master said that I will definitely be a gilt master in the future."

"It's because the master has changed, he can say things to coax his disciples."

"Isn't that because my dad brought me a bottle of 60-year-old Moutai?" Quan Suya paused, and said with emotion: "But don't tell me, after you leave, Master really doesn't send out wine very often." I'm losing my temper, I think maybe it's because..."

Lian Jiangyue didn't answer, Quan Suya cleared her throat and stopped talking.Lian Jiangyue smiled at her: "You can say whatever you want."

Quan Suya said: "Senior Brother Third, does your father also have a bad temper?"

"You mean, if Lianwuhan had a bad temper when he was alive, then the master changed his temper just because he thought of his bleak end of life?"

Quan Suya laughed twice, and pouted her chin outward.Lian Jiangyue saw that it was He Xiaoshu who was passing by the door with a wooden box in her arms, and after a while, she saw Bian Shizhen talking to him, and they walked towards the door together.They stood by the door, talked for a while, Bian Rugou also appeared, He Xiaoshu thanked them father and daughter repeatedly, and said goodbye at the door.Master Bian entered the workshop and said to Bian Shizhen, "Go, go and see how Youzhi is doing."

Quan Suya followed the teacher's father and the senior sister closely with her eyes, and the movements of her hands were slow. Lian Jiangyue knocked on the table: "Concentrate."

Quan Suya was still looking in the direction of the studio, when Bian Rigou roared loudly from outside.

"How many times have I told you! I raise a dog! After so many years! The dog has learned it!"

Quan Suya swallowed her saliva, withdrew her gaze, and concentrated on taking and cutting the gold leaf.

Outside the house, Master Bian's father was still talking aggressively, saying: "Call your third junior brother over!"

When Lian Jiangyue heard that her teacher was looking for her, she hesitated, not because she was afraid that her teacher would vent her anger on him, but she saw Zhao Youzhi running towards here with a pale face from a distance, and she knew it was This second brother made a mistake, made a mistake in his hand, and answered the wrong question. The master asked him to answer and listen to his answer.

In the past, Zhao Youzhi was just his second senior brother. Although his seniority was higher than him, he learned the same art under the same master and listened to the same classes. However, everyone has different talents and abilities. It is unavoidable, but since Zhao Youzhi became the master's son-in-law and the husband of the senior sister, they can be said to be closer and closer, and when they meet this second senior brother who is used by the master to compare academics, pity Jiang Yue I have some taboos, I would rather be scolded than embarrass the second senior brother.

Here, Zhao Youzhi had already run into the house, out of breath and unable to speak.Lian Jiangyue couldn't delay any longer, so she went out, and the two of them entered the big room without speaking.

This large room is open and bright, without any barriers and partitions. There is a stove burning in the room. Teacher Bian is sitting on a small bench in front of the stove, holding a large tong in his left hand, holding a piece of red-hot metal—— -It smells like iron, holding a small hammer in his right hand, and a stone sink is placed at his feet, the hammer is dipped in water and hits the iron block once, and after three hits, the iron block is stuffed into the stove.

Xing Shan and Bian Shizhen stood aside, bowed their heads and were speechless.

Lian Jiangyue passed by, Master Bian saw him, handed him the hammer, and said, "Three delays, you come."

He got up.Lian Jiangyue sat down, hit the iron with tap water, clang, clang, the stab wound in the palm of his hand was a little painful, he raised his hand, pinched it for half a second, knew that the hammer should fall at this time, but he didn't let go, Another half-second pause before dropping the hammer.

When the hammer fell, Mr. Bian kicked on the bench, and became angry again: "Three meals and three slow hands! Give me the back!"

Lian Jiangyue got up, lowered her head and recited the mantra.Master Bian rolled up his sleeves, and went to the battle in person, cursing while striking the iron: "Okay, they are all good apprentices! One is as stupid as a pig! The other is eating at my place all day long!"

Quan Suya ran to the door at this time and said, "Master, the gold leaf is finished..."

Mr. Bian's father's old face turned into a pig's liver, and he was focused on blacksmithing.Quan Suya said again: "Master, Third Senior Brother hurt his hand when he went to offer incense with me earlier..."

As soon as these words came out, Bian Rugou pointed at Lian Jiangyue, and became even more angry: "Get out of here!!"

Quan Suya was so frightened that she stood outside the door dumbfounded.Lian Jiangyue went back to Bian's house and helped Mrs. Mingming choose vegetables to cook.At twelve o'clock, when lunch was served, all the masters and apprentices gathered in the courtyard. Bian Rugou sat down, and the rest sat down.Bian Rugou propped his hands on his lap, no one dared to move his chopsticks.Bian Rugou said: "I want to go down the mountain, just today, and leave after dinner."

Everyone was surprised.

Bian Rugou picked up his rice bowl and chopsticks, and said, "Go to Yangzhou. It's true. Walking in the mountains, you two will walk with me."

He added: "While I'm not around, You Zhi, you need to listen to Ah Yue more about the affairs in the workshop, understand?"

Zhao Youzhi nodded, with an honest look, not daring to show his air.

During this meal, Mr. Bian and his father didn't say a word, and everyone followed in silence.After lunch, Master Bian urged the two apprentices to quickly pack their luggage, Ming Ming and Zhao Youzhi also went to help, leaving Quan Suya and Lian Jiangyue to clean up the table and go to the kitchen to wash the dishes.The little junior sister scrambled to work and kept Lian Jiangyue from touching the water. Lian Jiangyue said: "Don't worry, Master told me to roll away many times. I have a thick skin and I can still rely on it."

Quan Suya was angry and funny, looked at the courtyard, and made a joke: "Master, senior sister and fourth senior brother sent me down the mountain? Such a big battle?"

Lian Jiangyue also looked out, and Mrs. Bian was sitting in the yard, lighting a cigarette.Teacher father has quit smoking for 30 years, this is the second time that Lian Jiangyue saw him smoking. The last time was when he was having dinner. Don't eat, ask my wife to bring him a pack of cigarettes.The cigarette was delivered to him, he lit one, waved away all the disciples, left Lian Jiangyue behind, and didn't talk to him, just smoked half a cigarette before telling Lian Jiangyue: "Ah Yue, you Dad is dying."

Lian Jiangyue was stunned, and asked: "Master, who are you talking about? What father?"

Master Bian sighed heavily, and said: "Ah Yue, Lianwuchen has a great kindness to you. If he has something to do with him, you can go and see him off."

Lian Jiangyue understands that people have their own difficulties in doing things, and they can't do what they want. He has long since stopped blaming Lian Wu for throwing him under the strict teacher's door in the deep youth forest. He hasn't had a letter or a phone call in 25 years. After him once, he just often forgets that he is his father.He still has such a blood relative in the world.