The bright moon sits on the ground

The raw ghost lit the last stick of incense.

It is a kind, not like the sweet and greasy smell of ripe melons and fruits, not like the cold breath of clear springs in the mountains.

Its smell was so light that Nie Qiu almost thought that the stick of incense hadn't been lit at all.

After a while, like a light boat crossing the Ten Thousand Mountains, the fresh and lively smell slowly diffuses, the unique woody fragrance of the bamboo raft, the fragrance of the stream hitting the moss, the fishy smell of the birds and beasts in the mountains, one scene after another, like a picture scroll Spread out in front of your eyes.

Then, the small boat skimmed over many mountains, and was involved in the undercurrent of backtracking, and the sweet smell like blood gradually came out.

Qin Rongchong leaned halfway on the soft couch, pressed his fingers on his temples, frowned, his eyes were slightly closed, his Adam's apple was rolling up and down, he was obviously enduring some emotion, but he didn't say a word, his teeth were clenched tightly, It seems to have lost the ability to speak.

Looking back on the past, he thought he was too clumsy and reckless when he was young, but it was what Gu Hua wanted.

He likes Gu Huazhi's cleanliness, and Gu Huazhi likes him to be lively.

He likes that Gu Huazhi is not stained with common customs,? Gu Huazhi likes that he travels all over the world.

Things in this world are always attracted to the opposite, even people.

Qin Rongchong's hand moved to the jade pendant at his waist, and the jade pendant pulled the slender tassel and gently pasted it,? The chi tiger held the blooming lotus in its mouth, docile and quiet, lying in his palm, not tender Not cold, just right.

With his personality, he will take the initiative to get what he wants.

But Gu Huazhi was not.

Gu Huazhi would rather not say anything.

He would rather hide all his good feelings, hide them tightly, and no one will know, until he is brought into the grave and turned into a ray of spring breeze, those secrets that cannot be put into words will also go away, hidden in the gradual In the melting ice and snow.

Gu Huazhi, everything is fine, Tan Rongchong thought, the only bad thing is that he hides all his emotions too well.

The answer to how this always forbearing Suifeng sect senior brother was chosen was already decided at the very beginning.

He didn't say a word about his physical condition, and he never mentioned the word "into the abyss" since then. The doubts at that time seemed to be just on his whim. He asked casually, and after hearing the answer, he also listened. pass.

Tan Rongchong felt pain when he recalled it. He didn't know anything. When Xiao Wuyin finally arrived in Xiayan City, he watched "Entering the Yuan" and was sure it was true. Let Tan Rongchong's mother drink the soup... Mother's illness has improved, and Tan Rongchong is in a very happy mood, so he naturally wants to share it with Gu Huazhi.

Every time Hua Zhi listened, his expression was always calm and calm, but now he would nod slightly and say "Congratulations".

Really, it hurts him to think about it now.

At that time, Gu Huazhi... What kind of mood was he listening to him say those words?

Tan Rongchong was full of expectations and thought that the distance between them was getting closer, but now he saw clearly that from that moment, from the moment he told Gu Huazhi, what was the use of the Tan family wanting to "enter the abyss" , There is already a gap between them.

He also remembered Gu Huazhi's last letter to him, without writing a single word.

All Gu Huazhi's unspeakable secrets, all the joys and sorrows, were all condensed in that drop of dry ink.

He didn't say anything, he didn't ask for anything, he didn't accept any alms, he was as silent as when he came, and he left quietly, leaving only this jade pendant with the lotus titled by Chihu, Use "compensation for missed appointments" as an excuse to prevaricate.

Nie Qiu lowered his voice and asked, "Did he give you this jade pendant when he said goodbye to you?"

"No." Tan Rongchong smiled sullenly twice, even the pronunciation of the words was bitter, "When he was leaving, I couldn't see him off."

"Gu Huazhi missed an appointment once, and I missed an appointment once. Since then, the two of us have never seen each other again."

If he hadn't missed it at that time, if he had chased after him at that time, ran to the bank of the turbulent river, and said that sentence to the people on the boat that he had been thinking about for decades, what would Gu Huazhi's reaction be?Will you be surprised, or will you smile at him?

Qin Rongchong thought, Tian Wanyan had a deep affection for him, twisted his sleeves, and asked him, can you take me with you.

He just remembered himself at that time, that's why he let go and asked Tian Wanyan to go to Suifeng with him.

Back in time to that day decades ago, he also wanted to boldly and boldly shout those words to Gu Huazhi across the distant water, the hot words that still burn his heart and lungs: Gu Huazhi, You stay, or I go with you.

However, Tan Rongchong thought again, Gu Huazhi would not be surprised, nor would he laugh, he would politely reject him.

Qin Rongchong shouldered the heavy responsibility of the Qin family, and Gu Huazhi was a major disciple of the Suifeng sect, they couldn't compromise for each other.

This is the reason why Gu Huazhi refused to reveal anything until his death.

Qin Rongchong exhaled slowly, rubbed his fingertips on the jade pendant with the lotus titled by Chihu, met Nie Qiu's gaze, and said, "As for why I missed him, the reason is very simple. Mr. Nie, I am ashamed to say that my Qin family also has many Things that don’t make it to the table.”

On the day of Gu Huazhi's departure, the sun was covered by dark clouds, the cool breeze drove straight in, and the stagnant raindrops in the air were about to fall, but the experienced fisherman could tell that the rain would not come until evening. Great weather for fishing.

And Tan Rongchong went to Lingyan Lake first as usual, and took the food brought from the mansion, and gave it to his taciturn and withdrawn master.

The water waves on the lake are stable, reflecting the emerald green smoke willows on the shore. In the early morning, there is a depressing atmosphere in the air, as if a heavy rain is brewing. Even the calm bottom of the lake hides dark swirls, quietly Wait, wait and see.

There is a happy event in Xiayan City recently, the street is covered with red silk and satin, and people come to the street every day to yell, Tan Rongchong naturally knows something about the upcoming marriage, I heard that it is the always reserved and shy Jiang from Liyuan. Miss Sheng is going to be married to a rich man, and maybe she will never be able to listen to her drama again, Tan Rongchong felt a little regretful for a while.

The boat in the middle of the lake gradually approached, and the boat stopped leisurely. He tied the knot and stepped on the boat.

After Qin Rongchong originally wanted to give the food box to Tan Ji, he hurried to the river bank where he was sailing to find Gu Huazhi.

According to his usual habits, Tan Ji would sit at the stern of the boat and look at the scene of the sunrise in the east and the sky as red as blood.

But Tan Ji was not there, and there was a strange dead silence on the boat, as if there had never been half a living thing between the heaven and the earth.

Qin Rongchong frowned, and walked slowly towards the cabin.

The more he walked in, the more uneasiness in his heart became stronger. There was no movement in the cabin, but he felt that there was a turbulent and malicious secret hidden inside, which was related to him and had nothing to do with him, and locked his hands and feet like shackles. Drag him in.

He raised his hand slightly, and the hard scaled Gu worm crawled out from his cuff, entangled between his fingers, its tentacles swayed, as if he had sensed something, Tan Rongchong could even feel it trembling - but It was good news for Tan Rongchong, which showed that Tan Ji could still use Gu worms and suppress other Gu worms, so there was no need to worry about his safety for the time being.

Is he going through a tough battle?Qin Rongchong pricked up his ears to listen, but he didn't hear anything.

Qin Hongchong put down the food box and called out: "Master, Hongchong came to disturb me, I wonder if it is convenient for Master?"

Like a drowning person suddenly surfacing, the sound suddenly poured into his cochlea, the humming sound that caused him pain sounded like tireless, crazily and wanton roaring, the gurgling sound of the water sounded so annoying, Tan Rongchong's brain went blank for a moment, then he bent down and pressed his chest, trying to suppress the palpitations that tinged with fear.

It was only a few short breaths, Tan Rongchong bit the tip of his tongue, and the rust-like taste made his consciousness clearer.

This was done by Tan Ji, why did Tan Ji do this?As soon as he thought of this, he heard the suppressed panting sound from the cabin, painful, crumbling, on the verge of collapse, barely maintaining a line of sober panting, with a bit of gnashing of teeth.

The curtain was swept aside unceremoniously, and Tan Rongchong's neckline was grabbed viciously. He raised his eyes and saw that it was Tan Ji. His face was distorted by pain, but his eyes were numb, as if he had bitten off prey. Predator, indifferent and arrogant.

It's not that Tan Rongchong doesn't want to resist, the Tan family respects the elders, not only because of their rich experience, but also because the Gu skills they mastered are unmatched, and the Gu worms they refine are not something ordinary Gu worms can compete against— The Gu worms on his body have been suppressed down, and as long as Tan Ji is willing, he can destroy them with a lift of his hand, but he has no power to parry.

He looked beyond Tan Ji, and looked in through the only remaining gap in the curtain. The layout in the cabin was very simple, just a wooden bed, a wooden table, and a box full of Gu worms, etc. There are no decorations.

There was a puddle of water on the ground, as if Tan Ji had accidentally spilled the water and hadn't had time to clean it up.That pool of water is clear and colorless, no different from any drop of water in this Lingyan lake, but Tan Rongchong feels restless just by looking at it, Tan Ji's Gu worms are floating on the pool of water, moving their legs and feet, Crawling slowly, he thought it was some ancient ritual in a trance.

"Tan Rongchong." He came back to his senses and found that Tan Ji in front of him was smiling. He smiled coldly, looking at his not-so-luxurious and exquisite clothes. He was dressed neatly today, making it easy to move. "Do you want to leave?" Is it Xiayan City?"

Tan Ji never cared about the outside world, but now he asked such a sentence, which inevitably made Tan Rongchong feel strange.

The Gu worm is real, and the Tan Ji in front of him is absolutely real, so what happened just now to make this withdrawn and taciturn old man make such a suffocating and painful voice, and make him show such a ferocious expression?

The tight neckline made Tan Rongchong a little out of breath. He wanted to break free, but he was afraid of angering Tan Ji, so he could only answer: Yes. "

The family has never restricted his travel, his mother's condition has improved, and with his elder brother looking after him, even if Tan Rongchong wants to leave Xiayan City, he can speak frankly, and no one can give him any reason. Forced to stay.

However, Tan Ji's chest burst into a burst of maniacal laughter. He repeated the words, as if in a demon, and said with a smile, "You want to go? Qin Rongchong, where else can you go except Xiayan City? I have wasted my whole life on Lingyan Lake, what else can you do? Apart from being like me, living in fear every day like me, what joy can you have?"

That kind of crazy look, and the sinisterness in those eyes made Tan Rongchong feel cold all over.

He vaguely noticed that Tan Ji's sanity was no longer normal. When did it start?What made him like this?

Tan Rongchong broke free from Tan Ji's shackle-like hand, and took a few steps back. The emotion in the eyes of the old man in front of him frightened him. He was surprised that Tan Ji had hated him for so many years, not only hated him , and hated the Qin family.

"You can't go anywhere."

A thin rustling sound sounded, and Qin silently looked at the retreating disciple, stretched out his hand and summoned the Gu worms, which fell from the sleeves and hem of his clothes, and fell to the ground, deathly black, the swarm of insects surged, Gradually approached until he could not retreat.

"My life will come to an end." The old man's voice was hoarse, and he said every word, "Next, it's your turn."

His tone didn't seem to be saying that his end was approaching, but that the salvation he had been waiting for for a long time had finally arrived.