Looking to the Thirteen Rivers

After one night, the wind and snow in the city finally stopped.

The warm sun was just rising, and the thin light came over the branches and leaves and the window cracks, like a shallow golden jade belt, folded a few times, and cast on a small face with closed eyes and a painful expression.

Yin Qiu didn't sleep well, and fell into a nightmare almost the whole night. In those fragmented dreams, there were countless familiar faces, and curses in different voices. It hurts, she wants to escape, but no matter where she escapes, someone will always find her.

Babbling a few words in her sleep intermittently, she ran hard on the ice field in her dream, and when she looked back, there was a desolate thick fog, and she couldn't see anything clearly.

Invisibly, it seemed that someone was chasing after her in a hurry. She was tired and scared, and accidentally fell down. When she looked up again, there was a man in white clothes standing in front of her, stretching out her hand towards her.

In an instant, the sky was bright, and a glaring light bloomed in front of his eyes. Yin Qiu took a sharp breath, and when he opened his eyes, he found that he was holding a hand tightly.

That hand was fair and slender, with clear knuckles, and the skin on the back of the hand was a few red patches, which was pinched by her.

"Having a nightmare again?" Man Jiangxue leaned against the edge of the bed, holding her half in his arms.

Yin Qiu was stunned for a long time, and said, "I dreamed that many people were chasing me and wanting to beat me."

"It's just a dream," Man Jiangxue let go of her, got up and put on her clothes, "Don't be afraid."

Yin Qiu was still in shock, with lingering fears in his heart, hurriedly got off the couch, and followed behind Man Jiangxue.

"Put on your clothes." Man Jiangxue took her coat and put it on her body, "I'll take you out after drinking the medicine to get some air."

After being bored in this guest room for several days, Yin Qiu really felt very lonely. Hearing this, he was a little happy, but more of it was lonely and helpless.

A servant brought hot water, and Man Jiangxue washed first, then carried Yin Qiu back to the bed and sat down, knelt down on one knee to put on her shoes, and wrung out the handkerchief to wipe her face carefully.

No one has ever treated her so tenderly, Yin Qiu's heart was soft, looking at Man Jiangxue's beautiful face close at hand, he said sincerely: "You are so kind to me."

The charcoal brazier by the wall was crackling, sparks were splashing, and the wind was blowing from the small window, blowing Man Jiangxue's white clothes, spreading a light and light fragrance.

"It should." After wiping her face, Man Jiangxue combed her hair again, "Your mother used to take care of me like this."

Facing the bronze mirror, Yin Qiu saw that his face was yellow and thin, his eyes were dull, and his whole body exudes a heavy sickness. The fairy who fell into the world is so close, yet seems so far away.

Yin Qiu stared at her in the mirror bewilderedly, feeling a little unreal for a moment, and after a long pause, he said, "Are you on good terms with my mother?"

Man Jiangxue focused on her demeanor, holding a wooden comb and wandering through her hair, did not reply quickly, after a while, for some reason, she suddenly frowned, looked at Yin Qiu's head, as if a little helpless , and seemed a little annoyed.

"What's wrong?" Yin Qiu kept looking at her face.

"Hands are sore," Man Jiangxue said, "Can you comb your hair?"

"No one taught..." Yin Qiu said weakly.

Realizing that after a while, he still had the disheveled look when he woke up, Yin Qiu thought for a while and said, "Why don't I do it myself."

"Senior sister's hands are very skillful. She used to take care of my hair." Man Jiangxue threw away the comb, and wrapped Yin Qiu's soft hair with both hands. Make one up."

Her movements were nimble, and she braided two long braids for Yin Qiu. Although they were not very neat and looked a little frizzy, they were okay.

After checking the front, back, left, and right, Xu felt that it was a bit monotonous, so Man Jiangxue took out two red ropes from his arms, tied them to the ends of the two braids, and tied a small knot in each.

"Okay," Man Jiangxue patted Yin Qiu's head, "It's easy."

Yin Qiu didn't care, she had no one to take care of her all the time, and she was used to her messy hair all the year round, but Man Jiangxue herself, who got up with her, also had long hair hanging down.

Yin Qiu looked back at her and asked, "What about you?"

Man Jiangxue didn't care much about herself, so she casually wrapped a pure white hairband around her head, and said casually, "That's all, drink the medicine on the table, and take you out to eat delicious food. "

·

The snow on the street has been cleared away, the water is rippling, the wind and snow have passed, Yao Dingcheng is shining with silver light everywhere, high-rise buildings are gathered like carved railings and jade, and the dim sunlight fills the world, spreading the warmth that seems to be absent. meaning.

Yin Qiu is still in good spirits, but she has not recovered from a serious illness. It took a while to get used to the light outside. Her footsteps were weak, and she couldn't walk for a long time. Man Jiangxue hugged her and walked steadily. In the crowded street market.

Yao Dingcheng was fairly prosperous, and it was the most prosperous among the neighboring cities. Once the heavy snow stopped, the city resumed its bustling scene. There are all kinds of items for sale, food and play, too many to handle.

Yin Qiu hugged Man Jiangxue's neck, her eyes kept looking, she had never seen many new things, and she had never had the opportunity to go shopping in such a leisurely way, her mood suddenly brightened.

"What do you want to eat?" Man Jiangxue asked.

Yin Qiu looked left and right, and finally fixed his eyes on a steaming small stall: "What is that?"

Man Jiangxue followed her gaze and said, "Wonton noodles, do you want to eat?"

Yin Qiu didn't know what a wonton was, but when he saw the wontons in the big iron pot on the stall looked like gold ingots, they looked very cute, so he nodded.

Man Jiangxue paid the money first, and ordered the stall owner to cook a bowl. It was just after noon, and the small tables were still crowded with diners. No one left until the noodles were cooked, and several more came one after another. business is booming.

The stall owner held a white porcelain bowl and said in a loud voice: "Oh, there are no seats in my small stall. Miss, take my little sister to the teahouse opposite to sit for a while. Anyway, I paid for it. After eating, I will go there by myself." Just put away the bowl, and it’s warmer there than mine, and the owner of the teahouse knows me well, so he won’t drive you away.”

Man Jiangxue nodded slightly, said "thank you", and carried Yin Qiu into a teahouse across the street.

There were still a few empty tables by the window, and the two sat down. Yin Qiu looked at the bowl of wonton noodles, and asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"

Man Jiangxue was probably tired of hugging her, with his hands hanging by his sides, he looked a little lazy, and said: "I woke up earlier than you, and I ate at the inn, you eat."

Yin Qiu was impolite, and took a sip of the hot soup with his chopsticks. He felt that the soup looked light, but it was full of flavor, fresh and fragrant. He took another bite of wonton. The skin was thin, and the meat was tender and refreshing. There is a little bit of pepper in it, and half a bowl of it will make you sweat and feel warm all over your body.

"It's really delicious," Yin Qiu looked at Man Jiangxue, "Don't you want to try it?"

Man Jiangxue shook her head, moved her lips and was about to speak, when the storyteller in the hall knocked on the board and said loudly: "Just now I said that Ziwei taught the bloodbath of Ruyimen, it was written by the disciple Yin Xuan, He sneaked into Ruyimen as an undercover agent, but in just two years, he cooperated with the inside and outside and wiped out Ruyimen in one fell swoop, you know, what method did Yin Xuan use to deceive the people of Ruyimen?"

Hearing the word "Yin Xuan", Yin Qiu stopped holding the chopsticks and looked up at Man Jiangxue.

Man Jiangxue leaned on the back of the chair, her eyes didn't know where to go, she just said: "It's your father, listen to it."

Yin Qiu's heart suddenly twitched, and the wonton in front of him was no longer fragrant, and he almost turned all his attention to the storyteller.

When the question was raised, someone answered: "Is there even a need to ask? Who doesn't know that Yin Xuan used a 'beauty trick'!"

I heard another person say: "Exactly! With a pretty face, Shen Manyong, the successor of Ruyimen, fell in love with him. The two met within a year and got married within a year. They had a child in the second year. The old master Shen looked up to him How could he be a white-eyed wolf? On the day when Shen Mandong gave birth, the dog thief Yin took the opportunity to inform the Ziwei sect and led a group of disciples to kill Liu Cangshan. In just one night, he slaughtered Ruyimen from top to bottom clean!"

"Yin Gou is shameless and despicable, and the Ziwei Cult is immortal, it's simply unbearable!"

The storyteller sighed: "Unfortunately, it was the Ruyi Gate that was destroyed. It is said that Shen Mandong heard the news when she gave birth, and she took the scissors and cut the baby's umbilical cord. , tried her best to kill Yin Xuan with her own hands. After that night, she left her newborn daughter and disappeared without a trace. Ten years later, her life and death are unknown. Crazy, there are different opinions, and the truth is hard to tell, but it is a pity that the name of Shen Mandong I was planted on an unknown person from the Ziwei Sect, which is embarrassing."

There was an uproar in the hall.

"It's said that a hero is saddened by a beauty. Isn't this woman the same? If you don't know people clearly, you will ruin your life!"

"Ten years ago, when Shen Mandong was still studying with a teacher in Yunhua Palace, I was lucky enough to meet her once. She really has bright eyes and a pretty face. It's a pity."

Amidst the sighs, some people spoke in a bad tone: "This is all about old millet and rotten sesame seeds. What's the point of talking about it over and over again? You old man, don't be perfunctory and charge me for waiting for tea for nothing! "

As soon as this remark came out, those who were filled with righteous indignation just now followed him to join him.

The storyteller hurriedly waved his hands and said with a smile: "Don't worry, the little old man has not finished speaking, the Ruyi Gate has been destroyed, Yin Xuan is dead, and Shen Mandong has disappeared. These big guys know it, so do you have any ideas?" However, what will happen to the daughter left behind by the two of them?"

"Since she was born without a father or mother, who cares about her?"

"Probably dead too!"

"I haven't heard about that child, but it seems that Yunhua Palace has been looking for her all these years, but after so many years, there are so many people, where can I find her?"

The storyteller stroked his beard and said slowly: "Shen Mandong worshiped as the chief disciple under the former headmaster of Yunhua Palace. If something happened to her, Yunhua Palace would naturally raise the child for her. But the little old man got news a few days ago that the Ziwei Sect, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly appeared recently and killed the Su family in Jinhuai City, saying that they wanted to find a ten-year-old boy girl."

Someone exclaimed: "Could it be that Shen Mandong's daughter is raised in the Su family?"

"But what is Ziwei teaching looking for her? It is reasonable for Yunhua Palace to find someone. What is the use of Ziwei teaching that child?"

"These damned evil spirits have gone astray and started killing and setting fire again. If the child can't be found, another bloody storm is coming!"

……

·

The cold wind suddenly picked up, bringing in a chill, and also blowing away the voices of people around.

Yin Qiu sat slumped on the wooden chair, his face turned pale, and his heart was in shock.

Every word echoed in her ears, like a pair of sharp knives, stirring her brain mercilessly.

My father planned to marry my mother. On the day she was born, my mother's family was wiped out, and then my mother killed her. For ten years, my mother didn't know whether she was alive or dead. Now the Ziwei Sect has killed all the Su family in order to find her. Everything was like thunderbolts, slashing fiercely in her heart.

There was constant noise in the hall, and the noisy people were disturbed. Yin Qiu felt chills from head to toe as if he was in a world of ice and snow.

She put down the bowl and chopsticks, her hands trembled slightly, her eyes were red and she was speechless.

A white shadow approached from the corner of the eye, Man Jiangxue bent down to hug her, and walked away amidst the discussion in the room, without saying a word about what the other party had just heard.

"Is what they said... true?" Yin Qiuhun asked softly as he buried himself on Man Jiangxue's shoulder.

"It's true," Man Jiangxue stroked her thin back, her tone was normal, "You will know these things sooner or later. Now that you hear it, calm down and accept it as soon as possible."

She didn't comfort herself, but Yin Qiu suddenly felt less uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was because she had never seen her parents, nor did she know what they were, nor did they look like them. There were only two names that she had only heard a few times. Years ago, it was too far away from her.

Injury is inevitable, but on the other hand, it's like listening to someone else's story, as if it has nothing to do with her.

When I came here, I was full of joy, and everything I saw felt fresh, but now my mentality has changed drastically, and I have no intention of lingering around. Yin Qiu did not shed tears, but was silent for a long time before asking: "Will someone kill me?"

Man Jiangxue took off her robe and covered her, and said softly: "Maybe, maybe not, I don't know why Ziwei Sect is looking for you."

Yin Qiu's eyes were distracted, and his voice weakened: "The day I left, the Su family was still holding a banquet. The young master is full moon, and the house is very lively."

Man Jiangxue was speechless for a moment when she heard her weak voice ringing in her ears.

Although the Ziwei Sect is a cult, it does not act recklessly. If you want to start, you have to investigate first. You will definitely send someone to the Su family to verify the authenticity. If the Su family does not hand over the person, they can only ask for trouble , but if they were really handed over to the Ziwei Cult, there was no guarantee that the other party would not kill them to silence them.

Under the balance, the Su family had to lie that there was no such person as Yin Qiu, and then secretly sent her to a farmer in the deep mountains, and did not dare to take her life rashly. If the Ziwei Sect found out, they would definitely make trouble for them.

It just so happened that Yin Qiu was seriously ill, so they came along and ordered the couple to drag her to death. Even if the Ziwei Sect arrived in time, it was none of the Su family's business that she was dying, but her own illness. It would be easier to find Yin Qiu as soon as possible. If he is dragged to death, he will be burned to death, and no one will be able to find any clues if he comes.

In order to save their lives, the Su family's plan was clever, but they didn't expect the Ziwei Sect to be so ruthless. They decided that the Su family had lied, and directly killed the whole family.

Yin Qiu suddenly struggled, jumped from Man Jiangxue's arms to the ground, and said in a hurry: "No, I can't be with you. If they find out, you will be like the Su family..."

After she finished speaking, she ran towards the crowd, and Man Jiangxue immediately grabbed her wrist: "Come back!"

Yin Qiu stared at her blankly: "I don't want to harm you, let me go."

Man Jiangxue pulled her in front of her, restrained her skillfully with her hands, and said, "Where can you go? Don't mess around."

In the few days we spent together briefly, Yin Qiu didn't say anything, but he was already very dependent on Man Jiangxue in his heart. Man Jiangxue didn't talk much, but he was gentle and patient when taking care of her, giving her unprecedented care and warmth , is her savior.

When she was dying of illness, the Su family hurriedly sent her to the deep mountains. The farmer had a young son who was also sick. The couple loved him very much and cared for him. At that time, Yin Qiu was alone. Lying on the couch, seeing it in my eyes, I want to be more envious in my heart.

She never dreamed that she would meet Man Jiangxue, be taken away from such a cold place by her, treat her illness, add clothes to her, treat her meticulously, and guard her side all night, just to let her sleep peacefully .

Such a good person, if she was targeted by bad guys and got killed, what would she give in return?

The faint warm sun was obscured by dark clouds at some point, and the sky darkened again, with faint signs of snow falling again.

Yin Qiu curled up in Man Jiangxue's arms, feeling the hard-won warmth, still couldn't help crying, sobbing, "I don't want you to die..."

Man Jiangxue looked down at her, their snow-white skirts were fluttering in the wind, hugging each other like this, and also dressed similarly, Yin Qiu actually had some shadow of her on her body.

Of course, she is still more like a senior sister.

Man Jiangxue sighed softly, and hugged Yin Qiu again. She rubbed Yin Qiu's head and said, "Don't worry, I won't die, and I won't let anyone hurt you."