Yu Wu

Li Qingqian entered the room, his body was slightly cool, holding a crimson peony flower picked along the roadside in his hand.

When Hong Shao saw the flower, her eyes lit up, and she said with a smile, "Wow, it's so beautiful! Did you give it to me?"

Li Qingqian nodded, not daring to look at her.

Hong Shao was very happy, even though she was sick, she didn't change her disposition of fearing the world would not be chaotic.She struggled to get up from the couch, took the flower, smelled it, and grinned: "It's a pity that my hair is so messy, otherwise it will be on the hairpin!"

"...I'll comb it for you."

In the past, she always pestered him to braid her hair, so she didn't think too much about it. She sat down and asked Li Qingqian to let her long hair down for her, and then combed it into her usual bun, a delicate and bright peony flower. Gently place the hairpin between the black jade hair.

Hong Shao touched the petals, smiled and coughed twice, and shouted: "Brother, get me a mirror, I want to see if it looks good."

Li Qingqian said: "...you get out of bed and go to the table to have a look."

As he spoke, he brought her only pair of embroidered shoes and placed them in front of the couch.

From beginning to end, he never looked into her eyes.

At this moment, Hong Shao finally realized that something was wrong, she slowly turned her face and looked back at Li Qingqian.

The small gongs and drums that clang all day long, but at this moment they lower their voices so low, like a timid kitten.

She looked at him questioningly:

"...Brother?"

"..."

"Brother, is there something on your mind?"

Fingers clenched in fists, palms drenched with sweat, Li Qingqian finally told her about the national teacher's selection of the saint.

When he said that, he buried his head very low. He probably thought that he would not be able to see the expression on Hong Shao's face by doing so, and would not let himself blame himself more and more.

He really didn't see Hong Shao's face, but he saw a few tears dripping down, rustling on the shabby bed quilt.

"I...I..." Xiao Gonggu's voice was as soft as a cat's, "I don't want to go..."

"...Red Peony..."

Hong Shao burst into tears: "I don't want to go! I don't want to! I was sold around after I was born, brother, don't you even want me now? You want to leave me too! Transfer me to the fourth hand !"

"Cats, cats and dogs, you can change four owners for it, it can't stand it." Hong Shao hugged her knees and cried mournfully, "I'm a human...Although I'm stupid, I'm stupid...but I I also have feelings, I will also feel uncomfortable, and I will miss you... I don’t want to go! I don’t want to go! You let me die of illness, I just want to be with my elder brother every day!”

No matter what Li Qingqian said, she just didn't listen.

How could Li Qingqian really watch her die of illness?Seeing that she couldn't persuade her, Li Qingqian broke her heart, got up abruptly, turned around and said, "Go to the teacher's place, your illness can be cured, and I can get a thousand gold coins. If you can save your life, I can." It's good for both of us to get rich. Please help me."

Hong Shao was stunned, staring blankly at him with tears in her eyes.

Li Qingqian flicked his sleeves and said, "Let's go."

Hong Shao was in a daze, but still said: "You...you won't..."

"What's wrong?!" Li Qingqian turned around suddenly, her eyes were red, and she gritted her teeth, "I beg you, I've been taking care of you for three years, and I'm tired enough to sell you and me. Anyway, there is still a good meal to eat, why do you follow me? You have been following me like this, what will happen to us in the end?"

Hong Shao opened her eyes wide, and the blood on her thin cheeks faded away little by little.

What can we do in the end?

Is it possible to go to court and get married, or to become a swordsman, a world of mortals with a sword?

Committing one person to another and living together for a lifetime is a long and difficult thing. It is not a bunch of enthusiasm, but two hearts are enough.

You need money, you need trust, you need a way out, and you need hope.

And they lack everything.

For three years, he can still roam the world and be a companion in the world of mortals, but what reason does he have for letting her accompany him for the rest of his life?The peddler was right, he couldn't even buy the ugliest and most shabby silk flower for her.Their relationship is like the peony in the beauty's hair at the moment. When it was picked for the first time, it was so delicate and beautiful, as if everything would be infinitely better tomorrow.

But it will die.

When they are together, there will be no eternal silk flowers.Only one night of red peony is brilliant, and it falls into mud in an instant.

Many couples in this world will eventually lose to money, status, health, and even love itself.

Li Qingqian didn't know what he had lost to. To put it lightly, he lost to poverty. To put it bluntly, he loved her, so no matter what, he would not sit and watch her wither by his side like this. Is defeated by love.

But no matter what, he was already a complete failure.

He had no other choice but to send her away.

"A poor man leads a poor woman, and finally becomes a poor old man dragging a poor old woman? Do you think I want to live such a life?! Have you ever thought about it for me!"

Hong Shao stared at him in a daze, since she knew him, it was the first time her elder brother got angry at her like this.

She raised her head, her temples were sleeping with peony flowers in spring, and her tears were mottled.

She thought to herself, I was thinking about it.

I have never dared to be greedy, and I dare not think about being rich.The best ending I can think of in this life is two poor old beggars, walking together in the twilight light and shadow, the old woman making noise like gongs and drums, and the old man smiling good-naturedly next to him—except for his gorgeous hair and wrinkled body Despite the vicissitudes of life, they are still exactly the same as when they were young.

It turned out that the ending was that she thought too much and wanted too much, but she couldn't get it.

She was just a slave who sold her body to bury her adoptive father. Three years ago, Li Qingqian fulfilled her wish, so he bought her.Today he wants to sell her, what can she say?

Hong Shao is not a girl, Hong Shao is just a little thing, a gadget that is destined to be wandering and scattered all her life because of her humble birth.

She had been the child bride-in-law of another family, the maid of a rich family, and the adopted daughter bought by a farmer. She thought she could call Li Qingqian the eldest brother for the rest of her life, and the dust settled.

But it turned out that it was just a gust of wind, and she had nothing to rely on.

She finally went to the National Teacher.

At twilight, with the afterglow of the clouds, Hong Shao followed the servant and walked to the high platform step by step, to the top of the long steps that were out of reach, to meet her fifth master.

The wind chime at the corner of the eaves rang softly, and at the corner of the high platform, she turned sideways and glanced down the tower.

Li Qingqian took over the heavy bag full of money and silk, thanked the servant, and walked away slowly.She looked at his back from a distance, and she thought, turn around...can you say goodbye to me.

Can you at least wave to me so that I can say goodbye to this dream that has lasted for three years?

But then she thought again, that's all, that's all.

There was so much bitterness and attachment in her throat, she was afraid that he would burst the embankment just by looking at her.She was afraid that she would be as anxious and disregarded as when they first met, crying and shouting and pestering recklessly, but insisted on forcing him to take her with him.

When the wind picked up, the peony flowers on her temples became more and more fragrant, and her clothes fluttered.Her eyes were clouded with water vapor, but she couldn't help but smiled slowly.

One thousand gold shell coins can buy a lot of steamed buns.

Big brother will never be hungry again, right?

In fact, it's okay not to look back, or not to take her with you.Three years ago, she just wanted to live a good life, so she could yell at his back in such a reckless manner.

But now, she is afraid.

She was afraid that her yelling would not bring him to stop, and she would be so painful that she would never be able to walk even a single step.

She still has to move forward.

to move forward...

Before the tears welled up in her eyes, she hastily looked back, lowered her head and walked through the flying corridor with silk and copper bells shaking gently, and continued to walk up.

Embroidered shoes under one step, peonies in hair.

The two of them are so poor, and they can only leave a little thought for three years.

On the high platform of Tianhuang nobles, under the curtains, there is a vague sound of silk and bamboo orchestras, and a kabuki continues to play and sing: "In the evening, the jackdaws are full of sorrow, but the new green of the willow pond is gentle. If you teach that there is no hatred in your eyes, don't believe it." There are white heads in the world."

The golden twilight shines on the tile eaves, and the Dudi towers are brilliant.Hong Shao has this remnant thought.

Step by step, go farther and farther.

"The heart is broken, the tears are hard to hold, and the lovesickness returns to the little red building. The love has been blocked by the mountain, and the frequent leaning on the railing is not free."

The bloody setting sun engulfed her beautiful figure, and the surrounding scenes sank like the afterglow of the doomsday...

A long farewell.

From then on, Li Qingqian was alone and never took anyone by his side.Almost all of his [-] Bei coins were scattered among the poor, and he didn't spend any of them.Years passed, when he was teasing peonies in the courtyard, he finally figured out his own Duan Shui swordsmanship - the sound was like mourning, or like a gong.The wind roared, the water broke and the sky broke.

All the results are like fireworks in the long night, extinguished in an instant before Mo Xi's eyes.

By the time this extremely fast revolving lantern stopped, they had arrived at the lonely and desolate mountain, covered with bones—that was the well-known Battle of Women's Crying Mountain.

In fact, when Mo Xi saw Hong Shao walking towards the tower and becoming the chosen saint of Liao Kingdom, he felt a little uneasy in his heart.Mo Xi is not as simple as Li Qingqian, he is too familiar with these lunatics in Liao Kingdom, especially the national teacher who rarely shows up, he is even more crazy than wild dogs.Others will believe in "teaching the way of astrology and praying for the destiny of the country", but Mo Xi doesn't think so.

Liaoguo eats people and drinks blood, and is insane. If he wants to come to Hongshao, it may be more or less auspicious.

Think again about the rumor of the girl crying on the mountain. It is said that the Liao Kingdom arrested hundreds of girls and dressed them as brides to sacrifice to the mountain god.Once the two things are related to each other, Mo Xi probably has a guess...

But the fact is that his guesses about Liao Guo's actions are often correct.

On the Nuku Mountain, there are many evil spirits, and Li Qingqian lay down on them together.But he has a good heart. After getting the souls of these girls, he doesn't want others to hurt them. Instead, he decides to hand over his broken water sword manual to his younger brother for safekeeping and practice. Take them slowly.

To save ghosts, it is natural to come one by one, let them get rid of their hostility one by one, and let their souls return to reincarnation.

Every time Li Qingqian crossed a person, he watched the soul die and go west from the vast sea.

Those girls who died at Nuwaishan were all mottled in red. When they were angry, they were unconscious, and after the anger dissipated, they lost their memories. Every day, he watched a dead soul resentful from the lamp. Floating out, and walking away in a daze.

That's it, day after day.

Li Qingqiandu had more and more souls, but the panic in his heart was getting deeper and deeper - because he found that these girls all looked too much like the same person.

Like the one who chased him and was left on the tower by him.

Before the female ghosts resolved their resentment, they would subconsciously repeat a sentence that they were thinking about when they were dying.Li Qingqian listened to a lot, some were crying for pain, some were calling for parents, some were muttering, don't bury me...don't lie to me...I don't want to die...

don't bury me.

Do not lie to me……

I don't want to die!I don't want to die!

Whether these words or the similar looks of the female ghosts made Li Qingqian feel more and more uneasy—where did Liao Guo find these girls?Why do they have such similar looks?

There was an answer ready to come out, but he couldn't believe it, he didn't dare to think about it.

The number of unjust ghosts in the soul lamp is decreasing day by day, and Mo Xi can see that every time Li Qingqian releases one, his hands are trembling.And when he saw that the appearance of the female ghost was not the red peony he had abandoned, his trembling would stop.

Surprisingly, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Until he reached the last ghost.

That morning, Li Qingqian was still carrying the Soul Lamp, and Mo Xi could tell that his walking was much easier than before. There was only the last ghost left in Nukushan, and Li Qingqian felt that maybe he had thought too much in the past.

His red peony should still ask for astrology in the palace of the national teacher, and treat her saintly in front of her, it will never be as he imagined...

The last soul, like a wisp of solitary smoke, frailly floats out of the lamp and takes shape.

The female ghost is petite, wearing a phoenix crown and Xiapei, but it is, it is... Li Qingqian feels as if she has been struck by a thunderbolt, her bones and blood are so cold——

He almost blurted out: "Red peony?!!!"

That thin reflection is like a nightmare that has finally come.

Hong Shao's wronged soul hangs blankly in front of him, her face is still the one he has seen countless times in his dreams, there are even phantom shadows of peony flowers on her temples, and light yellow embroidered shoes on the soles of her feet...but she can't laugh, no It can jump, and it won't yell at him like a small gong.She was just like all the ghosts who had been executed, her mind and memory had been wiped out, only a wisp of soul remained, floating in front of him alone and helpless.

No matter how simple and dull people are, they should know at this time that the national teacher has lied to them.Those women who were sacrificed did not become saints in the end, but became objects sacrificed to the mountain, and the dead bones were buried in mass.

The deception of the powerful has deceived those desperate lives.

Hong Shao floated in the air, murmuring the last words she obsessed with before she died, her eyes were empty, she said: "Turn back...Brother...I want to say goodbye to you..."

You look back, I don't expect to grow old with you, I don't expect you to extend your hand to me again, and take me on a long journey with a sword.

I just thought, I think I have been chasing you all this time, and I have been watching your back all the time. When we parted, can you watch me go up the tower, can you take a good look at me.

I'm not willing to die like this, big brother.

I have never said goodbye to you in my life.

From Mo Xi's perspective, he couldn't see Li Qingqian's face at that time, and there was no sound in the dead silence.

After a long time, as if the torrent finally broke the dam, Li Qingqian's throat suddenly burst out a howl that was almost like the wail of a wild animal. Like digging out blood from the throat.

He said, I shouldn't have sent you away...I shouldn't have sent you away...

If I don't send you away, I can't cure you, but I can stay with you well. I am the one who suffers.But I was so selfish, so weak, I pushed you to others, ran away by myself, and left all the pain to you.

He knelt in front of Hong Shao's soul, just like Hong Shao knelt in the dust when he first saw her, trembling, trembling, and weeping mournfully.

I didn't even have the courage to say goodbye to you, and I didn't say goodbye to you with my heart.

That whole day, from the first dawn of dawn to the crimson clouds filling the sky.

It is the last companionship of one person and one soul.

It was finally dark, and the ghost who released the soul lamp could no longer stay. She would either fall into eternal calamity, or be saved by him.So Li Qingqian could only muster all his energy, hoarse, weeping, and recite the mantra of passing away over and over again.

He sent her away, he sent her away.

Floating in the vast sea, Sanskrit murmured, this time, he watched her leave.

"Namo Amitabha Ye Dotagata Ye..."

again and again.

"Gami Ligagana..."

Hong Shao subconsciously repeated in the murmur of the rebirth mantra: "Brother...you turn around...you look at me again..."

"I want to say goodbye to you..."

"Big brother..."

Suddenly.

The black air dissipated.

The clouds in the sky are thick and colorful, and the golden light enters the tide of the sea.Li Qingqian's lips trembled, and after reading the last word, she slowly raised her head.

Hong Shao's soul was relieved, and her eyes became ethereal and dazed.

She stopped talking, and seemed to be confused about why she was in this vast world.Then she turned her head to look at the last twilight at the end of the sea, and without any regrets, she turned and drifted away.

I want to say goodbye to you.

Li Qingqian couldn't help crying at the end, he looked at her back, he chased her back, and called her name hoarsely...Walking into the sea...The sea was up to his knees, up to his waist...When the tide hit, he staggered and knelt down, but did not bow.

He watched her disappear into the golden sky and the earth.

When I left the city tower, I never looked back. This time, instead of looking at you... I will see you off...

We will never be able to say goodbye properly in our lifetime.But I will send you off, I will ferry you back, and I will send you on a long journey.

red peony.red peony.

In this case, can you forgive me, forgive me for being poor and weak.

Can you forgive me, can you forgive me...

The sky and the earth are empty, and the setting sun weeps blood.

The twilight deepened, the last light was swallowed by the sea, darkness fell on the island, and the long night rolled on in his wailing.

Mo Xi didn't move, he didn't go over to see Li Qingqian's appearance.

He had seen that kind of fragmented face countless times in his half-life, and it was the last thing he wanted to see.

Not long after, Li Qingsu went to Liao Kingdom.He's going to ask the national teacher to find out—what saintess, are saints used to fill mountains and worship gods?

That's a sacrifice!Sacrifice! !

His Broken Water Sword has been cultivated to the peak, full of hatred and resentment, and the hidden guards of Liao King City are not his opponents.He flitted across the roof rafters.In the end, he landed lightly in front of the National Teacher Hall, killing the two guards guarding the side gate within three moves.Immediately afterwards, he kicked open the palace door——