where to go home

?The Tiance Mansion has always had strict military discipline. There are even guards patrolling regularly around the school grounds in the mansion, not to mention the heavily guarded prison. Even Yin Cisheng was able to enter only after passing through three guards.

This is not the first time he has come to this prison, and he is already used to hearing the moaning and wailing here, but the cell in front of him is so quiet that he is not used to it.Looking at Zhong Ling who was sleeping on the straw mat and frowning tightly, Yin Cisheng weighed the food box in his hand and smiled helplessly - after so many years, this person still can't sleep well.

At this time, Zhong Ling was struggling in the dream, but Yin Cisheng didn't wake him up.

Because that "dream" is not just a dream.

Therefore, the only one who can wake up Zhong Ling has always been himself.

……

"Haha, it's just a knife...Even if you tear my face...I will never live with you."

"Boy, if I hadn't saved you, your life would have been in Xia Zhongyan's hands long ago."

"...Let me submit to Mo Hua, it is better to kill me."

"Oh, you don't care about your life, so do you want your brother's life?"

"It's ridiculous... Just relying on you, I can't touch the people in Tangjiabao."

"The Tang Sect can protect him for a while, but they can't protect him forever. Kid, you have to know that I'm usually too lazy to care about Xia Zhongyan's affairs."

"The mission has already failed, he dare not take my junior brother's life again."

"Xia Zhongyan's thoughts are ruthless, and he must take revenge. After all, your junior brother killed his own daughter. Even if you don't provoke them now, it may not be the case in the future. Maybe it will involve both of you dear junior sister Qingling..."

"...Why did you choose me?!"

"I need a smart and capable person to help me accomplish my great cause. How about... let's make a contract?"

"What contract?"

"I'll keep them safe."

"... What's the price?"

"Oh, the price? You already know what the price is."

……

Sensing the approaching breath, Zhong Ling slowly opened his eyes.He raised his arm and covered his forehead, wiping off a little cold sweat without any trace.

"General Yin?"

"Tsk, who else but me?"

Seeing that Zhong Ling's hands and feet were shackled, Yin Cisheng's face was so haggard that he no longer looked as vigorous as before, he couldn't help feeling a little bit embarrassed and also a little irritable.

"Lao Ling, I'm too busy this month, so don't be picky just to see you!"

"I'm just a criminal who has committed many crimes. It's a great honor for General Lao Yin to come to see me." The words were humble and polite, but Zhong Ling still didn't intend to get up.

"Come on, you, no one here is just pretending to be stupid! Returning to General Yin... Do you want to be satisfied if I call you the master of the bell?"

Yin Cisheng said angrily, and opened the food box in his hand to take out the food one by one, and then sat cross-legged opposite Zhong Ling with the wine pot in his hand.Zhong Ling sat up following the aroma of the wine, and took the wine glass handed over by Yin Cisheng very naturally.

"Ci Sheng, it's been a month in a blink of an eye, and the case is almost over."

"Well... thanks to your information, we are able to grasp so much information and evidence about Chen Huan and Mo Hua. I am already preparing to help you apply for a commutation of sentence to the Ministry of Punishment. If you run around in the next few days, it will be possible..." Zhong Ling saw Yin Yin Ci Sheng stopped pouring the wine and frowned.

"Ci Sheng, my junior brother...how is your injury?"

Zhong Ling asked carefully, but Yin Cisheng sneered after drinking the wine in his glass suddenly, which made him feel uneasy.

"Zhong Ling, if you have thoughts, you should take care of yourself! Your junior brother is fine now, so you don't need to worry about it. And..." Yin Cisheng looked directly into Zhong Ling's eyes and said seriously: There is still a chance now, why don't you tell him about yourself, otherwise... I'm afraid you will regret it in the future. "

Zhong Ling put down his wine glass and said with a smile: "I've already said what I should say, what else do you want me to say?"

"You know what I want you to say!" Yin Cisheng seemed to crush the wine glass in his hand, his eyes were burning like a torch, forcing Zhong Ling to escape.That scorching gaze reminded him step by step of the filthy past buried deep in his heart.

"Tell me why the scar on your face came from, how many loyal knights you spared in Mohua, and how you, Zhong Ling, never really betrayed them!" Yin Cisheng suppressed the sadness that was about to burst out, and said one word Open your mouth in one sentence.

"Zhong Ling...you have so much to say...why didn't you tell them?!"

Zhong Ling met his persistent gaze, and a helpless low smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Cisheng, since there are some things that cannot be changed, why bother talking?" Zhong Ling raised his head and drank the wine, then glanced at Yin Cisheng.

"You never forced me in the past, but you suddenly asked me to tell him this so eagerly today, probably because the imperial court has ordered the execution... I'm afraid I will die soon."

Seeing Yin Cisheng shaking his hand holding the wine glass, Zhong Ling understood it, and smiled at the tense face of the man opposite him.

"What are you talking about going to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to help me apply for a commutation of sentence... Just you boy, I can see what's going on in your head at a glance. Don't waste your time, General Yin."

"What boy... This general has already reached his thirties, and you are only one year older than me, why are you pretending to be old-fashioned! I said commutation, of course it can be done!" Stuffed a big mouthful of meat, secretly angry.

"General Yin... I want to ask you something."

Hearing Zhong Ling's serious tone, Yin Cisheng suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.

"No."

"I haven't said yet..."

"I said no, but no!"

Seeing Yin Cisheng turn around to avoid him, Zhong Ling shouted eagerly.

"Ci Sheng! I want to see Yang Xiao!"

Yin Cisheng was taken aback.

"Yang Xiao? Why?"

"I want to apologize to her personally while I still have the chance."

"...Just an apology?"

"Just an apology."

Yin Cisheng thought for a while and got up neatly, but when he walked to the door, he hesitated, and it took a long time before he turned his back to Zhong Ling and spoke.

"I will bring Yang Xiao here for you. After that... I still have something to tell you." After speaking, he left the prison of Tiance Mansion without looking back.

Looking at Yin Cisheng's firm back, Zhong Ling moved the corner of his mouth slightly but didn't say much.

Between confidantes, why talk too much.

Tiance Mansion, Haishi.

Yin Cisheng came to Qin's house on horseback, and saw Yang Xiao who was carefully applying medicine for Lin Lie in the room.

Since Lin Lie carried Yang Xiao back to the Flying Cavalry and fell unconscious, and Yang Xiao immediately fell unconscious after releasing the carrier pigeons, Yun Ze and his team decided to send them back to Qin's house overnight.And when Lin Lie woke up, it was already more than half a month later.

"Brother Yin, why are you here?" Yang Xiao noticed him first, and quickly got up to salute.

"Why are you being so polite, Xiao'er? I came here to see how you and Lin Shaoxia are recovering." Yin Cisheng nodded slightly to Lin Lie who was still leaning on the bed and drinking medicine, then turned to Yang Xiao and said softly, "Xiao'er, Zhong Ling wants to see you. I have already made an agreement with the jailer in the mansion that someone will guide you when you go there now."

"Brother? Why did he want to see Yang Xiao?" Lin Lie on the side was a little at a loss.The matter has been over for more than a month. He wanted to visit Zhong Ling before, but he was stopped by the soldiers in the mansion.Suddenly news came that Zhong Ling wanted to see Yang Xiao instead of himself... He really didn't understand what his elder brother was thinking.

Since when did Wushuang's life-and-death partner who had a tacit understanding, even couldn't see through each other's thoughts.

"Of course he has his reasons, and I have no right to interfere." Yin Cisheng glanced at Lin Lie, turned around and said coldly, "And you, let alone have the right."

The cold words pierced Lin Lie's heart like an arrow, and the words he wanted to say were choked in his throat for a moment, and he could only watch Yin Cisheng's back gradually go away.

Yang Xiao stood there, silent for a long time before picking up his clothes and running behind the screen to change.Tang Men's dark blue clothes are more imperceptible at night, the mask on the face and the short knife around the waist, accompanied by the moonlight flowing from the window, look sharper - such a serious killer appearance, can't help but let Lin Lie's heart ache. Health vigilance.

"Xiaoyao... Tonight, I don't want your hands to be stained with blood."

Yang Xiao's footsteps stopped, his eyes became dim.

"Yeah, I don't want to either."

After watching Yang Xiao leave with a frown, Lin Lie collapsed on the bed.No one told him about the trial of the case, Yunzeyu hesitated, and Yang Xiao and the Yin family brothers and sisters never mentioned it. They wanted to dig something from Tangmen's news network, but they couldn't even deliver the news.He rubbed the center of his eyebrows vigorously, but the wrinkles on the surface were only stretched out, but the worry and helplessness deep in his heart could not be stretched out no matter what.

"So you know how to worry."

Suddenly a familiar voice came from the door, Lin Lie stood up and looked at the person with a polite smile.

"General Yin has been blowing the cold wind on the roof for so long, what's the matter?"

Regardless of the still wet dew hanging on his body, Yin Cisheng strode in and sat unceremoniously opposite Lin Lie.

"I know you're not reconciled, so I'm here to answer your doubts. As for the reason...it's very simple." Facing Lin Lie whose eyes instantly brightened, Yin Cisheng spoke seriously.

"After all, I am also... unwilling."

Yang Xiao grew up in Tiance Mansion, where there is her favorite Qingzhao Ranch, the majestic Lingyan Pavilion, and the training ground where she sweats.She has been left in every place, but this is the first time she has come to this underground prison hidden in the mountains.

There is no essential difference between this place and Tangmen's darkroom - the surrounding environment is just as damp and dark, and the prisoners in the prison are just as painful and wailing.A young recruit led the way. He walked in front and held a lantern for Yang Xiao, telling her to pay attention to the time.

"I'm here, you can talk if you have something to say." When the recruit opened the door and left, Yang Xiao looked at the back of the meditating man and felt emotional.Zhong Ling in front of him was wearing a prison uniform and his hair was loose, but his waist was straight when he was meditating.

Hearing this, Zhong Ling slowly opened his eyes, got up and walked to Yang Xiao, seeing her defensive face, he couldn't help laughing.

"Miss Yang, what I want to say next is from the bottom of my heart. I'm terrified when you put on such a face."

"Don't waste time."

"That's good." Zhong Ling raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile, "Miss Yang, I want to know what kind of fate the imperial court has given me after I handed over all kinds of evidence?"

"...Qiuhou Wenzhan." Yang Xiao answered honestly.

"Well, I guess so." Zhong Ling was not surprised, but Yang Xiao was a little surprised to see him accept the news peacefully, so he could only quietly wait for his next words.

"Then when will you get married?"

Seeing that Yang Xiao's indifferent face turned red all of a sudden, Zhong Ling covered his stomach and let out a wanton laugh, before continuing to speak after a while.

"Miss Yang, Ah Lie was brought up by me. I was only ten years old at the time, and I found him abandoned in the forest when I was playing with my brothers at the foot of the mountain." Zhong Ling folded his arms and leaned against the wall. , with a warm smile in his eyes, "Although I was brought back to Tangmen as an orphan by Master, there is at least a piece of jade with a name beside him. I don’t know. Master was in Qingxiu at that time, so he was too lazy to care about this, so he entrusted me with the task of leading him..."

"Because I picked him up in the forest, so the surname is 'Lin'. Because I want him to be my brother, so the name is 'Lie'. Haha, I didn't know what this word meant at that time, I only knew it was the same as my first name. I took it if it looked like it. I later learned that a person's name is related to fate, alas, I was so reckless when I was young..."

"He is good at everything, but cooking makes people unbearable to look at. You must not let him harm the food in the future. At that time, he poked my pot several times. I don't know what happened to the pot in my previous life What is the hatred of bowls and pans..."

Zhong Ling was like an old woman, talking endlessly about the past, but the brilliance in his eyes was something Yang Xiao had never seen on his face—from the first time he saw him, Yang Xiao felt Although the man always had a smile on his lips, his eyes were stagnant and lifeless.Unlike now, every time he talks about a memory, it seems that his soul also returns to the past.

"Haha, when we went to the river again, Ah Lie..."

"Why did you leave them?"

The brilliance in the eyes disappeared in an instant.

Yang Xiao finally understood—it was not betrayal, but leaving.

"Because I want to take revenge on the Xia family..."

"I want to hear the truth."

The lie was ruthlessly interrupted by Yang Xiao, and Zhong Ling shook his head.

"What's the difference between telling the truth and telling lies? Could it be that if I tell the truth, will you forgive me who took the life of your loved one?"

Seeing that Yang Xiao was silent, Zhong Ling walked towards him step by step, looking into her deep pool-like eyes, with a serious tone.

"I hate myself for killing loyal officials indiscriminately, and even more for being at the mercy of others. But Yang Xiao, I have never regretted it, and I will never apologize to you."

Zhong Ling looked at Yang Xiao who was full of anger without fear.

"Because I also have people who must be protected, even if my hands are bloody... even if there is no redemption."

"You did such a great job, does Lin Lie know?"

"He won't know." Zhong Ling turned his head away, "All of this is my own choice. Ever since I stepped into Mohua's right gate, I have predicted today's ending. Whether it is eradicating the Xia family's influence, or helping You brought down Mo Hua because of your own selfishness. So..."

Zhong Ling's eyes fell on Yang Xiao's face again.

"Yang Xiao, I, Zhong Ling, have already become filthy from inside to outside. This last time, I didn't see Ah Lie, I didn't see Ci Sheng, but I saw you alone... Do you know what I want?"

Yang Xiao looked at Zhong Ling silently, as smart as she had understood the reason why he defected to Mohua from Zhong Ling's words.She hated Zhong Ling, but she couldn't help but be grateful for his life.

"Tang Sect disciples carry deadly guns with them all the time in order to keep their mission secret." Yang Xiao lowered his eyes and sighed softly.

"You came to me... just begging for death."

Zhong Ling couldn't help clapping his hands when he heard that, he let out a long sigh of relief and said with a smile: "My sister-in-law is really smart, it seems that Ah Lie has a good eye."

It was rare for Yang Xiao not to care about his rudeness. He raised his hand to take off his mask, and slowly took out a small wax-sealed pill from the hidden weapon pouch at his waist and handed it to him.Zhong Ling watched her hesitant action with a smile, but did not make a sound.

"Finally... is there anything else you want me to bring?"

Zhong Ling blinked, and seemed to be thinking hard.He tried hard to recall, wanting to see what scenery in this cruel world was worth looking forward to in his heart.

Unfortunately he failed.

The forest by the river where Lin Lie was picked up; the panda toy given to Qingling;

He will never have a future again.

"I hope Miss Yang can treat Ah Lie kindly after I leave, and guide him to the journey, and don't follow in my footsteps. And..." Zhong Ling took out a small box, handed it to Yang Xiao and said with some reluctance, " I hope Miss Yang will help me hand over this thing to Ci Sheng."

While Yang Xiao took it carefully, the corridor reminded of the voice of the young soldier leading the way. It seemed that when the time came, he was going to escort Yang Xiao away.

He bid farewell peacefully, and she left peacefully.

But the moment the door was closed, Yang Xiao suddenly turned around and grabbed the railing, and spoke loudly.

"Zhong Ling! I won't forgive you, but I won't hate you either." Zhong Ling was a little surprised when he heard this, and then he heard her staring at him and spoke slowly.

"Just look forward to the next life... you and I will never have to... set foot in the rivers and lakes."

When Lin Lie and Yin Cisheng galloped to the outside of the prison, they happened to see Yang Xiao who was looking at the entrance of the prison slumped on the ground not far away.As soon as Yin Cisheng saw Yang Xiao like this, he immediately rushed into the prison regardless of the guards' obstruction, but Lin Lie came to Yang Xiao and knelt down.But Yang Xiao just stared straight at the door without responding.

"My big brother he..."

"Lie, I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

Yang Xiao held his head up this time and couldn't hold back the tears from his eyes. After hearing Yin Cisheng's story, Lin Lie immediately understood why Zhong Ling called Yang Xiao over.

Yang Xiao didn't want to kill Zhong Ling for himself, but if Zhong Ling came this far to protect himself and Qing Ling, then Yang Xiao, who had similar emotions to him, would definitely give him a chance.

A chance to kill myself.

Lin Lie knew that if it was Yang Xiao, she would choose the same path as Zhong Ling.That's why he dragged Yin Cisheng here without stopping, but he didn't expect that it was a step too late after all.

"Xiaoyao, don't cry, it's not your fault..."

Lin Lie hugged Yang Xiao in his arms, let his head rest on his shoulder and cried heart-rendingly.He could vaguely hear Yin Cisheng yelling Zhong Ling's name, and he hugged Yang Xiao even tighter out of fear.

"Lie... go back! Tang Sect... take me back to Tang Sect!" Yang Xiao's crying made Lin Lie's heart ache, and he hugged Yang Xiao tightly without leaving any gaps.

"Yang Xiao...will you regret it..."

Yang Xiao shook his head vigorously, and all the silver earrings fell to the ground.

"No! Never again..."

Lin Lie didn't want to see Yang Xiao's crying face, nor did he want Yang Xiao to see his tears streaming down his face.He still maintained the posture of hugging, and whispered in Yang Xiao's ear.

"Xiaoyao... I'll take you home."

For the departed, when it is all over, neither the past nor the future will have meaning.While the living have to bear the pain of loss, they still enjoy the choice.

Every road in life may be the end.But compared with the unshakable obsession in my heart, maybe those so-called endings... are all the way back.

☆, end

? Tianbao five years.Ching Ming.

Kunlun Mountain is not like Luoyang, the eastern capital, which is already overflowing with the fragrance of flowers. There is no rain during the Qingming Festival here, and there are no geese and birdsong.The only thing that comes into view is the snow that has not yet melted and the slightly desolate dead branches and leaves.

Facing the gusts of cold wind blowing from the mountain road, Yin Cisheng gritted his teeth from the cold, and wrapped his thick woolen cloak tighter.

"Damn it, it's not easy to see you once, I'm almost freezing to death! If I do it again... I will definitely bury you nearby!"

Cursing and climbing for a long time, he finally reached the top of the mountain.The tombstone under the pine tree was covered with snow, and Yin Cisheng threw off the snow with his cloak very roughly and sat in front of the tombstone.

"I don't know what's wrong with Kunlun Mountain this year. It's still snowing during the Qingming Festival. Fortunately, the general has strong internal energy, otherwise you wouldn't be able to drink this warm wine."

The bitter cold wind made him shiver, and the hand that poured the wine couldn't help shaking.

"Because of you, I was demoted to lieutenant general by my superiors. Now you can laugh at me unscrupulously there. Tsk, but good generals like me are rare after all, and I think I will be reinstated in a few days. Hehe, old man Zhu is not willing to let me idle."

"The kid from the Qin family is also planning to marry Miss Lan at the end of the year. Next month, I will accompany him and Mr. Qin to Qixiufang to propose marriage. Haha, this brat is so much younger than me, and he moves quite fast. It seems that Miss Lan The charm of Bilie Mountain is still greater! Oh yes, Pei Yan and Ye Junyue are going to wait for Yunze to get married in our mansion before leaving... Oh yes, your sister Qingling is also here. Alas, now we The house is very busy, and they make a mess every day, I don't know if my parents will beat us brother and sister when they come back from Yunyou."

Yin Cisheng raised his glass and spilled the wine in front of the tomb, and took out a small box from his bosom.The box is made of mahogany, the style is very simple, and there are no complicated patterns.He gently opened the box, took out two pieces of engraved rubies and a piece of slightly yellowed letter paper, and laughed at himself.

"Old Ling, I know you don't want to hear this... Lin Lie and Yang Xiao... no, it's Yi Yao... After you left, she refused everyone's persuasion and decided to return to Tang Sect with your junior brother. Heh, Speaking of which, I haven't told Lin Lie that your tomb is in Kunlun, so I guess he can only worship in front of your tablet in Tangjiabao at this moment." Yin Cisheng stroked the letter paper gently with his thumb, Smile with relief.

"But I plan to tell him in a few days. After all, I won't be able to visit you next year. Next month, the troops will go to the war near Dashi together... I can't let you not even have someone to give sacrifices to. , don’t starve our brothers hahaha!”

Yin Cisheng sat in the cold wind for two hours, talking to the tombstone all by himself, sometimes laughing and sometimes sighing.Fortunately, no one passed by the top of the mountain, otherwise he must have felt that this person was seriously ill.

"Old Ling, I accept this letter, but this jade is not acceptable. You once said that this jade is your only keepsake, and you refused to give it no matter what I asked for back then. Now that you are gone, I can't afford it." Yin Cisheng got up, buried the two pieces of jade behind the tombstone, then carefully covered them with soil and patted them.

"So today, I'll give it back to you, along with my piece, so that you don't have to worry about it and forget about my brother."

There was a smile on his lips, but his eyes staring at the tombstone still showed sadness and loneliness.Yin Cisheng seemed to be looking at people through the tombstone, unwilling to look away for a long time.Just like in a dream, the old man, dressed in black clothes, waved goodbye to him.The scar on his face became no longer ferocious—Yin Cisheng knew that he had obtained self-salvation, and exchanged his own death for a relief.

The yellowed letter paper fell to the ground and was soaked with snow, but the writing on it was still clear... It was a sincere expectation, and a promise that would never be fulfilled.

"I hope that you will cherish yourself and go to Kunlun in the next life."

The author has something to say:

It's over! !Sprinkle flowers! !After more than a year of serialization, I finally finished this 15-word novel!Now looking back at what I wrote earlier, I really feel that there are too many places to be revised... If possible, I want to publish a book after finishing it [23333 Dreams are always beautiful! 】In short, thank you for your support for more than a year, love you! !The next one is tentatively titled "Same Destination by Different Routes" to continue the story behind, but the next one won't be so HE 23333 [but I don't think it will be particularly cruel! 】When will the article be published... I guess I will have to wait, after all, I am so busy with the paper now that I will never love it anymore...

at last!Thanks again for your support!Thanks for being here! 【bow】