The true meaning of happiness

Ban Tianyue slowly opened the envelope and saw the words written on it: "On the 19th day of the midwinter month at noon, the decisive battle will take place at Fengyu Pavilion. Huangfu Renhe."

"So they were hiding in Fengyu Pavilion! Yes, that was Gumutian's territory. Huangfu Renhe abandoned the city and fled, and he would definitely seek refuge with Gumutian. I should have thought of this earlier. I was too careless." Bantianyue looked at the note in his hand and calculated the date. It was exactly three days later.

"Three days? Humph, I'm going to kill you today! Someone come here!" Gumutian roared.

"What orders does the city lord have?" the two guards saluted.

Ban Tianyue was about to give the order, but hesitated. "No, Fengyu Pavilion is Gu Mutian's territory. If that old man from the border is there, even if we launch a surprise attack, we might not be able to succeed."

Thinking of this, Ban Tianyue waved his hand at the guards and said, "Please leave first."

After the guards left, Bantianyue paced back and forth, thinking over and over again, trying to find the safest and most feasible solution.

"The remnants of the Shi family army are still there, plus the troops under Huangfu Renhe, as well as the Dragon Soul and Phoenix Blood Sword, plus Ouyang Feiying, Gu Mutian, and the old man from the border. If these people join forces, it will be really difficult to deal with them." Bantianyue thought.

But he immediately changed his mind. "Sima Changfeng is always emotional, so he's not to be feared. Huangfu Renhe's martial arts skills are low, and although Ouyang Feiying's son Ouyang Mingri is a strategist, his skills are far from posing a threat. Ouyang Feiying is now mad, and Gu Mutian and the old man from the border won't take action personally. So, I still have a chance of winning. If I strike first and catch them off guard... hehehe..."

Just as he felt proud for a moment, Ban Tianyue overturned the idea. "No, these people are very cunning. Bian Jiang and his apprentice Ouyang Mingri are both very good at calculating. Maybe they knew I would attack them and set a trap for me at night. If I go rashly, it would be a violation of the agreement, and it would be even more disadvantageous to negotiate with them. Fortunately, I thought it through and almost fell for their trick. These people are really too cunning."

Bantianyue thought about it and felt that he should not act rashly.

"I don't know what these people are up to. I must think carefully before I act. If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move either. I want to see what they can do to me! Humph, this city lord will let you live for three more days! After three days, I can sit firmly on my throne as city lord. This city lord must open his eyes and see what you are capable of! Hehehehehe..."

After thinking for a while, Yue fell asleep contentedly.

The night was as cold as water, but Leng Yue didn't want to rest. She just sat on the stone steps in a daze.

The night that night was so bright that it didn’t seem like late autumn, but rather like midsummer.

"Leng Yue, I love you."

"What did you say?"

"I said, I understand your heart, and I love you too."

Even though so many days have passed, Leng Yue still can't help blushing whenever she thinks of that moment. Mingri's eyes and words are like crystal clear crystals falling on a quiet lake, creating ripples that can't calm down for a long time.

This kind of feeling has always been something Leng Yue dared not to ask for, or even to think about. However, he still came, so naturally, yet caught her off guard.

Perhaps due to her profession, Leng Yue had always been reluctant to get involved in other people's grudges. But since arriving here, no matter how much she wanted to withdraw, deep down she felt a deep attachment and reluctance to leave. Initially, it was just admiration and admiration, but gradually it became a shared hatred, mutual support, and finally a tacit understanding.

Now, she had completely given up the idea of ​​withdrawing. Moreover, whenever she thought about leaving this place forever in seven years, no, in six and a half years, Leng Yue's heart was filled with the sadness of parting that could not be dispelled for a long time.

Six and a half years later, it would be their final farewell. What would he do, and what would she do then?

Leng Yue didn't have everything figured out. She was just a mortal with limited abilities. Furthermore, ever since Shi Qiuyan's appearance, Leng Yue had gradually come to realize that she wasn't as smart and calm as she'd imagined. She had her moments of bewilderment, even moments of uncontrollable rage. After so long of self-righteousness, she suddenly realized how powerless she was, and she was at a loss as to what to do.

"Xiao Yue'er," a kind voice came.

Leng Yue stood up and asked with a smile: "Master, haven't you rested yet?"

"Aren't you asleep yet?" the old man from the frontier said with a smile.

"I can't sleep, so I'm here to enjoy the moonlight," said Leng Yue.

"You, like tomorrow, are both sentimental," the old man from the frontier said, "but you don't realize that everything is predestined. Many things are beyond human control, but how you respond is up to you. Only by doing your best and following the flow can you enjoy the present moment and not let worries occupy your limited time."

Leng Yue carefully considered the words of the old man from the frontier, and it struck her as familiar. She pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized that this was exactly what she often advised others. Everyone understands the truth, but when it comes to oneself, the person involved is often confused.

Leng Yue smiled calmly: "Thank you for your teachings, Master. I understand."

Mingri and Nong Yue had agreed on the formation, and as they walked back, chatting and laughing, they found Leng Yue standing in the yard and couldn't help but ask, "Yue'er, why haven't you rested yet?"

Leng Yue smiled gently: "I miss you."

Nong Yue couldn't help laughing and patted Mingri's shoulder, saying, "Holding your hand, what else can I ask for? Haha..." After that, she left with a smile.

"Yue'er, are you worried about something?" Mingri asked.

Leng Yue smiled and shook her head, saying: "When I left, I saw that you looked melancholy, so..."

"I'm fine." Mingri said, "Go back and rest."

Leng Yue said nothing and gently hugged Mingri.

"Yue'er, what's wrong with you?" Mingri asked.

"Let me tell you a story." Leng Yue said.

"Okay." Mingri said.

"Once upon a time, a man asked his master what love is. The master told him to cross the rice fields and pick the largest and most golden ear of wheat. But he could only pick it once and could not look back. Then the man went. He walked in the fields and saw several particularly good ears of wheat, but he thought there might be better ones ahead, so he did not pick them. But when he continued walking, the wheat ears he saw were not as good as the ones he had seen before, so he returned empty-handed. The master told him that this is love." Leng Yue said.

"It's a very profound story," Mingri said. "What do you want to express?"

"The next day, the apprentice asked the master again, what is marriage? The master asked him to cross the woods and chop down the best tree. He could only chop it down once and could not look back. This time, he learned the lesson from the last time he picked wheat ears. Seeing that there was a good tree, he was afraid that if he didn't chop it down at this time, he would miss the opportunity to chop down the tree and return empty-handed like last time. Although the tree was not the best one he had encountered, he still chopped it down. The master told him that this is marriage." Leng Yue said.

"What happened next?" Mingri could tell that this story was not that simple.

"Later he asked the master what happiness is. The master asked him to cross the fields and pick the most beautiful flower. He still could not go back and could only pick once. After a long time, he came back with a relatively beautiful flower and said, 'When I crossed the fields, I saw this beautiful flower and picked it. I told myself to firmly believe that the flower in my hand is the most beautiful. Of course, I saw many beautiful flowers later, but I still insisted that mine was the most beautiful and no longer wavered. So now, I brought the most beautiful flower.' The master said, this is happiness." Leng Yue said.

This time Mingri didn't respond because he knew there was more to come.

"Later, the apprentice asked again, what is a romantic encounter? The master asked him to go to the woods again and pick the most beautiful flower. There were no rules this time, as long as he brought one back at the end. A few hours later, the apprentice brought back a colorful but withered flower. He said that he had been looking for it for a long time and felt that this was the most beautiful flower, but on the way back, the flower gradually withered. The master said, this is a romantic encounter." Leng Yue said.

"Although the romantic encounter was beautiful, it didn't last." Mingri said, "What happened next?"

"Finally, he asked his master what life really is. The master asked him to go to the woods again and pick the most beautiful flower. There were still no rules, just bring one back. So the apprentice went to the woods again, but this time, he didn't come back for three days and three nights. Do you know what happened to him?" Leng Yue asked.

"What's wrong with him?" Mingri asked.

"The master felt strange and went into the woods to look for him, only to discover that he had pitched a tent and settled down in the woods. The master asked, 'Haven't you found the most beautiful flower yet?' The apprentice pointed to a flower beside the tent and said, 'This is the most beautiful flower.' The master asked again, 'Why don't you take it out?' The apprentice replied, 'If I pick it, it will wither immediately; even if I don't pick it, it will wither sooner or later. So, I will stay by its side while it is still in full bloom, and appreciate its most beautiful appearance. When it withers, I will happily leave and look for the next one.' The master told him that this is the true meaning of life. Tomorrow, my story will be over, do you like it?" Leng Yue said.

Mingri pondered for a long time, stroked Lengyue's hair with a smile, and said, "I understand, don't worry."

After saying that, he took Leng Yue into his arms.

(This is actually a dialogue between Plato and Aristotle)

The morning sun is cool, neither warm nor bright, but it is particularly comfortable.

"Dragons roam the world!" "Phoenixes dance in the sky!"

"Love knows no boundaries!" "The greater self is invisible!"

Under the guidance of Gu Mutian and the old man from the frontier, Feng Yan's sword and the combined power of Sun and Moon's two swords have become a perfect match. The two old men stroked their beards and smiled with satisfaction.

"Okay! Let's take a break!" said Gumutian.

Yan'er wiped Changfeng's sweat, and Lengyue wiped Mingri's sweat. Looking at the loving disciples, Gu Mutian and the old man from the border winked at each other and smiled happily.

"The dragon soul and phoenix blood are extremely powerful, and the ruthless and selfless swordsmanship is also exquisite." Nong Yue said.

"Boy Lingfeng, how are your discussions on tomorrow's formation going?" asked the old man from the border.

"Everything is under control. In my sister's words, we have it figured out." Nong Yue said with a smile, "Sister, Shi Qiuyan is awake."