A Deep and Unwavering Affection, Part Three (Newly Revised)
When Jia Dongye arrived at "Leishan", Liu Mengde was already standing in the cave. As soon as Jia Dongye entered the cave, the first thing he saw was Liu Mengde's protruding belly.
Judging from his appearance, Liu Mengde is undoubtedly an elderly man. His eyes have long, pointed corners, and his face is covered in wrinkles that firmly envelop his features. His physique, however, is more like that of an overworked middle-aged man—a physique that would be difficult for a middle-aged person to accept. But if this description is directed at an elderly person, it's hard to say whether it's a compliment or a barbed judgment.
In short, Liu Mengde's large belly was quite eye-catching, and in this respect, the statue in Ping'an Temple did indeed capture some of his spirit. Every time, Jia Dongye couldn't help but look at his belly first, then his chest, and finally his equally aged face.
Liu Mengde stood before the wide stone wall in the cave, in front of Wang Zimei's corpse. Blood, like an ink painting of a withered tree, was imprinted on the gray-white floor of the cave.
Jia Dongye glanced at Wang Zimei, who was pinned to the wall by six longswords—the spot where the "Black Wind Sword" had originally been. "Brother, you've arrived," Jia Dongye said solemnly.
"Fourth brother." Liu Mengde turned around and exchanged a glance with Jia Dongye, and said, "I noticed yesterday that the Peach Blossom Spring Spirit Gathering Array was no longer operating, so I came over."
As they spoke, the two looked up at the sky. There, a blue sphere crackling with electricity had appeared. That was Wang Zimei's true energy, which had begun to rapidly condense within this natural "spirit-gathering cauldron."
"It seems things have returned to normal today." Liu Mengde's face was grim. "It looks like the person who was suppressing the formation has escaped and left Peach Blossom Spring."
"Big brother, fourth brother!" A loud voice echoed in the cave entrance; it was Wang Wenfang. He leaned against the stone cave doorpost, staring incredulously at Wang Zimei, who was hanging on the wall like an object.
Wang Zimei has very dark skin. Standing at the cave entrance against the light, she appeared especially dark, almost like a silhouette.
"I noticed that my second brother's mark had disappeared, so I rushed over." Wang Wenfang seemed somewhat dejected, lamenting to himself, "I didn't expect to be too late. I should have come to check sooner."
"It's not your fault," Liu Mengde comforted him. "Second brother always needs to break the mark of Xuanyuan when he breaks through the barrier, and it's been especially frequent these past few months."
“It’s my fault as the eldest brother.” Liu Mengde sighed, then asked Jia Dongye, who was examining Wang Zimei’s body, “Back then, you had the most dealings with various sects, so you might be able to tell which sect’s methods it was.”
Jia Dongye examined the depth of several swords and then looked around. "Brother, these people are probably after the 'Black Wind Sword.'" He hesitated for a moment, then said, "There's something I'm not sure if I should say."
Wang Zimei's last wisp of true energy also drifted upwards, merging into the now enormous sphere.
Everyone's gaze followed the movement of the inner energy, bidding farewell to their old friend on his final journey.
Liu Mengde lingered, reluctant to look away from the sphere. He stared sadly at the last proof of Wang Zimei's existence in the world and replied to Jia Dongye, "Speak freely."
“I see that these six swords are embedded in the stone wall to the same depth, and Second Brother also has the same kind of sword wound.” Jia Dongye paused and said, “Looking at the entire martial arts world, there is only one sect that knows about the ‘Heart-wrenching Sword’ and has so many disciples with outstanding abilities and comparable swordsmanship.”
“You mean Misty Rain Pavilion?” Wang Wenfang immediately understood Jia Dongye’s meaning. “Misty Rain Pavilion has always been at odds with the Palace of Eternal Life, and our Peach Blossom Spring has never interfered in their disputes.”
"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." Liu Mengde closed his eyes.
Wang Wenfang had also examined the longsword that killed Prince Zimei. He said bitterly, "These six swords are of different weights, but the force of their slashing and piercing is consistent. It was indeed a group of six people who killed him, and they were all from the same school."
"We rise and fall together," Liu Mengde said. "It's time to go out."
“But what about Miss?” Wang Wenfang said with some concern.
Liu Mengde snorted coldly and said, "Even if she were here today, I would still go out. No one can stop me."
“I am willing to follow my elder brother and slaughter all the members of the Misty Rain Pavilion,” Jia Dongye said.
Wang Wenfang looked at the two of them and said, "The younger brother is also willing to follow the elder brother and avenge the second brother."
Before the words were finished, the three of them heard a howling wind overhead. The huge sphere in the sky that carried Prince Mei's true energy suddenly split off a stream and flew towards the entrance of Peach Blossom Spring.
"Oh no!" Wang Wenfang exclaimed in alarm. "Someone is absorbing the true energy left behind by my second brother."
Liu Mengde's face flushed red instantly, and he lifted his leg to rush towards the entrance.
"Big Brother!" Jia Dongye grabbed Liu Mengde's wrist and shook his head, saying, "At this rate of consumption, it's too late to get there now."
Liu Mengde's eyes were bloodshot. He stared intently at Jia Dongye without saying a word.
"Big brother!" Jia Dongye raised his voice again and said, "We can't let her steal second brother's cultivation."
Seeing that Liu Mengde had stopped, Jia Dongye lowered his voice, and a tear fell onto the ground of the cave, its mark standing out starkly against the gray and dark red intertwined surface. He said sorrowfully, "Absorb my second brother's cultivation; I can't let her take any more."
A strong wind descended from the sky, filling the robes of the three men.
Liu Mengde and Wang Wenfang closed their eyes tightly, clenched their fists with veins bulging, and bright red blood flowed from their palms.
The bright red and dark red colors blend together on the gray-white ground.
*
The plum blossoms along the riverbank drifted down in the wind. They were pink, but unlike the vibrant pink of peach blossoms, the pink of plum blossoms was more understated, almost a pale white.
Chen Changji watched as the delicate petals enveloped Pei Jiangxi. The petals spun in the wind and fell obliquely.
The pale white and Pei Jiangxi's black hair overlapped in their line of sight. Chen Changji didn't know how to describe that black; looking at it, he felt it would never end. Delicate, light petals fluttered and danced in this blackness, the striking color contrast making the outline of each petal exceptionally clear.
"If a petal like that fell on my face, would I still be able to see it so clearly?" Chen Changji couldn't help but wonder.
In Wenqu City, peach and plum trees are naturally plentiful. They bloom around the same time, one with vibrant and bright colors, the other with elegant and simple colors, complementing each other beautifully.
Pei Jiangxi suddenly ran out, escaping from the pink and white rain of petals. The petals were momentarily disoriented, scattering wildly in the air.
"Changji, look!" Pei Jiangxi ran to the riverbank and ducked into the drooping branches of a willow tree. Holding onto the trunk of the willow tree, she leaned out and peered into the river.
Pei Jiangxi turned around and said with delight, "There are so many copper coins in the river."
The water flowed very slowly, and many copper coins remained on the riverbed, their copper color becoming the background color of the riverbed.
“This is the Wishing River.” Chen Changji walked to Pei Jiangxi’s side with his hands behind his back.
Chen Changji nudged Pei Jiangxi, gesturing for her to look across the river. There, several young women of marriageable age were devoutly making wishes with their hands clasped together.
With a few more splashes, several more copper coins were added to the riverbed.
"You can come here to pray for success in the imperial examinations, marriage, or business."
"Is there a river god here too?" Pei Jiangxi blurted out before she could think, "The kind that asks you if you want a golden axe or a silver axe."
"A golden axe?" Chen Changji was a little confused.
Pei Jiangxi then realized that she had let something slip.
“It’s like you dropped a wooden axe in there. He’ll ask you if you dropped a gold axe or a silver axe,” Pei Jiangxi explained. “If you lie, he’ll confiscate your axe. If you’re honest, he’ll give you everything.”
“That’s an interesting story.” Chen Changji stroked his chin and nodded seriously. “Can I add this to my storybook?”
“Let’s not,” Pei Jiangxi made a face and said, “I don’t want you to become like me. You have to create something of your own.”
"What a pity," Chen Changji sighed. "But there's no river god like that here."
Do you make wishes like this at home?
“I will come too,” Chen Changji replied, “but not like them.”
After saying that, Chen Changji grabbed Pei Jiangxi's wrist and said, "Come with me."
Chen Changji parted the weeping willows like a curtain being drawn back. Pei Jiangxi followed behind him; Chen Changji was much taller than her, so even without bending over, the willow branches and the wind didn't bother her. The two walked along the river for a while longer.
“This is the ‘Changji Bridge’,” Chen Changji said.
"Did you pay for the construction yourself?" Pei Jiangxi asked, looking at the somewhat dilapidated bridge.
Chen Changji laughed heartily and said, "This bridge is older than me. It's because my name is similar to it."
Chen Changji plucked two willow leaves and led her to the middle of the small bridge. Chen Changji said, "I come here every time there is a crucial moment in my life."
"Use a leaf?" Pei Jiangxi held up a leaf and asked, "But won't it just float away like that?"
“My mother’s childhood name was Yezi (Leaf),” Chen Changji said. “My mother passed away when I was very young. My wet nurse told me that this river is also a river of longing. No matter where you are, longing can reach you.”
“That must be it,” Pei Jiangxi said. “Otherwise, why would you be able to make a wish? It must be because your thoughts and ideas can be conveyed to any place.”
“Right?” Chen Changji said excitedly, his eyes shining. “I think so too.”
Chen Changji took a deep breath and said, "Every time I hesitate, I come here to ask, 'Mother, Mother, what do you think of me doing this? What do you think of me doing that?'"
"Will your aunt answer immediately?" Pei Jiangxi asked.
“If the leaves flow to the left, then Mother says it’s okay,” Chen Changji replied. “If they flow to the right, then it’s not okay.”
“I also have something troubling me. Can I ask your aunt?” Pei Jiangxi said.
Chen Changji looked into Pei Jiangxi's eyes, said nothing, and simply nodded.
Pei Jiangxi took a leaf from his hand, and sincerely clasped the slender, emerald-green willow leaf between her palms, saying, "Auntie, Auntie. Please listen to my troubles."
Pei Jiangxi closed her eyes, and after a while, she released her hands. The willow leaves flipped and fell into the river, drifting slowly forward with the current, swaying gently, until they finally floated to the left bank.
“It’s the left side.” Pei Jiangxi grabbed Chen Changji’s arm and said happily, “It’s the left side.”
"Very good."
"Why don't you talk to your aunt too?" Pei Jiangxi said.
A gust of wind swept across the entire Changji Bridge, carrying plum blossoms with it. Pei Jiangxi's long hair rippled like waves, and a flawless petal pierced through her black hair, landing just below the corner of her eye.
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