071.Waterway
If you want to go to Dingzhou by water, you must first go to Chaoyuan City in Yuzhou, enter Ningshui via the Xihu Wharf, and then go directly to the Cangjun Mountains without entering the city.
But the journey by water would take seven or eight days, and small boats were dangerous in places with fast-flowing waters, so one could only take a passenger boat on the muddy water that would take half a month to make a round trip. The passenger boat was very large, not as exquisite and luxurious as a pleasure boat, but it was sturdy. There were pavilions on the boat, and Qingling occupied the upper room, which was cramped and simple, not as good as the inn in the small city of Gujin.
There were many people on the deck. Some were dressed like scholars but in noble clothes, and seemed to be traveling. Some were simply dressed and carrying bags, and it was unknown whether they were going out to make a living or to visit relatives. Merchants traveling between Dingzhou and Yuzhou gathered together, and they all seemed to be acquaintances. There was also a group of literati who were reciting poems and composing couplets facing the lake.
But the weather was humid and hot, and the sweat could not be wiped away even with a towel, so the so-called character was halved.
There is an elegant pavilion on the second floor, with no doors or windows, and a table and chairs placed against the railing. A young man sitting against the railing is dressed in blue with his hair tied up. He looks refreshing and fair, but his face is pale and listless, with his brows tightly furrowed.
Qing Ling had never seen rivers, lakes or the sea, and naturally had never been on a boat. He had been traveling for such a long time without catching a cold, but once he got on the boat, he was like overcooked noodles, completely soft. In just one day and one night, he vomited everything he ate. Now he just frowned when he saw food and couldn't help vomiting.
Shang Changheng could do nothing but watch this and could only become a human-shaped ice cube to accompany him.
Miaoyuan didn't like such noise and hid in the house to recite scriptures. Zhu Lezhi was used to it and was playing finger-guessing games and drinking with the men from the Xihu Wharf. Only Qingling leaned on the second floor with his head drooped. Although the boat was still swaying with the waves, at least he could get some fresh air to relieve his dizzy and swollen head.
Qing Ling looked down and could still see Zhu Lezhi with one foot on the stool, drinking from his head tilted back.
"Don't take the boat directly into the mountains, Qingling." Shang Changheng sat beside him and said softly, "Go to Chaocheng to rest for a few days. You can't go into the mountains in this state."
The passenger ship will stop at the lower reaches of the Ningshui River. If you want to enter Cangjun Mountain, you have to change to a local boat and go upstream.
Qing Ling shook his head. "We have wasted too much time in Gujin City. Didn't you hear it when we boarded the boat? The flood season of Ningshui is about to arrive. It's not too late to go into the mountains now. At most, we can stay in the mountains for a month and go down the mountain after the flood season."
The Ningshui River originates from the East China Sea and has many tributaries. It flows through Cangjun Mountain, which is a very ancient mountain range. Many places deep in the mountains have never been visited by anyone. There is no detailed drawing of this mountain range on Zhu Lezhi's map, so this time to go to Cangjun Mountain, it is necessary to find a local who can walk the mountain road.
Time was running out and he had no time to rest.
Qing Ling pressed his upper abdomen. He was a little hungry, but the boat was full of fish, shrimps and crabs. Qing Ling really couldn't get used to eating these things. Even if they were cooked salty and spicy, they tasted fishy. In addition, the passenger ship was shaking, so he had no appetite at all.
Seeing that Shang Changheng still seemed to be full of disapproval, Qingling smiled weakly: "It's okay, just get off the boat. In the past, I always wanted to see mountains and rivers that I had never seen, but now I don't have any interest at all."
He didn't expect that he would be so uncomfortable. Whether it was the boat, the water or the food that relied on the water, the food actually looked pretty good, but Qingling just couldn't get used to it.
He often thought it was strange that it was hard to leave his hometown and that fallen leaves returned to their roots. At that time, he did not understand what a hometown was, let alone why people had to return to their roots after death.
Now he understood a little bit. Lately he always thought of the time when he was still at the foot of Zhanlong Mountain. Although he had no ambition to pass the imperial examination or make a lot of money, the young man had the so-called dream of the martial arts world. He walked through mountains and rivers with one step and one flower. But now that he has been to these places, he feels that it is nothing special. There are thousands of faces in this world, and each has their own thoughts. Looking at the various people on the deck, laughing, scolding, he feels annoyed.
How fake it is! Laughter is fake, crying is fake, only the pain in the hearts of all living beings is real.
Shang Changheng didn't say anything.
He knew why Qingling was not interested, because he was not out for fun.
If it was just for the sake of enjoying the beautiful scenery, even if he was not feeling well, Qingling would have the mind to look outside. But now Qingling was deeply troubled, perhaps he himself did not even know it, his sadness was so obvious when he lowered his brows.
Qing Ling said again: "It would be great if you could take me to the Cangjun Mountains in the blink of an eye, and then point to the ground and say, here, this is my grave, dig it."
“…I think so too.” Shang Changheng shook his head helplessly, “It’s not easy for a ghost to walk the path of the living.”
As long as they stay a little further away from Qingling, not only will their marriage bond prevent them from doing so, but the journey to the world of the living will also make the evil spirits suffer terribly. If it is at night when the yin is extremely strong, it would be better, but the world of the living during the day is like magma pouring on the body for the evil spirits, so the ghosts that stay and wander in the world of the living will eventually disappear into thin air, and no yin object can withstand the scorching heat of the yang fire.
And there is nothing in this world that can remain unchanged for forever. If becoming a ghost can mean existing forever, then what is the difference between that and immortality? Mountains and rivers will move, rivers will change their courses, and all living things will grow and decline.
Qing Ling certainly understood, so there was no need to respond. He held Shang Changheng's hand and whispered worriedly, "The Ghost Festival is coming in two days. I'm afraid we won't be able to get off the boat. I didn't see anything on the boat... But Changheng, I'm still a little worried."
The four words "keep your feet on the ground" still make sense. Now floating on the water, Qing Ling not only feels uncomfortable physically, but also feels uncertain in his heart.
Shang Changheng grasped the warm and soft hand with his backhand, held it in his palm, and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, I'm here, no one, human or ghost, can hurt you."
Qingling knew that he had the confidence to say this, but human fear is uncontrollable. Who doesn't want to be brave and fearless, but it is understandable that one will feel weak when the time comes.
Besides, his physique...
Qingling didn't want to recall.
Even Zhu Lezhi said that other people might never have seen these ferocious creatures in their entire lives.
"Come closer." Qingling said in a low voice.
Shang Changheng simply sat next to him. The two of them were close to each other. Qingling left the wooden railing and leaned on Shang Changheng. He felt dizzy and couldn't think too much. He said softly, "Hold me for a while."
Although she looked pitiful, Shang Changheng just felt distressed. He had no choice but to hug Qingling.
Qing Ling then said, "Tell me about the Great Zhou."
Shang Changheng pondered for a moment and said helplessly, "I was born at the wrong time. At that time, the Great Zhou Dynasty... really had nothing to show for it. But Master is very interesting. He likes playing with wood just like Senior Sister. The weapons that Senior Brother and I used to fight when we were young were all carved by him in his spare time. The axes, swords and halberds were all very beautiful. Master never married in his life. He only has Senior Sister as an adopted daughter."
As he spoke, his voice slowed down.
A thousand years ago, the Great Zhou was far inferior to the present Great Xia in terms of farming, food, clothing, housing and transportation. Wei Shanfu was born into a noble family, full of loyal and brave people, and it was originally a large family.
According to the seniority of the clan, Wei Shanfu was the fifth, with older brothers and sisters above him and younger brothers and sisters below him. But later, from the elders to the nephews and nieces, all 143 members of the family, both men and women, died in the battle with the Dongyi people. Wei Shanfu had no engagement when he was young and never thought about starting a family until he was old. He was the last heir of the Wei family, but he seemed to have already seen the end of the demise of the Great Zhou.
No matter how unwilling he was, there was nothing he could do. His dream of a prosperous and peaceful world was ultimately crushed to dust under the iron hooves of the Dongyi people.
The last Grand Marshal of the Zhou Dynasty, he devoted his whole life to the country and the people.
"After Master died, I thought that if there really were gods, they might be people like him." Shang Changheng said slowly, "What kind of god is a man-eating god? To sacrifice living people one by one, and to torture them into dishes one after another, to seek the so-called blessing of gods, this is really... too absurd. God should be someone like Master, who gave everything for the living, and gave his time and life to the people of Da Zhou. Such people are worthy of incense and worship, and their names are recorded in history, but... his name has not even been recorded in history."
Shang Changheng's life didn't seem to be a good one, Qingling thought. He had heard many stories about him from Yu Bo when he was young.
"Someone has erased that history." Qing Ling's voice was still very light, "But it doesn't matter, Chang Heng. You know, I know that heaven and earth have witnessed the loyalty and courage of the 145 members of the Wei family."
One hundred and forty-five mouths.
Qingling also counted Wei Shanfu and Wei Qingxia who died in the battle.
"And you, Zuo Baichuan, and Hou Su." Qing Ling raised his head. "To the world, what's the difference between a hundred years of life and the life of a mayfly? But the sun and the moon are eternal. They will remember the heroes who have devoted their efforts and lives to the world and the people, generation after generation. Even officials like Zhou Zizhong are the same. When future generations pass down stories about loyal ministers and generals, they will also have a share."
Shang Changheng was silent for a long time before he pinched Qingling's face and whispered, "You are so young, but you speak so maturely. You have read too many books recently. Read less in the future and have a good rest."
"It's all because of you." Qingling muttered, and shrank back into Shang Changheng's arms. Leaning against him and looking out, she could just see the rippling waves.
The golden sun sets in the west, and the afterglow makes the lake surface sparkle with gold. Where the sky and water meet is a vast expanse of rosy clouds.
The noise on the deck was the sound of everyday life. Qing Ling leaned on the shoulder of the man he was married to and whispered, "Shang Changheng, how could I fall in love with you... This is really ridiculous."
Shang Changheng suddenly froze.
This was the first time Qingling said "I like you" to him, which was indeed a ridiculous thing.
Shang Changheng never thought that he would care about Qingling so much, but due to fate, their fate was hasty and absurd.
"Who made you my wife?" Shang Changheng replied softly.
They looked towards the west together, which was their common destination.
When the night completely drowned out the last ray of light, Qingling fell asleep leaning on Shang Changheng's shoulder.
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