Chapter 67 Zhaohua's babbling idioms were incoherent...
He rambled on and on, spouting nonsense, saying whatever came to mind. One moment he said, "The peach blossoms are so beautiful, how about we name them Honghong?" and the next he said, "Honghong doesn't sound good, it seems like a lot of people are named Honghong, how about we name you Dashu (Big Tree) instead?"
The peach tree shook its head silently, its leaves rustling softly.
Linglong and the peach tree looked worried and anxious. When they heard that someone was breaking off a branch, they rushed out to fight them.
She kept saying things like "awful," "pass," and "what the hell..." Finally, after Linglong's shocking "Honghong," she sighed with emotion, "It's really scary to be uncultured."
The chirping of kingfishers sounded like the babbling of a spring. Sometimes, the birds, trapped in the tree trunks, would get tired of listening and even feel sleepy amidst the rustling of the trees.
Shi Wenzhe had always shared the same feelings with the peach tree. This was the first time in three thousand years that she actually wanted to sleep. It was also the first time she felt that a passionate heart was beating in this dull old tree trunk. From the moment she met Linglong, the joy and delight were so intense that they almost overwhelmed her.
Finally, a third person in this world, besides Linglong and the peach tree, learned about this earth-shattering yet seemingly ordinary relationship.
She suddenly felt that everything was wonderful, so wonderful that she even wanted to go back to this moment, to stay in the beginning forever, until the end of time.
That day, I said I wanted to name the peach tree, but in the end, I didn't succeed.
Birds yearn for the world, for freedom and carefree existence, but when they are tired, they long for a big tree that can shelter them from the wind and rain, a place where they can sleep peacefully.
The tree and the bird remained silent, offering no words of companionship. Yet, day after day, the kingfisher, yearning for freedom and boundless horizons, did not fly away. Instead, it settled in Peach Blossom Valley. Linglong built a nest a third of the way up the tree trunk. Shi Wenzhe noticed that with his skills, he probably wouldn't find a wife. The nest was shabby and would fall apart in the wind. He wondered how Linglong had grown up. The peach tree worried about him several times. Shi Wenzhe, feeling his heart pounding with excitement, also began to worry about Linglong.
She stared at the precarious bird's nest again, barely daring to breathe. Linglong even mocked the peach tree for being overly worried, but the next second, a strong wind blew the nest away.
He seemed to feel he had lost face and couldn't lift his head in front of the peach tree.
Shi Wenzhe hesitated for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
The peach tree sighed, gathered its branches together, and built a huge, natural bird's nest for the dejected Linglong. The flowers and leaves on it were still there, fragrant and lush, far better than the withered branches and rotten leaves he had picked up. Shi Wenzhe stood there for a long time, too tired to speak. She missed her big bed terribly and wanted to lie down and sleep forever. At this moment, seeing the huge bird's nest, she couldn't help but feel jealous.
She thought bitterly, "The peach tree is so gentle, so incredibly gentle. I'm so jealous. How could Linglong, that idiot, have such good luck? She's just incredibly lucky!"
Linglong hugged the tree trunk and laughed for a long time. His joyful cries echoed through Peach Blossom Valley. His wings were short and small, like red beans inside a lychee compared to the thick and wide tree trunk. At first glance, you couldn't tell at all.
The whole kingfisher was stuck on with a thud, and it looked quite comical. Shi Wenzhe laughed loudly for a long time.
As time went by, they gradually became familiar with each other. Every night, Linglong would tell the peach tree in the bird's nest about his adventures and triumphs in the human world. Sometimes, when he was half asleep, he would even talk about how he was caught stealing chickens and dogs when he was a child (he stole the chicken nephew from his neighbor's second aunt's house to pick fruit and molested the dog's buttocks) and was locked up by the adults. Shi Wenzhe would listen with disgust, suspecting that he had eaten too many grapes in the valley during the day and was suffering from alcohol poisoning.
But Peach Tree always just smiled and sometimes even asked if it hurt when he got a spanking. Shi Wenzhe doubted his ears and said with a toothache, "Brother Tree, if you have children in the future, you will definitely spoil them into little devils."
Linglong laughed and said, "It doesn't hurt." She would even share with Tao Huashu how to steal chickens and dogs without getting locked up.
The stories he told were strange and novel, and even a young man living in the 21st century couldn't help but be captivated by them, let alone the peach tree where no one talked to him.
Five thousand sixty-six rains fell in Peach Blossom Valley, and finally, traces of human life appeared at the foot of the mountain. Houses were gradually built, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and the sounds of children playing and crowing filled the air. The sun rose and the moon set.
Linglong no longer goes out in his kingfisher form. He has grown into a cute and lively young man with almond-shaped eyes, a round face, and chubby cheeks. He looks about eleven or twelve years old and wears a gaudy outfit. He runs wild in the valley like a bandit king.
However, sometimes he would be curious about the world down the mountain and would go to the villagers' homes to tease their chickens, dogs, ducks, and geese. Sometimes, if he was lucky, he would meet kind people who would give him some freshly picked wild fruit because they thought he was cute.
At night, he tried to sleep in the tree in human form, but his attempt to show off failed miserably. He fell off the tree halfway through his sleep, his face covered with fallen leaves and peach blossoms. Shi Wenzhe felt a toothache, and she heard the peach tree chuckle softly.
Linglong heard it too, and laughed foolishly at him. His initial embarrassment and annoyance were completely forgotten. He stopped pretending and turned into a kingfisher again, curled up in the nest, listening to the rustling of the leaves. His ear feathers swayed with his breath, and the blue feathers shimmered softly in the moonlight.
It rained tonight, the rustling sound was very soothing. Linglong was unusually quiet today, as if he was troubled by something and didn't seem happy. Shi Wenzhe couldn't tell; she was just a ghost, perhaps a bound spirit, and in any case, she couldn't leave the peach tree or know anything about Linglong's ordeal.
Linglong chirped twice, opened his obsidian-like eyes, and looked intently at the peach tree, so excited that he was even a little shy. He said softly, "Peach Blossom, let me give you a name."
The peach tree was stunned for a moment, and Shi Wenzhe was also surprised. Many years had passed, and they had almost forgotten about this incident. They didn't know what had gotten into Linglong, who suddenly became interested in naming the tree.
But he was practically illiterate; the names he came up with were all unappealing, and he didn't even dare to listen to them this time. But Linglong puffed out her little chest, a fluffy little ball, like a robust free-range chicken, and recited a line of poetry: "The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful..."
Shi Wenzhe's mouth dropped open, and his eyes almost popped out.
I haven't seen Linglong for a day. Where did she go and get possessed? She can even recite poetry now. It's truly... terrifying.
The peach tree shook its leaves, and peach blossoms drifted down one by one, creating a magnificent rain of flowers that swept across the vast Peach Blossom Valley, covering the River of Wishes. The world, washed clean by the rain, was exceptionally bright, and even the patterns on the petals were clearly visible. The peach blossoms, drifting with the water, passed through every corner of the valley, as if every living being had witnessed this heart-stirring dialogue.
Shi Wenzhe's heart was pounding wildly, thinking that Linglong was finally going to be reliable this time and come up with a nice name. Although the phrase was also very common, it was better to be cultured than uncultured.
She waited expectantly, her eyes shining, and Linglong finally opened his mouth: "Today I flew to the human world, where there is a school where the students recite this poem. The teacher recites it once on the platform, and the students repeat it below. It is very catchy and pleasant to listen to."
He said shyly, "I think it must be about peach blossoms, thousands upon thousands of blossoms blooming in full glory, their colors as vibrant as fire and the sun, just like you... I was thinking that your name should be as beautiful as this poem, Tao Yao? Tao Yao..." He read it several times, chewing it over and over in his mouth.
Shi Wenzhe stammered, swallowed hard, and sighed inwardly, "What use does this illiterate man think he is? He's gone to school, why doesn't he listen to the teacher finish speaking? This poem isn't just about peach blossoms, it's also about love..."
She thought for a moment and said, "It doesn't seem like a bad idea to name someone after this poem!" "The name Taoyao is a thousand times better than Honghong."
But before she could finish muttering, Linglong continued, "The name Taoyao is very nice, but I think Zhaohua sounds better and suits you better."
"The character '昭' means bright and radiant. The character '华' means beautiful and dazzling."
His voice eventually lowered to a whisper, almost inaudible in the quiet night.
Linglong asked softly, slowly and carefully, "Do you like peach blossoms?"
Shi Wenzhe's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know why she was so excited, but she was very excited and even had a faint urge to shed tears for them.
She thought, "She had witnessed all the hardships and setbacks along the way. She could also piece together parts of Linglong and Zhaohua's story. Their meeting was beautiful and romantic, pure and sincere. They should have had a smooth and carefree life, and never be separated until death. But good people often suffer in life. Even two people who live in seclusion can be drawn into a vortex called suffering and war, and never achieve fulfillment in their lives..."
Imperfect? How could it be imperfect? How could their ending be so hasty and regrettable?
Heaven is unfair.
The rain stopped quickly that night, the clouds dispersed, and the moon emerged. Shi Wenzhe looked at that crescent moon and felt a pang of pain in his heart.
Shi Wenzhe thought bitterly, "Why isn't the moon full..." She opened her wet eyes and looked at the carefree tree and bird through the tree trunk, as if she were a mouse looking out through a sewer. She felt indignant and silently shed tears.
The peaceful years are a gift from heaven. Linglong grows taller day by day, with a slender figure, and can be called a dignified gentleman. His facial features are distinct, his almond eyes are upturned and become narrow, and he even has a sense of majesty and imposing presence.
He beat up all the great demons of Peach Blossom Valley and became the boss of the valley. The demons of Peach Blossom Valley were under his control and lived a leisurely life. They even showed signs of growing stronger. But war was also coming quietly.
This carefree and peaceful Peach Blossom Valley witnessed the cruelty of war and the greed and ruthlessness of human nature.
Shi Wenzhe hadn't seen Linglong for three months. Every single day, she could feel Zhaohua's worry and anxiety, which grew stronger day by day until she could no longer hide it.
Every night, Zhao Hua would shake the peach tree branches, and the rustling sound would echo through the valley, carrying far and wide. Occasionally, Linglong would send back a bird call or two, which would put Zhao Hua at ease for a moment. But if he didn't see her for a day, he couldn't stop worrying. Shi Wenzhe could even feel the spiritual energy flowing in the tree trunk at all times. He cultivated day and night, hoping to take human form as soon as possible and stay by Linglong's side.
This is exhausting. Even Shi Wenzhe, the otherworldly soul who has taken over the tree trunk, is so tired that he doesn't want to live anymore. How much more so for Zhao Hua, who is the original self? He is so anxious, he must have heard something from the roots.
The village at the foot of the valley was destroyed by people, so it shouldn't be considered a human.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
