Chapter 98 Springtime Scenery of Yizhou, Along the Green Stone Creek
On the 26th day of the second month of the 17th year of Tianchen, it was early morning spring rain on the official road of Yizhou.
They had been traveling for almost two months without realizing it. They had been rushing as fast as they could, traveling day and night, hoping to enter the territory of Yizhou in the spring.
It was nearly the third month of the lunar calendar, and it was already mid-spring. Wildflowers and green grass grew along the official road in Yizhou, and ancient trees stretched to the horizon, all covered in green.
It just so happens that a light spring rain fell today, the raindrops as soft as cotton, soothing the vibrant earth, and blending with the hazy twilight over the distant fields, making one marvel at the beauty of spring in nature.
"Why,"
The scholar watched the rain through the window and felt that the spring scenery was so beautiful that even the rain seemed to be sunny. Looking into the distance, the misty rain made him feel excited and he thought about going for a spring outing.
"Of all the places I've traveled to, besides the bustling capital of Shengjing, what I love most is the spring rain in Yizhou."
He opened his fan and waved it gently. His green robes were like bamboo, yet he was also handsome, giving people a sense of refined elegance.
"Like a poem, like mist, the fields are fragrant with mud, and when you look up you see the clear and refreshing sky, endless greenery, and the horizon where heaven and earth meet. This is the spring of Yizhou."
Zhang Xuan, however, didn't have the same leisure and refined tastes. The young man was helping Lin Fanxiang carry a winnowing basket by the medicine cabinet. Last night, Lin Fanxiang had been stargazing and said that it would rain this morning, but then the weather would clear up. Taking this opportunity, she planned to pick out some medicinal herbs to dry in the sun.
While watching Lin Fanxiang select medicinal herbs, Zhang Xuan asked Qin Tianshu, "Brother, are we almost at Yizhou City?"
The southwestern Yizhou is a place where many different ethnic groups gather. There is only one main city, Yizhou City, and below it are the rural settlements of the human race, especially in the southwestern Yundi, where there are Wa, Na, Xi, Miao and other ethnic groups. They often live scattered but adjacent to each other. The further west you go, the fewer people there are, and the terrain becomes steeper, with high mountains, lakes, forests and rivers.
Yizhou is the place in the Nine Provinces where natural scenery and original landforms are most prominent.
The Miao ethnic group's Qianshan Miao Village is located there. It is a place for Gu practitioners, whose Gu techniques are exquisite and extremely strange. Other cultivators rarely go there. Beyond the cloud land is Qishan, the land of the demon race.
"More or less,"
After Qin Tianshu finished his sigh, he closed his fan. The scholar then went to the bookshelf and took out a book with a map tucked inside. As he flipped through it, he said, "I estimate it will take another day or two to reach Yizhou City. No rush."
Wen Chuan sat at the table by the long couch, with Cai Cai curled up in a ball at his feet, making "coo coo coo" sounds. Wen Chuan ignored it and just picked up a book to read.
"Ring ring—"
As the wind chimes rang, Qingyu, sitting in the driver's seat, simply opened the car door wide, letting the rain drift by outside and the air feel fresh.
A moist and refreshing scent wafted over, and Cai Cai shook her little head, making a few happy "cooing" sounds. Finally, she took two steps to a spot some distance from the table—concentrated, aimed, and flew!
Wings flapping!
The chick flew steadily onto the table, and Wen Chuan remained calm, casually stroking its feathers.
Cai Cai: "Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle."
Qingyu smiled as she watched this scene, and then addressed the crowd.
"I know a shortcut that can get us to Yizhou City tomorrow. Shall we take it?"
Hearing her say that, Zhang Xuan called out from beside the medicine cabinet, "Is it a muddy road? It's raining right now."
"It's about the same, but it's easy to walk, and there's a stream with willow trees, and the green stones and wildflowers along the stream are very beautiful. People from Yizhou often walk there; it's a place for spring outings."
"It's raining this morning, so there shouldn't be anyone there. By the time we get there, the rain should have stopped. Do you want to go?"
Spring outing, willow trees, streams, blue stones, wildflowers—
Everyone: "Go!"
Upon hearing this, Qingyu smiled. The girl whipped her horse, and a light spring rain fell. The sunlight shone on everything, and the smoke disappeared, leaving only the golden fields.
...
Qingshi Creek, on the outskirts of Yizhou.
In the distance, there are endless fields and houses, with mountain shadows and birdsong. The gentle afternoon sunlight drapes them in a hazy and alluring golden-green hue.
I happened upon a spot where clear, babbling water gently caressed the green stones along the bank. Occasionally, a breeze would stir, causing the willow branches to sway lightly, their green leaves drooping straight down. The vibrant green exuded the essence of spring, and the fragrance of the earth spread freely with the rushing water.
This is Qingshi Creek, the most beloved place for the people of Yizhou City in spring.
The carriage stopped to the side, and Qingyu was the first to jump off. The girl strode forward, brushing against wildflowers and stepping over the spring mud, opening her arms to embrace spring. She took a deep breath, twirled around, and laughed happily, her skirt seemingly tinged with the beautiful spring atmosphere.
"We've arrived! Qing Shi Creek!"
"Wow,"
As soon as Zhang Xuan stepped out, he was enveloped by the long-lost feeling of spring. The fresh, damp air after the rain instantly made him feel refreshed.
The young man got off the carriage and reached out to help Lin Fanxiang. He smiled and said, "I didn't feel anything before, but now I realize how wonderful spring is."
Lin Fanxiang gently brushed her skirt aside, gazing at the sky. The cool and aloof girl smiled, "Yes, it's spring."
Cai Cai: "Coo coo coo! Coo coo coo!"
Qin Tianshu held Cai Cai in his arms, gently pressing her down. The scholar smiled and said, "Cai Cai, Cai Cai, do you also want to come down for a spring outing?"
Cai Cai: "Coo coo coo!"
"Put it down, we'll rest here tonight anyway."
Wen Chuan walked up to Qing Yu and asked with a soft laugh, "Are you happy to be back in Yizhou?"
"certainly,"
Qingyu closed her eyes, standing under the willow tree, feeling the spring breeze. "It's been so long since I've been back..."
She left the mountains at the age of ten, left Yizhou at the age of twelve, went to Danzhou at the age of fourteen, and is now seventeen. Thinking about it, she hasn't seen the four seasons of Qishan for six or seven years.
"I'm going to have a good time this time I'm back!"
Qingyu opened her eyes, and the girl sighed before happily saying that she looked at Wen Chuan and smiled, then ran over to Fan Xiang and the others, either chatting or carrying things.
It's not evening yet, so they can rest here while enjoying the scenery. If all else fails, they can sit on the ground and have a picnic.
...
The sound of the zither is like spring water, ethereal and otherworldly, gently touching people's hearts, quietly and melodiously pouring out to fill the air.
Under the willow tree, Lin Fanxiang, dressed in light white robes and white jade gauze, exuded a gentle tenderness amidst her cool demeanor. Especially now, as her fingertips danced and she leaned to the side, playing a tune that evoked the feeling of spring, the swaying green willows sounded like celestial music of spring.
Suddenly, the sounds of gleaming blades joined in, the notes flashing with a chilling light. As sleeves billowed, a young man brandished his sword, the flowing water adding a touch of coldness to the spring air.
Zhang Xuan drew his sword and danced with it, the two swords working together. As he turned and spun, the slow stones moved and the fast water flowed, the blue stones touched the water. With his sleeves fluttering, the young man was like the wind, and his eyes flashed with cold light like stars.
At that very moment, as the blade touched the water, the scholar opened his fan.
Qin Tianshu swayed gently in the breeze, while the beautiful scholar leaned against a tree or rock, her phoenix eyes full of interest. Suddenly, she looked up at the sky, her ink fan concealing a smile as she pretended to be asleep, contemplating spring. From afar, she appeared as a refined scholar, her demeanor elegant and graceful.
"Cai Cai! Stop jumping!"
Unfortunately, after a short while, he quietly instructed the excited little yellow chick beside him to behave itself and watch the sword dance and listen to the zither music. But the chick was too excited to watch Xiao Zhang's sword dance, which left the scholar feeling helpless.
Cai Cai: "Coo coo coo!"
Qin Tianshu: "You! Don't you dare get my clothes dirty, Cai Cai!"
Wen Chuan sat not far away, with a book called "Please Let the Wind Read" on the table. The gentle young man smiled slightly when he saw it. He was very lazy when he wasn't doing anything, and he was like that at the moment.
In the gentle spring light, the young man looked languid, his well-defined hands lightly supporting his forehead, his eyes still holding a faint weariness. Yet, before he could close his eyes, a pair of soft hands wrapped around his shoulders from behind, causing him to smile instantly.
Qingyu chuckled softly in his ear, leaning on his shoulder, her voice not seductive, but simply curious, "What are you reading?"
"It's just springtime."
As he spoke, a gust of wind suddenly arose, and the book turned a page. It seemed that he was indeed enjoying the spring with his friends, reading in the spring breeze, and listening to the zither among the willow leaves.
Qingyu smiled. The young girl was dressed in a graceful Yang Guifei dress. Her eyebrows and eyes were charming and her face was beautiful. She held her hair up with a peach blossom jade hairpin, and her black hair fell down. It seemed that for a moment, it touched the young man's wrist.
Wen Chuan gently pursed his lips, and the girl remained oblivious to the subtle touch, simply smiling happily.
"I love spring the most."
She was a flower fairy. In spring, when all the flowers bloom, no one could sense the vibrant life and colors of this land better than her. With the warm sunlight shining down, she felt extremely comfortable.
Are you sleepy?
Wen Chuan asked with a smile, and the young man tilted his head slightly to look at her. Qing Yu shook her head.
"I'm not sleepy, I'm just happy."
As she spoke, she suddenly stood up, lifted her skirt, and sat down next to Fan Xiang to listen to her play the zither. As soon as the piece ended, the girl's laughter carried on the wind.
The water rippled, the wind blew and leaves fell. Zhang Xuan stopped his blade with a backhand motion. A cold light flashed like the moon. The young man, dressed in black, exuded a chilling aura even in his silence. Just as the blade was sheathed, the young man stepped onto the stone.
The scholar in blue robes leaned against a tree or rock, fanning himself with a fan. Sensing Zhang Xuan's presence, he suddenly looked at him. Qin Tianshu closed his fan and chuckled leisurely.
"Little Zhang has grown taller."
Zhang Xuan glanced at him, and the boy chuckled, raising his chin as he said, "Always very tall."
Upon hearing this, Qingyu looked at Zhang Xuan carefully and smiled, "Yes, I remember last summer, Xiao Zhang was... just a little bit shorter than Wen Chuan."
"But it's almost done now!"
Zhang Xuan frowned, clearly not feeling that he had ever been short. Wen Chuan smiled at him, and the young man said gently, "I wasn't as tall as you when I was sixteen."
Zhang Xuan was indeed well-built. He wielded his knife every day and ate a lot. By the age of sixteen, he had the physique of a young man, with a tall and straight figure, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. After more than half a year, he grew even taller without anyone noticing, and was now about the same height as Wen Chuan and Qin Tianshu.
Upon hearing Wen Chuan's words, Zhang Xuan perked up again. The young man smiled, then suddenly raised his chin.
"Seventeen years old, I'm already seventeen."
He'll be a year older after the New Year; he's seventeen now!
Lin Fanxiang stroked the zither strings. The girl looked up at her words, her lips curving into a calm and gentle smile. "Not yet... but soon."
Zhang Xuan was born in the summer, and his birthday is still a few months away.
Qingyu smiled and asked, "Quickly calculate where Xiao Zhang will celebrate his birthday this year."
She and Wen Chuan both had their birthdays within the "month" guided by the divine deer, as did Qin Tianshu. Strangely enough, the scholar insisted he was also born on the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring), the same year, month, and day as Wen Chuan, only the exact time was unknown—
The scholar was certain that he must have been born first.
Wen Chuan: "..."
So, after all the calculations, it turns out to be Zhang Xuan's birthday in the height of summer and Fan Xiang's birthday in early autumn.
"In the height of summer, in June, Qingzhou?"
The scholar calculated for a moment, and Qingyu sighed upon hearing this. The young girl smiled regretfully.
"I thought we were staying in Qishan..."
"It's alright! In a couple of days I'll... take you to see the great demon?"
Zhang Xuan: "..."
"Haha, just kidding,"
Qingyu stood up, dusted off her skirt, and walked to Qin Tianshu's side to pick up Cai Cai. The girl smiled and said, "There are many demons in Qishan. You will definitely have to fight a lot of demons when you go in."
"It's a lot of fun."
Based on their current cultivation levels, lesser demons definitely wouldn't dare approach them; those were powerful demons. Qingyu thought about it and became excited—
It's been a long time since we've had a fight.
Qin Tianshu glanced at the rather excited Qingyu and smiled, "You should also calm down, it's still early."
Qingyu gave him an "Oh!" The girl picked up the vegetables, casually picked up a handful of willow buds, and tapped the chicks' heads, laughing as she did so.
"Cai Cai, you'd better stick close to us in Yizhou, or who knows where the tigers, foxes, or wolves will come from—whoosh—and eat you up in one bite!"
Cai Cai: "Coo coo coo! Coo coo coo! Coo coo coo!"
Scaring the chicks! Scaring the chicks! Save the chicken! Save the chicken!
It seemed genuinely frightened, its wings flapping wildly. Qingyu laughed heartily, while Wen Chuan, not far away, watched her with a smile. The young man gently beckoned, and the girl in pink led the squeaking chick toward him.
Perfect timing! There's plenty of soil here. Let Cai Cai roll around in it a few times for a soil bath, then take a bath in the stream water. She'll be clean, smooth, and soft—just like our Cai Cai!
...
Zhang Xuan: "I'm not going to wash the vegetables later! They're naughty; they splashed water all over me last time."
Qingyu: "That's because you let it get wet!"
The girl watched as Cai Cai spread her wings and took a mud bath at her feet, and replied with a smile that sounded annoyed at Zhang Xuan's words, "We've all helped Cai Cai bathe, but you're the one who made Cai Cai crow!"
At this moment, Zhang Xuan sheathed his sword and was whispering with Qin Tianshu. The scholar laughed when he heard this, "Listen to him saying that, every time has little Zhang ended up washing the vegetables while watching?"
Zhang Xuan and Cai Cai are inseparable; they play together all the time.
Wen Chuan: "That's true. He and Cai Cai argue every day and fight every three days."
Qingyu laughed, "That's right—oh Cai Cai, you're splashing around like that, you're getting dust all over me!"
Cai Cai: "Gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle—"
"Cai Cai! You naughty little chick!"
"Coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo!"
Under the willow tree, Lin Fanxiang smiled gently and said, "I recently developed some cleansing powder for Cai Cai's bath. I'll have Ah Xuan come over later, and Cai Cai will definitely be very clean."
Avoiding Cai Cai's "crazy dirt-playing," Qing Yu, sitting next to Wen Chuan, nodded and smiled, "Great, great—Xiao Zhang helped Cai Cai take a bath, and apart from being noisy, he cleaned Cai Cai the best!"
Zhang Xuan: "..."
He snorted softly, as stubborn as ever, but hearing the laughter in everyone's voices, the boy couldn't help but smile and ran to the willow tree to talk to Lin Fanxiang.
Zhang Xuan just loves to stick close to Lin Fanxiang and talk to her all the time. Besides, Cai Cai is having a great time playing in the dirt right now, so there's no rush.
In the gentle spring sunshine, a scholar in blue robes opens his fan, half-covering his face, and looks up at the sky as if dozing, a faint smile playing on his lips, listening to his friend and the roosters crowing.
The wind is picking up.
Slowly, spring breeze arrives.
-----------------------
Author's note: In the setting, Yizhou is just one large city, with many mountains, forests, fields and towns. After passing Yizhou City, you will reach Yundi (in the setting, it is a place where ethnic minorities live, with many cultivators and also ordinary people who do not know how to cultivate. In detail, Yundi is just a general term. It is a very large area with mountains and rivers).
Beyond the Cloud Land lies Qishan, the territory of the demon race. Qishan is also a general term, actually encompassing plains and green hills, lush fields and seas of flowers, lakes and ancient trees, deep mountains and forests, dark forests and secluded pools...
Therefore, Yizhou City + Yundi + Qishan + Unknown Mountains and Forests + Scattered Small Towns = Yizhou.
(This can be understood as Yizhou actually being larger than Youzhou, with an independent Qingcang Plateau situated between Liangzhou and Yizhou. However, since Qishan occupies half of Yizhou, the human territory appears smaller, so in the eyes of the human race, Yizhou is not as large as Youzhou, which is not true.)
And then there's the matter of height, which I've always forgotten to mention.
Qingyu is 1.78 meters tall, and Fanxiang is 1.77 meters tall. Fanxiang is a bit thinner, while Qingyu is muscular, with great abs.
(Both female characters are very well-proportioned and beautiful, with rosy complexions and good health. Fan Xiang loves health preservation and tranquility, while Qing Yu practices cultivation.)
Wen Chuan and Qin Tianshu are both 1.97 meters tall, while Zhang Xuan was 1.93 meters tall before and is now about 1.96 meters tall.
(His physique and abilities are both top-notch.)
They are all very tall. Everyone in this story is very tall. The basic height for female cultivators is 1.7 meters, and for male cultivators it is 1.85 meters. Wen Chuan's sword is 1.6 meters tall, and Zhang Xuan's knife is also 1.6 meters tall.
(This is just a hypothetical scenario, nothing more. People who eat well and train well should be tall, and if they're short, the fight scenes I envision won't look good.)
Summary: Everyone stand up, hahaha [sprinkling flowers][sprinkling flowers].
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