As wished
"Hey, don't be stupid. I'm asking you a question! Can you save him?" Ye Jing'an shouted at Xi Shou.
Xishu shook his head blankly.
"You can't save it. What else is this broken leaf worth protecting besides being pretty?" Ye Jing'an said angrily, "What a waste of time. Qiu is gone. What the hell is going on here? It's so frustrating!"
Ye Jingan took two steps and turned back to ask Xi Shou: "Hey, where can I find a red butterfly in this area?"
"Are you talking about Blood Ripple? I have one." Xishou blew a whistle, and a small group of red butterflies flew over from the crevice of the rock and landed on Xishou's arm.
Qiu Zimu was stunned. Seeing just one was good enough, but seeing a whole flock! He stared at the ghost butterflies, envy written all over his body.
"These are my spies. Once someone enters a forest, they will tell me." Xi Shou stretched out his fingers, guided two to Qiu Zimu and said, "You want them, right? I'll give you two to take back and raise."
"Really?" Qiu Zimu looked at the ghost butterfly that landed obediently on his hand, feeling very surprised. "You're just going to give it to me?"
"Yeah." Xi Shou smiled cheerfully, raised his hand slightly, and the ghost butterfly slowly flew to the edge of the blood pool.
"No wonder the host saw ghost butterflies in the video. Qiu Zimu and I also encountered them." Ye Jing'an raised his eyebrows slightly. "Brother Liu has been here before, so why didn't he see any ghost butterflies?"
"If you didn't come in, you could have changed the route at the waterfall," said Liu Muzhe.
Ye Jing'an always felt that the logic was not making sense, but it also sounded very reasonable. He did not pursue it further and asked Xi Shou: "You just wanted to kill us, why are you giving us gifts now?"
"If you don't steal the holy leaves, you are not enemies." Xi Shou said with a smile.
Qiu Zimu was too happy. He looked at the ghost butterfly chirping randomly, but he didn't dare to move his hands for fear of scaring it away.
"I have cut off contact with it. You are a Gu Master, right? If you raise it according to your method, it will obey your orders." said Xi Shou.
"Thank you!" Qiu Zimu started chatting with him and took out all his poisonous insects, asking him to pick one.
The people of Wuyan were skilled in poisons, raising numerous venomous insects, a practice somewhat similar to that of Gu Masters. Xi Shou was also very interested in raising venomous insects, and he and Qiu Zimu got along quite well, even teaching him some of his own unique Gu-raising techniques.
Ye Jingan leaned against the wall with a blank look in his eyes.
"Why are you unhappy?" Liu Muzhe asked.
"No, I'm just a little tired from fighting." Ye Jing'an said.
"You didn't even do anything just now." Liu Muzhe said with a faint smile, "You and I have no relationship at all, why would you be willing to risk your life to save someone I care about?"
Ye Jing'an frowned slightly. He didn't know why, but the blood was boiling at that time, and this idea suddenly popped up in his mind and he said it out loud.
"I just said it to scare that little monster, but Brother Liu took it seriously. It's a pity for my life!" Ye Jing'an said lightly, and immediately changed the subject, "Hey, you just said there are many things more important than this leaf. Do you have any better treasures to show me?"
"That's a lot." Liu Muzhe said with a smile.
"Just pick one out and let me see it!"
“No!”
"Don't worry, let me take a look."
After chatting for a while, Xi Shou led the group out through another exit and told them, "Please don't tell anyone about the sacred tree."
"Don't worry, I can help you set up a maze here." Liu Muzhe said.
"Okay, please." Xi Shou said, "If you need any help, you can come to me anytime."
"Do you have a cell phone?" Qiu Zimu asked.
"I have not entered the world." said Xishou.
Qiu Zimu's mouth drooped, regretting that he had lost a friend with whom he could exchange experiences in raising insects anytime and anywhere.
After the formation took shape, the group said goodbye and left the mine. By the time they reached the road, the sun had already set. The last train was approaching ticket check time, and it would be too late to rush over from this mountain retreat. Furthermore, there was no telling if the minibus to the train station would still be available.
Ye Jing'an suggested staying at Guoguo's house for one night. Just when he arrived, he saw that people in this area can pickle sour fish and sour meat, which is a local specialty, so he wanted to try it.
Liu Muze and Qiu Zimu thought it would be appropriate to stay overnight. Anyway, they had nothing to do recently and were not in a hurry to go back. Ye Jingan found the phone number that Guoguo's mother had given him and asked if he could come over and disturb her for a night.
Guoguo's mother was quite enthusiastic. She told them that no cars were coming in at that time and asked them to wait while she asked someone to pick them up. The three of them walked slowly in the direction Guoguo's mother had told them. Not long after, a tricycle drove towards them.
The driver of the tricycle was a middle-aged man. After looking at the group, he asked in dialect, "Are you the guests Guoguo's mother mentioned? Get in the car."
There was no seat at the back of the tricycle, and the handrails and platform were covered in half-dried mud. Ye Jingan and Qiu Zimu didn't mind, having been around mud since childhood. They stepped on the tricycle and sat down: "Let's take a ride, it's comfortable!"
Liu Muzhe wiped the armrest of the truck bed and sat on it.
"Brother Liu, you are sitting too high. You will fall down." Ye Jing'an said.
"No." Liu Muzhe had just finished speaking when the wheel on the side he was sitting on drove into a small pothole and suddenly bumped. Liu Muzhe didn't hold on tightly and fell backwards. Ye Jingan grabbed his hand and pulled him back.
"I told you I would fall, but you didn't believe me," said Ye Jing'an.
Liu Muze coughed a few times to hide his embarrassment, then sat back in his previous seat and said, "I didn't hold on tight enough just now."
"Don't sit there, it's really dangerous. Are you afraid of getting your pants dirty? Otherwise, sit on my lap." Ye Jing'an patted his thigh and said.
Qiu Zimu started to jeer and yell, "Ugh!"
"What the hell are you yelling about?!" Ye Jingan glared at him.
Qiu Zimu smiled and shook his head, continuing to look at the ghost butterfly and fungus gnat in his hand.
The road was littered with gravel that had rolled down from the cliffs, and the car was jolting violently. Liu Muze gripped the handlebars tightly with both hands, sitting on the side panel that was no wider than his fist. He wasn't as relaxed as usual, probably trying with all his strength to keep himself steady.
Ye Jing'an couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so he took out the backpack that was supporting his back and pulled it towards Liu Muzhe.
"I don't want to sit on your lap. I'll sit on the ground." Liu Muzhe pushed his hand away and sat on the muddy car without hesitation.
Ye Jingan was stunned, then said with a strange smile, "Brother Liu, what are you thinking? I was planning on letting you sit on my bag. I was joking when I said you wanted to sit on my lap. I wouldn't be happy if you wanted to sit on my lap."
Liu Muzhe hummed softly, lowered his head and twisted the mud in his hand.
Ye Jing'an stared at him for a long time, but Liu Muze never looked up. This was clearly not his style. Brother Liu would definitely notice someone staring at him, and then stare back or ask why they were staring at him. Moreover, Brother Liu liked to lean against the window to look at the scenery or close his eyes to rest when riding in a car.
Today, he is playing in the mud here with his head down. Something is wrong!
Ye Jing'an tilted his head and leaned over to take a look. Brother Liu's expression was a little aggrieved, probably because he was embarrassed by the misunderstanding. Ye Jing'an suppressed his smile and gathered a half-wet lump of mud from behind him and rolled it into a ball.
After a while, he put his head on Liu Muzhe's legs and handed him a rabbit made of mud.
"What is this?" Liu Muzhe asked.
"This is Brother Liu." Ye Jing'an said with a smile.
Qiu Zimu sighed, picked up a piece of mud, and sat with his back to them.
"Stop making trouble and get up quickly." Liu Muzhe put his hand on his shoulder and helped him up.
"What are you laughing at, Brother Liu?" Ye Jing'an asked.
"It's so ugly." Liu Muzhe looked at the rabbit made of clay in his hand.
"Hey, Brother Liu, how can you say that about yourself?" Ye Jing'an said.
Liu Muzhe chuckled twice, then lowered his head to play with the mud rabbit in his hand.
After a bumpy ride and countless turns, the car finally arrived at a village. Deep in the seemingly deserted mountains, there was actually such a large village.
Liu Muze sat up and patted the mud off his pants. There was a faint circle of mud that wouldn't come off, and it was particularly noticeable on his black pants. Perhaps his left leg had been numbed from sitting cross-legged earlier, so he walked a few steps with a slight limp. To maintain his appearance, Liu Muze forced himself to walk straight despite the numbness. Although he didn't seem to be limping, he did seem a little stiff.
Ye Jingan couldn't help but laugh. Brother Liu's clothes were always spotless no matter what he was doing, not even when fighting monsters. But now, the way he walked and his muddy pants made him look disheveled, as if he had just fled from a disaster.
Guoguo's mother was standing at the intersection waiting for them. When she saw them get off the bus, she smiled and waved to say hello.
"Sorry to bother you." Ye Jing'an said.
"Don't bother us. We often have leaders and intellectuals come here, saying they're conducting investigations and wandering around the mountains to record something. They stay in the village at night." Guoguo's mother pointed at Qiu Zimu's net and said, "Those intellectuals also carry nets like yours. During the day, they go out and catch a lot of insects. At night, they set up a white cloth frame and hang a lamp on the flat ground outside, and dense swarms of moths fly over."
"That's great. It's a pity that I didn't bring the light-luring equipment this time. I'll come next time." Qiu Zimu said.
"What's your last name?" Ye Jing'an asked.
"The last name is Jiang." said Guoguo's mother.
"Oh, Sister Jiang," Ye Jing'an said, "I heard that your sour fish and sour meat are delicious. We're a little hungry and want to have a meal. Where can we buy some?"
"We have pickled food at home. I'll cook it for you as soon as I get home," said Guoguo's mother.
"That's perfect. Can you cook a few more dishes? I'm starving these past two days." Ye Jing'an said with a smile, "I won't owe you any money."
"What are you talking about? Every time you intellectuals come to stay here, you give us extra money. It doesn't cost that much for food and accommodation. You are too polite." Guoguo's mother said.
Ye Jingan patted Qiu Zimu on the shoulder and said, "This intellectual has gained a lot. The precious butterfly is nothing compared to this little money, right?"
"Of course not, you can't buy this thing with money!" Qiu Zimu said.
"Is it okay for you to treat us to this meal?" Ye Jing'an asked.
"A little money!" Qiu Zimu said.
"What about the round-trip ticket?" Ye Jing'an asked again.
"I'll go!" Qiu Zimu said.
"That's great! Sister Jiang, if you have any delicious special dishes here, give me one portion of each. I'll pack up the leftovers." Ye Jing'an said with a smile.
Qiu Zimu: "..."
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