Wuwangyuan-1
Bu Jiu leaned against the couch, casually combing the soft hair at the tip of his tail with an ebony comb in his hand: "Did you fight with my tail last night? Look at this knot."
Ji Wangzheng, holding his breath as he finished the final stroke of the talisman, heard this and continued writing without stopping: "Innocent! I'm a good sleeper. Perhaps it was just restless..."
Before the words were even finished, the old copper wind chimes by the window suddenly started moving on their own without any wind.
Immediately afterwards, the wind chimes hanging throughout the main hall seemed to be connected by invisible threads, ringing out in a rapid, urgent tinkling that made one's heart race.
Ji Wang paused, pen in hand: "This is...?"
“Within ten miles, someone has used a tracking tool.” Bu Jiu put down the wooden comb, its snow-white tip twitching gently as it brushed against the edge of the bed.
Ji Wang had already put down his pen and stood up: "Is it Ling Gu?"
"It's pretty much a done deal." Bu Jiu got up and walked to the cabinet, took out a well-made bag, and placed it in front of Ji Wang. "Take a look and see if there's anything you need to bring. I'm going to say a few words to Huai Qing."
He spoke so casually, as if he were just going out for a spring outing. But when the bag landed on the table with a soft "thud," Ji Wang's heart skipped a beat.
"This time there's quite a commotion." Huaiqing was clearly also startled by the death knell and went to the door first.
He leaned against the doorframe, a half-dried herb leaf still between his fingers, a speck of cinnabar stained his blue robe sleeve: "Shall I keep watch here?"
Bu Jiu's gaze remained fixed on Ji Wang, who was hurriedly rolling up the talisman, but he spoke to Huai Qing: "Ten days is the limit. If there is still no news after ten days... you know where to look for us, or..." He paused, "take care of yourself and disappear completely."
Huai Qing nodded, her gaze also turning to Ji Wang, her brows furrowing slightly: "Are you really going to take him to Wuwang Plain? That place..."
"It is precisely because it is that place that we must go." Bu Jiu's tone was calm, but there was no room for negotiation.
Huaiqing paused for a moment, then waved his hand: "Alright. Let's get going quickly, or we might really have to open the door to welcome guests."
Ji hurriedly stuffed the last few important items into his bag and walked quickly to Bujiu's side.
As he passed Huaiqing, he paused, took out a talisman from his pocket, and shoved it into the other's hand without a word: "Senior... this is the best one I've drawn in the last few days. We must hurry back, and you must be careful."
Huaiqing lowered her head, the talisman in her palm still slightly warm, its lines faintly flowing in the light: "Thank you, Xiaobao, please be careful too."
"I can protect myself."
"I can protect him."
Two voices rang out almost simultaneously, one clear and bright, the other calm and still, yet both equally resolute.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Wang and Bu Jiu both looked at each other.
Huaiqing's gaze swept back and forth between the two, and the seriousness in his eyes suddenly dissipated, replaced by a soft laugh.
Bu Jiu said no more, turned around and grabbed Ji Wang's wrist: "Hold your breath."
Ji Wang held his breath, but before he could speak, he felt an irresistible force descend upon him from above, his vision blurred instantly, and all he could hear was the hollow sound of the wind.
But this feeling lasted only a moment.
The next moment, my body suddenly felt light, and I was standing on solid ground.
Ji Wang opened his eyes and found himself standing on the mountainside of an unfamiliar low peak. A slightly chilly mountain breeze swept over them, carrying the damp, fishy smell of grass and trees.
"I can't believe it..." Ji Wang raised his hand to touch his face, then moved his limbs and found that his breathing was steady, his meridians were clear, and not a single hair was out of place. "I'm perfectly fine?"
His eyes lit up as he looked at Bu Jiu: "Then can we just go all the way to Wuwang Plain like this?"
“I can.” Bu Jiu released his grip. “You’ll have to chase after me.”
He glanced at Ji Wang's slumped expression and smiled slightly: "You didn't throw up just now, which is an improvement. But only a little bit—listen carefully."
Ji Wang immediately held his breath and listened intently.
The mountain wind rustled through the forest, initially only the sound of branches and leaves rustling. Gradually, deep within the sound of the wind, there seemed to be a very crisp sound—like a bronze mirror cracking.
“It’s Huaiqing’s formation,” Bujiu explained. “What those things are attacking now are just illusions. The valley we just left, and the town at the foot of the mountain… will all be fine.”
He had already seen what Ji Wang was worried about: "There's no need to worry about him."
Bu Jiu didn't say anything more. His gaze swept over the surrounding terrain, and he chose the densest spot with the least visible path, and started walking.
Ji Wang glanced at the path ahead, which was almost completely swallowed up by vines and roots, then looked at his own two legs and couldn't help but mutter, "I'm going to walk on my legs? Aren't you going to teach me that move I was just using, or something like flying on a sword?"
The figure walking ahead stopped.
Bu Jiu turned around, remained silent for a moment, and then, as if he had made up his mind, uttered two words: "...Rely on me."
The moment he finished speaking, a soft white light emanated from Bu Jiu's body. The light was not dazzling, but it quickly enveloped his figure.
As the light faded, a snow-white fox, taller than a human, appeared in its place. Its bushy tail spread out like clouds, gleaming with a lustrous sheen in the warm light filtering through the trees.
It lowered its head slightly, silently took half a step forward with its front paws, and lowered its flexible body slightly, forming an arc that made it easier to climb.
Ji Wang was stunned for a moment: "Me... me climb up?"
Bu Jiu didn't make a sound, but merely twitched his pointed ears as a response.
Ji Wang tentatively reached out and grasped a strand of smooth, fluffy neck hair. It was soft to the touch and carried the unique, cool scent of Bu Jiu.
Using the fox's lowered forelegs as leverage, he clumsily climbed upwards. Bu Jiu cooperated by adjusting its posture, steadily supporting him, until Ji Wang finally straddled the front of its back, his entire body almost sinking into its thick, soft fur.
After settling in, Ji Wang belatedly remembered a question, leaned close to Bu Jiu's ear, and whispered, "If you're like this... can't you speak?"
Bu Jiu didn't turn around, but twitched his ears again.
Ji Wang understood. He hugged the warm body under his arms tightly, pressed his cheek against the smooth fur, and said in a muffled voice, "After this is over, I will definitely learn to control a sword."
Bu Jiu nodded, its tail gently circling around him, offering a subtle protection. Then, it exerted its strength with all four limbs and silently disappeared into the deep, ancient forest.
Only when the sun had completely set in the west, and the orange-red light was fragmented by the layers of ancient trees, did Bu Jiu slowly stop behind a giant rock.
Ji Wang slid off his back almost immediately. He had been carried steadily the whole way without taking a single step or even touching the hilt of the sword, which made him feel even more uneasy.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he hurriedly took out his water pouch and handed it to Bu Jiu, who had transformed into human form.
Bu Jiu took the bag and drank a small sip from the opening. He turned to look at the forest beyond the giant rock, which was gradually being swallowed by twilight, making it appear even more desolate and dark: "The entrance to Wuwang Plain is just ahead."
Ji Wang followed his gaze and saw that at the end of the forest, the terrain seemed to suddenly drop, connecting to a boundless wilderness.
The scent of grass and trees in the air seemed to have faded here, and a faint, indescribable astringent taste had crept in.
Ji Wang gazed at the increasingly ominous outline of the wasteland in the twilight, his throat dry: "Is it dangerous there?"
“It was dangerous and chaotic.” Bu Jiu’s voice was very soft. “But it is precisely because of this that the things he left behind have been preserved to this day.”
The thorn in Ji Wang's heart called "Yun Shen" was gently touched again, causing a subtle sourness. But he didn't ask any more questions, and just nodded firmly: "I'll listen to you."
As night fell completely, they found a shallow hole in a sheltered spot, just big enough for them to fit inside.
Bu Jiu laid down several almost invisible illusionary runes at the cave entrance, their light flashing and disappearing in an instant, disappearing into the texture of the rocks and moss.
He seemed still uneasy, and carefully checked the nodes of the rune's flow again to ensure there was no oversight. Only when the last glimmer of light stabilized did he breathe a sigh of relief and turn to look into the cave.
Ji Wang had already quickly cleared a small, flat area of ground and set up a few stones to serve as a makeshift stove.
He piled the dry, withered branches he had collected into a small clump, and with a tiny spark of spiritual fire condensing at his fingertips, he held his breath and concentrated, trying to ignite the thinnest branch.
The orange-red flames shot up with a "whoosh," licking at more dry branches. Soon, a small ball of fire leaped up, dispelling the chill and dampness that had accumulated deep in the cave.
"I won't hold it against you." Ji Wang looked up and called to him, the firelight illuminating half of his face. "It's all set, you're not cold anymore."
Bu Jiu stepped in, his clothes brushing against the slightly damp stone surface, making a soft rustling sound.
There was a relatively flat and clean stone surface on the other side of the cave, but he didn't even look at it. He walked straight to Ji Wang's side and sat down on the not-too-thick layer of dry fallen leaves, his movements as natural as if it were his duty.
Ji Wang was looking down, carefully turning the dough on the stone stove, and poking at the firewood with a twig to make the heat more even.
Bu Jiu didn't say anything, but just sat quietly to the side, his gaze falling on Ji Wang's fingers, which were slightly reddened by the firelight, watching him skillfully handle the simple cooking.
The edges of the pancakes gradually turned an enticing golden brown, and the aroma of wheat mixed with the smell of smoke filled the small space.
Ji Wang poked the dough with a twig, and when he felt it was almost done, he looked up and met Bu Jiu's quiet gaze.
"Hungry?" Ji Wang asked naturally, a hint of pride in his eyes, clearly quite satisfied with his cooking skills.
Before Bu Jiu could answer, he reached out and took the perfectly baked flatbread from the oven. It was so hot that he hissed, quickly tossed it between his hands, and then broke it in half without hesitation and handed it to Bu Jiu.
He took the remaining small piece, opened his mouth and took a bite. He gasped because it was hot, but squinted his eyes in satisfaction.
Bu Jiu held the edge of the pancake between his fingers, but didn't eat it immediately. He looked at the flickering firelight, then looked down at the simple, even somewhat coarse, food in his hand, and suddenly chuckled.
"It feels like it's been a long time since I've felt like this," he said softly, his voice unreadable, "like I'm running for my life."
These words were spoken in a calm, even somewhat self-deprecating tone.
Ji Wang slowed down his chewing, turned his head, and looked at Bu Jiu's face by the firelight.
Her delicate eyebrows and eyes appeared somewhat hazy in the swaying light and shadow, and the faint smile at the corners of her mouth was almost imperceptible.
Yes, we had to run for our lives.
From Xuanming Temple to the cave dwelling, and now to this temporary refuge in the desolate mountains, every step has been filled with danger and exhaustion.
But for some reason, when Bu Jiu spoke in such an almost casual tone, those heavy things seemed to be temporarily shut out by the warm firelight in this corner.
Ji Wang swallowed the food in his mouth, with a touch of youthful recklessness: "I won't run away anymore. Aren't I getting stronger? When I can protect you, we can go wherever we want."
Bu Jiu didn't speak, but just looked at Ji Wang for a long time, so long that Ji Wang almost thought his words were too childish and left him speechless, before he finally responded.
The fox tail that had been hanging quietly behind him had somehow quietly wrapped around him, and the tip of the tail gently touched the back of Ji Wang's hand, which was supporting him on the ground.
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