Chapter 82 The Lost Person with No Directions
Mr. Shui Jing's residence was at the end of that maple forest. Apart from the desolate red maples, there was a lush green bamboo forest. It was truly a place where people lived deep in the bamboo forest.
After knocking on the door, a boy came to open it shortly afterward.
"Young Master Zhuge, Young Master Sima, Miss Pei, the master is waiting for you in the front hall." The boy who opened the door spoke very politely before we could even speak, and led us inside.
Following the boy through the door, they saw Sima Hui sitting in the front hall, enjoying tea.
"The student has come to pay respects to the teacher." Zhuge Kongming, holding a feather fan, bowed and greeted him. Zhao'er quickly followed suit and returned the greeting.
Sima Hui stroked his goatee, smiled and nodded. When he saw the feather fan, a knowing smile appeared in his eyes. He turned his head to look at me.
I grinned. In front of this old man, I felt completely exposed, as if he could see through everything, which made me very uncomfortable.
After talking for a while, Sima Hui began to teach. I sat there with my chin propped up for a long time, somewhat absent-minded.
"Kongming," Sima Hui suddenly spoke, putting down the book in his hand.
"The student is here," Zhuge Kongming hurriedly stood up and replied.
"Why don't you accompany Miss Pei for a stroll in the courtyard?" Sima Hui said, a smile in his eyes.
I stood up with a sheepish smile, thinking to myself that this old man had a sharp eye; he could tell in just a short while that I had no interest in studying.
Together with Kongming, they resigned from Sima Hui's position, leaving Xiao Zhao alone to attend the lecture.
Among the bamboo grove, on the bamboo leaves, the morning dew glistens brightly. I stretched lazily, took a deep breath, and felt incredibly comfortable.
After a while, there was still no movement behind me, so I couldn't help but turn around. I saw Kongming gently waving his feather fan, looking at me with a smile in his eyes. He was like a warm spring breeze, making me feel warm and radiant.
“This is a really nice place,” I chuckled, unable to help but sigh.
"Hmm." Kongming nodded and smiled.
"I meant Xiangyang." Seeing his gentle expression, I added.
"Hmm." Kongming nodded again.
"You..." I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What is your wish?"
"The country is at peace, and the people are happy." He raised his head slightly, gazing at the glistening dewdrops among the bamboo grove, and murmured.
The country is at peace, and the people are happy...
What a beautiful wish! And what price must be paid to realize such a wish?
Gazing at the refined man before me, I was momentarily lost in thought. He was Zhuge Liang, the most renowned strategist in history.
Walk slowly forward, stroll through the bamboo forest, listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo, and hear the birds singing in the forest.
"Aren't you curious about who I am and where I came from?" After leaving the bamboo forest, I couldn't help but jump a few steps forward, walk up to him, turn around, and walk backward while looking at him, stepping on the fallen petals on the ground.
Ever since I met him at that little tavern, Zhao'er and I hitched a ride in his carriage to Xiangyang. Naturally, we got a free meal and lodging, met his teacher, Mr. Shui Jing, and then Zhao'er became Mr. Shui Jing's disciple. I then brazenly stayed at his house. Actually, thinking about it carefully, I never told him where I came from. In fact, he only knew that my name was Pei Xiao. To him, I was still a complete stranger.
"From where I came from." He smiled, his face enigmatic.
"Trying to sound profound again," I said with a sneer. "I have a friend who's just as smart as you, and he likes to be mysterious."
"Oh?" he smiled.
"Yes, I call him a fortune teller, he's incredibly insightful," I thought of Guo Jia with his glasses and couldn't help but grin. "When you meet him, you'll know I wasn't exaggerating."
"Is he in poor health?" Zhuge Liang asked, his words always surprising.
"How did you know?" I stared at him in surprise.
"Your eyes tell me."
I stared at him, speechless for a long time.
"He, for a woman, he's worn himself out to the point of being half-dead. He's a real half-immortal." I said, turning around and crumpling a bamboo leaf.
"If emotions could be controlled, they would not be called emotions." Her clear, bright eyes held a wisdom that saw through the ways of the world, and carried a gentle compassion.
"You seem to have a keen eye, as if you've been through countless battles," I grinned, teasingly.
"It's just theoretical talk," Kongming said with a slight smile. "If I had actually fought countless battles, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to say it so easily."
I chuckled awkwardly, my stomach unexpectedly starting to rumble.
Sure enough, I got hungry easily. I rubbed my stomach and cried out, only to see Kongming looking at me with a smile, one hand reaching into his sleeve.
I looked at him, my eyes shining, my face full of anticipation.
Sure enough, he lived up to his name as Doraemon, pulling a small roll of sesame cakes from his sleeve and handing it to me.
I gratefully reached out and took it, my mouth full of crumbs.
"Slow down." He reached out and patted my back. "Don't choke."
As I was talking, I suddenly felt a lump in my throat, my eyes rolled back, and I choked.
silent……
"There's a clear spring ahead, I'll go fetch some water." He turned and walked away quickly.
I hurriedly reached out to grab him, but he had already walked far away. I could only stand there staring blankly, praying that he would come back soon, because you know, he is a terrible navigator.
With a choked feeling, I swallowed the sesame seed cake that was stuck in my throat, found a large rock to sit on, and waited for him to come back.
The sun slowly moved overhead. If I waited for him to come back with water, I'd probably choke to death. The longer I waited, the more uneasy I became. I got anxious, stood up, and slowly searched in the direction he had left. That hopeless navigator must have gotten lost again.
"Kongming! Kongming..."
I put my hands to my mouth and shouted, my neck stiff. The maple forest was enormous; I walked around it several times but couldn't find him. The sun slowly sank in the west, and the magnificent sunset bathed the fiery maple forest in a golden glow, making it even more dazzling.
My steps quickened, and all around me was deathly silent, with only the sound of the wind.
"Kongming...Kongming!"
"Kongming..."
The only echo in the maple forest is my own voice, as if I were talking to myself.
"Kongming, where are you! Answer me!"
Without careful footing, I tripped over a branch exposed above the soil and fell straight forward.
My first instinct was to protect the baby in my belly, clutching my stomach tightly with both hands, and then I turned sideways and cut straight out, minimizing the impact on my abdomen.
With a hiss, my robe was ripped open, and my left leg throbbed with pain. I gritted my teeth, turned to my side, and fell to the ground, unable to get up for a long time.
Cold sweat poured down my forehead. I grimaced and leaned against the branch for a long time before finally managing to stand up shakily. When I reached down to touch it, my left leg was covered in blood.
I gasped for breath, then limped to my feet and looked around.
"Kongming!" My shout grew louder despite the pain in my leg.
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