Chapter 70: Meeting in the Mountains and Rivers
Early in the morning, the gates of the Three Fangs of Xiyuan were flung open to welcome visitors. Today was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and many pilgrims had flocked to the Sanxian Temple for the monthly prayer meeting. Xunyan and Mixia had placed colorful incense sticks in the four corners of the lobby, and the wisps of fragrant mist transformed the inn into a magnificent restaurant.
Xisheng sat behind a jade table, observing the pilgrims with apathy. The worshippers filed forward, leaving small change or fruits and vegetables on the table. Then, from his robes, he pulled slips of paper and respectfully handed them to Xisheng. The slips often contained wishes for peace and prosperity, a large family, or even winning the imperial examination. Xisheng glanced over them, nodded slightly, and with a flourish of his pen, he drew a yellow talisman on the spot and handed it back.
When Cang Ming left the bedroom and walked down the stairs, Xi Sheng had just finished drawing a talisman for the last believer. A group of believers, holding the yellow talismans, didn't leave immediately. Instead, they paid a few more coins and sat on the shimmering tables and chairs, sipping a few glasses of Xiyuan Sanfang's light wine.
Cang Ming now had a daily routine. During the day, he would go to Huitou Ridge and Chunqiu Ferry to wait for people. At night, he would return to Xiyuan Sanfang to bathe and wash up. Then, he would go to the rooftop to survey the entire Fengyan City, wandering back and forth on the rooftop, never missing a single corner of the city. At first, Wu Lu didn't know Cang Ming had gone up to the rooftop, and he would always complain about rats on the roof the next morning.
Following Cang Ming, Wu Lu also walked down the stairs with a cane. Seeing the lobby full of guests drinking, he immediately became energetic and his face was flushed. Cang Ming polished his ice blade longsword and asked, "Aren't you going back to Tongduo Mountain soon?"
Wu Lu waved his hand and said, "Well, since I have already given way to the sage, I will just be an elder of the previous dynasty and take charge occasionally. As for the master, it's just like that."
Cang Ming asked again: "But, didn't you select a hundred young talents last time? Aren't you going back to teach them kung fu yourself?" Wu Lu just said to wait and see.
Xi Sheng said without raising his head or opening his eyes, "He's just tied up and can't get back to the southwest. Previously, Wu Lu sent little ghosts to investigate the officials in the middle of the night, forcing them to ask if they were colluding with ghosts and gods. Many people were frightened and became sick."
"..." Wu Lu said with a bit of shame, "Yes, I came back to settle this matter... However, if so many people hadn't been frightened and sick this time, the court wouldn't have been reshuffled. Even the emperor is too sick to get out of bed. I think this is a good thing..."
Cang Ming said, "Well, recently, the exorbitant taxes have been reduced a lot, and the tenant farmers are no longer toiling day and night like animals. I see that the vegetable markets and restaurants are much busier."
Wu Lu was very proud and turned to Xi Sheng and said, "Tell your followers to finish drinking and leave quickly. The incense is about to burn out, and the broken tables and chairs in the inn will be exposed soon."
Xisheng said nonchalantly, "Do you think they didn't know what your inn is like?"
The two exchanged sharp words for a long time. Xisheng stood up, and Wu Lu immediately stepped back nervously, holding up his crutch: "What are you doing? You can talk, but you can't fight."
Xisheng said calmly, "Two of today's wishes are more difficult. I need to go to one house and play a song to purify the heart and restore the soul, and then go to another house and play some music to exorcise evil spirits and summon the soul."
Cang Ming said, "I'll go out with you." The two walked side by side down the long stone street. Xisheng turned into a small alley, and Cang Ming walked all the way to the river.
Cang Ming casually tossed the ice blade onto the grass, then sat on a tree stump, resting his chin on his hand and gazing out at the river. Fishing boats came and went, year after year, as if time didn't exist.
The ancient building never appeared again. Rather than citing Wei Ci's disappearance as an excuse, Cang Ming felt that perhaps the Three Immortals and the Demon King had finally let go of their obsession, and so the ancient building naturally vanished. Thinking of this, she suddenly wanted to see the spot where the ancient building once stood, so she stood up and looked eastward.
Past a few low huts, there was only a frost-bitten forest in the distance, and no five-story building like a tower.
A faint sense of loss emerged in my heart, and suddenly I heard a familiar voice behind me saying, "Girl, what are you looking at? Are these thieves scouting the place?"
Cang Ming's heart skipped a beat. She felt as if the heavens were collapsing, the seas were drying up, the rocks were crumbling, tigers were roaring, and monkeys were howling. The extreme tension and extreme anticipation felt like a huge object crashing down, like a huge rock or a massive avalanche. The feeling made her dizzy.
She slowly turned around and looked at the young man in silver. A smile played on his lips as he leisurely approached her, his tall figure looming over her, obscuring the morning light on a White Dew day. The last time she and Wei Ci met was also on a White Dew day.
Seeing that she was speechless, Wei Ci crossed his arms and said, "Oh, it seems that I was right. What are you going to steal, girl?"
Cang Ming took a deep breath of the cold air, holding back tears, and said, "Do you know who I am?"
Wei Ci was stunned for a moment and couldn't answer. Cang Ming covered his eyes and said, "It's okay, it's okay. It's great to see you. Are you going to steal something? Let me help you."
Wei Ci burst out laughing and suddenly hugged her in his arms: "General, you don't really think I've forgotten, do you? I've missed you for a thousand years, it's unforgettable, I will never forget it for the rest of my life."
His warm big hand held Cang Ming's hand and gently took her hand away from her face. Cang Ming raised her tear-stained face, tears still dripping like a rain that would not stop. Through her misty eyes, she saw Wei Ci's face full of panic, busy wiping away her tears: "Cang Cang!"
Cang Ming's eyes were crying, but the corners of his mouth seemed to be smiling. He cried and laughed, staring at Wei Ci, as if he wanted to make up for the gap of not seeing each other for so long.
Wei Ci also looked at her deeply, his eyes filled with pity and pain. He held Cang Ming's face with both hands and said softly, "Cang Cang, I was wrong. I shouldn't have teased you and made you wait so long. Don't cry, I'm back."
Cang Ming pressed himself against him, burying his face in his chest for a long time, rubbing his tears on his robe until he rubbed against him, making him let out a low, sharp hum and his breathing quickened. Cang Ming looked up at him and said in a deliberately aggressive tone, "Chu Weici, don't you have anything to say to me?"
Wei Ci revealed a dimple on one side of her face, pretended to think for a moment, and said, "Cang Cang, isn't it time to treat me to a meal?"
Cang Ming slapped him on the shoulder and pushed him three feet away: "Good brother Wei Ci, you made me cry again, let me see how I will make you cry again!" As he said that, he approached him lightly and swiftly and slapped him with a palm.
Wei Ci dodged with a smile, pretending to be afraid and said, "The general is so scary when he gets angry. He hit me so hard. Ah, it hurts, it hurts..."
Cang Mingqi laughed and chased him, punching and hitting him: "But you are obviously slithering faster than a big carp, how could I hit you?"
The two exchanged bare-handed blows, their movements soaring up and down, gathering and dispersing, exchanging hundreds of blows in the blink of an eye. Cang Ming danced with his sleeves fluttering, his palms and dance moves whirring like the trailing sound of fireworks. Wei Ci clearly restrained his strength, his attacks vigorous and powerful, his punches surging like a whirlwind, dodging or suppressing his opponent without a sound, and even raising an eyebrow and smiling, which made Cang Ming's heart ripple.
Seeing that neither of them was gaining the upper hand, Cang Ming suddenly gave him a light push, using the force to leap back to the ground, saying, "No more fighting. You're playing tricks, you're bullying me."
Wei Ci leaned over, hugged her tightly, and whispered in her ear: "Okay, I played tricks, I bullied people. How should I compensate you?"
"I'm punishing you by calling me Taoist sister three times." Cang Ming stretched out three fingers.
Wei Ci looked at her tenderly with his head tilted slightly, lowered his eyes, and said seductively: "Daoist sister——" He deliberately emphasized the word "sister" and dragged out the ending tone. Hearing this, Cang Ming's cheeks flushed and he hurriedly said: "Alright, alright..."
Wei Ci said, "How is it? Is that what I call you, sister?"
Cang Ming poked his shoulder and asked with wide eyes, "Brother Wei Ci, how did you get back? Didn't you go through Chunqiu Ferry?"
Wei Ci tucked her hair behind her ear, stroked her earrings with his fingers, and said softly, "I'm not a ghost, so I don't need to go through the Spring and Autumn Ferry. I just lost my reality, and after a period of recuperation, I will transform into a physical body again. This is what I call the reincarnation of a demon."
Cang Ming asked anxiously, "Then where is your true body? Is the book lost?"
The Demon King chuckled darkly and said, "I've reached the highest level. Even if my true form is destroyed, it doesn't matter. Besides, isn't my true form... disguised as a top 100 chart, given to you to play with?"
Cang Ming looked at him in surprise, and he seemed very satisfied with Cang Ming's reaction. But then he heard Cang Ming ask in horror: "Brother, your true body...how did it become so dirty? It's so torn that the edges are frayed..."
Wei Ci was both angry and amused: "Little girl, that's just a trick, okay? My true form is still neat and elegant, just like me."
Cang Ming burst into laughter, and suddenly remembered something: "Wei Ci, it seems that your magic power is still there, even stronger than before... How did you do that?"
"Perhaps after a period of recuperation, my magical power has increased instead of decreased." Wei Ci was still worried about the words of the old woman in the Buddha's Hand Dojo. With his forehead touching his forehead, he said in a bewitching voice, "The general also saw it during the fight just now. I am strong and powerful, and I am very capable in any field."
Cang Ming felt warm in his arms. Heat emanated from the demon king's body and seemed to be getting hotter.
She held Wei Ci's face and said sternly, "Wei Ci, the ancient building is gone. Where do you want to live? Let's build a new house."
Wei Ci pretended not to hear clearly: "What, you want to go to the bridal chamber with me? Then we can choose a wedding day and move into the bridal chamber as a couple?"
Cang Ming put his hands behind his back and smiled: "If you don't tell me, then I will choose the place."
She turned around and walked away at a leisurely pace. Wei Ci quickly bent down and picked up the ice blade, chasing after her and saying, "If you like, we can build a house in every scenery you like to see. It's not a difficult thing."
The two of them walked further and further away together. At this time, the red sun was rising, the river was sparkling, and fishing boats were coming and going. Everything in the world had become the past. The merits and demerits, right and wrong, success and failure throughout the ages were all left to the storytellers of later generations to comment on. It was exactly: How many things have happened in ancient and modern times, and the fishermen get up and sing at the third watch.
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