Bone-Returning Seed (XI)
Just as the two eagles were about to slam into Huai Xu, they suddenly released their talons, separated, and glided away. One of them seemed to have brushed the edge of its wing against Huai Xu's arm. She swayed twice, lowered her body, and squatted down.
Lin Zhong remained still, and Huai Xu finally regained his balance, slowly stood up, and walked forward again.
Ten steps, nine steps, eight steps, seven steps...
"Let's perform the Nuo ritual, invoking the gods!"
"Let's perform the Nuo ritual, invoking the gods!"
The moment Huai Xu leaped off the iron chain, cheers from the villagers echoed through the sky.
Several Nuo masters escorted Huai Xu up the Nuo altar and toward the bronze drum. The crowd around the sinkhole surged toward the altar like a tide, chanting Huai Xu's name.
Luo Erying excitedly came over and pulled me: "Aunt Qing, hurry up, we're about to beat the drum to fulfill our vow!"
I smiled wryly and broke free, waving my hand and saying, "You go first. Aunt Qing, stand here and rest for a bit; she really can't run anymore."
Feng Qiao walked to my side and asked in a low voice, "Aunt, it's all in the past, isn't it?"
"Yes." I breathed a sigh of relief and looked towards the Nuo altar on the opposite bank. Elder Amo handed the drumsticks to Huai Xu. Under the blazing sun, the beams of light refracted by the foot-diameter bronze drum were dazzling. Huai Xu's tall figure gradually overlapped with a familiar figure in my mind...
Thump—thump thump—
The deep, resounding drumbeats echoed through the mountains, awakening deep-seated memories that pierced the heart like sharp blades...
"Qingcheng, the Yan Yi have attacked. I need to go into the mountains to beat the bronze drum and send a message to my fellow villagers."
"Mother, when are you coming back? Father hasn't woken up yet."
"Mother will come back soon, and Father will wake up too. Stay here and watch over him. Don't leave."
In the end—Mother never came back, Father never woke up, and the only one who never left was me…
I was caught in a long, chaotic dream. In the dream, both my mother and A-Xiang, who had broken their promises, returned to the inn. My mother wanted to take me back to Qingbin Village, while A-Xiang wanted me to go to Dali with him. They argued fiercely, neither willing to give in, insisting that I make a clean break. But I didn't want to go anywhere; I just wanted to stay at the inn, to stay home…
Ah Xiang came over and tried to pull me away, but I was annoyed and shook off his hand, saying, "Go away! I won't go with you!"
"Qingcheng, if you don't want to, then so be it. I'm going to find your father. You must live well on your own." The mother turned and left, a feathered arrow clearly embedded in her vest...
"Mother!" I suddenly sat up in surprise.
"Master, you're awake," Lin Zhong said, supporting my shoulder.
I glanced around and realized I was in my own room. My wildly beating heart finally calmed down a bit, but I was also confused: "When...did I get back?"
“Three days ago.” Lin Zhong picked up a steaming porcelain bowl from the table and handed it to me. “Drink the medicine while it’s hot.”
The bitter smell of the medicine lingered in my nose. I held my breath and lay back: "I feel fine now. Every medicine has some side effects, so I shouldn't drink it."
Lin Zhong pulled me back with one arm: "You've been in a coma and had a fever, which only subsided last night. Doctor Liu said that you need to take this medicine for five days to fully recover."
Am I running a fever? Recalling my previous dream, I held the bowl and pondered, "Then...did I talk nonsense?"
"have."
I couldn't help but feel a little nervous: "Did you hear what I said?"
Lin Zhong stood up calmly: "I don't remember."
I asked urgently, "Where are you going?"
Lin Zhong put down the empty bowl: "The kitchen, I'll get you some food."
"I'm not hungry yet." I reached out and pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed, asking, "How are Huai Xu and Feng Qiao?"
"Feng Qiao bumped his head and broke it open; Huai Xu is taking care of him."
I was taken aback: "Is the injury serious?"
"Dr. Liu examined him and said there was nothing seriously wrong. He should rest for a few more days and he'll be fine."
I breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help complaining, "How old are you? How could you still bump your head? Don't you know how to be careful?"
Lin Zhong glanced at me: "He fainted in the sinkhole, just like you."
The sinkhole... feels like a different world.
I only remember Huai Xu ascending the altar and striking the drum; I have no recollection of what happened afterward. Looking at Lin Zhong's profile, I suddenly felt dizzy, and an overwhelming sense of lingering fear welled up inside me. I reached out and turned his shoulder, sincerely saying, "Lin Zhong, thank goodness you didn't move. That eagle that day really terrified me."
Lin Zhong lowered his eyes, grasped my wrists with both hands, and gently placed them down: "If the mind is still, the person will not move."
I leaned back and said listlessly, "I know you're heartless. You've taught me well, alright?"
Lin Zhong looked at me seriously and said, "Huai Xu was born with a martial arts meridian, so teaching her is no problem. If it were you, you might not be able to do it."
"My mother and my daughter can both cross the sinkhole, are you saying I'm the only one who can't?" I felt a surge of anger, sat up abruptly, grabbed him again and asked, "You, Lin Zhong, how dare you look down on me! Tell me clearly, is it you who can't do it, or me?"
A flicker of disbelief crossed Lin Zhong's face. I abruptly let go of his hand, and he hurriedly stood up, whispering, "I... can't."
Before long, Lin Zhong brought over more porridge. I took a sip, frowned, and asked, "Who cooked this porridge?"
"Huai Xu" (槐序).
"Did she cook for Feng Qiao?"
"yes."
"Can Feng Qiao even eat that?"
"Feng Qiao said it tasted very good and drank two bowls."
"It tastes so good..." I stirred the porridge, which was so sweet it was almost sickening, and my teeth ached a little. I scooped up a spoonful and held it to Lin Zhong's lips. "You try it!"
Lin Zhong reluctantly opened his mouth, and I stared at him and asked, "How does it taste?"
"It's a little too sweet."
I put down my spoon: "It's more than just a little sweet, it's absolutely tooth-rotting."
Lin Zhong, holding the bowl of porridge, said softly, "Master, aren't you not a picky eater?"
"You—" I pulled the blanket over myself and lay down on the inside of the blanket, "Get away!"
After a moment of silence, Lin Zhong leaned down and gently shook my arm that was sticking out of the blanket: "What do you want to eat? I'll cook it."
I turned over rather impatiently and pushed his hand away: "I want to eat porridge made with fresh fish slices, can you cook it?"
Lin Zhong answered without hesitation: "Yes."
"Hmph!" I glared at him. "Where did you get fresh fish? Did you catch it fresh from the Yuejiang River?"
“Yesterday, some people from the Rafting Gang came to visit and brought some live fish.”
After drinking the fish porridge cooked by Lin Zhong, I took a nap. When I woke up, it was already afternoon. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Huai Xu and Luo Er Ying sitting by my bedside.
"Godmother!"
"Aunt Qing!"
I stood up with a laugh: "When did you two sit here? You startled me."
“It’s only been a short while,” Huai Xu said. “Uncle Lin said you should be awake by now, so we came over.”
Luo Erying asked anxiously, "Aunt Qing, what exactly happened between you and Brother Feng Qiao that day? You two were talking fine just now, and in the blink of an eye, you both fainted."
“That day… let me think.” I rubbed my temples and couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you guys remember the embroidered apron I wore that day?”
"That dress was made by my mother more than ten years ago, and the waist is too tight for me now. I thought that since Huaixu was crossing the sinkhole, I should bring good luck, so I forced myself to wear it. I didn't dare to eat breakfast. When I arrived at Shenyang Cave, I was exhausted and hungry."
"The sun in Yuzhong is scorching, and the spot where we're standing has no shade. After being in the sun for so long, it's no wonder we're dizzy. As for Feng Qiao, I guess he's in a similar situation to me—he can't eat and he's been restless the whole time."
"I used to think that if someone fainted, Feng Qiao would be the first one, but I didn't expect him to be so resilient."
Huai Xu and Luo Erying burst into laughter.
“Aunt Qing, you and Brother Feng Qiao fainted in perfect sync. No wonder you’re aunt and niece.” Luo Erying laughed so hard she almost fell over. “You two fainting has really stumped Lord Wei.”
"Although Lord Wei was having some trouble, he still managed to catch Aunt Qing first. Fortunately, Brother Feng Qiao's injuries weren't serious, otherwise he would have felt terribly guilty. This morning, Shi Yu even asked me about your situation."
Huai Xu pretended to pinch Luo Erying: "We're supposed to be sworn sisters, where have you been? When we went into the mountains, I repeatedly begged you to stay with my godmother."
I waved my hand: "It has nothing to do with Yingzi. I asked her to go and watch the fun."
"Everyone ran towards the Nuo altar, and Shiyu and I followed. We hadn't run far when we heard Lord Wei calling us," Luo Erying said excitedly. "Do you know what I saw when I ran back?"
Huai Xu said, "Stop keeping me in suspense, tell me quickly!"
“I saw your Uncle Lin cross the sinkhole.” Luo Erying said, gesturing as she spoke. “His martial arts are amazing! He leaped from one end of the iron chain to the other in just a few bounds, as fast as lightning. Shiyu and I hadn’t even run back yet, and he was already there.”
"Of course!" Huai Xu said proudly. "Now you know why you can't beat me, right? My kung fu was taught by Uncle Lin."
I laughed and said, "It seems none of us got to see you beat the drum to fulfill your vow. Tell me, what did you wish for?"
"That's right, that's right! Sister Huaixu, you promised me you'd be the first to tell me."
"My first wish to the mountain god was that all lovers in the world could stay together forever."
"It's wonderful that lovers can stay together forever." Luo Erying clapped her hands and said, "And the second one?"
"My second wish is that our Nanguang tribe will never have to fight again." Huai Xu's face showed longing. "The storytellers in town often talk about a peaceful and prosperous era. I really want to know what a peaceful and prosperous era is like?"
"Yes," Luo Erying nodded. "Who doesn't want to live a peaceful life? I hope the Shimen Fan won't attack again; even if they do, the Song Dynasty can protect us."
“As for the third wish,” Huai Xu looked at me and smiled, “it’s for my godmother, so I can’t tell you.”
"Oh, my dear sister!" Luo Erying reached out and tickled Huai Xu. "Don't keep me in suspense like this, just tell me already!"
Huai Xu laughed and dodged the question: "Then you should ask my godmother. You'll need her permission."
Luo Erying turned around and hugged me, her voice coquettish: "Aunt Qing, I want to know too, please let her tell me, okay?"
I patted her on the back and laughed, "Okay, okay."
“Godmother, I’ll say it now.” Huai Xu closed his eyes and clasped his hands together in front of his chest. “My third wish is that my beloved, whom I’ve lost contact with for twelve years, will return safely.”
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