Chapter 64 Chapter 64 After three days of competition, we will go down the mountain...
The day of the competition on the mountain is getting closer, and the day of going down the mountain is getting closer.
The day she would go down the mountain was set for June 17th.
Since the day she had set for her descent from the mountain, Gu Huaijin hadn't said a word, but she had seen everything he'd been up to. Even when he was so busy they barely saw each other all day, she could still see him from the window when she caught a glimpse of him. He was completely exhausted and numb, his features not just depressed, but almost dull.
He began to speak incoherently, his mind wandering. He was reviewing documents intently when his mind suddenly wandered, and no one could call him back. He would turn around and become lost in thought, forgetting even what he had just said.
Everyone in the mountain could see that he was wrong, and almost everyone understood why. Huide had sent him down the Tranquil Waterfall more than seven or eight times for this, and each time he accepted the punishment obediently, returned, and returned to his old ways.
Tianshan even held a special meeting within the mountain to specifically scold him for this, but no matter how angry the elders were, Gu Huaijin just quietly admitted his mistake, and then remained silent and slow as before. Only when he returned to Muxueyuan could he be seen to force a smile.
Physical illness is easy to cure, but mental illness is difficult to heal. In the end, even Huide was helpless and could only turn a blind eye and let him go.
Since even Huide couldn't do anything about it, he became more and more demanding and sent all the official documents to her room for review. He was still busy with official business every day, but most of the time, he locked himself in her room.
When she slept, he was by her side; when she was awake, he was by her side, never leaving her side, never blinking his eyes, always only two or three steps away from her.
Despite this, he never complained or resented her, and even seemed to be afraid of making things difficult for her. He couldn't let go, so he tried to hide it and smiled at her all day long, saying it was okay.
How can he be okay?
Later, Gu Huaijin's sadness reached the point where even she could only sigh, "Why has it come to this?" He spent sleepless nights holding her, and would remain awake all night.
Later, she had to find Mr. Qu Shu to treat her, but after the treatment, she didn't want to sleep anymore. He held her in his arms, and if she woke up occasionally, he would say a few words to her. She didn't know how many times she had been startled awake by someone staring at her in her sleep. When she opened her eyes, she found him gazing at her in the deep night with a sad and longing look. It was clearly love, but she found it shocking.
Later one day, he was reviewing official documents at the table. She was so bored that she walked to the stained glass window to look at the waves of trees outside. When she lowered her eyes, she saw the official documents with secret seals on the mountain spread out in front of her, not hiding from her at all.
She was startled for a moment, then laughed, "Didn't everyone on the mountain say I was a spy? Are you showing me this?"
He raised his head and smiled faintly, "If he really is a spy, then it wouldn't be so bad."
She didn't dare ask what that "not so bad" meant.
After a long silence, she suddenly noticed a few glass beads on the corner of the table. She pinched them between her fingertips and examined them carefully against the sunlight. Suddenly, he said, "That's my natal bead."
"Birth Pearl?"
"These are the ones I use every time you go to see Li Xuanbai." He still smiled warmly.
It is said that the reason why the Tianshan Sect closed the mountain for a hundred years was because the method of controlling the pearls in the "Tianshan Heart Sutra" was too strange and was often coveted by thieves. Therefore, they set up a large number of defense mechanisms and did not allow outsiders to go up the mountain.
For the people in the mountains, not only is the method of controlling the pearl not allowed to be passed on to outsiders, but their own natal pearls must also be treated with caution at all times and not allowed to be seen by outsiders.
He placed the beads right under her eyes and even let her weigh them in her palm.
The beads were perfectly round and translucent, looking as though they were made of glass, yet it was impossible to tell what they were made of. It seemed as if the center and the outer rim were made of two different materials, the middle solid and the outer rim translucent, shimmering with color. When they struck each other, a tinkling sound arose, like the rippling of water.
She said, "If you use these beads to fight, doesn't it mean each of you needs to prepare a hundred or two hundred beads?"
He laughed, "How could there be so many? Do you think these beads are easy to find? The natal beads must be matched to each person's personality and attributes. Once used well, they will not break for more than ten years. If you lose one, it often takes years to find a new one. Even if you are lucky, it will take a year or two. Who would dare to lose it?"
"Such an amazing thing." In the sunlight, the crystal beads reflected the light and looked almost colorful. She sighed, "It's really beautiful."
He raised his head and asked, "Does Jiaojiao like it?"
She said, "I like it. It's a pity it's not something to make jewelry."
He laughed: "That's really such a waste. If Jiaojiao likes it, I can find some beads that suit you, but even so, they are not things to play with. If you want to stay in the mountains..." Having said that, he stopped talking.
In the past, the mention of the word "going down the mountain" would have instantly caused his face to change, and he would be unable to utter a single word. However, as the day drew nearer, even though he was often distracted, the mention of these two words did not cause him to collapse as before. Instead, he seemed to be accustomed to it, stopping and changing the subject.
"Jiaojiao, is there anything else you want to do before you go down the mountain?"
She mused, "Hiking?"
He held the brush, turned a page of the document, and stopped talking.
She understood what he meant. He was tied up in official duties and couldn't leave to spend every day with her. If they really wanted to go hiking, there was only one person who was capable, loyal to her, and familiar with her.
He lowered his eyes and said, "As long as it has nothing to do with him, I can satisfy Jiaojiao's desire."
She was helpless, shook her head and smiled.
He said calmly, "Now that Jiaojiao has left the mountain, I'm the only one left. So while she's still on the mountain, Jiaojiao belongs to me alone."
"How can you be one? Aren't father, uncle, and fellow apprentices all on the mountain?"
He calmly lowered his long eyelashes and remained silent for a long time. Finally, he said lightly: "No matter how close or distant, everyone uses me."
"I only have Jiaojiao on the mountain, although Jiaojiao doesn't have me on the mountain alone." He smiled and said softly, "If I weren't in this position, I would go down the mountain with you."
She was speechless for a moment, walked to his chair, bent down and hugged him.
He was now used to this topic and reached out to touch her face. "Besides this, is there anything else you want to do?"
She said, "Yamanechi Dabi, can I go and see it?"
Are you watching the competition just to see Li Xuanbai?
He didn't ask this question.
There was a competition on the mountain and he couldn't get away. He could only come back at night. He couldn't bear not seeing her during the day.
So he said, "Okay."
*
The competition on the mountain is just about to start, and it is scheduled for March.
After a few days, Gu Huaijin finally finished packing the luggage he had prepared for her to take down the mountain. She had repeatedly told him not to bring too much, so Gu Huaijin picked and chose, eliminating a lot of things and selecting the most important ones that she would definitely need. He then condensed them into an exquisite brocade package and placed it in a corner, covering it with a cloth so that she didn't want it to be seen.
Then, the day of the mountain competition finally arrived.
The competition on the mountain only lasts for three days, which means that after three days of competition, she will go down the mountain.
On the day of the competition, Gu Huaijin personally combed her hair, put on a hairpin, and put on earrings for her. After a month, he finally allowed her to step out of the room.
The competition venue was located in a spacious martial arts training ground halfway up the mountain.
It was just the hour of Mao when the sun began to rise. It was the unripe morning light, like an unripe melon that had fallen too early, fresh and damp.
The sky was slightly blue, and a corner of the golden sun was obscured by the distant green mountains. The martial arts training ground was located in the low valley between the two mountains. The middle part was illuminated by the dawn light, and the two sides were still shrouded in the blue mountain shadows.
The martial arts training ground was already crowded.
Gu Huaijin was so conspicuous, and with him beside her, she became the focus of everyone's attention. Passersby kept turning their heads to look at her, even when they were approaching her or passing by. Although she had long understood that she was the target of public criticism on the mountain, she had never actually participated in a gathering on the mountain before. She just listened to Song Yaojie scolding her, but she didn't feel much of it.
When she arrived today, she realized how well-known she was in the mountains.
Gu Huaijin probably felt her grip on his sleeve tighten, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
She said, "I'm not afraid..." But everyone was not only looking at her, but also looking at her with curiosity, curiosity, and curiosity, as if they were about to turn around and start gossiping about the two of them.
She had only been out for one day, but she already felt the gossip on the mountain was terrifying. She wondered how Gu Huaijin had been getting by these past few days.
At the entrance to the stands below the martial arts training ground, a young man leaned against the wall, holding a sword. His hair was tied up meticulously, without even a strand of hair out of place. When he saw Gu Huaijin, he put down his sword and clasped his fists, "Big Brother."
It’s Yi Haichuan.
Gu Huaijin nodded and made a slight introduction gesture: "This is Miss Chu."
Nan Qiong Shuang lowered her eyes and saluted.
Yi Haichuan returned the greeting briefly and said to Gu Huaijin, "We're already calling the roll. After the roll, we'll draw lots. Brother, go quickly."
He said, "I'll go in a bit. Let's settle Jiaojiao down first."
Yi Haichuan urged: "Brother, you'd better go and report first."
Gu Huaijin held the hand of the person next to him tightly: "Later."
Yi Haichuan was speechless. It was said that the young master lost his soul because of the woman he brought up the mountain. It turned out to be true.
He didn't know what to say for the moment, so he stepped back tactfully.
Nan Qiong Shuang suddenly asked, "Why are you selling candied haws in June on the mountain?"
In the distance, among the heavy crowd of white shadows, there was a cart with a straw target on it. A pot-bellied disciple stood on one side with his shoulders hunched. The straw target was actually filled with red candied haws.
"Some disciples in the mountains don't like to practice, so they take advantage of the mountain closure to do some small business inside the mountain." He suddenly remembered the dream, "Does Jiaojiao want it?"
She was actually not interested: "It's okay."
Gu Huaijin handed Yi Haichuan a few copper coins: "Please buy a string for Jiaojiao, Junior Brother Yi. I'll stay here with her."
Yi Haichuan took it in his hand, looked at his face, and was shocked to find that he had become so haggard in recent days that he didn't look like a living person. In this state, why was he still forcing himself to participate in the competition?
He said, "Brother, are you really okay?"
Gu Huaijin himself didn't care: "It's okay."
Yi Haichuan gasped, momentarily at a loss for words. He truly hoped there weren't any spies within the mountain, but he also couldn't bear to see his senior brother tormenting himself like this. Glancing around, he saw no one was listening intently, so he leaned in closer and said,
"Since you are the Young Master, if you really don't want to let Miss Chu leave the mountain and close Chaoyao Peak to force her to stay, then she should stay. Chaoyao Peak is the Gu family's forbidden area. Even my uncle can't get his hands in. If my uncle can't do anything, what can she do? Why is this so painful for you, my brother?"
Gu Huaijin stood there, not knowing whether he was listening or not, with his eyes lowered and silent for a long time.
After a long pause, his face turned pale. “Thank you for your words of comfort, Junior Brother. However, I have never associated the word ‘seizure’ with myself.”
Yi Haichuan sighed, "Big Brother, think about this carefully. Why bother?"
He nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother. I'll go to check in later. Please stay here with Jiaojiao. She's been in danger several times on the mountain. I'm worried about her being alone."
Yi Haichuan: "I'm going to buy Miss Chu some candied haws first. Brother, hurry up and go. If you're late, the master who's calling the clock-in will get angry and we'll have to waste time arguing with him."
Gu Huaijin nodded, but still ignored her words. He took her hand and walked towards the center of the inner circle of the martial arts viewing platform. "Jiaojiao, sit here for a while. They all know who you are, so there's no need to be polite. Sit in the middle. I can see you from both the stage and the audience, and then I can feel at ease."
As he walked along, the disciples he met bowed to Gu Huaijin one by one. Gu Huaijin nodded perfunctorily to each of them and instructed them attentively:
"I'm afraid I won't have time to come to you today. I can only see you from afar. It's been so long, and I haven't had a whole day without seeing you. Jiaojiao...you are not allowed to talk to him. When he comes back tonight, you are not allowed to talk to him inappropriately."
He was still holding a grudge against her for saying something sarcastic to him a few days ago when they hadn't seen each other for a few days. Nan Qiongshuang was a little amused and confused.
Gu Huaijin didn't hear her answer. He turned around, looked at her, and pinched her earlobe.
She responded, "Okay. I'll sit here, you go ahead."
He lowered his eyes, took her hand and stroked her again in his sleeve.
He brought her here because he couldn't bear to see her anymore. But why was he reluctant to leave even though he just wanted to go to the stage to report?
If I had known this earlier, I would have kissed her more often when I woke up in the morning.
He said, "Okay, I'll go first. Junior Brother Yi will come to accompany Jiaojiao later. Anyone else who gives Jiaojiao anything and wants to take Jiaojiao away, don't trust them easily."
Did he think she was a child? Nan Qiong Shuang smiled helplessly: "Okay."
Gu Huaijin finally left with peace of mind, and the figure like a snowy mountain gradually disappeared among the crowd.
Nan Qiongshuang had nothing to do, so she looked around. She saw that everyone on the martial arts stage was looking at her curiously. She felt so uncomfortable that she had to sit where she was, look away, and act as if nothing had happened.
After a while, Yi Haichuan came back and handed her a candied haws. "Miss Chu."
Suddenly, a nail-dyed hand was placed under Yi Haichuan's eyelids, palm facing up: "I want it."
When she turned around, she saw Heng Huang hugging his shoulders, tilting his head, and the little red earrings under his ears shaking. When he saw her, he smiled.
Nan Qiong Shuang didn't bother to pay attention to her. He wanted to snatch this too?
Yi Haichuan was stunned for a moment, feeling embarrassed. Heng Huang walked to his side, looked at his five nails absent-mindedly, and asked, "Are you going to give it to her or to me?"
Yi Haichuan: "Miss Heng, this is the order from our young master. It's just a candied haws. I'll go buy it for you."
Heng Huang looked at him with a forced smile: "One last time. Are you going to give it to her or to me?"
Yi Haichuan looked at Heng Huang and then at Nan Qiong Shuang in embarrassment. Heng Huang sighed and fiddled with the jade beads around her neck. "Do you know who I am? Do you know who is in charge of this mountain?" She smiled. "Young Master? Don't say that your Young Master is not here. Even if your Young Master was here today, he would have to give it to me if I asked for it."
Nan Qiong Shuang smiled and said, "Don't worry, just give it to her."
Yi Haichuan clasped his fists respectfully and handed the candied haws into Heng Huang's open palm.
Heng Huang dodged with a half-smile, and the candied haws fell down and hit her long hair. It was not hot in the mountains now, but not cold either. The candy was sticky and instantly stuck to her hair and white clothes, leaving some reddish marks.
Nan Qiongshuang was very fond of cleanliness and was very annoyed for a moment, but then she saw Heng Huang smiling, as if he thought Yi Haichuan was stupid. He twirled his hair with his index finger and said, "What good thing? I asked for it just now, but you didn't give it to me. Do you think I really want it now?"
She lifted the hem of her skirt, raised her foot, and leisurely stepped on the candied haws, grinding it. "She's the only one who wants something like this. I say yes, but only because, even if I don't want it, she can't have it either."
Nan Qiong Shuang's anger caused by her obsessive-compulsive disorder suddenly disappeared, and she smiled.
Heng Huang is really jealous of her.
So, she really liked Gu Huaijin, and she really saw that Gu Huaijin liked her.
That's a compliment.
Yi Haichuan had also heard about Miss Heng's temper, and he definitely couldn't confront her head-on with his status, so he could only bow his head and clasp his fists: "Yes."
Heng Huang raised his eyelids and looked at him: "What are you still doing here? Go away. Can you sit in the center of the martial arts viewing platform?"
Yi Haichuan: "The Young Master ordered me to stay here and accompany Miss Chu."
Heng Huang turned his head and sneered, "You're watching me so closely. You've been repeatedly losing face for this woman these days. You're so ungrateful and have lost your mind. Take this woman and get out of here right away. My father told me not to cause any trouble today, or you'll all suffer."
Yi Haichuan: "The Young Master ordered Miss Chu to take a seat here."
"She?" Heng Huang was stunned for a moment, then laughed in disbelief. "She? Why is she sitting here? What's her status? She's sitting with me? You guys from Tianshan are really insulting me for no reason." He pointed his index finger at the bottom of the stands, "I can't lose my temper today, get out of here."
Nan Qiong Shuang didn't want to cause any trouble, so she stood up and said, "Brother Yi, let's switch seats."
Yi Haichuan had no choice but to clasp his fists towards Heng Huang. The two of them turned around and planned to go down the steps in the middle of the seats, but Heng Huang said again:
"stop."
Nan Qiong Shuang was also a little impatient. She closed her eyes and turned to look at her.
Heng Huang was standing on a higher seat behind her, looking down at her, his shoulders crossed, and said contemptuously, "Are you leaving now?"
Nan Qiong Shuang smiled: "What exactly does Miss Heng want to say?"
She was born with a graceful and beautiful appearance, and was out of this world. Heng Huang only saw her face and was actually not in a good mood. It would have been fine if she didn't say anything. As soon as she opened her mouth, Heng Huang was furious and laughed:
"How dare you talk to me in that tone? Who do you think you are? You don't even know where you came from? How come you've climbed onto a high branch and won't let go? Just because Gu Huaijin praises you, do you really think you're worthy? Where you've sat, anyone who sits there will be stained with filth. How can I sit there?"
Nan Qiong Shuang narrowed her eyes more and more. The more jealous Heng Huang became, the more amused she found it. "So what does Miss Heng want from me?"
Heng Huang: "Need I say more? Go get some silk, dip it in water, use the gardenia soap, and clean me over and over again until I'm satisfied."
Yi Haichuan stepped forward and said, "No matter how much Miss Heng likes cleanliness, there are still many empty seats in the center of the martial arts arena. If you want to sit in the center, you don't have to sit here. Why not—"
Nan Qiongshuang listened quietly to Yi Haichuan speaking for her, smiling without saying a word.
Heng Huang glared at him: "Are you teaching me how to do things now?"
Yi Haichuan lowered his head: "I dare not."
Heng Huang played with his nails: "What's your name? Whose apprentice are you? Whose junior brother?"
Yi Haichuan lowered his head and dared not answer.
Nan Qiong Shuang smiled and said, "Let's go." Her order? Who the hell was she?
"Stop!" Heng Huang shouted, "Are you allowed to leave? Get back here!"
Nan Qiongshuang ignored him and pulled Yi Haichuan straight down the stairs. Unexpectedly, someone suddenly grabbed a handful of her long hair, causing her to stagger and almost fall off the stairs.
When he stood firm again, even someone as good-tempered as Nan Qiongshuang felt a little murderous.
Suddenly, a voice came lazily from above, "Haven't you learned your lesson yet, you bitch?"
Before she could turn around and see clearly, Heng Huang was kicked off from above like a duck that had been playing by the water and accidentally fell off with one foot. His shawl fluttered, and he was kicked down from above. Li Xuanbai was holding his shoulders, his foot still not retracted, and he looked down at him:
"What are you yelling about? You keep talking about your father all day long, is there no end to it? But you can brag about Heng Qingnan too. Didn't I say that I would beat you up every time I see you?"
With that fall, Heng Huang almost fell flat on his face. He couldn't stand up for a long time and squatted on the spot like a crab.
Seeing who was coming, her eyes were filled with hatred that almost made her bulge with blood:
"You stinky monkey, it's you again! Last time I let you off easily, but you don't know how to cherish your life and even dare to come in front of me!" The long whip at her waist was untied with a "whoosh" and the ground was hit with a "crack" sound. "Even my left hand can handle you! You still want a big fight? You crawl down the mountain today!"
Li Xuanbai laughed and flicked his thumb. Half of the cold blade flashed with snow and suddenly jumped out of the scabbard. "Dog crawl? I want to see who wants to do dog crawl today."
Yi Haichuan was sweating profusely: "Miss Heng, Senior Brother Xuanbai, wait a minute, today——"
Nan Qiongshuang was somewhat willing to indulge Li Xuanbai's outburst. She pulled Yi Haichuan aside, acting as if nothing had happened, and advised, "How dare you interfere in the affairs between Li Xuanbai and Miss Heng? You'd better stay away from them."
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