Genius and Fireworks
The dawn pierced through the churning clouds.
The golden light spilled over the wooden houses and cloud fields atop the mountain.
The birdsong was crisp and clear, mingling with the soft clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen and the rich aroma of bubbling rice porridge.
They intertwine to form the prelude to the awakening of a new day.
Chen Yan awoke from a strange yet unusually peaceful slumber.
Beneath them lay a thick, dry bed of straw and animal hides.
The crisp air carried the scent of pine, and outside, the sounds of nature teemed with life.
This feeling of being far from the hustle and bustle, pure and peaceful.
It left him momentarily dazed.
He sat up.
His gaze unconsciously swept across the room.
Ling Zhan was no longer in her room.
Through the open window, that familiar figure was already on the fertile soil behind the house.
The black ball, fitted with a plow, huffed and puffed as it laboriously moved forward.
It's cute when she occasionally turns around to ask for honey.
Ling Zhan steadily held the plow, his movements fluid yet imbued with the power of the earth.
The golden rays of the rising sun outlined her focused profile.
Sweat trickled down his sharp jawline.
It drips silently into the newly turned, glossy black soil.
In Shen Yan's eyes, there was a kind of primal and vibrant beauty of life.
Chen Yan's heart skipped a beat.
The unfamiliar flutter that arose last night because of that "head pat" has quietly returned.
He quickly got up.
He changed into a coarse cloth short-sleeved shirt that was sent to him early in the morning by Ling Feng, the head of the Shura Guard, for easy work.
Stepping out of the wooden house, the courtyard presented a completely different scene.
Master Xuan Chenzi sat cross-legged on a smooth blue stone by the fire pit.
Holding a yellowed ancient book, he exuded an air of otherworldly elegance.
Opposite him, Little Stone sat upright.
With a focused expression and bright eyes, he was filled with admiration for the Taoist priest's knowledge.
Little Stone… His disdainful gaze froze when it fell on his youngest son, who was also growing taller.
The little guy sat up straight.
Her small face held a calmness beyond her years.
What was laid out in front of him was not an introductory text like the Thousand Character Classic.
It was none other than the abstruse and difficult Book of Documents!
Xuan Chenzi was just talking about the "Nine Categories of the Great Plan," whose meaning is profound and all-encompassing, and is by no means something that a child can easily comprehend.
"The five elements are: first, water; second, fire; third, wood; fourth, metal; and fifth, earth..."
Xuan Chenzi's voice was clear and resonant, and he quoted extensively from classical texts.
Little Stone listened intently, his big, dark eyes never blinking.
When Xuan Chenzi extended the meaning of one of the phrases, "Water is said to flow downwards, and fire is said to rise upwards," to the principles of the operation of heaven and earth and the generation and restraint of all things, Shen Hong was still deep in thought, but Xiao Shitou had already spoken up crisply and clearly.
"Master, does this saying resonate with the principle of 'water flows to the wet, fire goes to the dry'? Water flows downward to moisten things, fire rises upward to burn things; this is their nature, and also a symbol of the proper order of heaven and earth. Therefore, the 'Hong Fan' uses this to illustrate the proper relationships between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, each should be in their proper place and follow their inherent nature?"
Xuan Chenzi's hand, which was stroking his beard, suddenly stopped.
His eyes blazed with undisguised astonishment and ecstasy.
"Excellent! Little Stone, you are absolutely right! To draw inferences from one instance to another, and to apply what one has learned to other situations—this is true understanding!"
The way he looked at the little stone was as if he were admiring a piece of uncut jade, its brilliance hidden within.
Shen Yan's hand holding the bowl of water trembled.
A few drops of clear mountain spring water splashed onto the stone slab.
He stared in astonishment.
She looked at her youngest son, who was not yet ten years old and was usually quiet yet mischievous, in disbelief.
This...this doesn't look like a child at all.
He's clearly a genius born with innate knowledge!
The profound meaning of the Book of Documents... even many learned scholars may not truly understand it, yet he could quote it effortlessly.
And you understand it so thoroughly?
A tremendous shock overwhelmed Shen Yan like a tidal wave, making him almost forget to breathe.
What kind of beautiful and spiritually rich place is this high in the clouds?
Just then.
A small head peeked out from the kitchen doorway. The little bull, wearing an apron and with flour on his face, greeted us softly.
"Dad, Little Stone, Taoist Priest, breakfast is ready! Mom brought some fresh wild eggs this morning!"
This lively and down-to-earth call instantly dispelled the serious academic atmosphere in the courtyard.
"Coming!"
Shen Yan immediately responded.
He walked over with a smile, not forgetting to pat Little Stone on the shoulder.
"Come on, little genius, you need to eat well to have the energy to study."
Little Stone snapped out of his reverie and closed the book, which might still seem "simple" to him.
There was no smugness on her little face, but rather a hint of bewilderment at having her train of thought interrupted.
He obediently followed his father to the kitchen.
Chen Yan was still immersed in the enormous shock, and her steps were somewhat unsteady.
The kitchen was steaming and filled with delicious aromas.
The little bull is clearly the backbone of this place.
He deftly ladled out bowls of thick, fragrant minced meat and millet porridge.
Next to it were golden-brown, tempting wild eggs, and several plates of refreshing pickled wild vegetables.
Suihe helped set out the bowls and chopsticks.
The Frostblade White Wolf sat gracefully at the kitchen doorway, like a guardian deity, its icy blue eyes fixed intently on the stove.
To be precise, it was staring at the earthenware pot in the little bull's hand, which contained several pieces of unsalted stewed meat, prepared especially for it.
"Dad, you're awake! Sit down quickly! Mom has finished eating."
When the little bull saw Shen Yan enter, its eyes lit up dramatically, carrying a hint of barely perceptible flattery and expectation.
He deliberately pushed the fullest bowl of porridge in front of Shen Yan.
Then, with great care, I placed a perfectly fried, golden-yellow egg with crispy edges on top.
"Dad, try this egg. I'm watching the cooking time!" Her tone was full of excited anticipation, as if she were presenting a treasure.
Shen Yan looked at the steaming, enticingly fragrant food in the bowl.
Then look at your son's face, slightly red from the smoke of the stove and covered in flour, yet full of seriousness and anticipation.
The shock I felt from being with my genius son.
In an instant, it was swept away by another, warmer, more reassuring torrent.
He sat down, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and put it in his mouth.
The porridge was cooked to perfection, with the savory aroma of minced meat blending perfectly with the soft and glutinous texture of millet.
A warm current instantly soothed my internal organs.
"tasty!"
Shen Yan sincerely praised, his gaze towards the little bull filled with a father's love and pride.
"Our little bull's cooking is absolutely amazing! It warms the heart and stomach better than any delicacy Dad has ever eaten!"
He raised his hand and gently wiped away a bit of flour dust from his son's cheek with his sleeve.
The little bull's face flushed bright red, like a ripe fruit, but his eyes curved into crescent moons with laughter.
He stood up straight, and tried his best to be modest.
"Dad, you flatter me. It's the food from the mountains that's good, the water is sweet, and the wild game that Mom hunts is delicious..."
He worked tirelessly, serving porridge to Xuan Chenzi, Sui He, and Xiao Shitou.
Finally, he picked up his own bowl and sat down next to Chen Yan.
He took a big, satisfying slurp and let out a small sigh.
As Shen Yan watched him wolf down his food while trying his best to maintain a refined demeanor, a warm and tender feeling welled up in her heart.
However, this warmth did not last long.
When Xuan Chenzi began teaching Shen Hong and Xiao Shitou more complex numerological deductions after dinner.
The little bull listened with wide eyes.
Her brows furrowed into a tight knot.
Those terms like "Pythagorean theorem," "square root extraction," and "excess or deficiency" were like gibberish to him.
He glanced at Little Stone, almost as soon as the Taoist priest finished posing the question.
The astonishing speed at which a few seemingly casual strokes of the finger on the sand table can produce a precise answer.
A profound sense of loss, like cold vines, quietly crept into my heart.
He quietly tidied up the dishes, washed his hands, and squatted at the kitchen doorway.
He sighed softly at the Frostblade White Wolf who was quietly keeping him company, resting his chin on his knees.
"Sigh, Frostblade, am I too stupid? Brother Hong and Little Stone are so amazing, they know everything from astronomy and geography to numerology and esoteric arts... All I know is how to work around the stove and cook a meal..."
He unconsciously drew meaningless lines on the ground with a twig.
Frostblade White Wolf seemed to understand.
The icy blue eyes glanced gently at the dejected little master, then at the "academic genius" deep in thought inside the room.
A low, soothing "groan" sound came from its throat.
It even gently rubbed its nose against the little bull's arm.
Just then, a small figure walked up to him.
I squatted down next to him, just like he did.
It's a small stone.
Little Stone didn't say anything, but quietly took the branch from Little Bull's hand and quickly drew an extremely complex pattern on the open ground next to him, made up of countless dots and lines, as if it were some kind of mysterious star trajectory projection diagram.
The little bull was dazzled and completely confused.
"elder brother."
Little Stone's voice was soft and gentle, with a childlike quality, yet it was exceptionally earnest.
"Look at this."
The little bull looked bewildered: "What...what is this? It looks like scribbles..."
"This is the 'Luoshu' deduction that the Taoist priest just mentioned. It is used to calculate the positions of the stars in the sky a long time from now."
Little Stone pointed at the intricate pattern, his face serious, "It's difficult, it takes a lot of brainpower."
The little bull was even more confused, feeling that his younger brother was so powerful that he was beyond human comprehension.
Little Stone stuffed the branch back into his hand.
Pointing to a small empty space next to the pattern.
"But, brother, look here."
The little bull looked down and saw where the little stone was pointing.
I don't know when, but he used the tip of a twig to draw a crooked yet vivid... steaming hot bun with a thin skin and a lot of filling! There were also a few specks of oil next to it, like they were just splattered from the pot.
"..." The little bull was completely stunned.
The little stone tilted its head up, its dark eyes sparkling as it looked at him.
It was filled with the purest sincerity and a peculiar kind of "worship".
"Brother, the steamed bun you drew is much more powerful than my 'Luo Shu'! It can fill the stomachs of me, the Taoist priest, Brother Hong, and Shuang Ren, and make us feel warm all over, so we have the energy to study and practice! Without your steamed bun, no matter how powerful my 'Luo Shu' is, my stomach will be growling with hunger and my eyes will be seeing stars, and I still won't be able to calculate it!"
After he finished speaking, he nodded vigorously.
Her little face was full of the expression that said, "This is the simplest truth in the world."
The little bull stared blankly at the crooked yet vibrant steamed bun pattern on the ground.
Then I looked into my younger brother's clear, sincere eyes, which held a hint of cunning.
Then think about those guys in the room who are currently starving and only maintain their "genius" image by being fed by him...
"Pfft—Hahaha!"
He couldn't help but burst out laughing.
A heavy sense of loss and frustration welled up in my chest.
My heart was instantly soothed by my younger brother's clumsy yet incredibly precise and heartwarming "comfort."
All that remained was a bright and warm space.
He grabbed Xiao Shitou and used his hands, which were still covered in oil and flour.
She vigorously ruffled her younger brother's soft hair.
"You little rascal! You're so good at sweet-talking people! From now on, I'll cook you delicious food every day!"
Little Stone's head shook as he rubbed it, but he didn't resist.
She simply pursed her lips, revealing a faint smile tinged with a hint of smugness and satisfaction.
Like a kitten whose fur has been stroked.
At the kitchen doorway, Frostblade White Wolf watched its two little masters hugging and giggling.
A hint of something extremely human... helplessness seemed to flash in his icy blue eyes?
It gracefully stood up and strolled to its earthenware pot.
Start enjoying the breakfast that was delayed by "Luoshu" and "baozi".
In the courtyard, Xuan Chenzi took in the whole scene, stroking his beard and smiling.
His eyes were full of kindness and a clear understanding of the world.
Shen Yan stood not far away, his heart surging with emotion.
He gazed at the radiant wisdom shining from the little stone, as bright as the stars.
Looking at the little bull's warm and comforting world, like a fireplace.
Looking at the clumsy yet incredibly sincere friendship between the brothers.
Then look at the wolf king, elegantly eating at the kitchen doorway.
And the children playing quietly around the wooden house, each with rosy complexions and pure eyes—
This tranquil place is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world.
It flows with a strange and tenacious vitality.
It made him immerse himself in it, made him yearn for it, and made him clearly understand for the first time what "home" is.
Exhaustion after a hard night's work.
The effects of that soaking in the hot springs have long since dissipated.
The warm spring water washed away the mud and sweat, and also miraculously nourished the muscles and bones.
Shen Yan felt completely relaxed and energetic, so much so that he didn't want to fall asleep.
He pulled Ling Zhan to sit down by the warm fire pit.
The leaping flames illuminated their slightly flushed cheeks, which were still flushed from their bath.
"Ah Zhan, look at the stars tonight, aren't they brighter than those in Linshan County?"
He was tired of making conversation.
His voice was languid and hoarse, as if he had been soaking in a hot spring, and he turned his head to look at the woman beside him.
The firelight outlined his incomparably handsome profile.
The rich spiritual energy at the mountain peak seemed to cast a hazy glow on his already outstanding appearance.
A few strands of wet black hair clung to her smooth forehead, and water droplets slid down her slender neck into her slightly open collar.
It added a touch of breathtaking, eerie beauty.
That is a beauty rarely found in the mortal world, a beauty cleansed by the essence of heaven and earth.
Ling Zhan's gaze was originally fixed on the leaping flames.
Upon hearing this, she subconsciously looked up at the starry sky outside the window, following his words. When she looked back, her gaze inadvertently swept over Chen Yan's face.
The flickering flames fell on his wet eyelashes.
It landed on his slightly parted, watery lips—
It landed on his jawline and neck, which were so smooth and almost perfectly sculpted…
Ling Zhan's gaze faltered for a fleeting moment.
This wasn't the first time she had seen his handsome appearance.
But at this moment, under the dual illumination of the spiritual energy of the clouds and the warm firelight.
This face seems to have shed its former playfulness, glamour, or scheming.
It reveals a kind of pure, breathtaking beauty.
A strange, subtle ripple swept across the depths of her usually calm heart.
Too fast to catch.
But it made her subconsciously look away.
He turned his gaze back to the depths of the flames and simply uttered a faint "hmm".
Shen Yan did not notice her sudden change in expression.
She simply assumed he was as aloof as usual.
They chattered on about what they had seen and heard on the mountaintop, enjoying this rare and peaceful time together.
Just then, Xuan Chenzi ended his chat with the children.
I walked slowly to the fire pit and looked down at the endless sea of clouds below.
His voice lowered, carrying a hint of imperceptible gravity, piercing through the somber murmurs.
"Young master, madam."
He looked at the two people sitting side by side.
"In the capital... things are probably in turmoil. The news of your 'retirement' won't be kept secret for long. The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease."
He sighed softly, his gaze deep.
"How long can this tranquil paradise atop the mountain last?"
The blush on Shen Yan's face, which had been warmed by the hot spring and the fire pit, faded instantly, and the lazy smile in her eyes froze.
Instead, it possesses a deep, profound, and sharp quality, like the ocean itself.
He instinctively straightened his back.
Ling Zhan also lifted his gaze from the flames.
The firelight reflected in his clear, cold eyes, yet they inexplicably exuded a chilling coldness like that of iron.
yes.
A storm is brewing.
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