Chapter 91 Extra: Yue Qingyuan and Shen Qingqiu
With a clang.
Shen Jiu kicked the small black wooden basin away.
He folded his hands and said nothing. The boy, who was probably fifteen or fourteen, shrank back.
The brothers beside him were all glaring at him, but he gritted his teeth and said, "Shen Jiu, don't be so overbearing. You didn't buy this street, so why can't you let us live here too!"
This street is wide and flat, with people coming and going. Some pedestrians are watching the children fighting, but most are just walking in a hurry.
If you want to beg, it is indeed a good place for feng shui.
This kid dared to challenge him. Shen Jiu lowered his head and was about to pick up a brick to teach him a lesson. Just then, a tall boy walked over. When he saw him rolling up his sleeves and lowering his head, he hurried over to stop him and said, "Xiao Jiu, let's go somewhere else."
Shen Jiu said: "No. I'm here."
The young man took the opportunity to complain: "Seventh Brother, he bullied me."
Yue Qi said: "I'm not bullying you, Fifteen, Xiao Jiu was just joking with you."
Shen Jiu said, "Who is kidding him? I'll tell him to get lost. This is my territory, and I'll kill anyone who tries to steal from me."
With Yue Qidan in front, Shiwu became bolder and shouted, "Don't think you're so great. Every time you go to a new place, you occupy the best seat. Everyone has been wanting to beat you up for a long time!"
Yue Qingyuan reproached, “Fifteen.” Shen Jiu kicked Yue Qi’s calf during the struggle, “You dare to beat me up if you want to? You just complain when you have no ability. Bastard, who is your seventh brother? Try to shout again!”
"You are a bastard. You should be sold off sooner rather than later! Sold off to be a turtle man!"
Yue Qi didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Where did you learn such nonsense!" He pulled Shen Jiu to the side of the road and coaxed him: "Okay, you are the most capable. We don't care about the place, let's go to another street."
Shen Jiu stepped on his foot: "Get out of here! Are you afraid of him? I'm not afraid of him in a one-on-one fight or in a group!"
Yue Qi knew that if Shen Jiu really fought with them, he would use ruthless tactics, digging out eyes and poking at crotches, and it would be others who would suffer and cry. He suppressed his laughter and said, "Have you stepped on me enough? Stop it. Brother Qi will take you out to play."
Shen Jiuye said fiercely: "What the hell! It would be fun if they were all dead."
Yue Qi looked at him and shook his head helplessly.
There are seven and nine, so naturally there are one to six.
However, among the early batch of children, those above the age of six were either sold or died early.
Shen Jiu was a small, skinny guy. Yue Qi was sitting on the ground, holding his head. In front of him was a piece of "blood writing", which said that both his brothers and parents had passed away, and that he had been in trouble in finding relatives in other places, and was lonely and helpless.
According to the requirements, Yue Qi should cry loudly, but he couldn't cry no matter what, so this task always fell on Shen Jiu, who was supposed to pretend to be sick and die.
He is small with a pretty face, and he cries loudly. Passers-by feel pity for him and donate money to him generously. It is no exaggeration to say that he is a money-making tree.
Later, as Yue grew older, he became less and less willing to do this kind of work, so he was sent to patrol the area.
The two were about to go around this busiest street when they suddenly heard a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats.
The vendors on both sides were horrified, some pushing their carts, some running away, as if they were facing a powerful enemy. Yue Qi didn't understand what was going on, Shen Jiugang dragged him to the side of the road, and a tall horse came around the street with a clatter.
The horse bit was made of pure gold, shining brightly and heavy, and on it sat a young master who was very energetic. He had a brilliant face, long eyebrows and eyes, and two bright lights in his black pupils, which were so bright that they pierced people. The hem of his purple robe spread widely on both sides of the saddle, his sleeves were tightly gathered, and in his white hands he held a black whip.
Shen Jiu was dazzled by the golden color and couldn't help but stick his head out. Yue Qi quickly dragged him back and the two of them moved away.
Not long after walking, they suddenly heard screams and a group of little brothers ran over and threw themselves at Yue Qi, frightening him so much that his nose and eyes were about to burst into tears. Shen Jiu was furious, and Yue Qi hurriedly asked, "Why are you crying? What's wrong?"
Someone screamed, "Fifteen is gone!"
Yue Qi immediately stopped in his tracks: "He didn't follow?"
The child cried out: "It was too chaotic on the street just now, I didn't see clearly..."
Yue Qi said: "Don't be impatient, speak slowly."
It turned out that the young master on horseback led his servants around the corner and saw Fifteen and the others at the corner of the street. He wrinkled his nose and asked, "Where are you from?"
A servant said, "Master Qiu, I wonder where this beggar came from."
The young master asked, "Why do you keep these filthy things?"
The servants did not need any further instructions from their master and rushed over to attack.
Fifteen had finally managed to wrest the territory from Shen Jiu, so how could he be willing to be chased away like this? He stretched his neck and shouted, "What right do you have to chase me away..."
He was about to say “this street is not yours”, but the young master waved his hand, a black shadow fell, and a bloody whip mark appeared on his face.
The whip marks were only a few millimeters away from his eyeball. Fifteen didn't have time to feel the pain, he was just stunned by the shock.
The young master smiled and said, "It's not because of anything. It's because this street was built by my family."
Fifteen didn't know whether he fainted from fear or pain, but he fell to the ground with a thud.
Shen Jiu burst into laughter before he finished listening, but he soon stopped laughing. Yue Qidian found that a few people were missing and turned back to say, "You go first, I'll be right over."
Shen Jiu gloated over the misfortune: "Don't meddle in other people's business. Does Qiu really dare to kill them?"
Yue Qi shook his head and said, "You go back first. I'm the oldest, I can't just ignore him."
Shen Jiu said: "You won't die. At most you'll get a beating. If you can't kill me, I'll just learn my lesson."
Yue Qi said: "Go back."
Shen Jiu couldn't stop him and scolded: "Seventh Brother, you are too nosy!"
After cursing, he followed.
Qiu Jianluo thinks Shen Jiu is very interesting.
It's like beating a dog. If you hit a dog, it will droop its head, shrink to the side and whimper. It's not threatening, but it's also meaningless. But if you step on this dog, it will growl and grumble, look at you in fear, and dare not resist. This is much more interesting.
He slapped Shen Jiu in the face. Shen Jiu must have cursed the Qiu family's ancestors a hundred and eighteen times in his heart, but he still had to take the kick obediently and stretch his face over to let him hit him.
It's really fun!
Qiu Jianluo thought about it and couldn't help laughing out loud.
Shen Jiugang got beaten up badly and huddled aside with his head in his hands. Seeing him laughing so hard, he really thought he was a lunatic.
Qiu Jian Luogang locked up Shen Jiu for a few days when he bought him back, and he was covered in dirt. Seeing that he was disgusted, he picked up the kitten and gave it to a few burly servants to "clean up" him.
So, Shen Jiu was really washed thoroughly, and his skin was almost scraped off, before he was taken back to the study.
After the old dirt on his body was washed off, his face, shoulders and arms were rubbing too hard, and they looked rosy. His wet hair was still steaming. He was dressed neatly and stood aside in a proper manner, looking quite pitiful.
Qiu Jianluo tilted his head and looked at it for a long time. He felt a little strange and a little happy. He didn't kick it as he wanted to.
He asked, "Can you read?"
Shen Jiu whispered, "How many do you know?"
Qiu Jianluo spread out a piece of snow-white paper and tapped the table: "Write it down and see."
Shen Jiu reluctantly picked up a small wolf hair brush, holding it in a very good position. He put a little ink in it, thought for a moment, wrote a "seven", paused, and then wrote a "nine".
Although the strokes are backwards, they are not crooked or tilted, but straight and elegant. Qiu Jianluo asked, "Where did you learn this?"
Shen Jiu said: "It depends on what people wrote."
This kid knows nothing and can only copy others, but he can actually fool people. Qiu Jianluo was very surprised.
So, he became more amiable, imitating the tone of his old teacher, praising him: "You have some talent. If you are willing to learn something in the future, you may be able to get on the right track."
Qiu Jian Luobi is four years older than Shen Jiu. At the age of sixteen, he is placed with high hopes by his parents. He was raised in a house built of golden bricks, and his parents don't care about anyone. The only treasure in his life is his younger sister Haitang.
Haitang is also the sweetheart of the Quanqiu family. Qiu Jianluo has always been a good brother to Haitang. In the past, he hoped that his sister would never get married, but after Shen Jiu came, he had other plans.
Qiu Haitang likes Shen Jiu very much.
If Shen Jiu can be taught well and become a cheap aunt, it seems not bad. With his sister by his side, Shen Jiu can continue to stay for fun. As long as he is honest and obedient, everything will be fine.
If she married him, she wouldn't have to travel far, and she would still have to rely on her own family for food and clothing, which was no different from not marrying him. Except for the possibility that she might be a good match for Shen Jiulue, who was a swan with a scabby face, there was almost nothing wrong with her.
Qiu Jianluo had a good plan and often warned Shen Jiu: "If you dare to make Haitang unhappy, I will kill you."
"Without Haitang, I would have beaten you to death long ago."
"People should be grateful and repay kindness. Our family has helped you become a human being, and even if you repay it with your life, it is what you should do."
The older Shen Jiu got, the more he understood that he could not disobey this man. He had to agree to whatever he said, and even if he felt uncomfortable in his heart, he could not show it, so as not to be beaten.
But deep down he always missed the day when he first met Qiu Jianluo, the only time he made that beast Qiu Jianluo go crazy.
Yue Qi insisted on taking Shiwu and the others back, and was about to run into Qiu Jianluo's horse hooves. In an instant, Shen Jiu forgot that Yue Qi had warned him that their "magic technique" should not be seen by others, and the gold turned into a sharp blade and pierced into the horse's bones.
Qiu Jianluo rode his horse in circles on the street, the horse jumping wildly. Shen Jiu cursed him in his heart and hoped he would fall off and break his neck. But Qiu Jianluo's riding skills were amazing. He sat steadily on the saddle with the horse's front hooves hanging in the air, roaring, "Who did it?! Who did it!"
Of course it was Shen Jiu who did it.
But if Fifteen didn't speak up when Qiu Jianluo came to the door later, no one would know that he was the one who did it.
如果不是他們救了他，十五已經被踩死在秋家的亂蹄之下。他撿回一條小命，卻反過來出賣了他們。十五應該被踩死。當初岳七就不該回去救他。他死了也是活該！
沈九就靠反複咀嚼這點甜蜜又于事無補的惡毒聯想取得慰藉，度過一日又一日的煎熬。
關于七哥為什麽沒有回來找他，沈九想過很多。
可能逃走的時候被發現打斷了腿，可能路上沒幹糧吃被餓死了，可能沒有哪座仙山肯收留。還想過如果他死了自己會怎樣邊哭邊用手給他的白骨刨坑，如果活着自己會怎樣不顧一切救他出水深火熱——即便沈九自己才出狼窩又進虎穴，本身也處于水深火熱。
可他無論如何也沒想過，會在這種情形下再見。
他重複着手起劍落、手起劍落的姿勢，鮮血橫飛，畫面凄厲。眼睛濺入血珠，只是眨了眨眼皮，再沒有多的表情，動作可以說是從容而娴熟的。
無厭子把他帶出秋家之後，教給他這個“徒弟”最多的，就是如何殺人放火，偷雞摸狗，渾水摸魚。比如這樣，趁仙盟大會，打劫一幫幼稚可笑，偏還自以為是修仙精英的世家子弟，搶走他們的儲物袋，處理掉他們的屍體。
岳七發現他時，一定被他這幅人不人鬼不鬼的模樣驚呆了，連地上那幾具別派弟子的屍身都視而不見，往前走了兩步。
沈九打了個哆嗦，猛地擡頭。
岳七看清了他的臉，剎那間，眼眶便通紅了。
沈九忙厲聲道：“別過來！”
他竟有些六神無主，第一反應是撲到地上，從屍身上搶過求救煙花，向天放出。
岳七仍是懵懵懂懂的震驚着，邊走邊朝他伸出手，張口要喊——
桀桀的怪笑從一旁的密林中傳出。
“乖徒弟，這是個什麽人，把你唬成這個樣子。你也有害怕的時候？”
沈九一松手，手裏煙花筒無聲無息墜落在地。
他猛地轉身：“師傅，我不是怕他，剛才我一時失手，沒留神讓地上這幾個把求救煙花放出去了。怕是馬上就有人要過來了！”
岳七終于發覺事态似乎十分危急，不動聲色，指尖扣起一發靈力。
無厭子哼道：“方才我看到那煙花，就猜是這麽回事。你手腳一貫利索，這次怎麽回事！”
沈九低頭道：“都是弟子的錯。”
岳七擋在他們面前，舉起手中佩劍，仍是微微發紅的眼睛看了沈九一下，聲音沙啞，卻異常堅定：“你們不能離開。”
沈九對他怒目而視。
無厭子一打量他，再打量他的佩劍，嗤笑道：“蒼穹山派的。還是穹頂峰的。玄肅，岳清源？”
沈九聽了，微微一怔，很快又道：“師傅，既然是蒼穹山的，一時半會兒也殺不了他，不如我們快些逃走。人都追來了咱們就完了！”
無厭子冷笑道：“蒼穹山派雖然大，我也不至于怕了個小輩。何況是他自己找死。”
等他和岳七真正交手起來，沈九發現自己原先對岳七性命的擔憂極其可笑。
自己怕無厭子這個“師父”怕得要死，而岳七或說岳清源對上他，即便不拔劍也游刃有餘。
可他不能完全放心，因為他熟悉無厭子的作戰方式和保命王牌。無厭子有一套惡詛黑符咒，他無數次看到無厭子在落于下風後抛出這一打符咒，出其不意中将對手擊殺。連許多成名修士都逃不過他這一招，更何況岳七現在一看就沒多少應敵經驗，一板一眼。
只是無厭子這次沒機會抛出那套黑符了。因為沈九在他背後捅了一劍。
岳七抓住他的手，奪命狂奔，經過一番惡戰，兩人驚魂未定，靠在一棵樹上，喘息不止。
冷靜下來後，沈九才開始仔細打量岳七。
氣度沉穩，衣着光鮮，俨然大家風範。和他想象中認定的水深火熱分毫不沾邊。
這是岳清源，不是岳七。
岳清源神情激動，張了張嘴，正要說話，沈九沉着面，劈頭蓋臉問道：“你進了蒼穹山派？”
岳清源不知想到了什麽，激動的神色稍稍萎靡，臉色漸漸發白。
“你做了穹頂峰的首徒，為什麽不回來找我？”
“我……”
沈九等了一會兒，沒等到接下來的話，道：“怎麽不繼續說？我等着你呢。反正已經等了好幾年，再多等一會兒也無妨。”
岳清源哪還能繼續說。
沈九抱起手臂，終于等來了岳清源低低的聲音：“是七哥對不起你。”
沈九心中升起鋪天蓋地、彌漫着血腥味的冷冷的憤怒，仿佛鼻腔和嘴巴裏真的能嘗到氣急攻心的血腥味。
他先是一只忍氣吞聲、抱頭待打的老鼠，然後是一只陰溝裏到處亂竄、人人喊打的老鼠。無論怎麽變都是老鼠。藏頭夾尾，見不得光。虛度年華，浪費光陰。岳清源則是一只真正飛上枝頭的鳳凰，躍過龍門的鯉魚。
他道：“對不起對不起……你從前就只知道說對不起。”
沈九冷笑，一錘定音：“沒有任何用。”
有種人是天生的壞胚子。沈九想，他大概就是這種惡毒的壞胚子。因為他有一個極其強烈清晰的念頭：
他寧可見到死在不知名角落的岳七寒碜的屍骨，也不想看到一個優雅且安然無恙的岳清源。
沈九讨厭的東西和讨厭的人太多了。
一個人如果什麽都讨厭，那麽他的性格必然很難說好。
萬幸，當他成為沈清秋時，已經懂得如何讓它至少不流于表面。
蒼穹山派中，他最讨厭的無疑是柳清歌。
柳清歌少年得志，天賦出衆，靈力高強，劍法驚絕。家世優渥，父母雙全。這些東西裏面無論拿出哪一點，都值得讓他咬牙切齒輾轉反側上三天三夜，何況還聚于一身。
蒼穹山派十二峰演武年會上，沈清秋的對戰對象是柳清歌。
結局自然是毫無疑問地輸了。
輸給未來的百戰峰峰主，這沒什麽好丢人的，或說本該如此，這才是正常。
可沈清秋絕對不會這麽想。他能看到的不是旁人對自己與他堅持周旋了這麽久的驚嘆，只有柳清歌将乘鸾劍尖點在他喉嚨前毫厘之處時的理所當然的倨傲。
清靜峰自诩君子峰，沈清秋扮君子扮得如魚得水，但柳清歌總能逼得他戾氣暴長，連僞裝同門和諧的精力都不想浪費。
沈清秋說：“柳清歌我遲早殺了你！”
柳清歌看他一眼：“憑你？”
只有兩個字，沈清秋卻從中聽出了無窮無盡的刻毒意味，手腕一轉。
岳清源見勢不好，把他手肘下壓，止住拔劍的動作，回頭喝道：“還不走！”
柳清歌似乎也懶得糾纏下去，冷笑一聲，身影瞬息之間消失。只剩下暖紅閣廂房中的兩人，一個衣衫不整，一個一絲不茍。
岳清源把沈清秋從床上揪起來，難得帶了氣：“你怎麽能這樣？”
沈清秋道：“我怎麽樣？”
岳清源道：“蒼穹山派的弟子，在秦樓楚館大打出手。好聽嗎？”
沈清秋道：“你們不說我不說，誰知道哪門哪派！蒼穹山派是蒼穹山派，蒼穹山派哪一條門規規定過，本派弟子就不能來這裏。蒼穹山又不是和尚廟道士觀，管天管地管不着我找姑娘。”
蒼穹山派是沒有明文規定過，可修真之人，本身就該懂的清心養性的道理，自覺自律，尤其是清靜峰，峰主歷來潔身自好。這不成文的共識反倒成了沈清秋狡辯的理由。
岳清源被他噎得說不出話，一陣咽氣吞聲，悶悶地道：“我不會說的。柳師弟他們也不會說的。不會有人知道的。只是……女色有損修為。”
沈清秋冷笑：“你沒聽到你柳師弟那兩個字的語氣？損不損都這樣了。”
岳清源默然片刻，道：“柳師弟其實人不壞。他并非針對你，只是對誰都一樣。”
沈清秋嗤道：“‘對誰都一樣’？掌門師兄千萬別诓我。對你也是一樣？”
岳清源耐心地道：“你若是對他付諸一份善意，他就會雙倍回報于你。”
沈清秋說：“掌門師兄當真善解人意。只不過他怎麽不先對我付諸善意。怎麽不先可憐可憐我？”
刀槍不入到這個份上，岳清源也難以開口了。
他自然不能直說，要不是你在演武會後想盡手段暗中使絆偷襲他要給他難看，如今和柳清歌也不會一沾即眼紅，相看兩厭。這麽說了，沈清秋勢必會翻臉翻得更難看。
暖紅閣裏原先的姑娘被吓跑了，沈清秋呆在這裏也沒意思，摔開手，跳下床，把肩頭衣服扯上去，修雅插入鞘中，轉身道：“你怎麽知道來這裏找我？誰給你報的信？”
岳清源道：“我去清靜峰，沒看到你。卻看到百戰峰的師弟們準備上去。”
“準備上去幹什麽？”
“……”
這次的沖突其實巧的很。
一名百戰峰弟子到偏遠小城執行任務，恰好看到一個眼熟的人進了暖紅閣。
百戰峰上下和柳清歌一樣，對沈清秋無甚善意。見此機會哪肯放過，當即跟了進去，譏諷沈清秋平時假德行扮清高，居然出入這種地方，真是丢盡了本門本派的臉。
三言兩語不合，沈清秋将他打成重傷。這名弟子回百戰峰後，又被柳清歌撞上。追問之下，柳清歌火冒三丈，立即禦劍趕來找他算賬，準備一拳不落地打回來。
如果不是岳清源逮到了準備去清靜峰圍堵沈清秋竹舍的百戰峰師弟們，還不知道這小城會被他們砸成什麽樣。
見岳清源閉口不言，沈清秋也能猜得出來，百戰峰哪會打算幹什麽好事，也不問了：“你去清靜峰幹什麽？我不是讓你別來找我嗎。”
岳清源道：“就是想看看你過得如何。”
沈清秋道：“牢岳師兄費心。過得很好。雖然是個讨人嫌的東西，好在清靜峰峰主不嫌棄。”
岳清源跟在他身後，嘆道：“如果真的過的好，你為什麽從來不在清靜峰留宿？”
沈清秋陰陰地看他一眼。
他知道，岳清源一定是以為他在清靜峰遭人排擠。
其實他這回還真猜錯了。沈清秋雖然沒有得到同輩的喜愛，但也不至于被排擠到連個通鋪都擠不了。
他只是憎惡跟同性別的人擠在一起。
當年，每每被秋剪羅毆打之後，他總會爬去秋海棠懷裏瑟瑟發抖。那是他唯一能躲的地方。從前這樣的一個女人是他們中的大姐。可是年紀到了以後，大姐就被賣給一個幹癟的老男人做填房了。
喜歡女人一點也不可恥，但是把女人當救星，縮到她們懷裏找自信，不用人說，沈清秋也知道極其可恥，所以他死也不會告訴別人，尤其是告訴岳清源。
沈清秋慢條斯理道：“我若是說，我在清靜峰過得不好，你打算怎麽辦？把我弄進穹頂峰？”
岳清源想了想，鄭重道：“如果你想。”
沈清秋果斷地哼道：“我當然不想。我要做首徒，你肯把這個位置讓給我做？你肯讓我做掌門？”
擲地有聲：“十二峰中，清靜峰好歹排行第二，我還不如等着坐這個位置。”
岳清源苦笑：“小九，你何必總是這樣。”
聽到這個名字，沈清秋背後一片戰栗，心中無比煩躁：“別這麽叫我！”
清字輩中沈九機敏，頗得峰主喜愛。是以入門不多時，而且根基不比旁人，卻仍被定為下一任接班人。峰主給首徒取名之後，原先的名字便棄之不用。
從前秋剪羅逼他學讀書寫字，沈九不肯學，惡之成狂，如今卻偏偏靠着讀書背書比旁人聰明，才得了清靜峰峰主的青睐。更可笑的是，天底下那麽多字號，偏巧峰主給他取了一個“秋”字。
再可笑、再咬牙切齒，沈清秋也不會不要它。這個名字代表的，就是他從今往後、煥然一新的人生。
沈清秋整頓心思，笑吟吟地道：“原先的名字我已忘了。
“請掌門師兄也忘掉吧。
岳清源看着他的笑容，縱使有再多想說的話，也說不出來了。
沈清秋終是沉不住氣，去了一趟穹頂峰。
穹頂峰，沈清秋一直能少去則少去。岳清源，則是能不見則不見。
每年的十二峰演武會對他來說是件相當麻煩的事。
蒼穹山派十二峰有固定排位，排位無關每峰實力，只是由蒼穹山派最初代開山峰主們的成名時間決定。後代峰主之間相互稱呼便是根據排位決定，而非根據入門先後順序。所以，即使他入門比柳清歌晚了許久，可清靜峰排名第二，僅次于穹頂峰，百戰峰排名第七，柳清歌還是不得不老老實實叫他一聲“師兄”。
可同時，也因為這個排位，每次穹頂峰和清靜峰的弟子都列于相同的方陣內，首徒更是不能不站在一起。
岳清源在其他時候逮不到他的人，就會抓緊這個機會不停地喋喋不休問東問西。大到修煉心得，小到溫飽寒暖。沈清秋雖不厭其煩，但也不會笨到大庭廣衆之下給掌門首席弟子難堪。岳清源問二十句，他回一句，疏離卻不失禮，心裏卻在琢磨昨晚背的法訣，盤算別的事情。
這是每年演武會最滑稽的一道風景。這兩人或許不知道，可對許多弟子而言，演武會正式開始之前，看兩位首席弟子一個無視肅靜小聲嘀嘀咕咕，一個心不在焉忍耐嗯嗯啊啊，是冗長的峰主發言一節間唯一的樂趣。
所以，沈清秋主動上穹頂峰，不光岳清源驚訝且高興，幾乎所有在場的弟子都覺得分外有趣。
沈清秋卻沒什麽話好說，更沒興趣給人當猴戲看，前腳申請了靈犀洞駐修權，後腳拔腿便走。
靈犀洞靈氣充沛，與外界隔絕。沈清秋在內穿行，臉色越來越陰沉。
在秋剪羅和無厭子手下荒廢的那些時日，畢竟還是有影響。
新一代的峰主們中，岳清源自然是最早結丹的。齊清萋和柳清歌幾乎是同時緊接着突破，連安定峰尚清華那種碌碌之輩都在正式即位之前跟上了境界。
沈清秋越是心急，越是卡在那裏不上不下。焦慮不安，每日都像吞了幾百斤煙草炮仗，在腹中腦中燒得心浮氣躁，怒火狂飙。
他這副樣子，自然誰也不敢惹他。只是不敢惹，不代表沈清秋就會放過。
洛冰河明明拿着他給的錯誤的入門心法，早該練得七竅流血五體爆裂而亡，可為什麽非但沒有如此，他的境界反而還在穩穩提升！
早跟寧嬰嬰說了千遍萬遍離洛冰河遠遠的不許混作一團，為什麽每天都能看見他們在眼前竊竊私語！
沈清秋疑神疑鬼，總覺得所有人都在背地裏讨論他遲遲無法結丹的事，不服他的位置，想暗地裏下陰手，把他取而代之。
此次靈犀洞閉關，如果不能突破……
沈清秋在石臺上，兀自往下胡思亂想，白白把自己想出了一身冷汗。氣息不通，眼冒金星，同時有一股靈力再脈絡中橫行霸道，這可非同小可，心裏一慌，連忙坐定，試圖收回神思。
忽覺有一人靠近背後，沈清秋毛骨悚然，霍然持起修雅，出鞘一半，厲聲道：“誰？！”
一只手掌輕輕壓在他肩頭。
岳清源道：“是我。”
沈清秋：“……”
岳清源繼續給他輸送靈力，平息狂暴如亂蹄的靈流躁動，道：“是我不好，吓到師弟了。”
沈清秋剛剛是真的被自己的胡思亂想吓到了，正因為如此，才更聽不得別人戳穿，愠道：“吓誰？！掌門師兄不是從來不入靈犀洞閉關？何至于我一來就要跟我搶地方！”
岳清源道：“我并不是從來不入。我……以前也是進來過的。”
沈清秋莫名其妙：“誰關心您來沒來過？”
岳清源嘆氣：“師弟，你就不能少說兩句，專心調氣平息嗎？”
幹涸的石燭臺上，幽幽燃□□點明火。
看清他挑選的這一處洞府的全貌後，沈清秋怔了一怔，脫口道：“這裏有人死鬥過？”
洞壁上皆是刀劈斧砍的痕跡，仿佛人臉上層層疊疊的傷疤，猙獰駭人。
岳清源在他身後說：“沒有。靈犀洞內不允互鬥。”
除了劍痕，還有大片大片的暗紅色血跡。
有的像是用利刃穿刺身體，噴濺上去的。有的則像是有人用額頭對着岩壁，叩首一般，仿佛哀求着什麽，一下又一下磕上去的痕跡。
沈清秋盯着那幾乎成了黑色的血跡，說：“那……就是有人在這裏死了？”
他們兩個相處時，通常都是岳清源不厭其煩地說着話，從來沒有這種岳清源一語不發的情形。沈清秋很不習慣，雞皮疙瘩都起來了，不情不願中沒話找話道：“聽說靈犀洞有時候會關押一些走火入魔的人？”
良久，岳清源微弱地“唔”了一聲，不置可否。
沈清秋道：“看來這人是真的很想出去，掙紮了很久才死。”
如果這些血是同一個人流的，不死也要去半條命了。
沈清秋說着，忽然覺得岳清源貼在自己肩頭的手不太對勁。
他警覺道：“你怎麽了？”
半晌，岳清源才道：“沒什麽。”
沈清秋閉嘴了。
他看不見岳清源的表情，但他的手在微微發抖。
沈清秋醒過來的時候，覺得身上的傷口傳來絲絲清涼。之前生不如死的灼痛緩解了不少。
勉強睜開眼睛，有一道身影靠在他近旁，單膝跪地，正俯首察看他的狀況。
黑色的下擺平鋪在縫隙中生滿苔藓的石地上，沉沉壓着一柄古樸的長劍，倒着幾只已經空了的藥瓶。
劍是玄肅。人還是那張溫和俊逸的臉，只是比平時蒼白了不少，滿面倦容。
當然是岳清源的臉。這個時候也只有岳清源還會來看他了。
沈清秋開口，聲音嘶啞：“你怎麽進來的？”
洛冰河一心不讓他好過，怎麽會肯讓岳清源進水牢來幫他吊一口氣。
Seeing that he could still speak, Yue Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. While holding his hand, he whispered, “Stop talking. Concentrate your energy and focus your mind.”
He wanted to transfer spiritual power to Shen Qingqiu so that the wound would heal faster. Shen Qingqiu finally didn't get rid of him this time, because he was thinking: That's right, he is the leader of a sect after all, no matter how tough Luo Binghe and the old man from Huanhua Palace are, they have to show some courtesy on the surface.
But it probably took a lot of effort to get in.
Spiritual energy flowed through the wound, and the pain of his skin and flesh piercing him like steel needles. Shen Qingqiu gritted his teeth and laughed out of hatred: "Luo Binghe, this little bastard, has quite a few tricks up his sleeve."
Hearing the deep malice in his tone, Yue Qingyuan sighed.
Yue Qingyuan is not actually a person who likes to sigh, but Shen Qingqiu always has the ability to make him full of wounds.
He said wearily, "...Junior Brother. At this point, why don't you think about your mistakes at all?"
Shen Qingqiu has always refused to admit his mistakes, especially in front of Yue Qingyuan, so don't even think about him letting go.
Shen Qingqiu said: "What's my fault? If Luo Binghe isn't a bastard, then what is he? Just wait and see. He won't be satisfied with just dealing with me. If there's going to be a big uproar in the cultivation world in the future, my only fault is that I didn't kill him with a single sword."
Yue Qingyuan shook his head, as if he had expected this answer, and he didn't want to give any advice or admonitions. Now that things had come to this, any advice or admonitions were useless.
He suddenly asked, "Did you really kill Junior Brother Liu?"
Shen Qingqiu didn't want to look at his expression when speaking.
But he still couldn't help but look up at Yue Qingyuan's expression.
He paused, then suddenly pulled his hand out of Yue Qingyuan's grasp and sat up from the ground.
Yue Qingyuan said: "I didn't expect that you would really kill him."
Shen Qingqiu said coldly: "I've already killed him, don't you think it's too late for you to blame me now?"
Yue Qingyuan said slowly: "I have no right to blame you."
His expression and eyes were extremely calm, so calm that Shen Qingqiu felt inexplicably annoyed and angry: "Then what do you mean?!"
"Junior Brother, have you ever thought that if you hadn't treated Luo Binghe that way, none of this would have happened today."
Shen Qingqiu laughed dumbly.
"Master, why would you say such a ridiculous thing? What happened has happened. Even if I have thought about it a thousand times or ten thousand times, there is no if, no then - there is no chance of saving it!"
Yue Qingyuan raised his face slightly.
Shen Qingqiu knew that his words were like stabbing a knife into his chest. He was relieved at first, but when he saw him sitting on the ground in a daze, staring at him blankly, with all his composure and dignity gone, he seemed to have aged many years in an instant, and suddenly a strange feeling welled up in his heart.
Probably out of pity.
He really felt a little pity for the head of the Cangqiong Mountain Sect, Yue, who remained calm and composed even when faced with a mountain collapse.
This kind of compassion suddenly relieved something that had been pent up in Shen Qingqiu's heart for many years.
He thought happily that Yue Qingyuan had really been very kind to him.
No matter how guilty I feel, I should have made amends long ago.
Shen Qingqiu said, “Go now. I tell you, even if I do it again, the result will still be the same. I have a vicious mind and am full of resentment. Luo Binghe wants me to die a miserable death today, and it is all my own fault.”
Yue Qingyuan asked: "Do you still have hatred in your heart now?"
Shen Qingqiu laughed loudly: "I just want to see others unhappy, so that I can feel happy myself. What do you think?"
“If you still have hatred.” Yue Qingyuan nodded and stood at attention: “Pull out Xuan Su and kill me. At least it will make your hatred disappear.”
Shen Qingqiu sneered, "Master Yue, I'm going to kill you here? Do you think the charges Luo Binghe has given me are not enough? Besides, who do you think you are? I am beyond help, and Master Yue thinks of himself as the panacea. It's really too much of a compliment."
Yue Qingyuan seemed to have mustered up his courage and called out, “Xiao Jiu…”
Shen Qingqiu said decisively: "Don't call me that."
Yue Qingyuan lowered his head, held his hand again, and injected endless spiritual power into him to relieve his injuries.
As if his courage had been shattered, Yue Qingyuan did not speak again for the next moment.
After losing, Shen Qingqiu said: "Get lost. Don't show up in front of me from now on."
Yue Qingyuan then walked out.
Go as far as you can, Master Yue.
If I can escape this disaster, from now on, I will never have any contact with people like Shen Qingqiu again.
Shen Qingqiu stared at the entrance to the cellar with his only remaining eye.
After watching for who knows how many days, Luo Binghe finally arrived.
Even in the dark and damp dungeon, Luo Binghe was still elegant and graceful, not stained by any dust, and the ground he stepped on turned into dirty black bloodstains.
"Master Yue really showed up as expected. I really have to thank Master for that mournful and tactful letter in blood. Otherwise, I would not have been able to do it so easily. I originally wanted to bring Master Yue's body back for Master to see, but the arrow was poisoned. When I approached and touched it lightly, Master Yue... Oh, I can only bring back a sword as a souvenir for Master."
Luo Binghe lied to him.
Luo Binghe is a shameless little liar who is full of lies. He has told too many lies.
But Shen Qingqiu didn't understand.
Luo Binghe sat down on the chair beside him. This was the seat he always sat on when he watched Shen Qingqiu wail and scream. He scraped the tea leaves floating in the steaming cup and commented: "A famous sword mates a hero. Xuan Su is indeed a good sword, and it is worthy of this Master Yue. However, there is something more mysterious about it. Master is here to rest for the rest of his life. If you have nothing to do, you can take a good look. It must be very interesting."
He had thought about it countless times, the last time they met in the water dungeon of Huanhua Palace, he did his best to be sarcastic and vicious, and told Yue Qingyuan to get out, and Yue Qingyuan got out. He might not accept the invitation in the blood letter. But if anyone could think normally, they would not step into this trap that was not concealed at all.
I don’t understand.
Why?
Didn't you say you wouldn't come?
Luo Binghe was quite satisfied with the result, and said with a smile: "Oh, by the way. Although the blood letter from Master is very touching, it is too sloppy and casual. After all, it was written in great pain, and I understand. So to show my sincerity, I specially attached two other things."
Shen Qingqiu understood that the “other things” were the two legs that originally grew on his body.
This is so funny.
He won't come when I tell him to. He comes when I don't want him to come.
Shen Qingqiu had a cold smile on his face: "Ha. Haha. Yue Qingyuan, Yue Qingyuan."
Luo Binghe was originally in a happy mood, but when he saw him smiling strangely, he became inexplicably unhappy.
He asked gently, "What are you laughing at?"
Shen Qingqiu ignored him and sneered.
Luo Binghe put away his smug look and said with concentration: "Master, you don't think that pretending to be crazy and stupid will work for me, right?"
Shen Qingqiu said word by word: "Luo Binghe, you are a bastard, do you know that?"
The surroundings suddenly became quiet.
Luo Binghe stared at him, and Shen Qingqiu stared back at him.
Suddenly, Luo Binghe raised the corner of his lips, and put his right hand on Shen Qingqiu's left shoulder and squeezed it.
The scream was shrill and frightening.
Blood gushed out from the cut on Shen Qingqiu’s right arm. He screamed and laughed, gasping for breath: “Luo Binghe, hahahaha… Luo Binghe…”
The scene was extremely jarring.
To Luo Binghe, torturing Shen Qingqiu was originally a very pleasant thing. Shen Qingqiu's screams could make him feel like he was in ecstasy. But this time, for some reason, Luo Binghe was not so happy.
His chest was rising and falling more and more violently. He kicked Shen Qingqiu over, causing him to spin several times on the ground, blood all over the ground.
Luo Binghe had torn off his two legs in the same way, just like tearing off the limbs of a bug. After the pain was so severe that he felt like he was in hell, the feeling was unreal.
Shen Qingqiu, on the other hand, spoke clearly and logically: “Luo Binghe, you are where you are today because of me, why don’t you thank me and instead be so ungrateful? You are indeed an ungrateful bastard, hahahaha…”
After his rage, Luo Binghe suddenly calmed down, smiled sinisterly, and whispered softly: "You want to die? How can it be so easy. Master, you have done many evil things in your life. You have harmed those who have grudges against you, and those who have no grudges against you. You are half dead and you still have a sect leader. If you don't die slowly and let everyone suffer at the same time, how can you be worthy of them?"
He waved his hand, and Xuan Su's broken sword fell to the ground.
Hearing this sound, Shen Qingqiu felt as if a fist was stuffed into his throat, and his laughter stopped abruptly.
With disheveled hair and bloodstained face, his eyes shone brighter and brighter as if burning with white fire. He moved towards the broken sword tremblingly.
Nothing is left.
Only one sword is left.
He was the one who made Luo Binghe what he is today, but who was the one who created his ending?
Yue Qingyuan shouldn't have ended up like this.
To fulfill a promise that was decades overdue and was of no use.
The sword cuts and kills.
It shouldn't be like this.
The blood line spread, and just when it was about to gather into a knot, it went astray.
Broken.