Makeup Chapter 8
Meng Shizhuang took a quick look at the three people surrounding him. Only one of them looked familiar. A few days ago, he had threatened to dig out his eyes, and even added a sentence "A good man does not fight with a woman" to let him go.
He glanced at him with a gloomy look, and the other person's calves immediately trembled. He stared straight ahead with a stiff neck.
Ah Wu could hear his own frantic heartbeat, and a guilty sweat broke out all over his body. It was as if he had secretly dug the hole where Black Dog had hidden his steamed buns before going up the mountain, and the black dog was circling around him. The person he had bullied not long ago suddenly stood beside him with full energy, and it seemed that his situation had improved significantly.
His grip on the sword was unsteady.
It would have been fine if this senior sister had just complained, but the look she gave him was almost staring him through.
A Wu couldn't help but think of the first time he was an accomplice. Meng Shizhuang glared at him and scared him so much that he had nightmares all night. He was afraid that when he opened his eyes in the dead of night, the other party would raise his sword and stab him in anger.
He shuddered and immediately switched the sword from his left hand to his right hand.
If someone were to take revenge on this person, there would be no need to sneak in at night, he would just have to raise his hand and go to see the King of Hell.
Hai Ke, who saw this clearly, said, "Qinian, you and Awu switch places."
The disciple following behind Meng Shizhuang was named Yao Qinian, and he was the junior fellow student who helped Haike pack the goods that day.
When Yao Qinian heard his senior brother's instructions, he did as he was told without saying a word.
He turned his head and took a look. A Wu breathed a sigh of relief, cautiously kept an arm's length away from Meng Shizhuang, and put the sword behind his back.
Yao Qinian wasn't a sharp-minded person, but at least he'd been on the mountain for a few years. Although Sujian Mountain had several halls responsible for the disciples, with the exception of Lao Hu's Zhongyi Hall, the other hall masters only cared about whether the disciples worked or not, and usually judged cases like "who ate more of whose food?" As for martial arts training and moral education, they ignored them all.
This junior disciple had only recently entered the mountain, having been selected into the Loyalty Hall a few days earlier. Yao Qinian hadn't spoken much to him, but he could sense that he was efficient, attentive to his fellow disciples, and quite clever. It wasn't clear if this was his true nature, but he was definitely not a flamboyant villain.
Now that he is facing Meng Shizhuang in this state, it is certain that he was an accomplice in order to get by better in the mountains.
Yao Qinian could understand this very well.
What's more, Awu is now a member of the Zhongyi Hall and is one of us. He feels more justified and tolerant.
When he shifted his gaze away from A Wu, he saw Meng Shi Zhuang just retracting her gaze, leaving half of her face facing him, which was not very friendly.
Yao Qinian immediately snorted. He hadn't offended Meng Shizhuang. Everyone knew what his master meant. He treated him like a treasure, even sending three people to escort him constantly. Who was he trying to show this to? Just as he was about to say something rude, Hai Ke, anticipating the situation, turned around and glared at him with eyes filled with warning.
He shrank slightly and closed his mouth.
Seeing that their awkward "little group" had finally settled down, Hai Ke took the time to look for Lao Hu. Lao Hu had his back to them. The hall master led his disciples to talk to him. He tilted his head and said a few words, and the other party left with his men.
When he left, he looked embarrassed, probably because what Lao Hu said was not very pleasant.
The seafarer walked very uncomfortably.
Although he knew that the Sect Master was unpredictable and had many tricks up his sleeve when playing tricks on people, as far as the Sect Master was concerned, the main event wasn't on the way there or back. Instead, it was Old Hu, who was paranoid about everything, who ordered them to make a scene and guard Meng Shizhuang like a criminal.
Haike caught a glimpse of Meng Shizhuang's face from the corner of his eye, unable to discern who she hated more. He looked up and saw the stele at the foot of the mountain.
The stone tablet is half a person's height, with only the solitary character "山" (mountain) carved into it. It's said that the mountain originally had a name other than "Sujian Mountain." After the first leader established the sect, he hired someone to change the inscription on the tablet. However, the person's skills were inadequate, and they simply chiseled off that part of the stone. The stone tablet has since been abandoned, leaving it untouched to this day.
After walking a little further, I saw a large field of hibiscus.
The cluster in Sushan Hall was moved from here.
Yao Qinian stretched his neck to take a look: "Isn't there a doghouse here? Haven't we reached it yet?"
Hai Ke corrected him, "That's the Earth God Temple. It's just blocked by the trees." Behind the hibiscus stands a dilapidated Earth God Temple, the size of a doghouse. There are no offerings or incense ash in front of it. Yao Qinian was delighted the first time he and Hai Ke came down the mountain, discovering it while running around. The hibiscus trees have grown thicker and thicker, becoming difficult to see from outside.
Yao Qinian murmured, "Oh!" He ran a few steps forward to see the Earth God Temple, and on his way back, he met Meng Shizhuang's thoughtful gaze. He didn't bother to investigate, instead concentrating on talking to Haike.
The stagnant atmosphere slowly broke free, and Meng Shizhuang relaxed his tense shoulders.
The way down the mountain was very winding, sometimes opening up, sometimes becoming steeper, and sometimes narrower. It was hard to say whether it was easier to walk on it than the more well-traveled path up the mountain.
Meng Shizhuang had just heard someone talking next to him and wanted to check out the Earth God Temple behind the tree. He couldn't find it, but he noticed many white hibiscus flowers stained with other colors, like clouds burned red by the sunset, and also a light pink.
He then realized that it was stained with blood, and in a blink of an eye, he came face to face with a uncleaned hand under the tree.
Meng Shizhuang frowned.
Not only that, he also felt that the closer he got to the foot of the mountain, the stronger the smell of dust became, making him feel a little breathless. But when the disciples' voices in the team grew louder, mostly with a sense of excitement, he thought it was just an illusion.
The foot of the mountain is definitely better than the top.
Meng Shizhuang told himself that it must be because he was alone, and it must be because Lao Ju was still in the mountains, so he acted like this.
Next to him, Yao Qinian was talking so much that Haike wanted to cover his ears. He first reminisced about their experiences every time they went down the mountain together, then turned to the purpose of this trek. "...But we've always fought the most fiercely with Fanli Village, so why are we suddenly shaking hands and making peace?"
Haike really wanted to scold him. He just dozed off during the morning class and didn't even listen to what the master said. But when he saw Meng Shizhuang beside him, Haike swallowed his words.
"The Sect Leader's point is that if we continue fighting, both sides will starve to death. It's better to form a temporary alliance. We have a clear understanding of Daohai City. It would be best to discuss sending disciples to explore further afield."
Yao Qinian thought of Luo Shun, only of him going mad in the Sushan Hall, or of him sitting at the head of the group like a plague god, wandering about like a ghost. Now he was actually taking charge of the sect's affairs?
He scratched his head: "Is that so."
Haike also felt a strange feeling in his heart that he couldn't explain.
He always thought the layout of the mountain was ridiculous.
Luo Shun, the head of the sect, was just a title, but he didn't really care about anything; the several hall masters each did their own thing, and sometimes in order to grab a bag of rice, they would curse each other from their ancestors to their unborn grandchildren in a frenzy, and even Lao Hu couldn't stop his anger - but no one ever dared to actually take action.
Especially when I arrived at Sushan Hall.
He remembered that during a meeting, Luo Shun was drunk and stripped himself naked and lay in the hall. Lao Hu was so angry that he turned around and left. The remaining hall masters did not even think of "taking advantage of the situation". They looked at each other for a moment, then carried the man to the back without complaint and pretended to be calm in front of their disciples.
Hai Ke had been in the mountains for ten years, and he had never felt anything about Luo Shun that impressed him. However, he had developed a subtle fear of Luo Shun from seeing the various hall masters around him. He was so afraid of him that he didn't say or do anything outrageous even in private.
He saw Luo Shun in front of him and calmly interrupted Yao Qinian, who was about to ask, "We will just follow the Sect Leader's orders."
Haike said this, but he couldn't help thinking in his heart.
Seeing that he lacked interest, Yao Qinian was quiet for a while, then asked him, "Brother, didn't you say that we'd select some disciples from both sides to spar? Will you join us?"
Hai Ke said perfunctorily, "Let's see who the master chooses."
Yao Qinian thought about that scene, feeling both excited and worried. "They say this is nominally a 'competition,' but in reality it's meant to test the sect's strength. If I'm chosen, is it better to win or lose? Will losing bring shame to the sect? What if I win and reveal my swordsmanship and strength?"
Hai Ke thought about how Yao Qinian stuttered every time he performed a move, and frowned as he interrupted him: "Don't think so far ahead, and don't let anyone deflect your sword with one move."
Yao Qinian choked.
But he also knew his own limitations. On weekdays, he could barely keep up with the morning lessons set by Lao Hu, and it was difficult for him to practice for a moment longer.
Yao Qinian couldn't refute it, but he still shouted unwillingly: "But Master chose me to join Zhongyi Hall, which means I have no bad talent. If I can't make it this year, I will definitely make it next year."
Hai Ke replied calmly: "If you don't practice swordsmanship, you will never become a master in your life."
Yao Qinian stopped talking.
Meng Shizhuang was sandwiched in the middle. As she listened, she glanced at the sword in Haike's hand.
There was a shortage of everything on the mountain, and even food had to be fought for, so even Haike, a disciple who held a high status around Lao Hu, did not have a sword of his own.
He held in his hands a sword and scabbard that clearly did not fit together. With every step he took, the sword would shake in the scabbard. If his steps were bigger or his hands moved more forcefully, the sword would definitely be thrown out of the scabbard.
Meng Shizhuang clenched her empty hands.
For fear of complications, he did not even carry the dagger he stole from Zijin Hall with him, and stayed unarmed with a group of "enemies" holding sharp blades.
His body tensed up again, and his thin shoulders lifted up little by little.
But no matter what, now that I have come this far, it is too late to regret my impulsiveness.
-
Fanlizhuang was built on another hill.
It was not far from Sujian Mountain. The disciples set out from the mountain at dawn and met the people who came to pick them up at the foot of the mountain before it got dark.
Meng Shizhuang was in the middle of the group, unable to clearly hear what the leaders at the front were saying. The two groups exchanged pleasantries for a while, then someone on one side seemed to say something sarcastic, and the noise at the front of the group grew louder and more mixed.
They stood there until night fell, and then they stopped.
Hai Ke was still guarding Meng Shizhuang, while Yao Qinian had already gone over to listen in when the quarrel broke out. Their leader stood there with a sinister smile. The one who spoke was a disciple of Sushan Hall, and his momentum was no less than that of the elder sent by Fanli Village.
When Yao Qinian heard this, he thought for a moment that a fight would break out, and then the alliance talks would fall through. They would leave Sujian Mountain in anger, and the two sides would face each other on the mountain and never have any contact with each other again.
Unexpectedly, I was finally welcomed to the mountain.
He slipped back and said to Hai Ke with a sympathetic heart, "Are we going up the mountain like this? If we are not careful, we will be like sheep walking into the tiger's mouth."
Hai Ke gripped his sword tightly and said nothing.
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