Yunyang City, the fourth night of falling snow.
The rumbling of carriages, the shouting of peddlers, the melodious music of stringed instruments, and the crying of children all faded away in the thick night.
On a night like this, there is no clear moonlight shining through the vermilion mansion gate, no green wine glasses, and no scarlet dance skirts.
All I could hear was the cracking of dead branches under the weight of the remaining snow, the whistling of the strong wind blowing through the alley, and the sound of the silver bells clanging under the eaves. It was long and harsh.
The snow was falling all over the place, and before it even reached the ground, it was lifted up by the north wind, beating on the long bluestone street like waves. The snow on the street was only carefully swept by the servants during the day, and now it was piled up thickly again. I was afraid that it would be another hard work before dawn.
In this city that is accustomed to good weather and prosperity, during the rare snowfall, there will definitely be stinking wine and meat in the rich houses, but it is rare to see frozen corpses on the roadside.
After all, in the wealthy city, beggars and stray cats are also well-off. Who doesn’t have a bridge hole to shelter from the cold snow, or a haystack to block the north wind?
Suddenly, the quiet ten-mile-long street was filled with the sound of soft snow being stepped on, coming from far away and getting closer with a wonderful rhythm, neither fast nor slow.
Walking in the snowy night, he does not seem like an anxious returnee, but rather like a careless passerby.
The bright yellow lanterns hanging under the eaves of the red mansion fluttered in the wind and hit the white wall. The swaying and dim light cast a warm color on the snow, giving people an illusion of warmth.
It also reflects the shadows of passers-by.
He was wearing a white robe, light fur coat, cloud-patterned brocade boots, and holding a sky-blue oil-paper umbrella with gold embroidery. A long sword was tied around his narrow waist, swaying slightly with his steps, like an exquisite ornament.
He walked on the snow, and the thick snow that should have sunk to his ankles only left shallow marks on the soles of his cloud boots.
He walked along the eaves of the vermilion gate to the innermost corner. The howling wind and swaying tree shadows became strangely quiet.
In the blind spot where the lantern could not reach was a curled-up black shadow.
At this moment, the black shadow suddenly raised his head, but just glanced at the person who came, and quickly lowered his head again.
The visitor did not leave, as if he had discovered something interesting, or perhaps it was a bit lonely to walk alone on a snowy night. He looked at the skinny child in front of him.
The child was wrapped in a half straw mat over a worn cotton robe, leaning against the corner, using the best posture to preserve his warmth and physical strength.
In such weather, the fox fur quilt was not enough to keep out the cold. The child had no idea how long he had been there. His eyes had turned dark blue and his breathing was weak. Even if he could remain conscious now, he would die quietly before midnight.
The visitor had no sympathy at all, but seemed to have thought of something, and asked, "Do you want to enroll in Lanyuan Academy?"
There was a hint of obscurity in his voice, which was unique to a teenager in the puberty period.
The child frowned. It was a huge waste for him to speak. But he remembered that it was very rude not to answer when someone asked him a question.
He knew how to save energy. The words he uttered were barely audible, low and short, "Yes."
The visitor smiled and said, "I am Wei Jingfeng, do you want to be my apprentice?"
Everyone knew the three characters "Wei Jingfeng". No one dared to acknowledge this name, even though the man in front of him looked like a young man from the imperial court.
But who says that a sword master can’t be a young man?
This name is enough to change the world.
Unfortunately, on this night and in this place, the only listener is this one child and the snow is blowing all over the sky, so there is no chance of seeing any touching scene of people crying.
The child ignored his self-proclaimed and inconsistent attitude, and did not even bat an eyelid, but asked, "What's the benefit?"
Wei Jingfeng found it a little ridiculous. No one had asked him this kind of question for many years.
But he didn't laugh, because the child asked very seriously. He really didn't know what good it would do.
He thought about it and answered seriously, "If you want power as my disciple, you will be the national teacher, powerful and wealthy enough to rival a country. You will be the faith of thousands of people, and countless people will kneel at your feet, begging you to look at them like ants..."
The child didn't say anything, still leaning against the corner in the most energy-saving posture.
Wei Jingfeng continued, "If you practice Taoism, then you will climb to the edge of the sea and practice the best sword techniques. You will become very strong, and people will respect and fear you, because you can cause millions of deaths and blood to flow with just a thought. You can control life and death at will and no one dares to interfere."
With a "crunch", the accumulated snow broke the green calyx of the plum tree. The wind and snow became colder.
Even in the heaviest snowstorm, Wei Jingfeng could still hear clearly what the child said:
"No."
This answer, which was not thought out but was serious enough, obviously surprised him and... puzzled him.
The young man raised his eyebrows slightly, "Why? What Canglan Academy can give you, I can give you a hundred times."
The child really didn't want to say anything more, but out of politeness, he still explained the reason, "Food is provided there."
“Hahahahahaha—”
Wei Jingfeng laughed loudly, and his laughter resounded through the sky, causing the snow on the eaves to fall down and the withered plum branches to tremble slightly.
After he finished laughing, he seemed to be in a very good mood and said, "I'll also provide meals."
The child finally raised his eyes, staring at him with his dark eyes, as if to confirm the trustworthiness of the man in front of him who provided meals.
Wei Jingfeng almost jumped up and down, "How can I, a great sword master, lie to you?! Do you know how many people are rushing to..."
"good."
Wei Jingfeng was suddenly stunned because the child pulled up the corner of his wide sleeves.
It was almost instinctive that he would strike out violently when that skinny little hand approached.
But he resisted. This feeling was too strange, because no one had touched him for many years. People who saw him were in awe of him and kept a distance from him. Those who wanted to get close to him were here to kill him, and they all died.
The frail child stood up tremblingly by pulling on the edge of his clothes, and then let go of his hand.
A dirty handprint was left on the white fur coat.
The child thought for a moment and said, "I'm sorry."
Wei Jingfeng felt a little regretful.
It was not because he accepted the disciple so hastily, but because he did not know how to answer. No one had ever said these three words to him.
His past few hundred years had not included peaceful conversations with people.
He tried, but it was always taken as a provocation or disdain, which always angered the other person and made them draw their swords, and in the end he had no choice but to defeat or kill the person.
Just like before, he thought that what he said was nothing wrong and every word was true. But if someone else heard it, they would think that he was being condescending and showing mercy and charity.
So, he really didn't know how to get along with people...or rather, with his disciples.
What should I say at a time like this?
"It doesn't matter."
Yes, I am the master, how can I let my apprentice see that I am ignorant of worldly ways.
The child was silent too. He didn't know what to say. "Hello, Master" or "Hello, Master"? How was it for others to accept disciples? He didn't know.
In fact, he hardly spoke a word during his journey from the Far North Wilderness to Yunyang City in the Central Continent.
The mute servant who looked after him died. Before he died, he told him to go to Yunyang, Zhongdu, to see the world and find a school to learn skills. He buried the old woman, packed his only two sets of clothes in his bag and set off. The silver was spent before he arrived in Yunyang. Because he was too young and ate a lot, although he was stronger, few places were willing to hire him as a worker.
The tuition fees of other schools are very high, so of course he can't afford it. But in the past half month, Yunyang City, which used to be bustling with traffic, has become even more crowded, and it is difficult to move. He just heard that Lanyuan School is going to open its doors to accept disciples. This school is really good, it doesn't charge tuition, and you can get food, see the world, and learn skills.
Of course, he didn't wait here all the time. He used to be on an abandoned boat. He came to wait at the door these days when he heard that the academy's apprentice examination was about to begin.
Until now, he still didn't understand why when he asked how to get into the academy, those people had strange expressions on their faces, disbelief mixed with weird smiles. They asked, "You want to get into the academy?"
He didn't understand. If he ate too much, he couldn't eat anymore? Then he should try to eat less...
Finally, he believed what others told him - 'the school accepts apprentices based on the order of entrance', and waited in the corner for three days. He thought, people behind him will also have to wait, so they have to queue up.
Before the school opened, Wei Jingfeng arrived instead.
The atmosphere was a little awkward for a moment.
Obviously, this is the worst talking master and apprentice pair in history.
Wei Jingfeng held the umbrella over the child's head. After thinking for a moment, he took off his fur coat and put it on the child.
Master...this should be the case, right?
The big fox fur coat was draped over the child's body, trailing behind him like the long robes of the nobles in the imperial city of the Northern Capital.
The child moved and felt that walking like this was too inconvenient.
But it was warm.
Wei Jingfeng held an umbrella in one hand and held the child in the other, and walked more slowly.
"What's your name?"
"Jun Twelve."
"How can my Sword Saint's disciple be called such a name?" The young man frowned and thought for a while, "Yu means radiance, which means great glory. From now on, you will be called Jun Yu... It's really a good name!"
He withdrew his gaze from the sign of 'Yu He Ji Pastry'.
Jun Yu had no objection. To him, a name was just a name, and few people called him by his name. Therefore, he had no idea what it meant.
The young man held an umbrella and held the child's hand.
Two figures, one big and one small, walked away into the distance.
As night fell, the heavy snow and wind obscured their figures.
*************************
In the night rain, a lone boat was drifting on the Minchuan River, swaying like a swirling fallen leaf.
The lights in the cabin were dim. The two men sat opposite each other, and the warm wine on the table had long gone cold.
The young man was wiping his sword, his expression focused.
"Even if you have great powers, it is still difficult to have everything you want. How can there be true freedom in the world? You don't understand this principle now, just like a person who doesn't learn sword will never understand the principle of learning sword. I'm afraid you will understand it when you meet someone you don't want to let go..."
Yin Biyue still didn't understand. In his opinion, his cheap master was the most carefree person in the world. "What do you mean you don't want to let go?"
Wei Jingfeng thought about it and decided to give an example.
"When I was young, whether I was holding an umbrella, wine, or silver, I always had one hand free. Do you know why?"
Yin Bi thought about it more.
"One hand is free so that I can hold the sword at any time."
Wei Jingfeng smiled with satisfaction, "That's right! If I don't have a hand that can hold a sword at any time, I will feel empty inside and uncomfortable all over!"
His eyes fell on the river where the night rain was drizzling, as if they were in the distant past, and his tone slowed down, "When I first met your senior brother, it was snowing heavily that night, with huge snowflakes covering the sky... Your senior brother couldn't walk steadily, so I held the umbrella in one hand and held him with the other. I didn't have a third hand, so how could I hold the sword?"
"But I didn't feel uncomfortable at all. I just thought it was enough to hold him and hold the umbrella."
“Many years later, I realized that this was the unwillingness to let go.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
