Chapter 237 First Release "Song Linsheng." "I'm here. ...
The Wutong Ancestral Temple is very different from the past with the coming and going of people, but even in such a deserted situation, it still maintains an extremely prosperous incense.
Song Linsheng leaned against the door with one hand and stroked his lower abdomen with the other. He felt waves of twitching coming from there, which made him feel a little uncomfortable, but not painful.
Occasionally, an autumn breeze would blow in, pushing the sweat on his forehead, causing the crystal clear water droplets to flow down along the corner of his jaw until they sank into the sparrow-colored inner garment.
The sun was already extremely hot, and Song Linsheng had rushed all the way here, which was really a burden to his body which had just begun to improve. His throat was dry and he couldn't suppress his gasps between his lips and teeth.
But he didn't rest, nor did he pause for a moment. After quickly crossing the threshold, Song Linsheng's eyes swept across the Wutong Ancestral Hall with an almost eager look, which was more flustered and hurried than ever before.
Like a person drifting on the river or the sea trying to reach the shore, or find a lonely boat.
Song Linsheng had been walking around the Wutong Ancestral Temple since he was a child, and was very familiar with every tree and blade of grass here. After a quick glance around, he soon noticed the fence in the middle of the courtyard.
——As expected, yet still pleasantly surprised.
After a moment of stunned silence, he breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly.
Throughout life, people are often on the road of constantly pursuing "getting", whether it is a good reputation or gold and silver. However, the most touching thing is not getting, but regaining what has been lost.
Song Linsheng's vision suddenly became blurry, and a bit of moisture surged up, like a surging tide that almost broke through the riverbank, and his eyelashes were also covered with crystals.
Within the fence in the center of the courtyard, in the soil that had been vacant for a long time, a towering green wutong tree rose from the ground, towering like a canopy.
Flowing clouds pass through its branches, golden sunlight shines through the gaps between its leaves, and the incense from the Wutong Ancestral Temple tightly surrounds it, making it look like a fairy tree hidden in the clouds.
Song Linsheng's eyes were still wet with tears, but a smile could not help but appear on his lips. Before he could say anything, he hurriedly ran towards Biwu in the courtyard.
The frosty white robe rushed out from the lush greenery, and the turbulent momentum was unstoppable, just like clusters of surging green waves.
Seeing Song Linsheng's face becoming clearer and clearer, his figure with fluttering clothes moved closer to her, and was in front of her almost in the blink of an eye, Wen Yu was still a little dazed.
It really is... Song Linsheng...
Wen Yu, who was still hiding behind the tree trunk at this moment, should not have been panicking at all.
But on the contrary, the moment she saw clearly that the person coming was Song Linsheng, she felt her spiritual veins surge backwards, her whole body stiffened, and even the tips of the branches and leaves could not move.
The sun was shining brightly, the ground was covered with a thin golden light, and Song Linsheng was running towards Wen Yu. In the huge inner courtyard of the Wutong Ancestral Temple, the frosty and green figures were as tiny as beans, but they were connected to each other as if by fate.
Song Linsheng... How did he end up here? And how did he manage to get through the maze she had set up at the foot of the mountain and make it all the way up?
The words Yu Chang had asked just now kept echoing in Wen Yu's ears, making it impossible for her to give a definite answer.
"Don't you want him to come to you?"
Wen Yu's mind was blank. She knew that this was not something she could decide whether she wanted to or not, but Song Linsheng gave her the most direct response with his actions, avoiding putting her in a dilemma and making an unsolvable choice.
Now that it has come to this, she has nothing to hide or escape from.
The answer was obvious, she thought.
In fact, what she wanted to know most was that Song Linsheng was in good health now, but when he appeared in front of her, she found that what made her imagine more was why he came.
After all, although she wanted to, she couldn't help but be afraid. What would she do if she caused him any more trouble?
The waves from the corners of Song Linsheng's clothes not only failed to soothe Wen Yu's anxiety, but made her even more uneasy.
Could it be... holding her accountable?
Wen Yu's heart sank, and even the branches around him couldn't help but tremble.
She was not the type to avoid trouble and take no responsibility, but if she was asked to face Song Linsheng's questioning and confront him, she would absolutely not want to do that.
After several struggles in her mind, Wen Yu finally chose to remain silent. After all, she was just a green phoenix tree now, and Song Linsheng would not recognize her anyway.
Since those imagined scenes would not happen, she didn't need to worry too much.
Thinking of this, Wen Yu shook the branches and leaves. In the interweaving of light and shadow, her eyes followed Song Linsheng without stopping, watching him approach step by step.
In a trance, she seemed to have returned to the time when she first arrived in Jiangyang and met Song Linsheng for the first time in the Wutong Ancestral Temple.
At that time, she could still hang on the tree with her legs crossed to watch the fun and listen to Song Linsheng talk about his search for Biwu but failed to find it.
But now, I no longer have that kind of indifferent attitude.
The branches of the green wutong tree are strong and vigorous, and its leaves are even more lush. Standing in the center of the courtyard, it is like a natural umbrella, shielding the ground below from the scorching sun.
Just as he was about to step on the edge of the shadow cast by Biwu, Song Linsheng suddenly stopped, and the frosty waves raised by his clothes also stopped.
He held his breath, as if afraid of disturbing something, and just looked up at the treetops in silence.
As their eyes met, Wen Yu felt a wave of fear in his heart.
Earlier, the area within the fence had been empty, but now there was suddenly someone here. Although it seemed abrupt, it was also reasonable.
It won’t scare Song Linsheng, right?
He has just recovered from a serious illness and his injuries are getting better, so he can't stand being scared.
But after Wen Yu checked carefully several times, there was no surprise on Song Linsheng's face. Instead, there was an uncontrollable joy that was beyond words.
Just as she was wondering, Song Linsheng was silent for a moment, then he lifted his robe without hesitation, stepped over the fence in a few steps, and came to her in a real sense.
The restraint and courtesy of the past disappeared, and at this moment Song Linsheng just wanted to do whatever he wanted.
He is always like this, calm and composed when he is around others, but when it comes to things related to Xiaoyu, it is difficult for him to remain calm.
He had never been so reckless even when he was a teenager.
The soil under my feet is soft and moist, and the green wutong trees in front of me are lush and tall, and even in autumn, their green color cannot be concealed.
Song Linsheng's eyes darkened, and he raised his sleeve to touch the rough branches of the green wutong tree.
The winding lines on it are ancient and profound. Every crack seems to hide an endless past, and every groove contains warmth that is within reach.
Putting his hands behind his sleeves, Song Linsheng lowered his eyes and smiled faintly.
The moment his fingertips touched the tree trunk, a faint sense of peace arose from the bottom of his heart. Song Linsheng breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly, lifted his robe and sat down close to Biwu.
His usually straight back finally relaxed at this moment, and he leaned lazily on the edge of Wen Yu's branch, and even leaned so close to her, as if leaning on her shoulder.
Wen Yu couldn't help but hold his breath and concentrate, not daring to make the slightest sound.
It wasn't the first time that she and Song Linsheng had been so close to each other, but compared to the joy and laughter in the past, this moment seemed different from every other time, and it actually made her feel extremely tormented.
In the shadow cast by the branches and leaves, Song Linsheng sat on the ground with his eyes lowered, like a tired bird returning to its nest or resting in the mountains, his anxious heart finally finding a home.
The strong fragrance of plants lingered at the tip of his nose, and beside him was clearly a green wutong tree, which emitted a faint scent of jasmine.
Song Linsheng understood, and his tense nerves finally relaxed for a moment.
When he was demoted to Jiangyang and left Shangdu, he never felt uneasy; when he said goodbye to his parents and relatives and walked alone, he was not panicked at all. It seemed that he could accept and deal with all situations calmly.
But the moment he opened his eyes this morning, he immediately realized that there was one thing in this world that he could never accept and could never feel at ease at any time.
——He can’t live without Xiaoyu.
Looking at the deserted Wutong Ancestral Temple in front of him, and the pale green mountain mist with overlapping clouds in the distance, Song Linsheng felt a wet feeling in his chest, and he wanted to say something.
But when the words came to his lips, Song Linsheng suddenly didn't know where to start.
He shook his head gently, rubbing the top of his hair back and forth on the trunk of the green parasol tree. During this movement, a strand of hair on his temples fell down and lay across the end of his eyebrow, making his whole body look furry because of this little mess.
After thinking for a long time, Song Linsheng finally stopped, but still leaned against the tree trunk, and spoke carefully:
"When I was young, my elder brother always went to the training ground to watch Sister Shen Chuo practice martial arts. Second Brother Lu also always studied with Shen Jia Liulang, Sister Shen Chuo's sixth brother."
His voice was very light and indifferent, even ethereal, as if it had really floated from a distant memory.
"I was left alone, so naturally I had no choice but to stay at home, staring blankly at the sky above my head."
Wen Yu frowned and said nothing, not knowing why Song Linsheng said such nonsense.
The accusations and complaints she had anticipated never appeared...
Fortunately, she is now a tree, otherwise she really doesn't know how to control her expression, and she might reveal her flaws in front of Song Linsheng.
"At that time, my parents listened to the sorcerer and forbade me from swimming or going on outings, fearing something might happen."
Song Linsheng continued to speak without pause. Wen Yu shook the treetops as a response.
She had heard Xi Yan mention this repeatedly before - Song Lin was afraid of water and would not go near the water unless it was a trivial matter. Therefore, the first time he suddenly jumped into the Yuan River to save her, Xi Yan was almost scared to death.
"Not to mention the rivers, lakes, and seas, even... the pond in the courtyard was filled up by Mother herself."
When talking about this, Song Linsheng's face did not show any sadness, but was filled with a faint smile.
The golden sunlight filtering through the branches and leaves cast patches of light on his face. They were clearly extremely warm and soft colors, but Wen Yu felt an inexplicable sadness spreading from his eyes.
"I'm either reading by the window or practicing calligraphy in the corridor. This kind of life, day after day, doesn't seem to change much. From now on, I'll pass the imperial examinations and continue on my predetermined path."
His father and brother were both officials in the court, so he would probably be no exception.
After saying that, Song Linsheng suddenly looked up at the green branches and leaves of the phoenix tree scattered above his head. The rustling sound made by the wind seemed to indicate a certain direction.
"I have neither freedom nor... the urge to pursue freedom for any reason."
It seemed that the scene before him reminded him of something, and Song Linsheng couldn't help but smile. This time, his feelings were obviously much more sincere than before.
"Although I know that no one in this world keeps a thousand-mile horse in their yard, and I also know that I am of limited knowledge and talent, I am even more eager to pass the imperial examination and reach a position where I can show my talents."
In this way, at first he did have some similarities with the eldest son of the Wen family, Wen Yanli.
It is said that the eldest son has asked to return home, but Song Linsheng...is because of her...
Fate changes and falls into the mud.
Wen Yu's body stiffened, and even the tips of the leaves stopped trembling with the wind.
The mistake she made at that time caused the cause and effect between her and Song Linsheng that could not be avoided no matter what.
"Later, I finally got what I wanted."
Song Linsheng thought of the day when he passed the exam, and before he could smile, he shook his head and gave up.
"But when I truly saw the true faces behind the bright and elegant appearances of the sons of various noble families during the Silkworm Ceremony, I seemed to have glimpsed the truth behind the prosperity of this dynasty."
Wen Yu knew in his heart that this was what Song Linsheng had mentioned when he first met him in Xianchun Cottage, about being demoted because of his article "Asking the Silkworm".
But if she said that this matter really had nothing to do with her, Wen Yu would not dare to say it.
“Reading a book a hundred times is not as good as practicing it once; being in a high position is not as good as having a solid foundation.”
Song Linsheng's voice was still as calm as before, without any sadness, but with a hint of satisfaction.
"Although I was demoted, it was exactly what I wanted."
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Linsheng leaned against the trunk of the green phoenix tree more relaxedly, especially when he mentioned the word "heart", he unconsciously leaned towards the trunk.
"When I left Xanadu, I first tasted freedom."
He raised his sleeve and touched the new branches on the tree trunk. The green color exuded a fresh scent, which made him smile as if he had met someone again after a long separation.
"I can't wait to return to Jiangyang and look for the Biwu Immortal Tree in my memory."
The tone of the voice changed, but Song Linsheng did not stop. His previous whispers were suddenly filled with a firm meaning and a sonorous color.
"That's you."
He took a deep breath, and when his chest was surging like waves, he controlled his heart, which was like a leaf on a lonely boat, to control his direction.
Song Linsheng tried his best to calm his mind, and after making all the necessary preparations, he finally called out softly the name that had been haunting him.
"Xiaoyu."
The sound was extremely light, and it was quickly swept away by the wind in the courtyard of the Wutong Ancestral Temple. However, it was also extremely firm and resounding.
It was just a common name between the two of them in the past, but now it sounded like thunder in Wen Yu's ears.
Wen Yu couldn't help but shake the branches and leaves on her body. At the same time, every nerve ending in her body became extremely sensitive, causing her heart to tremble slightly.
Song Linsheng was... calling her?
How could he call her name to a tree? This made her even more afraid to respond.
Although no one responded, Song Linsheng under the tree did not look lost at all. Instead, he stared at it for a moment and then talked to himself.
"What I didn't understand before, I finally understand now; what I didn't understand when I was young, I finally understand now."
His fingertips gently stroked the tree trunk, his movements so gentle as if he was handling some precious yet fragile jade.
"My brother never fails to visit Sister Shen Chuo for a single day, and Second Brother Lu never misses Shen Liulang's lessons, and I, Song Linsheng—"
Song Linsheng had soft eyebrows and a deep smile. His frosty robe reflected the golden sunlight, making him look as delicate as porcelain.
"I can't be separated from Xiaoyu."
As soon as he said this, Song Linsheng stopped talking in time and looked up at the lush and green wutong tree in front of him with anticipation.
In contrast, Wen Yu remained silent and didn't know what to say.
She was still immersed in the shock brought by Song Linsheng's words that he could not be separated from her, and she couldn't recover for a long time.
He said... he couldn't be separated from her...
Wen Yu was stunned, staring blankly at Song Linsheng under the tree.
Whether just now or now, after confirming again and again, Wen Yu finally had to admit that Song Linsheng was really talking to her——
To a tree.
This realization made her feel helpless and she didn't know how to deal with it.
Not only did Song Linsheng break through the maze she set at the foot of the mountain, he even recognized her fake incarnation.
How could this be? Was her spiritual power too low or was Song Linsheng really that smart?
But Yu Chang had clearly just repaired her spiritual veins, and Song Linsheng was not a stupid person... She knew it very well.
For a moment, both of them were silent.
Wen Yu was greatly shocked, but she was unwilling to believe that Song Linsheng would actually call her name to a tree, and she didn't know how to face his words that they could not be separated.
Everything was fine in the past, but now she knew that her existence would bring endless troubles to Song Linsheng. How could she pretend to be ignorant with peace of mind?
The Wutong Ancestral Temple is solemn and dignified, with only the faint sound of the mountain wind blowing through, so that the courtyard is not too lonely.
Song Linsheng curled up his fingertips, but still stroked the tree trunk unwilling to stop. The thin sweat on his palms was stained with grass debris, making him look a little pitiful.
"Have I said too much?"
His soft and gentle voice rang out, and his brows furrowed tightly. His slightly sickly face was the cold white color of someone who had just recovered from a serious injury. Even under the bright autumn sun, he could not hide his haggardness.
Song Linsheng asked hesitantly, his eyes full of anticipation, as if he was a little uncertain.
"Don't you... like listening to me talk?"
"You! How did you know!"
Wen Yu was like a fox whose tail was stepped on. She couldn't help but cry out in shock, throwing away all her previous concerns and completely forgetting that she was still a paulownia tree.
At that time, she was healing Song Linsheng and she was distracted so she said those words. Now that he pointed it out, she felt a little at a loss as to what to do.
Wen Yu had already been enduring a lot of hardship before, and now this has completely broken her patience.
Song Linsheng's expression was calm, without any sign of surprise. Instead, he leaned against the branches of the sycamore tree as calmly as before, speaking cheerfully.
"Xiaoyu, although I wasn't conscious at the time, I wasn't completely unconscious either. I'll remember everything you said."
Xiaoyu said that she liked listening to him talk. Could he understand that Xiaoyu also liked him a little bit?
He seemed to hear the rustling sound of clouds passing through the leaves, stirring up waves of itchiness in his heart. Thinking of the past, a smile appeared on Song Linsheng's lips.
"What? Are new buds going to sprout?" Song Linsheng gently stroked the buds growing on the tree trunk and couldn't help but joke with Wen Yu.
His casual words brought Wen Yu's memory back to the night when she was drunk in Xianchun Courtyard. Suddenly, the fragrance of loquat wine seemed to waft even between her lips and teeth.
At that time she seemed to have a dream. In the dream she clamored not to be a biwu tree, but to be a loquat tree so that she could use her fruit to make wine.
When the fight got fierce, she couldn't help but transform into her original form. As her spiritual power overflowed, small green buds sprouted from her hair.
While Song Linsheng gently stroked the buds on her forehead, he comforted her softly, saying that Biwu was fine, why did she have to make loquat?
But that... wasn't just a dream?
Wen Yu was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. "You know? So it wasn't a dream?"
"Yes, I know, I have always known it." Song Linsheng's eyes were as gentle as waves, and he answered very frankly.
After saying that, Song Linsheng didn't seem to have any intention of stopping. Instead, he leaned against the tree trunk and looked up at the sunlight leaking through the gaps between the branches and leaves.
The dancing spots of light flowed in his palm, and the shadows of the leaves also stuck to his fingertips. If he couldn't hold the leaves, it would be nice to be able to share a moment of peace with the shadows cast by the leaves.
"I knew it from the moment I first saw Xiaoyu in Houchun Mountain."
Not limited to the matter of Zhiya, Song Linsheng began to confess one by one what he had suppressed in his heart for a long time.
"Xiaoyu is not an ordinary person, she must be a fairy from heaven."
As he spoke, Song Linsheng lowered his head and leaned forward, rummaging through his robes before picking up the jade pendant from his belt. "When we're clearing out the pirates, give me the Qingsu jade that will protect you."
"Most of what I thought in my heart at that time had been confirmed."
After he finished speaking, Wen Yu's heart was in turmoil and she didn't know where to fall. She thought her identity was exposed today, but she didn't expect that there was a flaw at that time.
According to Song Linsheng, when she and Song Linsheng met under the four-o'clock tree on Houchun Mountain, he already knew that she was not an ordinary person?
As the wind blew through the leaves, her mind went blank. She had thought that she might be exposed, but she hadn't expected Song Linsheng to notice it... so early...
"Later, that night at Xianchun Cottage, Xiaoyu got drunk and revealed the buds in her hair."
Song Linsheng raised his sleeves and carefully outlined the green branches on the tree trunk. Despite his care, he also felt a bit of uncontrollable curiosity.
"I just guessed that Xiaoyu might be transformed from plants."
After all, he had collected many books of strange stories since he was a child, and had seen many beautiful legends about gods and goblins, but he had never thought that one day his wish would actually come true.
As soon as he changed his words, Song Linsheng withdrew his hands and covered them with his sleeves, looking up with a sincere look.
"I know all this, but the only thing I don't know is—"
He was not the kind of person who would keep arguing and feeling depressed in his heart without saying anything. This was also the case at this time. Since there was no solution, he took the initiative to seek an answer.
"Xiaoyu, why are you hiding from me?"
Wen Yu didn't expect Song Linsheng to ask so directly. She still maintained the appearance of Biwu and opened her mouth several times to speak, but she didn't know what to say.
"Xiyan has already told me in detail what happened after I fell unconscious that day."
But her silence did not stop Song Linsheng from asking questions. Instead of being discouraged, he became anxious.
"Xiaoyu, since you risked your life to save me, why do you stay away from me?"
Before Song Linsheng finished speaking, his fingertips that were touching the tree trunk curled up nervously, but he quickly reduced his strength, fearing that it would cause pain to Wen Yu.
As soon as these words were spoken, Wen Yu's heart froze. She was originally worried and in a dilemma, but suddenly she lost her strength. She could no longer support herself to watch coldly, and she could not ignore Song Linsheng's questions.
A burst of green light flashed by, and the lush green sycamore tree disappeared, and Wen Yu's figure emerged from the white mist.
Song Linsheng saw the tree trunks on his shoulders transform into silky-soft hair tips, which slid all the way down his hands, passing through his fingers and leaving behind bursts of jasmine fragrance.
But she looked lifeless, hunched over, with her head hidden between her sleeves, and she didn't dare to look up at Song Linsheng beside her.
"What do you know..." Wen Yu's voice was thin, hoarse, and muffled, "You don't know..."
Song Linsheng's brows knitted together, his eyes moist with heartache filling them, "Xiaoyu!"
Although he had expected this, the shock and surprise of seeing Wen Yu appear before him still made him speechless for a moment. He could only call Xiaoyu's name over and over again, repeatedly confirming that she was really by his side.
Wen Yu looked away, not daring to face the person beside him.
Just now, she was able to look at Song Linsheng's eyes without restraint under the cover of the tree, but now she didn't even dare to glance at Song Linsheng.
There was no longer the intimate banter and playfulness as before. Although Wen Yu and Song Linsheng were now clinging to each other, they seemed to be thousands of miles apart.
An invisible barrier stood between the two of them, and Wen Yu couldn't help feeling a little dazed.
In fact, she and Song Linsheng had never crossed this chasm. When Zhibai died, Wen Yu had already anticipated such a situation and also... knew it well.
Wen Yu remained silent, as if her heart was filled with a pool of stagnant water, unable to stir anymore.
Song Linsheng lowered his eyes and carefully traced Wen Yu's hair, eyebrows and eyes, feeling the undercurrent at the moment almost greedily, as if a treasure that had been lost and found suddenly came into his arms. No matter how calm and self-controlled he had been in the past, he could not help but lose his composure at this moment.
Until Wen Yu's words "You don't know" brought him back to reality.
Suddenly awakened, Song Linsheng jumped up, and without even tidying up his clothes, he leaned over to stand in front of Wen Yu, looked at Wen Yu directly with an extremely pious posture, and then answered with great determination.
"I know."
Just when Wen Yu was about to fall into silence forever, these three short words made her heart lake seem like spring has returned, flowers and leaves fall into the water, breaking through the waves of blue ripples -
I don’t know whose heart is disturbed.
Wen Yu's body froze, and after a moment of stunned silence, she slowly raised her eyes and looked at Song Linsheng.
The moment their eyes met, many of the experiences she and Song Linsheng had shared, from the time she accidentally broke the longevity branch to the present day, were replayed before her eyes.
The turbulent lake in her heart suddenly calmed down and became as smooth as a mirror.
"No, you really don't know." Wen Yu lowered her eyes and looked at Song Linsheng, whose eyes were full of sparkling light. "I'm sorry, it's all because of me..."
To this day, all the things she once feared, wanted to hide, and could not face, seemed to become transparent in front of Song Linsheng, who knew her true identity, and there was no need to cover up anything anymore.
She should have told Song Linsheng that it was because of her carelessness that she brought disaster upon herself and accidentally broke Song Linsheng's longevity branch, which caused his originally prosperous and peaceful life to be filled with ups and downs and endless disasters.
"Because of you?" Song Linsheng's eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but ask, but there was not a trace of urgency, nor did he look angry at all.
Wen Yu opened her mouth, only to feel an extremely bitter taste between her lips and teeth, and a lump in her throat. "Because I caused your fate to change and you to suffer for no reason."
Song Linsheng actually breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. Finally, Xiaoyu was willing to talk to him. As for anything else, he didn't care.
An uncontrollable smile emerged from Song Linsheng's lips. He shook his head slightly, and his voice couldn't help but tremble.
"I was born into a wealthy family, grew up in a wealthy family, studied at a prestigious public school, and now hold an important position. How could I have suffered for no reason?"
He didn't think Song Linsheng had suffered the slightest bit of hardship, but seeing Wen Yu frowning and silent, Song Linsheng thought for a moment and then advised, "Could it be that he was punished for speaking out and demoted to Jiangyang?"
Wen Yu opened her lips slightly, but in the end she didn't say anything. She just couldn't help but look down and no longer looked at Song Linsheng.
But Song Linsheng didn't give up. He bent down relentlessly until he could look into Wen Yu's eyes clearly. Then he raised his sleeves and held Wen Yu's hands. "That's not the case, Xiaoyu."
"There are far more people in the world who suffer more than I do, and their misery is a hundred times worse than mine. If I become depressed because of this, wouldn't that be like moaning without any real reason?"
He tightened his palms and could clearly feel the thin layer of sweat oozing from Wen Yu's hands, mixing with his own, creating a warm and wet feeling.
“What’s more, Xiaoyu, I never felt that this was a kind of suffering.
Song Linsheng's voice was gentle and soft, like a spring breeze and white clouds brushing against one's shoulders, gradually dissolving the frost in Wen Yu's heart, and he continued in a persuasive manner.
"On the contrary, being able to return to Jiangyang Mansion is Linsheng's greatest blessing in this life."
When she said this, Wen Yu's wooden eyes finally flickered with a little color. She looked up in a daze and stared at Song Linsheng again, her eyes clearly full of confusion.
How could anyone call a disaster that could have been avoided and a hardship that shouldn't have been endured... a blessing in this life?
In the past, when he was in the Temple of Spring, Chi Huang often said that people in the world always wanted to have a better destiny, not only health, but also wealth, and best of all, great power and success.
But even if all the above conditions are met, it will still not be satisfactory, because people are always on the road of searching, looking for good when things are bad, and looking for better when things are good, and it goes on and on, and it is difficult to stop.
But Song Linsheng...
Amid Wen Yu's conflicted gaze, Song Linsheng smiled purely and frankly. He had wanted to say this for a long time, and today he finally had the chance to make it clear to Xiaoyu.
"Because I met Xiaoyu here."
Song Linsheng helped Wen Yu sit up straight with both hands, his eyes full of smiles and tears in their reflections. His words were clearly firm, but when his eyes met Wen Yu's, they began to sound tearful.
"It's not your fault. I'm fine now."
Wen Yu blinked hesitantly, and couldn't help but raise her sleeve to touch it, but finally stopped halfway.
Song Linsheng... is he crying...
But Song Linsheng, with tears in his eyes, still quickly grabbed Wen Yu's hand, not giving her any chance to retreat.
His moist gaze slid down Wen Yu's cheek, fell on the palms of their tightly clasped hands, and then looked at Wen Yu again.
The latter curled up her cold fingertips, feeling the warmth coming from Song Linsheng. Their body temperatures entangled, pulled, and mixed together, blending the heat of the two people into a wonderful balance.
"But you could have been better." Wen Yu was confused and almost lost her composure, but the undeniable fact was right in front of her.
"Better circumstances will always be experienced by better people. Fate has brought me to this moment, so my present moment is the best."
Song Linsheng leaned forward. He had always been gentle and kind, but now his words became difficult to refute.
As he moved, the scent of cedar from his body swept over, entwining with the jasmine scent from Wen Yu's hair, weaving an airtight net that enveloped both of them.
The gradually rising temperature crept up Wen Yu's cheeks. Her heart moved, and she was still immersed in the shock brought by Song Linsheng's words.
Wen Yu turned to look at her hand, which was tightly held by Song Linsheng, and couldn't help but silently repeat what he said in her heart...
Fate has brought me to this moment, so my present moment is the best.
Song Linsheng followed Wen Yu's gaze and saw the two people's tightly clasped hands. He slightly tightened his palms, feeling each other's presence.
"Xiaoyu, there are not many things in this world that can be grasped by human hands alone. If I can grasp the present moment, even for a moment, it will be great."
"But if you are even more greedy..."
After saying that, Song Linsheng searched in his sleeves without waiting for Wen Yu to reply, and finally carefully placed something in front of Wen Yu.
"This is..." Wen Yu stared blankly at the golden light lying quietly in Song Linsheng's palm...
"Rice ears." Song Linsheng's eyes were blazing as he solemnly handed them to Wen Yu. "This is the rice ear we planted together by the Yuan River."
On his way here just now, he passed by the Yuanshui River and made a special stop to pick a piece of rice and bring it over, just to let Xiaoyu see that the seedlings they had planted together were now ripe.
Wen Yu held the rice ear between her fingertips and twisted it gently, smelling the rich and abundant fragrance. She seemed to be able to really see the autumn harvest scene by the distant river.
Things change and time passes, and autumn comes suddenly.
The scene of her pulling Song Linsheng through the rice seedlings in the paddy field seemed like yesterday, and now the ripe rice ears were in her palms.
Song Linsheng carefully observed Wen Yu's expression. Seeing that she remained silent, he continued:
"Sixty years of life are like the wind and rain, but they only bring about the ripening of rice a hundred and twenty times."
When Wen Yu looked up in confusion, Song Linsheng nodded affirmatively, as if to show his determination.
"I want to spend every one of these 120 chapters with Xiaoyu."
Wen Yu certainly knew what he was talking about, but her eyes flashed, and she couldn't help but ask back, "You once said that the decisions people make in a hurry may not be what they truly think."
Today she revealed her true identity in front of Song Linsheng. I wonder if this can be considered an emergency.
"It wasn't a matter of urgency!" Song Linsheng refuted quickly, his usual composure gone. "I should have expressed my feelings to Xiaoyu a long time ago."
It’s just that a lot of things happened in Jiangyang Mansion before, and Xiaoyu and he had been entangled in it, so it was too late.
"What I said today is a confession I have thought about many times in my mind, and it is definitely not made in a hurry."
Wen Yu felt a pang of sadness in his eyes and his throat felt difficult and unbearable. After hesitating for a while, he finally asked.
"If something were to happen today, it would have an immeasurable impact on the future, leading to an irreversible outcome."
"That would be a more dangerous situation than this one. Are you willing to..."
Song Linsheng was such an insightful person that even without Wen Yu's explanation, he knew that she was referring to the various things that happened before, and more importantly, the so-called "changes in fate."
He immediately interrupted Wen Yu and replied firmly, "Yes, I do."
As time went on, Song Linsheng's voice became slower and slower, and he responded almost word by word, which was both a response and a promise.
"I want to be with Xiaoyu. These difficulties cannot stop me. I am not afraid of losing my life."
Wen Yu's fingertips suddenly tightened the moment he finished speaking. Song Linsheng, sensing something, immediately looked at the two people's clasped hands, and then looked at Wen Yu solemnly, only to hear her question in disbelief.
"You...you..., even if it is...you are willing?"
"Even if I die, I am willing."
A gentle breeze blew, brushing the strand of hair at Song Linsheng's temple over his eyebrows, and it fell across his tear-washed eyes, which were dimly flickering but very clear.
Wen Yu was still in a daze. She couldn't understand how there could be someone like Song Linsheng who could be so calm in the face of death.
At this moment, Song Linsheng gently turned the hand that was originally holding Wen Yu and quietly spread out her palm.
"When I was young, I prayed to the fairy tree. If it really had spirits, it would appear before me."
He stared at Wen Yu deeply, making it difficult for her to think about other things. Wen Yu suddenly realized that she could only concentrate on looking at Song Linsheng's face slowly approaching.
"Now it seems that the Green Wutong Immortal Tree in the Wutong Ancestral Temple is indeed very spiritual."
Wen Yu, who realized it belatedly, thought about it and finally came to her senses. She couldn't help but frown, confused, "You mean... me?"
Her memory came back to her and she suddenly remembered that this was the case.
In the past, she practiced in the courtyard of the Wutong Ancestral Temple, and was nourished by the incense in front of the statue of the God of Spring. At that time, people who worshipped the God of Spring often wrote their names on red silk ribbons and hung them on her branches to pray that their wishes would be fulfilled.
But she didn't know that Song Linsheng was also among them?
Song Linsheng nodded obediently and admitted it very straightforwardly, but this was far from enough.
Looking at Wen Yu's palm which was as white as fat, Song Linsheng, who was getting closer and closer, tilted his head slightly and pressed half of his cheek against it.
When the two touched, both of them trembled.
The young man spoke in a clear and elegant voice, his brows lowered, suppressing the turmoil in his heart and softly asking, "So... Xiaoyu, between ascending and the righteous path, can you choose me?"
Wen Yu's originally confused mind suddenly went blank. The wheat ears in Chapter 120 were still a little subtle, but "Can you choose me?" put the choice directly in front of her.
She thought of Zhibai's smile and Zhou Lehui's tears. As her eyes moved, a complex array of emotions surged into her heart.
If we talk about the gap between humans and monsters, we can see it in Zhibai and Chen Mian. Even though they are both mortals, there is still the difference between Zhou Lehui and Wen Yanli.
Wen Yu suddenly felt very uncertain. It was an eternal truth and law that gods and spirits could not enter the mortal world. It was also a taboo that Chi Huang had repeatedly reminded her of.
Even the master once said that wood and stone have no heart and are the most difficult to practice.
What about her? Doesn't she have a heart either?
Wen Yu stroked Song Linsheng's face with one hand and pressed her chest with the other. The sound inside was beating like a drum. If it wasn't her heart, what else could it be?
Originally, she had wanted to repay this karma and work hard to accumulate merits in preparation for her ascension, but now, she seemed to have some doubts that she had not yet understood.
How should she answer Song Linsheng, or answer herself?
The gradually rising temperature on Song Linsheng's face was transmitted from her fingertips, even giving her the illusion of being burned. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but couldn't help lingering.
After much hesitation, Wen Yu kept silent.
Song Linsheng gently turned his cheek and rubbed Wen Yu's palm, but his eyes were fixed on Wen Yu's face from beginning to end.
"Yes, just for a moment."
The smooth skin rubbed against her palm, like a half-peeled lychee. The fruit hidden under the crimson coat was so crystal clear, plump and juicy, very adorable.
Wen Yu's throat was choked with sobs, and she could hardly speak. She could only savor the words "even for a moment" over and over again in her heart.
Life is like a long river and people are like a lonely boat.
She suddenly remembered that Song Linsheng's entire life was but a fleeting moment to her. If a short period of companionship was what he wanted and she could afford it...
Is it really... possible?
Zhibai's words were still ringing in Wenyu's ears, and he couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
Everyone has his own destiny. People practice diligently in order to get what they want. Those who want to ascend can do so, but Zhibai just wants to be with Chen Mian.
Wen Yu was silent in her heart. Although she wanted to achieve enlightenment and ascend to heaven, she had never thought about why. If there was no urgent reason, would it not matter if she did it for a moment?
She couldn't explain what she was thinking. When she saw Zhibai and Zhou Lehui's tears, they both told her that she would understand some things in the future.
But she still couldn't fully comprehend it. The only thing she knew was that since she still had tens of millions of years left to pursue Ascension, she would first watch the 120th episode of Rice Ears with Song Linsheng...
Should it be... okay?
Wen Yu's palm moved slightly, and her fingertips brushed across the corners of Song Linsheng's eyes, wiping away the crystal drops on his eyelashes.
She and Song Linsheng prayed on Shangsi Festival, watched boat races on Dragon Boat Festival, cruised the river bend and released fish lanterns together on Girls' Day, and drank chrysanthemum tea and chrysanthemum wine together while drunk on Double Ninth Festival...
Wen Yu cupped her fingertips to support Song Linsheng's cheek. Amidst his eager anticipation, she heard herself say:
"Song Linsheng, let's celebrate the New Year together."
Just like the lights that gradually light up in the corridor at night, the light in Song Linsheng's eyes was suddenly ignited, and his originally wet eyes became dry and hot.
"Xiaoyu." Song Linsheng called slowly.
It seemed no different from the countless calls in the past, yet it also seemed different from any other time.
Wen Yu's eyelashes trembled. After she said what she was thinking, an inexplicable feeling flowed through her chest, which made her feel suffocated and comfortable, cramped but expectant.
Her eyes carefully traced the features of the man in front of her, "Song Linsheng?"
"Yeah, I'm here." Song Linsheng tilted his head slightly and couldn't help but put most of his strength into Wen Yu's palm, as if this way they could better sense each other's presence.
Hot tears welled up in her eyes, but Wen Yu raised her lips and smiled. In this posture, she couldn't help but pinch Song Linsheng's cheek.
"Song Linsheng."
Song Linsheng rubbed her hand, his eyes and eyebrows showing a satisfied and relieved smile after regaining what he had lost. He was willing to answer over and over again, thousands and thousands of times:
"I am here."
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