Chapter 49 They were entangled together
Before Lin Yuan's eyes, everything was shrouded in smoke and dust.
Xiao Xun and Lin Yu, one on a golden horse and the other on a white horse, rode off into the distance.
She sat on the Azure Cloud Steed, walking slowly behind.
Previously, those names that carried weight had been announced to this horse one by one, but they passed by like the wind in its ears, without the blue colt even lifting its eyelids.
Xiao Xun then chuckled and said, "It seems it doesn't like names with 'wind' in them. How about we call it Azure Cloud Steed?"
As he spoke, he patted the horse's head, and the horse raised its eyes.
"Look, it likes this name."
Whether it was a gray wind or a blue cloud, the gloom in Lin Yuan's heart was dispelled by the gentle breeze.
They had already bypassed the back mountain of the Prince's Palace and arrived at a wide-open grassland.
The grassland is located in a mountain valley and stretches for several miles. It was originally a training ground for the troops of Huaiyang Kingdom. Later, due to the neglect of military affairs, it was occasionally used by the royal palace as a riding and archery field.
However, neither the Prince of Huaiyang nor his heir were fond of riding or archery, so this place was rarely visited.
Surrounded by hills that shielded it from the wind and snow, the area was more humid and warmer than other places, and the greenery of early spring could already be seen in the distance.
As soon as the whistle blew for the horse race and the two horses galloped away like arrows, He Ji reined in his horse, turned around, and walked alongside Lin Yuan.
He introduced the wild grass on the grassland to Lin Yuan.
What Lin Yuan saw as weeds, He Ji saw as medicinal herbs.
He spoke with great enthusiasm, and Lin Yuan gradually became engrossed, her eyes widening involuntarily.
"Oh, there's even Panax notoginseng here."
He Ji stopped and dismounted.
He carefully pulled out a plant from the sparse, green grass and introduced it to Lin Yuan, "This plant has many uses. When crushed, it can treat wounds from sharp blades and arrows, as well as injuries from falls and beatings. It can also be beneficial for sprains like those of Aunt Li."
He spoke eloquently: "Moreover, this herb mostly grows in warm places like Yizhou and the southwestern barbarians. When I was young, I went to the Sichuan and Chongqing region with my father and uncle to collect this herb. It's really amazing that we can find it here. It's truly amazing."
His eyes lit up. The narrow sleeves of his horse-riding robe were too small, so he took off his sheepskin coat and used it as a pouch to put the plucked Panax notoginseng grass inside.
Lin Yuan also dismounted to help.
“The leaves of Panax notoginseng are about the size of a palm, with serrated edges,” He Jitong told Lin Yuan.
"Is this it?" Lin Yuan excitedly picked a plant and waved it in front of He Ji.
"Yes and no," He Ji said with a smile. "The medicinal part of Panax notoginseng is the rhizome, but yours only has leaves; the rhizomes are still in the soil."
Lin Yuan stuck out her tongue sheepishly and tossed the leaf aside.
He Ji squatted down, pulled out the remaining rhizome, blew off the dust and mud, and looked at Lin Yuan with bright eyes, saying, "Ah Yuan, you are really smart and you understand it immediately. You know, many people, even some who are just learning medicine or have a basic understanding of pharmacology, can easily confuse this Panax notoginseng with this 'Jingyu'."
He pointed upwards to the grass growing in the cracks of the rocks beside him.
"This is?"
“Jingyu,” He Ji introduced with a smile, “its leaves look similar to those of Panax notoginseng, but its serrations are sharper and finer. People also call it ‘Liwuli’. Look.”
"oh."
Lin Yuan nodded, and taking advantage of the moment when He Ji leaned forward to point at the grass, she quickly threw the large handful of weeds in her other hand behind her.
"Is it because the serrated edges are like a plow?" she asked curiously as she bent down to look.
"If the ox eats it, it can plow five miles in one go."
Lin Yuan exclaimed in surprise, "Wouldn't that be wonderful?!"
"That won't do!" He Ji shook his head and said, "This is poisoning. The cow looks like it has inexhaustible strength, but in reality it is suffering from severe heart palpitations and pain, and it will take several years to live."
Lin Yuan let out a soft "ah".
"Fortunately, the Jingyu is relatively rare and mostly grows in the north. I used to see quite a few in the Yan and Dai areas when I was collecting herbs with my father and brothers. In the south, they either grow on cold, shady rock walls or in crevices where there is no sunlight. Cows can't eat them."
Lin Yuan chuckled awkwardly and replied, "Fortunately, there are no cows here."
...
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of horses' hooves rang in my ears again.
"Ah Yuan, didn't you watch our match?"
Xiao Xun's voice followed immediately.
He looked dejected and sighed softly, "Didn't you see I won?"
"Your horses are running too fast; they'll be gone in a flash. I can't see them."
Lin Yuan was only focused on finding herbs and said without turning her head.
"Let's mount our horses and ride forward. The view ahead is more open and the scenery is even better," Xiao Xun couldn't help but say.
The "scenery" refers, of course, to the victor's agile figure.
He sat upright on his horse, exuding heroic spirit, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, moving faster and faster than Lin Yu by about two zhang.
In normal circumstances, it wouldn't be worth mentioning.
After all, his Cloud-Stepping Sword was presented by the King of Dayuan five or six years ago with the full strength of the nation. His body was like a dragon, and his movements were like a startled swan. It would be an understatement to say that he was one in ten thousand.
For some reason, Xiao Xun felt unusually happy after winning against Lin Yu this time.
Until he realized that the only witnesses to his victory were the forest wind, the wild grass, and the hills.
He watched as Lin Yuan happily pulled up a blade of grass by the roots, pursed his lips, and added, "There are even more plants ahead."
"OK."
Lin Yuan responded and turned to hand the Panax notoginseng to He Ji.
He Ji accepted it with both hands as if it were a treasure.
In Xiao Xun's eyes, that smiling and cheerful demeanor made him feel as if Lin Yuan had given him some kind of celestial flower from a fairy garden.
It's just a weed, isn't it?
He sat high on his BMW, looking down at He Ji with disdain.
But looking at it this way, the grass is indeed lush and green, and its graceful posture is comparable to peonies and tree peonies in the desolation of the beginning of the year.
Xiao Xun's teeth ached, and he turned his head away.
A soft, melodious voice came from beside me: "Then let's go and take a look ahead!"
He looked up happily. His mount, seemingly understanding his instincts, trotted closer.
But what followed immediately after those words was, "Is it alright, Master He?"
Ta Yun's horse was kicked hard in the belly by both feet. It felt a sharp pain, so it turned around and ran away, leading the way on its own.
Lin Yuan mounted the horse and pulled on the reins, but Qingyun Steed was still grazing with its head down.
She folded the riding whip and lightly patted the horse's back, teasingly saying, "Azure Cloud Steed, Azure Cloud Steed, you're not called Azure Grass Steed, you should be soaring straight to the clouds."
Whether the creature beneath him heard these words or not, the Azure Cloud Steed suddenly raised its head, turned around, and stomped its hooves, splashing wet mud from the melting snow onto its boots.
Lin Yuan was startled. She saw Qingyun Steed raise its head and let out a long neigh, its eyes burning with passion, a stark contrast to its previous docile and submissive demeanor.
A little while later, she spread her legs.
He Ji and his horse, along with the bag of grass he carefully hung around the horse's neck, had long since disappeared from sight.
Further ahead, the white silhouettes of Ta Yun and Sheng Yun flashed by in my peripheral vision.
The Azure Cloud Steed ran even faster than the Gray Wind of that day.
And it's getting faster and faster.
The gentle breeze by my ears suddenly turned into a strong wind, and then into a howling gale.
Lin Yuan realized her mistake and regretted her earlier nonsense. What did she mean by "soaring straight to the clouds"?
This is indeed a move to send her to the heavens—or even to the Western Paradise above the heavens!
Panax notoginseng can stop bleeding, but if bleeding is coming from all seven orifices, can it still stop it?
The herb *Sambucus chinensis* can mend bones—but if one is shattered to pieces, can it still be mended?
Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest. She gripped the reins and the horse's mane tightly with both hands.
His throat filled with wind, and the sound left his mouth, only to be swept away by the wind and trampled by the horse's hooves.
Meanwhile, Xiao Xun only saw a blur of green shadows flash past him.
The speed was so fast that he suspected someone had belatedly joined the horse racing.
Looking up, my mind went blank. The Azure Cloud Steed wasn't galloping or running; it seemed to be running wildly, suddenly going berserk.
Oh no, Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan!
He cried out and jerked the reins back.
The arrow, nocked, hurtled towards the cyan shadow.
The rider, however, was still not satisfied and pulled out his whip, lashing it hard across the horse.
The Akhal-Teke horse was much larger than an ordinary horse, and almost twice as tall as a two-year-old foal. It quickly caught up with the Azure Cloud Steed.
He stared intently at the figure on the colt.
The figure was frail and swaying precariously, looking as if it was about to collapse.
"Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan, don't be afraid."
His voice trailed off, but all that could be heard was the sound of the wind, his own frantic breathing, and the blue steed's increasingly frantic neighing as it heard the approaching clatter of hooves.
The person on horseback was almost like an autumn leaf, swaying in the wind, and could fall off at any moment.
"Ah Yuan, hold on tight, don't be afraid, I'm coming to save you. I'm coming to save you." He shouted desperately at the bluish-green shadow.
"...Don't be afraid, let go of the horse's mane, A-Yuan, loosen the mane first..."
A voice came from beside my ear.
It was Lin Yu's voice.
Xiao Xun's heart skipped a beat, and his breath hitched.
"...Release the horse's mane! The tighter you hold on, the more panicked the horse will become! Quick, release the mane! Don't be afraid, Ah Xun! Ah Xun, release it quickly!"
Suddenly, that voice echoed in my memory.
Their voices merged together with Lin Yu's.
Before their eyes, the figure on the Azure Cloud Steed moved.
With a swift, cloud-riding gait, like a shooting star, Xiao Xun reined in the Cloud-Treading Horse and now rode side by side with the Azure Cloud Steed.
He tried to reach out and pull Lin Yuan onto his horse, but her body swayed from side to side, and she ended up lying almost entirely on the horse's neck.
This Azure Cloud Steed was more than three feet shorter than Azure Wind. With his legs wrapped around the horse's belly and half his body hanging down, he could only reach the collar of Lin Yuan's back.
Lin Yuan's hands trembled as she gripped the horse's mane tightly, making it impossible for her to offer her hand to Xiao Xun.
As Lin Yu's voice drew closer, she finally moved one hand away and gripped the reins.
Then, he released his other hand and slowly moved his lowered body away from the horse's neck.
"Good, A-Yuan, well done! Pull the reins to the left, gently, and higher, higher still."
"...Ah Xun, don't pull the reins so hard! It will hurt the horse's mouth, and when it hurts, it will be even more scared, and when it's scared, it will run faster and more fiercely."
"You have to lift the reins very gently, very gently. Oh, hurry, hurry, hurry! Kunming Pool is just ahead, turn left quickly! Hurry! Don't turn suddenly, or you'll be thrown off! Raise the reins, raise them higher!"
The phantom of the white horse spun around and flashed before my eyes.
The dust kicked up by the horse's hooves drew an arc several feet wide.
The dust settled.
What came into view was not Kunming Pool, which was connected to Siqi Garden in my memory, but a dense forest with dead trees growing everywhere.
Lin Yu sat firmly on Sheng Yun, holding the reins high, his hands bulging with veins from tension.
His face showed no panic, and his eyes followed Lin Yuan intently like those of a hawk.
Lin Yuan's Azure Cloud Steed was blocked in its path by the towering Sheng Yun. It raised its front hooves, then slumped down in frustration.
Just as it suddenly turned sharply, it was blocked by Ta Yun again, so it had to let out a long neigh, make a big turn, and rush out of the barrier.
Dust and smoke billowed around it, and compared to its previous unstoppable advance, its speed had clearly slowed down a bit.
Xiao Xun saw that although Lin Yuan's hands, which were holding the reins, obediently raised, were still trembling uncontrollably.
"Ah Yuan, take off your stirrups."
"Huh? What? Brother, what did you say?"
Lin Yuan's voice was weak, drifting faintly from the sound of horses' hooves.
Lin Yu raised her voice, her instructions clear and distinct: "Ah Yuan, take your feet off the footrests. Don't be afraid."
"Ah Yuan, take your feet off the footstools."
Xiao Xun repeated Lin Yu's words.
His horse and Lin Yu's horse were now a few feet apart from Qingyunju, one on the left and one on the right, running side by side.
"...What? Won't I fall down like that?!" He heard his younger self ask in a panic.
"Ahead, there's a grassy slope, less than half a mile away. You won't get hurt if you fall on it! Once you get past that grassy slope, there won't be any more places like that. It'll all be mounds, gravel, and paths. Take off your pedals, and when you're almost there, cover your head, curl up, and jump down! Jump onto the grassy slope! You have to be quick!"
"Ah Xun, when you were chasing after Ah Jin and beating us up, you could jump so high and so far. You can do it, you definitely can!"
Behind him, the boy chasing his wild colt was panting, but his voice was firm.
A gust of wind, along with memories, swept in: "Just pretend—Ah Jin and I are hiding on that grassy slope right now. Yes, I'm there!"
Before Xiao Xun's eyes, less than half a mile away, was a patch of withered grass, about three zhang in diameter.
The wind blew fiercely, and the yellow grass, mixed with green, surged like waves.
“Okay, A-Yuan, very good. Now look up, don’t be afraid, look up. Do you see that grassy slope? It’s just to your left, less than half a mile away… Do you see it? Good…”
He heard Lin Yu say, word by word, "Get ready, vault."
"Ah Yuan, remember this, you must—" Lin Yu's breathing became more and more rapid.
"Hands on your head," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
"Curl up." That was Xiao Xun's voice.
"Hurry." Their voices merged into one, intertwining in the wind.
“I’m here. I’m there.”
The wind passes, the sound passes, the shadow passes.
Two green shadows, like two intertwined green leaves suddenly swept up by the wind, fell towards the wasteland.
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Author's note: The character "惊羽" (jingyu) was created by the author.
Xiao Xun: Family, as unlucky as I am, I just bought my girlfriend (my dating partner) a beautiful imported luxury car. Not only did I choose the color she hates most, but we also had a car accident on our first drive together. [Laughing and crying with face covered]
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