In February, the coldness of winter in Luliang Mountain was slightly alleviated. Lush greenery gradually appeared in the mountains and forests.
In the Green Wood Stronghold, the scene after the end of the year was slightly deserted.
Two years ago, this stronghold, which was said to have received the guidance of an expert, rapidly developed to its peak by taking advantage of the convenience of smuggling. After the battle outside the Green Wood Stronghold, where the Black Skeleton King, the King of Chaotic Mountains, the Little Rattling Horse, and the Fang Yiyang brothers were defeated, people from all over Luliang Mountain came because of its reputation. At its peak, there were more than 30,000 people in the Green Wood Stronghold. It was not an exaggeration to call it the Green Wood City.
However, the huge profits from the smuggling business were astonishing. When the Jin Kingdom and the Wu dynasty saw blood and the fall of Yanmen Pass, the Green Wood Stronghold gradually lost its geographical advantage and the smuggling business gradually declined. After that, the people of the Green Wood Stronghold participated in the regicide, and Ning Yi and the others rebelled against the world. Although the mountain did not react much, the business with the surrounding areas fell to a freezing point. Some desperadoes who came to make huge profits left one after another after they could not find too many benefits.
In the first half of last year, the situation between Luliang Mountain and the Jin Kingdom became tense. There was even news that General Ci Buxiu of the Jin Kingdom wanted to take over the Green Wood Stronghold. The entire Luliang Mountain was in a state of panic. At this time, there were many problems in the stronghold. The transformation of the smuggling business to other areas was the top priority. But in all fairness, it was not smooth. Even if Ning Yi planned to build various workshops in the valley, people who had tasted the sweetness of huge profits might not be willing to do it. As the pressure from the outside came, those who were half-hearted gradually appeared from within as well.
After two years of peace, some people began to gradually forget the cruelty of Luliang Mountain. Since the matter of Ning Yi and Red Ti was announced, people's impression of this Stronghold Master began to change from the Blood Bodhisattva, who would turn pale at the mention of his name, to the puppet or exclusive property of some outsider. Among the higher-ups, the female king of their own stronghold had married the king of another stronghold and obtained some benefits. But now, the other party had caused a huge problem, and it was about to befall them — this kind of impression was not surprising at all.
Some of the people began to leave, while others began to stir. This was especially so for some of the young and strong people who had shown their talents in the past one or two years. After tasting the benefits of smuggling and lawlessness, they began to move in the dark. Many of them wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to collude with the Jin Kingdom and seize the stronghold. Fortunately, Han Jing and the others were on Hongti's side. More than a thousand people who followed Han Jing and fought against Nu Zhenren in Xia Village were also convinced by Ning Yi and the others' authority. These people first bided their time and waited until the rebels' edge gradually showed. In May, according to the principles of the Ten Rules made by Ning Yi earlier, a large-scale battle was launched in the stockade village. At the foot of the mountain, heads were rolling on the ground. It could be considered as a clean-up for the Green Wood Stronghold.
At present, the total number of people in the entire Green Wood Stronghold was about twenty-one thousand. Most of these people already had roots and concerns in the stronghold. They could already be considered as the true foundation of the Green Wood Stronghold. Of course, it was also thanks to the Black Flag Army brazenly killing their way out in June and July last year that everyone in the stronghold had truly calmed down.
In a marriage alliance between a force and another force, the female side would indeed suffer a bit of a loss and appear to be weak. But if the other side's ten thousand people could defeat the Western Xia army of more than a hundred thousand people, this deal was obviously worth it. Their own Stronghold Master's martial arts skills were excellent, and her husband had indeed found a formidable person. Fighting against the Nu Zhen army, killing the Wu dynasty's emperor, and directly resisting the Western Xia's invasion. When the hard power of the third item was revealed, it was not impossible for them to sweep the world in the future. Of course, they could also follow behind and live a few good days.
The people of Lyu Liang Mountain, which had always been chaotic and unsettled, were used to living a hard life. They had also seen many unscrupulous bandits and strongmen, so they had a greater sense of identity with such people. After the clean-up of the Green Wood Stronghold and the results of the war in the northwest came back, the people's fear of the great general of the Jin Kingdom was swept away. And when they recalled the chaos, the people who stayed in the stronghold were assigned to various new workshops in the mountain to work. They did not have too many complaints. In a sense, it could be considered as a true example of "if you are fierce, I am afraid".
Day after day, the impression of the Blood Bodhisattva was still clear to the people in the valley, but the impression of the woman named Lu Hongti gradually faded. Perhaps this was because after several upheavals and reforms, the power structure of the Green Wood Stronghold had gradually stepped onto a more complicated track. Takeshi's power had seeped into it, new situations were emerging, and new ways of operation were also taking shape. Today's Green Wood Stronghold army was completely different from the mountain bandits that once filled Lyu Liang Mountain. Some of them had experienced major battles, and they had experienced confrontations with the resentful army and Nu Zhen people. The rest had mostly become upright under the military discipline and rules.
The woman who had once fought alone for hundreds of people in the mountains with only a sword and looked forward to the future in solitude was no longer familiar with this kind of situation. She was also unable to truly do what she wanted. Thus, most of the time, she could only hide in the mountains of the Green Wood Stronghold, living a quiet and secluded life, no longer meddling in the specific affairs.
"If this goes on, I'm afraid that no one in Lyu Liang Mountain will recognize you after a while."
In February, the spring breeze was like a pair of scissors, and the midnight was cold. Ning Yi and Hongti joked as they walked in the mountains of the Green Wood Stronghold. Compared to the people of the Green Wood Stronghold who gradually recognized the Blood Bodhisattva, in the last year or so, although the two of them had been apart more than together, Ning Yi had always seen Hongti in person.
The journey from Little Canghe to the Green Wood Stronghold was actually not far in this era. If they hurried, they could arrive in a day. Messages and people came and went frequently between the two places. But because of all kinds of affairs, Ning Yi still rarely went out.
In the year before the war with the Western Xia, in order to suppress the atmosphere in the valley to the extreme and stimulate the subjective initiative to the greatest extent without appearing negative, Ning Yi had a hands-on attitude towards almost everything in the valley. Even if it was a few people quarreling or fighting, he didn't dare to relax in the slightest. He was afraid that the mood of the people in the valley would be suppressed and would collapse.
When the war was over, in the eyes of the bystanders, there was a glimmer of hope. But in fact, more detailed affairs really followed. The bargaining with the Western Xia, the negotiation with the Zhong and Zhe clans, how to make the Black Flag Army give up the two cities to produce the greatest influence in the northwest, how to borrow the prestige of the Black Flag Army defeating the Western Xia people, and how to cooperate with some of the big merchants and forces in the vicinity. Ning Yi didn't dare to let go of any of these affairs.
And when the number of the Black Flag Army dropped below five thousand, they had to be alert no matter what they did. When Ning Yi returned to the Small Cang River, he had lost more than ten kilograms.
Apart from this, for Ning Yi, Qin Shaoqian, and the other awakened ones, there was an even bigger crisis brewing in the whole Wu dynasty. No one knew when it would fall over their heads. Regarding the management of the Small Cang River, it seemed that the outsiders were not in a hurry, but in fact, they were racing against time.
In such a long period of time, he couldn't go over, so he could only rush to the Small Cang River with Hong Ti. Occasionally, they would meet, but it was always in a hurry, spending a whole day riding a horse to get here. Perhaps she would leave in the wee hours of the morning, but she would always arrive before dusk. Travel-Worn, she would spend a night here and then leave again.
In the eyes of the bystanders, the Blood Bodhisattva wielded a sword in Jianghu and shook the land. And she indeed had this kind of deterrence. Although she was no longer involved in the ordinary affairs of the Green Wood Village, for the higher-ups in the valley, as long as she was there, it was like a sword hanging above their heads, suppressing them and making them not dare to act rashly. Only when she was in charge of the Green Wood Village could many changes be carried out smoothly.
However, every time she went to the Small Cang River, she was just like a concubine who wanted to fight for some warmth from her husband. If she wasn't afraid that by the time she arrived, Ning Yi would have already slept with someone else, why would she always try to come before dusk? Every time Ning Yi noticed these things, he felt guilty.
It wasn't easy for them to meet, and when they slept together, the physical relationship was secondary. Sometimes, it was there, sometimes it wasn't. Even though he had learned martial arts, Ning Yi was still under a lot of pressure during that period of time. Sometimes, Hongti wouldn't sleep at night and would give him a massage. Sometimes, it was Ning Yi who would listen to her talk beside him about the trivial things that happened in the Green Wood Village. Often, Hongti would happily talk to him, and he would fall into a deep sleep. When he woke up, Ning Yi felt extremely guilty, but Hong Ti had never been angry or depressed because of this.
Things went on like this until now. When Ning Yi held her hand and walked on the road, many people in the Green Wood Village had already fallen asleep. It had been some time since they left the Su family's residence. Ning Yi carried the lantern and looked at the dark road winding up. Hong Ti was tall and slender, her steps were light and natural, and she had a healthy aura. She was wearing a light blue dress that was quite popular among the women in Mount Lu Liang. Her hair was tied up behind her head, and she didn't have a sword on her. She looked simple and clean. If she was in Bianliang City, she would look like a well-behaved daughter-in-law of a rich family.
"If it's really like what Husband said, maybe it's a good thing that they don't know me one day. Actually, I also feel that the people I know in this village are getting fewer and fewer. "
"It's different from what you thought before, right?"
"Hmm?"
"Saving the world, saving the world. At first, I thought that everyone would live happily together, not having to worry about food and clothing, and being happy. The more I do, the more I think, the more I realize that it's not like that. The more people there are, the more things there are, and the more headaches there are. If I keep going forward, there will be no end. "
"Is that what Liheng thinks?"
"What about your man? He's much more powerful than this." Ning Yi turned his head and smiled. In front of Hong Ti, he was actually a little childish. Often when he thought of the woman's identity as a Martial Arts Grand Master, he couldn't help but want to emphasize the fact that he was her Husband. On the other hand, it was mainly because Hong Ti was an extremely virtuous woman who was easy to bully, even though she had dominated the world with her sword and killed countless people.
Hong Ti, whose hand was held by him, smiled gently. After a while, she said in a low voice, "Actually, I always think of Grandpa Liang and Sister Duanyun."
"Hmm."
"They didn't have a good life. Many people died, and they didn't have a good life either. Sometimes when I look at them on the mountain, I feel sad when I think of these things. However, Husband, you don't have to worry about these things. I don't care much in the mountain, so the newcomers don't know me. Some of them are good and some are bad, but they have nothing to do with me. Grandma Zhao, Uncle Yu, and the others who live beside me still remember me. When I was hungry when I was young, they would give me something to eat. It's always the same now. Whatever they cook at home, I'll always have a share. I just occasionally think about it. I don't know what these days will be like in the future. "
Hong Ti told him not to worry about her, so Ning Yi nodded. The two of them walked along the dark mountain path. After a while, a patrolling guard passed by and saluted them. Ning Yi said, "Let's not sleep tonight. Let's go out and play." Hong Ti's eyes lit up, and she nodded happily. It was not easy to walk in Luliang Mountain at night, but the two of them were people with martial arts skills, so they were not afraid.
They walked down the mountain and asked the guard to open the side door of Green Wood Stronghold. Hong Ti took a sword, and Ning Yi carried a spear. They went out from the door. Hong Ti smiled and said, "If Jin 'er finds out …"
"She'll definitely pester her to follow us." Ning Yi added, and then said, "I'll bring her next time."
Walking out from the gate of Green Wood Stronghold, there was a small street on both sides. This was a house built when the smuggling business was flourishing in Luliang Mountain. It was originally filled with merchants, but now it was mostly empty. Ning Yi hung the lantern on the tip of the spear, carried the spear, and swaggered forward. Hong Ti followed behind him, and occasionally said, "I remember there are people over there."
Ning Yi swaggered forward, "They don't know us anyway."
They walked forward, and in a short while, they were already out of the populated area of Green Wood Stronghold. The city wall behind them gradually became smaller. A lone lantern passed through the forest, and the night wind whistled as it passed. Wolves howled in the distance.
The terrain of Luliang Mountain was rugged, and it was not friendly to travelers, especially at night, when it was even more dangerous. However, Ning Yi had been immersed in body-strengthening martial arts for many years, and Hong Ti's martial arts skills were among the best in the world. On the small piece of land in front of the house, the two of them sprinted as if they were on an outing. When their qi and blood circulated and their bodies relaxed, the night wind became even more enjoyable. In addition, on this dark night, there was only the two of them in the whole world. Every time they passed by the high mountain ridges, the woodland rose and fell like waves, and the trees were low in the sky. The wind was clear and the moon was close to them.
The two of them had long passed their teenage years, but the occasional childishness and stupidity did not matter their age. Ning Yi occasionally chatted with Hong Ti about trivial matters. When the lantern went out, he hurriedly made a torch on the ground. After lighting it up, it scattered quickly, making a mess. Hong Ti smiled and came over to help him. The two of them worked together for a while before they made two torches and continued their journey. Ning Yi waved the torch in his hand, "Dear audience, this is Luliang Mountain … uh, the extremely dangerous primitive forest. I am your good friend, Ning Yi, Ning Liheng Bell, and next to me is my master and wife, Lu Hongti. In today's program, we will teach you how to survive in such a forest, and how to find a way out …"
Seeing that he was talking nonsense that she did not understand, Hong Ti frowned slightly, but there was only a deep smile in her eyes. After walking for a while, she pulled out her sword. Ning Yi, who had already tied the torch and the spear together, turned around and looked at her, "What's wrong?"
"The wolves are coming." Hong Ti walked as usual, holding her sword and smiling.
"Wolves? Are there many? "
"Don't worry, they don't seem to be many."
"Not many. Alright, dear audience, now we have the most dangerous … reptiles in this forest, called wolves. They are very ferocious, and once they appear, they usually come in groups and are extremely difficult to deal with. I will teach you how to survive under the siege of the wolves. The first trick is … Red Grapes, come quickly — "Ning Yi broke into a run." … You just need to run faster than the wolves, that's all. "
Seeing that Ning Yi was running forward, Hong Ti tilted her head slightly, showing a trace of helplessness. Then, she lowered her body and rushed out with the torch in her hand. The wild wolves suddenly pounced on her previous position and desperately chased after the two of them.
The two streaks of torch ran faster and faster through the forest. After a while, they rushed through the small forest, rushed into the lowlands, and ran up the mountain. After a while, the distance between the small group of wild wolves increased. On a mountainous area, Ning Yi used the spear that still had the torch tied to it to hit the wild wolves that pounced on him.
The wild wolves had copper heads, iron bones, and soft waists. When Ning Yi's spear swept past, it howled and flew out. Ning Yi waved his spear twice, "Everyone saw it, this is the second move. As long as you can beat it, you won't be eaten by it!"
He made a feint with his spear, and the wild wolf dodged to the side. The flame swept across and quickly smashed down, hitting the wild wolf's head with a bang. The wolf howled again and hurriedly retreated. Ning Yi brandished his spear and chased after it, and then once again smashed the wolf's head with his stick. The wild wolf howled miserably, and then successively was smashed four or five times by Ning Yi's stick: "Everyone saw it, this is how I beat it. Again … "
Hongti smiled as she watched his antics.
When the wild wolf broke free from Ning Yi's abuse, it whimpered and ran away. Its body was already covered with cuts and bruises, and who knew how much hair on its head had been burned off. Ning Yi smiled and continued to find torches. The two walked forward, sometimes walking slowly, sometimes running.
Red had traveled abroad many years ago, but during those days, she was always anxious. She grew up in Lu Liang, so she probably had no feelings for these wild mountains and ridges. But at this moment, she was wholeheartedly walking in the mountains with the man she had entrusted her life to. She did not have too many worries in her heart. She was usually a quiet person, and because of the training she had gone through, she did not cry much when she was sad, and she rarely laughed when she was happy. This night, after running with Ning Yi for a long time, when Ning Yi teased her again, she laughed out loud. Her laughter was like the morning breeze, filled with joy and happiness. It spread far and wide in this night where there were no outsiders. Ning Yi turned back to look at her. He had not been so relaxed in a long time.
The two walked all the way to the village where Sister Duanyun used to live. They extinguished the torch, and from afar, the village had already fallen into a deep sleep. Only a single lantern at the entrance was still lit. They did not alarm the guards. Holding hands, they silently passed through the village at night. Seeing that people were living in the houses, and the houses were being repaired, a dog wanted to bark, but Hong Ti knocked it out with a stone.
They stopped at the place where Liang Bingfu, Fu Duanyun, Hong Ti, Hong Ti, and Hong Ti's master used to live. Then, they left from the other entrance. Holding hands, they continued to walk to places they could see. After walking for a while, they sat down on a grassy slope to rest. The night wind was cold, and the two leaned against each other and talked.
"Do you still remember how we met?" Ning Yi asked softly.
"Yes." Hong Ti nodded. "Jiangning is much better than here."
"I asked Takeshi's storyteller to write some things. He said that there was a heroine in Lu Liang Mountain who chased to Jiangning to avenge the blood of the villagers. She tried to assassinate Song Xian and narrowly escaped death. However, with the help of others, she finally avenged the blood and returned to Lu Liang Mountain …"
Hong Ti glanced at him. She was slightly silent, but she did not show any objection. She trusted Ning Yi. No matter what he did, there was a reason. Moreover, even if there was no reason, she was his wife. She would not casually oppose her Husband's decision.
"Nothing, I just want them to remember you. I want them to remember the bitterness and sweetness. I want them to remember the difficulties in the past. If there are still old people, I want them to remember you. Basically, there are no false records. They will see it in the Green Wood Stockade in a few days. I just want to tell you. "
"Yes." Hong Ti nodded.
"What will the future be like? I don't know in ten or twenty years." Ning Yi looked at the darkness in front of them and said, "But we can't live peacefully like this. Now, we can only be prepared. My people have received news that the Jin Kingdom is preparing for the third war. We may also be affected. "
Hong Ti tightened her grip on his hand. "I used to be your master. Now, I'm your woman. Whatever you want to do, I'll follow you." Her tone was calm and matter-of-fact. After saying that, she hugged his arm with her other hand and leaned toward him. Ning Yi also tilted his head.
After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, "After Watermelon went back to Lan Huandong, he made a big embarrassment."
"Huh?" Hong Ti blinked her eyes. She was very curious.
"She secretly hinted to the people around her … that she was already pregnant. In the end … she wrote to me and said that I did it on purpose. She wanted me to … haha … teach me a lesson …"
Hongti froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"I let you down," Ning Yi said.
"Are you going to talk about the many women around you again?"
"No, I should get used to it." Ning Yi smiled and shook his head. Then he paused and said, "I need you to guard the Green Wood Stockade. I know you are afraid that you will make a mistake if you are pregnant, so you didn't get pregnant. For the whole year last year, I was very nervous and couldn't calm down. Recently, I thought about it carefully and realized that it was my negligence."
Hong Ti didn't say anything.
"Maybe it's because my health is not good. I've been married for so many years, but I only have three children. Tan'Er and the others have always wanted a second child. Jin'Er also wants one. They even exercise and eat to supplement themselves. I know this might be my problem. We … have been married for so long and we're not young anymore. I want you to help me give birth to a child. Don't deliberately avoid it anymore. "
"Mm." Hong Ti nodded.
"Mm." Ning Yi also nodded and looked around. "So, let's go and have a child."
"It's … cold here, right?" They weren't newlyweds. As for what happened outside, Hong Ti didn't have any qualms about it. It was just that the spring night, the cold and the humidity made people feel uncomfortable when they were naked.
"Find a cave." Ning Yi thought for a moment and snapped his fingers. "You're familiar with this place. Find a cave."
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