Jun Shang led Mo Xi to the rear hall of the Vermillion Bird Palace Hall.
There was a pool of dream-gathering water there that could turn the past into reality and appear in front of the spectators.
Jun Shang stood by the pool and looked at his and Mo Xi's reflections. Then, he slowly took off the string of Bodhi Pearls from his wrist and played with them in his hand. The Bodhi Pearls were warm and smooth. He fiddled with them one by one. When he reached the seventh one, he stopped.
"Mo Xi, although I … chose to destroy Wang Jian of the Censorate, but …"
He closed his eyes and wrung his hands. "But, please believe me, I have never thought of deceiving Gu Qing."
"This is a Heavenly Jewel that can prove his innocence. I have always carried it with me. If I am able to fulfill my promise in my lifetime, I will personally announce it to the people. However, if I am unable to defy the will of heaven, then I will leave this Heavenly Jewel that records the truth to the world. One day, when the time is right, there will naturally be descendants who will reveal the Golden Platform's agreement to the world. "
The night wind rose, causing the leaves of the parasol trees by the pool to rustle.
"Then, I will finally have face in the underworld and be able to see Zhong Liang again."
As he spoke, he tapped the Heavenly Jewel with the tip of his finger. Not long after, the Heavenly Jewel emitted a dazzling light. A strand of silver-white memory floated out from within and landed in the Dream Transformation Pool. The water rippled, shattering the moonlight and frost in the pool. Then, a faint cold mist spread out from the dream-gathering pool.
The cold mist gradually condensed into a scene. A faint sound came from the depths of the mist, and then became incomparably clear.
The brothel of the brothel slowly unfolded in front of their eyes.
"The fragrance of the Tumani leaves a curtain of wind, Du Yu's voice fills the trees with red. Nanxuan pillows a pear cloud dream, Separated souls a thousand miles away. " The song of the Dual Tone Water Fairy drifted out from the stage of the brothel. Her clear and delicate voice was like a strand of silk, blowing through the rouge powder field.
"The sun is leaning, the shadows of the flowers are heavy. The daylily hair is merciless, the pomegranate flowers bloom with regret. The sorrow of loss is thick. "
The mist drifting out of the pool became thicker and thicker, wrapping around the entire back terrace of the Vermillion Bird Palace Hall, creating a mirage of pearls and jade.
Apricot Blossom House.
Mo Xi and Jun Shang stood in the middle of the fog. Slowly, everything became clear. Mo Xi found himself looking at the scene in the Mirror of Time again. It was the night before Gu Mang's betrayal eight years ago. Gu Mang was in a room in the brothel, talking to the mysterious man in black.
At that time, Mo Xi didn't know who the black-clothed man was. Now that he thought about it, it was most likely Junshang.
As expected, Junshang walked to Mo Xi's side and looked at the man in the black robe formed by the mist. He said, "This was the last time I saw Gu Qing before he betrayed me. At that time, he knew that he would be leaving soon and his emotions were unstable. Therefore, I made an agreement with him that I would find him at midnight and bring him to War Soul Mountain to see something. "
It was exactly the same as the conversation in the time-space mirror. In the illusion, Jun Shang, who was wrapped in a black robe, pushed a package to Gu Mang and placed it on the table, "I brought it for you. Go and change. "
Gu Mang's actions were exactly the same. He raised his hand and opened a corner of the package, but quickly closed it again.
Gu Mang asked, "What does this mean?"
"You're going to that place, so you should prepare." Junshang said, "I'm only telling you about the situation there because I'm afraid you won't believe me. Tonight, I'll take you to see it with your own eyes. Seeing is believing. "
The surrounding scene dimmed. When everything lit up again, the scene in the fog had changed to the foot of War Soul Mountain.
Gu Mang and Junshang were both wearing black cloaks, covering themselves from head to toe.
Gu Mang walked to the front of the winding path up the mountain. He looked at the deep, winding limestone path. He took off the hood of his cloak and looked up at the majestic mountain path.
Junshang asked, "You're not going up?"
Gu Mang said, "It's just that when I think about leaving here soon, my hands will be stained with the blood of Chong Hua soldiers, my heart …"
Junshang interrupted him, "Chong Hua's current situation is also like this. After the defeat of Feng Ming Mountain, you've seen it with your own eyes. You and your army are in dire straits. There are only people who will hit you when you're down, and no one will help you when you're down. "
He saw that Gu Mang wanted to refute, so he added, "You don't have to tell me that if Lord Xi He is here, he will side with you. It's useless even if he sides with you. You're a smart person. You should already be very clear that with your own strength, you can't change anything. "
Gu Mang, "…"
Junshang said, "Things have come to this point. You've already made your move to betray the country."
As he spoke, he raised his hand in the cold night and held Gu Mang's five cold fingers. Gu Mang turned back to look at him. He also moved slightly, as if he wanted to break free, but in the end, he didn't do so.
Mo Xi looked at the situation in front of him. When he first saw the past in the time-space mirror, he thought that the black-clothed man was from Liao. He thought that when Gu Mang's hand was held, it was because he was hesitant. But now that he knew the truth, his feelings were extremely complicated. The first complete sentence that appeared in his mind was actually, "… Was it cold?"
Junshang stood beside him and was startled, "What?"
"His hand." Mo Xi said softly, "Was it very cold at that time?"
It was clearly something that happened eight years ago. Logically speaking, no one could remember these details at that time. But after being startled for a moment, Junshang understood.
He lowered his eyes and said, "… It was cold."
"…"
"I'm sorry. It was I who pushed him to this dead end."
Mo Xi didn't say anything. In the illusion, Junshang was repeating the conversation in the time-space mirror. He said to Gu Mang, "Marshal Gu, if you want to pave a path, your hands will be stained with blood. Take advantage of the fact that your hands haven't taken an innocent life, go to War Spirit Mountain one more time. You won't have another chance in the future. "
Gu Mang suddenly closed his eyes. The night wind blew his slightly messy hair. He was silent for a long time. Then, he gently pulled his hand out of Junshang's palm. His fingertips were still trembling slightly. No one could warm his hands. He said, "… Let's go."
Their black robes billowed. Junshang and Gu Mang walked up the stairs one after another.
In the time-space mirror, Mo Xi's tracking stopped here. But this time, it was different. This time, the thick fog was pushed aside one by one. It was sad and hazy. He finally saw what Gu Mang and Junshang saw at War Spirit Mountain that year.
Junshang and Gu Mang arrived in front of the enchantment of the forbidden area of War Spirit Mountain. Junshang raised his hand and cut his palm. He smeared his blood on the enchantment. The blood was instantly absorbed by the enchantment. A voice that seemed to come from the depths of the earth rumbled, "Yan Ran retracts the book and the brush."
Junshang replied, "There is an old inscription in Kusanagi's grave."
Yan Ran retracts the book and the brush. There is an old inscription in Kusanagi's grave.
Wasn't this simple poem Gu Mang's lifelong dream? Gu Mang's eyes reddened as soon as he heard this reply. Junshang saw him like this and sighed. He patted Gu Mang's shoulder and said softly, "There won't be anyone else here. Take off the cloak."
Gu Mang raised his hand and untied the rope of the cloak.
Under the cloak, it turned out that it was a white military mourning robe with black edges …
"Let's go."
They passed through the enchantment barrier and entered the forbidden area of War Spirit Mountain.
Even though Mo Xi had guessed and prepared himself, when he really saw the scene, Mo Xi's heart still felt like it had been hit hard.
The entire Forbidden Land of Fighting Souls was filled with green tombs and tombstones. Some of the tombstones had names carved on them, and some were painted with golden paint. Some of the tombstones didn't have anything written on them. But a large area of them gathered together. It was as if the heroic souls of the underworld had returned and gathered at the peak of the mountain.
Gu Mang was stunned for a long time. Then, as if he didn't dare to shatter a good dream, he carefully took a few steps forward. Slowly, his caution gave way to stumbling. He stumbled closer, and when he saw the inscription on the first tombstone, tears welled up in his eyes.
"…"
He raised his hand and touched the golden inscription on the tombstone. Tears flowed down his face.
"Home …"
Then he knelt down. His throat slowly choked with sobs. He knelt in front of the tombstones in grief. Again and again, he kowtowed to the 70,000 comrades he had left behind on Feng Ming Mountain.
"Home …"
Junshang stood beside him. After a long while, he put his hand on his shoulder. "This forbidden area is the first promise I made to you. Seventy thousand tombstones, every name was personally carved by this Monarch, and every grave was personally erected by this Monarch. Marshal Gu, with you and me planning together, I believe that one day, the forbidden area of War Soul Mountain will no longer be a forbidden area. "
Gu Mang didn't say anything. He wore a military mourning uniform. His white hemp hair was tied up in a bun. He choked with sobs and bowed again and again.
There were no living people in his eyes anymore. In his eyes, there were only his brothers who had passed away. When Junshang saw him like this, he didn't disturb him anymore. He just accompanied him and watched.
After a long time, Gu Mang staggered to his feet. He put his hands together and bowed again in front of the tombstone. He put his hand to his forehead and muttered something.
Junshang asked, "Is there anything else you want me to do?"
Gu Mang closed his eyes. After a long time, he said with tears in his eyes, "… If it's possible … I … have three more things. I want to ask Junshang for permission."
"Speak."
Gu Mang's fingertips rubbed the golden book on the tombstone.
"… The first thing, if I really can't come back … I ask Junshang not to set up a tombstone for me on War Soul Mountain. I went to Liao Country to investigate. My hands are bound to be stained with the blood of my comrades. No matter if I was forced or not, or if I had a hidden reason, the people I killed are killed. I don't have the face to be buried with them. "
Junshang seemed to be disturbed by his words. He said, "But — —"
"Please let me finish."
"…"
"The second thing, Lord Xi He is pure and kind. He is a noble, but he has a deep personal relationship with me. He has already offended countless elders. After I betrayed him, he will not believe me. He might even do something extreme. I ask Junshang not to tell him the truth. I ask Junshang to forgive him and not pursue the matter. "
When Mo Xi heard this, he couldn't hold back his tears anymore. He couldn't help but step forward. He looked at the solemn Gu Mang in his military uniform and murmured, "Gu Mang …"
The reflection of Gu Mang eight years ago couldn't hear anything. He stood in the chilly mountain wind, his clothes fluttering. He wasn't going to die, but it was better than that. At this moment, he was telling Junshang about the matters after his death.
"Thirdly."
After saying these two words, Gu Mang fell silent.
He lowered his eyes and raised his hands to look at his palms. After a long time, he said softly, "… Thirdly, while my hands are still clean, I want to play a soul-summoning song for them."
"But Junshang, I only have a small suona that can't be used in public. Can you lend me your Divine Martial Skill? "
He raised his head after saying this. The cool breeze blew his fine hair. Under the moonlight, he looked at Junshang with longing.
The soul-summoning song of the Chong Hua was often sung by a ceremonial official with the divine weapon. However, Gu Mang couldn't possibly hope for a ceremonial official to comfort his brothers. The only recognition he could ask for could only come from the man in front of him.
"Since Junshang's heart is so sincere, why would I not allow it?" Junshang said as a jade bamboo flute appeared in his palm. He handed the jade bamboo flute to Gu Mang.
Gu Mang thanked him and took the flute with both hands. He looked up, as if he wanted to engrave each and every one of the seventy thousand tombstones on Mount War Spirit into his heart. Under the moonlight, he put the bamboo flute to his lips and played it with his eyes closed.
"In the past, there was a man who passed away with a sword. His blood sank into the sand and his bones were hard to return. This skeleton is still as beautiful as jade. This body was laughing last night. Junshang's heart, I will pass on Junshang's noble spirit. On the day when the heroic spirit returns to its homeland, there is no place in the world that is not green … "
The song ended.
Gu Mang put down the bamboo flute, his eyes moist.
He turned his head and returned the flute to Junshang, kneeling in front of the tombstone forest again. After a moment of silence, he lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Junshang, I will be leaving soon. I don't know if I can come back. I also don't know when I can come back."
"Gu Qing …"
"When I'm not here, please come and take a look at them for me … You don't have to burn too much paper or gold. Just … just bring a few more jugs of good wine and a few more side dishes." When he finished speaking, he was already choking with sobs, "When they followed me, their military pay was never enough. They looked at the other armies' rations and often joked with me, telling me …"
His forehead pressed against the cold tombstone, his tears falling like beads from a broken necklace.
"Saying that they are hungry … and want to have a good meal."
Junshang: "…"
"These years, although I didn't say it, I heard it all. There were always people who said that we wanted to seize power … wanted to overturn the heavens … were insatiably greedy and ambitious …" Gu Mang slowly raised his head, "But Junshang, do you know? The biggest ambition of these people is just to eat a full meal … "
In the illusion, Junshang was wearing a mask. No one knew what his expression was like when he heard these words.
However, Mo Xi could see the current Junshang. Even after so many years, when he heard Gu Mang say these words again, Junshang's eyes still dimmed with pain.
"Come and take a look at them for me. Bring them more rations."
Junshang said, "Don't worry, Gu Qing. I will definitely do it."
"Can there still be wine?"
"I will bring the best wine in Chong Hua to your people."
"Just burn knives. They are used to being poor. If it's too good wine, they won't bear to drink it."
"… Okay."
Gu Mang didn't have any more requests.
He knelt in the middle of the forest and looked up blankly at his brothers who had become tombstones. He didn't move for a long time.
In the illusion, Junshang sighed softly and raised his hand. However, he didn't disperse the jade bamboo flute. Instead, he pressed it to his lips and played a soul-summoning song.
The flute was long and drawn-out. The moon was white and the wind was clear. In this mournful and solemn song, everything in War Spirit Mountain faded away.
All the fog and illusion dissipated at this moment. However, the soulful sound of the bamboo flute seemed to pass through reality and illusion, and came from the foothills of War Spirit Mountain eight years ago.
The fog faded away, but the lingering sound didn't disperse.
After a long time, on the Vermillion Bird Terrace, Junshang rearranged the heavenly jewel. Then he looked up at the bright moon in the clouds and said softly, "Fireball."
"…"
"In these eight years, I have always worn this bracelet, guarding this secret. Every time I can't hold on anymore, I will create this memory and look at it again. "
"Every time I look at it, I will deeply remember it. This path is not for me to walk alone, nor is it for me to walk alone. For eight years, day and night, I haven't forgotten it. I don't dare to forget it. "
Junshang touched the heavenly jewel on his wrist and said softly.
"I don't have a heart of stone, because … being in the ninth layer is like being in prison …" Towards the end, his voice was choked with sobs. "Actually, how could I not know that I have let Gu Qing down … I have let you down …"
No one spoke anymore. The old trees by the courtyard chirped and the cicadas cried in the night.
On the Vermillion Bird Terrace, Mo Xi and Junshang looked at each other silently. Their expressions were blushing and their eyes were wet with tears.
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