Li Qingsu could only remember that the man had a pair of slightly upturned almond-shaped eyes, as hazy as a river of misty rain. His gaze swept around the shabby house. After confirming that there were no other survivors, his gaze fell on Li Qingqian and his younger brother.
Li Qingqian looked up at the green-robed cultivator in a daze. His younger brother was soft and small. He had a fever and was crying loudly in his arms. The child was so young, but he seemed to know that he had suffered the misfortune of losing his country and family. He knew that he no longer had a father who would make bamboo dragonflies for him, and a mother who loved to pinch his little nose …
The green-robed cultivator looked at them for a while and walked over. His gaze fell from behind the golden mask. After a moment of silence, he took out a medicine bottle and some broken silver. "This medicine can cure all mortal diseases. Keep it for your brother."
Then he turned and left without saying anything.
Li Qingsu was stunned for a long time before he suddenly reacted. He grabbed the medicine bottle and the silver and rushed out. He saw that the village was full of black-robed cultivators' corpses. The green-robed man seemed to be checking every house to see if there were any survivors. Li Qingsu knelt down in front of him and cried, "Big Brother!"
The green-robed man glanced at him from behind the golden mask.
"Big Brother, please, please take us away!"
The man didn't say anything.
Li Qingqian's eyes were red. He choked and said, "We've been running away, running away … but Mother and Father still … still …" He cried until his voice was incoherent. "Big Brother, please …"
But in the end, the green-robed man didn't take them away. He only gave him a sword manual, saying that it was too weak and useless to him. However, if Li Qingqian studied it carefully, he might be able to comprehend some of his own swordsmanship. It would be enough for him to protect himself.
But now, Li Qingqian looked at Hongshao kneeling in the mud and crying and begging him not to leave. For a moment, he was in a trance. He remembered his helpless and desperate state of mind.
He finally sighed and walked back to Hongshao. "Get up."
"…!" Seeing him return, Hongshao sobbed and looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"But let's make it clear that I'm only bringing you along. If we pass by a good place and can find a good place to stay, I won't keep you."
Hongshao didn't care. She wiped away the tears on her face, smiled through her tears, and agreed. She was used to seeing people's faces and knew that Li Qingqian had a good heart. Since he didn't abandon her at this time, he definitely wouldn't abandon her in the future. Thus, she nodded vigorously like she was pecking rice. "I'll listen to Big Brother!"
What the hell is she listening to?
She followed him. On the first day, she was obedient. On the third day, she began to jump, climb trees, and roll on the ground.
By the third year, she was already out of control. She would do whatever Li Qingqian did. Unlike what they had agreed, she had a huge appetite and ate a lot.
Every time Li Qingqian saw that there was no more rice in the vat and turned to look at Hongshao, who was chasing the dog in the yard, he would sigh and shake his head.
Fortunately, her younger brother was taken in as a disciple by a kind-hearted old scholar. Otherwise, if he had another mouth to feed, Li Qingqian would really be worried.
Hongshao asked him before, "Big Brother, you're so powerful. Why don't you take more money from others after killing evil spirits?"
Li Qingqian said, "Because those people don't have money …"
"Then you can go catch ghosts for the rich."
Li Qingqian hadn't comprehended his own Water Breaking Sword at that time, so he could only copy the Nameless Sword Manual left by the green-robed cultivator. Thus, he smiled and said, "First of all, I'm not good enough. Second of all, there are so many —" He made an exaggerated gesture to Hongshao. "So many people are anxious to catch ghosts for the rich. But not many people are willing to go to a small country like Li Chun. "
Hongshao nibbled on a steamed bun and nodded. "That's true! You're a good person! "
"The person who saved me was also a good person." Li Qingqian smiled shyly. "I don't know who he is, but I've always wanted to be a cultivator like him. But … I'm sure I'm not as good as him. And I guess … I'll always be poor. "
Hongshao wasn't happy. She held the steamed bun in her mouth and made a big circle with her hands. She said vaguely, "No, big brother is the best. Big brother is … so … so …" She tried to stretch her arms to make the circle bigger. "So good!"
Li Qingqian laughed and touched her head. "If you keep talking, the steamed bun will fall off."
Hongshao chewed and chewed on the white steamed bun again with a smile. She swung her feet happily. The pair of yellow embroidered shoes on her feet were very clean and beautiful. Li Qingqian bought them for her with his pitiful shell money. She wore them carefully. After so many years, they were only old, but they were rarely dirty.
Li Qingqian and Hongshao walked like this, doing the good deeds they wanted to do and practicing swordsmanship together.
In the dreamland, Hong Shao was sitting on a tree and shaking the fruits madly. Li Qingqian was standing under the tree, looking at Hong Shao dotingly with a headache. However, such peaceful days did not last long. Mo Xi already knew the ending of these two people, so when he looked back, he only felt that those bright smiles were like the moon in the water.
This girl would leave Li Qingqian, and then Li Qingqian would become famous, die, and finally become a resentful sword spirit.
And all of this, what exactly happened?
As the illusion kept changing, the layers of mystery gradually disappeared like the wind and sand, revealing the pale and naked truth under the sand and mud.
The turning point began one day at the end of spring when Hongshao fell ill.
At that time, they happened to pass by a village near Liao Country. Liao Country was located in an area with heavy demonic aura. During the transition between spring and summer, the demonic miasma in the village was the thickest. Hongshao was accidentally infected with the demonic miasma and became seriously ill. She quickly became thin and haggard.
Li Qingqian went everywhere to seek medical treatment, but the medicine to cure this kind of demonic miasma was extremely expensive. Even ordinary people couldn't afford it, let alone a poor scholar like Li Qingqian. He was rejected time and time again. Medical practitioners shouted at him angrily, "If you want to cure the disease, you have to pay first. How many people get this disease every day? If everyone is like you and wants to help, how can there be enough herbs?"
Mo Xi knew that although the medical practitioners' attitude was bad, their words were not empty.
The medicine to cure this kind of demonic miasma was indeed very scarce. Every country had its own way to reduce the supply. For example, in Chong Hua, only the nobles could buy it. Back then, Gu Mang had disguised himself as a Murong Lian to buy medicine from the Imperial Pharmacy for the poor people in a village.
Liao Country was slightly more generous. They didn't care about bloodline, but they cared about money.
Li Qingqian didn't have money.
He sat by Hongshao's sickbed. Hongshao was like a withered flower. She didn't have the energy to jump around like usual. She only squinted at him with her red and swollen eyes, her lips moving slightly.
Li Qingqian asked in a low voice, "What do you want to say?"
Hongshao moved her lips again.
Li Qingqian then leaned over. After a while, he heard her words clearly. She smiled and said —
"Hey, hey, now that I eat less, I can save some money for you …"
Li Qingqian waited for her to fall asleep that day. He walked out of the hut and squatted on the steps for a while. Suddenly, he couldn't hold it in anymore. He curled up and cried. He didn't dare to cry too loudly. First, he didn't want to be a man. Second, he was afraid that he would wake up Hongshao who had finally fallen asleep.
He thought, what should I do?
What should I do?
He was not as powerful as Hongshao made him out to be. He did not become the green-robed cultivator from back then. He could not even protect the little girl who accompanied him. After so many years, he had nothing but empty talk and ambition.
Mo Xi couldn't bear to see him like this. However, he also knew that this was the truth and couldn't be changed.
The scene in the illusion was still changing. The young Li Qingqian walked helplessly in the bustling market of the Burning Country. He had pawned the last thing he could pawn. He had exchanged seven sets of medicine for Hongshao in order to stall for time.
Now, there was only one prescription left. What would happen after today?
"Come, come! Look carefully! The requirements are very strict! Don't think about getting away with it! "
Suddenly, the sound of gongs and drums came from a corner of the market. In the past, Hongshao loved to watch such bustling scenes. Everywhere she went, she would drag him over to take a look. Probably because he was in a trance, he habitually walked over. It seemed that Hongshao was still pulling his sleeve and jumping up and down, anxiously shouting that she couldn't see because it was blocked.
Li Qingqian was stunned for a while. When he came back to his senses, he was about to leave when he heard the noise in the crowd.
"He's really giving so much money!?"
"The State Preceptor is so generous. God, I'm so envious."
The word "money" used to be nothing to Li Qingqian. However, when he heard it now, he felt like he was pricked by a needle. He suddenly turned around and looked with shining eyes.
On the high platform, a high-level cultivator of Liao Country was walking back and forth, beating gongs and drums to attract people's attention. Behind him, there was a silk portrait that was as tall as three people. It was a beautiful woman with a mole at the end of her eye. Looking at it now, she looked 70% similar to Hongshao.
Li Qingqian was slightly surprised. At this moment, he heard the cultivator of Liao Country repeat, "The State Preceptor observed the sky at night. Any woman with this face is likely to prosper the country this year! Anyone who meets the requirements can be sent to the palace! "
Clang! Clang! He knocked two more times and continued to shout.
"If the girl is selected, she will be the Saintess of the palace. Her family will reward her with 1,000 gold shell coins."
"This matter is voluntary. If you are interested, please check her appearance later!"
Li Qingqian was stunned for a while under the platform. Suddenly, he realized something. He hurried to the cultivators of Liao Country who were responsible for the inspection and asked in a trembling voice, "Will the State Preceptor accept all girls like this?"
"If they look similar enough, we'll accept them!"
"What for?"
"Are you deaf?" The cultivator said angrily, "Take her as a Saintess. She will learn astrology, divination, and sacrifice from the State Preceptor. She will be very lucky! You said it so clearly. Don't you understand human language? "
Li Qingqian's palms were sweaty. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes widened. He seemed to be in pain and holding on to hope. Regardless of the other party's bad attitude, he continued to ask, "Then, if the girl has the Demonic Miasma, you … you will also …"
"Didn't you say that we'll accept her if she looks similar enough? What's the Demonic Miasma? Won't she be full of energy again after a few doses of medicine? What kind of bullsh * t question is this! If she looks similar, then bring her here! If she doesn't look like her, then get lost! The Saintess is very strict! "The cultivator cursed," Poor man, you're so long-winded! "
Li Qingqian was stunned.
Yes …
What kind of question was this? The Demonic Miasma was never an incurable disease. Just as the cultivator said, all that was needed was a few doses of Qingling Medicine.
But for the State Preceptor, these few doses of medicine were nothing. He couldn't get them even if he dug his heart out.
That was right.
He was a good-for-nothing who couldn't even save the life of the girl he liked.
He was a poor man.
Hongshao shouldn't have followed him from the beginning.
He was the one who made her suffer.
Li Qingqian slowly walked back to the thatched hut where they were curled up. Along the way, he seemed to be thinking about a lot of things, but also seemed to be thinking about nothing. At the side of the street, a stall owner was trying his best to sell his wares. "Pearls, jade, hair scratching, flowers, golden jade, and all kinds of rouge and face powder. Customer, take a look —"
He stopped by the stall and wanted to take a closer look, but he didn't dare to go forward because he didn't have enough money.
The peddler glanced at him and smiled. "Young man, what are you buying for your sweetheart?"
The words "sweetheart" were like a needle that pierced his soul.
Li Qingqian was in a daze when the peddler enthusiastically pulled him over. "Look, this is the best emerald hairpin. It's made from Suiye City. It's very transparent …"
"I … I don't have that much money …"
"You don't have that much money?" The peddler was stunned for a moment. He pursed his lips and smiled. "It doesn't matter. Let's look at the cheap ones. This rouge is delicate and fragrant. It's my great-grandmother's ancestral craft. The price is also very fair. It's only twenty white shell coins."
Li Qingqian only had three white shell coins in his wallet.
The peddler saw his embarrassed look and stopped talking. He looked back and forth at him. When he saw the patches on his clothes, the smile on his face slowly faded.
But he still lazily picked out an old and ugly small silk flower from the stall. The workmanship and silk cloth were very poor. He casually threw it in front of Li Qingqian. "How about this? Five white shell coins." Then he raised his swollen eyes and looked at him. "To please a girl, you're not even willing to pay such a small amount of money, right?"
Li Qingqian was embarrassed. He bowed his head and walked away silently.
The peddler was shocked. He thought that he had wasted so much time talking, but this person didn't even pay five white shell coins? He suddenly became angry. Ignoring the eyes of the people around him, he shouted at Li Qingqian's thin back, "Damn it, are you kidding me? You want to pick up a girl without spending a single coin? Do you deserve it? If you don't have money, don't come out! You're interfering with my business! Bah! "
Li Qingqian only felt that his face was burning. Facing the strange eyes, he lowered his head and walked quickly.
When he walked out of the city, no one was looking at him anymore. But his head seemed to have been broken, and he no longer had the strength to lift it up. He staggered forward and walked to the farewell pavilion in the suburbs of the city. He sat down and buried his face deep in his palms.
He sat like this for several hours. When he returned to the small shabby thatched cottage, it was already dusk.
Hongshao was lying on the sickbed on her side, facing the direction of the door. She didn't sleep well, and her cheeks were red. When she heard Li Qingqian's voice, she suddenly opened her eyes. She looked at him with her round cat-like eyes and tried to say loudly, "Brother …"
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