Li Qingqian entered the room. His body was slightly cold, and in his hand was a crimson peony he picked along the roadside.
When Hongshao saw the flower, her eyes lit up. She smiled and said, "Wow, it's so beautiful! Is it for me? "
Li Qingqian nodded and didn't dare to look at her.
Hongshao was very happy. Even her illness didn't change her nature of wanting to see the world in chaos. She struggled to get up from the bed, took the flower, smelled it, and grinned. "It's a pity that my hair is so messy. Otherwise, I could put it on my head!"
"… Let me do it for you."
In the past, she always pestered him to braid her hair, so she didn't think much about it. She sat down and let Li Qingqian put down her long hair, then combed it into her usual bun. A delicate and bright peony flower was gently pinned in between her jet-black hair.
Hongshao touched the petals, smiled and coughed twice, and shouted, "Brother, get me a mirror. I want to see if I look good."
Li Qingqian said, "… Get off the bed and go to the table."
As he spoke, he took her only pair of embroidered shoes and placed it in front of the bed.
From the beginning to the end, he didn't look at her eyes.
At this moment, Hongshao finally felt that something was wrong. She slowly turned her face and looked back at Li Qingqian.
The little gongs and drums that clanged all day long were so quiet at this moment, like a timid kitten.
She looked at him questioningly.
"… Brother?"
"…"
"Brother, do you have something on your mind?"
Li Qingqian clenched his fists, and his palms were sweaty. In the end, he told her about the State Preceptor choosing the Holy Maiden.
When he spoke, his head was very low. He probably thought that this way, he wouldn't see the expression on Hongshao's face and wouldn't blame himself more and more.
He really didn't see Hongshao's face, but he saw a few drops of tears falling, rustling, and falling on the shabby bed.
"I … I …" The little gongs and drums' voice was as soft as a cat's. "I don't want to go …"
"… Hongshao …"
Hongshao burst into tears. "I don't want to go! I don't want to go! I was sold here and there the moment I was born. Big Brother, do you not want me anymore? You also want to abandon me! Turn me into a fourth hand! "
"Cats and dogs, even if you give it four different owners, it still won't be able to take it." Hong Shao hugged her knees and sobbed. "I'm a human … Although I'm stupid and silly … I have feelings too. I can feel sad too. I can't bear to leave you … I don't want to go! I don't want to go! Let me die of illness, I just want to be with Big Brother every day! "
No matter what Li Qingqian said, she refused to listen.
How could Li Qingqian watch her die of illness? Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Li Qingqian made up his mind. He suddenly stood up, turned around and said, "You go to the State Preceptor. Your illness can be cured, and I can also get a thousand gold coins. If you can keep your life and I can get the money, it will be good for both of us. Please help me. "
Hong Shao was stunned. With tears in her eyes, she looked at him blankly.
Li Qingqian flicked his sleeves and said, "Let's go."
Hong Shao was stunned, but she still said, "You … won't …"
"Why won't I?!" Li Qingqian suddenly turned around, her eyes red. She gritted her teeth and said, "I'm begging you. I've been taking care of you for the past three years, and I've been exhausted. If I sell you, I'll at least have a good meal. Why do you have to follow me? If you keep following me like this, what will happen to us in the end? "
Hong Shao's eyes were wide open, and the color on her thin cheeks faded little by little.
What can we do in the end?
Can we get married, or can we become a swordsman and live in the world with a sword?
It was a long and difficult thing for a person to be engaged to another person and live together for a lifetime. It was not enough for a bunch of passion and two sincerity.
It needed money, trust, a way out, and hope.
But they lacked everything.
For three years, they could roam the world and live in the world as companions. But what reason did he have to let her accompany him for a lifetime? That peddler was right. He couldn't even buy the ugliest silk flower for her. Their relationship was like the peony in Hong Shao's hair. When it was first plucked, it was delicate and beautiful. It was as if tomorrow would be infinitely beautiful.
But it would die.
Together, there would not be an eternal silk flower. There would only be one night of Hong Shao's brilliance.
In this world, there were many couples who lost to money, lost to status, lost to Kang Jian, and even lost to love itself.
Li Qingqian didn't know what he had lost to. To put it simply, he had lost to poverty. To put it simply, he had lost to poverty. To put it simply, he loved her. So no matter what, he wouldn't sit and watch her wither by his side. That should be because he had lost to love.
But no matter what, he was already a person who had lost completely.
Other than sending her away, he had no other choice.
"A poor man with a poor woman, and in the end it's a poor old man with a poor old woman? Do you think I want to live like this?! Have you ever thought about me?! "
Hong Shao stared blankly at him. Ever since she had known him, this was the first time her big brother had been so angry at her.
She raised her head. The flowers on her temples were mottled with tear stains.
She said in her heart, "I do think about it.
I've never dared to be greedy. I don't dare to think about riches and honor. The best ending I can think of in this life is two poor old beggars, walking together in the evening light. The old woman's voice is like gongs and drums, and the old man's good temper is smiling. Apart from their white hair and wrinkles, they are exactly the same as when they were young. "
So this ending was because she had thought too beautifully. She had been too greedy and couldn't get it.
She was just a little slave who had sold her body to bury her adoptive father. Three years ago, Li Qingqian had fulfilled her wish and bought her. Today, he wanted to sell her off, so what else could she say?
Hong Shao wasn't a girl. Hong Shao was just a little thing that was destined to wander and wander for the rest of her life because of her cheap life.
She had been a child bride of other families, a maid of a big family, and a daughter bought by a farmer. She thought that she could call Li Qingqian big brother for the rest of her life, and that everything would be settled.
But it turned out that it was just a gust of wind, and she had nothing to rely on.
In the end, she still went to the State Preceptor.
In the evening twilight and the afterglow of the clouds, Hong Shao followed the servant and walked step by step to the high platform. She walked to the unreachable top of the long stairs to pay her respects to her fifth master.
The wind chimes on the eaves were tinkling. At the corner of the high platform, she turned sideways and glanced down the tower.
Li Qingqian was receiving a heavy bag full of money and silk. He thanked the servant and slowly walked away. She gazed at his back from afar. She thought, "Turn around … Can't you say goodbye to me properly?
Can you at least wave to me and let me be willing to part with this dream that has lasted for three years? "
But then she thought, "Forget it, forget it."
Her throat was choked with so much bitterness and attachment. She was afraid that if he looked at her, the dike would burst. She was afraid that she would be as anxious and panicky as when they first met. She would cry and shout recklessly and pester him, forcing him to take her with him.
The wind blew, blowing the fragrance of the peony flowers on her temples and making her clothes flutter. Her eyes were misty, but she couldn't help but smile slowly.
One thousand gold coins could buy a lot of steamed buns.
Big brother wouldn't be hungry in the future, right?
In fact, it was good that he didn't look back and didn't take her with him. Three years ago, she just wanted to live well, so she could shout at his back without thinking.
But now, she was afraid.
She was afraid that her shouting wouldn't make him stop, and then she would be in so much pain that she wouldn't be able to walk even one step.
She still had to go forward.
She still had to go forward …
She hurriedly withdrew her gaze before the tears came out of her eyes. She lowered her head and continued to walk through the corridor of silk and copper bells.
Embroidered shoes on her feet and peony flowers in her hair.
The two of them were so poor that they could only leave a little bit of memory after three years.
On the noble high platform, under the curtain, there was a vague sound of strings and strings. There were singers playing and singing, "The evening jackdaws are sad, but the willow pond is green but gentle. If there is no hatred in the eyes, I don't believe that there will be white hair in the world. "
The golden light of twilight shone on the eaves, and the Ferry Tower was glorious. Hongshao carried this remnant memory with her.
Step by step, she walked farther and farther.
"My intestines are broken, my tears are hard to stop, and I miss the little red house again. I know that I have been blocked by the mountain, and I am not free to lean on the railing. "
The bloody setting sun swallowed her beautiful figure, and the surrounding scene sank like the afterglow of the end of the world …
It was a long separation.
Since then, Li Qingqian had been alone, and he didn't take in anyone to accompany him. His one thousand gold coins were almost all spent by poor people, and he didn't spend any of them. Many years later, when he was in the courtyard, he finally understood his own water-breaking sword skill — the sound was like a mourning or a gong. The wind and lightning roared, and the water broke through the sky.
Everything was like fireworks in a long night, extinguishing in front of Mo Xi's eyes.
When this high-speed carousel stopped, they had already arrived at the quiet barren mountain, and there were piles of bones — that was the battle of Nu Weeping Mountain that everyone knew.
In fact, when Mo Xi saw Hongshao walking to the tower and becoming the chosen saintess of Liao Country, he felt a little uneasy. Mo Xi was not as simple as Li Qingqian. He was too familiar with these crazy people of Liao Country, especially the national preceptor who rarely showed up. He was even crazy like a wild dog. Others might believe in "teaching astrology and praying for the fate of the country", but Mo Xi didn't think so.
Liao Country ate people and drank blood, and they were crazy. He thought that Hongshao would be in danger this time.
Then he thought about the rumor of Nu Weeping Mountain. It was said that Liao Country caught hundreds of girls and dressed them as brides to worship the mountain god. When these two things were connected, Mo Xi had a guess …
In fact, his guesses about Liao Country's actions were often right.
There were many malicious ghosts on Nu Weeping Mountain, and Li Qingqian was also there. But he was kind-hearted. After receiving the souls of these girls, he didn't want anyone to hurt them. Instead, he decided to give his Broken Water Swordsmanship to his younger brother for safekeeping and cultivation. He took the hundreds of souls to the distant island, and wanted to release them slowly.
Naturally, he had to release the malicious ghosts one by one, so that they could be released one by one, and their souls could be reincarnated.
Every time Li Qingqian released a person, he would see the soul go to the west from the sea.
Those girls who had died on Crying Woman Mountain were all dressed in mottled red. They were unconscious when they were filled with malice, and after the malice dissipated, they lost their memories. Every day, he would see a dead soul float out of the lamp resentfully, and then leave in a daze.
Just like that, day after day.
Li Qingqian released more and more souls, but the fear in his heart grew deeper and deeper — because he found that these girls all looked too much like a person.
Just like the person who chased after him and was left behind by him on the city gate tower.
Before the female ghosts' resentment was released, they would unconsciously repeat the words that they thought before they died. Li Qingqian heard a lot. Some cried out in pain, some called for their parents, and some murmured, "Don't bury me … don't lie to me … I don't want to die …"
"Don't bury me."
"Don't lie to me …"
"I don't want to die!" "I don't want to die!"
Whether it was these words or the similar appearances of the female ghosts, it made Li Qingqian feel more and more uneasy — where did Liao Country find these girls? Why did they all look so similar?
There was an answer, but he didn't dare to believe it. He didn't dare to think about it.
The number of ghosts in the soul lantern decreased day by day. Mo Xi could see that Li Qingqian's hands were trembling every time he released a ghost. And when he saw that the female ghost's appearance wasn't the Hong Shao he abandoned, his trembling stopped.
He heaved a sigh of relief.
Until he reached the last ghost.
That morning, Li Qingqian carried the soul lantern as usual. Mo Xi could see that his steps were much lighter than before. There was only one ghost left in the Crying Woman Mountain. Li Qingqian felt that he might have thought too much in the past.
His Hong Shao should still be in the State Preceptor's palace, studying the stars and being the saintess of the State Preceptor. It wouldn't be like what he thought …
The last soul, like a wisp of smoke, weakly floated out of the lantern and floated into a human form.
The female ghost was petite, wearing a phoenix coronet and a robe, but, but … Li Qingqian felt as if he was struck by lightning. His bones and blood were cold.
He almost blurted out, "Hong Shao?!!!"
That thin reflection was like a nightmare that had finally descended upon him.
Hong Shao's vengeful spirit hung in front of him blankly. Her face was still the same face that he had seen countless times in his dreams. There was even the shadow of a peony flower on her temples and the yellow embroidered shoes on her feet … But she didn't laugh, jump, or yell at him like a little gong or drum. She was just like all the evil ghosts that had been executed. Her mind and memory had disappeared, leaving only a wisp of her soul floating in front of him.
Even the most simple-minded person should know that the State Preceptor was lying to them. Those women who were offered didn't become saintesses in the end. They were sacrificed to the mountain and their bones were buried in a mess.
The scam of the rich and powerful had cheated the lives of those who had no way out.
Hong Shao floated in the air and murmured her last words before she died. Her eyes were empty. She said, "Turn back … Big Brother … I want to say goodbye to you …"
Turn back, I don't expect to grow old with you. I don't expect you to give me your hand again and take me on a long journey.
I was thinking, I was always the one chasing after you, I was always the one looking at your back. When we parted, could it be that you saw me off as I walked up the city gate tower? Could it be that you took a good look at me?
I don't want to die like this, Big Brother.
I haven't said goodbye to you in my whole life.
From Mo Xi's point of view, he couldn't see Li Qingqian's face at that time. In the dead silence, there was no sound.
After a long time, as if the flood had finally broken the dam, Li Qingqian's throat suddenly burst out with cries that were almost like the wail of a beast. Her voice was hoarse and out of tune, and every word she said was inaudible. Her cries of blood and tears echoed in the dream. Every cry seemed to be dug out from her throat with blood.
He said, I shouldn't have sent you away … I shouldn't have sent you away …
If I didn't send you away, I wouldn't be able to cure you. But I can accompany you well. I'm the one in pain. But I'm so selfish and weak. I pushed you to someone else and ran away. I left all the pain to you.
He knelt in front of Hong Shao's soul. Just like when they first met, Hong Shao was kneeling in the mud, trembling, and crying sorrowfully.
I didn't even have the courage to say goodbye to you. I didn't use my heart to say goodbye to you.
That whole day, from dawn to sunset, the sky was filled with crimson clouds.
It was the last time a person and a soul depended on each other.
The sky finally darkened. The vengeful ghost who released the soul lamp couldn't stay any longer. She would either fall into eternal calamity or be expiated by him. So Li Qingqian could only muster up all his strength. With a hoarse voice and tears, he chanted the Rebirth Mantra over and over again.
He sent her away. He ferried her away.
She floated in the vast sea. He murmured in Sanskrit. This time, he watched her leave.
"Namo Amitabha Ye Ta Thagata Ye …"
Over and over again.
"Kami Kagana …"
Hong Shao repeated unconsciously in the Rebirth Mantra. "Big Brother … look back … look at me again …"
"I want to … say goodbye to you properly …"
"Big Brother …"
Suddenly.
The black gas dissipated.
The clouds in the sky were thick and beautiful. Endless golden light entered the tide. Li Qingqian's lips trembled. He chanted the last word and slowly raised his head.
Hong Shao's soul was released. Her eyes became empty and blank.
She didn't speak anymore. She seemed to be confused about why she was in this vast mortal world. Then she turned to look at the last touch of twilight at the end of the sea. Without any reluctance, she turned and floated away.
I want to say goodbye to you properly.
Li Qingqian finally choked with sobs. He looked at her back. He chased after her and called her name in a hoarse voice … He waded into the sea … The sea water was above his knees and waist … The waves hit. He staggered and knelt down, but he didn't lower his head.
He watched her disappear in the golden brilliance of heaven and earth.
That year when we parted, I didn't look back. This time, it's my turn to look at you … it's my turn to send you away …
We won't be able to say goodbye properly in this lifetime. But I'll send you off. I'll send you back. I'll send you far away.
Hong Shao. Hong Shao.
If that's the case, can you forgive me? Forgive me for my poverty and weakness.
Have you forgiven me? Can you forgive me …
The sky and earth were empty. The setting sun wept blood.
The twilight deepened. The last bit of light was swallowed by the sea. Darkness fell on the island. The long night rolled in with his cries.
Mo Xi didn't move. He didn't go over to look at Li Qingqian's appearance.
He had seen that kind of broken face countless times in his military life. That was the scene he didn't want to see the most.
Not long after, Li Qingsu went to Liao Country. He wanted to find the State Preceptor and ask — what Saintess? Were Saintesses used to fill mountains and offer sacrifices to gods?
That was a sacrifice! A sacrifice!!
His Water Breaking Sword had been cultivated to the peak. He was full of hatred and resentment. The secret guards of Liao Country were no match for him. He dashed across the roof ridges and beams. Finally, he landed lightly in front of the State Preceptor's palace. Within three moves, he killed the two guards guarding the side door. Then, he kicked open the door.
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