Chapter 322 Suddenly, the lights are dim
Chapter 322 Looking back suddenly, the lights are dim
"Last night the stars, last night the wind, the jade tower to the west and the osmanthus hall to the east."
The storm is about to rise in the martial arts world, but fortunately the moonlight is still quiet tonight. After leaving Hongxiu Street, you will see the Guandi Temple in the city. There is the word "loyalty" written on the left and the word "righteousness" engraved on the right, and it is surrounded by two small streets in front and back.
The area behind the temple is called Caifeng Lane, while the area in front of the temple is Fenglong Street.
The crescent moon hangs in the sky. As the hour gets later, the number of pedestrians in the back alleys gradually decreases. From time to time, drunken gangsters can be seen passing by. The food stalls and taverns that close late are for them.
Zhang Yu walked from the west end of Caifeng Lane, found a tea stall to sit down and ordered a pot of tea.
It's not some expensive tea, not even as good as the high-end tea commonly used in inns. It's just the tender leaves picked from the camellia trees grown at home, fried in an iron pan. I don't know if it's because the heat is too high or too low, but it tastes a bit bitter, but it has a unique flavor when you sip it carefully.
"Sir, how about hanging up the lanterns?"
The old lady was wearing a blue cloth dress that was covered with patches and was obviously too short, revealing her skinny wrists. Her business was not very good. She went out early and came back late every day, earning only enough money for food. She stood in front of the stall and asked the young man with some apology.
Zhang Yu turned his head and chuckled, "Thank you, but there's no need to light the lamp. It's fine to sit like this."
The old lady secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "As long as the guests are satisfied."
The tea stall did not hang lanterns, but instead drew light from several nearby houses.
There are two osmanthus trees nearby. The mountain breeze blows gently, the branches and leaves sway, and the light and shadows dance.
At this time, a young girl in blue came from the east side of Caifeng Lane, with a Vermillion Bird jade hairpin in her hair. Her eyes lingered. People were coming and going on the street, and each face was different. A drunkard who was blind saw that the girl had an outstanding appearance and looked weak, so he wanted to tease her, but was knocked to the ground by a sword sheath and could not get up for a long time.
"I don't have the wings of a colorful phoenix, but I have a clear mind."
The area around Guandi Temple is the most prosperous area in Hengshan City. What attracted her here was the name of this alley.
The girl in green stood on the street, her eyes moving. On the right was the red wall of Guandi Temple, on the left were some vendors, and further ahead was Hongxiu Street, where there was the world-famous Qun Yu Tower.
The Huashan Sect has strict rules. That night, she heard about the excitement in the Qun Yu Courtyard, but she did not dare to disobey the sect rules and her father's orders and go in and out of brothels. It was the second day that she learned about the story of Zhang Liyu and Dongfang Girl.
At that time, they were in the wine house of Fuzhou Prefecture. The two were very close to each other, but seemed to be separated by something.
Being separated by a world, occasionally hearing a few messages from each other is extremely frightening.
She could almost see how the carp fought against the current in the bloody storm, drenched in blood with every step, wielding swords and weapons, accompanied by grudges and killings. She had to admit that such a life was something the girl rejected.
Born into a famous family in the martial arts world, her father is a righteous hero. The martial arts world she yearns for is one where people are polite, talk without discussion, stop at the right time, and good prevails over evil.
Yue Lingshan looked towards the two osmanthus trees, their branches and leaves swaying in the wind. They were obviously very far away from each other, yet they could not touch each other. There were two or three food stalls under the trees, selling tea and noodles, and the figures of the occasional diners were hidden in the shadows of the osmanthus trees.
"Has he left Hengshan City?"
In the past, she might have been interested in stopping to taste it, but tonight she had little interest. After Uncle Liu retired tomorrow, she would have to return to Guanzhong. She didn't know when she would be able to travel the world again.
"Every other seat is warmed by Gou Chun wine, and a red wax lamp is shed on each seat."
The girl in green shook her head slightly, turned and left, returning to the direction of the inn. After taking only seven steps, she suddenly stopped. She felt someone was staring at her. After a few breaths, a familiar voice sounded from behind her.
"Just leaving like that? Lady Xia Yue."
Yue Lingshan turned around slowly and saw a man in a black robe standing under a lantern. The dim light was flowing between his eyes and eyebrows, and there was a faint smile on his face.
Just in front of the stone bridge over Liujin River in Pingyang City, he handed over a wooden box, saying it was the antidote to the Three Corpses Brain Pill.
Just like when they sold the last two novels by Mr. Hongye in Wenyuan Bookstore in Huazhou, they flipped through the books in front of the window and looked up at each other from time to time...
The two smiled at each other. There was nothing thrilling about it, but rather a sense of relief of meeting old friends.
Zhang Yu walked over slowly, looked at the red bird jade hairpin in the girl's hair, and said with a smile: "When we meet in the martial arts world, when we meet friends, we should at least sit down and have a few drinks, right?"
In front of the tea stall, under the osmanthus tree.
The old maid held the silver coin in her hand, feeling delighted, and quickly lit up another lantern. The light in front of the table instantly became bright, illuminating the faces of the two people. She was a little surprised. The man was handsome and the woman was pretty, just like a perfect match made in heaven.
Yue Lingshan chuckled and said, "When friends meet, shouldn't we drink?"
Zhang Yu put down the iron kettle and handed over the porcelain cup: "Wine is stronger than tea, and tea lasts longer than wine. We have to decide when to get drunk. I can't get drunk tonight."
Yue Lingshan asked, "Oh, when you were with Miss Dongfang, did you drink tea or wine?"
Zhang Yu chuckled and said nothing. Yue Lingshan explained: "Don't get me wrong, I'm just curious."
Zhang Yu said: "I know."
"I heard that those imperial lackeys are hunting you down? Is there anything else?"
"The girl... has already left. The Jinyiwei's main target was her, so they also left."
Yue Lingshan's eyes fell on the table and she said softly, "Jinyiwei, it seems that the rumors in the market are true."
"What rumors?"
"Haven't you heard? It is said that the oriental girl has a beautiful face, like a fairy, and her every frown and smile is so charming that even the emperor heard about it and sent the Jinyiwei to invite her back to the palace."
Yue Lingshan asked curiously, "You have seen her. Is the rumor true?"
Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "Rumors can't be taken seriously. As for the palace, I guess she will go there when she wants to, and she doesn't need the emperor to invite her. Let alone Miss Dongfang, how are you?"
"Nothing! Mother passed on the Nineteen Jade Maiden Swords to me. Now, apart from my eldest and second senior brothers, I have the best martial arts skills. In the last sect competition, even my third senior brother was no match for me."
Yue Lingshan's expression revealed a hint of pride. She originally had excellent aptitude. In the past few years, she had concentrated on practicing martial arts and made great progress. Before going to Fuzhou Prefecture, her internal strength had been improved to the Qi Hai realm. She also initially mastered the Jade Girl Sword Technique, and was considered one of the most outstanding young people in the martial arts world.
Zhang Yu smiled and said, "How amazing! Lady Yue is indeed a martial arts master with the Silver Furnace Dantian."
Yue Lingshan snorted, "Are you making fun of me?"
"How dare you."
"You lied to me back then!"
"What did I lie to you about?"
Yue Lingshan said confidently: "You must be more than just the Silver Furnace Dantian!"
Zhang Yu smiled and asked, "How did you guess that?"
Yue Lingshan said unhappily, "I'm not stupid. Your martial arts skills have improved rapidly and are now far better than mine. I'm afraid even Senior Brother is no match for you. The only one who can defeat you is Jin Chi or even Zi Fu, right?"
When he first met her, Zhang Yu was still on guard, but now he no longer needs to hide it.
He nodded and said, "Jin Chi."
Yue Lingshan looked at the man in black robe and still felt regretful. With such an amazing talent in martial arts, he should have done great things in the righteous way, but because there was no famous teacher to accept him, he accidentally joined the evil sect.
As time goes by, some things are destined to happen.
Zhang Yu did not go back to Huashan with her that year, and now it is impossible for him to leave the Sun and Moon Sect. No one knows what will happen in the future as they are walking on two different paths. At least at this moment, the two of them can still sit down and have a cup of tea on the street.
"I listened to the drum and went to answer the official's call, walked around Malantai and turned around."
Yue Lingshan picked up the porcelain cup and took a sip. It tasted slightly bitter, but then turned sweet.
…………
In front of the Guandi Temple, Fenglong Street was quite lively, with many peddlers selling incense, candles and paper money on both sides. When they passed the door, the smell of incense hit them in the face, so they stopped and looked inside.
The couplet on the door lintel reads, "The sun and the moon hang high like phoenix eyes, and the mountains and rivers are long and beautiful like silkworm eyebrows."
He has a red face and a long beard, wears a green crown and a green robe, and holds a Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand. He stands high on the altar with his eyes slightly closed, as if he cannot bear to see the sufferings and separations of life and death in the world.
"Grandpa, shall we go to the temple to worship?"
"Okay, I pray to Saint Guandi to bless my granddaughter, so that she can grow up safely without any disaster or illness and without any worries."
"Then I will pray to Grandpa Guandi to bless Grandpa and wish him a long life and stay with me forever..."
"Hahaha, grandpa will always be with you."
(End of this chapter)