A row of bamboo houses are close to the farmland, and the push-up windows are stretched to the maximum by wooden poles, allowing the spring breeze and sunshine to come in.
Hundreds of mountains outside the window overlap to form shadows. The Fu Gong inside the window has long passed his forties, and his hair is already somewhat gray at this age. There are legends in the world that it was because he wrote too many fairy tales, fairies, and ghosts.
Legend has it that when he was young, he had a relationship with a female ghost and was sucked into the yang energy. There are different opinions, but Mr. Fu is in good health and unaware of anything. He is entertaining the guests he just met today.
The guest is a young scholar, just like he was back then.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Mr. Fu sat on the bamboo chair, raised his head and laughed: "My dear brother, I have misunderstood. Life is limited. No matter how long Fu's life is, how can he see so many gods, demons and ghosts? The things recorded in the book are likely to be
Jiu is also what Fu Mou heard from different people when he traveled around the country."
"So that's it!"
"Hahaha……"
"Even so, Mr. Fu's life was extremely exciting. The books written by Mr. Fu have made countless people obsessed with them. I am really lucky to be able to meet Mr. Fu." The young scholar said, and then he remembered himself.
He was entrusted by others on the river, so he said again:
"By the way, when I came here by water, I met a Taoist priest on the road. He only said his surname was Song. He claimed that he and Mr. Fu were old acquaintances. He asked me to say hello to Mr. Fu."
"Old acquaintance? Old acquaintance from when?"
"I asked him, but he didn't answer. He just said that when he came down here, he naturally knew it when he asked about Mr. Fu. It's quite strange."
"Taoist? Your surname is Song?" Mr. Fu couldn't help but frowned deeply, "What does he look like?"
"appearance……"
The young scholar couldn't help but frowned. They had only been apart for a few days, but he already couldn't remember. He could only try to recall and describe: "You look young, but your expression is very vicissitudes. I can't remember the specific appearance. I just can't remember it."
I remember that it is quite extraordinary, I am afraid that he is also someone who practices Taoism."
"Fu knows quite a few Taoists." Although Mr. Fu said this, he had a vague feeling in his heart, "Did that Taoist bring a bay-red horse or a tabby cat?"
"not at all."
"Are you alone?"
"That's not true. Instead, I brought a girl with me. She was about ten years old. She loved fishing and cooking. There was also a baby girl who had just learned to talk. She didn't learn to walk until halfway through the boat." The young scholar continued as he continued.
After a pause, "By the way, he claims to have come from Yizhou to travel around the world, and now he is going back."
"..."
Mr. Fu was startled and almost sat upright.
Although the scholar's description of the immortal's appearance was vague, and the people around him were different from what he remembered, the words "I came from Yizhou, traveled all over the world, and now I'm going back" made him understand instantly.
It has been twenty years since we first met on the river.
I also said at that time that I would visit him in the future.
Not only did he want to visit the legendary Fulong Temple in Yin Yang Mountain, but he also said he wanted to visit the Taoist on the river. Now it seems that it is time.
"Why does Mr. Fu look like this?"
When the scholar saw this, he couldn't help but look at him and asked with concern: "Is that person an old acquaintance of Mr. Fu?"
"It's... an old acquaintance... it's..."
Mr. Fu nodded repeatedly, then relaxed, and looked at the young scholar again, with a complicated look in his eyes: "My dear brother, your experience is exactly the same as mine."
…
Nianping Ferry.
Empress Sanhua held a brocade bag in one hand and Xiao Jianghan in the other, as if she was carrying a kitten, and got off the boat easily.
Xiao Jiang Han was really like an obedient kitten. He was honest, his hands and feet drooped naturally, and he didn't even move his eyes around. Until Sanhua Empress put herself on the river beach, and stood obediently again, looking at
Sanhua Empress went back to get other luggage and pay the ship's money.
The Taoist walked behind.
"Sir, please be careful. The world is very chaotic now. After passing Nianping Ferry, we go to Yizhou. There are many mountain roads. Villains often run on the river. I often hear guests on the boat say that there are many thieves there."
"Thank you boatman."
"Sir, please go slowly."
The boatman took the boat money from Empress Sanhua.
The Taoist also got off the boat.
Nianping Ferry is a shallow shoal with pebbles all over the ground. The shouts of trackers float in the air, which seems to be a bit heavier than before.
"call……"
The Taoist breathed out a breath.
Unconsciously, there was a distinct warmth in the air, and the feeling of spring was getting stronger in the surrounding mountains and forests. Even the grass was sprouting from the rocks in the shallows under my feet.
Although the waterway is more comfortable than the land route, it is the best mode of transportation for long-distance travel these days. However, sailing against the water is not necessarily faster than the land route. After three transfers, the waterway has traveled thousands of miles, except for the first time down the Yuqu River.
In addition to going with the current, it was all upstream. Including the time to find a boat and wait for the boat, it actually took more than a month.
It's already March.
The Taoist turned around and saw Sanhua Empress and Xiao Jianghan standing on the bank. Xiao Jianghan tried to stand up straight. Sanhua Empress picked up the small bamboo stick again and put it against her back to see if she was that tall after standing upright.
Swallows flew nearby, hovering and staring.
The Taoist also walked over to take a look.
Not surprisingly, after standing up straight, Xiao Jianghan's height not only reached the mark marked by the Taoist on the small bamboo pole, but even exceeded it by a small amount because of more than a month of good food.
It's only a very small amount.
Don't underestimate this.
The Empress of Sanhua marked the scales on the wooden wall of the small building in Changjing for the first time. After traveling for several years and returning, she marked the marks again for the second time, which was just a little more than this small section.
"..."
Song You clearly saw Empress Sanhua's eyes widening with an expression of disbelief. He quickly lowered his head and looked carefully to see if Xiao Jianghan was standing on the ground and whether his bamboo stick was leaning on the pit. He even checked Xiao Jianghan.
Did you stand on tiptoes? Repeat the measurement several times.
Until it was confirmed that Xiao Jianghan had indeed grown so much.
Just over a month.
"boom!"
Empress Sanhua heard a muffled sound in her head and was stunned on the spot.
"Children are like this. They grow very fast at first, but they stay the same for a while." Song You finally couldn't bear it and said to her, "In the future, they will grow very slowly."
"real?"
"I dare not deceive Empress Sanhua."
"When will growth slow down?"
"..."
"When will growth slow down?"
"When you are about the same height as an adult."
"..."
Empress Sanhua stared at him blankly.
"Sanhua Empress~"
This little thing even ran over to hug her.
About a quarter of an hour later.
Empress Sanhua carried Xiao Jiang Han on her back with an expressionless face, and followed the Taoist up the mountain, leaning on a small bamboo stick that was no longer convenient for her to hold.
There was an open space in the mountains, and several business travelers were waiting here. The trackers' chants behind them were still faintly floating in the air. As soon as these business travelers saw them, they all looked at them.
"Sir, can you wait a while and let's go together with more people?"
A pedestrian asked him.
"What's wrong?"
"Sir, haven't you heard? There are thieves on the mountain road ahead, they are quite fierce, and some people have heard the roar of tigers in the mountains. It may be dangerous if there are few people, but it is safer if there are more people."
"I see."
"Sir, do you want to wait?" the pedestrian asked, "In today's world, bandits even want to harm Taoists and monks."
"Then just wait."
The Taoist turned around and found a stone, then sat down and waited with them.
Sanhua Empress still carried Xiao Jianghan on her back and stood beside him expressionlessly. She refused to sit down even when the Taoist asked her to do so. There was no expression on her face. She was in the process of doubting Mao Sheng.
The pedestrian who spoke earlier came to see the Taoist:
"Can the Taoist master tell fortunes?"
"I won't."
"So you know martial arts?"
"I don't know how. But this child next to me is quite capable." Song You happened to take advantage of the moment when Empress Sanhua was doubting Maosheng, and praised her a few words in front of outsiders, "Although she is young, she has a lot of abilities."
This incredible ability should keep us safe."
"Sir, don't try to coax me."
"Don't dare."
The pedestrians were still hesitant and stepped back.
Two more businessmen were waiting one after another.
There were almost seven or eight people in total, including a scholar with a long sword and a martial artist with a long sword. They felt that they were almost done and felt confident, so everyone set off.
The Taoist rubbed the girl's head and stood up to follow her.
This journey is mostly a familiar one.
After climbing one mountain, there is another mountain.
Song You could clearly feel the nervousness of the people around him, and as he passed through the barren mountains, he became more and more nervous. From time to time, someone looked up and looked into the dense forest, and he could clearly feel the gazes coming from the dense forest.
Regarding these, the Sanhua Empress around him felt it more clearly than he did, especially the latter.
Sanhua Empress was still carrying the girl on her back, with an expressionless face. Sometimes she walked in front of him, sometimes she walked behind him, but from time to time she stopped, raised her head and looked somewhere in the dense forest. Her eyes remained still for a long time, and then she looked away after a moment.
When he came back, he turned to look at the Taoist again.
Someone around me was whispering.
"It's right over here..."
"It'll be fine once you get past here..."
However, there was only a shaking in the dense forest. The person walking at the front screamed in fright, and the person at the back also yelled. When everyone came to their senses, there were already more than a dozen mountain bandits with knives and guns.
They appeared from behind and behind them, blocking the mountain road.
"ah!!"
A woman was so frightened that she screamed.
Even the scholar with the sword and the Jianghu man with the sword were very nervous.
There are too many bandits.
"Grandpa Bandit, please don't be impulsive. It's easy to talk. You ask for money, and we ask for safety. We have all lived here for a long time. We are willing to leave some money to buy the road and respect you all."
"Wang is an outer disciple of the Jin Dao Sect, and he has learned the skills of the Jin Dao Clan's 'Zhan Feng Dao' from the Jin Dao Clan. His master is Yu Zhengqing, the 'Zhan Yue Dao' of the Jin Dao Clan. The Liujiang Conference will be held at the beginning of next year. Wang
I came here to deliver a message to Xishan in Yizhou on the orders of my master. They are all gangsters. I hope you guys can do this for me."
"Don't kill me..."
There was some chaos in the mountains for a while.
Only Sanhua Empress felt heavy, knowing that when encountering these bandits, especially in recent years, even a Taoist would find it difficult to get through without giving money, but if she gave money, even if it was only a penny, she would still be killing Sanhua Empress.
Half a cat's life, half a Taoist spirit.
It will never work.
So the girl remained silent, but took off the belt around her waist and put down Xiao Jiang Han in the skirt behind her.
"What outer disciple of the Golden Blade Sect? If the Golden Sword Sect really wants to send a message to the Xishan Sect to discuss the Liujiang Conference, will they only send you, an outer disciple?"
"Could it be that you made up your name?"
"Take out the token and look at it!"
"Even if it is true, where is the Golden Blade Sect? Can it scare us heroes from Xuzhou?"
"The rest of you should stop talking nonsense and take out all your money. We will take half of it. Be honest and have nothing to hide. You can leave. The woman can stay. If you have anything to hide, cut off your hands and feet and feed them to the tigers in the mountains."
"..."
Immediately, the mountains were filled with cries and shouts.
There are sounds of begging for mercy and sounds of bargaining.
"Sanhua Empress~~"
Xiao Jianghan has been placed on the ground. With his big eyes open, he looks at Empress Sanhua in confusion and opens his hands to hug her.
Sanhua Empress walked forward.
Just after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped again, turned his head and looked straight at the mountains in the distance, his eyes slightly focused.
"Ouch~woo~~"
There is a long roar of tigers in the mountains.
For a moment, everything in the mountains became quiet.
Everyone was stunned on the spot.
This tiger's roar really resounded through the mountains and forests, shocking people's hearts. The sound has stopped, but the lingering sound is still echoing in the mountains.
"Grandpa Tiger is here..."
The bandits suddenly showed fear.
Logically speaking, with so many people armed with swords and guns, they should not be afraid of ordinary tigers.
"Do you want to go?"
"You can't just run away. I heard people say that if a person runs away, the tiger will definitely chase him. I just don't know what this tiger grandfather is like."
"Let's see if it comes first..."
"I heard that this tiger grandfather is enlightened and can understand people's speech. If he really comes, let's kowtow to him a few times and say a few good words before leaving."
Many business travelers did not dare to move.
The bandits wanted to retreat, but they were reluctant to part with the fat sheep they had finally encountered, so they kept their voices low and discussed with luck.
"Ouch~~"
There was another loud tiger roar.
This time it was much closer.
Everyone's hearts felt as if they had been hit hard by a heavy hammer, and they stopped for a moment, unable to breathe.
Following the sound, I could only see the woods and grass in the distant mountains shaking. Occasionally, I could see a little bit of color in the gaps between the woods and grass, from which I could imagine the huge size of the tiger.
Getting closer, getting closer.
Everyone's legs were weak and they didn't dare to move.
Only Lady Sanhua stared in that direction, her eyes following its movement. Her face was expressionless, showing no panic or fear. She just put her hand into her robe and held the wooden pole of the small flag.
"Roar~"
With a swipe, the tiger rushed out of the forest, as big as a buffalo, as fast as lightning, and as powerful as a collapsing mountain.
But not against the many business travelers, nor against the Taoists, but against the bandits and thieves. One slap can knock one off the cliff, and one bite can bite off half of them.
Although many mountain bandits have weapons, they are not only powerless to resist, they even lack the time to react.
Occasionally, someone raised his weapon, but before it could be slashed, it just collided with the claws of the tiger and broke, or it was struck by the huge force and became embedded in his body.
In an instant, the thief in front of everyone disappeared.
The thieves behind saw this and fled in a hurry.
The tiger just raised its head and roared. As soon as the sound passed, they were frightened and froze in place, as if they had lost their souls. The tiger rushed up and beat them to death one by one.
Sanhua Empress remained standing on the spot, reaching into her robe to hold the small flag, but she turned her head and stared straight at the tiger, with a bit of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
In just a few moments, all the bandits and thieves were dead.
Some of the people in the group were so frightened that their faces turned pale, some saw something was wrong, and some knelt down and kowtowed.
It was only then that the tiger turned around and looked at the Taoist priest and the girl among the crowd. His eyes flickered, and he actually lowered his head towards them as if to say hello, and then took steps into the forest.
"It turns out we are also old acquaintances..."
The Taoist looked at its figure and saw a bit of fragrance from its body.